The People of Nyamukoho Chieftainship, Mashonaland East and Zimbabwe have lost a pillar of traditional leadership ethos, a business man and senator with the departure of Chief Nyamukoho , born Samson Katsande.
The MDC Alliance joins the nation in mourning a unique chief, a man who stood firm for fairness, tolerance and peace. Chief Nyamukoho fought relentlessly for the Upliftment of the people in his area and for a resilient and self reliant community.
He is well known during his time as Senator for championing family level production of small seed crops such as Mhunga for self reliance. He despised the dependence syndrome which he referred to as the “Ndipowo Ndipowo” disease. This was in reference to the perpetual attitude of waiting for handouts from government.
He also believed that local people should benefit from resources that their areas are endowed with. He was a firm believer in the devolution of power to lower governmental levels. He knew that devolution brings out the best from citizens .
A business man of note, Chief Nyamukoho personally funded many peace building workshops in his area of jurisdiction. Some times he ran the workshops in collaboration with the church.
Chief Nyamukoho frowned on partisanship in state interventions on social welfare issues such as food and agricultural inputs.
Taking a leaf from his work, the government should work on capacity building processes for Chiefs so that they can work in their communities without aligning to any political party, build peace and inculcate a culture of self reliance among in areas of control.
As the MDC Alliance, we cherish the legacy of fairness, entrepreneurship, rule of law and non partisanship which Chief Nyamukoho bequeathed to the traditional leadership institution, parliament and the generality of family Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent| CITY of Harare workers have given their employer a seven-day notice to strike over poor salaries and non-availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), among other grievances.
The move comes amid revelations almost half of the local authority’s employees are yet to receive their December salaries, with some having salary arrears dating back to 2015.
The Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU), which represents urban local authorities’ workers across the country, said they were concerned the City of Harare was not prioritising employees.
The union accused the scandal-ridden local authority of making piecemeal salary disbursements which were inconveniencing workers.
“We have applied for a strike and workers have voted and accepted that they want a strike. What has been slowing us down is the lockdown. We think that over and above our continuous engagement with the ministry of Labour and that of Local Government, if nothing fruitful comes from there we have to proceed with industrial action,” said Kudakwashe Munengiwa, the ZUCWU general secretary.
He added: “We have generated a letter which we will serve the employer on Thursday giving them a seven-day notice expiring next Friday. If nothing happens, people cannot continue to subsidise the employer going to work at their own cost when they are not being paid. It does not make sense.”
Already, those working in the water, fire and waste management sections have begun sit-ins demanding that they be given adequate PPE in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Munengiwa noted that the sit-ins were not directly related to the salary dispute, adding the union had written to the authorities emphasising the need for PPE and infection prevention control measures and training without success.
The Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) allows workers to unconditionally withdraw their labour in cases where their health is compromised or where their safety is at risk.
“So our position is clear, where workers’ health is under threat we have instructed them to withdraw their labour to the extent of the risk or the hazard. And when they are incapacitated to go to work because they don’t have the money, surely they can’t subsidize the employer by borrowing to go to work.
“In those circumstances we are saying if they don’t have money to go to work, you should not go to work. If you don’t have PPE to attend to Covid-19 patients and you are a nurse, don’t do that. And you are a nurse aid, don’t do that. If you don’t have PPE, if you are a refuse worker, a sewage worker, don’t do that. So that is our position as a union to say workers should not save lives at the expense of their own lives,” he said.
Munengiwa said interference in the affairs of the local authority by central government had compromised manpower relations, adding there was no longer executive authority at the City of Harare, which left the union in a dilemma as to who they should negotiate with.
He said this had affected the implementation of several court orders in favour of workers, among them compliance with a High Court judgment delivered last year, a deed of settlement which has not been addressed and also the issue of housing stands which the employer promised to give some of its workers in lieu of salary arrears.
He said even the union was now in sixes and sevens as it was no longer sure of who to engage.
“Today we talk to someone who is supposed to be the mayor and the other day he is not there, so that has kind of complicated the picture but as workers we will insist on our rights, we will insist on the law and we invoke the law and let politicians play politics and we will not allow that to have a bearing on the livelihoods of our members,” he said.
Workers were also unhappy with the non-disbursement of Covid-19 allowances despite these having been disbursed to the employer.
“It’s so opaque because anything to do with the remuneration of workers must be discussed at Works Council and National Employment Council, but it seems as if the employer is acting unilaterally, and that informs our reaction,” said Munengiwa.
City of Harare spokesperson Michael Chideme had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of going to print.
By Oliver Dube and Dr Stanley Maphosa| We are consumed by the desire to herald the truth in the age of increased information and knowledge. For this reason, we would like to demystify some dangerous misinformation that is being peddled by certain people for overt sinister reasons.
Basically, infectious diseases are regarded as ailments caused by organisms, namely bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The mechanisms for the transmission of the infectious diseases vary. The common ones are person to person, insects or other animals and ingesting contaminated food or water, and inhalation. The practical ways to decrease the risk of infection include hands washing, getting vaccinated (this is known to considerably reduce chances of catching many diseases), staying home when unwell, preparing food safely, avoiding sharing personal items and travelling wisely.
From a Christian point of view there is some consensus that some of these diseases could be demonic oppressions or spiritually related. Besides, it is also strongly believed that God can also send disasters as an awakening call for His people as He said in His Word in 2 Chronicle 7: 13, that “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among…’ This scripture signal that God could be demanding humility from His people who might have defiled their bodies that He has declared to be His living temple.
In terms of the treatment of infectious diseases, this depends on the source species. It is possible to treat bacterial and fungal infection using antibiotics and antifungals. However, a viral infection is obviously caused by a virus of a certain species and there is hardly any treatment for most of them. The body must quickly identify this alien substance and develop a specific antibody to fight it. We all now know that COVID-19 is a viral infection of the family of corona which includes influenza. However, this one is deadlier than the later. In fact, COVID 19 is more efficient in clinging to cells and with high probability of causing serious pneumonia which is far deadlier than flue. Let alone, if one has a compromised immune system, they run the risk of dying from the complications that are related to pneumonia where the body organs are starved of oxygen for example heart, kidney, and brains cells. Therefore, the hospital can only help the body through use of ventilators that take over the supply of oxygen. Simultaneously, the health care workers tend to prescribe some remedies that calm the overreaction of the body as it attempts to fight back the disease. This over reaction of the body is deemed to contribute to death through inflammation hence the need for doctors to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. Almost all these interventions do not treat the disease but give the body a chance to develop its own antibodies. If this is successful, the individual will recover, sometimes with a permanent organ damage. Some few people go on to fully recover from these secondary damages. For healthy and active individuals, the body can overcome this with minor resistance from the disease described as mild symptoms or with no symptoms where the individual presents as asymptomatic. Unfortunately, in both conditions the individual still spreads the disease.
The solution to a viral infection of a pandemic nature is mass vaccination. A vaccine is made from the same characteristics of the virus. Currently there are several methods used to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. The old, tried, and tested methods that usually take many years are inactive virus and viral protein vaccines whereas the viral vector (Oxford – AstraZeneca vaccine) and the messenger RiboNucleic Acid (mRNA) used by (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine) are the modern ones, never used before. Using these two modern methods, admittedly untried methods which produced a vaccine in less than a year, have caused some discomfort to the few sceptics. Regardless, this is a great scientific development which should be viewed as God given and driven. We are reminded of God’s instruction to Moses when there was an outbreak of deadly snakes: Numbers 21; 9 ‘So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived’. We need our bronze snakes which could be God given vaccine. In the case of Moses and the children of Israel, God did not clear the snakes but connected the healing to something like their problem. This is where faith in God must be applied in accordance with his commandment and knowledge already released to mankind.
God commanded knowledge to mankind for survival in various circumstances, including taming natural conditions or overcoming some natural laws such as gravity through flying machines, inventing fast means of communication which in turn have made the world a global village. This awesome God has given mankind, among all living organism, creative power to solve encountered problems. For instance, during the cholera pandemic of the 1820s in the UK, the bubonic plague, polio, measles the children killer diseases. All solutions came from science – institutionalised knowledge. Later, due to the vaccine, the unacceptable deaths of children under the age of 5 was addressed. Strange enough, people oppose the COVID 19 vaccine when they are sending their children to be immunised for 1st year, 3rd, and a booster at 5 years. How is it so that now they question the reason for phased vaccination of COVID 19 jabs.
It is important to explain briefly how a vaccine works albeit noting that current methods of making vaccines vary but the outcome is the same. When a person receives the jab made from genetically modified or RNA spike protein, typical of the virus COVID 19, the body is trained to attack this spike protein. The body training is key in allowing the development of the antibodies to fight this pseudo virus hence giving the body essential recruitment of the specialised army (antibodies) and internalised body memory to fight this type of infection.
Now, if the body gets exposed to the real virus in future, the body memory is already armed to destroy the invader. This is the top-notch reason why people must be vaccinated. Noteworthy, a vaccine does not treat the virus but teaches the body to learn to react to the actual virus. The unfortunate part is that the pharmaceutical sector is a money-spinning industry with huge business competition both at regional and at individual company level. This has purred the rise of propaganda and conspiracy theories that capitalises on the readily available social media. The other scenario is that the church has fallen for this trap, largely due to the lack of knowledge. This can be traced to the fact that; most believers are consumers of gospel products that are produced by their leaders or their prophets instead of being practicing Christians that read and understand the Word of God and more than anything else. This is part of the itching ear of some believers of the last days.
Subsequently, the propagandist together with the conspiracy theorist, have teamed up to advance antivirus and antivaccine hidden competitive agendas that ride on or exploit this loophole to the maximum, worse still among African countries with glaring inert superstition. Ironically, our African brothers and sisters have fallen easily into trusting information that is peddled mainly by ‘Westerners’ which is sometimes well-orchestrated to achieve other agendas. Strange enough, similar lines of thought are entrenched among black, and to some extent Asian minorities in the western countries.
Paradoxically, these groups are the ones that succumb to this disease more than their white counterparts when exposed to similar conditions. Relatives and friends (from the black and Asian ethnic background) that have succumbed to this disease have hardly lasted for a week after developing the symptoms. Either within that week they defeat it, or they are gone.
The spatial and demographic variation in morbidity and mortality among minority groups in Europe and short morbidity among those in Africa should be central question for scientists. For instance, why are black and people of Asian origin dying disproportionately in Europe and, in Africa, why are those who contract COVID 19 succumb to it quicker? In contrast, the focus among African groups relates to the origin or existence of COVID 19 and myths regarding the vaccine. We see the element of lulling Africans until severe damage has been done by the disease.
We call upon Africans to wake up, smell the coffee and ask the right questions – right scientific questions. We should avoid being blind folded by superstition, more unfortunate the prophets. These prophets want to find relevance NOW by disputing the existence of the virus let alone the vaccine erroneously associating it with the mark of the beast, the 5G cellular network that will allegedly control people and the new world order.
We want to end by declaring again that, we are saved, practicing Christians that read the Word of God thoroughly ‘precept by precept and line by line’. We made a choice to receive Christ as our personal saviour and Lord. In all honesty, the mark of the beast 666 cannot come in an extremely camouflaged manner.
Scriptures are clear where the mark will be. God knows these body parts and cannot call a shoulder a hand. More importantly, it is clear from scriptures that the mark of the beast shall not come before the Church is raptured. If one is worried about 666, it is time that they check their salvation. It is true that Christians suffer tribulation already here on earth but not that of the period of 666. That tribulation is clearly not for the saved ones.
The Bible is clear on that matter. It is time that we wake up and see what was said by the prophet that “my people perish due to lack of knowledge”.
Daniel 12.4 also said ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased’. Both bad and good knowledge shall increase, and we have the choice to dissect the packaging and find the true content whether online or from the church leader’s messages. Be alert.
Finally, Christ also warned that; ‘And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened’ Mathew 24;22. Stay alive get the RIGHT knowledge!!
About the Authors Mr Oliver Dube is an Environmental Scientist and Spatial Analyst based in the United Kingdom and Dr Stanley Maphosa is a Social Scientist and Pastor based in South Africa.
Parties to the Tripartite Negotiation Forum (TNF), which hit turbulent times last year as both private and public labour unions boycotted the forum due to disagreements on the agenda, will convene anytime soon after agreeing to iron out their differences.
The principals met recently and agreed to convene another meeting.
Salaries for both the private sector and civil servants are expected to be one of the main items on the agenda.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said he is now waiting for reports from technical committees to set the actual date for the meeting.
“I have met with principals to the TNF — Mr (Peter) Mutasa for labour and Dr (Israel) Murefu for business and others — and we have agreed that we should go ahead with the main meeting,” he said.
“So we will meet as soon as we receive technical reports from technical committees to set up the agenda and come up with a date.
“We have agreed that we should meet once every quarter and I don’t see any hurdles in our way now because we have ironed out our differences and we are ready to negotiate.”
Professor Mavima said the Government is committed to ensuring that workers have competitive salaries.
“The main bone of contention had been the issue of salaries and now that we are expecting a roadmap for salary increments from the NJNC (National Joint Negotiating Council) by the end of this month, I don’t think there will be any problems,” he said.
“A number of National Employment Councils are already in negotiations with employers, so that is good progress already.
“I will also be meeting with the President soon to apprise him of the expectations and demands that the principals have.” The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president, Mr Peter Mutasa, said his organisation is keen to work with parties to the TNF and will thus attend the meeting.
“We had a principals meeting with the minister and we were very clear about what needs to be done,” he said.
“Incomes are being eroded by inflation and prices are being pegged in US dollars, and those are the things that need to be addressed.
“We want the minister to call for a special TNF meeting to discuss these issues. If the minister calls for a meeting today and there are no income and price issues on the agenda, then we do not see the need to attend because at this time these are the pressing issues.”
Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (Emcoz) president Dr Israel Murefu confirmed that business will attend the meeting. “Yes, we are going to attend as representatives of business,” he said.
“We had a meeting of principals in early February and we agreed that we should meet soon, hopefully end of February or the beginning of March. I don’t think there will be any problems this time around.”
An actress from South Africa Mzansi Magic’s Isibaya television soap is expected to appear in court at the Pretoria Magistrate Court today.
Zinhle Mabena, who plays Sihle, was arrested yesterday (Tuesday) on suspicions of being involved in the attempted murder of her husband.
During the alleged attempt, which took place on 28 January, the husband’s bodyguard died. According to Gauteng SAPS Spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele, evidence that linked the actress to the murder and attempted murder was found.
“A 29-year old female suspect is set to make a first appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate Court on Wednesday, 17 February 2021 following her arrest on Tuesday, 16 February 2021, on suspicion of being involved in the attempted murder of her husband and the murder of the husband’s bodyguard,” read the statement.
“Following an intensive investigation into the shooting incident that happened on 28 January 2021, police found evidence that linked the woman to the attempted murder and murder case,” it continued.-Daily Sun
Big Saturday Read: Political Reforms – What the MDC Alliance can do
Alex T. Magaisa
The challenge of problem-solving
When you have spent a long time trying to solve a problem, you might reach a point where you start believing that it cannot be solved. Many of us have found ourselves at this frustrating juncture.
But then, just when you are about to give up, someone might suggest that maybe you were looking at the problem the wrong way. The change of perspective might redefine the problem, making it simpler to resolve. This BSR provokes thought in that direction through an examination of the elusive “political reforms”.
At present, the framing of “political reforms” is that they are dependent on what ZANU PF, as the ruling party, should do to improve the electoral system and environment. The idea is that such reforms would produce a fairer system that would assist in achieving legitimate electoral outcomes. However, most observers agree that ZANU PF has no incentive to implement such reforms. Therefore, the chances of achieving political reforms under the ZANU PF regime are remote.
This leaves the opposition in a bind; waiting for another election that will be contested under an unreformed and unfair electoral system and environment. This amounts to doing the same thing that has been done before, hoping for a different result – something that falls in the definition of madness. But this assumes that the opposition cannot change the way it does things; that it will do things the way it has done them before.
This is where a different approach to the problem requires examination. Political reforms are not an end in themselves. They are a means to an end. Is it not possible, therefore, without reforms, to achieve the end? It is important to take a fresh look at the nature of political reforms. I argue that as the biggest and most formidable opposition party, the MDC Alliance should within for political reforms that would make it a better and more effective force against a seemingly intractable regime.
I would therefore like to offer a broader definition of political reforms which include reforms to the opposition and its capacity to mount a more effective electoral campaign. In other words, political reforms should not only be what is expected from ZANU PF to improve the electoral field, but what is expected from the opposition to improve its chances of winning political power. This question: the reform of the opposition parties is rarely examined because the assumption is that they are good enough for the task. This BSR argues that since little can be gained from ZANU PF in terms of reforms, the MDC Alliance should focus more on building itself and learning from past errors to be a stronger, better, and more powerful electoral candidate.
Discovery of Ignorance
A few years ago, I explained the meaning of the notion of “discovery of ignorance”, also in the context of electoral politics. It is a concept I borrowed from Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. The argument is as follows: human progress is based on the admission of ignorance, because when you admit that you do not know, you invest in research to discover what you do not know, and armed with that knowledge, things are more likely to improve. If, however, you begin from the position that you know everything, you are unlikely to discover the things that you do not know and you are, therefore, less likely to improve.
After every election, the outcries over rigging are so loud that all too often, the weaknesses that may have impacted the campaign are ignored. The result is that the opposition parties go for another 5 years, demanding reforms from ZANU PF, but never attending to the weaknesses that may have affected their performance. The dominant narrative is that there was rigging. The dominant narrative obscures other narratives of the election. The problem is that any strategic errors that affected the electoral performance will be repeated in the next election.
If, however, the opposition goes through a process of discovering ignorance, it would invest resources in researching and reviewing the previous election and identifying the things that went wrong and things that went right. In that way, the wrong things might be avoided while the right things might be amplified. To start, you must take off the blinkers and say “we do not know”. That way you start the process of discovery.
Take the performance of the MDC Alliance at the presidential and parliamentary levels. A cursory glance at the figures shows that Nelson Chamisa as a presidential candidate performed better than his party, the MDC Alliance. While the presidential election was very close, ZANU PF ended up with a two-thirds majority in Parliament. If parliamentary seats had been allocated based on votes in the presidential election, representation in parliament would be nearly even and ZANU PF would certainly not have a two-thirds majority.
The opposition should be asking why its presidential candidate outperformed the party and what can be done in the future to ensure there is more alignment between performances at the presidential and parliamentary level. Perhaps one of the reasons is simply that voters liked the presidential candidate more than the party’s parliamentary candidates. Or it might be that there was more focus on the presidential race than on the parliamentary race, which affected the allocation of campaign resources. A proper review would provide better answers to this question and better strategic approaches for the next election.
Support is not Permanent
The MDC Alliance has managed to withstand the assault by ZANU PF and its surrogates over the past 12 months, but it would be foolhardy if the party sat on its laurels. The support (and sympathy) that it currently enjoys cannot be taken for granted because it is not permanent. To appreciate this point, I have classified three types of political supporters, from the hardcore to the floating supporters.
The “Vietnam/Soweto” Section
Every party has hard-core supporters. This is the “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” type of supporter – the fanatics and they wear their badge with pride. This type supports the party through thick and thin – they are diehards. We might call this the inner core.
This is a fanatical group, and it is essential to the party because it keeps the morale high in challenging times. When everyone is down, they keep singing. A close analogy is what you might witness at a football stadium. There is a section dedicated to these fanatics. Rufaro Stadium has the “Vietnam” section for fanatical Dynamos supporters. Barbourfields Stadium has “Soweto”, for hard-core Highlanders fans. Political parties also have their versions of “Vietnam” or “Soweto”. Even on social media, political parties have their versions of “Vietnam” or “Soweto” sections.
Moderate
The second type includes those who stand with the party, but they are not as fanatical as the hard-core group. They are the moderate type – loyal, but up to a point. They might occasionally be critical of the party, but they will generally defend it against opponents. We might call this the outer core. This is very important because it is bigger than the fanatical group and its support should never be taken for granted. To use the football analogy, they come to the stadium but they are not as vocal as the Vietnam or Soweto types. They don’t want to be the Vietnam or Soweto type but they support them because they know that they are essential to the party. In the context of politics, this type will generally fulfill the duty to vote on election day.
