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.”

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

FreeAlanMoyo,” Bvondo wrote on Facebook.

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.

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

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.”

4th edition

13 February 2021

Sinopharm is coming!

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

4th edition

13 February 2021

Sinopharm is coming!

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

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

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

email :[email protected]

Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre

@zimonlinehealt1

YouTube: zimbabwe online health centre

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Website:www.zimonlinehealthcentre.co.zw

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.”

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

ONE of the country’s longest serving traditional leaders, Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu, has died.

He was 86 years old.

Chief Maduna was recovering from a stroke he suffered on 18 August 2019.

Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni released the information via his Twitter account.

Maduna is one of the unsung heroes of the country’s liberation struggle having been 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.

Chief Maduna was married to Mrs Lizzie Maduna Mafu (nee Mpala).

Following his political activities at that time he was arrested and brought before a magistrate at Filabusi and was charged under the Law and Order (Maintenance) Act (LOMA). He denied all the charges that were laid against him. At the end of the trial he was acquitted because of the manner in which he had defended himself, as he had chosen to defend himself, he was a self-actor.

After the banning of NDP in December 1961 and Zapu was immediately formed.

Chief Maduna continued with his political activities until Zapu was banned in September 1962. In October 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.

During the Pearce Commission of 1972 an attempt by both the British and Ian Smith to legitimise Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence, Chief Maduna led his people in Insiza District to reject the Commission.

As he continued with his political activities in 1976 he was arrested and detained at Gwanda Prison. After spending a number of months there he was transferred to Colleen Bawn Prison.

In his stint at Colleen Bawn Prison, Chief Maduna was kept in solitary confinement for a long time. From there he was taken to West Nicholson before being moved to WhaWha Prison in the Midlands Province. Frantic efforts by his people to visit him at the prisons were blocked by the authorities.

It was at WhaWha where he met detainees from all over the country. He was in Camp Four. He was detained with people like Elliot Maphenduka, Welshman Mabhena, Makhathini Guduza, Walter Mbambo and Thengani Guduza.

Chief Maduna said he remained in detention until the ceasefire period and when he was released he was given a hero’s welcome by his people with 13 cattle donated by his subjects for the celebrations. Of the 13, 10 were slaughtered for the celebration party.

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.

In 1984 at PF-Zapu Congress he was elected into the Central Committee and was to remain a member of the Central Committee until the signing of the Unity Accord between Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu on 22 December 1987.

After the unity of the two liberation movements, Chief Maduna served the party in various capacities including being a member of the National Assembly.

However, of late Chief Maduna has courted controversy as he has been viewed as advancing the cause of some anti-Government groups, but he flatly refused that he is anti-Government, a sentiment also shared by his wife.

“I support the Government of President Mnangagwa, the problem is that maybe I am too accommodative, people of different political persuasions visit me here at my home. When they leave they go and make political capital out of meeting me,” said Chief Maduna, who has a huge portrait featuring Vice-President Chiwenga and himself flanking President Mnangagwa. – Byo24news

IN one of the most shocking revelations, a married woman who conceived a child with her lover and deceived her husband to raise it as his own had her clandestine deed exposed by a prophet she had consulted after the child had fallen sick.

Nothabo Moyo from Kingsdale suburb in Bulawayo had gone to the prophet with her mother-in-law.

It proved to be an unwise decision as the prophet ordered Moyo to tell her mother-in-law the truth about the biological father of her ailing child.

Scared that the child was going to die, Moyo reportedly confessed that the child was not that of her husband Gracious Maphosa, but of her unidentified boyfriend.

Details of the shocking confession are contained in Maphosa’s court papers in which he is applying for a downward variation of maintenance.

Maphosa, who is also now doubting paternity of the first child, is seeking variation from $3 000 to $1 500 per month towards his second child with Moyo while awaiting to do paternity tests.

The two separated in August last year after Moyo confessed that Maphosa was not the father of her second child.
In his application which is yet to be heard at the Bulawayo Maintenance Court, Maphosa said his main reason for downward variation was reduced working hours at his workplace due to Covid-19 lockdown which resulted in his salary being slashed.

“I am applying for downward variation in maintenance. I am no longer fully employed and my monthly income was affected after my working hours were reduced as a result of the Covid-19 national lockdown. I separated with Nothabo Moyo in August last year after she cheated on me and later confessed that I was not the biological father of her second child.

