Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described the late MDC founding President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai as a champion of freedom.
President Chamisa also described Dr Tsvangirai as a great mentor.
Read President Chamisa’s statement below:
Today is MORGAN TSVANGIRAI DAY:
CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF LOVE..We lost a peacemaker, doyen of democracy and freedom champion.
My father, mentor and a friend,I salute u for the free leadership mentorship and tutorship. You taught me love, forgiveness, humility, principle, consistency and loyalty. I and we ( all your true mentees) will never be purchased to compromise the PROMISE. The project promise is intact, uncompromisable and underailable.
We will WIN Zimbabwe for change! We are holding tight..Chinhu takabata!! Rest in Power Mdara!
Godisinit chinhu takabata machinja ese achapuhwa korona! Kunagumo kune nyaya Vamira pamuganhu kuti NDI!
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described the late MDC founding President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai as a champion of freedom.
President Chamisa also described Dr Tsvangirai as a great mentor.
Read President Chamisa’s statement below:
Today is MORGAN TSVANGIRAI DAY:
CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF LOVE..We lost a peacemaker, doyen of democracy and freedom champion.
My father, mentor and a friend,I salute u for the free leadership mentorship and tutorship. You taught me love, forgiveness, humility, principle, consistency and loyalty. I and we ( all your true mentees) will never be purchased to compromise the PROMISE. The project promise is intact, uncompromisable and underailable.
We will WIN Zimbabwe for change! We are holding tight..Chinhu takabata!! Rest in Power Mdara!
Godisinit chinhu takabata machinja ese achapuhwa korona! Kunagumo kune nyaya Vamira pamuganhu kuti NDI!
Kaitano Tembo’s SuperSport United bounced back from a three-game winless run with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership match played at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium today.
The Zimbabwean tactician, who this week admitted that the fixture schedule was weighing heavy on his side after two defeats on the trot, saw them return to their best and collected three points against a battling City.
Gamphani Lungu thrust them in front in the 23rd minute when he latched on to a brilliant Evans Rusike assist.
United could have doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when Kuda Mahachi’s pinpoint cross missed both his Warriors teammate Rusike and Bradley Grobbler by inches.
Lungu’s goal was the difference between the two sides at the half time interval.
Two minutes after the restart, City levelled matters through Bradely Ralani, whose shot from outside the box beat Rowen Williams in goal for SuperSport.
Tembo made a change in the 76th minute, bringing Thamsanqa Gabuza for Rusike and it proved to be the turning point minutes later.
Gabuza headed home a Grobbler cross to restore Matsatsantsa’s lead and the goal proved to be the winner.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
An employee of one of Zimplats’ contractors died yesterday from injuries he sustained when a high wall collapsed at the entrance of Ngwarati Mine in Mhondoro-Ngezi.
Zimplats head of corporate affairs, Busi Chindove confirmed the incident that occurred yesterday around 9.50am.
“Zimplats is deeply saddened to confirm a mine fatality incident that occurred at the company’s Ngwarati Mine in Mhondoro-Ngezi,” she said.
“Sadly, one employee working for one of the company’s contractors, succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident that occurred when a high wall collapsed at the Ngwarati Mine box-cut (entrance to the mine).
“The tragic incident occurred at 09.50hrs on Sunday February 14, 2021.” Mrs Chindove said despite the accident, Zimplats remains committed to delivering a safe working environment for its employees. Zimplat’s chief executive, Mr Alex Mhembere said the rest of the workers were evacuated safely.
“It is indeed a difficult time for the whole Zimplats family. Our sincere condolences go to the family, colleagues, and friends of the deceased. –Herald
A NINE-year-old girl from Matobo, Matabeleland South province, was killed by a crocodile at Hovi River while she was washing her lunch box last week.
Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident which happened on Monday. She identified the girl as Shalom Moyo and advised members of the community to desist from sending children to fetch water especially at rivers where there are crocodiles. Shalom’s parents Mr Gift Moyo and Happiness Ndlovu said their daughter was the first born in a family of three. The Moyo family, who are from How Mine, had visited their relatives in Matobo when the incident happened.
“We rushed and got to the scene immediately after a little girl who witnessed the incident shouted for help after seeing Shalom being attacked by the crocodile. When we got to the river her bloodied body was floating in the water,” said Mr Moyo.
Ward 17 Councillor Max Majahana said a few years ago another child was attacked by a crocodile at the same river.
“Rangers from Matopos National Park arrived a few hours after the incident to hunt and shoot the creature but unfortunately it vanished into the muddy water as the river was flooding,” said Clr Majahana.- The Sunday News
The economy is now on a path to recovery, Finance Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube has said.
Prof Ncube was speaking to the state media when he said:
Mthuli Ncube
“The economy is now on a path to recovery. The worst is over and Government is now working on ensuring the economy recovers strongly, taking advantage of the milestones from the TSP, and supportive measures as enunciated in the NDS1.”
He continued saying:
“Our key priority will be to nurture the stable macro-economic environment currently prevailing in the country by continuing to implement prudent fiscal and monetary policies.
“Furthermore, the Government will bring forward business and infrastructure investment activity and adequately prepare and support the productive sectors, in a manner that does not promote vulnerabilities and instability.”
Prof Ncube said Covid-19 remains a serious challenge to Zimbabwe and the world at large, particularly in light of “most worrying” emergence of new variants of the virus, which spread faster and are potentially more deadly.
He said Zimbabwe draws encouragement from the fact that the world is now rolling out vaccines and Harare is taking delivery of its first batch of vaccines from China today.
The manufacturing capacity of the vaccine remains constrained to meet the huge demand and distribution has largely favoured developed countries. You may also note that the distribution mechanisms of the vaccine are also a challenge as some require strict refrigeration all the time.
“It is our hope that as the production lines are expanded, Africa and other developing countries will easily access them. Having said that, the pandemic is indeed causing a risk to the economy, threatening realisation of our projections for the year 2021.
“However, you may be aware the economy has contracted for the past two consecutive years, putting it on a very low base hence giving room for recovery.
“You may also note that drought was one of the major drivers of the recession during the past two years as agriculture activities and electricity generation was compromised. However, the season to date has been quite positive, and is promising to be a better season that presents an opportunity for a strong rebound of the economy.”
Prof Ncube projected in the 2021 National Budget that the domestic economy was largely expected to rebound and register growth of 7,4 percent this year.
The African Development Bank has projected a 5,6 percent economic growth this year driven by recovery in the agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors, together with increased public and private investments.
Prof Ncube said considering that the Government did not impose a blanket ban on all economic activities in the Covid-19 containment measures, with productive sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing, allowed to continue operating, that should be positive for economic growth.
As the country brings under control the obtaining second wave of Covid-19 in the shortest possible time, which is already happening due to declining new infections and deaths, economic activity will recover.
“So, the thrust of Government is to expedite the rolling out of vaccines. As Government we remain positive on the outlook of the economy in 2021.
“As the year progresses, we will be able to fully assess how the positive impact of some sectors of the economy such as agriculture and electricity availability counteract the negative impact of the virus on some sectors like tourism, education and the informal sector,” said Prof Ncube.
The favourable rainfall season so far has come at an opportune time when Government has put in place various initiatives such as the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Conservation Scheme and the National Enhanced Crop Productivity Scheme (Command Agriculture) targeting maize, traditional grains, soya beans and cotton.
Crops are generally in a satisfactory situation across the country and there are bright prospects for a bumper harvest. Critically, the good rains are set to boost domestic electricity generation at Kariba.
Prof Ncube said availability of uninterrupted power supply to the productive sectors will be critical in enhancing production going forward.
“We are also grateful that the country has been spared from the devastating impact of two tropical cyclones (Chalane and Eloise) that have hit the region to date with minimum damage to agriculture, infrastructure and livelihoods,” said Prof Ncube.
“The economy is also set to benefit from the relatively higher international mineral commodity prices expected this year. We know that there are high prospects of recovery of the mining industry in 2021, basing on the recent State of the Mining Industry Report produced in 2020, which indicated that about 90 percent of the miners are planning to ramp up production in 2021 while 10 percent expect to remain at the same level.
“Production is expected to increase by between 10 percent and 30 percent, while capacity use will rise to 80 percent in 2021 from 61 percent in 2020. However, we also know that these expectations are subject to downside risks from the pandemic.”
A repository of fearlessness and courage himself, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai would always encourage young people to take the destiny of the country’s politics and economics into their own hands.
In one of our meetings with Dr Tsvangirai at his home in Highlands, Harare sometime in 2017, he nailed it through the old adage, “mutambirwi gwinyawo” to a group of youths who had come to lobby for represention quotas in the party.
Loosely translated the adage meant to encourage those with a keen interest on something to take the initiative by leading from the front.
A firm believer in youths, Dr Tsvangirai taught us that young people can lead.
From Learnmore Jongwe to Nelson Chamisa, Dr Tsvangirai’s MDC had young faces in position of leadership right from the party’s inception in 1999.
As history will rightly record, the Youth Quota which sought to have youths in decision making positions was Dr Tsvangirai’s legacy too!
Probably the biggest political master class of Dr Tsvangirai was his appointment of Nelson Chamisa as the leader of the newly born of MDC Alliance at a time when he was unwell late in 2017.
Again this was a show of confidence in young people in top leadership positions.
Nelson Chamisa was exactly what the doctor ordered!
Just at 39 about to turn 40 in February of 2018, Dr Tsvangirai’s young and most trusted lieutenant took the nation by storm as he outpaced ZANU PF’s old and tired candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa enroute to victory in the 2018 General Elections.
Three years on after the demise of Dr Tsvangirai on this day, the National Democratic Movement faces incessant attacks from Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship working in cahoots with black market judicially reconstituted opposition.
At the receiving end of persecutions by Mnangagwa’s evil regime are MDC Alliance members and youths.
Three of our female youth leaders were abducted and sexually abused and are still facing persecution by prosecution in captured courts.
Since 07 December 2020, one of our own, Alan Moyo has been languishing at Harare Remand Prison pre-trial!
Stinking unbridled corruption and poverty authored by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s evil regime is threatening to expunge and devour our very own existence as a generation.
Worse than Covid-19, this military regime is threatening to wipe out our very existence because of unchecked looting at the expense of the people.
It is time we take heed of Dr Tsvangirai’s timeless advice- ‘mutambirwi gwinyawo’.
It is time we take the bull by its horns and take Mnangagwa’s dictatorship head on!
Freedom has never been served on a plate like sadza hence we must be prepared to fight for it.
Dr Tsvangirai and those of yesterday taught us to fight for our rights and freedoms.
“We don’t want this movement to be a one generation movement”, Dr Tsvangirai challenged us to keep National Democratic Struggle alive.
It is time we defy the status quo if are to survive!
Our choices are very much limited, either we defy or die!
DefyOrDie
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
A barcoding system developed to verify the authenticity of Covid-19 certificates is expected to start working this week, as authorities try to put an end to fake coronavirus results.
Barcode
All the country’s ports of entry will carry the system, which is able to instantaneously confirm the identity and results of every person who has tested for Covid-19.
Director for Informatics in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Simukai Zizhou told The Sunday Mail that the system will be up and running by the end of the week.
“We have started with Robert Gabriel Mugabe Airport, where the system is already in use. We expect that by end of next week, all ports of entry will be online while all laboratories should also be able to feed the information into this database,” said Dr Zizhou.
“We have now started working on it with the laboratories. We have used what we call Laboratory Information Management System. When a sample is sent to the lab, it is barcoded. It then speaks to the Electrical Health Records or IMPILO, which is the trademark for the Electronic Health Records. Once it is connected to IMPILO, all ports of entry will be connected to it. So you can simply enter the barcode into our system for verification.”
The system is reportedly foolproof and eliminates the possibility of fake Covid-19 certificates.
Once the Covid-19 results are confirmed, they cannot be altered.
SADC Covid Testing (SCT) representative Mr Martin Gondo, whose organisation is working in partnership with Government, said the project was being spearheaded by Zimbabweans who have taken the system to other countries in the region.
“When we are done with testing, we input all the results and information of the patient into the system, including their photo, and at the ports of entry, the code is scanned and all the details will come out.
“We are working in more than three SADC countries . . .” Mr Gondo said.
Several people have been arrested for frequently producing certificates bearing fake Covid-19 results.
Last month, The Sunday Mail exposed how staff at a private laboratory, Klosad Clinical Diagnostics Lab, in Harare were issuing fake Covid-19 certificates for US$45 each instead of the US$65 charged for a legitimate PCR test.
The suspects were subsequently arrested and are currently before the courts. -Sunday Mail
Today many citizens of Zimbabwe recall the life, times and ideals of a great man and a democractic iconic
Even in death, Dr. Tsvangirai continues to evoke respect, passion and pride across Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai’s democratic instincts for challenging the patrons of dictarship landed him and many of his associates in political hot water on numerous occasions, and ultimately died whilst the battle for a free Zimbabwe was unfinished
The task is upon us to continue his legacy by fullfilling his wishes. There are many dark moments when our faith in what Tsvangirai started has been sorely tested by the brutal regime and enermies of democracy, but we must not despair, lets all fullfill Tsvangirai’s wishes. #Aluta continua.
Munyaradzi Zizhou, the man who is bound to replace Killer Zivhu as the Zanu PF MP for Chivi South lost US$2 700 and a D4D Toyota Hilux to robbers who ransacked his house at Lundi Business Center in Mwenezi on Thursday.
Munyaradzi Zizhou….
According to a Police memo in the hands of The Mirror the robbers who were wearing balaclava masks stole at Zizhou’s place before proceeding to Arnold Ncube’s house, another businessman at Lundi and a colleague to Zizhou.
Zizhou recently won the Zanu PF primaries to replace the fired Zivhu in Chivi South primaries. At Ncube’s house they stole US$17 000, R120 000 Huawei P40 lite, Huawei 9 and three Nokia 1200 mobile phones.
The robbers who were more than five made off with Zizhou’s vehicle which was later discovered abandoned at Rutenga NRZ Club.
Mwenezi Business Community chairperson Kefas Hove confirmed the case and said Mwenezi CID is investigating.
Masvingo Police Provincial spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said he was not aware of the story.
However, the Police memo said the suspects broke into Zizhou’s house at around 1am. They forced open Zizhou’s door using a crow bar.
Two of the accused were armed, one with a pistol and the other was holding a crow bar. They tied Zizhou and his wife Lorraine Chituri then demanded money from them threatening to kill them. The robbers were directed where the money was kept and they took USD 2700, Huawei cellphone and a Samsung cellphone.
They demanded car keys and instructed Zizhou and his wife to lead them to Ncube’s house where they instructed Zizhou to call Ncube and pretend that he had some urgent business to discuss with him.
When Ncube got out of the house they pointed pistols on his head, tied his hands and threatened to kill him together with his wife Cynthia Mupfigo whose hands were also tied. Ncube showed the complainants a plastic bag with US$17 000 and R120 000.
After ransacking the second complainant’s house the robbers marched Ncube to the car and drove back to Zizhou’s house where they left Zizhou, Ncube and Zizhou’s wife locked inside. – Masvingo Mirror
By Farai D Hove | The ZANU PF leader, Emmerson Mnangagwa has ignored vaccine donations from former colonial power, UK and moved to thank only China for vaccines numbering a tiny fraction of the British ones.
Emmerson Mnangagwa
While UK is vaccinating 3 million Zimbabweans for free, China is only doing 200.000, and yet Mnangagwa has remained mum on the British donations.
Last week, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said China’s donations are set to a paltry 200 000.
She also said Zimbabwe has purchased 600 000 jabs from China.
Meanwhile, in his message to China, Mnangagwa thanked the Asian country for the Covid 19 vaccine donation saying:
“Our dear friends of China, these vaccines are certainly providing a new light of positivity to the people of Zimbabwe in these tough times — a light at the end of a dark tunnel.
“We are most grateful for this life-saving gesture.
“From our people to yours — thank you to my dear brother President Xi Jinping — and thank you to all the people of China.”.
He further added saying China had been a reliable all weather friend to Zimbabwe in times of need.
Meanwhile, State House announced saying
“The vaccines will arrive tomorrow at 3am and a formal presentation to the His Excellency at the State House will then follow. While we are not ignoring the concern around Covid-19, our major focus will obviously be on how we are a step higher in terms of rolling out the vaccine programme,” presidential spokesman Mr George Charamba said.
“Readers should be alive to fact that while the vaccine will lessen the strength of the virus, it does not render one immune, we still need to up our game in terms of masking up, washing hands and keeping social distancing
“You will see the tempo changing even in terms of public communication, we will now be focusing on the vaccine roll-out. We also need to address the issue of roll-out in respect of teachers as that has a bearing on schoolchildren and the calendar.
“It is an issue that we need to debate and then get guidance from experts as a matter of urgency as we have thousands upon thousands who are just at home, those who are fortunate are doing online learning.”
FORMER Gweru United player John Baison whop died last week at the age of 78 in Gweru was laid to rest on Monday at Mutasa Cemetery in the Midlands city.
Baison, a rock solid defender during his playing days is considered one of the Gweru United legends. His funeral was attended by football greats who included ex Chapungu winger Charles “Chasweka” Tumirayi, Bata Power midfielder Thomas Sandram, Lancashire Steel goalminder Romeo Matore and former his Pisa Pisa teammates Wonder Chaka and Sam Semwayo.
The late Baison started football career at Kamativi and later joined Gweru United. He was a very tough defender who was also very comfortable with the ball at his feet. He played in two cup finals with Gweru United, the Chibuku trophy they lost 3-2 to Arcadia United and Zifa Cup in which his team was beaten 4-1 by a star studded Black Rhinos.
His former teammate at Gweru United, John Nyumbu remembers him from the time they played together in the Midlands select in the Osborne trophy in the 1970s.
“He was a defender who could also play in midfield. I first played with him at Golden Stars a Midlands select in the Osborne Trophy in the early 1970s. He came from Kamativi, he came to Gweru. I later played with him at Gweru United in the National League one season before I moved to join Zimbabwe Saints,’’ Nyumbu said.
Robert “Bomber” Phiri, who played with Baison at Gweru United for a decade from 1976 until 1986 said his late former teammate was tough tackling defender who worked really hard.
“He was a tough tackling defender and very good header of the ball, was very friendly to all and trained hard and very passionate about winning. He was fondly referred to by all as Mdhara JB, was more our elder brother than team mate,’’ said Phiri.
After retirement, the late Baison ventured into coaching and coached teams such as ZOC in Division Two, Zimglass in the then Southern Region Division One and Gweru United.
Baison is survived by his wife and four children, three boys as well one girl.-The Sunday News
Five people have succumbed to COVID-19 on the 13th of February to take the cumulative number of deaths to 1398 while positive cases now stand at 35104 after 59 people tested positive to the deadly virus today.
Introduction This Sunday, 14 February 2021 marks the third anniversary of the death of Morgan Tsvangirai, the icon of our time.
Morgan Tsvangirai loved his country and it may have been epiphanic that he died on Valentine day; on the day that the consuming power of love is celebrated worldwide.
Starting today, until Sunday 14 February 2021, this column will publish a three-part series in fond remembrance of this gallant son of the soil who tenaciously fought for the true democratisation of the country of his birth.
Through a careful reading of this series, which includes some material that has previously been published, discerning readers will have their scruples answered on several issues that may have been grappling their minds, especially those who missed some of the material at the time it was written and published some three years back.
Tsvangirai has a rich legacy that is being strenuously torn asunder by this treacherous and mercenary lot among us; the wicked motley that has chosen to be Zanu PF’s willing tool in the macabre plot to decimate the people’s project. The Morgan Tsvangirai I know must certainly be violently turning in his grave at this unbridled treachery and the annihilation of his legacy by these latter-day Judas Iscariots.
I wrote the following piece as an obituary soon after Morgan Tsvangirai’s demise in February 2018. Today, I republish the same in commemoration of this gallant son of Zimbabwe. It’s an obituary worth reading because it sets the record straight in many respects. It is my humble submission that it will always be a piece worth reading, even for the umpteenth time.