Floaters
Finally, there is a type that is more sympathetic to the party than truly supportive. They have some doubts about the party and might be concerned by its weaknesses, but they find the alternative too repulsive to support. We might call this the floating type. The support is tenuous. The problem with this type is that because it is concerned by the weaknesses of the opposition and the repulsiveness of the ruling party, they might choose to stay away from politics altogether. To continue with the football analogy, these do not go to the stadium. Their heart is with the team but if it keeps losing matches, they might become indifferent and although they might never join a fierce rival, they might switch teams if a new one comes along.
The party needs to read these nuances of political support very carefully, especially at this time. This will prevent falling for the fallacy of over-generalization, where the inner core is confused for all layers of support. An appreciation of these nuances will help the MDC Alliance not to take its current levels of support for granted. The Vietnam/Soweto section is loud, and it has kept morale high in a very difficult year. But it is important to know that this is only one layer of support. The other layers should not be forgotten because they can be the difference between success and failure.
The MDC Alliance has its rivals to thank for doing a great job galvanizing the moderates and generating the sympathy of floaters in the wake of what has happened over the past year. The floaters are generally reasonable and they like fair play. The picture of ZANU PF and the judicially reconstructed MDC T ganging up against the MDC Alliance and stealing not only its hard-won parliamentary and council seats but also their share of political funding and headquarters has been repulsive. The blatant favouritism shown to the MDC-T by the regime and its apparatus of power has happened before their eyes. Far from helping the MDC-T, it has given a boost to the MDC Alliance, which is seen as the victim of a repressive regime. But this too is not permanent.
Party Structures
The MDC Alliance has just survived a serious attempt at disruption. While the party has remained resilient, with its support base largely intact, the impact of what has happened on party structures cannot be dismissed. It is hard due to the pandemic to get a full picture of how the party has been impacted. Even though the signs are reassuring, it is important not to take this for granted.
It’s important to ensure that party structures are in good working order across the country, especially in some rural areas where there have been weaknesses. Party structures are part of ensuring a physical presence in all parts of the country. This has been one of the party’s strengths but the impact of the pandemic and the disruption caused by ZANU PF and its surrogates should be taken into account.
The national organizer has his work cut out for him. The pandemic has made the job of organizing, mobilizing, and recruiting members more challenging. Rumours of what has been happening in Harare would not have helped. There might be a lot of confusion out there, which needs to be cleared. There will be more campaigns of disinformation, especially in remote areas. This is also why the communication channels between Harare and the provinces need to be worked on.
Eyes and Ears on the Ground
An effective anti-ragging strategy is having eyes and ears on the ground during the election process. This simply means there must be election agents at each polling station. You cannot prevent rigging unless you have people at each polling station.
One of the factors that made the 29 March 2008 elections so hard to rig was that the MDC had eyes and ears at polling stations across the country. They captured election data as it was posted outside the polling station – one of the key reforms passed just before that election. It allowed the MDC to do parallel tabulation of voting results, making it harder for the elections management body to fiddle with the results.
However, the past two elections have not been the same, and in some cases, local observers have lamented that opposition parties had virtually no representation at some polling stations. It is at such polling stations that rigging takes place because no one is watching the riggers. It’s like leaving the rats in charge of the granary. It gets worse: without polling agents, there will be no V11 forms.
One of the problems is that the deployment of polling agents is done late. The other is that polling agents are poorly resourced, which leaves them vulnerable to bribery. If there is an area that needs reforms, it is this critical issue of deploying polling agents. It cannot be a last-minute job. Going into an election without a proper deployment of polling agents is like going to fight a war without guns.
Bribery of polling agents is a problem but one has to rely on the moral and ethical qualities of agents. This is why it’s important to identify reliable cadres, preferably from the Vietnam/Soweto section. The first line of defence is those agents at the frontline at polling stations and it needs dedicated cadres who are prepared to give their all to defend the party and to protect the vote. Politicians prioritize rallies, but training programs to build election-preparedness are far more important.
To protect the vote, you have to be there when people are voting and your voters must be confident that their people are also there at the polling stations. It gives confidence to the voters but also reduces opportunities for rigging. This is probably the most important political reform that the MDC Alliance needs to work on and it does not depend on its rivals. It is well within its control. The strategic target should be very simple: there must be a V11 from each polling station at the next election. If the party cannot guarantee that, the incentive for voting is very low because ZANU PF will simply exploit the gaping holes.
Avoid imposition of candidates
One of the challenges that have split political parties towards elections is the issue of choice of candidates. If the leadership has learned anything from previous elections and recent events, hopefully, one thing that has not escaped them is that representatives should not be imposed on the electorate. The choice of the leaders is not paramount. The will of the people must be respected. In 2013, Morgan Tsvangirai took the side of Giles Mutsekwa in the Dangamvura ahead of Arnold Tsunga who was the electorate’s preferred choice. Tsunga refused to back down. Mutsekwa was duly walloped. The people had prevailed.
More recently in Glen View, the MDC Alliance chose Vincent Tsvangirai ahead of local candidates to fill in the seat left by the tragic death of Vimbai Tsvangirai. Not long afterward, Vincent Tsvangirai left with the Mwonzora-led party, leaving constituents in the lurch. The only qualification he possessed was his famous name. It’s yet another reminder to the leadership to be more careful how they choose representatives. They must always listen to the grassroots. They know their people and they can tell between genuine cadres and glory-hunters. How the party chooses candidates is a fundamental reform that is well within the control of the party. It does not depend on ZANU PF or rival parties.
Mobilizing Resources
Running a national political party is like managing a major corporation. The only difference is that those who run corporations seek to make monetary profits, which is not the primary aim of a political party. But those who run political parties also seek to make a profit of a different kind. They seek to gain the power to govern the country. In both cases – running a corporation or a political party – there is a need for significant financial investment. It is impossible to succeed in modern electoral contests without a sufficient pool of resources. This explains why ZANU PF made sure public funds due to the MDC Alliance were diverted to the MDC-T. Supporting the MDC-T is secondary, the primary purpose is to starve the MDC Alliance of resources to run the party.
It is therefore fundamental for the MDC Alliance to mobilize resources. Last year the MDC Alliance launched a membership mobilization campaign, targeting the Diaspora. It is not clear how much progress was made on this front. However, a few observations from the public may be useful. Technological glitches need to be sorted to ease the process. More significantly, however, the model can be reconfigured for mass appeal. If the membership fee is pitched at a lower level, more people are likely to join. Second, if there is a monthly subscription fee which is also low, more people are likely to subscribe. A membership fee of $10 attracting 1000 people is better than a membership fee of $80 which many people might find daunting.
By way of example, for the past decade, I have paid monthly donations to 3 charities in the UK (an average of £7) and I barely notice it. However, I am probably one of a million small donors, which makes it a minimum of £7 million in revenue each month for one charity. I would probably think twice if my donation were higher. The point is this: if the MDC Alliance wants to raise more funds from its members, it should reduce the figures because it will probably attract more subscribers. Having been deprived of its hard-earned income from its performance at the last election, it has no choice but to be creative and to rely on its members. People balk at high figures, but they will respond more favourably to lower figures.
Additionally, the party should consider more convenient modes of payment such as Venmo, CashApp, Paypal, etc. People tend to be wary of registering using their bank details because of security concerns. These apps are widely used and trusted as they provide a layer of security and they are also often cheaper to send small amounts.
Strengthen Communications
In Fadzayi Mahere, the MDC Alliance has a brilliant and effective spokesperson who has represented the party exceedingly well over the past year. An accomplished advocate in her professional line of work, the art of communication and persuasion is a natural part of her portfolio. But her skill set does not begin and end with the gift of elocution, no. It is sometimes the case that one either speaks well or they have substance without the ability to communicate it. Mahere has both.
Her appointment to that role was one of Chamisa’s finest moments which is a credit to him because a good leader identifies and deploys talent strategically. This is working in his and the party’s favour. Unsurprisingly, her effectiveness has made her a target of vitriolic and misogynistic attacks from ZANU PF trolls. While Mahere has been carrying the water well for her teammates, the job of a modern-day communicator cannot be done by one person. It needs a team. But such a team requires resources. This is why the resource mobilization shift is even more important. When you communicate well, you have done more than half the job, which is why this function requires further support and amplification.
One of the great reforms that are required is strengthening the communications function of the party. While the party has the Change Radio platform, which uses the WhatsApp platform, more of this needs to be done on a broader scale. ZANU PF knows the importance of radio as a popular and effective medium of communication, which is why it has maintained a broad monopoly of airwaves. The opposition needs to counter this propaganda. Chamisa’s recent op-ed in The Guardian newspaper was an excellent example of the kind of communication that is required to communicate with a broader audience.
Social media has offered opportunities to counter ZANU PF propaganda. Unlike traditional media platforms, ZANU PF does not have a monopoly of propaganda. Its propaganda is continuously subjected to intense scrutiny by citizens. The government’s spokesperson Ndavaningi Mangwana has had to block Fadzayi Mahere and other regime critics, a sign of frustration at his inability to compete with his peers who are constantly debunking his propaganda. The regime is used to shutting down critical voices, but since it cannot control Twitter, the next best option is to block them and create a safe zone for propaganda. But it is impossible to silence everyone.
Since ZANU PF is not going to reform and ensure that the ZBC, The Herald, and others are more open and inclusive, the MDC Alliance must carry out media reforms of its own by being innovative. The MDC Alliance must make better use of social media platforms like WhatsApp to communicate with the people. It must create content that is relevant, current, and persuasive. What stands in the way is a lack of resources. This is a most important function that requires funding. This is why one of the key reforms for the MDC is how to fund the party and its programs. This, as I have already stated, is a reform that is well within the MDC Alliance’s reach. They do not depend on ZANU PF. Being the alternative The job of the opposition is two-fold: it keeps the government in check and stands as the alternative government. Keeping the government in check means monitoring government policies and programs and holding them to account. This is done not only in the formal theatres of power such as Parliament but also in the media, which nowadays has expanded through social media. Only a few leaders of the MDC Alliance are adept at using social media, but most of the time it is to counter the propaganda from the state and ruling party handles on Twitter and Facebook. This has been effective and has frustrated ruling party propagandists which have responded with vitriol or arrests of opposition figures, such as the recent arrest of Fadzayi Mahere and Job Sikhala.
The other function, being the alternative government requires more work. While the MDC Alliance has done well to counter ZANU PF propaganda, it needs to do more to generate its content. When the BSR published details of corruption under the RBZ Farm Mechanisation Scheme, both ZANU PF and the government came out aggressively to defend themselves. When Hopewell Chin’ono pushed the matter of corruption surrounding the procurement of COVID19 goods, the ruling party and government not only responded aggressively too, but he was arrested and thrown into Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
In both cases, something had happened to ZANU PF which it was not used to: the agenda had been set elsewhere and it had to respond. This is important because this is what the opposition as the government in waiting should be doing. It should be setting the agenda for ZANU PF, forcing it to respond. For this to happen, the opposition has to act as a Shadow Government – shadowing every move that the government makes and responding accordingly. There is a need for a dedicated team of professionals that track what the government is doing. It is these professionals who help the politicians with policy-based responses. You do not wait for the next election to write a manifesto. It is an on-going process.
Right now, there should be a robust policy-based proposition concerning the vaccination program, not as a response to the regime but as an alternative. This would demonstrate clearly to the citizens what the MDC Alliance would do differently if it were in charge. Likewise regarding the economy, agriculture, education, etc. How to oppose and how to be an alternative government is an important political reform that is well within the opposition party’s remit.
Name
Last year in May I wrote about the need to seriously invest some thought and resources into the issue of the party’s name. To that, I should also add the party’s constitution. These are important political reform issues within the MDC Alliance. There is a need for clarity. We do not want to be back here and say we told you so, because it does not help anyone. The MDC Alliance is the most credible opposition in the country and it matters because there must be checks and balances in our political system. But it is also clear that ZANU PF and its controlled opposition will not relent on their efforts to strip the MDC Alliance of everything, including its identity. It is not the name that wins elections. It is the idea and the people behind it that the people believe in.
Conclusion
Although the MDC Alliance remains the most authentic and credible challenge and alternative to the long-running ZANU PF regime whose footprint is defined by incompetence and repression, it cannot afford to rest on its laurels. It is fortified by its hard-core supporters, but this should not obscure its view of the other layers of the electorate, whose support is not guaranteed. The difference between political parties is often between the size of their inner core supporters and their ability to draw support from the unsure and wavering electorate. ZANU PF’s sheer incompetence and repressive politics make them difficult to support. But this is not good enough for the opposition. It cannot bank on ZANU PF failings. To win power, it must do more and this is where the issue of political reforms comes in.
While political reforms are often discussed in the context of what the ZANU PF regime should do to improve the electoral system and environment, I have switched the lenses to focus on internal political reforms that are required in the opposition. It starts with what I have referred to as the “discovery of ignorance”; an acknowledgment that “we do not know”, which is the foundation of research, the acquisition of knowledge, and improvement. There are things beyond rigging that have gone wrong in previous elections; things that need fixing. Those things can be fixed, but only if the opposition undertakes political reforms of its own. The advantage of these reforms is that they are entirely within the opposition’s control; they do not depend on ZANU PF doing something.
Youths will be prioritised when the Government begins redistributing vacant and underutilised land that has been identified through the recent land audit, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his eulogy at the burial of former Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Deputy Commissioner Moses Griffiths Mpofu at the National Heroes Acre yesterday, the President said the country should leverage on the legacy bequeathed by its heroes to create a prosperous future.
“I am aware that our youths are crying out for pieces of land and are eager to work the land,” he said. “The inquiry we launched on agricultural land has identified lots of land which is vacant, underutilised and belonging to multiple owners.
“Government will repossess that land for on-leasing to the landless, foremost among them the youths.”
The land reform programme, said the President, must validate its justness by delivering to “this generation of youth”.
Youths are increasingly taking up farming as a full-time profession. The President called on farmers to take advantage of this season’s good rains to grow the agriculture sector and the economy.
“The land must, therefore, be worked on, made to produce like never before,” he said.
“Meanwhile, my Government continues to build dams and to set up irrigation schemes designed to climate-proof our agriculture towards greater production and productivity in both lean and ‘fat’ years.
“This is more urgent and important as the ongoing trade on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area presents opportunities.”
The Government, through Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and ZimTrade, was developing and expanding existing export markets for agricultural produce.
Agriculture is a critical avenue to transform the country into upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“Let us therefore put Zimbabwe on the global agriculture map by taking full advantage of our rich soils, climate and our tradition as a hardworking people,” said the President.
“In this regard, export market-led production must be strengthened, leveraging on the ongoing work by the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and ZimTrade.
“Our country is well on the path to irreversible economic recovery. This is further augmented by the macro-economic fundamentals which are pointing in the right direction.”
President Mnangagwa said the Government continues to mobilise more vaccines after the country took delivery of its first consignment of 200 000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from China on Monday.
Zimbabwe launched its nationwide vaccination programme on Thursday. “Early in the week, we took delivery of our first batch of vaccines against the pandemic.
“The vaccination programme started rolling out this Thursday, with our Vice President, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care, receiving the first jab, and many other frontline workers joining.
“The vaccine is safe and an effective antidote against Covid-19 and indeed part of our weaponry in fighting the virus.
“All of us, including myself as the President, Cabinet ministers and all officials, will get vaccinated.” He urged Zimbabweans to embrace the immunisation programme for the country to quickly return to normalcy.
Urban local authorities were warned against corruption. The Government, he added, will not hesitate dealing with land barons behind the illegal parcelling of land to desperate homeseekers.
“We mean business and there will be no going back or let up,” he said. “We cannot leave our people to the whims and caprices of notorious land barons who have been running riot.
“Equally, the fight against all forms of corruption and other criminal activities continues at full throttle. This is what the late Cde Moses Griffiths Mpofu stood for. We will not let him down by condoning lawlessness in the country.”
The President said Cde Mpofu served the country with distinction, loyalty, courage and fortitude.
“He never wavered in the course of serving the nation and Government, particularly with regards ensuring law, order and safety; hence we honour him in this befitting way, resting him among his wartime comrades,” he said.
He added: “I exhort the officers, men and women in the Zimbabwe Republic Police to emulate the footprints of the late national hero, Deputy Commissioner Cde Mpofu (Rtd), who was a rare breed, uncompromising service officer, dedicated and disciplined cadre.
“You must be emboldened by a benchmarking legacy our national hero bequeathed to the policing service.”
The Government was committed towards supporting the police service with regards executing its mandate, he said.
Cde Mpofu was born on August 9, 1954 in Nyamandlovhu District before attending Nhlabathi and Nkonzo primary schools in Tsholotsho. He completed his secondary education at Tegwani High School.
In 1974, he was appointed to the post of Secretary for Youth in Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU), covering Hwange and Victoria Falls.
He received guerrilla training at Mwembeshi and later Mgagao and Morogoro in Tanzania.
Between 1978 and 1979 he was seconded for further command-related and intelligence training course at the Novocherkassk Advanced Police Academy in the then Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in anticipation of new duties in independent Zimbabwe.
At independence, Cde Mpofu joined the ZRP as a constable before rising through the ranks to the post of Deputy Commissioner in 1999, a rank which he held until his retirement in December 2003. -Herald
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly strongly condemns the senseless and barbarian manner in which our Mashonaland West leadership were ‘arrested’ by gun totting soldiers in company of the police.
It is shocking that the unrepentant regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa which is hiding under the veil of Covid-19 regulations continue to weaponize the pandemic against opposition members.
This time the police preferred a shameful charge that the Mashonaland West PAC leadership were having “an illegal gathering”.
It is mind boggling how 10 people observing social distance and wearing masks in a meeting at their own party offices could be said to be having an illegal gathering.
Ironically just over a week ago, ZANU PF held its own internal party elections to replace the late Ellen Gwaradzimba with over 30 delegates attending Manicaland held event.
Clearly there is selective application of the law bend on suffocating the opposition from having their own processes.
The arrest of Mash West PAC leadership comes hotly after the arrest of Youth Assembly National Executive Committee member, Makomborero Haruzivishe who was today denied bail by a Harare Magistrate.
It is clear that the junta has upped their repression gear and the only normal response is for us to up our resistance gear.
Our choices in face of incessant attacks on our liberties are very much limited.
Either we defy or die!
DefyOrDie
FreeOurLeaders
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma_ MDC Alliance Youth MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Condemns Senseless Arrest Of Our Mash West Leadership
20-02-2020
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly strongly condemns the senseless and barbarian manner in which our Mashonaland West leadership were ‘arrested’ by gun totting soldiers in company of the police.
It is shocking that the unrepentant regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa which is hiding under the veil of Covid-19 regulations continue to weaponize the pandemic against opposition members.
This time the police preferred a shameful charge that the Mashonaland West PAC leadership were having “an illegal gathering”.
It is mind boggling how 10 people observing social distance and wearing masks in a meeting at their own party offices could be said to be having an illegal gathering.
Ironically just over a week ago, ZANU PF held its own internal party elections to replace the late Ellen Gwaradzimba with over 30 delegates attending the Manicaland held event.
Clearly there is selective application of the law bend on suffocating the opposition from having their own processes.
The arrest of Mash West PAC leadership comes hotly after the arrest of Youth Assembly National Executive Committee member, Makomborero Haruzivishe who was today denied bail by a Harare Magistrate.
It is clear that the junta has upped their repression gear and the only normal response is for us to up our resistance gear.
Our choices in face of incessant attacks on our liberties are very much limited.
Either we defy or die!
DefyOrDie
FreeOurLeaders
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
The recent hike in mining fees has irked small scale miners countrywide, with the Zimbabwe Federation of Miners (ZMF) pleading with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to reconsider its decision.
ZMF, the biggest miners’ representative body has noted that the increase will force some miners to engage in underhand mining which will prejudice the country of mineral revenue.
The Ministry on Thursday issued Statutory Instrument 44 of 2021 where it announced an 800 percent hike in fees. The fees are pegged against the US$. Miners under the ZMF banner said the increase was unaffordable.
ZMF president Ms Henrietta Rushwaya has said their organisation was going to take the matter up with Mines and Mining Development Minister Winston Chitando, who is also the organisation’s patron.
“The Zimbabwe Miners Federation has noted with concern the newly gazetted prices in accordance with Statutory Instrument (SI) 44 of 2021. “We are treating the matter with utmost urgency.