“She confessed after the child had fallen ill before a prophet she and my mother had consulted for help. After that confession, I’m also no longer sure if I’m the biological father of the first child and wanted the court to grant an order compelling me to pay $1 500 per month while waiting to go for paternity tests,” Maphosa’s affidavit reads in part.- B-Metro

IN a suspected case of ritual murder that has left Nyanga villagers baffled, a decapitated body of a farm worker was recently found.

Eria Chigova’s body was discovered three days after he had left Rhodalle Farm.
His head was found a few metres away from his body.

His private parts were missing, while his nose and eyes were mutilated.
Police confirmed the gory murder and said investigations are in progress.

“Chigova, who hails from Kwekwe, started working at Rhodalle Farm on January 13. He decided to leave on January 17 and was paid US$10 for his services before his departure.

“On January 20, Chigova was found dead lying in a stream with his head missing. A local villager reported the matter to the police. The police attended the scene and recovered Chigova’s head a few metres away. His belongings that include a woollen hat, money and wallet with identification particulars were found 30 metres away from his remains.

“Investigations are in progress and his next of kin was informed. We are appealing to members of the public with information on what could have transpired to contact their nearest police station,” said Inspector Chananda.
Meanwhile, an illegal gold panner was recently found dead near a Penhalonga mine.

The gold panner’s body was discovered by Never Chitumwa of Makoni Gold Mine. It was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Inspector Chananda said the panner’s next of kin is yet to be established.

He appealed to members of the public with a missing relative to contact the police and Victoria Chitepo Hospital mortuary to help in identifying the deceased.- Manica Post

By A Correspondent| The United Nations Human Rights Office says it is “concerned” by a new Human Rights Watch report that says Zimbabwe’s government is using the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to clamp down on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Marta Hurtado, spokeswoman of the U.N. Human Rights Office, said the agency is encouraging President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to engage with civil society and other stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to grievances while ensuring that people’s rights and freedoms are protected in accordance with Zimbabwe’s human rights obligations.

“We are indeed concerned at allegations that suggest that the Zimbabwean authorities may be using the Covid-19 pandemic as a pretext to clamp down on freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly and association,” Hurtado said.

“Merely calling for a peaceful protest or participating in a peaceful protest are an exercise of recognized human rights. An example of intimidation is the repeated arbitrary arrest and detention of three members of the main opposition party for taking part in a protest.”

That is an apparent reference to three female opposition activists who were arrested in May for protesting the Zimbabwe government’s failure to provide payouts during a lockdown to contain the coronavirus. They now face two more charges – all related to breaking lockdown regulations.

On Thursday, HRW released a report chronicling how 23 African governments are using the COVID-19 pandemic to clamp down on freedom of the media and of assembly.

On Friday, Cecillia Chimbiri – one of the three female opposition activists mentioned in the HRW report – welcomed the U.N. Human Rights Office’s statement on Zimbabwe. She maintains the trio’s innocence and wants the Zimbabwe government to look after its citizens during lockdowns.

“The demo was simply to say: people are hungry, what are you doing as the government of Zimbabwe, people are unemployed, Zimbabweans live hand to mouth? We are law-abiding citizens,” she told VOA.

“Speaking against the government doesn’t make us unpatriotic. We love our country that’s why we are speaking against any injustices and any inequalities that are existing. We did not commit any crime. We are not criminals. They are trying to tarnish our images, this is what this government is doing, to clampdown voices, to make sure they continue doing that (abuses).”

On Wednesday, Elasto Mugwadi, the head of the government-affiliated Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, confirmed to VOA that his organization had received complaints of abuses raised in the HRW report.

He said the complaints included “robust approach in enforcement by the police” and “generally excessive enforcement.”

Mugwadi said the commission was investigating the complaints of abuses during the lockdown by the Zimbabwe government to contain coronavirus.

“While recognizing the government’s efforts to contain the pandemic, it is important to remind the authorities that any restrictions should be necessary, proportionate and time-limited, and enforced humanely without resorting to unnecessary or excessive force,” Hurtado said.

The HRW report, Covid-19 Triggers Wave of Free Speech Abuse, said the rights group was concerned about the introduction of Zimbabwe’s Public Health Order Act in March, which threatened up to 20 years in prison for fake news on public health matters.