InmemoryofMorganTsvangirai
Facts are stubborn. It is trite to state that the story of this country cannot be written without according veneration to the name of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
For there is no debate that Tsvangirai deserves his own space in the national narrative for the significant role he has played in shaping the country’s post-liberation politics.
Fate is a capricious woman and the whole journey was never planned, as the man himself often said. It was mother fate that often tended to throw him to the deep end.
As he always told me, it all started during midnight conversations at the national labour federation’s elective congress in Gweru in 1988. He did not even want to run for office and most delegates at that elective congress, including Tsvangirai himself, had tipped veteran journalist Charles Chikerema to clinch the powerful post of secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.
Albert Mugabe, the brother to former President Robert Mugabe, had been leading the ZCTU and everyone at the congress was convinced that Chikerema, yet another relative of Mugabe, would ascend to the powerful post of secretary general of the ZCTU. But the delegates’ conversations on that ominous night on the eve of the elections in Gweru expressed doubts on whether Chikerema would be able to wean off the ZCTU from the firm clutches of government, where previous leaders had unwittingly left the country’s labour federation.
Some within the ZCTU wanted the labour body to break away from the firm clutches of government control and they were convinced Tsvangirai would be the man to drive the ZCTU to full autonomy. Emmissares from the various affiliate unions spent the whole night in Morgan Tsvangirai’s hotel room seeking to convince him to run for the powerful post of secretary general.
Morgan Tsvangirai, then a leader of the mineworkers’ union, eventually agreed to run after fellow delegates had made persuasive arguments about the unsuitability of Chikerema. The delegates had their misgivings on whether the veteran scribe would give the ZCTU its deserved autonomy from government control, given his relationship to Robert Mugabe.
It was almost morning when Tsvangirai finally agreed to run for the post of secretary-general, which he won a few hours later, setting the stage for a 30-year tenure in the national limelight as a doyen of the country’s democratic struggle.
When I heard the news of his death at exactly 1737hours on Wednesday, 14 February 2018, I mused over how this journey that started in 1988 had painfully ended 30 years later, some 24 days before his 66th birthday.
His life was a tenuous journey in which he was prejudiced of the Presidency following his watershed victory in the elections held on 29 March 2008. Given his mammoth love for the country and its people, he humbled himself and settled for the junior post of Prime Minister.
Morgan Tsvangirai was to rescue the country from a debilitating crisis and poise the nation for stability, growth and development in a mere four years as premier of Zimbabwe. Driving a stability and growth agenda through the Government Work Programme that was steered by the Prime Minister’s Office, Tsvangirai showed his competence on the wheel of government during his four year stint in government. Indeed, the song DollarfortwoyakauyanaTsvangirai will forever stand as testimony to the verdict by ordinary Zimbabweans that the man’s tenure as Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister was synonymous with affordable prices of basic commodities and a “livable” country.
As the nation stood on the cusp of a crucial election in which he was expected to win resoundingly, mother Fate again intervened. This time, cruel fate took him to the grave, leaving a despondent nation shell-shocked.
He was a man I knew so well. To me, he was a father, a man I served for a decade as his spokesperson until his death.
A boss.
A friend.
We travelled the world and across the country together. We spent many times talking about the country and the people he so much loved.
Tokyo, Washington, London, Canberra, Beijing, Paris, Berlin, the Swiss Alps in Davos and many other world capitals, I had the privilege of accompanying him as his spokesperson. During those trips across the globe, he often charmed the world and gave revered speeches to bemused audiences, especially during his stint as Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and leader of the country’s opposition.
We travelled together to Windhoek, Pretoria, Luanda, Maputo, Nairobi, Accra, Dar es Salaam, Abidjan, Lagos and many other African capitals. Across the whole of Africa, I saw for myself the respect African citizens gave to this courageous African who had chosen to confront—with nothing but his bare hands and an unstinting tenacity—the murderous regime of one of Africa’s tyrants.
In the country, we travelled together from Plumtree to Chipinge, from Nyanga to Chirundu and from Mt. Darwin to Binga down in the Zambezi escarpment as he engaged in his favourite pastime—-meeting ordinary people and getting their input into how the democratic struggle ought to be prosecuted. The last time we traversed the country together for one-and-half months—sometimes sleeping in the car—-was the period between January and February 2017 when we sought the ordinary people’s input into the MDC Congress resolution to enter into a formidable alliance with other political players.
We sat together until late in the night after that tour as we penned his piece after that highly informing jaunt. The piece, in keeping with his natural disposition as a listening leader, was entitled “ IheardYou .” The people had unanimously and unequivocally endorsed the formation of an Alliance. This is how the MDC Alliance was formed, which Alliance is now being tenaciously fought by Zanu PF through the mercenary and treacherous lot that has sought to betray both Tsvangirai’s legacy and the last hope of the generality of the people of Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai was a boss any rational person could wish for; the only boss I know who could afford to attend funerals of relatives of his underlings, as he did in 2015 when he came unannounced to my rural home in Domboshava for the burial of my grandmother, Martha Tamborenyoka Gombera.
He was a leader who would wait to give an ear to everyone, whatever their social station. He often had tiffs with his security personnel, whom he always wanted to relax their tight protocols and allow ordinary people to shake his hand and to speak to him.
Party members and ordinary villagers would come from as far away as Mt. Darwin and be granted an ear at his residence, first in Strathaven and later in Highlands; even against the advice of security personnel who often wanted to refer these ordinary party members to channel their grievances and concerns through their respective provincial leaders.
Not with Tsvangirai, who would insist he wanted to get the untainted, raw concerns from ordinary supporters, undiluted by the strictures and drudgery of officialdom, party hierarchy and bureaucracy.
That was vintage Tsvangirai. Always a man of the people.
His death came as a shock….especially against the background of my last two moments with him.
The first of our last two personal and direct engagements was on Friday, 5 January 2018 after his meeting with Emmerson Mnangagwa who had come to visit him at his Highlands home.
It was at that meeting at his residence that he intimated to me the details of his private discussion with Mnangagwa. At the same meeting, he told me to tell the world that he was about to leave the country and he would leave Vice President Nelson Chamisa as acting President and he asked me to call Chamisa. The other two VP Mudzuri and VP Khupe had previously acted in his absence and this was going to be Chamisa’s first stint as acting President. Chamisa declined to be the acting, saying Khupe hated him so much and it was not going to be good to have a sulking Khupe publicly throwing all sorts of invective when the boss was not in good health. Chamisa said he did not want an impression of a fight in the cockpit when the President was being treated in hospital. Chamisa respectfully declined and suggested that his acting Presidency be passed over to Mudzuri. It was then that President Tsvangirai told me to issue a statement communicating to the world that VP Mudzuri would be acting President.
For the record, present in the meeting that Friday afternoon when Chamisa declined to act as President, apart from Tsvangirai himself, was his wife Elizabeth, his brother Manaseh Tsvangirai, President Tsvangirai’s uncle innocent Zvaipa and myself. .
It is ironic that after I had issued the communication that Mudzuri was the acting president, Khupe took issue with me, saying that as the only VP elected at Congress, she was the one who should always act in the President’s absence. I referred her queries to the President, under whose authority and direction I had done the communication. President Tsvangirai just laughed at the whole matter and said if Khupe had issues around the acting Presidency, she should contact him.
Ironically, a month later, Mudzuri, for whom Khupe had raised concerns when he was was chosen to act, was to dispute my communication of the President’s directive that Chamisa was now the acting party leader. President Tsvangirai gave me the directive to communicate that Chamisa was now the acting President on the 7th of February 2018 after he learnt that Khupe, Mudzuri and Mwonzora were meeting with amai Joyce Mujuru in Cape Town for alliance without his knowledge, and without the involvement of Chamisa who had given the responsibility to negotiate with other political leaders on his behalf.
My last face-to-face meeting with my boss was on Monday, 8 January 2018, the day before he left for South Africa, never to come back alive. The previous Friday, he had asked me to draft a belated New Year’s message to the people of Zimbabwe, in which he was hinting at his imminent retirement.
He told me that it was important to signal to the world that he would not hold the nation at ransom; that he would not hold on to the party presidency if his doctors told him his health would not permit him to withstand the rigorous of an election campaign. He wanted to give advance notice to the people of Zimbabwe on the possibility of his retirement, which he would only confirm upon his return after consulting his doctors.
He perused his script, made minor corrections and certified that I distribute it, only for the same script to cause a major furore in the party, with some misguided elements lying that the statement did not have president Tsvangirai’s blessings. It is important to state that present at the foyer of his Highlands residence as he authenticated that statement hinting at a possible retirement was his brother Manasseh and Jameson Timba, who later arrived as the President and I were finishing the work on his script, in which he hinted at handing over the baton to others. It was a possibility which he said he would only confirm upon his return depending on the advice from his doctors.
Sadly, he was to return with his body lying in the soft requiem of death; the inimitable raspy and raucous laughter never to be heard again at Harvest House.
Yes, he left for the infirmary in South Africa on Tuesday, 9 January 2018, never to return alive to the country and the people he loved so much. He regularly phoned and at one point asked me to come over to South Africa so we could discuss a lot of issues, including the book that I was assisting him to write—-Service and Sacrifice. (The book is with the publisher and will most likely hit the bookstands any time in the aftermath of this lockdown).
I told then acting president Mudzuri that president Tsvangirai wanted me in South Africa. The then acting president promised to facilitate my trip before logistical impediments were deliberately thrown in the way to ensure that the trip never materialized.
President Tsvangirai later called to express his regrets that I had failed to turn up in South Africa. On Wednesday, 7 February 2018, he called again using a hospital staffer’s cellphone and told me that he had learnt and had even seen pictures to the effect that Mudzuri, Khupe and Mwonzora had left the country for a meeting in Cape Town without even the courtesy of informing him, leaving Chamisa as the only VP still in the country. He said he was reverting to his first position on Friday, 5 January 2018 when he had delegated Chamisa to be the acting President. I could tell he was angry at the team that was in SA without his knowledge when he asked me to issue a statement communicating that Chamisa was now the acting President until his return from South Africa.
There are some who took issue with my statement but this is the Presidency we are talking about, a whole institution which has its own unique ways of operation and in which the whims of an individual staffer cannot just hold sway. Even the then chief of staff Sessel Zvidzai can testify to the veracity of the President’s position when it comes to who was acting President at the time of Morgan Tsvangirai’s death.
President Tsvangirai told me from South Africa that his health was slowly failing him and that the thrust of the book— ServiceandSacrifice —should change into a valediction and not to remain as a simple story of the party’s capacity to deliver to the people as shown during the era of the inclusive government.
I felt tears swelling in my eyes before assuring him that he would be fine and he would rejoin us in the struggle soon.
Alas, that was never to be.
My father.
My boss.
My friend.
He was a close friend who would at times call me and my wife for dinner and to assure me that he took cognizance of my loyalty and committed service to the party and to himself, oftentimes with no salary. He once invited me and my wife to his house for dinner where he shared many of his thoughts on a variety of issues in a convivial atmosphere. Also present at that meeting at his house in June 2017 was a mutual friend, Sydney Masamvu.
As the party and the nation mourned him, I could help but reminisce on the many moments we shared; the many thoughts he intimated to me on controversial subjects such as family politics, succession and his vision for the future.
In our last conversation when he called from South Africa, he told me he had instructed the medical executives at the hospital where he was receiving treatment that apart from the members of his immediate family, I was also to be informed about his health. That is how the medical staff kept in contact with me until they called to relay the tragic message that he had passed on.
In his final moment, I would have loved the leadership then to give this man a befitting send-off. I sincerely hoped that the needless cockpit stampede should have been put in abeyance, at least in the veneration of this doyen of our struggle.
His will remain a story of fortitude and tenacity and there is no doubt that Morgan Tsvangirai left ineradicable footprints on the sands of the country’s history.
Today, on this 14th February 2021; I would like to take this opportunity to join the rest of our beloved nation in remembering and celebrating the life and legacy of the late Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Our beloved political legend and icon sadly passed away on 14th February 2018.
May this day be never forgotten. Indeed, may this day forever remain as one of the saddest days of our beloved nation.
On my part, I am certainly one of his compatriots who prayed earnestly for him to defeat the prostate cancer that eventually took away his precious life.
I earnestly prayed that he would not just defeat the prostate cancer but also rise up even stronger to lead us into the long promised land of freedom and democracy.
Sadly, this was not meant to be. As fate would have, his brave fight culminated in a devastating defeat. The deadly disease eventually won.
And so on this globally venerated day of love and romance, our undisputed champion for democratic change passed away in South Africa.
Unfortunately, he was unable to finish what many, including me, would have desperately wanted him to do.
Indeed, many of us would have wished him to continue his life-long fight until final victory.
Three years later, we are still struggling to come to terms with this ghastly reality. Our doyen for the struggle for democratic change in our beautiful motherland is no longer with us.
Forever.
But what legacy exactly did Tsvangirai leave for us as he departed to the world yonder?
It is my considered view that Tsvangirai left us one of the richest legacies we could have ever wished for.
According to him, the most important thing that we needed most as a country was to love each other most sincerely.
Not just in word but in deed also.
In this regard, Tsvangirai led us from the front.
To him the talk about us loving each other no matter what, was not mere talk. Neither was it some form of easy political rhetoric.
Tsvangirai exuded love, totally.
He not only loved his own personal family; but he also loved both the members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the broader nation at large.
He was a most genuine lover of humanity.
Throughout his political career, his bitter rival Robert Mugabe and his ZanuPF cohorts consistently labelled him a traitor or sellout.
They called him ugly face.
They physically and criminally harassed him
He had to endure physical violence from both the Zimbabwe Republic Police and ZanuPF
He had to unnecessarily spend so many days in the criminal courts and so many nights in the detention centres like the Chikurubi maximum security prison.
He had to recuperate in hospital beds after being viciously assaulted by the regime-backed militants
He had to fear for his life almost all the time.
He had to face fake treason charges headlong.
He had to flee the country and find refuge in such countries as Botswana
Yet in all this, he never dared to harbour any form of hatred against his violent detractors.
He continued to march on forward; in his unbridled quest for democratic change in his beloved motherland.
Relentlessly.
Indeed, no amount of hatred or politically motivated persecution from Mugabe and his ZanuPF was enough to stir him into an abyss of raw anger and bitterness.
Tsvangirai remained resolute. Tsvangirai remained determined. Tsvangirai remained so loving and caring. Tsvangirai remained willing to forgive and forget.
In all this, he taught us that our love must always defy all the odds against us.
Vincere caritate – conquer with love!
He taught us to conquer evil and hatred with so much unconditional love.
This explains why in 2008, he was more than willing to give up on his personal ambition to become the President of our beautiful motherland.
Political history will record that Tsvangirai won the popular vote, unofficially in 2002 and officially in 2008.
Yet because of his love for his people and beloved country; he chose to accept the apparently politically inferior role of the Office of the Prime Minister.
Political history will record that a truly loving Tsvangirai resolutely declared that he would rather lose out on his personal political ambitions than to walk over dead bodies of fellow Zimbabweans and step over the flowing blood of his dead supporters.
There is no doubt that Tsvangirai really loved his beloved country and wished it to enjoy peace, freedom and democracy.
This is certainly one of his greatest legacies as one of the most outstanding political leaders in the entire history of our beloved country.
But as fate would have it, Tsvangirai sadly passed away without successfully leading us into the long awaited promised land of freedom and democracy.
However, I am so happy that his life-long fight for democratic change was not in vain.
Today, as we commemorate the third full year since his passing away; Tsvangirai’s legacy of love lives on.
Tsvangirai did not leave us leaderless.
Tsvangirai certainly pointed out his successor to all of us.
Tsvangirai passed on the leadership mantle to one of the most consistent and loyal cadres of our movement.
Tsvangirai passed on the leadership baton stick to none other than our dear President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
To put it in a biblical context; if Tsvangirai was our Moses, then Chamisa is certainly our Joshua who has been tasked to finally lead us into our promised land.
Indeed, as we mark our full third year since his passing away, we have absolutely no doubt that Tsvangirai’s legacy of love will continue until final victory.
I for one cannot wait for that day to dawn when the long suffering people of Zimbabwe will finally cross the river Jordan into the long promised land of freedom and democracy.
I want to be there when the people of Zimbabwe celebrate the dawn of freedom and democracy
I want to be there when the long suffering masses of Zimbabwe sing and dance all across the country in celebration of the end of this brutal military regime.
I want to be there when Zimbabwe finally reaches its TRUE potential and step up as one of the most admired and respected countries not just in Africa but across the whole world
I want to be there when our beautiful motherland finally achieves its political destiny and becomes the truly GREAT ZIMBABWE it was always meant to be.
By A Correspondent- Douglas Mwonzora on Friday reportedly snubbed President Mnangagwa POLAD meeting that was held on Friday because he feels the dialogue must happen between his party and Zanu PF and other stakeholders outside POLAD.
In an interview with the publication, Mwonzora’s spokesperson Witness Dube said Mwonzora did not attend what would have been his inaugural meeting because they want a broad-based dialogue with the President and other stakeholders:
The MDC T president did not and will not attend Polad in its current form. We are canvassing for a broad-based dialogue which will include other stakeholders like churches, traditional leaders, labour bodies, student bodies, other political parties that did not have presidential candidates, captains of industry and all manner of Zimbabwean leadership in their diversity.
Dube however said they were not pulling out of POLAD just yet:
We have not pulled out of Polad. Our understanding is that Thokozani Khupe went into the platform as a presidential candidate.
MDC-T as a party is now going to sit and give a policy direction on its participation in Polad. Political, economic and structural conditions have drastically changed since the formation of Polad.
So we now need a more enriched approach to national questions, which includes other stakeholders outside 2018 presidential candidates and their immediate parties.
Meanwhile, today the MDC T held a memorial for Morgan Tsvangirai who died on this day 3 years ago.-standard
As we remember the great leader Morgan Richard Tsvangirai I have a few contributions of how I know him. My contribution is based on my experience as technical staff. I will reserve the rest on his work as a trade unionist to politicians. I hope one day his history will be properly written by people who know him. Most of people who wrote his history are fake. In fact these people wrote that history after he took political office. They have scant history of his time as a trade union leader. People who worked with him like Gilbert Marembo can relate a better accurate history of Morgan. In fact Morgan really wanted Marembo among his close team at MDC. Unfortunately Marembo declined, and it is understandable as he did not want to leave the ZCTU and let it fall into the hands of vultures.
There are three outstanding issues that remain etched in my mind when I think of Morgan. He was first of all a forgiving person. In fact too much forgiving to the detriment of his career as a trade unionist. Secondly he was NOT an office man. Office was very confining to him and he would rather be out there with his working folk. And finally I know him as a person who liked reading. He was a reading adict and would read anything even if it was in Chinese. And indeed he read.
When I joined the ZCTU in 1995 straight from the college after a recommendation from the then Editor of The Worker Newspaper Charles Rukuni, I was astounded by Cde Tsvangirai’s forgiveness attitude. Whatever mistake one did he had in his heart that part of forgiveness. He always gave people second chances. From union officials to ZCTU staff he treated them the same. I remember even some of his deputies at ZCTU worked nocturnal hours to tarnish and distroy him. At the end of the day he would forgive them and pretend nothing happen. As a cub reporter at The Worker I was also bound to to make mistakes due to excitement as a young reporter. I remember I even wrote articles that were not palatable to him. He would call you into his office reprimand you and that’s it. He would say you are a young man and still learning the ropes, he would give you advice but never gagged you. He would try by all means to make you feel better and also understand the politics of the Labour movement. He gave our publication The Worker unfettered independence and freedom to write articles without complaining as long as the facts are correct. He would say this is what we are fighting for at national level. Do you remember articles like “Matongo bites the dust”? Matongo was a Deputy ZCTU President and later became the MDC Chairperson. He defended the writer to the hilt while some wanted the writer to be fired. He believed in really Press Freedom.
He always called me “Young Man” and when I made a mistake he would say “Young Man come to my office”. I knew I would be reprimanded but he would at the end say I know you are on a learning curve. He was a great leader. Great leaders give young people a chance. They do not say I do not want to see you face again. Ironically if you give someone a chance, that person will be loyal to you for ever. That was his vision.