“The fees are too prohibitive for the majority of our miners and are likely to lead to forfeitures and forcing them into illegal mining.”
The ZMF president advised miners that a meeting with Minister Chitando was being sought so as to find ways to reach an amicable solution.
Previously, an ordinary prospecting licence cost RTGS$1 000 but has been raised to US$100 (RTGS$8 300).
A special prospecting licence is now pegged at US$750 while an application for revocation of forfeiture is now US$1 000.
The Ministry of Mines and Mining Development gazetted the application for a mining lease at US$2 000, while that for a special mining lease costs US$5 000. SI 44 of 2021 states that for one to register as an approved prospector they have to pay US$4 000. -Sunday Mail
High agriculture yields expected this year are likely to push food prices down and reduce inflation to less than 10 percent and drive economic progress, as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) anticipates record economic growth by year end.
Agriculture is set to overtake the mining sector as the lead industry in boosting the country’s trade and industrial performance, buoyed by the bountiful rainy season. The RBZ’s forecast for the year puts farming at the forefront of guiding the economy to a healthy trajectory as the Government steps up efforts to achieve its target of reaching single digit inflation.
RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya said this year’s favourable agricultural season will be the backdrop of price and financial systems stability. Dr Mangudya presented this year’s first Monetary Policy Statement (MPS), last Thursday where he said this year’s agriculture harvest was going to be the backbone of economic recovery.
“The bank remains optimistic that the expected economic growth of 7,4 percent in 2021 is achievable. The bank also projects annual inflation to close the year at below 10 percent. The measured optimism is based on the expected significant growth of the agricultural output in 2021, as a result of the good rainy season, fiscal sustainability and the bank’s focus on price and financial system stability.”
In his address, Dr Mangudya said the MPS’ main focus was to curtail inflation and control the foreign exchange auction system so as to support economic growth. The Central bank chief said agriculture was going to subdue the country’s inflationary pressures.
“Coupled with increased food production due to a favourable agriculture season, inflationary pressures are expected to remain subdued in the short to medium term. As a result, the economy is expected to continue experiencing a gradual disinflation from the 362,6 percent annual inflation in December 2020 to below 10 percent by December 2021.”
The aura of optimism in the RBZ is also felt by farmers who are expecting a bumper harvest, after years of wallowing under successive seasons of drought. In an interview, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said it was highly expected that monetary authorities would foresee economic growth anchored by agriculture.
“Looking at the figures, it is pleasing to take note of how the improved rains this season have heightened hopes for a better performing economy,” said Minister Masuka.
In this summer cropping season, the Government set an ambitious yet attainable target to plough 1,5 million hectares of maize. Minister Masuka said maize production was to exceed the one million tonnes mark from last season’s 900 000 tonnes.
Farmers said they would support the Government’s move to leverage agriculture as an economic growth base. Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union vice president Mr Winston Babbage lauded RBZ’s projects but called for the Government to support farmers in providing conduits for agro-harvest.
“Indeed the good rains we are having will result in an improvement in trade of agriculture produce. If the economy improves, so does life for the farmer and the generality of industry. We would want that optimism to follow through as well when the time of harvest comes. Farmers face a lot of bottlenecks in finding markets and good prices for their produce,” he said.
Besides the reliance on maize, other agriculture products such as cotton, citrus and beef were counted as critical in meeting the 7,4 percent economic growth prospect. According to ZimTrade, exports from the agriculture sector are expected to post 2,7 percent growth this year. -Sunday Mail
By Oliver Dube and Dr Stanley Maphosa | We are consumed by the desire to herald the truth in the age of increased information and knowledge. For this reason, we would like to demystify some dangerous misinformation that is being peddled by certain people for overt, sinister reasons.
Russian experts working on a Coronavirus vaccine.
Basically, infectious diseases are regarded as ailments caused by organisms, namely bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites. The mechanisms for the transmission of the infectious diseases vary. The common ones are person to person, insects or other animals and ingesting contaminated food or water, and inhalation. The practical ways to decrease the risk of infection include hands washing, getting vaccinated (this is known to considerably reduce chances of catching many diseases), staying home when unwell, preparing food safely, avoiding sharing personal items and travelling wisely.
From a Christian point of view there is some consensus that some of these diseases could be demonic oppressions or spiritually related. Besides, it is also strongly believed that God can also send disasters as an awakening call for His people as He said in His Word in 2 Chronicle 7: 13, that “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among…’ This scripture signal that God could be demanding humility from His people who might have defiled their bodies that He has declared to be His living temple.
In terms of the treatment of infectious diseases, this depends on the source species. It is possible to treat bacterial and fungal infection using antibiotics and antifungals. However, a viral infection is obviously caused by a virus of a certain species and there is hardly any treatment for most of them. The body must quickly identify this alien substance and develop a specific antibody to fight it. We all now know that COVID-19 is a viral infection of the family of corona which includes influenza. However, this one is deadlier than the later. In fact, COVID 19 is more efficient in clinging to cells and with high probability of causing serious pneumonia which is far deadlier than flue. Let alone, if one has a compromised immune system, they run the risk of dying from the complications that are related to pneumonia where the body organs are starved of oxygen for example heart, kidney, and brains cells. Therefore, the hospital can only help the body through use of ventilators that take over the supply of oxygen. Simultaneously, the health care workers tend to prescribe some remedies that calm the overreaction of the body as it attempts to fight back the disease. This over reaction of the body is deemed to contribute to death through inflammation hence the need for doctors to prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs. Almost all these interventions do not treat the disease but give the body a chance to develop its own antibodies. If this is successful, the individual will recover, sometimes with a permanent organ damage. Some few people go on to fully recover from these secondary damages. For healthy and active individuals, the body can overcome this with minor resistance from the disease described as mild symptoms or with no symptoms where the individual presents as asymptomatic. Unfortunately, in both conditions the individual still spreads the disease.
The solution to a viral infection of a pandemic nature is mass vaccination. A vaccine is made from the same characteristics of the virus. Currently there are several methods used to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. The old, tried, and tested methods that usually take many years are inactive virus and viral protein vaccines whereas the viral vector (Oxford – AstraZeneca vaccine) and the messenger RiboNucleic Acid (mRNA) used by (Pfizer-BioNTechandModernavaccine) are the modern ones, never used before. Using these two modern methods, admittedly untried methods which produced a vaccine in less than a year, have caused some discomfort to the few sceptics. Regardless, this is a great scientific development which should be viewed as God given and driven. We are reminded of God’s instruction to Moses when there was an outbreak of deadly snakes: Numbers 21; 9 ‘So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived’. We need our bronze snakes which could be God given vaccine. In the case of Moses and the children of Israel, God did not clear the snakes but connected the healing to something like their problem. This is where faith in God must be applied in accordance with his commandment and knowledge already released to mankind.
God commanded knowledge to mankind for survival in various circumstances, including taming natural conditions or overcoming some natural laws such as gravity through flying machines, inventing fast means of communication which in turn have made the world a global village. This awesome God has given mankind, among all living organism, creative power to solve encountered problems. For instance, during the cholera pandemic of the 1820s in the UK, the bubonic plague, polio, measles the children killer diseases. All solutions came from science – institutionalised knowledge. Later, due to the vaccine, the unacceptable deaths of children under the age of 5 was addressed. Strange enough, people oppose the COVID 19 vaccine when they are sending their children to be immunised for 1st year, 3rd, and a booster at 5 years. How is it so that now they question the reason for phased vaccination of COVID 19 jabs.
It is important to explain briefly how a vaccine works albeit noting that current methods of making vaccines vary but the outcome is the same. When a person receives the jab made from genetically modified or RNA spike protein, typical of the virus COVID 19, the body is trained to attack this spike protein. The body training is key in allowing the development of the antibodies to fight this pseudo virus hence giving the body essential recruitment of the specialised army (antibodies) and internalised body memory to fight this type of infection. Now, if the body gets exposed to the real virus in future, the body memory is already armed to destroy the invader. This is the top-notch reason why people must be vaccinated. Noteworthy, a vaccine does not treat the virus but teaches the body to learn to react to the actual virus.
The unfortunate part is that the pharmaceutical sector is a money-spinning industry with huge business competition both at regional and at individual company level. This has spurred the rise of propaganda and conspiracy theories that capitalises on the readily available social media. The other scenario is that the church has fallen for this trap, largely due to the lack of knowledge. This can be traced to the fact that; most believers are consumers of gospel products that are produced by their leaders or their prophets instead of being practicing Christians that read and understand the Word of God and more than anything else. This is part of the itching ear of some believers of the last days.
Subsequently, the propagandist together with the conspiracy theorist, have teamed up to advance antivirus and antivaccine hidden competitive agendas that ride on or exploit this loophole to the maximum, worse still among African countries with glaring inert superstition. Ironically, our African brothers and sisters have fallen easily into trusting information that is peddled mainly by ‘Westerners’ which is sometimes well-orchestrated to achieve other agendas. Strange enough, similar lines of thought are entrenched among black, and to some extent Asian minorities in the western countries. Paradoxically, these groups are the ones that succumb to this disease more than their white counterparts when exposed to similar conditions. Relatives and friends (from the black and Asian ethnic background) that have succumbed to this disease have hardly lasted for a week after developing the symptoms. Either within that week they defeat it, or they are gone.
The spatial and demographic variation in morbidity and mortality among minority groups in Europe and short morbidity among those in Africa should be central question for scientists. For instance, why are black and people of Asian origin dying disproportionately in Europe and, in Africa, why are those who contract COVID 19 succumb to it quicker? In contrast, the focus among African groups relates to the origin or existence of COVID 19 and myths regarding the vaccine. We see the element of lulling Africans until severe damage has been done by the disease. We call upon Africans to wake up, smell the coffee and ask the right questions – right scientific questions. We should avoid being blind folded by superstition, more unfortunate the prophets. These prophets want to find relevance NOW by disputing the existence of the virus let alone the vaccine erroneously associating it with the mark of the beast, the 5G cellular network that will allegedly control people and the new world order.
We want to end by declaring again that, we are saved, practicing Christians that read the Word of God thoroughly ‘precept by precept and line by line’. We made a choice to receive Christ as our personal saviour and Lord. In all honesty, the mark of the beast 666 cannot come in an extremely camouflaged manner. Scriptures are clear where the mark will be. God knows these body parts and cannot call a shoulder a hand. More importantly, it is clear from scriptures that the mark of the beast shall not come before the Church is raptured. If one is worried about 666, it is time that they check their salvation. It is true that Christians suffer tribulation already here on earth but not that of the period of 666. That tribulation is clearly not for the saved ones. The Bible is clear on that matter. It is time that we wake up and see what was said by the prophet that “my people perish due to lack of knowledge”. Daniel 12.4 also said ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased’. Both bad and good knowledge shall increase, and we have the choice to dissect the packaging and find the true content whether online or from the church leader’s messages. Be alert. Finally, Christ also warned that; ‘And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened’ Mathew 24;22. Stay alive get the RIGHT knowledge!!
About the Authors
Mr Oliver Dube is an Environmental Scientist and Spatial Analyst based in the United Kingdom and Dr Stanley Maphosa is a Social Scientist and Pastor based in South Africa.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of using arms of the State to suppress the will of the people.
In a strong article published by The Guardian Newspaper, President Chamisa exposed Mr Mnangagwa’s deception.
According to President Chamisa, authoritarian governments are repressive, corrupt and inefficient.
Read full article below:
Africa cannot afford to continue with the despotic forms of governance that still proliferate across the continent. Authoritarian and dictatorial governments are repressive, corrupt and inefficient. Their main interest is to retain power and loot public resources for the benefit of a few political elites, leaving the majority of citizens in poverty. As a result, although rich in raw resources, our continent remains the poorest in the world.
We have seen this trend of authoritarianism in Zimbabwe, and we are now seeing it in Uganda, which has just held a farcical election.
These authoritarian regimes share a common thread: they have no tolerance for dissent. Anybody who speaks out or raises questions is treated as if they were enemies of the state rather than a constructive part of the civic process. In this way, these regimes stifle competition and justify exclusion and repression. Such a playbook has been on show in Uganda, where the regime unleashed egregious violence against Bobi Wine and his movement during the election campaign.
Another common characteristic in these repressive governments is their refusal to allow young people to develop politically and take on leadership roles. This despite the reality that Africa has the world’s largest population of young people: the median age is 19.7. It is also projected to have a population of 2.5 billion by 2050, the majority of whom will be young people.
Young people represent a critical force in Africa. This future population projection is often referred to as the “demographic dividend”, and economists predict this growth will be good for Africa. Others caution that this dividend can only be an asset to Africa if we can fix the institutions of governance, improve our infrastructure and make progress beyond being merely extractive economies.
There is a need for deliberate policies that include young people in the political and economic architecture of their countries. Unless this is done, the demographic dividend will become a nightmare, as more young people rely on the state to provide for their welfare.
Unfortunately, dictators stand in the way. Young people seeking leadership are dismissed as upstarts and thwarted with the might of the state’s coercive powers. They are constantly told that they are the future, but that future never arrives. The view of the ageing authoritarian generation in power is very self-centred and short-termist – they have no real incentive to plan for a future that they have no prospect of experiencing. The result is that they think only about now and only about themselves, their families and associates.
In Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, they made grand promises including a new democratic process, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community. But despite all these big claims, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government went on to oversee the exact opposite – disputed elections, human rights violations, and grand corruption. Lately, they have been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. The Zanu-PF government has taken money intended for the opposition and diverted it to its associates. It has facilitated the removal of my MDC Alliance party’s elected representatives from parliament and local authorities.
Zimbabwe cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade – and nor can any other country in Africa. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people: any consent that is coerced is not legitimate, it is not free choice. Elections must be free and transparent – when results are announced amid serious and glaring voting irregularities, the process lacks legitimacy.
The international community should not keep rubber-stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining a supposed peace. The consequence of doing so is to continue the exclusionary systems of government that fly in the face of demographic and political changes.
Now dictators are callously exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen repression. In Uganda, Yoweri Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively during the election. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended byelections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but the ruling party carried on with its political activities.
The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to Covid. When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere, left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus.
It is important for both the African and global communities to take a tough stance on these illiberal regimes. Staging elections is part of the dictators’ playbook because it creates a facade of democracy. There is no point in recognising unfair elections, such as Uganda’s in January – it only serves to legitimise and entrench authoritarian regimes.
Nelson Chamisa is leader of the MDC Alliance, Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party-
By Mari Matutu | I am disappointed by members of the opposition. They cry for electoral reforms and complain of election rigging. It is now one of our mantras and an excuse for incompetence.
While Zanu look so invincible I am slowly believing we are playing a huge part in our oppression. There are some things that can only be said or done by opposition. There are also some things that require political muscles and mobilisation of electorate, however somethings have already been fought for. All you need is claiming your right.
Most often I get responses that look so “rosy” and “juicy” to listen to. Things like “ZEC is Captured” or “judiciary is captured”. Yet we see the laws of the land are amended. Some words are removed from constitution and look very minor, we do not raise concern. In parliament we do not raise that which forbid the amendments. We do not even mobilize our followers to open up and see the consequences of such amendments.
When those amendments are being used against us then we start to cry.
May I take a simple example of a matter I have spend whole week trying to fight but without support, the matter of ZEC trying to use the number of registered voters to delimit constituencies and wards . I have tried to look for input of opposition on the constitution amendment number2 . I could not find any. This does not mean there is non. The fact that our Constitution is being amended but our followers do not know the position of opposition on items being amended is a total disaster.
I looked at the Bill that seek to amend constitution’s section 161(1). The amendment look very minor and excuses given by the regime and ZEC look very nobble in the ears of unsuspecting citizen. The effects of amendment can only be seen two years from now. By then we would not have anything to do.
12 Amendment of section 161 of Constitution Section 161 (“Delimitation of electoral boundaries”)(1) of the Constitution is amended by the deletion of “so as to fall as soon as possible after a population census”.
The explanation given by regime first time was that census was due in 2022 and there will be no time to prepare for elections if delimitation is to fall as soon as possible after a population census. In stead they moved the census to 2021. Not only did they do that. They seek to amend the constitution not delimit soon after population census. If they could move the population census to 2021 , what other reason do they have to amend s161 and delete the requirement of population census? I have already shared my views on legal instruments that make the amendment illegal. We may not need numbers but approach constitutional court to have that amendment removed. The effort only comes after understanding implication of this amendment.
Gerrymandering.
This is a well known election rigging tactic. It is a practice intended to establish an unfair political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating electoral boundaries, which is most commonly used in first-past-the-post electoral systems.(First -past-thepost is where the candidate with highest votes takes the seat or ward).
Since Gerrymandering has to do with setting up of boundaries, it must be realised that it is one of the rigging tactic executed far away from election environment. It has a long term effect of up to ten years. If the electoral Commission succeed to rig the boundaries it means we are going to live with it for 10 years.
C) Use databases and computer technology
The introduction of modern computers alongside the development of elaborate voter databases and special constituency software has made gerrymandering a far more precise science. Using such databases, political parties can obtain detailed information about every household including political party registration, previous campaign donations, and the number of times residents voted in previous elections and combine it with other predictors of voting behaviour such as age, income, race, or education level. With this data, gerrymandering politicians can predict the voting behaviour of each potential constituency with an astonishing degree of precision, leaving little chance for creating an accidentally competitive constituency.
On the other hand, the introduction of modern computers would let the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency to calculate more equal populations in every voting constituency or ward that are based only on constituency being the most compact and equal populations. This could be done easily using their block centres based on the Global Positioning System (GPS) rather than street addresses. With this data, gerrymandering politicians will not be in charge, thus allowing competitive constituencies again.
Online web apps such as Dave’s Redistricting have allowed users to simulate redistricting states into legislative districts as they wish. ZEC can get any of these online web apps and enter data gathered from registration of voters, previous election results in the server which we do not know yet, political membership data base from MDC through files with Mwonzora as well as zanu data bases then punch these into the software to bring skewed constituencies that will always give zanu a majority in parliament in councils
D) How Gerrymandering works in Zimbabwe
Lets take those three blocks on top to help explain how Gerrymandering can be applied to Masvingo for instance.
From previous elections results kept by ZEC, polling
stations that had zanu are shown by red circles and polling stations that voted for MDC are blue squares. This is what is in ZEC server. No one else know about these results. What ZEC gave as results could not tally or mathematically be verified. Now ZEC has opportunity to use that data.
Imagine if a population census is carried out by Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency. It goes and collect data. One of the data is to find number of registered voters/adults with opportunity to register to vote in the next 10 years and their geographic distribution. On completion of the exercise a delimitation is done to divide Masvingo equally. The population census does not look into ZEC register. They physically go door to door and find people above 18 who are eligible to vote- (universal adult suffrage which s3(2) of constitution demands). The division does not take any previous voting trends but treat everyone equally. The number of people are divided equally. Now assume we divide it into 3 like in (a) you will see that zanu will lose in three constituencies. If we rig the boundaries because we feel in Masvingo there is a central point were zanu is popular and can win election without fail then ZEC can then try to get a seat by utilizing that. It then attach small portion of surrounding MDC strongholds. Which they observe by polling stations. If they observe family members that appear most on a voters roll that gave MDC a
good result on a particular polling station, all they do is put that family into another ward that would neutralize their effect. Eventually where Zanu should not have a seat if census figures had been used , it manages one seat. If you still look at Masvingo in blocks, MDC has majority votes which if divided equally it must give three seats to MDC like in (a).
Let us assume from ZEC’s data base, there is a
paten in the distribution of polling stations that voted zanu such that if ZEC was to follow the paten in drawing boundaries, ZEC can come up with a delimitation like in (c) . Where zanu was suppose to get Zero actually it manage to get 2 seats and leave one seat for MDC. Imagine it, even when Zanu was suppose to get zero, gerrymandering has given them two seats out of 3.
I have illustrated with blocks as if its Masvingo. It can be any province, it can be any district divided into wards, the result is the same. The point is ZEC should not be allowed to use its own generated date to delimit. Lets have a look at the actual constituencies in Masvingo. The shape of boundaries must tell you a story that you must believe. If you cannot believe it, then its gerrymandered delimitation. I leave you to explain on this on why each constituency had to follow a certain boundary lane. Is it related to geographic features, population or some other feature related to human settlement. It must also help explain why places like Chiredzi is suspected of allowing sugar cane to vote. I do not have Statistics on how the delimitation was done but as soon as question arise like “kwai vhotwa nenzimbe kani” then ZEC is being challenged.