A Five-year-old girl from Chinhoyi died while her elder brother and parents were seriously injured when a neighbour’s 5 000 litre improperly secured water-tank fell on their two-roomed cottage yesterday early morning.

Tendai Matumba was pronounced dead on arrival at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.

The other family members are still receiving treatment at the same hospital.

In October last year, tragedy struck two Chitungwiza families when a neighbour’s galvanised steel stand gave in to the weight of a loaded 5 000 litre water tank and collapsed on three children, resulting in the death of two of them and hospitalisation of the third

Tragedy struck around 4am at House number 11919 Rujeko township in Chinhoyi when the family members were sleeping.

The family’s landlord, Ms Sibisisiwe Nyamachewa said she was awakened by a loud bang and screams.

“It was around 4am when I heard a loud bang followed by cries of a woman, asking for help. I sensed danger and rushed to investigate.

“When I got out ( of the main house), I realised that the 5 000-litre tank had fallen on the cottage and neighbours were rescuing the family members.

“They had managed to retrieve Tendai while others were attending to the father and other family members,” she said.

The tank that was full of water destroyed the room in which the family was sleeping.

When The Herald visited the house, bricks and pieces of asbestos from the destroyed room told the horrific story that the family went through. A neighbour, Ms Colleta Dhiori who assisted the family had this to say:

“Tendai was badly injured. Her head was deformed and she sustained multiple fractures. We rushed her to the hospital although there were no signs of life.

“The father could not believe what had happened to his daughter when we showed him her face.

“The other family members were in a stable condition when we left them at the hospital although the mother complained of pain on the right hand and leg,” she said.

Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove said investigations were underway to ascertain how the tank fell.

Makonde development coordinator and Civil Protection Unit district chairperson, Mr Benjamin Zivanai said the incident was unfortunate.

“This is an unfortunate incident and we want the local authority to monitor and approve the installation of water tanks to avoid loss of life,” Mr Zivanai said.

Mrs Madhishi, the neighbour whose water tank brought misery to Matumba’s family, denied to speak to the media while her son, Simbarashe said the tank was installed in May last year.- The Herald

Growing up in the dusty streets of Highfield in Harare more than 40 years ago, Felix Chiota would gaze in awe at the sky each time an airplane flew over his neighbourhood.

At a young age, Chiota always got fascinated by the mere sight of a plane hovering in the sky. Coming from a very humble background, Chiota’s dream was to become a pilot.

When his step father, the sole breadwinner, passed on in the early 1990s, Chiota thought his world had crumbled down like a deck of cards and his dream was shattered.

However, in that bad situation, there was a silver lining as his mother managed to raise enough money for Chiota to book an air ticket and fly to the United States, marking the beginning of his journey in pursuit of a career in aviation.

Despite the financial struggles during the early stages at university, Chiota did not give up on his dream and kept his eye on ball. It wasn’t an easy journey, but determination and courage saw him pull through.

Today, he proudly owns Chiota Aviation, a flight school based in Waco, a city in central Texas in the United States of America. He employs six flight instructors on both full-time and part-time basis.

Chiota is not just a commercial pilot, but he is also a captain at NetJets, the world’s largest private jet charter company, which owns and operates a fleet of about 700 private jets.

NetJets is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, an American company owned by US billionaire Warren Buffett, one the richest people in the world.

Chiota also serves as a designated pilot examiner on behalf of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

FAA is the largest modern transportation agency and a governmental body of the United States with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation in that country as well as over its surrounding international waters.

This is an amazing story about a Zimbabwean pilot, who despite his humble beginnings, is now making waves in the Land of Stars and Stripes.

“My story started in 1994 when it was time for me to decide what I wanted to do to make my dream of becoming a pilot a reality. In fact, flying in the sky is the only thing that I had always wanted to do as a career since my childhood and I was determined to do it,” he said.

“I would see airplanes flying in the sky when I was living in Highfield with my grandmother and it was just so fascinating seeing

those machines roaring in the sky, and I wondered how it felt like getting up there in clouds with all eyes on you down there.”

Chiota would constantly share his dream of becoming a pilot with his mother, grandmother and aunt, telling them that once he grew up, he would pursue a career in that field.

An opportunity came for him to study in the United States when he least expected. He went to the US embassy in Harare to do a research and checking for different programmes that were offered by different universities.