As I reflect about his perchant for forgiveness, I now realize that this could also have been his weakness. Later in life I noticed how the likes of Sikhala and Biti took advantage of this and went on to insult him in the media and all over. I remember Sikhala visiting ZCTU Affices in without any shoes and ZCTU staff asking for cigarettes. Even the current MDC A President was camped at ZCTU under an Organisation called ZURO. He had come with his colleague Dennis Murira and Takawira Musavengana working under Timothy Kondo the then ZCTU Advocacy officer.
I was hurt when Job Sikhala insulated Tsvsngarai’s mother. Biti even called Tsvangirai Gumbura. But Tsvangirai was so forgiving that he roped them back into the party.
The man was approachable. I recall that I was the first reporter to request him an interview his wife Susan while he was at ZCTU. He was hesitant at first and did not want to involve his wife in trade union issues. He eventually capitulated. I wanted to understand what a sort of husband he was. That interview is still fresh in my mind. The story was in The Worker and it was widely read. Morgan was not particularly happy with the picture of Susan that I took. He wanted a better picture but he let it go. But I had taken the real Susan the housewife with unkempt hair. By them he was not into the current hair designs. Readers loved it. She was by then the real Susan. No make-up.
Morgan Richard Tsvangirai was NOT an office man. He would spend weeks without visiting our office. He believed in spending most of his time with workers. He would visit companies and most employment units he could afford. He would also visit each and every union. I had a feeling the office stiffled him as he wanted to be outdoors. He wanted to meet workers, and be among them to discuss their issues and proffer solutions. I remember his labor forums in places like LIZ Hotel and Anglican Church. His adversaries (I won’t name them for now) would follow him to the labour forums grudgingly. He would give them time to expose themselves to the audience. Some of them would sweat because they would be trying to defend a rougue regime. Such was his tactic of letting them expose themselves. He would even call for a meeting in Masasa industrial area and all Workers Committees in that area would mobilises workers to attend these meetings. This was one of the greatest things that I witnessed. Workers in Masasa would come in their thousands. Workers in Southerton would come in their thousands. He had a gift of uniting workers. This endeared him to the masses and this explains his popularity. I guess the situation has changed now. It’s not easy to assemble such workers. I remember every company in industrial areas in Zimbabwe used to get a copy of The Worker Newspaper and workers would congregate to read the few copies. At Coca-Cola for instance the late Cde Cephas Makuyana was our agent and he made sure that every worker had a copy of the publication. Such was the dedication by comrades! But things have changed and we can no longer live in the past. Times change.
To me there is no doubt that Morgan Richard Tsvangirai was self taught. Whenever he was in the office he would voraciously read anything before him. He would come early in the office and spend hours reading whatever was at his disposal. This explains why he could stand up to any debate. He was well informed on any developments in any subject. He was well read. From economics, labour issues and law. You would think he was a lawyer. Sometimes you would not realise that he has been in the office for 3 days if you did not go to his office. He would be immersed in books voraciously going through books.
But I also credit the ZCTU for having a robust Education and Training Department. There is no better training that you can get outside the trade union movement. The training can sharpen you and even if you do not have a university degree you can be above those who have degrees. Tsvangirai got more than a PHD. Fetishism has killed this Country as people believe in papers on your walls. You may have degrees but they mean nothing if they are not used for the benefit of the country and its citizens. Tsvangirai proved it as he outsmarted everyone who had higher qualifications than him. Some even became jealous of him. He performed better than some of the professors like Lovemore Madhuku despite his limited academic education.
The last time I had one on one with him was when he was in the PM’s office. The ZCTU had asked me to take a trade union delegation from the Netherlands to meet him. He called his whole office to see me and he seemed surprised that I was still with the ZCTU . He still called me young man despite the fact that I was married and in my forties.
Morgan you were a great man. May your soul rest in peace. Surely one day someone will write a correct history of you. It might be me, who knows?
Kaitano Tembo’s SuperSport United bounced back from a three-game winless run with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Cape Town City in a DStv Premiership match played at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium today.
The Zimbabwean tactician, who this week admitted that the fixture schedule was weighing heavy on his side after two defeats on the trot, saw them return to their best and collected three points against a battling City.
Gamphani Lungu thrust them in front in the 23rd minute when he latched on to a brilliant Evans Rusike assist.
United could have doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time when Kuda Mahachi’s pinpoint cross missed both his Warriors teammate Rusike and Bradley Grobbler by inches.
Lungu’s goal was the difference between the two sides at the half time interval.
Two minutes after the restart, City levelled matters through Bradely Ralani, whose shot from outside the box beat Rowen Williams in goal for SuperSport.
Tembo made a change in the 76th minute, bringing Thamsanqa Gabuza for Rusike and it proved to be the turning point minutes later.
Gabuza headed home a Grobbler cross to restore Matsatsantsa’s lead and the goal proved to be the winner.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described the late MDC founding President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai as a champion of freedom.
President Chamisa also described Dr Tsvangirai as a great mentor.
Read President Chamisa’s statement below:
Today is MORGAN TSVANGIRAI DAY:
CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF LOVE..We lost a peacemaker, doyen of democracy and freedom champion.
My father, mentor and a friend,I salute u for the free leadership mentorship and tutorship. You taught me love, forgiveness, humility, principle, consistency and loyalty. I and we ( all your true mentees) will never be purchased to compromise the PROMISE. The project promise is intact, uncompromisable and underailable.
We will WIN Zimbabwe for change! We are holding tight..Chinhu takabata!! Rest in Power Mdara!
Godisinit chinhu takabata machinja ese achapuhwa korona! Kunagumo kune nyaya Vamira pamuganhu kuti NDI!
Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC leader, President Morgan Tsvangirai was a brilliant leader who contributed immensely to the economic turnaround during the GNU era, the MDC Alliance Namibia has said.
President Tsvangirai affectionately called Dollar For Two by MDC supporters and Zimbabweans in general, fearlessly challenged Robert Mugabe’s political hegemony and in 2008 he defeated the former strongman in the Presidential plebiscite.
See statement below:
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA COMMEMORATES THE DEATH OF THE LATE MORGAN TSVANGIRAI IN TWO POPULAR NAMES, $1 FOR TWO AND CHINGWA CHEVANA(BREAD FOR CHILDREN)
14 FEBRUARY 2021
This day marks the 3rd Anniversary since the death of the founder of our democratic project MDC Alliance party.
Mdc Alliance Namibia celebrates with the rest of the globe in honour of the revolutionary life lived by our Icon of Constitutional Democracy the late President Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. The sweetest moment brought by our late President was when he was sworn in as the Prime Minister on 11 February 2009. We witnessed the dawn of a new era because the leader managed to revamp the economy in a very short while.
Zimbabweans saw cash crisis , poverty, hunger, inflation and economic instability vanishing into thin air. The economy was promptly put on a sounder footing for five years from 2009-2013 when Zanupf stole elections thinking that the situation will remain stable without our father of governance. May your dear soul continue to rest in power. We saw affordable prices and availability of bread in shops. We salute your love and organic leadership Save!
Apart from the good governance exhibited by the Mdc led by the late President Morgan Tsvangirai, prior to this astounding political score, the democratic legend endured a lot of incarceration at the hands of the ruthless totalitarian Zanupf government. Shortly before the presidential election of 2002 , in which our political dynamo Morgan Richard Tsvangirai was a hot candidate, he was unceremoniously charged with treason for allegedly plotting to assassinate the clueless Zanupf Mugabe.
Although he was later acquitted, it transpired after enduring a long tiresome trial on politically-concocted charges but was again charged with treason in 2003 after calling for the mass protests to overthrow a rogue regime and its autocratic leader. This varlour and nerve to confront Zanupf Satanists in the eye is what inspires us to continue embracing dangerous freedom against peaceful slavery.
Moreover, Mdc Alliance Namibia continues to get revolutionary appetite from the sacrifice and mettle displayed by Morgan Richard Tsvangirai during his fight for socio-economic transformation. On March 11, 2007, the father of the democratic project Morgan Richard Tsvangirai became the centre of international attention after he was the victim of a brutal and sadist attack by Zanupf-captured thugocratic police force.
It occurred while on his way to attend a prayer meeting arranged by local churches to pray for Zimbabwe’s political and economic woes. Our father was seized , arbitrarily arrested , tortured by the Zanupf police, other Mdc officials were brutalised and imprisoned for believing in the vision of the visionary. May your dear soul turn against those who are working with Zanupf masquerading as your ambassadors for complete change.
Furthermore, we celebrate our late President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai’s resistance to accept flag independence because he showed us an unwavering commitment to the national discourse until he passed on this day in 2018. In the weeks leading up to the runoff election , social democrats who subscribed to the vision and ideology of the Mdc were harassed and attacked , some were butchered in cold blood. Their houses were burnt together with party offices. Our leader was repeatedly detained by the biased police who were working on direct instructions from Zanupf. As Mdc Alliance Namibia, the blood and sweat of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai and all victims of Zanupf human butchery shall continue to inspire us to soldier on with the fight against senseless and barefaced corruption as well as gross abuse of universal basic human rights.
In a nutshell, as a district we shall continue to honour the 14th of February annually since it reenergises our focus to defend the legacy of confrontation left for us by Save. We will remember this day appreciating his successful effort in grooming the energetic and pragmatic President in the name of none other than Advocate Nelson Chamisa, Wamba Dia Wamba. Rest in eternal peace Save, forever we shall defend your legacy against political hypocrites such as the desperate Mwonzora, Khupe, Komichi, Mashakada, Dumbu, and a few who now believe in Zanupf satanism.
A repository of fearlessness and courage himself, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai would always encourage young people to take the destiny of the country’s politics and economics into their own hands.
In one of our meetings with Dr Tsvangirai at his home in Highlands, Harare sometime in 2017, he nailed it through the old adage, “mutambirwi gwinyawo” to a group of youths who had come to lobby for represention quotas in the party.
Loosely translated the adage meant to encourage those with a keen interest on something to take the initiative by leading from the front.
A firm believer in youths, Dr Tsvangirai taught us that young people can lead.
From Learnmore Jongwe to Nelson Chamisa, Dr Tsvangirai’s MDC had young faces in position of leadership right from the party’s inception in 1999.
As history will rightly record, the Youth Quota which sought to have youths in decision making positions was Dr Tsvangirai’s legacy too!
Probably the biggest political master class of Dr Tsvangirai was his appointment of Nelson Chamisa as the leader of the newly born of MDC Alliance at a time when he was unwell late in 2017.
Again this was a show of confidence in young people in top leadership positions.
Nelson Chamisa was exactly what the doctor ordered!
Just at 39 about to turn 40 in February of 2018, Dr Tsvangirai’s young and most trusted lieutenant took the nation by storm as he outpaced ZANU PF’s old and tired candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa enroute to victory in the 2018 General Elections.
Three years on after the demise of Dr Tsvangirai on this day, the National Democratic Movement faces incessant attacks from Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship working in cahoots with black market judicially reconstituted opposition.
At the receiving end of persecutions by Mnangagwa’s evil regime are MDC Alliance members and youths.
Three of our female youth leaders were abducted and sexually abused and are still facing persecution by prosecution in captured courts.
Since 07 December 2020, one of our own, Alan Moyo has been languishing at Harare Remand Prison pre-trial!
Stinking unbridled corruption and poverty authored by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s evil regime is threatening to expunge and devour our very own existence as a generation.
Worse than Covid-19, this military regime is threatening to wipe out our very existence because of unchecked looting at the expense of the people.
It is time we take heed of Dr Tsvangirai’s timeless advice- ‘mutambirwi gwinyawo’.
It is time we take the bull by its horns and take Mnangagwa’s dictatorship head on!
Freedom has never been served on a plate like sadza hence we must be prepared to fight for it.
Dr Tsvangirai and those of yesterday taught us to fight for our rights and freedoms.
“We don’t want this movement to be a one generation movement”, Dr Tsvangirai challenged us to keep National Democratic Struggle alive.
It is time we defy the status quo if are to survive!
Our choices are very much limited, either we defy or die!
DefyOrDie
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers (YHCW) in appreciation and gratitude for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO is launching a year-long campaign, under the theme – Protect. Invest. Together. It highlights the urgent need to invest in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic opportunity and equity.
This year, we are calling on your support and action to ensure that our health and care workforces are supported, protected, motivated and equipped to deliver safe health care at all times, not only during COVID-19. Today, we ask that you to add your voice to those calling for additional investments in health and care workers.
Campaign objectives
Ensure the world’s health and care workers are prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine in the first 100 days of 2021.
Recognize and commemorate all health and care workers who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
Mobilize commitments from Member States, International Financing Institutions, bilateral and philanthropic partners to protect and invest in health and care workers to accelerate the attainment of the SDGs and COVID-19 recovery.
Engage Member States and all relevant stakeholders in dialogue on a care compact to protect health and care workers’ rights, decent work and practice environments.
Figure Bring together communities, influencers, political and social support in solidarity, advocacy and care for health and care workers.
Source: WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|The late MDC founding President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai was a man of love, MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Clifford Hlatywayo has said.
President Tsvangirai died on February 14 2018.
The iconic leader was a brave man who spent his life fighting for freedom from Zanu PF oppression.
Hlatywayo wrote on Twitter:
“President Tsvangirai taught us LOVE. If there is love,there will be:
No looting No abductions No Election rigging No arbitrary arrests No illegal detentions No abuse of state institutions No violence against one another No partisan distribution of food aid RIPMorgan
President Tsvangirai taught us LOVE. If there is love,there will be: No looting No abductions No Election rigging No arbitrary arrests No illegal detentions No abuse of state institutions No violence against one another No partisan distribution of food aid#RIPMorganpic.twitter.com/sV7l8klZ2a
— Clifford Hlatywayo MP Chipinge South (@CliffordHlatyw1) February 14, 2021
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described the late MDC founding President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai as a champion of freedom.
President Chamisa also described Dr Tsvangirai as a great mentor.
Read President Chamisa’s statement below:
Today is MORGAN TSVANGIRAI DAY:
CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF LOVE..We lost a peacemaker, doyen of democracy and freedom champion.
My father, mentor and a friend,I salute u for the free leadership mentorship and tutorship. You taught me love, forgiveness, humility, principle, consistency and loyalty. I and we ( all your true mentees) will never be purchased to compromise the PROMISE. The project promise is intact, uncompromisable and underailable.
We will WIN Zimbabwe for change! We are holding tight..Chinhu takabata!! Rest in Power Mdara!
Godisinit chinhu takabata machinja ese achapuhwa korona! Kunagumo kune nyaya Vamira pamuganhu kuti NDI!
MDC Alliance deputy chairman Job Sikhala has appealed to Glen View South MP Vincent Tsvangirai (MDC-T) to back off and stop picking up fights with “elder” politicians like Jonathan Moyo and Alex Magaisa.
Tsvangirai who replaced her late sister Vimbai as Glen View South legislator penned a hard hitting opinion piece accusing Magaisa and Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya of fighting MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora.
But Sikhala reminded Vincent of the sacrifices he made to campaign for him in Glen View South.
“My beloved young brother Vincent Tsvangirai. You know how much I sacrificed walking all roads door to door in Glen View South for your win. Please take heed of Pedzisai Ruhanya’s advice. Don’t create enemies or become angry on behalf of others. Pedzisai Ruhanya, Jonathan Moyo are adults,” Sikhala appealed.
Sikhala added: “He (Vincent) is young. He needs advice. Fighting people who never provoked you is the most dangerous expedition. He should not be used to fight wars beyond his reach.”
In his reply by a blog article by Alex Magaisa, a Chamisa ally, Vincent Tsvangirai touched a raw nerve when he fingered Magaisa as the rabble rouser in MDC Alliance, also insinuating that Magaisa brought the G40 into Chamisa’s party leading to disenchantment among voters and members.
Tsvangirai also accused Magaisa of being behind his father election defeat to Robert Mugabe in 2013. Magaisa was advisor to Morgan Tsvangirai for a few years ending in 2013.
Ruhanya has since responded to Vincent accusing him of being Mwonzora’s “political toddler”.
Ruhanya further vowed to expose Tsvangirai as a matric dropout who has no academic certificate to his name.
“Douglas Mwonzora has without provocation drawn the battle lines with Alex Magaisa and myself by sending a political toddler whose only qualification is his father’s surname to play games. I receive his invitation with delight and I shall play the game of facts and nothing but facts.
“The first is that Zanu-PF has captured MDC-T and this is public information with facts as clear as a goat’s behind Mwonzora. From expelling MPs, Councillors, to militarily assisted in taking over Harvest, political finances money to being given venue and ZUPCO buses for congress,” Ruhanya said.
With ALL this persecution and suffering, one wonders why anyone who purports to be wanting to advance Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy would do so by supporting the very things and people he was fighting against.
By A Correspondent- Job Sikhala has asked people with information about one Crispen Makedenge to come forward and help him locate the man who tortured him when he was still working for the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
Sikhala said he wanted to help Makedenge who is said to be going through a hard time as photos of him surfaced and started circulating on social media.
Sikhala said nations are built on love as he appealed for information that might help him locate the ex-cop:
Anyone with this man Chrispen Makedenge’s location please inbox me. Despite having tortured me, Gabriel Shumba, Taurai Magaya at the Kabrit Barracks, I have got a Valentine gift for him. Nations are ruled on love for diversity not cruelty. Love conquers even the pain in my heart.
A photo of Makedenge is circulating on social media and Pedzisai Ruhanya and Hopewell Chin’ono have used the photo to warn others against torturing people and said:
Next time be careful Varakashi when you torture innocent people on behalf of ZANU PF. This man, Crispen Makedenge once tortured Hon @JobSikhala1 and Gabriel Shumba over bogus allegations that they they torched a ZUPCO bus in Highfields. He was a law and order officer. Look now!
This man is called Crispen Makedenge. He used to head the Law & Order section, torturing opposition politicians like @JobSikhala1, and he even intimidated me. See him today! Brokenness personified
Today we fondly remember the passing on of our icon Dr M R Tsvangirai. Sadly the party he left us is split & under serious threat to disintegrate. I urge all my colleagues to remember the Zimbabwean dream which MT sacrificed for, come together & rebuild the MDC. MHSRIP
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday said his impending review of the tough lockdown to slow down Covid-19 infections will be influenced by the situation on the ground.
Mnangagwa is expected to announce new lockdown measures this week as restrictions imposed a fortnight ago expire tomorrow. He told mourners at the burial of the late Retired Lieutenant-General Douglas Nyikayaramba at the National Heroes Acre in Harare that Zimbabweans must remain vigilant as Covid-19 still posed a potent threat.
“The war against the global Covid-19 pandemic is far from over,” Mnangagwa said.
“We are in the thick of it. We dare not lose it.
“Each Zimbabwean who falls to the pandemic is a grim reminder that the pandemic is real and a danger to our nation.”
“These measures are predicated on strict enforcement and adherence to World Health Organisation (WHO) protocols and the roll-out of our vaccination programme.”
Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 cases have been going down in the past few days after a second wave that began early this year left thousands infected and killed hundreds of people.
Zimbabwe is expected to roll out its vaccination programme this week after receiving a donation 200 000 doses of China’s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine.
Nyikayaramba, who was Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Mozambique, died of Covid-19 last week.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Stock Exchange- listed retail giant OK Zimbabwe says its CEO Alex Siyavora will leave the group at the end of next month, after assuming the role just over two years ago. He will be replaced by (operations and marketing) Maxen Karombo, according to OK Zimbabwe chairman Herbert Nkala.
“The company’s group chief executive officer will be retiring from the company with effect from 31 March 2021,” Nkala said in a market update released on Friday.
The outgoing OK Zimbabwe CEO joined Zimbabwe’s largest retail operation as finance director in 2001 before rising to his current role in 2017, taking over from the illustrious Willard Zireva who left after steering the firm for about 16 years.
A highlight of Siyavora’s tenure was overseeing an extensive refurbishment of the group’s 67 branches, along with leading a rebranding and innovation programme that is meant to position the group to take on stiff competition from a cluster of recent entrants into the market.