Anyone who ignores gerrymandering is a regime enabler. We cannot cry for reforms when the laws are there.
The People of Nyamukoho Chieftainship, Mashonaland East and Zimbabwe have lost a pillar of traditional leadership ethos, a business man and senator with the departure of Chief Nyamukoho , born Samson Katsande.
The MDC Alliance joins the nation in mourning a unique chief, a man who stood firm for fairness, tolerance and peace. Chief Nyamukoho fought relentlessly for the Upliftment of the people in his area and for a resilient and self reliant community.
He is well known during his time as Senator for championing family level production of small seed crops such as Mhunga for self reliance. He despised the dependence syndrome which he referred to as the “Ndipowo Ndipowo” disease. This was in reference to the perpetual attitude of waiting for handouts from government.
He also believed that local people should benefit from resources that their areas are endowed with. He was a firm believer in the devolution of power to lower governmental levels. He knew that devolution brings out the best from citizens .
A business man of note, Chief Nyamukoho personally funded many peace building workshops in his area of jurisdiction. Some times he ran the workshops in collaboration with the church.
Chief Nyamukoho frowned on partisanship in state interventions on social welfare issues such as food and agricultural inputs.
Taking a leaf from his work, the government should work on capacity building processes for Chiefs so that they can work in their communities without aligning to any political party, build peace and inculcate a culture of self reliance among in areas of control.
As the MDC Alliance, we cherish the legacy of fairness, entrepreneurship, rule of law and non partisanship which Chief Nyamukoho bequeathed to the traditional leadership institution, parliament and the generality of family Zimbabwe.
Betrayal is evil. Nothing hurts more than being disappointed by someone in high authority you thought would never hurt the people he purport to lead. Adultery is dirty. It makes you feel sick. It makes your innards churn. It feels so wrong and every part of your body dispairs because of it. It is sin, there is no good thing about adultery. It is evil and destructive.
A Vice President of the country finds it normal and funny. He doesn’t feel it’s wrong. He has no insight of the depth of hurt he is inflicting in all these people and those he is supposed to counsel. Those around him including the President see nothing wrong in his conduct and behaviour. What I think everyone is struggling with he most now is how can our leaders be so foolish as such. How can they let him be so reckless and put the country and its leadership on the line and disrepute. I find it hard for any citizen to respect him for what he did or say. Everyone is hurt and so disappointed by this immoral behaviour and lack of leadership and responsibility, The Vice President is a well known sex addict who preys on young and married women. He has no respect for the rule of law. How can we continue to give our allegiance to unaccountable sovereign. Our nation needs responsible and accountable leadership. We need leadership we can trust with out children, our women and our resources.
An adulterous leader has no shame on his own political leadership. He is accountable to no one and will always disregard our feelings. We are living in a country where human authority still requires justification. Our social and political inequalities remain questionable. This regime appears to originate from Sodom and Gomorra. It is clouded and muddled in fornication and adultery. This only increases the burden of our people and their suffering with no hope in sight with this irresponsible behaviour
Vice President Mohadi must resign or the President and his cabinet must force him to do so and save our country from ridicule.
NickMangwana:A lot of noise from insecure men. When married man have it off with young women, no problem. When married women have it off with powerful men all hell breaks loose! A woman is noone's property. She can make a choice and if you are married to her and you don't like it pic.twitter.com/dE7TTMaVZP
Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Divine Destiny leader, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has condemned the abuse of office by Kembo Mohadi.
In a recorded clip, Mohadi is heard telling a married woman to come to his office because he wanted her to give him a f***
See Bishop Magaya’s letter to Emmerson Mnangagwa:
Zimbabwe Divine Destiny today(Friday) delivered this letter to the office of President @edmnangagwa asking him to relieve Vice President Kembo Mohadi of his duties following multiple reports of indecent conduct against his junior staffers.
As the head of an organ that overseas national peace and reconciliation in Zimbabwe, we believe that the conduct of the VP undermines peace at a family level which have spill over effects to national peace and reconciliation.
As the appointing authority, we urge the President to act on his constitutional duties.
We believe that the President must distance himself from such immoral conduct by dismissing VP Mohadi.
Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Divine Destiny leader, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has condemned the abuse of office by Kembo Mohadi.
In a recorded clip, Mohadi is heard telling a married woman to come to his office because he wanted her to give him a f***
See Bishop Magaya’s letter to Emmerson Mnangagwa:
Zimbabwe Divine Destiny today(Friday) delivered this letter to the office of President @edmnangagwa asking him to relieve Vice President Kembo Mohadi of his duties following multiple reports of indecent conduct against his junior staffers.
As the head of an organ that overseas national peace and reconciliation in Zimbabwe, we believe that the conduct of the VP undermines peace at a family level which have spill over effects to national peace and reconciliation.
As the appointing authority, we urge the President to act on his constitutional duties.
We believe that the President must distance himself from such immoral conduct by dismissing VP Mohadi.
By A Correspondent- A Rusape man died early this week after a swab inserted in his nostrils as part of a Covid-19 test got stuck inside and was rushed to theatre for an operation which saw him fail to regain consciousness.
The deceased Arnold Mapiye (47) famously known ‘DJ Bhinya-Bhinya’.
He is said to have complained of fatigue and chills in his legs and hands leading to a decision to get a Covid-19 test at Rusape General Hospital.
Mapiye’s family is are now demanding justice, accusing the hospital of negligence.
Bezel Rusere, a brother to the deceased, said they never expected Mapiye’s death since his condition was not serious when he went to hospital.
He alleged that clinical negligence may have caused his brother’s death.
“He was a victim of negligence. There is nothing more painful than losing someone young and dear to the heart in this manner. The family is drowned in a torrent of agonising pain.
“My brother just wanted to have a Covid-19 test. His condition was not serious. When they performed a Covid-19 test on him, a swab remained in his nose and a decision was made to perform an operation to remove it with the consent of his wife.
“An anaesthetic injection was administered on him as part of the procedure, and we suspect he passed on during the process.
“The doctor left the patient in the theatre and went out to attend to other errands. He only returned after some nurses had raised alarm. When we tried to engage the doctor on what had happened, he was non-committal.
“He appeared confused. We hold it that Arnold died as a result of his negligence,” said Rusere.
He said an unidentified employee at the hospital posted the sad news in a local WhatsApp group before the deceased’s next of kin had been informed.
“People then started calling to verify the news and it was shocking. I then rushed to the hospital and those who knew me passed their condolences.
“I was shocked and very angry at the same time. It came as a terrible shock and is still hard to grasp. It is unforgivable. The pain is so unbearable and unbelievable,” said Rusere.
Makoni District Medical Officer, Tendai Nyafesa was contacted on the issue and confirmed that something of that nature had transpired at the hospital and that investigations were in progress.
“I can confirm that we had a table death of that nature. I cannot say much since the matter is still under investigation. Those who were handling the patient have been asked to submit reports detailing what really transpired and led to the death of the patient. I should have the full facts by next week.
Dr Nyafesa said their main aim is to make the hospital wards places of healing and caring, where pain and distress can be eased by caring professionals.
He said patients should not shun the hospital as a result of the incident, especially in this era of coronavirus which requires swift medical attention and care.-agencies
By A Correspondent- City of Harare workers have given their employer a seven-day notice to strike over poor salaries and non-availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), among other grievances.
The move comes amid revelations almost half of the local authority’s employees are yet to receive their December salaries, with some having salary arrears dating back to 2015.
The Zimbabwe Urban Councils Workers Union (ZUCWU), which represents urban local authorities’ workers across the country, said they were concerned the City of Harare was not prioritising employees.
The union accused the scandal-ridden local authority of making piecemeal salary disbursements which were inconveniencing workers.
“We have applied for a strike and workers have voted and accepted that they want a strike. What has been slowing us down is the lockdown. We think that over and above our continuous engagement with the ministry of Labour and that of Local Government, if nothing fruitful comes from there we have to proceed with industrial action,” said Kudakwashe Munengiwa, the ZUCWU general secretary.
He added: “We have generated a letter which we will serve the employer on Thursday giving them a seven-day notice expiring next Friday. If nothing happens, people cannot continue to subsidise the employer going to work at their own cost when they are not being paid. It does not make sense.”
Already, those working in the water, fire and waste management sections have begun sit-ins demanding that they be given adequate PPE in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Munengiwa noted that the sit-ins were not directly related to the salary dispute, adding the union had written to the authorities emphasising the need for PPE and infection prevention control measures and training without success.
The Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) allows workers to unconditionally withdraw their labour in cases where their health is compromised or where their safety is at risk.
“So our position is clear, where workers’ health is under threat we have instructed them to withdraw their labour to the extent of the risk or the hazard. And when they are incapacitated to go to work because they don’t have the money, surely they can’t subsidize the employer by borrowing to go to work.
“In those circumstances we are saying if they don’t have money to go to work, you should not go to work. If you don’t have PPE to attend to Covid-19 patients and you are a nurse, don’t do that. And you are a nurse aid, don’t do that. If you don’t have PPE, if you are a refuse worker, a sewage worker, don’t do that. So that is our position as a union to say workers should not save lives at the expense of their own lives,” he said.
Munengiwa said interference in the affairs of the local authority by central government had compromised manpower relations, adding there was no longer executive authority at the City of Harare, which left the union in a dilemma as to who they should negotiate with.
He said this had affected the implementation of several court orders in favour of workers, among them compliance with a High Court judgment delivered last year, a deed of settlement which has not been addressed and also the issue of housing stands which the employer promised to give some of its workers in lieu of salary arrears.
He said even the union was now in sixes and sevens as it was no longer sure of who to engage.
“Today we talk to someone who is supposed to be the mayor and the other day he is not there, so that has kind of complicated the picture but as workers we will insist on our rights, we will insist on the law and we invoke the law and let politicians play politics and we will not allow that to have a bearing on the livelihoods of our members,” he said.
Workers were also unhappy with the non-disbursement of Covid-19 allowances despite these having been disbursed to the employer.
“It’s so opaque because anything to do with the remuneration of workers must be discussed at Works Council and National Employment Council, but it seems as if the employer is acting unilaterally, and that informs our reaction,” said Munengiwa.
City of Harare spokesperson Michael Chideme had not responded to questions sent to him by the time of going to print.
By A Correspondent- The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has announced the Gweru District COVID-19 Vaccination Schedule.
The exercise is scheduled to start on the 22nd of February and run through the 3rd of March.
Frontline workers including health caregivers are scheduled to receive the vaccine first. See below.
By James Gwati- President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is the architecture of the infamous 1982 Gukurahundi, on Saturday, angered the Ndebele tribe after he deliberately addressed mourners gathered at the former ZRP Boss, Moses Griffiths Mpofu in English at the National Heroes Acre.
Mpofu’s relatives addressed mourners in Ndebele.
Mnangagwa is the architecture of the early 1980 Gukurahundi endorsed and the massacre of more than 20 000 civilians by armed soldiers in Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.
Mpofu is the former Police Deputy Commissioner. He died on Friday last week and was declared a National Hero and will be buried today at the National Heroes Acre.
By James Gwati- Vice President Kembo Mohadi, has requested government to transfer his lover and aide , Abbigail Mumpande, from his office so that the two’s adulterous relationship stories die.
Mohadi this week directed Reverend Paul Damasane, the permanent secretary in his office, to immidiately process Mumpande’s transfer.
Damasani, however, professed ignorance of the development.
“I am hearing this for the first time. I was in Bulawayo. I just met the Vice President in his office for our daily morning brief and what you are asking me did not come up at all,” he said.
Chicken Inn have announced that Clemence Matawu has been appointed in the club’s administration board.
Matawu, 38, who retired from playing football in 2020 while still at the Bulawayo-based side, is a holder of a Sports Science degree from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
The 2006 Soccer Star of the Year joined the Gamecocks in 2013 following the folding of Motor Action. He won the 2015 Premiership title with the club.
Confirming the appointment, Chicken Inn said: “Allow us to announce that Clemence Matawu is now the Administrator for Chicken Inn FC. From running midfield to running the Club.”
The new post is Matawu’s first appointment as an administrator. He was in the race for the job of Warriors team manager but lost it to Wellington Mpandare who retained the post.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
FC Platinum have confirmed that the team took its first training in Senegal on Thursday but worked out under adverse weather conditions.
The Platinum Boys are camped in Dakar where there is a hot sandy windy sweeping across from the Sahara Desert.
The team is preparing to play in Sunday’s second leg encounter of the CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage play-offs against ASC Jaraaf.
Posting on Facebook, the club said: “The Pure Platinum Play side had to endure the extreme conditions in Dakar yesterday morning in their first training in Senegal ahead of the CAF CC clash on Sunday against ASC Jaraaf…
“Today 19/2/2021 the Air Quality Index in Dakar according to AccuWeather forecast [www.accuweather.com] is at AQI104 and rated as Unhealthy.”
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of using arms of the State to suppress the will of the people.
In a strong article published by The Guardian Newspaper, President Chamisa exposed Mr Mnangagwa’s deception.
According to President Chamisa, authoritarian governments are repressive, corrupt and inefficient.
Read full article below:
Africa cannot afford to continue with the despotic forms of governance that still proliferate across the continent. Authoritarian and dictatorial governments are repressive, corrupt and inefficient. Their main interest is to retain power and loot public resources for the benefit of a few political elites, leaving the majority of citizens in poverty. As a result, although rich in raw resources, our continent remains the poorest in the world.
We have seen this trend of authoritarianism in Zimbabwe, and we are now seeing it in Uganda, which has just held a farcical election.
These authoritarian regimes share a common thread: they have no tolerance for dissent. Anybody who speaks out or raises questions is treated as if they were enemies of the state rather than a constructive part of the civic process. In this way, these regimes stifle competition and justify exclusion and repression. Such a playbook has been on show in Uganda, where the regime unleashed egregious violence against Bobi Wine and his movement during the election campaign.
Another common characteristic in these repressive governments is their refusal to allow young people to develop politically and take on leadership roles. This despite the reality that Africa has the world’s largest population of young people: the median age is 19.7. It is also projected to have a population of 2.5 billion by 2050, the majority of whom will be young people.
Young people represent a critical force in Africa. This future population projection is often referred to as the “demographic dividend”, and economists predict this growth will be good for Africa. Others caution that this dividend can only be an asset to Africa if we can fix the institutions of governance, improve our infrastructure and make progress beyond being merely extractive economies.
There is a need for deliberate policies that include young people in the political and economic architecture of their countries. Unless this is done, the demographic dividend will become a nightmare, as more young people rely on the state to provide for their welfare.
Unfortunately, dictators stand in the way. Young people seeking leadership are dismissed as upstarts and thwarted with the might of the state’s coercive powers. They are constantly told that they are the future, but that future never arrives. The view of the ageing authoritarian generation in power is very self-centred and short-termist – they have no real incentive to plan for a future that they have no prospect of experiencing. The result is that they think only about now and only about themselves, their families and associates.
In Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, they made grand promises including a new democratic process, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community. But despite all these big claims, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government went on to oversee the exact opposite – disputed elections, human rights violations, and grand corruption. Lately, they have been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. The Zanu-PF government has taken money intended for the opposition and diverted it to its associates. It has facilitated the removal of my MDC Alliance party’s elected representatives from parliament and local authorities.
Zimbabwe cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade – and nor can any other country in Africa. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people: any consent that is coerced is not legitimate, it is not free choice. Elections must be free and transparent – when results are announced amid serious and glaring voting irregularities, the process lacks legitimacy.
The international community should not keep rubber-stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining a supposed peace. The consequence of doing so is to continue the exclusionary systems of government that fly in the face of demographic and political changes.
Now dictators are callously exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen repression. In Uganda, Yoweri Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively during the election. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended byelections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but the ruling party carried on with its political activities.
The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to Covid. When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere, left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus.
It is important for both the African and global communities to take a tough stance on these illiberal regimes. Staging elections is part of the dictators’ playbook because it creates a facade of democracy. There is no point in recognising unfair elections, such as Uganda’s in January – it only serves to legitimise and entrench authoritarian regimes.
Nelson Chamisa is leader of the MDC Alliance, Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party-
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has challenged Zanu PF leader Emmerson to fire his deputy, Kembo Mohadi.
Mohadi is reportedly involved in sex scandals with married women- including his direct subordinates.
There are recorded clips suggesting Mohadi is taking advantage of his position to abuse women.
See the MDC Alliance statement below:
We demand accountability for this conduct unbecoming of a person “holding high office.” The allegations raised here are serious especially given the abuse of state offices, state resources and improper use of state time. The fitness and propriety of Mohadi is called into question.
Govt offices are held in trust. There is a duty on the part of those holding these offices to lead with trust. Mohadi’s predatory conduct borders on sexual abuse & the apparent “high power” dynamics vitiate any perceived consent by the women involved.
The pattern of conduct emerging around Mohadi’s conduct at the office is a symptom of deeper governance deficiencies. Citizens deserve leaders with integrity, moral rectitude and who respect the high offices paid for by hard-earned taxpayer money.
A suite of tools to help countries improve diagnosis and treatment of cancer among children is being released today by the World Health Organization, on International Childhood Cancer Day.
The package includes a “how-to” guide for policy-makers, cancer control programme managers and hospital managers; an assessment tool to inform implementation; and a multilingual online portal for information-sharing.
The new tools will support countries with implementation of the CureAll approach, adopted by WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. The Initiative, launched in 2018, aims to achieve at least 60% survival for childhood cancer globally by 2030. Currently, children living in high-income countries have an 80% chance of cure, while less than 30% of children diagnosed with cancer in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) survive.
During the last two years, the Global Initiative, supported by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a WHO Collaborating Centre in the United States of America, has become active in more than 30 countries and benefits from the participation of more than 120 global partners. These partners work together to support governments with the implementation of the CureAll approach, addressing common reasons for the low survival of children with cancer in LMICs. These reasons include late or incorrect diagnosis, insufficient diagnostic capacity, delays in or inaccessible treatment and treatment abandonment.
Solutions to all of these issues are provided in the new “how-to” guide, which is based on four pillars: centres of excellence with defined referral pathways and a trained workforce; inclusion of childhood cancer in national benefit packages for universal health coverage; treatment standards based on evidence and tailored to local capacity; and robust information systems for continuous monitoring of programme performance. Case studies from countries which have begun implementing the CureAll approach, such as Ghana, Peru and Uzbekistan, are also included.
New assessment tool to facilitate the design of tailored approaches for cancer control
An assessment tool to inform implementation of the Initiative and support real-time interpretation of data is also being launched today. The tool, developed under the leadership of WHO with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and other partners, will enable national cancer programmes to develop tailored approaches for cancer control in their setting. This tool can generate data for decision-making and help address data gaps in LMICs.
Multilingual portal for information-sharing
The importance of sharing of data, clinical experience and expertise is key to improving standards and performance in cancer programmes around the world. A new online community of practice, the WHO Knowledge Action Portal, will support implementation of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. The Portal, with content in six languages, offers focal points for cancer in ministries of health a forum for establishing and managing partnerships, organizing training programmes and sharing resources.
The avoidable burden of childhood cancer: time to accelerate action
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 created a need for another type of data, on the effect of COVID-19 on children with cancer. In response, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital began collecting, in collaboration with partners, data on COVID-19 infection among children with cancer. As of early February, more than 1500 childhood cancer patients from 48 countries had tested posted for COVID-19.
Data available appears to indicate that the effect of COVID-19 on children with cancer is less severe than feared, although there remains a concern about the effect of the pandemic on willingness to seek care and complete therapy. This will have consequences for children with cancer in the longer term and may lead to worsened outcomes.
“Providing childhood cancer care and implementing the Global Initiative remain priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to be priorities when it ends,” said Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of WHO’s Department of Noncommunicable Diseases. “Each year, an estimated 400 000 children are diagnosed with cancer globally, and the vast majority of these children live in low- and middle-income countries where the likelihood of survival is much lower. We can – and must – give these children a better chance at life.”
Small, strategic investments, to the order of approximately US$ 0.03-0.15 per capita, are sufficient, when delivered appropriately, to build and sustain comprehensive childhood cancer services. Such investments could save the lives of hundreds of thousands of children over the next decade.