“Baylor University is one of the institutions I came across and they had an aviation programme. My mother and I called the university before I travelled to the US in 1995 and it was my first time to board a plane. When I got out of the plane I had never felt like that before and I was so excited,” said Chiota.

“On arrival in the US, I didn’t know anyone and I immediately went straight to my college dormitory, and again all I had was me and my suitcase with no friends. I didn’t know how to use a microwave or dish washer and I thought a microwave was some little outdoor television and all those things I had to learn from my peers. Being the only black person for the first time in my life surrounded by a sea of Caucasians in a foreign land made me nervous, but everyone was so inviting and welcoming and they showed me around.”

Chiota said his early years in university were characterised by incessant hardships as his mother could no longer afford to send him tuition fees. At one time, the university threatened to expel him for failing to pay tuition fees.

“There were times when it was really difficult to continue with my studies as my mother was having a hard time sending money. I had to make sure I look for money to last me for at least a year for my expenses and I was real under a lot of stress. One of my tutors helped me get some financial assistance and I also applied for some scholarships,” he said.

Chiota said he faced imminent deportation as he could no longer afford to financially sustain himself.

He credits his education in Zimbabwe, which he says gave him an edge in class, especially when it came to aviation calculus.

At high school, he enjoyed Physics, History, Business, and Religion Studies classes.

Chiota was able to use his mathematical talents to tutor fellow students at Baylor University, which helped him pay for groceries, books, and other expenses.

Chiota also had to do part-time menial jobs working in a restaurant to raise money for food and tuition.

“There was a classmate whom I assisted with tutoring and he told his parents about my plight and they took it upon themselves to reach out. Their philanthropic friends also extended some help. I am grateful there were some people who assisted financially and believed in what I was trying to do to achieve my dream,” he said.

Chiota graduated in 2000 from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Sciences and from Texas State Technical College (TSTC) with an Associate Degree in Aircraft Pilot Training.

After graduating, he worked as a flight instructor for five years, as well as providing contract pilot services. He began his career as a flight instructor for Aurora Aviation from December 2000 until November 2003, when he started doing freelance corporate flying and flight instruction under his own business name, Chiota Aviation.

In 2006, Chiota joined NetJets and he is now a captain with seven aircraft type ratings, flying the Embraer Phenom 300.

“In America you start flying for small regional companies to gain some more hours and then you can move on to the big jets. I did not want to endure the due process, the company I worked for was horrible, so I left and went to a company called NetJets,” he said.

“I work for NetJets, a company owned by Warren Buffet, one of the richest people in the world. We fly high net worth individuals notably athletes, businesspeople and actors among other celebrities.”

Although Chiota has been flying private jets since 2006, he did not give up on his dream of continuing to grow his flight school.

He owns two Cessna 172s and a Redbird FMX simulator.

“We are taking delivery of a brand new Cirrus SR20, which is equipped with a parachute,” he said.

Chiota said September 21, 2001, will remain a memorable year for him after he survived a plane crash with a student.

“I recall it was a Friday afternoon a few days after the US Federal government had just reopened the skies following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I was taking a student for an hour flight lesson prior to his examination the following morning,” he said. “Unfortunately when I attempted to take off, the engine just exploded and things happened so quickly. The plane had developed a mechanical fault and all the oil had drained from the engine.”

The engine ceased and they came down crashing and both wings came off after it hit trees. Chiota hurt his back and had to undergo two surgeries after jumping off the plane when it caught fire.

“The tail snapped and we could see a trail of smoke behind us. Fortunately, we were able to get out before it caught fire. We were in an inhospitable area and had we not been wearing our shoulder harnesses and seat belts like we should, there is no way we would have survived because the oil had been knocked out somehow,” he said.
Chiota said by the time a rescue team arrived at the scene, what was remaining was just a piece of burnt shrapnel.

“I was a brand new flight instructor at the time. If you want something badly nothing gets in your way and I told myself that these are occupational hazards and that this is what I wanted to do,” he said

“So Monday morning, I was back at work and this is what I have been doing since that time. When we teach people how to fly, we also teach them emergency procedures such as dealing with situations like that one.”

Chiota said for those interested in pursuing a career in aviation, it takes being very meticulous, professional and being able to control your environment.

Chiota went to Chipembere and Blakiston primary schools in Harare before proceeding to Sandringham High School where he completed O-level. He did his A-level studies at Oriel Boys High before enrolling at the Harare Polytechnic where he studied computer science.