The group operates some of the country’s most recognised retail outfits, including Bon Marche, OK Mart and the OK Supermarket chain.
During Siyavora’s tenure OK was named winner of the top performing companies listed on the ZSE in 2018. OK also received runner-up awards in 2019 and 2020, among other accolades, while it extended its store footprint across the country.
“Mr Maxen P Karombo will be appointed to the position of group chief executive officer with effect from the 5th of April 2021,” said Nkala.
“Max is a marketer by profession, and business leader by practice. He joins OK Zimbabwe from Delta Corporation where he was executive director (operations and marketing) for 10 years,” he said.
Karombo earned a Masters degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Technology Management (Hons) degree from the University of Zimbabwe.
“He was first certified as a chartered marketer in 1999 by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and is a recipient of the Outstanding Marketing Personality of the Year from the Marketers Association Zimbabwe,” Nkala said.-standard
By A Correspondent- Two Chitungwiza residents have taken Local Government minister July Moyo and the local authority to court over the poor drainage system in the town, which is causing flooding.
Several houses in Chitungwiza have been flooded this season after heavy rains due to poor drainage.
In an urgent chamber application filed at the Harare High Court, Daniel Tapfira and Emmerson Shereni Ndokwani argued that government’s failure to ensure Chitungwiza had a proper drainage system violated their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Tapfira and Ndokwani cited Chitungwiza Town Council and Moyo as first and second respondents respectively. They are seeking an interim order forcing government and the Chitungwiza municipality to maintain, repair and install a functional water drainage system in the town.
The duo want particular attention paid to areas that include Seke’s Unit N Extension, Unit G, Unit A and Unit B.
Tapfira and Ndokwani said because of government’s failure to maintain, repair and/or install a functional drainage system, they were victims of flash floods that hit the town last month.
They said the drainage system in Chitungwiza was in a state of disrepair with the storm water drains covered with dirt or grass and in some cases, council neglected to maintain or even install a functional drainage system.
“My house is on a corner stand and the storm water drain pipes and bridge near my house have collapsed due to lack of maintenance by council,” Tapfira said.
“When we experience heavy rains, the surface runoff water collects in the broken storm water drain, which is adjacent to my house and cannot be channelled anywhere as the pipes are broken.
“The water, therefore, accumulates into my yard and into my house.”
On January 30, Chitungwiza council attributed the flash floods to illegal construction on wetlands, stream banks and waterways. But Tapfira said council’s claims were untrue, claiming he did not experience any flooding until the drainage pipes collapsed.
“The floods are also a result of first and second respondents’ failure to have a comprehensive and sound policy and plan to deal with settlements on wetlands and respondents’ failure to develop local environmental action plans, which maintain wetlands as open spaces so that they perform their natural functions of absorbing water and avoid flooding,” he said in his founding affidavit.-standard
By A Correspondent- The South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has said 20 land borders leading into South Africa will be opened on Monday but quickly pointed out that anyone caught with a fake COVID-19 certificate will be banned from entering South Africa for 5 years, South Africa’s TimesLive reports.
Motsoaledi according to the publication reportedly said:
…anyone arriving at a border with a faked Covid-19 test result would be turned back and barred from SA for at least five years.
We appeal to travellers to ensure that they have all the requisite travel documents, including valid Covid-19 tests, when they present themselves to officials at our borders.
Truck drivers should adhere to laws, regulations and agreements in place in the border area. This will go a long way in minimising congestion.
The 20 land borders that will open on Monday include borders leading into South Africa from Zimbabwe, Bostwana, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is yet to make a decision about reopening land borders. The Ministry of Home Affairs said they will first consult with the National COVID-19 taskforce before making a decision on the issue.-timeslive
MDC T is planning to hold a virtual memorial service for the founding father of the MDC Morgan Tsvangirai who died on 14 February 2018.
This was contained in a memo that notified members of the virtual memorial which will start from 10.30 and Professor Lovemore Madhuku will give a speech during the memorial.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE 3rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE PASSING ON OF PRESIDENT MORGAN RICHARD TSVANGIRAI
The MDC T family is seized with the preparations to commemorate the 3rd Anniversary of the passing on of our icon, the late President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. The event will take place on 14 February 2021.
I was tasked by President Douglas Mwonzora to lead the team organizing the event. The memorial service will be held virtually due to COVID 19 restrictions currently in force. Professor Lovemore Madhuku will deliver a memorial lecture. The event will start at 1030am and will be live streamed.
We have consulted widely with the senior Tsvangirai family members during the preparations. A public event will be announced later when full lockdown restrictions are lifted. Please note that there will be no Party gatherings since the event will be virtual.
By A Correspondent- Dorothy Mabika has reportedly replaced the late Manicaland Minister of State and Devolution Ellen Gwaradzimba who died from COVID-19 last month.
The news that Mabika is now the new Manicaland senator was first shared by Member of Parliament for Shurugwi North Constituency Tinashe Ngarandi who took to social media to congratulate the new senator in a post that said:
Congratulations to Cde D Mabika for winning the Manicaland Senatorial Post to replace Dr. Ellen Gwarwadzimba.
Not much is not known about Mabika who in 2013 was suspended as a Zanu PF women affairs official. Mabika in 2013 was acquitted of stock theft after she was accused of stealing 6 beasts that were donated by prominent Chipinge farmer and alleged Zanu PF benefactor Dawis Joubert to former President Robert Mugabe.
She reportedly altered the party books to conceal her crime and claimed the cattle died because of lack of food:
….Mabika was being charged with stealing six bull calves donated to Zanu PF by Chipinge farmer Dawid Herculus Joubert and attempting to tamper with party documents to conceal the crime.
Dorothy Mabika also headlined in 2013 for accusing Didymus Mutasa who at that time was the Presidential Affairs Minister and Zanu PF secretary for administration of politically persecuting her because she turned down his love interests.
By A Correspondent- Senior Zanu PF officials in the Midlands Province are reportedly worried over outspoken Norton independent MP Temba Mliswa’s motives for commissioning various development projects in his village in Shurugwi.
There are concerns that Mliswa may contest in one of the Shurugwi constituencies during the 2023 general elections.
A senior Midlands ruling party leader who spoke to The News Hawks said even President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies, July Moyo and Owen Ncube are in panic mode, while Shurugwi South MP Edmond Murakatigwa is said to be the most vulnerable.
The official is quoted as saying: The Zanu PF Midlands leadership is panicking over Mliswa’s political moves and development activities, which are community-based yet clearly electoral at the same time.
Mukaratigwa is obviously the most affected, but even some national leaders from our province, including the President (Emmerson Mnangagwa)’s allies like July Moyo and Owen Ncube, are panicking.
They don’t want Mliswa here. They say he will cause divisions and chaos – the sort of problems associated with him when he was Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairman.
So his political manoeuvres and development activities in Shurugwi South are not welcome by some political heavyweights here, although the community and villagers are happy.
Mliswa originally comes from Shurugwi South under Gamwa Section, Shamba Circuit, Ward 5 in an area called Mliswa Village.
He was previously Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chair during the late former president Robert Mugabe’s rule and is also a former Hurungwe West MP.
Today, on this 14th February 2021; I would like to take this opportunity to join the rest of our beloved nation in remembering and celebrating the life and legacy of the late Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Our beloved political legend and icon sadly passed away on 14th February 2018.
May this day be never forgotten. Indeed, may this day forever remain as one of the saddest days of our beloved nation.
On my part, I am certainly one of his compatriots who prayed earnestly for him to defeat the prostate cancer that eventually took away his precious life.
I earnestly prayed that he would not just defeat the prostate cancer but also rise up even stronger to lead us into the long promised land of freedom and democracy.
Sadly, this was not meant to be. As fate would have, his brave fight culminated in a devastating defeat. The deadly disease eventually won.
And so on this globally venerated day of love and romance, our undisputed champion for democratic change passed away in South Africa.
Unfortunately, he was unable to finish what many, including me, would have desperately wanted him to do.
Indeed, many of us would have wished him to continue his life-long fight until final victory.
Three years later, we are still struggling to come to terms with this ghastly reality. Our doyen for the struggle for democratic change in our beautiful motherland is no longer with us.
Forever.
But what legacy exactly did Tsvangirai leave for us as he departed to the world yonder?
It is my considered view that Tsvangirai left us one of the richest legacies we could have ever wished for.
According to him, the most important thing that we needed most as a country was to love each other most sincerely.
Not just in word but in deed also.
In this regard, Tsvangirai led us from the front.
To him the talk about us loving each other no matter what, was not mere talk. Neither was it some form of easy political rhetoric.
Tsvangirai exuded love, totally.
He not only loved his own personal family; but he also loved both the members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the broader nation at large.
He was a most genuine lover of humanity.
Throughout his political career, his bitter rival Robert Mugabe and his ZanuPF cohorts consistently labelled him a traitor or sellout.
They called him ugly face.
They physically and criminally harassed him
He had to endure physical violence from both the Zimbabwe Republic Police and ZanuPF
He had to unnecessarily spend so many days in the criminal courts and so many nights in the detention centres like the Chikurubi maximum security prison.
He had to recuperate in hospital beds after being viciously assaulted by the regime-backed militants
He had to fear for his life almost all the time.
He had to face fake treason charges headlong.
He had to flee the country and find refuge in such countries as Botswana
Yet in all this, he never dared to harbour any form of hatred against his violent detractors.
He continued to march on forward; in his unbridled quest for democratic change in his beloved motherland.
Relentlessly.
Indeed, no amount of hatred or politically motivated persecution from Mugabe and his ZanuPF was enough to stir him into an abyss of raw anger and bitterness.
Tsvangirai remained resolute. Tsvangirai remained determined. Tsvangirai remained so loving and caring. Tsvangirai remained willing to forgive and forget.
In all this, he taught us that our love must always defy all the odds against us.
Vincere caritate – conquer with love!
He taught us to conquer evil and hatred with so much unconditional love.
This explains why in 2008, he was more than willing to give up on his personal ambition to become the President of our beautiful motherland.
Political history will record that Tsvangirai won the popular vote, unofficially in 2002 and officially in 2008.
Yet because of his love for his people and beloved country; he chose to accept the apparently politically inferior role of the Office of the Prime Minister.
Political history will record that a truly loving Tsvangirai resolutely declared that he would rather lose out on his personal political ambitions than to walk over dead bodies of fellow Zimbabweans and step over the flowing blood of his dead supporters.
There is no doubt that Tsvangirai really loved his beloved country and wished it to enjoy peace, freedom and democracy.
This is certainly one of his greatest legacies as one of the most outstanding political leaders in the entire history of our beloved country.
But as fate would have it, Tsvangirai sadly passed away without successfully leading us into the long awaited promised land of freedom and democracy.
However, I am so happy that his life-long fight for democratic change was not in vain.
Today, as we commemorate the third full year since his passing away; Tsvangirai’s legacy of love lives on.
Tsvangirai did not leave us leaderless.
Tsvangirai certainly pointed out his successor to all of us.
Tsvangirai passed on the leadership mantle to one of the most consistent and loyal cadres of our movement.
Tsvangirai passed on the leadership baton stick to none other than our dear President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
To put it in a biblical context; if Tsvangirai was our Moses, then Chamisa is certainly our Joshua who has been tasked to finally lead us into our promised land.
Indeed, as we mark our full third year since his passing away, we have absolutely no doubt that Tsvangirai’s legacy of love will continue until final victory.
I for one cannot wait for that day to dawn when the long suffering people of Zimbabwe will finally cross the river Jordan into the long promised land of freedom and democracy.
I want to be there when the people of Zimbabwe celebrate the dawn of freedom and democracy
I want to be there when the long suffering masses of Zimbabwe sing and dance all across the country in celebration of the end of this brutal military regime.
I want to be there when Zimbabwe finally reaches its TRUE potential and step up as one of the most admired and respected countries not just in Africa but across the whole world
I want to be there when our beautiful motherland finally achieves its political destiny and becomes the truly GREAT ZIMBABWE it was always meant to be.
A NINE-year-old girl from Matobo, Matabeleland South province, was killed by a crocodile at Hovi River while she was washing her lunch box last week.
Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident which happened on Monday. She identified the girl as Shalom Moyo and advised members of the community to desist from sending children to fetch water especially at rivers where there are crocodiles. Shalom’s parents Mr Gift Moyo and Happiness Ndlovu said their daughter was the first born in a family of three. The Moyo family, who are from How Mine, had visited their relatives in Matobo when the incident happened.
“We rushed and got to the scene immediately after a little girl who witnessed the incident shouted for help after seeing Shalom being attacked by the crocodile. When we got to the river her bloodied body was floating in the water,” said Mr Moyo.
Ward 17 Councillor Max Majahana said a few years ago another child was attacked by a crocodile at the same river.
“Rangers from Matopos National Park arrived a few hours after the incident to hunt and shoot the creature but unfortunately it vanished into the muddy water as the river was flooding,” said Clr Majahana.- The Sunday News
By Mari Matutu | This is the headline for today 14/2/21. This must show you that the regime and its partners are about take a move. Mukaona majuru achituta uswa zivai kuti mvura iri pedo. When Biti and Sikhala are talking pointing towards dialogue know for a fact they have already dialogued.
When you see Mafume getting a court order stating PDP belongs to Biti as personal property and PDP has a clause that say one is not recalled for belonging to MDC know for a fact changa chawaridza bonde kare kare. When you see Mwonzora being careful in defining his MDC T by calling it MDC Tsvangirai and putting logo that was used on MDC Alliance know for a fact the mission is to take MDC A.
In short time is now. Use 2014 resolutions and article 9.1.3 of constitution. Use principle cited by SC on mootness as second principle to rubbish everything the sell outs want to do. The HC judgement about to be delivered on first 4 recalled MPs is bound by SC judgement. It cannot give verdict that gives Khupe or Mwonzora status of Acting president or SG
Morgan Tsvangirai’s departure on this day reminds us all of a lot of things, and one of them a claim to fame by a certain “Apostle” who infers he is the one who prophesied or advised the appointment of Nelson Chamisa ( see video).
On this day (picture) in July 2014, I publicly joined others to advise the great icon Morgan Tsvangirai to handover the baton to his successor Nelson Chamisa. A certain fake preacher picked this up in our news feed and turned our piece of advice into a prophecy, saying Chamisa is the next President of Zimbabwe in the upcoming elections, 2018. When he later noticed that prediction wasn’t happening despite Chamisa’s elevation in 2016, he dropped yet another statement this time saying “Chigubhu chichirikusukwa” the container is still being washed. By that time he had routed all Chamisa’s followers into following him. Some of Chamisa’s followers still believe in him to this day, and he has boisterously said he is the only accurate person in the country, the only voice that speaks genuinely for God. He has also confidently announced saying his words are the ones “controlling the politics of this country.”
He has falsely claimed Chamisa goes to him for prayers.
Morgan Tsvangirai with Simba Chikanza, July 2014
After usurping Chamisa’s limelight, he has come out to announce saying Chamisa is a liar, literally. He has also come out saying Chamisa is not ready to lead Zimbabwe, contradicting his so called 2014 prophecy.
In other matters, he has said truck drivers are lazy, saying gonyet Driving is not a career of note.
In 2018 after listening to my phonecall with Constantino Chiwenga, he passed conclusions and started to claim that Emmerson Mnangagwa did not send soldiers to shoot people on 1 Aug 2018. He said God told him this. He went further to say Mnangagwa is totally clueless, “havasikutoziva kuti voita sei nazvo,” he added. The god he worships must be very dumb, because the nation saw Mnangagwa not only doing it, but announcing it.
What inspired Tsvangirai’s choice of Chamisa? It was no prophecy. It was the man’s wisdom on the young man he saw was steadfast and loyal to the brand and the party (see video).
A repository of fearlessness and courage himself, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai would always encourage young people to take the destiny of the country’s politics and economics into their own hands.
In one of our meetings with Dr Tsvangirai at his home in Highlands, Harare sometime in 2017, he nailed it through the old adage, “mutambirwi gwinyawo” to a group of youths who had come to lobby for represention quotas in the party.
Loosely translated the adage meant to encourage those with a keen interest on something to take the initiative by leading from the front.
A firm believer in youths, Dr Tsvangirai taught us that young people can lead.
From Learnmore Jongwe to Nelson Chamisa, Dr Tsvangirai’s MDC had young faces in position of leadership right from the party’s inception in 1999.
As history will rightly record, the Youth Quota which sought to have youths in decision making positions was Dr Tsvangirai’s legacy too!
Probably the biggest political master class of Dr Tsvangirai was his appointment of Nelson Chamisa as the leader of the newly born of MDC Alliance at a time when he was unwell late in 2017.
Again this was a show of confidence in young people in top leadership positions.
Nelson Chamisa was exactly what the doctor ordered!
Just at 39 about to turn 40 in February of 2018, Dr Tsvangirai’s young and most trusted lieutenant took the nation by storm as he outpaced ZANU PF’s old and tired candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa enroute to victory in the 2018 General Elections.
Three years on after the demise of Dr Tsvangirai on this day, the National Democratic Movement faces incessant attacks from Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship working in cahoots with black market judicially reconstituted opposition.
At the receiving end of persecutions by Mnangagwa’s evil regime are MDC Alliance members and youths.
Three of our female youth leaders were abducted and sexually abused and are still facing persecution by prosecution in captured courts.
Since 07 December 2020, one of our own, Alan Moyo has been languishing at Harare Remand Prison pre-trial!
Stinking unbridled corruption and poverty authored by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s evil regime is threatening to expunge and devour our very own existence as a generation.
Worse than Covid-19, this military regime is threatening to wipe out our very existence because of unchecked looting at the expense of the people.
It is time we take heed of Dr Tsvangirai’s timeless advice- ‘mutambirwi gwinyawo’.
It is time we take the bull by its horns and take Mnangagwa’s dictatorship head on!
Freedom has never been served on a plate like sadza hence we must be prepared to fight for it.
Dr Tsvangirai and those of yesterday taught us to fight for our rights and freedoms.
“We don’t want this movement to be a one generation movement”, Dr Tsvangirai challenged us to keep National Democratic Struggle alive.
It is time we defy the status quo if are to survive!
Our choices are very much limited, either we defy or die!
DefyOrDie
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson
As we remember Morgan Tsvangirai, a couple of anecdotes, the first a leadership trait that I admired & second, a trait that brought the ordinary man behind the veil of officialdom. Morgan knew that his role attracted sycophants and bootlickers who tried too hard please him.
Oft-times, people wanted to ingratiate themselves with him at other people’s expense. So they would gossip a lot about others. For example some would say, “President, so and so is plotting to topple you”. Morgan didn’t like gossip. He was tired of this tittle-tattle. Everyone was gossiping about everyone. So he would simply call both parties. They would arrive and he would put the matter at the table.
Sometimes he would simply call the accused in the presence of the accuser and say, X is saying you are saying this, is it true? Morgan had observed during his long career that many people lied to the leader, especially when talking about other party members. To “finish the sports” he would just ask the accuser to confirm his story in front of the accused.
Needless to say, there was a lot of stammering! It’s important for a leader to protect himself from those who try to further their interests at the expense of others. I observed this early on in our working relationship & knew to never peddle rumours but to focus on verified facts. But still, people never stopped gossiping! The second aspect was a lighter side of his character which to my eyes made him very human and vulnerable like all of us.
As Prime Minister he was surrounded by lots of security. He had his personal team, state security & when he travelled, the host country provided security. Morgan found this all too stifling. There were so many protocols and procedures that had to be observed.
As the guys who were part of his protocol team might confirm, he found all these controls cumbersome. Sometimes he just wanted to be Morgan.
Sometimes he would play a game of cat and mouse with the security chaps, “hide and seek” & they who would run around in panic when they “lost” him! He would laugh the laughter of Morgan (those who know know it) when they found him! It was just a bit of banter.
Nothing serious. On one occasion, when we visited a country he frequented one of the security chaps quietly asked me to “please keep an eye on him”, which was funny because MT also asked me to join “the game”.
I said “Sorry Save, I’m not on your side today!” “Maitwa guard!” he laughed. RIP MT!
CELEBRATING A LEGACY OF LOVE..We lost a peacemaker, doyen of democracy & freedom champion.