Source: WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Tinashe Sambiri|Zimbabwe Divine Destiny leader, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has condemned the abuse of office by Kembo Mohadi.
In a recorded clip, Mohadi is heard telling a married woman to come to his office because he wanted her to give him a f***
See Bishop Magaya’s letter to Emmerson Mnangagwa:
Zimbabwe Divine Destiny today(Friday) delivered this letter to the office of President @edmnangagwa asking him to relieve Vice President Kembo Mohadi of his duties following multiple reports of indecent conduct against his junior staffers.
As the head of an organ that overseas national peace and reconciliation in Zimbabwe, we believe that the conduct of the VP undermines peace at a family level which have spill over effects to national peace and reconciliation.
As the appointing authority, we urge the President to act on his constitutional duties.
We believe that the President must distance himself from such immoral conduct by dismissing VP Mohadi.
By A Correspondent| A gang of six armed robbers who had pounced on a Harare businesman, Chris Chibueze were gunned down in a shoot out with police detectives, Friday night.
The shootout occurred at number 110 Mbuya Nehanda Street Harare (Stone Hardware Centre).
Three of the armed robbers died on the spot, one on admission at the hospital and the other two were arrested and are under police guard at the Hospital.
Police sources revealed that CID Homicide detectives acted on a tip off from members of the Public that there was an armed robbery in progress.
And amongst the killed armed robbers, there was a member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police who was stationed at ZRP Hatfield.
According to sources the complainant- Mr Chibueze -received a phone call from one of his customers who wanted to place an order of a solar battery.
At around 1800 hours the complainant realized that he had left the battery at his shop and he decided to go back to the shop to collect it.
Upon arrival at the shop the complainant opened the shop at around 1830 hours and he went to his office to switch off his computer.
Suddenly he was approached by six male armed robbers with four pistols and a 0,22mm magnum revolver. The armed robbers ordered the complainant to lie down whilst pointing firearms at him. Mr Chibueze complied.
One of the armed robbers grabbed the safe keys and opened the safe. He took cash amounting to US$10 000-00 from the complainants’ safe.
After securing the loot some gun shots were heard outside the shop and four of the accused persons bolted out of the shop to check for the intruder. An exchange of gunfire ensued and the armed robbers were overpowered. The stolen money was found at the scene.
Zimbabwe Republic Police National Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident in a press statement.
“ZRP confirms the death of four armed robbers and arrest of two others in a shootout incident which occurred at number 110 Ambuya Nehanda road on 19 February 2021 around 1800 hours,” said Assistant Commissioner Nyathi.
He said ZRP does not condone acts of criminality by police officers.
“There is no place for unruly elements in the ZRP. Police warn criminals that the long arm of the law will always catch up with them and connivance with the police will be severely dealt with terms of the country’s laws,” he said.
The robbers are identified as 01 Kudzai Kanjera (Deceased) Constable at ZRP HATFIELD 02 Admire Nhetekwa (Deceased) 03. Tatenda Chari (Deceased) 04. Blessing Bheura (Deceased) 05. Brian Chibaya 06. Tichaona Kariwa
I would rather be jobless than to be a sex object. Vasikana ava were either in a mission or were looking for quick buck period and there is no abuse at all. NEXT
Jealousy Mawarire and Linda Masarira have clashed over the role which should be played by Women’s groups in the case of Vice President Kembo Mohadi who allegedly slept with his married subordinates.
Jealousy Mawarire has urged organisations representing women to step up and represent the women which VP Kembo Mohadi allegedly slept with saying the 71-year-old abused his power and office.
Meanwhile, Linda Masirira who leads opposition LEAD opines that the women in question are adults who made their own decisions therefore Kembo Mohadi has no case to answer.
Responding to a tweet that spoke about Mohadi’s affairs, Jealousy Mawarire who is the spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front (NPF) said: I don’t know why women’s groups are quiet, it’s worrying.
I have seen, countless times, women grps condemn bosses who hit on subordinates, Morehardy hit on Abigail, a subordinate & subordinate's wife. Are u saying women's groups shld turn a blind eye to men abusing their power & offices to solicit for sex from juniors? Am dissapointed https://t.co/2bKUtXP7Rf
Linda Masarira responded quickly saying women’s groups had no locus standi here. She tweeted:
Hanzvadzi yangu (my brother) Jealous how are you? This woman is an adult who has willingly consented to sex, what are women’s groups and gender activists supposed to say?
Mawarire did not agree with Masarira. He suggested action must be taken against the Vice President. He responded to Masarira’s tweet:
I have seen, countless times, women groups condemn bosses who hit on subordinates, Morehardy hit on Abigail, a subordinate & subordinate’s wife. Are u saying women’s groups should turn a blind eye to men abusing their power & offices to solicit for sex from juniors? Am dissapointed
Some social media users who followed the discussion suggested that women’s groups were showing double standards after they rebuked Nelson Chamisa, leader of opposition MDC Alliance who had only grabbed a microphone from his wife whilst she was still speaking at a rally.Meanwhile, some said it was difficult to say they were abused as some women just cheat on their husbands by choice.
We publish below some of the reactions:
Me too very disappointed. A leader of a political party who see such abuse as normal. Apa ndiwezhira wangu kikiki
A powerful man like a VP having an affair with a married subordinate is not down to choice because she will be choosing to keep her job. Cde Nic please stop normalising the absurd this man is the third most powerful man in Zim and does the woman have a choice @PedzisaiRuhanya
Wow, "a woman is noone's property" , Zanu pFs position on the VPs scandals with married women. We need to rid Zim of Zanu pf, its the worst thing that ever happened to zimbabwe. The husbands must sue the VP, he knew the ladies were married and he destroyed their marriages.
@nickmangwana s106(2)(b) of theConstitution;“VP''..may not during their tenure of office-Act in any way that is inconsistent with their office, or expose themselves to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between their official responsibilities & private interests”
So married women should have it with powerful men is no big deal? Are you telling us Mai Nick Mangwana Mai vevana vako boys dziya wokwirwa na shefu vako zvitori bho and you will love it so much and look aside , vachibva kugeza chinena iwe uchiwkirawo nekubhabhadzira nice nice?
Wow, "a woman is noone's property" , Zanu pFs position on the VPs scandals with married women. We need to rid Zim of Zanu pf, its the worst thing that ever happened to zimbabwe. The husbands must sue the VP, he knew the ladies were married and he destroyed their marriages.
Now we know why you never appear at public events with your wife. You surely know about this dark side of the wolves you speak on behalf of. Some people even say you banished your wife far away from them where they cant even visit because of sanctions. That is cool hey
There you have it @LynneStactia mamudena akakoshiwa never to make comments in anger. Now he has shown what he is all about. To all you men in Zim, do not waste your time getting married, its now official .."a woman is noone's property", "sex with married women = sex with singles"
Jealousy Mawarire and Linda Masarira have clashed over the role which should be played by Women’s groups in the case of Vice President Kembo Mohadi who allegedly slept with his married subordinates.
Jealousy Mawarire has urged organisations representing women to step up and represent the women which VP Kembo Mohadi allegedly slept with saying the 71-year-old abused his power and office.
Meanwhile, Linda Masirira who leads opposition LEAD opines that the women in question are adults who made their own decisions therefore Kembo Mohadi has no case to answer.
Responding to a tweet that spoke about Mohadi’s affairs, Jealousy Mawarire who is the spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front (NPF) said: I don’t know why women’s groups are quiet, it’s worrying.
I have seen, countless times, women grps condemn bosses who hit on subordinates, Morehardy hit on Abigail, a subordinate & subordinate's wife. Are u saying women's groups shld turn a blind eye to men abusing their power & offices to solicit for sex from juniors? Am dissapointed https://t.co/2bKUtXP7Rf
Linda Masarira responded quickly saying women’s groups had no locus standi here. She tweeted:
Hanzvadzi yangu (my brother) Jealous how are you? This woman is an adult who has willingly consented to sex, what are women’s groups and gender activists supposed to say?
Mawarire did not agree with Masarira. He suggested action must be taken against the Vice President. He responded to Masarira’s tweet:
I have seen, countless times, women groups condemn bosses who hit on subordinates, Morehardy hit on Abigail, a subordinate & subordinate’s wife. Are u saying women’s groups should turn a blind eye to men abusing their power & offices to solicit for sex from juniors? Am dissapointed
Some social media users who followed the discussion suggested that women’s groups were showing double standards after they rebuked Nelson Chamisa, leader of opposition MDC Alliance who had only grabbed a microphone from his wife whilst she was still speaking at a rally.Meanwhile, some said it was difficult to say they were abused as some women just cheat on their husbands by choice.
We publish below some of the reactions:
Me too very disappointed. A leader of a political party who see such abuse as normal. Apa ndiwezhira wangu kikiki
A powerful man like a VP having an affair with a married subordinate is not down to choice because she will be choosing to keep her job. Cde Nic please stop normalising the absurd this man is the third most powerful man in Zim and does the woman have a choice @PedzisaiRuhanya
Wow, "a woman is noone's property" , Zanu pFs position on the VPs scandals with married women. We need to rid Zim of Zanu pf, its the worst thing that ever happened to zimbabwe. The husbands must sue the VP, he knew the ladies were married and he destroyed their marriages.
@nickmangwana s106(2)(b) of theConstitution;“VP''..may not during their tenure of office-Act in any way that is inconsistent with their office, or expose themselves to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between their official responsibilities & private interests”
So married women should have it with powerful men is no big deal? Are you telling us Mai Nick Mangwana Mai vevana vako boys dziya wokwirwa na shefu vako zvitori bho and you will love it so much and look aside , vachibva kugeza chinena iwe uchiwkirawo nekubhabhadzira nice nice?
Wow, "a woman is noone's property" , Zanu pFs position on the VPs scandals with married women. We need to rid Zim of Zanu pf, its the worst thing that ever happened to zimbabwe. The husbands must sue the VP, he knew the ladies were married and he destroyed their marriages.
Now we know why you never appear at public events with your wife. You surely know about this dark side of the wolves you speak on behalf of. Some people even say you banished your wife far away from them where they cant even visit because of sanctions. That is cool hey
There you have it @LynneStactia mamudena akakoshiwa never to make comments in anger. Now he has shown what he is all about. To all you men in Zim, do not waste your time getting married, its now official .."a woman is noone's property", "sex with married women = sex with singles"
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly strongly condemns the senseless and barbarian manner in which our Mashonaland West leadership were ‘arrested’ by gun totting soldiers in company of the police.
It is shocking that the unrepentant regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa which is hiding under the veil of Covid-19 regulations continue to weaponize the pandemic against opposition members.
This time the police preferred a shameful charge that the Mashonaland West PAC leadership were having “an illegal gathering”.
It is mind boggling how 10 people observing social distance and wearing masks in a meeting at their own party offices could be said to be having an illegal gathering.
Ironically just over a week ago, ZANU PF held its own internal party elections to replace the late Ellen Gwaradzimba with over 30 delegates attending the Manicaland held event.
Clearly there is selective application of the law bend on suffocating the opposition from having their own processes.
The arrest of Mash West PAC leadership comes hotly after the arrest of Youth Assembly National Executive Committee member, Makomborero Haruzivishe who was today denied bail by a Harare Magistrate.
It is clear that the junta has upped their repression gear and the only normal response is for us to up our resistance gear.
Our choices in face of incessant attacks on our liberties are very much limited.
Either we defy or die!
DefyOrDie
FreeOurLeaders
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
By A Correspondent- Lawyers have rejected the use of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Zimbabweans without clinical trials to ascertain its efficacy and safety, which they said is tantamount to “experimenting”.
In a letter to the Health ministry, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights is demanding that the Chinese-developed vaccine and many should be tested first before inoculation.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa also announced yesterday that Zimbabwe was expecting 75 000 doses of an unnamed vaccine from India.
The Indian drugs will follow the 200 000 doses received from China on Monday.
“We are grateful to our Indian friends for committing to donate 75 000 COVID-19 (doses of a) vaccine and for the opportunity to buy more moving forward. We are working tirelessly to obtain sufficient vaccines so we can overcome this virus and revive our economy,” Mnangagwa said.
The United Kingdom also pledged vaccines under the Covax facility that will be availed to Zimbabwe and other developing countries soon.
“Today, our Prime Minister (Boris Johnson) will commit the UK to offer surplus COVID-19 vaccines to Covax to support developing countries, including Zimbabwe. That’s in addition to the UK’s significant global commitment of $766 million to the Covax facility, which is led by WHO CEPI [World Health Organisation Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations] vaccines and GAVI,” UK ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson said.
But in the letter to the Health and Child Care ministry dated February 16, 2021 written by their lawyers from Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners, the human rights lawyers said they were worried that the bodily or psychological integrity of individuals, which includes the right not to be subjected to medical or scientific experiments, was being violated.
The letter was motivated by comments by Health ministry acting permanent secretary official Robert Mudyirandima, who was quoted as saying that during the rollout, tests would be done to measure the vaccines’ effectiveness on current mutations, variants and strains.
“It is, therefore, our client’s view that clinical trials precede the rolling out of the vaccination programme, the aim being to establish whether the vaccination drug undergoing trials is safe to administer and will not have adverse side effects,” the lawyers said.
“Clinical trials cannot be conducted simultaneously with the actual vaccination of the population as the acting Health secretary appears to suggest.
“If that happens, many lives would be put at risk as they may be victims of irreversible side effects. Reports from other countries where this vaccine has been tested appear to confirm the possibility of such side effects.”
Government, however, sought to allay fears of side-effects with Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga taking the jab first on Thursday. He immediately said the Sinopharm was approved by WHO.-Newsday
HIGH Court Judge Justice Webster Chinamora on Friday 19 February 2021 ordered the release from Harare Remand Prison of Allan Moyo, a pro-democracy campaigner and University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student, who had spent more than two months in jail after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers for allegedly calling for a revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
The 23 year-old Moyo had been detained at Harare Remand Prison after his bail applications and an appeal were dismissed on three occasions by Harare Magistrates Judith Taruvinga, Barbra Mateko and High Court Judge Justice Davison Foroma.
But on Friday 19 February 2021 Justice Chinamora ordered the release of Moyo, who was represented by Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights on RTGS$10 000 bail after setting aside Magistrate Mateko’s decision to dismiss his application on changed circumstances which he had filed at Harare Magistrates Court early this month.
Justice Chinamora also ordered Moyo to report at Mabelreign Police Station once every last Friday of the month and to continue residing at his given residential address.
Moyo was arrested on Monday 7 December 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members, who charged him with incitement to commit public violence as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act as read with section 36(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. He was accused of calling for a revolt against President Mnangagwa’s government.
Meanwhile, Makomborero Haruzivishe, a 27 year-old pro-democracy campaigner on Friday 19 February 2021 appeared at Harare Magistrates Court facing charges of kidnapping as defined in section 93(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act alternatively participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors alleged that Haruzivishe together with other human rights activists Prince Gora and Youngerson Matete locked up some Impala Motor Spares employees inside a shop in central Harare on 15 October 2020 and held and waved placards with messages denouncing the incarceration of Zimbabwe National Students Union leader Takudzwa Ngadziore, who had been detained for protesting against the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, a Midlands State University student.
On Friday 19 2021, Haruzivishe, who is represented by Obey Shava, Paidamoyo Saurombe and Roselyn Hanzi of ZLHR, spent the night detained at Harare Central Police Station after a Warrant of Further Detention was granted by Harare Magistrate Sheunesu Matova to keep him in police cells until Saturday 20 February 2021 when he returned to court again.
The order to detain Haruzivishe in police cells and not in prison cells came after his lawyers argued before Magistrate Matova that he must not be taken to prison as he had not yet been formally placed on remand.
On Friday 19 February 2021, lawyers challenged the legality of Haruzivishe’s arrest arguing that he had been arrested by people who refused to identify themselves and who blindfolded and assaulted him.
Magistrate Matova rolled the matter to Saturday 20 February 2021.
By Nomusa Garikai- “The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday forecast annual inflation to plummet to less than 10% this year, driven by a good agricultural season, fiscal and financial sector stability,” reported Bulawayo24.
“In December 2020, Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube projected annual inflation to drop to 136% at the end of 2021, after volatilities pushed the rate to 837% in July before declining to 348% by the end of last year.”
In January 2020, Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said by the end of the year inflation would be 10%. It was 837%! No doubt come December 2012 inflation will way off the 10% target and the nation will be giving a new target date.
There will be no meaningful economic recovery as long as nothing is done to revive the collapsed agricultural sector, to stamp out the gross mismanagement and the rampant corruption.
When Mnangagwa took over from Robert Mugabe, he promised to end corruption but three years latter corruption has spread from the diamond mining into gold, platinum and lithium mining, the are cartels in fuel and energy sector, foreign currency trading and even in the supply of corona virus requirements. Mnangagwa will never ever stamp out corruption because he and and his fellow ruling elite are the Godfathers of corruption!
Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic, a pariah state, governed by corrupt incompetent and vote rigging thugs who believe they have the divine right to govern the country and to loot. As long as the country remain a pariah state the country’s economy will remain in ruins, where Zanu PF landed it.
Until we implement the democratic reforms and cure ourselves of the curse of rigged elections and pariah state; there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None!
The country started with a robust economy and today it is in ruins after 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF misrule. Zanu PF promised mass prosperity but has delivered instead mass poverty.
“Coupled with increased food production due to a favourable agricultural season, inflationary pressures are expected to remain subdued in the short to medium term,” RBZ governor John Mangudya said in his Monetary Policy Statement yesterday.
“As a result, the economy is expected to continue experiencing a gradual disinflation from the 362,6% annual inflation in December 2020 to below 10% by December 2021. This inflation path will be underpinned by a targeted month-on-month inflation rate of below 3%.”
After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical rule that has drag the nation deeper and deeper into the abyss, all these empty promises of 10% inflation rate, economic recovery, middle-income status by 2030, etc. are as far fetched as a mirage by moonlight.
Written by Descent Collins Bajila and edited by Prince Gora.
Just a few hours after Makomborero Haruzivishe was arrested on February 18th, Thandekile Moyo asked a pertinent question. She tagged a few friends on Twitter and posted, “Dearest comrades, I only have one question for you, for us. WWMD? Were it you in prison right now, WHAT WOULD MAKO DO?
The question provoked a lot of people who pestered her for answers and the way forward until she was compelled to post again, “Friends have been messaging me since yesterday. What needs to be done? What can we do? Good people, we all know what needs to be done. We all know what Makomborero has done for us. We all know that the hashtag wont work. This is the hour of reckoning!” I have tried to meditate on the question and I feel very challenged. For nearly 8 months, Mako has known that his day with the police is coming. He knew that it was not a question of ‘if’ but of ‘when’ they would pounce on him. At one time I met him with Youngerson Matete and Takudzwa Ngadziore and sensed that he was conscious of the fact that he could be arrested any minute from then but still he would not shy away from the duty of perfecting the revolutionary mentoring of his successors in the student movement. He knew that he could be arrested if he attended comrades' court appearances but still proceeded to do that on countless occasions. He knew that he could be arrested if he appeared at funerals and bereavements of comrades, but still he travelled to mourn and give solidarity to the Dinar family in Gutu, the Dzamara family in Mutoko, the Siziba family in Bulawayo and that is to mention but a few of is selfless such sacrifices. The imminence of his arrest never stopped him from giving solidarity to comrades in need. It didnt stop him from travelling to Masvingo with others to build the Youth Assembly. It didnt stop him from attending the national council in Bulawayo or from attending countless other party functions. The struggle is his life. Friends and comrades alike have at one time or another urged Mako to lay low, to tone down his activism. He has given the same reply always, “How do I lay low when Muchehiwa is battling for his life and Taku is in jail? You cant ask that of me!” When people told Mako to go underground, maybe even flee to South Africa or beyond, he called Thandekile and said, “Mamo, people don`t understand. When Itai disappeared, his mum asked me kuti aripi mumwe wako? She asked me the same when Patson was abducted. Now they are both gone. I owe it to them to keep fighting!” Comrades, I appeal to all of you, all of us to think of what Mako would do if we were arrested. Would he be in Harare and skip your court appearance? Would he just design a hashtag about your freedom and make you famous? Would he just change his social media profile picture to yours and then continue with his life? Or would he start an analysis of why you did the things that led to your arrest? What would Mako do?