-State Media

By Thomas Madhuku| Suspected MDC Alliance youths staged a flash protest outside the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) premises on Friday demanding the holding of by-elections.

A few dozen opposition activists picketed while hoisting placards with a gamut of messages, including one that read: “If Uganda voted in Covid why not us?”, a reference to the disputed January 14 polls won by President Yoweri Museveni.

They also spray-painted “By-Elections Now” on the electoral body’s main gate and affixed messages denouncing corruption and demanding diaspora vote.

One placard screamed, “Stop Corruption, Not By-elections” while another said, “Diaspora remits, give them the vote.”

ZEC chairperson Priscilla Chigumba announced the suspension of all electoral activities last year following the declaration of coronavirus as a national disaster by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

And in November justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi reiterated that position saying council and parliamentary by-elections would remain banned as the government focused its efforts on fighting the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

By A Correspondent| National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) president, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said yesterday’s Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) meeting made it clear on the need for political and electoral reforms ahead of the 2023 elections.

Madhuku said POLAD also put forward proposals on the amendments to the Constitution and Electoral Act.

“We said as POLAD the political and electoral reforms must be done way ahead of the next elections,” he said.

Monday courted controversy when he recently condemned calls for dialogue outside the POLAD platform saying it was the only available route.

By A Correspondent- War Veterans chairperson, Chris Mutsvangwa has disowned another Twitter account saying it is a creation of the G40 cabal that wants to taint his image.

In an interview with The Herald, a state-run publication, Chris Mutsvangwa singled exiled former cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, saying he was impersonating him on Twitter to seek relevance.

He said:

Jonathan Moyo at it again…impersonating. An existence of barren exile is coming to a desultory grind of hallucinations.

It is spewing out a witches’ brew of life-long espionage, intrigue, unrequited ambition, war desertion, spurious journalism and cantankerous politics. It now bears the yield of zero-to-negative credibility for the over-used and burnt out Professor Jonathan Moyo.

In desperation Jonso (Moyo) resorts to the cloning of my name on his social media tweets. All that, an extreme quest for the vanished readership of his verbal diarrhoea of lies and nonsense. It’s a cruel pity that Jonathan Moyo is a self-inflicted victim of confidence and esteem lost in oneself.

Chris Mutsvangwa has in the past also disowned other Twitter accounts accusing G40 of using the handles to soil his image.

The handles were being used to criticise ZANU PF officials including President Emmerson Mnangagwa over maladministration and other things.

In 2019, an account which Chris Mutsvangwa said was a parody posted saying ZANU PF had failed to run the country and should therefore quit. 

The post read:

Am trying without success to find a conceivable and credible excuse for my party and govt’s failure to resolve the current economic haemorrhage.

Comrades, lest just quit and let the next generation take over. They too love this country. They need it more than us in fact.

Last year, the former Advisor to President Emmerson Mnangagwa also distanced himself from a Twitter handle which had invited opposition MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa to a dialogue with President Mnangagwa on an equal basis. 

Read the tweet:

Comrade Chamisa come let’s reason together on a 50/50 basis and forget about the election cock-up.

Comrades, we will leave a great legacy and the economy will start to bud and sprout in two days.

It will be all smiles on the streets in hours. We are all compatriots and patriots.

Again, Mutsvangwa accused “the moribund and forgotten G40s” of creating the posts with the intention “to don the garb” of the War Veterans chairman.

Elephants believed to be coming from South Africa and Botswana have invaded some villages in Beitbridge district, destroying crops and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) has since sent teams to the affected areas.

The worst affected villages are close to Shashe and Limpopo rivers on the borders with Botswana and South Africa respectively.

The elephants are reported to be coming from national parks in the neighbouring countries.

According to a member of the Disaster Rapid Response (DRR) committee in Ward 15, Mr Albert Masiya, the jumbos have invaded Tshapongwe, Mapithi, Tshambombela, Toddy, and Dumba areas, in Beitbridge East.

“This is a blow to the villagers, considering that most were expecting bumper harvests after adopting the Intwasa/ Pfumvudza initiative. The hardest-hit farmers are those at Tshapongwe, where people are not only worried about crop yields but are living in fear of being attacked. We need a long-term solution to this problem,” said Mr Masiya.