My father, mentor and a friend,I salute u for the free leadership mentorship and tutorship. You taught me love, forgiveness, humility, principle, consistency and loyalty. I and we ( all your true mentees) will never be purchased to compromise the PROMISE. The project promise is intact, uncompromisable and underailable.
We will WIN Zimbabwe for change! We are holding tight..Chinhu takabata!! Rest in Power Mdara!
Godisinit chinhu takabata machinja ese achapuhwa korona! Kunagumo kune nyaya Vamira pamuganhu kuti NDI!
Fellow Zimbabweans,on behalf of the family of the Late General Vitalis Musungwa Gava Zvinavashe I wish to convey the following; A post circulating on social media under the moniker COZWVA has announced the presidential candidature of one Ms Edith Chibhamu.What is misleading,offensive and defamatory however is the allegation contained therein that the said Ms Edith Chibhamu is the daughter of the Late General Zvinavashe.This allegation is false and misleading. This press statement is to set the record straight to all members of the public.The Late General Zvinavashe is survived by his wife and 11 children.Ms Edith Chibhamu is not one those children.A cease and desist letter has been sent to the handlers of COZWVA to correct their misleading post.The Zvinavashe family is not privy to and dissociates itself categorically and emphatically from the political ambitions and indeed public and private activities and affairs of Ms Edith Chibhamu.Members of the public are warned that the Zvinavashe family and it’s related entities will not accept any responsibility or liability that may have been or will be caused by or to anyone relying on the misleading statement from COZWVA.
THANK YOU
Dr A.P Zvinavashe (Zvinavashe family’s spokeperson)
By Jane Mlambo| Zimbabwe is finally set to receive its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines early Monday morning at 3am, according to Information Secretary, Nick Mangwana.
Posting on Twitter, Mangwana said vice President who is also the health minister will be at the RG Mugabe Airport to recieve the consignment.
“The plane carrying the first batch of Covid19 vaccine will arrive at the RG Mugabe International Airport tonight (Monday) at 3am. Hon VP and Minister of Health, Gen (Rtd) , Dr CGDN Chiwenga will receive them,” said Mangwana.
He did not specify where the vaccines are coming from but reliable sources confirmed that they are coming from China.
THE Bulawayo City Council will for the first time since January last year put aside its crippling water rationing scheme after its dams received enough water and pumping capacity to sustain the city until the next rainy season.
The council was in January last year forced to introduce a 36-hour water rationing scheme to its residents after some of the supply dams were decommissioned due to reduced levels. The situation deteriorated for most of the year forcing the local authority to introduce a “as and when” water is available water rationing policy resulting in some suburbs going for months without water.
However, since last December the country has been receiving heavy rains with some areas experiencing floods resulting in significant inflows into the city’s supply days. Statistics availed by the council showed that as of Friday, the city’s dams were 55,9 percent full with Insiza Mayfair, with a carrying capacity of 173 491 000 cubic metres being 66,3 percent full. Inyankuni, which has a carrying capacity of 80 781 000 cubic metres is 56,1 percent full and Upper Ncema which has a carrying capacity of 45 458 500 cubic metres is 59,8 percent full.
Mtshabezi, which has a carrying capacity of 51 996 000 cubic metres is pegged at 45,2 percent of its capacity, with Umzingwane with a carrying capacity of 44 663 500 cubic metres being 30,9 percent, full while Lower Ncema which has a carrying capacity of 18 237 700 cubic metres is 38 percent full. Council director of engineering services Engineer Simela Dube said three weeks from now, the city will abandon water rationing and residents will get water daily.
“The coming in of the Flowserve equipment means that the city is now getting an additional 55 megalitres of water per day which will increase our output to almost 145 megalitres per day. It is our target that on 15 February (tomorrow) we will reduce the water shedding further to 72 hours a week. We anticipate that the final solution on the replacement of the faulty valves will be complete by 15 March. It is from that time that we project that the city will be able to provide water continuously and return to the status of being the best city in terms of water delivery.
“History will tell you that we are just one of the three cities in the country that maintained 24-hour water provision over the past six years, apart of the challenges faced in 2019 and 2020. We are now saying we have overcome the challenges with the inflows that have been received in the dams. For now, our dams are able to stretch us to the end of the 2022 rainy season. However, the city will review its water rationing regime at the end of March when the rainy season officially comes to an end,” said Eng Dube.
Last week the local authority started easing the water shedding schedule reverting to the 144-hour schedule and is expected to further improve it to 72 hours a week tomorrow. Meanwhile, Eng Dube has warned that the city will receive an increase in reported leaks as their plumbers now have the added task of opening and shutting water valves as per the new water shedding schedule.
“Because of the challenges of having our plumbers being busy mainly opening and closing valves the city has experienced an increase in leakages, as we stand, we have more than 2 000 leaks that have been reported and that will obviously create a challenge as the leaks will now need to be attended to with urgency. For us to be able to attend to the leaks with urgency, we urge residents to also play their part by at least paying their bills for us to deal with the leaks and the general maintenance of equipment,” said Eng Dube.
Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty.
Our Constitution and our country is more important than any one person. I voted to convict President Trump because he is guilty. pic.twitter.com/ute0xPc4BH
— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 13, 2021
MUTARE: A prominent lawyer here has appeared in court facing charges of assaulting his 65-year-old mother.
Edward Lloyd Mvere (39) appeared before Mutare magistrate Nyasha Kuture facing two charges of domestic violence.
He was remanded to April 1 for trial after being a $6 000 bail.
Prosecutor Tiriwamambo Kangai told the court that last month, Mvere’s mother Veronica Mvere obtained a protection order prohibiting her son from insulting, assaulting, threatening or disturbing her peace.
However, according to the court, Edward, on two separate occasions disregarded the peace order and shouted at the complainant demanding custody of his child.
On February 9, the accused again visited his mother and shouted at her because her mobile phone was not getting through.
He threatened to sell her mother’s household property, harassed her before urging her to report to police.
She then made a police report against her leading to his arrest.
By Hon C Matewu| Travel safe Save … was the last words he said to me as we sat having breakfat at Continental Hotel Bulawayo, in February 2017. Little did i know this would be the very last time i would see him.
I was very fond of him and called him father, hailing from the same Nerutanga tribe in Buhera of the Dziva totem. I always looked up to him for advice. Mr President was very humble and down to earth, soft spoken and extremely caring.
My President loved this country and its people; he cared about the struggling masses and made a determination to better our lives. He did not care about self enrichment or grabbing farms and companies as most who enter the top echelons of power do. He embodied the essence of social democracy, valued solidarity and social justice for all, elimination of poverty was his vision.
He questioned me why i would want to live a promising carrer in England, youngest senior manager at Bournemouth University at the time; to join politics in Zimbabwe. I told him that he himself had sacrificed his life for the freedom of our people, this was the epitome of selflessness and vigor to see a new and prosperous Zimbabwe that caters for all.
President Tsvangirai was NO sellout, after the stolen 2013 elections he big not beg to join Mugabe or ponder to continue enjoying government goodies at the behest of the people. He went back to the trenches as he understood that we were in a struggle not for ourselves but for our people. I learnt from him that you must always be with the people, regardless of any persecutions or riches that are thrown in front of you.
President Tsvangirai remains an icon, a great inspiration and resolute leader who died for our freedom.
Sambiri we will always cherish and love you. We shall continue what you taught us, we will never sleep with the devil for personal gain. We are prepared to die for the sack of your legacy.
By Daniel Molokele| Today, on this 14th February 2021; I would like to take this opportunity to join the rest of our beloved nation in remembering and celebrating the life and legacy of the late Dr. Morgan Richard Tsvangirai.
Our beloved political legend and icon sadly passed away on 14th February 2018.
May this day be never forgotten. Indeed, may this day forever remain as one of the saddest days of our beloved nation.
On my part, I am certainly one of his compatriots who prayed earnestly for him to defeat the prostate cancer that eventually took away his precious life.
I earnestly prayed that he would not just defeat the prostate cancer but also rise up even stronger to lead us into the long promised land of freedom and democracy.
Sadly, this was not meant to be. As fate would have, his brave fight culminated in a devastating defeat. The deadly disease eventually won.
And so on this globally venerated day of love and romance, our undisputed champion for democratic change passed away in South Africa.
Unfortunately, he was unable to finish what many, including me, would have desperately wanted him to do.
Indeed, many of us would have wished him to continue his life-long fight until final victory.
Three years later, we are still struggling to come to terms with this ghastly reality. Our doyen for the struggle for democratic change in our beautiful motherland is no longer with us.
Forever.
But what legacy exactly did Tsvangirai leave for us as he departed to the world yonder?
It is my considered view that Tsvangirai left us one of the richest legacies we could have ever wished for.
According to him, the most important thing that we needed most as a country was to love each other most sincerely.
Not just in word but in deed also.
In this regard, Tsvangirai led us from the front.
To him the talk about us loving each other no matter what, was not mere talk. Neither was it some form of easy political rhetoric.
Tsvangirai exuded love, totally.
He not only loved his own personal family; but he also loved both the members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the broader nation at large.
He was a most genuine lover of humanity.
Throughout his political career, his bitter rival Robert Mugabe and his ZanuPF cohorts consistently labelled him a traitor or sellout.
They called him ugly face.
They physically and criminally harassed him
He had to endure physical violence from both the Zimbabwe Republic Police and ZanuPF
He had to unnecessarily spend so many days in the criminal courts and so many nights in the detention centres like the Chikurubi maximum security prison.
He had to recuperate in hospital beds after being viciously assaulted by the regime-backed militants
He had to fear for his life almost all the time.
He had to face fake treason charges headlong.
He had to flee the country and find refuge in such countries as Botswana
Yet in all this, he never dared to harbour any form of hatred against his violent detractors.
He continued to march on forward; in his unbridled quest for democratic change in his beloved motherland.
Relentlessly.
Indeed, no amount of hatred or politically motivated persecution from Mugabe and his ZanuPF was enough to stir him into an abyss of raw anger and bitterness.
Tsvangirai remained resolute. Tsvangirai remained determined. Tsvangirai remained so loving and caring. Tsvangirai remained willing to forgive and forget.
In all this, he taught us that our love must always defy all the odds against us.
Vincere caritate – conquer with love!
He taught us to conquer evil and hatred with so much unconditional love.
This explains why in 2008, he was more than willing to give up on his personal ambition to become the President of our beautiful motherland.
Political history will record that Tsvangirai won the popular vote, unofficially in 2002 and officially in 2008.
Yet because of his love for his people and beloved country; he chose to accept the apparently politically inferior role of the Office of the Prime Minister.
Political history will record that a truly loving Tsvangirai resolutely declared that he would rather lose out on his personal political ambitions than to walk over dead bodies of fellow Zimbabweans and step over the flowing blood of his dead supporters.
There is no doubt that Tsvangirai really loved his beloved country and wished it to enjoy peace, freedom and democracy.
This is certainly one of his greatest legacies as one of the most outstanding political leaders in the entire history of our beloved country.
But as fate would have it, Tsvangirai sadly passed away without successfully leading us into the long awaited promised land of freedom and democracy.
However, I am so happy that his life-long fight for democratic change was not in vain.
Today, as we commemorate the third full year since his passing away; Tsvangirai’s legacy of love lives on.
Tsvangirai did not leave us leaderless.
Tsvangirai certainly pointed out his successor to all of us.
Tsvangirai passed on the leadership mantle to one of the most consistent and loyal cadres of our movement.
Tsvangirai passed on the leadership baton stick to none other than our dear President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
To put it in a biblical context; if Tsvangirai was our Moses, then Chamisa is certainly our Joshua who has been tasked to finally lead us into our promised land.
Indeed, as we mark our full third year since his passing away, we have absolutely no doubt that Tsvangirai’s legacy of love will continue until final victory.
I for one cannot wait for that day to dawn when the long suffering people of Zimbabwe will finally cross the river Jordan into the long promised land of freedom and democracy.
I want to be there when the people of Zimbabwe celebrate the dawn of freedom and democracy
I want to be there when the long suffering masses of Zimbabwe sing and dance all across the country in celebration of the end of this brutal military regime.
I want to be there when Zimbabwe finally reaches its TRUE potential and step up as one of the most admired and respected countries not just in Africa but across the whole world
I want to be there when our beautiful motherland finally achieves its political destiny and becomes the truly GREAT ZIMBABWE it was always meant to be.
MDC Alliance deputy chairman Job Sikhala has appealed to Glen View South MP Vincent Tsvangirai (MDC-T) to back off and stop picking up fights with “elder” politicians like Jonathan Moyo and Alex Magaisa.
Tsvangirai who replaced her late sister Vimbai as Glen View South legislator penned a hard hitting opinion piece accusing Magaisa and Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya of fighting MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora.
But Sikhala reminded Vincent of the sacrifices he made to campaign for him in Glen View South.
“My beloved young brother Vincent Tsvangirai. You know how much I sacrificed walking all roads door to door in Glen View South for your win. Please take heed of Pedzisai Ruhanya’s advice. Don’t create enemies or become angry on behalf of others. Pedzisai Ruhanya, Jonathan Moyo are adults,” Sikhala appealed.
Sikhala added: “He (Vincent) is young. He needs advice. Fighting people who never provoked you is the most dangerous expedition. He should not be used to fight wars beyond his reach.”
In his reply by a blog article by Alex Magaisa, a Chamisa ally, Vincent Tsvangirai touched a raw nerve when he fingered Magaisa as the rabble rouser in MDC Alliance, also insinuating that Magaisa brought the G40 into Chamisa’s party leading to disenchantment among voters and members.
Tsvangirai also accused Magaisa of being behind his father election defeat to Robert Mugabe in 2013. Magaisa was advisor to Morgan Tsvangirai for a few years ending in 2013.
Ruhanya has since responded to Vincent accusing him of being Mwonzora’s “political toddler”.
Ruhanya further vowed to expose Tsvangirai as a matric dropout who has no academic certificate to his name.
“Douglas Mwonzora has without provocation drawn the battle lines with Alex Magaisa and myself by sending a political toddler whose only qualification is his father’s surname to play games. I receive his invitation with delight and I shall play the game of facts and nothing but facts.
“The first is that Zanu-PF has captured MDC-T and this is public information with facts as clear as a goat’s behind Mwonzora. From expelling MPs, Councillors, to militarily assisted in taking over Harvest, political finances money to being given venue and ZUPCO buses for congress,” Ruhanya said.
By Thomas Madhuku| The family of the late national hero General Vitalis Zvinavashe has dismissed media reports suggesting that Dubai based businesswoman and presidential hopeful Ms Edith Chibhamu is the daughter of the revered military strategist.
According to social media reports, Chibhamu who is also a human rights activist was reported as the late Zvinavashe’s daughter but family spokesperson Dr A P Zvinavashe dismissed the claims as misleading and defamatory.
“A post circulating on social media under the moniker COZWVA has announced the presidential candidature of one Ms Edith Chibhamu. What is misleading,offensive and defamatory however is the allegation contained therein that the said Ms Edith Chibhamu is the daughter of the Late General Zvinavashe.
“This allegation is false and misleading,” said Zvinavashe in a press statement.
He added that the late Zvinavashe is survived by 11 children to which Chibhamu is not one of them.
“The Late General Zvinavashe is survived by his wife and 11 children. Ms Edith Chibhamu is not one those children,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Zvinavashe family has since written to the Children of Zimbabwe War Veterans Association (COZWVA) which made the claims warning them against repeating such misleading reports.
Chibhamu has never shied away from controversy and has had a rough ride in her love life after dating footballer Tendai Ndoro before moving on to Ghanaian former big brother housemate and Zimbabwean socialite Pokelo Nare’s ex husband Elikem Kumordzie.
COMMUNIQUE ON 12/02/2021 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
On the 12th of February 2021, the National Executive Committee of the MDC Alliance met in accordance with the party’s constitution. The meeting was conducted virtually in line with Covid19 protocols.
The Executive received the report of the National Standing Committee and the following matters were deliberated upon:
Elite State Capture: The Executive expressed its concern over the prevalence of cartels in the national economy and the correlation between these and rising cases of corruption that are prejudicing the fiscus of over US$3 billion annually. We call for the establishment of an independent inquiry into the allegations of Elite State Capture against top political elites and Zanu PF factions with a view to ensuring accountability and the creation of a shared, inclusive economy.
Agricultural Season: The Executive considered the mounting challenges with the agricultural season — in particular, the impact of increased rains and flooding, the lack of adequate funding as well as the absence of preparation models that could mean the good rains go to waste. We urge the adoption of the party’s SMART Agriculture blueprint to move the nation from basic subsistence farming, improve productivity and attain a food surplus.
COVID-19 Response: The Executive urged the State to adopt the party’s alternative Covidl9 Response Plan that was recently enunciated by President Nelson Chamisa. In particular, there is need to take into account the livelihoods crisis and mass poverty afflicting most Zimbabweans who rely on the informal economy for survival as well as the prospect of evidence-based zonal lockdowns. We further recommend that the Government publishes its vaccination roll-out plan to ensure transparency and a science-based approach to the planned inoculation.
Governance Crisis: The Executive deliberated on the increased levels of repression, the regression of democracy, authoritarian consolidation and persecution of members of the party, journalists and dissenting voices. The party condemns the closure of democratic space, human rights abuses, wanton arrests and demands the immediate release of student leader, Alan Moyo.
3rd Memorial Anniversary of Morgan Tsvangirai: The Executive acknowledged the 3rd anniversary of Morgan Tsvangirai’s passing. The Executive remembered the role he played in the fight for democracy, his inspiration to the next generation and his historical contribution to a better Zimbabwe. The party takes note of the existing threats to his vision to build an uncompromised, credible and viable alternative government. The party resolved to defend and be the guardians of his legacy and to fulfil his aspiration to win Zimbabwe for change.
Agenda 2021′ Program of Action: The Executive noted the continued attempts by Zanu PF to supplant the MDC Alliance as the credible democratic alternative to their current misrule and the attempts to reconstitute an opposition that is captured, loyal to ZANU PF and a de facto extension of ZANU PF. The MDC Alliance remains committed to the need to push for a political and economic reforms roadmap that is time bound. The Executive resolved to continue to champion the cause of the Zimbabwean people, be the legitimate voice of the suffering masses and form a broad front to return the country to legitimacy and democracy. The party’sAgenda 2021′ program of action will be announced in due course.
B. Continental and Global Matters
Uganda: The Executive deliberated upon the election outcome in Uganda and expressed concern over rising human rights abuses and state-sponsored violence perpetrated against members of the opposition. We call upon regional bodies to reject the outcomes of rigged elections and act in conformity with established African Union standards for elections. We urge the courts in Uganda to act fairly and impartially in their determination of the election petition.
Ghana: The Executive took note of the electoral dispute in Ghana. We call upon state institutions to be professional and fair in resolving the outstanding issues.
United States: The Executive acknowledged the election outcome in the United States and underlined the importance of predictable processes and strong institutions in ensuring a legitimate transfer of power.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Zimbabwe is the most corrupt country in the world.
Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is accused of protecting corrupt individuals.
“Zimbabwe has now become the most corrupt country in the world .
Cartels long ago took over Zimbabwe. Our work in the Public Accounts Committee has exposed this : Zimbabwe: Explosive cartel report uncovers the anatomy,” Hon Biti argued.
Hon Biti also argued Mnangagwa’s administration does not have a proper plan to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic:
“Other governments established Covid 19 Task Forces made up of experts.They advised their governments on key protocols .
The @WHO has provided massive help to fragile States . Despite the tragedies&the deaths the Regime in Harare has no plan,no clue on COVID 19 vaccines #Pathetic.”
Government has ordered boarding schools across the country to cut down on their intake for this year to allow for social distancing among learners.
The order will come as another knock to the hundreds of boarding schools in the country which are reeling under the effects of COVID-19-induced closures and disruption of the education calendar.
The Primary and Secondary Education ministry has conveyed the new directive in memos sent to district schools inspectors and heads on Thursday as schools prepare to enrol Form One students after the release of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council 2020 Grade Seven results two weeks ago.