12 MDC Alliance provincial leaders from Mash West including Chairman Magunje were taken at gunpoint by 6 soldiers & 7 police officers from the Chinhoyi party office. They were organizing the funeral of Ward 4 member, Mr Kembo, who passed on yesterday.
Our Mash West leaders who were taken from the Chinhoyi party office at gunpoint by soldiers have been detained at Chinoyi Central Police Station for over an hour. They have not been told why they were seized by the military or what charges they’re facing.
Their buttocks were beaten with guns by the soldiers. Despite waiting for over an hour, they haven’t been told what charges, if any they’re facing. They are not allowed to go to the toilet.Mash West leaders seized at gunpoint by the military in Chinhoyi include: Chairman Magunje Collin Mapfumo Chairlady Usai Secretary Bvumo Mr Mandava Kudakwashe Mandishona Clr Vitrinyu Emmanuel Chinanzvavana Clr Chigumo Wilson Makanyaire Pauline Sibanda Edward Dzeka
By A Correspondent- The family of the late socialite and businessman Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure has reportedly hired a lawyer in a bid to try and overturn the will they had submitted to the Master of the High Court.
The family is also reluctant to hand over the car that was left to one of Ginimbi’s friend Kit Kat (real name Nomatter Zinyengere) in the unsigned will.
According to the state media:
The Kadungure family is now becoming disenchanted with the executor, saying they accepted the unsigned will and the appointment of Ms Patricia Darangwa while not thinking fully because of their bereavement.
Ms Darangwa reportedly authored the will and the family now feels she pressed them to accept the will and her appointment although the late Kadungure had not appended his signature to it.
The Kadungure family is also arguing that verifications being done to identify Kit Kat are not yet complete. This came to light after Nomatter Zinyengere wrote to the family asking them to release the car.
Kit Kat’s letter through his lawyers reportedly said:
Our client is keen to have his inheritance released from the residue of the estate and is requesting that same be done through the first interim distribution account, a copy of which we are also requesting to inspect.
Furthermore, our client is willing to pay the estate liabilities and related costs for his inheritance and to that end may you kindly issue us an invoice for settlement.
The family which was reportedly not happy about the letter hired their own lawyers, Ushewokunze Law Chambers, to contest the will, and the proposed transfer of the vehicle is believed to be the trigger of the response.
The Kadungure family through their lawyers are accusing Ms Darangwa of hurriedly advising them to accept the unsigned will and notified her that they are contesting the authenticity of the will:
We are instructed that before, and in the morning of November 25 2020, you (Ms Darangwa) unduly influenced the family to accept the ‘will’ and threatened that if the family chose to reject the will and your executorship, they would have tarnished your reputation as a lawyer and you were prepared to sue them and subject the estate to unwanted delays even all the way up to the Supreme Court.
Our further instructions are that you in the same vein, attempted to placate the family by dangling an offer or arrangement that the family should unanimously recommend your executorship in terms of the will and in the aftermath of such appointment you were going to sign a special power of attorney entitling Juliet Kadungure to administer the entire estate of the deceased.
We are further instructed that the family accepted the will and recommended your appointment in terms of the will as executrix testamentary only because you unduly influenced them to do so.
However, the family’s suspicion around the authenticity of the will remains difficult to oust. The family has always had, and still has, unanswered questions regarding the said will…
We must mention that the dissatisfaction and anxiety over the genuineness or origin of the will, coupled with a recollection of diverse events antecedent to the demise of the deceased, all culminated in the family’s resort to getting legal advice with a view to bringing closure to the issue of the will
Darangwa’s response to the family through her lawyers said she was shocked by the accusations and she denied unduly influencing the family to accept the unsigned will: When she (Ms Darangwa) read the will to the family members, they were all very happy about the contents thereof and stated that the will in question contained the wishes of the deceased, which he had hinted to some of the family members, friends and employees before his demise.
The family unanimously agreed that the estate be registered. Even after the registration of the estate, your clients were working very well with our client. She is therefore shocked by your clients’ averments that she unduly influenced them to accept the will,
12 MDC Alliance provincial leaders from Mash West including Chairman Magunje were taken at gunpoint by 6 soldiers & 7 police officers from the Chinhoyi party office. They were organizing the funeral of Ward 4 member, Mr Kembo, who passed on yesterday.
Our Mash West leaders who were taken from the Chinhoyi party office at gunpoint by soldiers have been detained at Chinoyi Central Police Station for over an hour. They have not been told why they were seized by the military or what charges they’re facing.
Their buttocks were beaten with guns by the soldiers. Despite waiting for over an hour, they haven’t been told what charges, if any they’re facing. They are not allowed to go to the toilet.Mash West leaders seized at gunpoint by the military in Chinhoyi include: Chairman Magunje Collin Mapfumo Chairlady Usai Secretary Bvumo Mr Mandava Kudakwashe Mandishona Clr Vitrinyu Emmanuel Chinanzvavana Clr Chigumo Wilson Makanyaire Pauline Sibanda Edward Dzeka
Norton MP Temba Mliswa last night opened a case with the Police against his ex girlfriend Susan Mutami over statements uttered by her to a website in which she alleged among other things that he has plotted to kill ED's son & minister July Moyo. FULL STORY ON ZIMEYE pic.twitter.com/EuOqnLRg08
The gunshots exposed the fallacy that we were born free. But. They sounded to me like gun salutes for the struggle! A gun salute to our fight for justice. A gun salute to our fight for the future. We choose the future. We are biased towards justice. Nothing will stop #PeoplePower
By A Correspondent- A Hatfield Police Station police officer is among the 4 people who were fatally shot in Harare CBD last night during a shootout with ZRP officers as they tried to rob a solar shop situated at 110 Mbuya Nehanda Street.
The matter came to light in a police memo seen by the publication that stated that the incident occurred last night and Constable Kudzai Kanjera is among the deceased.
According to the publication, ZRP said this is what transpired during the robbery that ended Constable Kanjera’s life: The owner of the shop, Chris Chibueze, 45, told police he received a call from a customer who wanted him to deliver a solar battery at his residence at 6PM, after business hours. Chibueze, who had left his shop, returned to get the solar battery.
Suddenly, he was approached by six male adults who were armed with four pistols. The accused persons ordered Chibueze to lie down whilst pointing firearms at him to which he complied.
One of the suspects grabbed the safe keys and took US$10,000 in cash. As the suspects were leaving, police said detectives who were outside fired shots resulting in a gun-battle with the suspected robbers who were “overpowered.”
Chibueze recovered his money which had been dropped by the suspects during the shootout.
ZRP is holding Tichaona Kariwa of Domboshava and 29-year-old Blessing Bheura of Chitungwiza who survived the shootout while Constable Kudzai Kanjera, Admire Nhetekwa, Tatenda Chari, and Brian Chibaya. all died during the gun battle.
By A Correspondent- High Court Judge Justice Thompson Mabikwa’s angry lover reportedly send the esteemed judge’s nude photos to a group of fellow judges using his cellphone after she discovered he was seeing another woman, ZimLive reports.
The woman believed to be Oratile Nare, a young assistant of Justice Maxwell Takuva, a fellow Bulawayo High Court judge is believed to be the one who embarrassed the widowed judge in such a manner after she discovered he had sent nude pictures of himself to another woman the night they were together
Nare reported;y left the judge’s house with the judge’s phone after the discovery and further went on to send the conversation between the judge and the pictures between the pair to a group of JSC judges and to some of his contacts via WhatsApp.
A police report was reportedly made and JSC is reportedly going to respond to the incident on Monday. Meanwhile, VP Mohadi was reportedly cloned and audios of him and his lovers some of them containing raunchy conversations have flooded social media.
The United Nations predicts that by 2050, seventy percent of the population in Africa will be living in urban areas hence there will be many challenges, risks as well as opportunities which comes with urbanization.
All of a sudden the rentals in urban areas particularly in Harare becomes a nightmare. There is an urgent need of the landlords to charge affordable rentals as this will culminate to the positive development for economic growth and stability.
The Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe should play a fundamental obligation to protect the citizens from unscrupulous landlords and bogus agents who are robbing people daily. We need to come up with realistic valuation of rentals while contemplating on the vitally important factors. A systematic approach must be implemented especially in Harare whereby the government and the relevant stakeholders ought to set rental benchmarks and formulae. The rentals prices are increasing every month due to the greediness by landlords and lack of principles to be adhered. Be that as it may, this exponentially rise in rentals is not triggered by the shortage of the houses in Harare since many people are building their own houses.
Most people are in dire situation because their disposable income is being heavily eroded by the rentals and the cost of living is escalating on monthly basis. Let’s have a collective engagement and consider the Rent Act in Zimbabwe. Thousands and thousands of people are losing their hard earned income through the illegal agents who are charging exorbitant prices of 50usd before viewing a property and you will surely have the shock of your life to discover a fowl run instead of a habitable house. Eventually, the search will end in vain and agony.
In some of the areas around Harare, the agents are teaming up with the landlords and develop a strong rapport to an extent of obtaining a kickback without the knowledge of the tenant for instance a full house in Southerton might costs an average price of 300usd, the agent top up another 100usd and equates at 400usd per month. This unregistered agent will get 100usd per month without the sweaty equity.
The registered estates agents have been cornered by the unlicensed agents and the market is now congested. Innovative young entrepreneurs need to think outside the box and bring up a sophisticated and disruptive system proposition which tracks illegal real estate agents to protect the local property rental market. Uncounted real estate frauds cases are being reported every day at police across Harare and other cities.
I am just a microphone of the innocent people who are wailing and grieving without consolation. It is my utmost request for the relevant stakeholders to take some steps towards addressing these problems.
This article was prepared by Noel Mavura. He is the founder of an Investment firm called Africa Investors Hub which funds innovative entrepreneurs. He can be contacted on the following
By A Correspondent- The European Union (EU) has renewed sanctions against the Zimbabwe Defence Industries (ZDI), a military-controlled company, over “persistent” human rights abuses by the Harare administration.
The EU has, over the years, rolled back sanctions against Harare, leaving only an arms embargo against ZDI, while its travel bans and asset freezes on former First Lady Grace Mugabe, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Philip Valerio Sibanda remain suspended.
It warmed up to Mnangagwa after the 2017 coup that deposed long-time ruler, the late former President Robert Mugabe, but yesterday accused the government of breaking promises on reforms and criticised continuing human rights violations.
The government denies any wrong doing, with Mnangagwa insisting that they were only dealing with “bad apples” allegedly causing divisions.
“In light of its continuing concerns, the EU has reviewed its restrictive measures, recalling their purpose to encourage a demonstrable, genuine and long-term commitment by the Zimbabwean authorities to respect and uphold human rights and the rule of law,” the EU said yesterday.
“The EU has decided to renew its arms embargo and to maintain a targeted assets freeze against one company, Zimbabwe Defence Industries, taking into account the situation in Zimbabwe, including the continuing need to investigate the role of security force actors in human rights abuses.”
The bloc first imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe after Mugabe deported its chief election observer in 2002, but gradually eased the restrictions.
“Violations of human rights and limitations on the democratic space are also persisting. The EU is especially concerned about a proliferation of arrests and prosecutions of journalists, opposition actors and individuals expressing dissenting views and the use by high-level officials of speech that could be interpreted as incitement to violence,” the bloc said.
The EU said it was worried over “lack of substantial reforms” that has allowed the continued deterioration of the humanitarian, economic and social situation in the country.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has committed to adhere fully to its constitutional and international human rights obligations which imply respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, including addressing impunity.
“Perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses should swiftly be brought to justice and the recommendations of the Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry should be implemented as a matter of priority and urgency.”
A total of 23 civilians were killed in August 2018 and January 2019 after the regime unleashed soldiers to deal with protests over election results and fuel price hikes, respectively, and despite a commission of inquiry recommending action on perpetrators, Mnangagwa has remained mum. The commission of inquiry on the August 1, 2018 shootings was led by former South African President Kgalema Monthlante.
The EU recommended that perpetrators of human rights abuses be brought to book, adding that it would continue to closely follow developments.
“These measures do not affect the people of Zimbabwe, its economy, foreign direct investment, or trade and Zimbabwe continues to benefit from duty free and quota free access of its exports to the EU, with negotiations to deepen the Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) ongoing.”
“Accelerated political and economic reforms, respect for human rights, boosting trust in the rule of law and tackling corruption would contribute significantly to investor confidence, build a steady business climate and facilitate Zimbabwe in taking full advantage of the opportunities the EPA provides,” the European bloc said.
“The EU reiterates its readiness to support credible and sustainable economic and political reforms, based on tangible commitments made by the government of Zimbabwe.
“The EU regards electoral reform as an important element to strengthen democracy in Zimbabwe and is ready to continue its support in this field in line with the recommendations made by the 2018 EU electoral observation mission.
“The upcoming political dialogue with Zimbabwe will provide an opportunity for exchanging views and deepening mutual understanding as well as looking for constructive co-operation,” Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo refused to comment, saying he needed to see the statement and how it was presented.
“I need to see the statement and how it is presented and then comment,” he said.
By James Gwati- Zanu PF has defended the liberation war hero status which they accorded to Zimdancehall chanter, Soul Muzavazi Musaka, popularly known as Soul Jah Love, saying he was one of them.
Soul Jah Love, who was 31, passed away on Tuesday, will be buried today at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare. Zanu PF spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, said in a statement that his party cherished Soul Jah Love’s music.
“Zanu PF takes note of the joy, appreciation, and pride among our young people and the generality of Zimbabweans across the divide following the declaration of Liberation Hero status on our music icon, Cde Soul Jah Love (Soul Muzavazi Musaka) by His Excellency the President, Cde ED Mnangagwa. “We all call upon all mourners to observe the lockdown measures to save lives as well. May His Soul Rest in Peace”.
The National Heroes Act, which Zanu PF abuses to confer their friends and relatives with the national hero status says.
“Where the President considers that any deceased person who was a citizen of Zimbabwe has deserved well of his country on account of his outstanding, distinctive and distinguished service to Zimbabwe, he may designate such person as a national, provincial or district hero of Zimbabwe”.
By James Gwati-Geraldine Baye, a Harare Slay-queen who made headlines for engaging in faeces rituals to lure prominent businessmen said she was deeply in love with the late Zimdancehall chanter, Soul Jah Love.
Below is what the faeces lady wrote on her Facebook page about her alleged good times with Chibaba.
Google just had to remind me…This is all am left with…Memories…You didn’t have to go like that..together times to be cherished…we wer so private and so happy no1 knew about us we protected each other we did not let anyone in our home stories..You taught me to so many things,you gave me a reason to believe in myself again You gave me love you gave me strength in our very peaceful home…you did not want anyone to know about us at first it made me feel some typer way till you showed me the bigger picture,You wer only trying to protect us and it worked#hokoso….you sang Kunyangwe Mukadaro for me and Ndiani anonzi Sauro(so funny how Ndiani anonzi Sauro was composed)and Murwere wepfungwa,you couldn’t wait to get home so you could play the recorded version…Court days wer the hardest for us…Takashorwa asi maitiro avo Mwari kukomborera pakashoreka.Everyone turned their backs on us but thats wat made us strong,people always questioned our relationship but we still chose and because we wer all we had for each other we grew closer by the dayand some days wer hard but our beautiful moments wer more.People laughed at me our love story became a mockery asi takanga takagara takashoreka we accepted still,we understand each other mukushoreka kwedu.Sometimes you would get sick in the middle of the night and you would completely refuse to go to the hospital ohhh that really annoyed me so muchl would just sitting on the floor completely clueless on what to do,l would shout at you and tell me kuti haaa Chibaby ChaDaddy come cuddle your man.Sometimes nights wer long coz its either you would at be at the studio normally leave home at 23.00-3am or you would be sick from 17.30-5am or you would be at the show.What hurt me the most worst wer Fridays and Saturdays,because we would spend the wholeday okay but get sugar attacks from 18.00 and start regaining strength around 23.30 that part of our lives was the worst,the next morning boom Jahlove IS A FAILURE,u would spendmost of ur time wondering why people cant see that you wer trying and you wer also human like everyone, no1 knew how that chronic disease affected you,all people wanted to see was a strong Jahlove but never considered you wer trying.we accepted kushoreka kwedu and we lived in our own corner oh Muzavazi you have broken us as ur family who will protect us.Kunyangwe vakati muri benzi muri benzi rangu.l come in peace.RIP my Soulmate..
By James Gwati- President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two deputies, Constantine Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi have snubbed the burial of popular Zim dancehall musician Soul Jah Love and opted to preside over the burial of the little known former ZRP Boss, Moses Griffiths Mpofu.
Mpofu is the former Police Deputy Commissioner. He died on Friday last week and was declared a National Hero and will be buried today at the National Heroes Acre. Soul Jah Love is a Zimdancehall chanter who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 31 will also be buried today at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare, after Zanu PF declared him a liberation hero.
By James Gwati-Moses Griffiths Mpofu, is former Police Deputy Commissioner. He died on Friday last week and was declared a National Hero and will be buried today at the National Heroes Acre. Soul Jah Love is a Zimdancehall chanter who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 31 will also be buried today at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare, after Zanu PF declared him a liberation hero,
ZimEye interviews Temba Mliswa's Ex girlfriend Sat morning. Impeccable security details have revealed FL, Auxillia Mnangagwa once kicked out Susan Mutami from her home after accusations of being too close to the President. ZimEye reveals this as we dig deeper into Suzzy's World pic.twitter.com/u7K8tenbN6
Norton MP Temba Mliswa last night opened a case with the Police against his ex girlfriend Susan Mutami over statements uttered by her to a website in which she alleged among other things that he has plotted to kill ED's son & minister July Moyo. FULL STORY ON ZIMEYE pic.twitter.com/EuOqnLRg08
THE planned disposal of National Social Security Authority (Nssa) shares in First Mutual Life (FML) would be daylight robbery against workers and pensioners if allowed to proceed, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has said.
The government is planning to sell 33.22% of Nssa’s 66.22% shares in FML to private investors as part of its insurance cluster consolidation strategy.
But the ZCTU alleges the move is designed to benefit a few politically connected elites who will be offered the shares for a song.
Peter Mutasa, the labour body’s president, claimed the government was now trying to elbow out the ZCTU from the Nssa board as they were opposed to the sale of the shares.
“The minister is running Nssa with his acolytes pretending to be a legally constituted board. We know the former board was dissolved to ensure that Nssa parcels out its assets to politically exposed persons at a song. This will be daylight robbery to the workers and those on pension. That is why we are resisting the sale of FML shares,” he said.
He said whether or not the ZCTU was part of the Nssa board, the labour movement would still fight to defend workers’ contributions from “looters”.
“We know the looters are circling around Nssa like vultures hovering over a carcass. They took Nssa ZB shares using board members who were not consulting their principals, now they want the most prized Nssa asset, FML, and all workers should stop them.”
And in what the ZCTU believes was the first step towards the disenfranchisement of workers from participating in the affairs of Nssa, presidential spokesperson George Charamba was quoted in an online publication as suggesting that the labour body no longer deserved a seat on the pension fund’s board.
Charamba claimed in the report that the ZCTU no longer controlled a huge chunk of the workforce because of structural changes in the economy brought about by what he termed the government’s deliberate policy to grow the informal sector.
He claimed the government now had the biggest number of workers in the formal sector that fell under the Apex Council, leaving the ZCTU with a depleted membership, acknowledging the government’s policies had contributed to the decline in formal employment.
But Mutasa said this was a ploy by the government to get the ZCTU out of the way so they could loot Nssa resources at the expense of workers and pensioners who contributed to the fund.
Mutasa said instead of celebrating the loss of formal jobs, the government should be ashamed and resign as it had destroyed the once robust economy and reduced it to a vendors’ economy.
“They have destroyed Julius Nyerere’s jewel of Africa. This economy was an envy of many with diversified manufacturing industries, including vehicle assembly.
However, successive years of mismanagement and looting by the same government have reduced it to an economy sustained by vending and gold panning,” Mutasa said.
“Instead of celebrating it as cheap political points against the ZCTU, the government must be ashamed and should resign,” he said.
Nssa has investments running into more than US$1 billion in various sectors such as property, insurance, hospitality and banking, making it one of the biggest local investors.