In Beitbridge West, the jumbos are reported to have destroyed crops in Ward 6, Makhakavhule, Malala and Mzingwane, and in Ward 7 around the Masera area.

Beitbridge’s Civil Protection Unit (CPU) focal person, Mr Jahson Mugodzwa said reports have been made to Zimparks to intervene.

“We have raised the issue with the Zimparks officials, and we are expecting to see action on the ground, to manage this wildlife and human conflict,” he said.

Beitbridge East MP, Cde Albert Nguluvhe said he had also received reports about a herd of 30 elephants that is destroying crops in Tshambombela area.

“When I visited the area last week, I also heard about the community’s plight and I will follow up on the current interventions with the relevant authorities,” he said.

The wildlife officer-in-charge of Beitbridge, Mr Bonizi Manuwere said a team has already been sent to the respective areas.

“We are going to the ground to ascertain the nature of the problem pending further action,” he said.

The food security situation in most households in the district is reportedly dire, and Government and its partners have been able to deliver aid to close to 15 000 families.

Chronicle is reliably informed that a total of 4 057 smallholder farmers planted crops on 416 hectares under the Intwasa/Pfumvudza initiative since the start of the 2020/21 summer cropping season.

An additional 2 407 hectares were planted through the traditional farming methods, with maize covering 976,24 ha, sorghum, 941,44 ha, and pearl millet, 489,54 ha.

-State Media

Spouses of the President and VPs will now be entitled to allowances following amendment to legislation as the government moves to pamper some of the country’s VVIPs.

A recent Finance Act shows that the Presidential Salary and Allowances Act (Chapter 2:06) has been amended to cater for allowances for the spouses of the President and VPs.

Section 2A (1) of the Act states that: “The spouse of a President shall be entitled to such allowances at such rate as may be prescribed from time to time in terms of section 3”.

Section 2A(2) states that: “The spouse of a Vice President shall be entitled to such allowances at such rate as may be prescribed from time to time in terms of section 3”.

The allowances come barely six months after the government gazetted benefits for former first ladies.

President Mnangagwa promulgated Statutory Instrument 261 which stipulates the benefits to be enjoyed by former first ladies.

The country currently has two former first ladies, Janet Banana, wife of the late ceremonial president Canaan Banana (1980-87) and Grace Mugabe, former President Robert Mugabe’s widow.

The benefits, to be paid includes, security personnel as may be determined by the President but not less than two, and to be increased by such number as may be determined by the President whenever, and for such period, as the need arises, one driver, one Private Secretary, one aide-de-camp officer or personal assistant, office accommodation as may be determined by the President, a landline telephone and a cell phone and a computer.

Other benefits being enjoyed by former first ladies include, office facilities, equipment and materials as may be determined by the President, suitable state residential accommodation and one domestic employee among other material benefits.

– Business Times

Former MDC-T organising secretary Abednego Bhebhe has slapped MDC-T president Douglas Mwonzora in the face after he said he did not recognise his leadership and the party had no legal standing to readmit him to its structures.

Bhebhe was expelled from the troubled opposition party in November last year for supporting MDC Alliance members who had filed a High Court challenge to stop the Supreme Court-ordered party extraordinary congress (EOC) to replace MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

He was supposed to be one of the presidential candidates, alongside Thokozani Khupe, Mwonzora, Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri, but was fired for his alleged closeness to MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.

Last week, the party’s national council (NC) resolved to readmit Bhebhe to the party as an ordinary card-carrying member.

However, Bhebhe said he did not appeal against his expulsion as stipulated in the party constitution.

“The supposed resolution to readmit me into MDC-T is not only a violation of the party constitution, unless, of course, the said gathering amended the clause as well, but more concerning is the devious portrayal as well as battering of my image as if I am a desperate politician seeking someone’s benevolence. That’s unacceptable and should not go unchallenged,” Bhebhe said in a statement.

Bhebhe said he did not recognise the EOC that ushered in Mwonzora’s leadership.

“I want to make it clear that I don’t recognise the EOC of December 27 2020, hence the so-called NC has no legal mandate to readmit me to what I don’t even recognise,” Bhebhe added.

“The party constitution was flagrantly violated and Mwonzora’s leadership is disputed because of the several irregularities that accompanied the shameful election, irregularities that could have been avoided, particularly by those masquerading as democrats.