One such memo, seen by the NewsDay Weekender, was communicated to all schools in the Midlands province by provincial education director (PED), Jameson Machimbira.
Referenced “Call to reduce 2021 boarding enrolment to comply with COVID-19 management protocol in boarding facilities in the Midlands province”, it read: “Having experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 in some boarding facilities in 2020, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has resolved to improve compliance of boarding facilities in observing WHO and the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
“Heads are, therefore, advised to strictly adhere to the number that can be allowable in the boarding facilities when recruiting 2021 boarders. As a guide, new boarder recruits for 2021 should significantly be less than 2020 boarder recruits. To ensure compliance, officers from both the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Ministry of Health and Child Care shall move to boarding schools monitoring observance of COVID-19 guidelines and compliance to boarding capacity measures.”
Machimbira warned that non-compliant schools “shall have their boarding facilities closed and only be allowed to open after complying with set guidelines.”
Several school heads and oversight authorities in Masvingo and other provinces also confirmed receiving the new directive, which has left them in a quandary.
Contacted for comment, Education ministry deputy spokesperson Patrick Zumbo said: “Am not sure of the numbers that you are talking about. We have to check.
By A Correspondent- Two armed robbery suspects who allegedly pounced on an airtime vendor in Mutare and got away with his vehicle and money were arrested while planning to execute another heist in Rusape.
The duo, Howard Dengure (31) of Nyazura and Evans Ndofa (24) of Bikita appeared before Mutare magistrate, Miss Prisca Manhibi, facing armed robbery charges.
They were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court as they are facing a third schedule offence.
Mr Tiriwamambo Kangai prosecuted.
It is alleged that on January 28, the complainant, Edmore Muzama (35) who operates at Sakubva Musika, was hired by the suspects for a trip to Dangamvura Shopping Complex.
The suspects were linked to Muzama by an illegal foreign currency dealer only identified as Jimmy.
They agreed on US$15 for the trip and paid up.
But just after Mukwena Business Centre in Dangamvura, the suspects told Muzama that they had reached their destination and told him to stop the car.
As soon as Muzama stopped the vehicle, the duo ordered him to surrender everything he had. One of the them pointed a pistol at him.
Muzama jumped out of the vehicle, leaving the engine running.
He wrestled with one of the robbers outside and shouted for help but no one heard him. The robbers overpowered him and drove off in his vehicle, leaving him at the crime scene.
The complainant lost a cellphone worth $38 500, airtime recharge cards valued at $49 500. Muzama made a report at Dangamvura Alpha Base.
On February 1, detectives received a tip-off that the suspects had planned to commit another robbery in Chiendambuya, Rusape.
The following day, detectives raided the suspects at Dengure homestead in Makoni.
A Taurus pistol without a magazine was recovered during their arrest.
The suspects were interviewed and they admitted that they had robbed the vendor. They were taken to Mutare for indications.
It was also discovered that one of the suspects had given some of the airtime vouchers to his girlfriend in Masvingo.-manicapost
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance official, Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva has urged jailed human rights activist and student Alan Moyo to remain strong as Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration continues to persecute him.
Alan Moyo was arrested for challenging Zanu PF brutality and failure to resolve the deepening economic crisis.
“Dear young Alan Moyo We all know you didn’t commit a crime that deserves this long incarceration.
My appeal to you is just to remain strong and soon or later the regime is going to fall.
The regime cannot go unchallenged as it does this to a generation that commands the majority
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance official, Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva has urged jailed human rights activist and student Alan Moyo to remain strong as Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration continues to persecute him.
Alan Moyo was arrested for challenging Zanu PF brutality and failure to resolve the deepening economic crisis.
“Dear young Alan Moyo We all know you didn’t commit a crime that deserves this long incarceration.
My appeal to you is just to remain strong and soon or later the regime is going to fall.
The regime cannot go unchallenged as it does this to a generation that commands the majority
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Zimbabwe is the most corrupt country in the world.
Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is accused of protecting corrupt individuals.
“Zimbabwe has now become the most corrupt country in the world .
Cartels long ago took over Zimbabwe. Our work in the Public Accounts Committee has exposed this : Zimbabwe: Explosive cartel report uncovers the anatomy,” Hon Biti argued.
Hon Biti also argued Mnangagwa’s administration does not have a proper plan to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic:
“Other governments established Covid 19 Task Forces made up of experts.They advised their governments on key protocols .
The @WHO has provided massive help to fragile States . Despite the tragedies&the deaths the Regime in Harare has no plan,no clue on COVID 19 vaccines #Pathetic.”
Harare City Council director of works Engineer Zvenyika Chawatama, who has been on the run after escaping a high-speed police chase, last week mysteriously filed leave forms with the Town Clerk’s office.
Zvenyika Chawatama…
Police on Friday insisted that they are still hunting for Chawatama for allegedly appointing himself as Town Clerk following last year’s suspension of substantive Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango on allegations of illegally selling residential stands.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi maintained that Chawatama was on the wanted list.
“He has not yet been found, investigations are ongoing and once he has been arrested we will let you know,” Asst Comm Nyathi told The Sunday Mail.
Sources at council said Chawatama filed the leave forms to avoid being charged with absenteeism.
“An emissary brought in the papers and we were surprised because this is someone who is said to be in hiding. It’s obvious that while hiding wherever he is, he is trying to be smart and avoid being charged for absence from duty. But something is fishy here, it’s strange for a runaway to pull off such a stunt.”
Initial investigations by The Sunday Mail indicated that Chawatama’s personal assistant Ms Jackie Chikomwe had filed the leave forms.
But in an interview with this paper, Ms Chikomwe denied filing the forms, saying Chawatama himself had brought the papers.
“Engineer Chawatama filed the leave forms himself because they actually need his signature and no one can do that for him,” she said.
“He is not running away from anyone, we only hear that from the media. He signed and brought in the leave forms himself. We only hear that he is on the run from you the media people.”
Sources said Chawatama could be getting protection from “high offices” within and outside of council..
Last week, Harare City Council’s Health Services director Dr Prosper Chonzi, who briefly served as Town Clerk before declining the post, told The Sunday Mail that Chawatama had indeed filed the leave forms.
“I was away and when I returned, the leave forms, in which he is asking to be away until the end of the month were indeed there,” he said.
“He has not come in here physically because at his level he can send a personal assistant to do that. I have spoken to him over the phone, and he says he is alright, but I do not know where he is at the moment.”
Dr Chonzi last week wrote to Acting Mayor Stewart Mutizwa declining his appointment to the position of Acting Town Clerk saying it does not align with his competences.
In the letter, Dr Chonzi said he would serve better in the health department especially at a time when the country is preparing to roll out the Covid-19 vaccine.
A fortnight ago, Chawatama dramatically evaded arrest when he heard word of police’s arrival at Town House.
Reports say upon police’s arrival, Chawatama raced into the car park, jumped into an MP300 vehicle with the city council logo, and sped off at high speed. The police team gave chase but could not catch up with him along Simon Mazorodze and Chitungwiza roads. Repeated efforts to contact Chawatama on his mobile number were fruitless. -Sunday Mail
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | Corruption kills more than Corona-virus.
The new dispensation has ushered in several ways of fighting corruption. Corruption breeds deceitfulness lies mistrust and it is evil. It has been said corruption started at birth when your sibling says “Ndini ndakakusira mukaka” when it took chilli Piri Piri to drag him off the milk.
So corruption brings patronisation. Its effects are very real. Corruption stops medicine and drugs from reaching the sick, stops schools from being built, leads to roads washing away in the rain, and empties the public coffers. … Most importantly, corruption breaks the trust between the citizens and the state that is critical for development to work.
Corruption and international perceptions of corruption in Zimbabwe has been damaging to the country’s reputation and has created obstacles to local and foreign direct investment, flows to the stock market, global competitiveness, economic growth and has ultimately distorted the development and upliftment of our economy.
In trying to deal with this pandemic, the President of Zimbabwe came up with a double edged sharp sword to deal with corruption. He promoted the work of ZACC which is led by Loice Matanda Moyo the widow of the national hero SB Moyo. Just like her late husband Matanda Moyo has fearlessly faced corruption. It must be known that fighting corruption is a dangerous game.
Many fighters of corruption have died with hands on the plough and some were framed and ended up in prisons. Corruption is indeed a brutal cruel enemy. With the advent of technology corruption has become very difficult to fish out and prosecute.
To this end President Emerson Mnangagwa established SACU Special Anti Corruption Unity which is led by the bull fighter, Thabani Vusa Mpofu.
The Special Anti-Corruption Unit is a government organisation or department housed in the Office of the President and Cabinet to improve efficiency in the fight against all forms of corruption and to strengthen the effectiveness of national mechanisms for the prevention of corruption.
SACU was established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018 not as a competitor of ZACC but to consolidate and supplement the efforts of ZAAC. Where ZACC misses SACU sweeps. So SACU works with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and other such institutions in the fight against corruption.
The Judicial Service Commission, in support of Government policy on the fight against corruption, has also established specialised anti-corruption courts. Inspite of all these efforts the National Prosecuting Authority made meaningful progress in the prosecution of these cases before the courts. The President noted the concern by the Prosecutor General that the National Prosecuting Authority lacks the human capacity to effectively prosecute these matters. The Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs therefore recommended that a Special Unit be constituted to give effect to the policy pronouncement by the President to fight against corruption.
SACU is born of one objective to fight corruption by improving efficiency in the fight against all forms of corruption and to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the national mechanisms for the prevention and fight against corruption in accordance with the anti-corruption strategy. This goal is critical in view of the fact that the President has articulated zero tolerance to all forms of corruption and the need to expeditiously prosecute all such cases.
The team as headed by TV Mpofu , a renowned lawyer and former State prosecutor, heads the six-member team that also includes lawyers from Government, private practice and experienced prosecutors. These are Mr Thabani Mpofu (SACU) – Director Mr Brian Vito or simply Mukoma Vito a ver senior prosecutor a very soft spoken but effective no nonsense fighter. Vito is known for his flashing smile which lightens the path of it comes dark and heavy. Other members are Mr Tapiwa Godzi Mr Mike Chakandida Mr Zivanai Macharaga and Ms Vernanda Chakandida.
This team brooks no nonsense in their work. They wake up everyday knowing very well that the day can end up with them as victims since the war against corruption is bloody one.
The President of Zimbabwe considers corruption a major challenge to Zimbabwe’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty by 2030 and boosting shared prosperity for the poorest 40 percent of people in the country. Corruption has a disproportionate impact on the poor and most vulnerable, increasing costs and reducing access to services, including health, education and justice.
Corruption in the procurement of drugs and medical equipment drives up costs and can lead to sub-standard or harmful products. The human costs of counterfeit drugs and vaccinations on health outcomes and the life-long impacts on children far exceed the financial costs. Unofficial payments for services can have a particularly pernicious effect on poor people.
Empirical studies have shown that the poor pay the highest percentage of their income in bribes. Some studies have suggested that the poor may even be preyed upon since they are seen as powerless to complain. Every stolen or misdirected dollar, robs the poor of an equal opportunity in life and prevents governments from investing in their human capital.
Corruption erodes trust in government and undermines the social contract. This is cause for concern across the globe, but particularly in contexts of fragility and violence, as corruption fuels and perpetuates the inequalities and discontent that lead to fragility, violent extremism, and conflict. Corruption impedes investment, with consequent effects on growth and jobs. Zimbabwe under ED as the president is affectionately known is capable of confronting corruption use the human and financial resources more efficiently, attract more investment, and grow more rapidly. To this end Thabani Mpofu the fighter not Thabani the Advocate of destruction has been given the opportunity to nab the thugs in our midst.
Since July 2020 43 arrests with 29 trial dates have been achieved.
Thabani Mpofu has a strong conviction that “Corruption affects us all. It threatens sustainable economic development, ethical values and justice; it destabilises our society and endangers the rule of law. It undermines the institutions and values of our democracy” But because public policies and public resources are largely beneficial to poor people, it is they who suffer the harmful effects of corruption most grievously. To be dependent on the government for housing, healthcare, education, security and welfare, makes the poor most vulnerable to corruption since it stalls service delivery. Delays in infrastructure development, poor building quality and layers of additional costs are all consequences of corruption. Many acts of corruption deprive our citizens of their constitutional and their human rights.” Bemoans TV Mpofu. It is to this end that SACU will stand and fight even though faced with serious revulsion from many detractors.
We must remember that even the trusted high ranking ministers can be corrupt. These are the most dangerous people in the fight of corruption. They use the name of the President in their night escapades. They use their pockets to put down any investigation against them. They bad mouth the corruption fighters so that the dilute the fighting spirit in these gallant fighters. SACU recognizes that corruption comes in different forms. It might impact service delivery, such as when an official asks for bribes to perform routine services. Corruption might unfairly determine the winners of government contracts, with awards favoring friends, relatives, or business associates of government officials. Or it might come in the form of state capture, distorting how institutions work and who controls them, a form of corruption that is often the costliest in terms of overall economic impact. Each type of corruption is important and tackling all of them is critical to achieving progress and sustainable change.
Making inroads against corruption often requires determined efforts to overcome vested interests.
When popular disaffection with corruption and cronyism reaches a boiling point, the political rewards to addressing corruption can exceed the costs of upsetting interests. Short of sweeping reform efforts, progress can be achieved through better and more open processes, professional accountability systems, and the use of the latest advanced technologies to capture, analyze, and share data to prevent, detect, and deter corrupt behaviour.
Through hard work by those in SACU CID director Commissioner Chrispen Charumbira was arrested on 24 September 2020 on allegations of accepting protection money from drug and gold dealers to stop criminal investigations. He was arrested by the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (Sacu) after seven of his junior officers alleged he had been interfering with their duties by protecting drug and gold dealers after accepting bundles of US dollars in protection money.
Prosecuting corruption cases is not an easy thing. The evidence is complicated and witnesses are either bribed or threatened. The investigators are threatened or set up and framed.
Every successful prosecution of a corruption case has a bruised and destroyed investigator. Despite all those challenges SACU officers do understand that they are in a war and coming out alive is a blessing. Each day is a challenge but each challenge needs the support of everyone.
Help fight corruption. Those who refuse to help are like those who see another drilling a hole in a boat. If the hole allows in water the whole boat will capsize sinking deeper in the sea with the silent ones as casualties. It is only during CORONA that you cover your mouth. But in corruption please speak up. We are all in danger if you keep silent.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Zimbabwe is the most corrupt country in the world.
Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is accused of protecting corrupt individuals.
“Zimbabwe has now become the most corrupt country in the world .
Cartels long ago took over Zimbabwe. Our work in the Public Accounts Committee has exposed this : Zimbabwe: Explosive cartel report uncovers the anatomy,” Hon Biti argued.
Hon Biti also argued Mnangagwa’s administration does not have a proper plan to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic:
“Other governments established Covid 19 Task Forces made up of experts.They advised their governments on key protocols .
The @WHO has provided massive help to fragile States . Despite the tragedies&the deaths the Regime in Harare has no plan,no clue on COVID 19 vaccines #Pathetic.”
Bingo! The much-awaited roll out plan for COVID-19 vaccine is now here, so let’s be brief! Essential elements announced by the ministry of Health and Childcare include:
*• *All eligible members of the Zimbabwean population will be vaccinated FREE OF CHARGE.
• A total of 800 000 doses will arrive next week from the People’s Republic of China. A quarter of those doses is a donation and the balance was purchased.
• We are getting the Sinopharm vaccine, with efficacy rates of 76-86% according to trials done by the Chinese.
• Negotiations to acquire the Russian Sputnik V vaccine are at an advanced stage.
• Other vaccine sources and facilities are being examined.
• The first group to receive the vaccine will be front line workers who include health workers; ZIMRA, Customs, Immigration and other ports of entry personnel; funeral parlour workers, security personnel, and village health workers.
The plan is in the public domain and I will not lay all of it out here. Some more detail is required to make the plan implementable, and we do hope the detail is on its way. We need to know the size of each target population in all the phases of vaccination, e.g. how many health care workers are we targeting?
When we say security, how many people are those (are we referring to the uniformed forces?), etc.
There are a few important aspects to consider when selecting a vaccine: these include vaccine efficacy, safety, cost, and accessibility (can we lay our hands on the vaccine?). We do hope that government has put in place robust mechanisms of tracking the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine in Zimbabwe. Within the first six weeks of commencement of vaccination, we should know what the efficacy of the vaccine is in our own setting, considering the emergence of various mutants of the virus.
We also hope that government will soon tell us whether or not we have the South African variant here, and any other variants that may exist. Before we amass large quantities of the Sinopharm vaccine, we need to borrow a leaf from the South African experience and ascertain the level of efficacy of the vaccine quite early in our effort.
In its favour, the Sinopharm vaccine has a lot of positives. It is produced using time-tested methods. It is made from inactivated (i.e. killed) COVID-19 virus. There are many other vaccines already in use, which are produced by similar technologies, like the flu and polio vaccines. These vaccines are generally safe and should not cause much controversy. It is stored at the usual temperatures we already employ in our expanded program on immunization, i.e. 2-8oC. and does not require cold chain conditions different from what we already have. Supply is not likely to be problematic, as long as we can pay for it. I am sure the Chinese are well able to produce the vaccine in massive quantities.
Lastly, the vaccine should generally be cheaper than vaccines made from newer technologies. It will be helpful, in the interests of transparency, for government to tell us what we are paying for this vaccine in terms of cost.
As a last word, Zimbabweans are tired of institutionalized corruption particularly in the area of procurement. We hope the government will do this one important thing correctly this time and save thousands of lives. We are currently counting the cost of this pandemic in terms of deaths only. We have not started collating data on long-term disability caused by COVID-19, as other countries are doing.
We also have not heard reports from our paediatricians on whether young children are suffering any delayed complications as has been reported in the literature in other countries. It is a story in the making and we need to diligently deploy all resources available to the fight against COVID-19.
COVID-19 is no respecter of persons. Let us remember to wash our hands, sanitise, stay at home unless it is vitally important for you to go out, avoid funerals, parties and other super spreader events.
Dr Henry Madzorera Secretary for Health and Child Welfare MDC Alliance
Bingo! The much-awaited roll out plan for COVID-19 vaccine is now here, so let’s be brief! Essential elements announced by the ministry of Health and Childcare include:
*• *All eligible members of the Zimbabwean population will be vaccinated FREE OF CHARGE.
• A total of 800 000 doses will arrive next week from the People’s Republic of China. A quarter of those doses is a donation and the balance was purchased.
• We are getting the Sinopharm vaccine, with efficacy rates of 76-86% according to trials done by the Chinese.
• Negotiations to acquire the Russian Sputnik V vaccine are at an advanced stage.
• Other vaccine sources and facilities are being examined.
• The first group to receive the vaccine will be front line workers who include health workers; ZIMRA, Customs, Immigration and other ports of entry personnel; funeral parlour workers, security personnel, and village health workers.
The plan is in the public domain and I will not lay all of it out here. Some more detail is required to make the plan implementable, and we do hope the detail is on its way. We need to know the size of each target population in all the phases of vaccination, e.g. how many health care workers are we targeting?
When we say security, how many people are those (are we referring to the uniformed forces?), etc.
There are a few important aspects to consider when selecting a vaccine: these include vaccine efficacy, safety, cost, and accessibility (can we lay our hands on the vaccine?). We do hope that government has put in place robust mechanisms of tracking the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine in Zimbabwe. Within the first six weeks of commencement of vaccination, we should know what the efficacy of the vaccine is in our own setting, considering the emergence of various mutants of the virus.
We also hope that government will soon tell us whether or not we have the South African variant here, and any other variants that may exist. Before we amass large quantities of the Sinopharm vaccine, we need to borrow a leaf from the South African experience and ascertain the level of efficacy of the vaccine quite early in our effort.
In its favour, the Sinopharm vaccine has a lot of positives. It is produced using time-tested methods. It is made from inactivated (i.e. killed) COVID-19 virus. There are many other vaccines already in use, which are produced by similar technologies, like the flu and polio vaccines. These vaccines are generally safe and should not cause much controversy. It is stored at the usual temperatures we already employ in our expanded program on immunization, i.e. 2-8oC. and does not require cold chain conditions different from what we already have. Supply is not likely to be problematic, as long as we can pay for it. I am sure the Chinese are well able to produce the vaccine in massive quantities.