MORE than 400 people besieged Mvuma Police Station baying for the blood of a 60-year-old woman who initiated a pyramid scheme that collapsed and prejudiced them of more than US$80 000.
Police arrested Rudo Takaendesa (60) employed by Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Mvuma who initiated Devine Gifting Club in December last year.
Members quickly gathered at the police station when news of Takaendesa’s arrest spread through the town and demanded their money. The mob only dispersed after police assured them the matter was under investigation.
More arrests, police said, are expected.
Thousands of people in the Midlands province have joined elaborate schemes known as Gifting, Flower or Royal club.
Police have warned members of the public against joining such clubs as they stand to lose their money.
Members have been paying a joining fee of US$20 anticipating to be paid more than US$300 when they bring in more members who join with US$20 or more.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the surge in money schemes in the province.
“Members of the public are warned to be alert and watch out following the emergence of seemingly sophisticated fraudsters duping innocent people of money through what they call Gifting, Flower, Royal Clubs or Mukando.
“Police in Mvuma received a report in which more than 400 people were duped of money in United States dollars estimated to be more than US$80 000 through the schemes,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said the report was received at Mvuma Police Station on Valentine’s Day while the fraudulent schemes were reported to have been running in Mvuma since December 2020.
“One person identified to have allegedly initiated the scheme in the small town has been arrested and is in police custody while investigations continue. She is Rudo Takaendesa (60) employed by Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Mvuma,” said Insp Mahoko.
He said Takaendesa is alleged to have created Devine Gifting Club and 20 sub groups with administrators. The sub administrators, Insp Mahoko said went on to create their own groups of 16 people each.
“Members of the public were made to pay US$20 joining fee each which would benefit each administrator US$320,” he said.- Chronicle
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has increased withdrawal limits to $2 000 from $1 000 and reviewed upwards the bank policy and private sector lending rates as part of comprehensive measures to strengthen price and financial sector stability.
The increase in withdrawal limits is expected to ease cash shortages and will be buttressed by introduction of new $50 bank notes.
This will enhance consumer convenience when transacting in cash while the bulk of transactions are conducted through electronic banking.
RBZ Governor, Dr John Mangudya (pictured), unveiled the new interventions yesterday in his 2021 Monetary Policy Statement, which builds on the gains achieved in the previous policy interventions.
In order to keep money supply growth in check and maintain stability, the bank policy rate for overnight accommodation has been moved to 40 percent per annum from 35 percent while the mid-term lending rate to productive sectors is now 30 percent from 25 percent.
The decision on interest rates takes into account the current liquidity conditions in the market and the need to continue controlling speculative borrowing, said Dr Mangudya.
He stated that mobile money transactions would remain capped at $5 000 per day and $35 000 weekly in order to curb the abuse of the platform, which was historically being manipulated by illegal money dealers for speculative purposes. The measures are with immediate effect.
Given the anticipated bumper harvest due to a favourable agriculture season, the apex bank expects inflationary pressures to remain subdued in the short to medium term, with an ambitious annual inflation target of below 10 percent set for 2021 from 262,6 percent in 2020.
As the country gets down to implementing the National Development Strategy (NDS1:2021-2025), as a building bloc towards realisation of an upper middle-income economy by 2030, a stable financial services sector is crucial to creating a supportive macro-economic environment.
Anchored on the theme: “Staying on course in fostering price and financial system stability”, Dr Mangudya said the 2021 Monetary Policy Statement was expected to support the attainment of the projected positive economic growth targets in line with this year’s National Budget estimates.
“The measures presented in this statement are expected to support the attainment of the envisaged economic growth of 7,4 percent in 2021 and to control inflation to below 10 percent by end of December 2021,” said Dr Mangudya.
“This inflation path will be underpinned by a targeted month-on-month inflation rate of below three percent.” As such, the Governor said the bank’s focus on fostering price and financial system stability in the economy requires team effort, as he called on all Zimbabweans to enhance self-discipline and compliance while cherishing economic progress.
“Thus, sustaining the current economic stability that was brought about by the conservative monetary targeting framework, the auction system, fiscal discipline and efficacy in the mobile banking system is paramount and needs to be preserved, safeguarded and sustained,” he said.
Dr Mangudya allayed fears that the imminent introduction of new $50 bank notes would increase inflation in the economy since “they do not increase money supply”, adding that authorities were keeping a firm control on supply growth through conservative or hawkish monetary targeting framework.
In order to ensure sustainability of the forex auction system, which was introduced last year in June, Dr Mangudya said a 40 percent export surrender requirement, 20 percent domestic foreign exchange sales proceeds surrender requirement and 15 percent foreign exchange contribution from the fiscus, will be adopted.
“Maintaining the foreign exchange auction system remains paramount in anchoring inflation and maintaining price and financial system stability,” he said.
“The bank shall continue refining the foreign exchange auction system taking into account market fundamentals as well as closely monitoring the utilisation of funds from the foreign exchange auction system and the economy at large.”
Despite the disruptive impact of Covid-19, Dr Mangudya said overall, Zimbabwe’s economy was poised for strong growth in the short to medium term, buttressed by the resilience and hard-work exhibited in different productive sectors.
By A Correspondent| Zimbabwe has for the third day running, recorded over 100 cases in what looks like another surge in numbers.
Yesterday, Zimbabwe recorded 167 cases after 120 and 108 people tested positive on Thursday and Wednesday respectively.
Government extended the Covid-19 national lockdown by a further two weeks to the 1st of March in a move many said was irresponsible and harsh but with the numbers creeping back, they will vindicated over their decision.
The cumulative total number of positive cases recorded since the beginning of the pandemic are 35710 and 1430 deaths.
By Showbiz Reporter | A picture circulated on the internet with a caption saying the late singer Soul Jah Love (Soul Musaka) rigged his date of birth.
The photograph’s caption stated that Soul Musaka rigged his age because the inscription on the tombstone says his mother died in 1982, and Jah Love was born 7 years later.
A quick check on the original video in which he shot the song Dai Hupenyu Hwaitengwa, as ZimEye.com reveals, shows that the tombstone does not at all have such an inscription. It clearly has the year of death as 1992. This fits well into line with the story that his mother died 3 years after giving birth to him. He was birth in 1989. Further corroborations to were cleared by the fact the singer is wearing the same clothes in both pictures. SEE PICTURES BELOW
By A Correspondent| A human rights lawyer and Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) have filed an urgent chamber application at Harare High Court seeking an order to stop government from implementing or enforcing new deposit fines which it recently purported to have authorised.
In an urgent chamber application filed by Tonderai Bhatasara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, human rights lawyer Sheila Jarvis and ZimRights argued that government had erred by purporting to approve increases in deposit fines which police officers manning check points and roadblocks have already begun to implement.
Government gazetted Statutory Instrument (SI) 25/2021 in an Extraordinary Gazette published on Monday 25 January 2021, which had the effect of increasing all deposit fines.
Jarvis and ZimRights said the enforcement of SI 25/2021 is a legal nullity and contravenes their right to equality and non-discrimination enshrined in section 56 of the Constitution.
The human rights lawyer and the human rights organisation said given the massive increases in the fines compared to the income levels of the general population, there is reasonable apprehension of irreparable harm that will be caused to many offenders who would fail to pay the increased fines yet eventually SI 25/2021 would be set aside.
Jarvis and ZimRights contended that the law requires the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to get Parliament’s approval before increasing deposit fines levels.
SI 25/2021, Jarvis and ZimRights argued, is invalid in that it was not made in accordance with section 280(6) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act), which says “A statutory instrument may not be made in terms of subsection (5) unless a draft has been laid before and approved by resolution of Parliament.
The human rights lawyer and ZimRights stated that with no swipe machines or ticket-books at roadblocks plus little cash available, amid the obtaining economic challenges, there is a real risk of higher fines causing real hardship and corruption.
Jarvis and ZimRights wants the respondents, who were listed as Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Hon. Kazembe Kazembe and Parliament, their subordinates and any other person acting under their control or on their behalf to be interdicted from implementing or enforcing the deposit fines purportedly authorised by SI 25 of 2021.
They also want SI 25/2021 to be set aside and be declared unconstitutional as it contravenes section 134(f) of the Constitution and section 280 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
By A Correspondent| The European Union (EU) has renewed its arms embargo and assets freeze against the Zimbabwe Defense Industries (ZDI), citing lack of substantial reforms and continuing human rights violations.
The EU also said it concerned about the arrests of journalists and opposition actors.
By Leonard Koni| Zanu PF without the army is like a shell.Our government institutions are heavily militarised from Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which runs elections, government schools, hospitals, universities and district offices.
To cement the grip on state institutions, most intelligent officers are deployed in such areas to sniff out and monitor any malcontents and reporting on those meant to go against state governance policies.
The military in Zimbabwe drives the state machinery as compared to many other democracies around the globe who indirectly participate in running of government affairs and institutions.
We know the biggest democracies such as the USA also have military people in their government but the major difference with Zimbabwe is that in America civilians are also part and parcel of state pillars of democracy and their institutions are marinated by both professionals and fused with a few military touch personnel.
Soldiers pledge their allegiance to the country first rather than to the party which is different in Zimbabwe where allegiance seems to be to be directed to the party first and hence there does not appear to be any difference from the party Zanu PF and the state.
Zimbabwe is a heavily militarised state and only those politically connected to the military will always get the first preference when it comes to doing business with the state.
This is the deterrent reason which is stopping Zimbabqe from attracting investment because for one to do business of course one must first go through the grill.
Is the military ready to give power to the civilians and concentrate on the barracks and defence of the national interests of the country in the event that the opposition wins? This is a million dollar question which needs thinking outside the box.
I vividly recall in 2008 before the harmonised elections when I attended a certain Zanu PF rally in a Harare suburb. The late Robert Mugabe declared that his party was not going to be overthrown by a pen and a paper meaning that in real essence, voting overwhelming against the party was not going to guarantee a victory for the opposition. During that time every police station around Zimbabwe was manned or led by a war veteran or one with war credentials.
One can easily read from the usual Zanu PF script where sometime last year Patrick Chinamasa also declared that the 2023 election is dusted and done yet we were three years away from the harmonised elections. The question which people should ask must be
– Where does Zanu PF get all this confidence from?
This week during a politburo meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa also predicted a victory and that his party was geared to sweeping all urban seats.
The only internal change which was driven by factional fights between the G40 and Team Lacoste was in November 2017 coup which removed Mugabe and his sympathisers. This did not benefit the whole country but only a few individuals and political mongers who wanted to enjoy the gravy train.
This was an indicator that a Zanu PF internal election failed to remove him and then resorted to the army.
What is the position of the opposition in such a very crude environment? Is the opposition waiting for another sham election in 2023 which the army has a grip on?
What can be done to effect that much needed change in the country? Has our democracy come of age that we can easily surrender or give power to the winner? Only time shall tell as we are closely approaching the 2023 plebscite.
MORE than 400 people besieged Mvuma Police Station baying for the blood of a 60-year-old woman who initiated a pyramid scheme that collapsed and prejudiced them of more than US$80 000.
Police arrested Rudo Takaendesa (60) employed by Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Mvuma who initiated Devine Gifting Club in December last year.
Members quickly gathered at the police station when news of Takaendesa’s arrest spread through the town and demanded their money. The mob only dispersed after police assured them the matter was under investigation.
More arrests, police said, are expected.
Thousands of people in the Midlands province have joined elaborate schemes known as Gifting, Flower or Royal club.
Police have warned members of the public against joining such clubs as they stand to lose their money.
Members have been paying a joining fee of US$20 anticipating to be paid more than US$300 when they bring in more members who join with US$20 or more.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the surge in money schemes in the province.
“Members of the public are warned to be alert and watch out following the emergence of seemingly sophisticated fraudsters duping innocent people of money through what they call Gifting, Flower, Royal Clubs or Mukando.
“Police in Mvuma received a report in which more than 400 people were duped of money in United States dollars estimated to be more than US$80 000 through the schemes,” he said.
Insp Mahoko said the report was received at Mvuma Police Station on Valentine’s Day while the fraudulent schemes were reported to have been running in Mvuma since December 2020.
“One person identified to have allegedly initiated the scheme in the small town has been arrested and is in police custody while investigations continue. She is Rudo Takaendesa (60) employed by Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Mvuma,” said Insp Mahoko.
He said Takaendesa is alleged to have created Devine Gifting Club and 20 sub groups with administrators. The sub administrators, Insp Mahoko said went on to create their own groups of 16 people each.
“Members of the public were made to pay US$20 joining fee each which would benefit each administrator US$320,” he said.- Chronicle
By A Correspondent | Ministry of Health under fire for not paying its contract workers for the 2018 ART census.
Health Minister, Constantino Chiwenga
ART stands for Anti retro viral treatment.
Over 500 employees are wallowing dry without their dues ever since.
Most Zimbabweans are at present struggling to survive not only due to the-year-long pandemic, but also due to a crashing economy which has not recovered since the 1st August 2018 when Zimbabwe lost USD16 billion in investments according to economy-data from the Finance Ministry.
The affected workers come from hospitals across the country. The census was conducted for over a 2 month period and the employees worked round the clock without a penny.
ZimEye was at the time of writing, still awaiting for a comment from the Ministry Of Health over the matter.
LEADING economist Eddie Cross has quit his role as a member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) less than two years into the role, Zimbabwe Independent reported.
The former Cold Storage Commission general manager confirmed his resignation this week but did not disclose why he had opted out during the most critical time for the RBZ, which has battled to stem an inflationary rage in the past two years and bring stability to the financial services sector.
But banking sector sources said this week the former legislator had recently complained about fatigue and frustration at the central bank.
The sources said there have been attempts at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to gag the outspoken economist, who is known for speaking his mind.
“Yes I resigned from the MPC,” Cross said this week.
“But I would rather not say more than that,” he added.
The MPC was established in September 2019 following many years of absence after Zimbabwe adopted a multicurrency system in 2009 to stabilise the economy in the aftermath of the downturn between 2007 and 2008, which knocked off the domestic currency.
RBZ governor, John Mangudya chairs the MPC.
Cross’s frank analysis and disclosures of what would be taking place at the central bank has triggered concern within the government and at the RBZ.
For instance, he revealed in 2019 that a new currency was to be introduced, even before the RBZ was ready to announce the development.
This prompted Information ministry secretary Nick Mangwana to issue a statement denying the claims.
“We would like to make it clear that Mr E Cross does not speak for the Government of Zimbabwe,” said Mangwana at the time.
“Neither does he speak for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. His views are personal and not indicative of the government’s policy thrust,” Mangwana said.
After the fallout, Cross would also reveal that the RBZ was introducing a ZW$50, ZW$100 and ZW$200 banknotes to increase physical money supply from ZW$1,4 billion to about ZW$3 billion.
“Some time ago, we made a decision in the MPC to introduce new ZW$200 ZW$100 and ZW$$50 notes,” Cross said. “I understand that this is being dealt with by the governor working with the President because the President has to approve the designs and everything else…But I understand that the ZW$50 note will be available early in the New Year,” he said.
Mangudya later denied that the central bank would print the ZW$100 and ZW$200 notes amid fears by the market that this would stoke inflation.
Cross recently told an Alpha Media online forum, The Big Debate that the RBZ was printing ZW$1 billion (US$12,05 million) weekly, mainly to buy gold.
ARMED burglars broke into Highlanders captain and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda’s home in the early hours of Friday morning and got away with a 72-inch television set.
The Warriors goalkeeper said three men stormed his Nketa residence after breaking the padlock at the gate and gained entry through the sitting room windows after cutting the burglar bars.
Sibanda said he was woken up by his sister’s loud, chilling screams.
“There were three guys, and according to my sister, one of the intruders was standing by her bedroom door holding a torch and something that looked like a gun. She screamed calling my name and when I woke up, I discovered that they had unscrewed the television set from the wall mounting in the lounge.
“They then demanded money and when we told them that we didn’t have any, they just walked out. I suspect that these people saw a truck delivering a lounge suite and a television stand on Thursday afternoon and assumed we had money,” said Sibanda.
“Everyone is shaken but we were not hurt. We thank God that they didn’t do anything to us,” he said.-Chronicle
LONDON. — As Manchester City power towards the English Premier League football title, the question is not whether Arsenal can stall the leaders tomorrow, but is this Pep Guardiola’s finest achievement in his Etihad reign?
Stadium
Liverpool were expected to push City all the way but the champions have stumbled so badly that their only concern going into the Merseyside derby against Everton is getting back into the top four.
English Premiership Fixtures
Today: Southampton v Chelsea (2:30pm); Burnley v West Brom (5pm); Liverpool v Everton (7:30pm); Fulham v Sheffield United (10pm).
Tomorrow: West Ham v Tottenham (2pm); Aston Villa v Leicester City (4:05pm); Arsenal v Manchester City (6:30pm); Manchester United v Newcastle (9pm).
Monday: Brighton v Crystal Palace (10pm). — AFP
EPL: High Flying Manchester City Date .
LONDON. — As Manchester City power towards the English Premier League football title, the question is not whether Arsenal can stall the leaders tomorrow, but is this Pep Guardiola’s finest achievement in his Etihad reign?
Liverpool were expected to push City all the way but the champions have stumbled so badly that their only concern going into the Merseyside derby against Everton is getting back into the top four.
English Premiership Fixtures
Today: Southampton v Chelsea (2:30pm); Burnley v West Brom (5pm); Liverpool v Everton (7:30pm); Fulham v Sheffield United (10pm).
Tomorrow: West Ham v Tottenham (2pm); Aston Villa v Leicester City (4:05pm); Arsenal v Manchester City (6:30pm); Manchester United v Newcastle (9pm).
By A Correspondent| Five journalists were detained by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police on 19 February 2021 for over five hours at Spring Farm in Karoi, owned by Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa.
Paul Pindani, Farai Chikore, Naome Magorimbo and Nomsa Sanje had attended a Youth in Farming Tour at the farm.
It is reported that about 15 police officers arrived at the farm and arrested Mliswa while eight remained with the journalists, whom they barred from leaving.
MISA Zimbabwe deployed legal practitioner Unite Saize to attend to the matter and the five were released without charge.
The lawyer advised that during the period of detention, the officers at Karoi Police Station were awaiting communication from the police provincial office on whether or not to press any charges against the journalists.
MISA Zimbabwe position MISA Zimbabwe urges law enforcement officers and all other stakeholders to protect and promote media freedom, the right to seek, receive and impart information.
We also urge journalists to use the MISA Hotline in the event of any media violation and our staff will be on standby to assist.
Dynamos Football Club have expressed sorrow over the passing away of Zim dancehall artiste, Soul Jah Love, real name Soul Musaka, who died in Harare on Tuesday, after battling diabetes for some time. He was 31.
In a statement, Club board chairman Bernard Marriott said the late musician was an avid Dynamos supporter and an entertainer par excellence who left his mark in his chosen field of music. Said Marriot:
It is with a deep sense of shock, and sorrow, that we have learnt of the passing on of Soul Musaka, popularly known as Soul Jah Love, on Tuesday night.
Soul Jah Love was an ardent Dynamos Football Club supporter and even took time to compose some songs for his beloved DeMbare.
His death has robbed us of another member of the big Glamour Boys family. On behalf of the Dynamos board, executive, secretariat, coaches, players and supporters, I convey our sincere condolences to the Musaka family.
May you find comfort in the Lord, and take solace from the fact that, in the short period we had him with us on earth, Soul Jah Love made a mark in his chosen field of music, and was an entertainer par excellence.- Pindula News
The High Court order barring Econet Wireless from bombarding Harare lawyer Mr Sikhumbuzo Mpofu with unsolicited Covid-19 updates does not apply to other subscribers, but lawyers have warned the company to consider the broader implications.
Mr Mpofu on Monday successfully obtained an interdict to stop Econet sending him Covid-19 updates after he found the company’s system to allow a subscriber to end the service would not respond.
When he could not switch off the messages, or get the company to do that, he sued for the interdict. Legal experts said while the court judgment was in favour of an individual only, Econet could face a class civil suit over the unsolicited messages if others sued.
Advocate Ray Goba said those who wish may still apply to Court to join the application.
“And yes its enforceable as in the applicant’s favour although I think Econet has to seriously consider its position of the broader implications notwithstanding that for now it’s only one applicant seeking relief from the Court,” said Adv Goba, the former Prosecutor-General.