Lastly, the vaccine should generally be cheaper than vaccines made from newer technologies. It will be helpful, in the interests of transparency, for government to tell us what we are paying for this vaccine in terms of cost.
As a last word, Zimbabweans are tired of institutionalized corruption particularly in the area of procurement. We hope the government will do this one important thing correctly this time and save thousands of lives. We are currently counting the cost of this pandemic in terms of deaths only. We have not started collating data on long-term disability caused by COVID-19, as other countries are doing.
We also have not heard reports from our paediatricians on whether young children are suffering any delayed complications as has been reported in the literature in other countries. It is a story in the making and we need to diligently deploy all resources available to the fight against COVID-19.
COVID-19 is no respecter of persons. Let us remember to wash our hands, sanitise, stay at home unless it is vitally important for you to go out, avoid funerals, parties and other super spreader events.
Dr Henry Madzorera Secretary for Health and Child Welfare MDC Alliance
Warriors striker Tinotenda Kadewere is among the current top ten African scorers in Europe’s top five leagues.
The 25-year old Lyon star has netted nine goals and assisted three times in twenty three appearances this season.
He is tied on the same tally with a couple of players that include Crystal Palace striker Wilfred Zaha, Lens’ Gael Kakuta and M’Bala Nzola of Spezia who is the only star on the list from the Italian Serie A.
Kadewere’s attacking partner at Lyon, Toko Ekambi of Cameroon, is also among the top scorers.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is tops the list with sixteen goals.
Chief Mafu passed on today in Filabusi. The people of Filabusi, the People of Godhlwayo , Matebeland and indeed the whole country are in deep mourning.
The MDC Alliance mourns with Chief Mafu s family and the totality of the people of the Mafu Chieftainship, the Chiefs Council and the traditional leadership fraternity. We are the poorer with the departure of our esteemed doyen of traditional leadership and preservation of our culture of Ubuntu.
We take comfort in the knowledge that he served the people well both for the upliftment of their livelihoods, cultivating and sustaining harmony, peace and tolerance in his area of jurisdiction. We can’t expect more from our traditional leaders , the very stores of our value of Unbuntu.
As we mourn the passing of Chief Chief Mafu, we cherish his quest to push for development of SMART Villages whose building blocks are SMART homes. These are sustainable and Modernising homes and viallges. Chief Mafu insisted on homes with improved housing, sanitation facilities, accessible water sources and special and protected areas for grazing of livestock. Indeed he fought tirelessly for conservation of wetlands in his area . He also stood firm for responsible mining of gold in his area. Indeed he offered all round leadership in his area.
Accordingly, we ask government to support chiefs of Chief Mafu’ s ilk if we want to intensively develop the rural areas in the areas of housing, sanitation, natural resource conservation and so that these rural areas can contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
We implore other traditional leaders to take a leaf from Chief Mafu’s rule book to avoid partisanship in running their chieftainships and to refuse to be drawn into party politics and to serve all equitably
The people of Filabusi and the MDC Alliance say Rest In Peace Chief Mafu. Rest in Peace Godlwayo omnyama, umahlabayitwale.
Sesel Zvidzai Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development
SuperSport United Chief Executive Officer Stan Matthews has made a dramatic u-turn on the future of Evans Rusike by telling the Warriors striker to either start scoring goals or risk being sold.
Matthews’s comments come barely a week after he declared that the 30-year-old isn’t for sale, amid reported interest from Maritzburg United.
Rusike’s tenure at Matsatsantsa has been marred by nagging injuries and the Zimbabwean is currently playing second fiddle to on-fire Bradley Grobbler.
Matthews now insists he needs to up his game if he wants to remain at the Pretoria-based outfit.
“Evans knows his option comes up this year and for sure if Evans doesn’t bang in goals or making goals I am not going to keep him,” Matthews told South African publication The Sowetan.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance official, Happymore “Bvondo” Chidziva has urged jailed human rights activist and student Alan Moyo to remain strong as Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration continues to persecute him.
Alan Moyo was arrested for challenging Zanu PF brutality and failure to resolve the deepening economic crisis.
“Dear young Alan Moyo We all know you didn’t commit a crime that deserves this long incarceration.
My appeal to you is just to remain strong and soon or later the regime is going to fall.
The regime cannot go unchallenged as it does this to a generation that commands the majority
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Zimbabwe is the most corrupt country in the world.
Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is accused of protecting corrupt individuals.
“Zimbabwe has now become the most corrupt country in the world .
Cartels long ago took over Zimbabwe. Our work in the Public Accounts Committee has exposed this : Zimbabwe: Explosive cartel report uncovers the anatomy,” Hon Biti argued.
Hon Biti also argued Mnangagwa’s administration does not have a proper plan to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic:
“Other governments established Covid 19 Task Forces made up of experts.They advised their governments on key protocols .
The @WHO has provided massive help to fragile States . Despite the tragedies&the deaths the Regime in Harare has no plan,no clue on COVID 19 vaccines #Pathetic.”
2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers (YHCW) in appreciation and gratitude for their unwavering dedication in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO is launching a year-long campaign, under the theme – Protect. Invest. Together. It highlights the urgent need to invest in health workers for shared dividends in health, jobs, economic opportunity and equity.
This year, we are calling on your support and action to ensure that our health and care workforces are supported, protected, motivated and equipped to deliver safe health care at all times, not only during COVID-19. Today, we ask that you to add your voice to those calling for additional investments in health and care workers.
Campaign objectives
Ensure the world’s health and care workers are prioritised for the COVID-19 vaccine in the first 100 days of 2021.
Recognize and commemorate all health and care workers who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
Mobilize commitments from Member States, International Financing Institutions, bilateral and philanthropic partners to protect and invest in health and care workers to accelerate the attainment of the SDGs and COVID-19 recovery.
Engage Member States and all relevant stakeholders in dialogue on a care compact to protect health and care workers’ rights, decent work and practice environments.
Figure Bring together communities, influencers, political and social support in solidarity, advocacy and care for health and care workers.
Source: WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has said Zimbabwe is the most corrupt country in the world.
Emmerson Mnangagwa himself is accused of protecting corrupt individuals.
“Zimbabwe has now become the most corrupt country in the world .
Cartels long ago took over Zimbabwe. Our work in the Public Accounts Committee has exposed this : Zimbabwe: Explosive cartel report uncovers the anatomy,” Hon Biti argued.
Hon Biti also argued Mnangagwa’s administration does not have a proper plan to curb the spread of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic:
“Other governments established Covid 19 Task Forces made up of experts.They advised their governments on key protocols .
The @WHO has provided massive help to fragile States . Despite the tragedies&the deaths the Regime in Harare has no plan,no clue on COVID 19 vaccines #Pathetic.”
Bingo! The much-awaited roll out plan for COVID-19 vaccine is now here, so let’s be brief! Essential elements announced by the ministry of Health and Childcare include:
*• *All eligible members of the Zimbabwean population will be vaccinated FREE OF CHARGE.
• A total of 800 000 doses will arrive next week from the People’s Republic of China. A quarter of those doses is a donation and the balance was purchased.
• We are getting the Sinopharm vaccine, with efficacy rates of 76-86% according to trials done by the Chinese.
• Negotiations to acquire the Russian Sputnik V vaccine are at an advanced stage.
• Other vaccine sources and facilities are being examined.
• The first group to receive the vaccine will be front line workers who include health workers; ZIMRA, Customs, Immigration and other ports of entry personnel; funeral parlour workers, security personnel, and village health workers.
The plan is in the public domain and I will not lay all of it out here. Some more detail is required to make the plan implementable, and we do hope the detail is on its way. We need to know the size of each target population in all the phases of vaccination, e.g. how many health care workers are we targeting?
When we say security, how many people are those (are we referring to the uniformed forces?), etc.
There are a few important aspects to consider when selecting a vaccine: these include vaccine efficacy, safety, cost, and accessibility (can we lay our hands on the vaccine?). We do hope that government has put in place robust mechanisms of tracking the efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine in Zimbabwe. Within the first six weeks of commencement of vaccination, we should know what the efficacy of the vaccine is in our own setting, considering the emergence of various mutants of the virus.
We also hope that government will soon tell us whether or not we have the South African variant here, and any other variants that may exist. Before we amass large quantities of the Sinopharm vaccine, we need to borrow a leaf from the South African experience and ascertain the level of efficacy of the vaccine quite early in our effort.
In its favour, the Sinopharm vaccine has a lot of positives. It is produced using time-tested methods. It is made from inactivated (i.e. killed) COVID-19 virus. There are many other vaccines already in use, which are produced by similar technologies, like the flu and polio vaccines. These vaccines are generally safe and should not cause much controversy. It is stored at the usual temperatures we already employ in our expanded program on immunization, i.e. 2-8oC. and does not require cold chain conditions different from what we already have. Supply is not likely to be problematic, as long as we can pay for it. I am sure the Chinese are well able to produce the vaccine in massive quantities.
Lastly, the vaccine should generally be cheaper than vaccines made from newer technologies. It will be helpful, in the interests of transparency, for government to tell us what we are paying for this vaccine in terms of cost.
As a last word, Zimbabweans are tired of institutionalized corruption particularly in the area of procurement. We hope the government will do this one important thing correctly this time and save thousands of lives. We are currently counting the cost of this pandemic in terms of deaths only. We have not started collating data on long-term disability caused by COVID-19, as other countries are doing.
We also have not heard reports from our paediatricians on whether young children are suffering any delayed complications as has been reported in the literature in other countries. It is a story in the making and we need to diligently deploy all resources available to the fight against COVID-19.
COVID-19 is no respecter of persons. Let us remember to wash our hands, sanitise, stay at home unless it is vitally important for you to go out, avoid funerals, parties and other super spreader events.
Dr Henry Madzorera Secretary for Health and Child Welfare MDC Alliance
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man hanged himself on Tuesday over mounting debts which he claimed in his suicide note had sunk him into abject poverty.
Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday confirmed the death of Collin Jere (42).
“We are investigating a case of sudden death which occurred on Tuesday in Waterford,” Ncube said.
“The now-deceased Collin Jere (42) was an employee at TV Sales & Hire. Circumstances are that on February 9, Jere was with his wife aged 39 at their home at Waterford when he went out of the house to get fresh air.”
Ncube said Jere’s wife made a report to police after her husband failed to return home and a search was conducted.
He was later found hanging from a tree with an armoured cable in the neighbourhood the following day.
A report was made to police who attended the scene and recovered the suicide note.
“I regret doing this but I am overwhelmed with debts which are beyond me,” part of the note read.
“I have caused unexplainable pain to my wife, kids and relatives.
“I have sunk beyond retrieval. For everybody who is going to be affected by this, my sincere apologies. I am too weak to handle the pressure. I have caused too much pain to my landlord. I am out, C Jere.”
By A Correspondent- A teacher at a secondary school in Ruwa was recently arrested for allegedly raping a pupil after conducting private lessons.
Soon after conducting the private lessons, the teacher requested to walk the 15 year old girl home and along the way, the teacher allegedly pulled the girl into a maize field and raped her.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying: “The teacher was conducting private lessons with some students. After he had finished around 5pm, he asked the girl to walk with him as they went home.
“Allegations are that along the way, he pulled her into a maize field and raped her.”
In a related matter, a 14-year-old Chitungwiza girl was raped by a motorist who had offered her a lift on her way from school in December.
“After the girl got into the vehicle, the driver took her to a bush where he raped her. The girl did not disclose the matter until this month when she realised she was pregnant,” Ass Comm Nyathi said.
He said the perpetrator had been identified and was being sought.
Ass Comm Nyathi warned parents against trusting strangers who offered private lessons to their children.
He also warned those defying Covid-19 regulations that they would be arrested and urged the public to avoid boarding private vehicles and Mushikashikas.-statemedia
University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student and pro-democracy campaigner Allan Moyo, who has spent 67 days in detention for allegedly calling for a revolt against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government will once again make a fresh freedom bid at the High Court after three judicial officers denied him bail in the past two months.
Moyo has been in remand prison after he was arrested on Monday 7 December 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police 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.
Prosecutors claim that the 23 year-old Moyo, who is represented by Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, incited some commuters on 3 July 2020 at Copacabana bus terminus in Harare when he addressed and told them that the time to stage a revolt against President Mnangagwa’s administration in Zimbabwe was conducive as the ZANU PF party leader has failed the people of Zimbabwe.
Prosecutors also alleged that Moyo told commuters that President Mnangagwa’s government was not capable of presiding over the country’s affairs as it has presided over the suffering of people in Zimbabwe.
First to deny Moyo bail in December 2020 was Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga before High Court Judge Justice Davison Foroma dismissed his bail appeal on Thursday 28 January 2021 after ruling that the UZ student’s ground of appeal was defective.
On Tuesday 9 February 2021, Harare Magistrate Barbra Mateko also dismissed Moyo’s bail application, which had been filed by Shava based on changed circumstances. Magistrate Mateko ruled that nothing had changed from the initial period when Moyo was denied bail in December 2020.
By A Correspondent- A group of people suspected to be MDC Alliance youth activists today staged a flash demo at Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Offices demanding that the elections body hold by-elections to replace lawmakers that were recalled or those that died.
According to ZimLive, the activist had placards written:
If Uganda voted in Covid why not us?
By-Elections Now
Stop Corruption, Not By-elections
Diaspora remits, give them the vote.
Chigumba Nyarawo (Chigumba be ashamed of your actions)
No reports of arrest have been recorded during or after the flash demo so far. In November last year, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the by-elections will remain suspended as the government focuses on fighting COVID-19.
The MDC T over the course of 10 months recalled over 30 MDC Alliance legislators and over 50 councilors countrywide after the Supreme court said Nelson Chamisa was not the legitimate leader of the MDC T.
By A Correspondent- Elephants are reportedly terrorizing residents of Beitbridge as they are reportedly extensively destroying crops various sources have confirmed.
According to Beitbridge East legislator Albert Nguluvhe, the jumbos and their activities in the region are threatening the area’s number harvest: To tell you the truth, it is going to affect the good harvests we were expecting this season. I think it is high time a permanent solution is found
Why not push them back to the national game parks like Gonarazhou? These elephants don’t add any value to the people in my constituency. No hunters or tourists come to watch them. Instead they have brought destruction and fear to the people.
A district development committee said if the jumbos are not stopped they will totally wipe out residents and villager’s crops:
There are several areas where the presence of these animals has been reported. They will completely destroy crops.
Beitbridge was expecting a bumper harvest due to the rains received this year. Meanwhile, in the Lesanth area villagers are complaining about lions that are killing their livestock.
I am writing you this letter with tears in my eyes. Ny heart is bleeding because i am a parent who bore children. As the old adage goes that “mbudzi kuzvarira pavanhu kuti nditandirwe imbwa”, here is the story:
In Chief Makoni’s area in Makoni West under chief Bvekerwa and under village head Ndapfunya, there is a story which has shocked the entire community.
There is a man (name availed but withheld) who allegedly raped a disabled lady. The woman is about 20 years old and impregnated her. She is now 5 months pregnant.
Her family is very poor and everyone in our community knows this including the man who impregnated her. The disabled lady’s father is blind and the mother cannot read or write. There is no-one in the family who can take the matter up.
The sad part is that them man who raped this girl is HIV positive. Our greatest fear is that this man took advantage of this girl knowing his HIV status. Please help and raise the flag for organisations that can help this girl seek justice.
By A Correspondent- Residents of the farming town of Marondera, about 74km east of Harare last week woke up to the sad news of the passing on of renowned businessman and politician Luke Masamvu.
The late former Mutasa North legislator (Zanu-PF) owned a supermarket, perhaps the cheapest at the heart of Marondera.
He was a popular figure to many, not because of the supermarket, but his big family, with all the till operators in the supermarket being his wives.
Masamvu’s lifestyle ignited debate on how a man of his age could manage and sire 70 children.
Despite supermarkets being allowed to operate during the COVID-19-induced lockdown, Masamvu initially closed his for fear of exposing his family to the respiratory disease, but later took a gamble, which eventually claimed his life.
“I am not going to open my supermarket, let those who want to open do so,” he said then.
“This disease is dangerous. As you know, my wives and the members of my family are the workers in this business. I do not want them to contract the disease because once one gets it, the whole family is affected.
“So you see my brother, I have tangible reasons why my shops remain closed,” he said before bursting into his trademark sarcastic laughter.
Like any other businessman, Masamvu wanted his supermarket to open, but as a caring husband and father, he wanted to protect his family.
After taking the sacrificial decision to close the shop and lose out on profits, there was no joy for the Masamvu family as COVID-19 affected them after he made a U-turn and opened his shops.
“The tide is now low. We have now opened and we will be cautious,” he said after resumption of operations.
This is the sad tale of the jovial politician, whose remains were recently interred at his rural home in Nyanga with full military honours after being declared provincial hero.
His burial – although it was a COVID-19 death, defied all odds as it was attended by his family members, friends, associates and government officials.
A number of Marondera residents drove all the way to Manicaland to bid farewell to one of their own.
What he did after contracting COVID-19
Mourners heard during his funeral wake that after testing positive for the coronavirus, Masamvu left home without notifying his family of where he was headed.
He only confided in his nephew and namesake, Phebion, whom he told that he was in isolation somewhere in Harare.
The businessman did not want his family to visit him, hence the decision to hide his whereabouts during isolation. Masamvu and his nephew Phebion were inseparable.
He was afraid of the respiratory disease, unfortunately his fear did not save him.
Interesting facts about Masamvu
The late Masamvu was not ashamed of his polygamous marriage. He took care of his family which lived at the same mansion in the affluent suburb of Winston Park in Marondera. Two years ago, NewsDay Weekender met Masamvu in one of the internet cafés in central Marondera, where he was printing a letter.
In the letter, Masamvu was pleading with authorities at a local school where his children were enrolled to grant him a fees discount on account of their large number.
“My brother, this school (name withheld) must give me a discount, I am the biggest customer there,” he said with a chuckle.
He had around eight children enrolled at the school.
He vowed to sire children till his last day and he indeed achieved that. During his lifetime, his wives gave birth to 79 children but 22 of them are now late.
He is survived by 57 children, most of whom studied at various local universities. One of his sons, Mike, broke the national record in 2020 after he scored 19As in the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) “O” Level examinations.
Masamvu threw a lavish party outside Marondera, which was attended by Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri and Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro, to celebrate the whizkid’s achievement.
During his stint as an MP, the late politician would take with him two of his wives to Harare during sittings of the National Assembly and booked them at hotels. His wives would accompany him to Harare on a rotational basis.
Masamvu would from time-to-time take his young children to fastfood outlets in Marondera, for bonding purposes.
A top clothing outlet located near his supermarket would contact him first each time it brought in new clothes so that his wives could choose what they wanted.
The late Masamvu’s father Moses, who died aged 60 in 1989, had 11 wives and 40 children, while his brother John has over 120 children from over 25 wives.-newsday
By Patrick Guramatunhu- ”Let’s work on political reforms and we go to the next election. But if you are not a political actor like a political party, we support an all-stakeholders’ platform, where we can have continuous discussion, but that relates to those who are not political parties. But political parties come to POLAD,” said Lovemore Madhuku, one of the many opportunists Zimbabwe opposition leaders.
Madhuku and all his fellow opposition leaders have joined Mnangagwa’s POLAD whilst other opposition leaders including Nelson Chamisa have shunned POLAD. The two opposition camps have two things in common, they all participated in the flawed and illegal July 2018 elections and they have all been calling for “political reforms”. They are only paying lip-service to reforms because none of they would have participated in the July 2018 elections if they were serious.
One of the many reasons why the July 2018 elections was dismissed as a farce even before the first ballot was cast is ZEC’s failure to produce a verified voters’ roll.
How can an election process be judge free, fair and credible when one cannot verify and trace anything on those who voted. Without a verified voters’ roll many eligible voters will be disenfranchised by denying them right to register, by posting their details incorrectly, etc., etc. For a regime like Zanu PF, with decades of vote rigging experience and a very well-oiled vote rigging juggernaut; the sky is the limit on the vote rigging opportunity.
What is shocking here is that the country’s opposition leaders knew Zanu PF was rigging the elections, they knew that by participating they would give legitimacy to the vote rigging Zanu PF and still they participated because they were after the few gravy train seats Zanu PF was offering as bait.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the (2013) elections,” wrote David Coltart, MDC A Treasurer General, in his book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
In short, Mudhuku, Chamisa and the rest of the other 22 opposition leaders in July 2018 presidential race and the 130 political parties and God know how many independent candidates vying for the parliamentary seats all participated in the flawed and illegal July 2018 elections out of wickedness and greed. They are nothing but the “unprofitable servant’” in Matthew 25: 24 – 30!
“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter. I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
“For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
Of course, Chamisa and his fellow MDC leaders’ call for political reforms must be dismissed with the contempt it rightly deserve since they are the ones who had the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. They failed to implement even one reform out of their wickedness and greed.
Mark my words; Chamisa, Madhuku, Mwonzora and the rest in the opposition camp are all gearing to participate in the 2023 elections with not even one token reform in place for the same reason as in the past – wickedness and greed.
The opposition know that without reforms Zanu PF will rig the elections and drag the nation deeper and deeper into this hell-on-earth we find ourselves stuck in. They know about the economic meltdown and the tragic human misery and deaths it has brought. They know all this stuff and they do not care!
Like it or not Zimbabwe’s corrupt and incompetent opposition politicians are the “unprofitable servants” who will not use the one talent at their disposal to end the Zanu PF dictatorship and are calling for reforms to hide their betrayal and wickedness.
Like it or not MDC leaders will never ever deliver democratic reforms, free and fair elections and thus end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance. They had the golden opportunity to implement the reforms during the GNU and they wasted it. What more evidence do we need to finally convince us that MDC leaders are corrupt, breathtakingly incompetence and wicked!
Zimbabweans must wake-up to the political reality that MDC leaders are running with the povo hare by day and hunting with the Zanu PF hounds by night!
If the people are serious about end their suffering and this curse of bad governance; they must appoint the men and women who will demand fulfilment existing laws as verified voters’ roll as the foundation for demanding more and far reaching democratic reforms.
MDC leaders cannot be trusted to use the little there is and even when they did get even more power, during the GNU, they wasted it!
By A Correspondent- Police in Harare have launched a manhunt for a suspected drug dealer who escaped from lawful custody after being arrested over possession of dangerous drugs.
The suspect, Tinashe Mutemeri, escaped after his friends attacked the detectives and sprung him from their custody while still in handcuffs.
However, the police later arrested Roy Kadiki, whose vehicle was used by Mutemeri to escape.
Kadiki appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro charged with defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The State alleged that Kadiki was with a number of the alleged accomplices, who wrested bags of dagga that had been seized by the detectives when they arrested Mutemeri.
The prosecution alleged that on January 19 at around 10am, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics northern region were tipped off that Mutemeri was dealing in dagga at his Mufakose home.
Around 11am, detectives pounced on Mutemeri at his house and arrested him after a chase and two satchels containing plastic bags with loose dagga were recovered.
While Mutemeri was being escorted to his house for further search, Kadiki and his accomplices, who are still at large, attacked the detectives.
They sprung the suspect and took the drugs from the police and fled in Kadiki’s car, an unmarked Mercedes Benz.
The State, represented by Owen Safuri, opposed Kadiki’s bail application, saying he was a flight risk and would frustrate their efforts to locate Mutemeri if released.
Safuri said the exhibits and police handcuffs have not yet been recovered since Kadiki’s accomplices were still at large.-newsday
By A Correspondent- One of Zimbabwe’s longest-serving traditional leaders, Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu, has died aged 86.
Chief Vezi Maduna was recovering from a stroke he suffered on 18 August 2019.
Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni posted on Twitter on Saturday announcing Chief Vezi Maduna’s death.
He said:
With a heavy heart and a sense of great personal loss I’d like to announce the passing of great paramount Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu at 1am this morning.
Maduna participated in Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle and was detained for a number of years for his involvement in the nationalist movement in the 60s and 70s.
Maduna started politics in 1960 during the time of the National Democratic Party (NDP) which was led by the now late Vice-President, Dr Joshua Nkomo.
When Zapu was banned in September 1962, he then crossed the border to Zambia and lived in Kitwe where he continued with his political activities until 1964, after, which he returned home.
In 1981 he was elected a Zapu councillor and became the first chairman of the Insiza Rural District Council. Chief Maduna was also elected the party’s vice-chairmen for Matabeleland South Provincial Authority.
By A Correspondent- A Chitungwiza man was arrested this week for fatally assaulting his 11-year-old stepson with a hammer after the boy bought airtime worth $50 instead of $20.
Owen Nyamukachi allegedly struck Strive Madamombe with the hammer in the head, leading to the boy’s death.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident yesterday.
“The sad incident occurred on February 7, 2021 where Nyamukachi who is a stepfather to the Madamombe, gave the boy US$1 and sent him to buy $20 airtime. It is reported that Madamombe came back with $50 airtime instead of $20,” he said.
“This angered Nyamukachi who took a hammer and assaulted Madamombe in the head. He sustained a deep cut and fell down. He eventually died.”
Nyamukachi attempted to kill himself when he realised what he had done and was rushed to a local hospital where he was admitted.
Meanwhile, police are investigating a case in which a man from Featherstone allegedly killed his wife after a marital dispute.
“The incident occurred on February 8 after the couple had a misunderstanding during the night,” Asst Comm Nyathi said. A relative who was sleeping in the next room heard the misunderstanding but did not think it would end fatally so he continued with his sleep.
“In the morning, the relative alerted neighbours and they checked in the house where they found the wife Mrs Judith Murwira lying dead on the sofa with a rope around her neck.”
He added that the villagers continued to search and found the husband Mr Cuthbert Zvaita lying unconscious at the back of the main house.
“The matter was reported to the police, who ferried the deceased to St Michael hospital mortuary. Zvaita was pronounced dead on admission to the hospital.”
He urged the public to always resolve disputes peacefully.
“Parents should not use forceful means whenever they are solving issues with children. We also urge couples to always resolve their disputes peacefully.” T
By A Correspondent- The government has moved to squash unsubstantiated rumours confusing parents about opening dates of schools around Zimbabwe.
The opening of schools will remain deferred until further notice, the government said on Friday as it shot down a bogus memo that said learners would resume classes on February 23. Social media has been abused by unscrupulous characters who fly fake news thereby causing confusion in the people.
Schools were supposed to open for the first quarter on January 4 but could not, due to a spike in Covid-19 infections. A national lockdown, which still subsists, was put in place to slow down the respiratory illness. The lockdown has helped to slow down the spread of this virus.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to advise the public that a circular on social media regarding the schools calendar is fake,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The public is advised to disregard the circular. Schools remain closed until an official announcement is made through government structures and channels.
“Meanwhile, the Ministry continues to explore more online teaching and learning alternative platforms and other open distance materials without face-to-face contact,” the statement said.
Teachers say schools should only open after the government has provided them and students with adequate personal protective equipment to shield themselves, arguing anything less puts them in harm’s way.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to ease the lockdown next week as the country begins immunizing frontline workers and vulnerable groups with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine which arrives in Harare on Monday.
School staff will also be given priority, a vaccination framework released by the ministry of health on Friday said.
In the meantime South Africa has started to roll out the vaccine to its populace, while Mozambique becomes the latest country to be hard hit by the CORONA virus pandemic. Maputo has seen make shifts tents being erected for treating the afflicted. Speaking to zim24/7 Dr Guadoza in Maputo confirmed the sorry state in Mozambique which is facing two threats from two different armies. Facing the extremists Islamic State fighting from another corner and facing the pandemic on the other side.
On a positive side, ZIMBABWE is recording low infection rates as compared to the surge which has gripped the nation in fear.
Mr Alister Mavaza a business man in Harare urged people not put their guards down. He has urged people to Mask up and sanitise.
The national executive of the opposition MDC Alliance met virtually on the 12th of February to deliberate on the country’s state of affairs, including state capture. Below is a report on the meeting:
COMMUNIQUE ON 12/02/2021 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
On the 12th of February 2021, the National Executive Committee of the MDC Alliance met in accordance with the party’s constitution. The meeting was conducted virtually in line with Covid19 protocols. The Executive received the report of the National Standing Committee and the following matters were deliberated upon:
1. Elite State Capture: The Executive expressed its concern over the prevalence of cartels in the national economy and the correlation between these and rising cases of corruption that are prejudicing the fiscus of over US$3 billion annually. We call for the establishment of an independent inquiry into the allegations of Elite State Capture against top political elites and Zanu PF factions with a view to ensuring accountability and the creation of a shared, inclusive economy.
2. Agricultural Season: The Executive considered the mounting challenges with the agricultural season — in particular, the impact of increased rains and flooding, the lack of adequate funding as well as the absence of preparation models that could mean the good rains go to waste. We urge the adoption of the party’s SMART Agriculture blueprint to move the nation from basic subsistence farming, improve productivity and attain a food surplus.
3. COVID-19 Response: The Executive urged the State to adopt the party’s alternative Covidl9 Response Plan that was recently enunciated by President Nelson Chamisa. In particular, there is need to take into account the livelihoods crisis and mass poverty afflicting most Zimbabweans who rely on the informal economy for survival as well as the prospect of evidence-based zonal lockdowns. We further recommend that the Government publishes its vaccination roll-out plan to ensure transparency and a science-based approach to the planned inoculation.
4. Governance Crisis: The Executive deliberated on the increased levels of repression, the regression of democracy, authoritarian consolidation and persecution of members of the party, journalists and dissenting voices. The party condemns the closure of democratic space, human rights abuses, wanton arrests and demands the immediate release of student leader, Alan Moyo.
5. 3rd Memorial Anniversary of Morgan Tsvangirai: The Executive acknowledged the 3rd anniversary of Morgan Tsvangirai’s passing. The Executive remembered the role he played in the fight for democracy, his inspiration to the next generation and his historical contribution to a better Zimbabwe. The party takes note of the existing threats to his vision to build an uncompromised, credible and viable alternative government. The party resolved to defend and be the guardians of his legacy and to fulfil his aspiration to win Zimbabwe for change.
6. `Agenda 2021′ Program of Action: The Executive noted the continued attempts by Zanu PF to supplant the MDC Alliance as the credible democratic alternative to their current misrule and the attempts to reconstitute an opposition that is captured, loyal to ZANU PF and a de facto extension of ZANU PF. The MDC Alliance remains committed to the need to push for a political and economic reforms roadmap that is time bound. The Executive resolved to continue to champion the cause of the Zimbabwean people, be the legitimate voice of the suffering masses and form a broad front to return the country to legitimacy and democracy. The party’s `Agenda 2021′ program of action will be announced in due course.
B. Continental and Global Matters
1. Uganda: The Executive deliberated upon the election outcome in Uganda and expressed concern over rising human rights abuses and state-sponsored violence perpetrated against members of the opposition. We call upon regional bodies to reject the outcomes of rigged elections and act in conformity with established African Union standards for elections. We urge the courts in Uganda to act fairly and impartially in their determination of the election petition.
2. Ghana: The Executive took note of the electoral dispute in Ghana. We call upon state institutions to be professional and fair in resolving the outstanding issues.
3. United States: The Executive acknowledged the election outcome in the United States and underlined the importance of predictable processes and strong institutions in ensuring a legitimate transfer of power. Fadzayi Mahere National Spokesperson
By A Correspondent- Business mogul, Nigel Chanakira has announced that he lost his brother Tonderayi who died in a car accident Saturday morning.
Nigel announced the tragic event on Twitter saying he was hit by a vehicle while he was standing at the roadside.
He tweeted:
I’m walking alone. I lost my brother Tonderayi Chanakira yesterday around 5: 30pm in a freak car accident when he struck by a motor vehicle whilst he stood at the side of a road. He wore the Chanakira name with pride and was a passionate Liverpool FC supporter. MHDSRIP
Nigel, however, did not indicate where his brother died.
The national executive of the opposition MDC Alliance met virtually on the 12th of February to deliberate on the country’s state of affairs, including state capture. Below is a report on the meeting:
COMMUNIQUE ON 12/02/2021 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
On the 12th of February 2021, the National Executive Committee of the MDC Alliance met in accordance with the party’s constitution. The meeting was conducted virtually in line with Covid19 protocols. The Executive received the report of the National Standing Committee and the following matters were deliberated upon:
1. Elite State Capture: The Executive expressed its concern over the prevalence of cartels in the national economy and the correlation between these and rising cases of corruption that are prejudicing the fiscus of over US$3 billion annually. We call for the establishment of an independent inquiry into the allegations of Elite State Capture against top political elites and Zanu PF factions with a view to ensuring accountability and the creation of a shared, inclusive economy.
2. Agricultural Season: The Executive considered the mounting challenges with the agricultural season — in particular, the impact of increased rains and flooding, the lack of adequate funding as well as the absence of preparation models that could mean the good rains go to waste. We urge the adoption of the party’s SMART Agriculture blueprint to move the nation from basic subsistence farming, improve productivity and attain a food surplus.
3. COVID-19 Response: The Executive urged the State to adopt the party’s alternative Covidl9 Response Plan that was recently enunciated by President Nelson Chamisa. In particular, there is need to take into account the livelihoods crisis and mass poverty afflicting most Zimbabweans who rely on the informal economy for survival as well as the prospect of evidence-based zonal lockdowns. We further recommend that the Government publishes its vaccination roll-out plan to ensure transparency and a science-based approach to the planned inoculation.
4. Governance Crisis: The Executive deliberated on the increased levels of repression, the regression of democracy, authoritarian consolidation and persecution of members of the party, journalists and dissenting voices. The party condemns the closure of democratic space, human rights abuses, wanton arrests and demands the immediate release of student leader, Alan Moyo.
5. 3rd Memorial Anniversary of Morgan Tsvangirai: The Executive acknowledged the 3rd anniversary of Morgan Tsvangirai’s passing. The Executive remembered the role he played in the fight for democracy, his inspiration to the next generation and his historical contribution to a better Zimbabwe. The party takes note of the existing threats to his vision to build an uncompromised, credible and viable alternative government. The party resolved to defend and be the guardians of his legacy and to fulfil his aspiration to win Zimbabwe for change.
6. `Agenda 2021′ Program of Action: The Executive noted the continued attempts by Zanu PF to supplant the MDC Alliance as the credible democratic alternative to their current misrule and the attempts to reconstitute an opposition that is captured, loyal to ZANU PF and a de facto extension of ZANU PF. The MDC Alliance remains committed to the need to push for a political and economic reforms roadmap that is time bound. The Executive resolved to continue to champion the cause of the Zimbabwean people, be the legitimate voice of the suffering masses and form a broad front to return the country to legitimacy and democracy. The party’s `Agenda 2021′ program of action will be announced in due course.
B. Continental and Global Matters
1. Uganda: The Executive deliberated upon the election outcome in Uganda and expressed concern over rising human rights abuses and state-sponsored violence perpetrated against members of the opposition. We call upon regional bodies to reject the outcomes of rigged elections and act in conformity with established African Union standards for elections. We urge the courts in Uganda to act fairly and impartially in their determination of the election petition.
2. Ghana: The Executive took note of the electoral dispute in Ghana. We call upon state institutions to be professional and fair in resolving the outstanding issues.
3. United States: The Executive acknowledged the election outcome in the United States and underlined the importance of predictable processes and strong institutions in ensuring a legitimate transfer of power. Fadzayi Mahere National Spokesperson Change That
By A Correspondent- The government has ordered local schools to reduce 2021 boarding enrolment as a way to curb the transmission of the coronavirus pandemic.
NewsDay saw a copy of the memo which was referenced “Call to reduce 2021 boarding enrolment to comply with COVID-19 management protocol in boarding facilities in the Midlands province.”
The memo read:
Having experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 in some boarding facilities in 2020, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has resolved to improve compliance of boarding facilities in observing WHO and the Ministry of Health and Child Care COVID-19 prevention guidelines.
Heads are, therefore, advised to strictly adhere to the number that can be allowable in the boarding facilities when recruiting 2021 boarders. As a guide, new boarder recruits for 2021 should significantly be less than 2020 boarder recruits. To ensure compliance, officers from both the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Ministry of Health and Child Care shall move to boarding schools monitoring observance of COVID-19 guidelines and compliance to boarding capacity measures.
Last year, a number of schools across the country were forced to prematurely close after a significant number of learners and members of staff had tested positive for the virus.-newsday
A new political party christened the Zimbabwe African National Congress (ZANC) was formed towards the end of last year and formally registered by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).
ZANC president, Timothy Mncube, said his party would concentrate on convincing the electorate to appreciate its policy proposals which he said were the key towards unlocking a better Zimbabwe.
He told NewsDay: As we speak, we are now in possession of a letter from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) which has accepted and registered the ZANC as a party which can now contest any election in the country.
We want to state categorically that our politics does not fan hatred and antagonism.
We want to bring about a new generation of politicking that speaks to our efforts to convince the electorate to embrace our proposals towards unlocking that better Zimbabwe dream that we have for this country.
We are not here to antagonise anyone, but to sell our brand as well as ideas so that the people of Zimbabwe can embrace us and our ideas.
The biggest hope is that after embracing our ideas and policy proposals, they would then allow us to roll these proposals out once they have voted us into forming the next government in Zimbabwe.
Mncube also said ZANC would have footprints all over Zimbabwe addig that the party was not a regional outfit ad that it will have structures all over Zimbabwe so as to “retain that national status that we want.”
Mncube added that the party’s policy formulation would be guided by the challenges that Zimbabweans meet on a daily basis.
Political analysts have often said Zimbabwe is not deprived of political parties and this was proved in the 2018 harmonised elections when 23 candidates vied for the presidency.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?guci=2.2.0.0.2.2.0.0&client=ca-pub-2833808250787996&output=html&h=280&adk=2874123139&adf=1376144466&pi=t.aa~a.1381849204~i.11~rp.4&w=750&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1613216153&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=6309232713&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=750×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.pindula.co.zw%2F2021%2F02%2F13%2Fnew-political-party-zanc-emerges-in-zimbabwe%2F&flash=0&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=188&rw=750&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&adsid=ChAIgI6egQYQ1Pr54cGIhbAGEkwAPg1Yh8t6DqozYFijEFhgYYeV285rbcB30tytUrLFSkIw-mCNgY8tDj79lWRoRlN5LIEFrIXlERb3LqJYWTexqwgfbmMLfrB10MhV&dt=1613216147901&bpp=2&bdt=1785&idt=2&shv=r20210211&cbv=r20190131&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D06e57f1ec30c7857-221e33acafa600c8%3AT%3D1611923850%3ART%3D1611923850%3AS%3DALNI_MbwvgEawww9mF2qeYg6P1TFpQkXLQ&prev_fmts=0x0%2C750x280%2C1200x280%2C750x280&nras=3&correlator=4281365396122&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=amp-awFXzB_baV-4jcibwvtIxw&ga_sid=1613216147&ga_hid=2114433341&ga_fc=0&u_tz=120&u_his=3&u_java=0&u_h=720&u_w=1280&u_ah=680&u_aw=1280&u_cd=24&u_nplug=3&u_nmime=4&adx=257&ady=2817&biw=1263&bih=578&scr_x=0&scr_y=507&eid=182982100%2C182982300%2C21066428%2C21068769%2C21068893&oid=3&pvsid=2275878784034299&pem=238&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.pindula.co.zw%2F&rx=0&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1280%2C0%2C1280%2C680%2C1280%2C578&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=8320&bc=31&jar=2021-02-12-18&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=JqRbhamcYS&p=https%3A//news.pindula.co.zw&dtd=5213
ZANU PF has been in power since 1980 and those who want it removed argue that it is behind the country’s sorry state of affairs adding that the opposition needs to be united if it is to dream of dislodging it from power.
Zimbabwe goes to the polls in 2023 with President Emmerso Mnangagwa having hinted that he will still be in power in 2030.