“It’s an interim order. On the return day there may be more aggrieved applicants or others may join and it may become a class civil suit. I really don’t know while looking in my crystal ball.
Another lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, said the order was specific to one person and one cellphone line.
“It (court order) can only be enforced by the applicant (Mr Mpofu) it does not apply to any other subscriber. The order is very specific. It mentions a specific person and a specific number.”
Mr Mpofu, a senior partner at Munangati and Associates Legal Practitioners, approached the High Court seeking an interdict stopping Econet from sending him texts, which he argued were traumatising him daily. He also sought an order declaring that Econet’s conduct was illegal and unconstitutional.
The urgent application was heard by Justice David Mangota sitting in his chambers and Mr Mpofu was granted interim relief pending the finalisation of the matter on the return date with Econet given 12 hours to stop sending him messages on Covid-19.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic Econet started sending Covid-19 notifications to all its subscribers’ cellphones including Mr Mpofu’s cellphone line using a tag COVID19ZIM.
The messages include statistics on infections, deaths and recoveries and give the emergency toll-free number. Econet give the service as a corporate assistance to the Department of Civil Protection.
A hashtag for “Zimbabwe to Maskup” completes the content. In his application, Mr Mpofu argued that when he contacted Econet he was given an option to send the words “STOP” to 30440. Though he obliged the messages did not stop. Each time he approached Econet to tell he would be asked to opt out of the messages by doing the very same thing which did not work.
Mr Mpofu argued that once Covid-19 news became unavoidable he could not choose what to hear, what to receive and what to interact with because his power of choice was stripped from him.
“I communicated to respondent that amidst my demands to stop receiving these depressing messages, I was suffering the loss of a loved one,” he argued. “Respondent acknowledged the message, but still had the audacity to ask me to log in into some platform and try again the very same thing I had done without success.”
In addition, the lawyer argued that he should have a right to decide who gets into his direct messages and how, but this cannot be because Econet had taken all this free will from him as it continued to send its unwanted messages whenever it deems fit and does not care what harm such messages have to the recipient.
In its defence, Econet told the judge that it had stopped sending Mr Mpofu the messages, but the lawyer proved that another message was sent on Monday this week.
Further Econet could not answer why they had stopped sending the messages between 12 and 15 February after receiving the lawyer’s application. The company also argued that it was following a directive from Potraz. -Herald
Zimbabwe’s diaspora remittances increased by 58 percent to US$1 billion last year surpassing US$635,7 million realised in 2019.
In 2020, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had projected that diaspora remittances would close the year at US$940 million.
In his 2021 Monetary Policy Statement issued yesterday, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya attributed the improvement in Diaspora remittances to the liberalisation of the use of free funds in the country and improved channeling of remittances through formal channels.
“In the year 2020, diaspora remittances amounted to US$1.0 billion, a 58 percent increase from previous year of US$635,7 million.
“The increase in diaspora remittances is mainly due to liberalisation of the use of free funds in the country and improved channeling of remittances through formal channels,” he said.
During the year under review, international remittances received through the normal banking system on behalf of International Organisations (NGOs) amounted to US$647,8 million in year, a 26 percent increase from previous year’s US$519,4 million.
Economic analysts have urged the Government to craft policies that attract Zimbabweans in the diaspora to channel their resources beyond domestic consumption as they have a key role to play in transforming the economy. -Herald
Armed burglars broke into Highlanders captain and goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda’s home in the early hours of Friday morning and got away with a 72-inch television set.
The Warriors goalkeeper said three men stormed his Nketa residence after breaking the padlock at the gate and gained entry through the sitting room windows after cutting the burglar bars.
Sibanda said he was woken up by his sister’s loud, chilling screams. “There were three guys, and according to my sister, one of the intruders was standing by her bedroom door holding a torch and something that looked like a gun. She screamed calling my name and when I woke up, I discovered that they had unscrewed the television set from the wall mounting in the lounge.
“They then demanded money and when we told them that we didn’t have any, they just walked out. I suspect that these people saw a truck delivering a lounge suite and a television stand on Thursday afternoon and assumed we had money,” said Sibanda.
He said he’s thankful that the robbers didn’t hurt anyone. “Everyone is shaken but we were not hurt. We thank God that they didn’t do anything to us,” he said. -Chronicle
All-New Nissan Qashqai Premiere Edition: Limited Edition Version for First Qashqai Customers A special launch version to showcase Nissan’s innovative and convenient technology
An extended palette of two-tone colour options and even more convenience features ROSSLYN, South Africa –
The order books opened on Thursday in Europe on the all-new Nissan Qashqai, the third generation of the pioneering crossover, with first customers being offered a special launch version called the Premiere Edition.
Nissan South Africa confirmed that the all-new Qashqai will make its debut in South and Sub-Saharan Africa later in the 2021 Financial Year with exact timing and spec to be released in due course.
Showcasing the advanced technology available on the new Qashqai, the Premiere Edition will offer customers unprecedented convenience features which are normally found in upper automotive segments.
“As part of the Nissan Next Transformation Plan in our region, we are excited to welcome the new edition to the Qashqai family later this year. Fourteen years after creating the crossover segment, we are confident that this model will be a game changer. This pioneering model will be in South and Sub-Saharan Africa in the latter part of the 2021 Financial Year for both regions, respectively, and we are looking forward to a completely renewed design inside and out, innovative technologies and electrified power on our roads,” said Stefan Haasbroek, Nissan South Africa Marketing Director.
The central screen is a 9” TFT screen which houses Nissan’s upgraded infotainment system, while an additional 12” TFT configurable screen sits in front of the driver, replacing the traditional dials.
To complement the high definition TFT screen, the driver will also benefit from a 10.8-inch Head-Up Display (HUD), the largest in the segment, offering speed, navigation directions and road information directly in the driver’s line-of-sight. Taking into account the two screens, and the head-up display – the driver has easy and convenient access to key information while driving.
Additional convenience comes in the form of a wireless charging pad, allowing occupants to easily charge their smartphones. At 15w, the wireless charging unit is among the most powerful in the segment. And while the smartphone is charging wirelessly, suitably equipped iPhones can connect to the Qashqai via wireless Apple CarPlay®, allowing seamless usage of many of the phone’s apps.
Additional connectivity is available for all occupants, with a total of 4 USB charging ports, with 2 USB-A and 2 USB-C ports.
A lot of the technological updates on the new Qashqai work quietly in the background, acting as an extra pair of eyes.
The Premiere Edition Qashqai will be available with the newly upgraded ProPILOT with Navi-link, which brings greater driver support in a wider array of circumstances, for peace of mind in all driving scenarios.
At night, the driver will appreciate the LED matrix headlights that are equipped with advanced driving beam technology. The headlights emit a strong, bright beam with a large range, giving excellent visibility. When an approaching vehicle is detected, the beam effectively changes shape to have the effect of putting the oncoming vehicle in a shadow, so the driver isn’t dazzled, but the rest of the road remains clearly illuminated.
Two tone colours
The styling has always been at the heart of the success of the Qashqai, and the appeal of the Qashqai Premiere Edition has been elevated thanks to the introduction of a palette of two-tone colour options for a more personalised choice. The following body colours are available with a striking black roof: new blue, pearl grey and pearl white, while the black body colour is available with a grey roof. The Premiere Edition also features neatly integrated roof rails, which are finished in a matt silver.
Additional aesthetic appeal comes in the form of new 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, which complement the new Qashqai’s stance, which is more purposeful thanks to the longer wheelbase and sharp shoulder lines over the wheels.
Life-on-board is given an airy feel thanks to the panoramic roof, with a powered sliding blind to protect occupants on hot and sunny days.
The interior follows a classic format, with black cloth trim, black dashboard and centre console, which combine to give the interior an air of refinement and pedigree, while a grey roof trim prevents the overall ambience from being oppressive. The grey roof lining also reinforces the additional interior head, knee and shoulder space that has been generated thanks to the longer wheelbase and smart packaging of the CMF-C platform.
Efficient mild hybrid technology
The new Qashqai Premiere Edition is powered by a highly evolved iteration of the 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine found on the current Qashqai. However, Nissan’s engineers have developed it to include mild hybrid technology which enhances its efficiency. Thanks to the addition of a secondary Lithium-ion battery system, the new Qashqai offers extended idle stop, quicker restart and coasting stop (automatic only).
The system will even boost torque under acceleration, offering an additional 6Nm for up to 20 seconds.
The 1.3-litre engine in the Premiere Edition is available in two configurations: 138hp with six-speed manual gearbox, or 156hp coupled with Nissan’s advanced Xtronic gearbox, which is operated via the new, convenient gear selector on the centre console. Additionally, manual control of the Xtronic can be managed via paddles behind the steering wheel.
“To give customers of the all-new Qashqai the chance to embrace and enjoy its combination of striking design, convenient and intuitive technology with dynamic, efficient performance, the Premiere Edition Qashqai is a compelling package. Those first customers of the new Qashqai will be turning heads wherever they drive the new Premiere Edition model and we are confident it will more than live up to their expectations,” said Arnaud Charpentier, Vice President, Product Marketing, Nissan Automotive Europe- Nissan
By Nomusa Garikai | “The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) yesterday forecast annual inflation to plummet to less than 10% this year, driven by a good agricultural season, fiscal and financial sector stability,” the report reads.
“In December 2020, Finance and Economic Development minister Mthuli Ncube projected annual inflation to drop to 136% at the end of 2021, after volatilities pushed the rate to 837% in July before declining to 348% by the end of last year.”
In January 2020, Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said by the end of the year inflation would be 10%. It was 837%! No doubt come December 2012 inflation will way off the 10% target and the nation will be giving a new target date.
There will be no meaningful economic recovery as long as nothing is done to revive the collapsed agricultural sector, to stamp out the gross mismanagement and the rampant corruption.
When Mnangagwa took over from Robert Mugabe, he promised to end corruption but three years latter corruption has spread from the diamond mining into gold, platinum and lithium mining, the are cartels in fuel and energy sector, foreign currency trading and even in the supply of corona virus requirements. Mnangagwa will never ever stamp out corruption because he and and his fellow ruling elite are the Godfathers of corruption!
Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic, a pariah state, governed by corrupt incompetent and vote rigging thugs who believe they have the divine right to govern the country and to loot. As long as the country remain a pariah state the country’s economy will remain in ruins, where Zanu PF landed it.
Until we implement the democratic reforms and cure ourselves of the curse of rigged elections and pariah state; there will be no meaningful economic recovery. None!
The country started with a robust economy and today it is in ruins after 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF misrule. Zanu PF promised mass prosperity but has delivered instead mass poverty.
“Coupled with increased food production due to a favourable agricultural season, inflationary pressures are expected to remain subdued in the short to medium term,” RBZ governor John Mangudya said in his Monetary Policy Statement yesterday.
“As a result, the economy is expected to continue experiencing a gradual disinflation from the 362,6% annual inflation in December 2020 to below 10% by December 2021. This inflation path will be underpinned by a targeted month-on-month inflation rate of below 3%.”
After 40 years of corrupt and tyrannical rule that has drag the nation deeper and deeper into the abyss, all these empty promises of 10% inflation rate, economic recovery, middle-income status by 2030, etc. are as far fetched as a mirage by moonlight. – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of using arms of the State to suppress the will of the people.
In a strong article published by The Guardian Newspaper, President Chamisa exposed Mr Mnangagwa’s deception.
According to President Chamisa, authoritarian governments are repressive, corrupt and inefficient.
Read full article below:
Africa cannot afford to continue with the despotic forms of governance that still proliferate across the continent. Authoritarian and dictatorial governments are repressive, corrupt and inefficient. Their main interest is to retain power and loot public resources for the benefit of a few political elites, leaving the majority of citizens in poverty. As a result, although rich in raw resources, our continent remains the poorest in the world.
We have seen this trend of authoritarianism in Zimbabwe, and we are now seeing it in Uganda, which has just held a farcical election.
These authoritarian regimes share a common thread: they have no tolerance for dissent. Anybody who speaks out or raises questions is treated as if they were enemies of the state rather than a constructive part of the civic process. In this way, these regimes stifle competition and justify exclusion and repression. Such a playbook has been on show in Uganda, where the regime unleashed egregious violence against Bobi Wine and his movement during the election campaign.
Another common characteristic in these repressive governments is their refusal to allow young people to develop politically and take on leadership roles. This despite the reality that Africa has the world’s largest population of young people: the median age is 19.7. It is also projected to have a population of 2.5 billion by 2050, the majority of whom will be young people.
Young people represent a critical force in Africa. This future population projection is often referred to as the “demographic dividend”, and economists predict this growth will be good for Africa. Others caution that this dividend can only be an asset to Africa if we can fix the institutions of governance, improve our infrastructure and make progress beyond being merely extractive economies.
There is a need for deliberate policies that include young people in the political and economic architecture of their countries. Unless this is done, the demographic dividend will become a nightmare, as more young people rely on the state to provide for their welfare.
Unfortunately, dictators stand in the way. Young people seeking leadership are dismissed as upstarts and thwarted with the might of the state’s coercive powers. They are constantly told that they are the future, but that future never arrives. The view of the ageing authoritarian generation in power is very self-centred and short-termist – they have no real incentive to plan for a future that they have no prospect of experiencing. The result is that they think only about now and only about themselves, their families and associates.
In Zimbabwe, we know all about false and misleading promises. When the current regime took power from Robert Mugabe in November 2017, they made grand promises including a new democratic process, respect for human rights and re-engagement with the international community. But despite all these big claims, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government went on to oversee the exact opposite – disputed elections, human rights violations, and grand corruption. Lately, they have been using surrogates to undermine and shut down the opposition. The Zanu-PF government has taken money intended for the opposition and diverted it to its associates. It has facilitated the removal of my MDC Alliance party’s elected representatives from parliament and local authorities.
Zimbabwe cannot afford further corrosions of democracy in this decade – and nor can any other country in Africa. Government should be by the meaningful consent of the people: any consent that is coerced is not legitimate, it is not free choice. Elections must be free and transparent – when results are announced amid serious and glaring voting irregularities, the process lacks legitimacy.
The international community should not keep rubber-stamping these illegitimate outcomes in the name of maintaining a supposed peace. The consequence of doing so is to continue the exclusionary systems of government that fly in the face of demographic and political changes.
Now dictators are callously exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic to strengthen repression. In Uganda, Yoweri Museveni used the pandemic to prevent his main rival from campaigning effectively during the election. In Zimbabwe, the regime suspended byelections under the guise of fighting the pandemic, but the ruling party carried on with its political activities.
The Mnangagwa regime has been arresting opponents and journalists and throwing them into crowded and squalid jails, exposing them to Covid. When our spokesperson at the MDC Alliance, Fadzayi Mahere, left prison recently, she tested positive for the virus.
It is important for both the African and global communities to take a tough stance on these illiberal regimes. Staging elections is part of the dictators’ playbook because it creates a facade of democracy. There is no point in recognising unfair elections, such as Uganda’s in January – it only serves to legitimise and entrench authoritarian regimes.
Nelson Chamisa is leader of the MDC Alliance, Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party-
Tinashe Sambiri| Human rights activist Alan Moyo has finally been granted bail after spending 72 days in prison.
Alan has been granted RTGS $ 10 000 bail.
“We have secured the release from prison of Allan Moyo on RTGS$10 000 bail after he spent more than two months in jail. We thank our lawyer Obey Shava of ZLHR for investing his energy against all odds to fight for Allan’s freedom.
Now the journey for the fight for the release of Makomborero Haruzivishe has begun.Let’s keep the fight the regime must know these are people representing the voiceless the mass,” Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said in a statement.
Makomborero Haruvizishe will spend another night in police custody and he will be back in court on Saturday at 9 am.
“The court has ordered for a further a further detention of Makomborero Haruzivishe and have his matter resume tomorrow morning at 9am Meanwhile he remains in police custody as court has ordered an extension,” said Cecilia Chimbiri.
A man died after he was stoned by a gang of Omakorokoza who were accusing him of smashing the windscreen of their car.
A source said two men identified as Methuseli Nyoni and Freedom Tshuma told police that Omakorokoza stopped their Honda Fit after seeing Mlungisi Ncube (42) standing near Luveve Road.
“They were travelling in a Honda Fit. They stopped after seeing him and accused him of having smashed the windscreen of their car while in the company of his friends who are also illegal miners,” said Janet Ncube, sister to the deceased.
While he was trying to explain to them that he was not the one, three men jumped out of the car and manhandled him. They took turns to hit him.
Ncube tried to run away and that’s when more trouble came upon him, said a source close to investigations.
“As he was trying to flee one of the guys hit him on the head with a stone causing him to fall on the ground. Then another guy hit him again on the head with a stone and on the body causing him to bleed. They drove off leaving him writhing on the ground,” said the source.
A passerby found him lying on the ground, struggling to breath and rushed him to hospital where he was treated and discharged.
Janet said after a week he complained of a throbbing headache and memory loss.
“He was taken to Mpilo Central Hospital and died after two days,” said the source.
“The post-mortem results showed that the cause of death was raised intra cranial pressure, recent head injuries and post assault,” said Janet.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
“We are investigating a murder case where a 42-year-old man who was assaulted by Omakorokoza at intersection of Siyepambili Drive and Luveve Road later died in hospital. We are also appealing for information that may lead to the arrest of unknown men who allegedly severely assaulted the late.
Those with information can contact any nearest police station or send a tip -off to 078 7928015,” said Insp Ncube.- B-Metro
By A Correspondent- Thieves stole four solar panels that were used to power the borehole system in Kadoma’s Ward 7, depriving residents access to potable water.
Kadoma Mayor Alderman Action Nyamukondiwa said the system was installed using Devolution funds.
The borehole was serving residents from adjacent Wards 3, 4 and 5 as well.
Chamber Secretary Willard Mangwengwende confirmed the theft and said they would make a comprehensive report once they understand what transpired.
“I will only be able to advise after getting full information on what happened,” he could only say after H-Metro sought for a comment from council.
Local ZRP also confirmed the theft saying investigation were underway.
“We have received that report. However, no arrests have been made. If you have any information that may assist us, please come forward. We’re investigating the matter,” said an officer at Rimuka police station.
Residents mourn the theft of these solar panels since that will force them to resort to the situation prior where they walked longer distances to fetch for the precious liquid.
Some, it is observed, end up using unsafe sources as other points are overwhelmed.-statemedia
Mnangagwa Caught Stark Naked With Prostitute At Farm, Mohadi Is Caught Red Handed By Married Lover's Hubby, Chiwenga Caught By Lover's Hubby Ronald Mazura Secretly Phoning His Wife | ARE WOMEN SAFE IN ZIMBABWE?
By James Gwati-Vice President Kembo Mohadi is nursing head injuries he sustained from thorough beatings by another woman for infidelity.
Muhadi was thoroughly beaten up by an unnamed woman after he had a raucous showdown with Jacob Mumpande, husband to Abbigal Mumpande, with who the Vice President is having an adulterous relationship with, this week.
Sources said following the violent confrontation, an unidentified woman who was with Mohadi inside his Harare home, got so angry at the discovery that he was seeing another woman and hit him (Mohadi) with an object, possibly a shoe, which caused him to bleed from the head.
The couple, Abbigal and Jacob Mumpande whose marriage Mohadi has caused to break are all members of the dreaded Central Intelligent Organisation, CIO and work with the ill-looking Vice President.
l would just sitting on the floor completely clueless on what to do,l would shout at you and tell me kuti haaa Chibaby ChaDaddy come cuddle your man.Sometimes nights wer long coz its either you would at be at the studio normally leave home at 23.00-3am or you would be sick from 17.30-5am or you would be at the show.What hurt me the most worst wer Fridays and Saturdays,because we would spend the wholeday okay but get sugar attacks from 18.00 and start regaining strength around 23.30 that part of our lives was the worst,the next morning boom Jahlove IS A FAILURE,u would spendmost of ur time wondering why people cant see that you wer trying and you wer also human like everyone, no1 knew how that chronic disease affected you,all people wanted to see was a strong Jahlove but never considered you wer trying.we accepted kushoreka kwedu and we lived in our own corner oh Muzavazi you have broken us as ur family who will protect us.Kunyangwe vakati muri benzi muri benzi rangu.l come in peace.RIP my Soulmate..