“Not only was the voters’ roll shambolic, but there was no quorum for the EOC which was characterised by violence, among many other shortcomings.”

He said his expulsion by Mwonzora was a plot to eliminate his main challenger, adding that many delegates were barred from participating in the EOC just because they backed his candidature.

BYO 24

A Five-year-old girl from Chinhoyi died while her elder brother and parents were seriously injured when a neighbour’s 5 000 litre improperly secured water-tank fell on their two-roomed cottage yesterday early morning.

Tendai Matumba was pronounced dead on arrival at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.

The other family members are still receiving treatment at the same hospital.

In October last year, tragedy struck two Chitungwiza families when a neighbour’s galvanised steel stand gave in to the weight of a loaded 5 000 litre water tank and collapsed on three children, resulting in the death of two of them and hospitalisation of the third

Tragedy struck around 4am at House number 11919 Rujeko township in Chinhoyi when the family members were sleeping.

The family’s landlord, Ms Sibisisiwe Nyamachewa said she was awakened by a loud bang and screams.

“It was around 4am when I heard a loud bang followed by cries of a woman, asking for help. I sensed danger and rushed to investigate.

“When I got out ( of the main house), I realised that the 5 000-litre tank had fallen on the cottage and neighbours were rescuing the family members.

“They had managed to retrieve Tendai while others were attending to the father and other family members,” she said.

The tank that was full of water destroyed the room in which the family was sleeping.

When The Herald visited the house, bricks and pieces of asbestos from the destroyed room told the horrific story that the family went through. A neighbour, Ms Colleta Dhiori who assisted the family had this to say:

“Tendai was badly injured. Her head was deformed and she sustained multiple fractures. We rushed her to the hospital although there were no signs of life.

“The father could not believe what had happened to his daughter when we showed him her face.

“The other family members were in a stable condition when we left them at the hospital although the mother complained of pain on the right hand and leg,” she said.

Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove said investigations were underway to ascertain how the tank fell.

Makonde development coordinator and Civil Protection Unit district chairperson, Mr Benjamin Zivanai said the incident was unfortunate.

“This is an unfortunate incident and we want the local authority to monitor and approve the installation of water tanks to avoid loss of life,” Mr Zivanai said.

Mrs Madhishi, the neighbour whose water tank brought misery to Matumba’s family, denied to speak to the media while her son, Simbarashe said the tank was installed in May last year.- The Herald

IN a suspected case of ritual murder that has left Nyanga villagers baffled, a decapitated body of a farm worker was recently found.

Eria Chigova’s body was discovered three days after he had left Rhodalle Farm.
His head was found a few metres away from his body.

His private parts were missing, while his nose and eyes were mutilated.
Police confirmed the gory murder and said investigations are in progress.

“Chigova, who hails from Kwekwe, started working at Rhodalle Farm on January 13. He decided to leave on January 17 and was paid US$10 for his services before his departure.

“On January 20, Chigova was found dead lying in a stream with his head missing. A local villager reported the matter to the police. The police attended the scene and recovered Chigova’s head a few metres away. His belongings that include a woollen hat, money and wallet with identification particulars were found 30 metres away from his remains.

“Investigations are in progress and his next of kin was informed. We are appealing to members of the public with information on what could have transpired to contact their nearest police station,” said Inspector Chananda.
Meanwhile, an illegal gold panner was recently found dead near a Penhalonga mine.

The gold panner’s body was discovered by Never Chitumwa of Makoni Gold Mine. It was in an advanced state of decomposition.
Inspector Chananda said the panner’s next of kin is yet to be established.

He appealed to members of the public with a missing relative to contact the police and Victoria Chitepo Hospital mortuary to help in identifying the deceased.- Manica Post

Ex-Zanu PF militant vigilante group Chipangano leader, political activist and National Patriotic front member Jim Kunaka was today granted ZW$15 000 bail by High Court Justice Tawanda Chitapi after 50 days in jail on allegations of plotting to incite public violence last August.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi, in freeing Jim Kunaka on bail, said he “read fear” in the eyes of prosecutor Richard Chikosha who had “no ammunition” to oppose the granting of bail but “unbelievably submitted that it was the position of the NPA not to concede anything.”

The 42 year-old Kunaka was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police members on 24 December 2020 who charged him with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) as read with section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act).

Kunaka, who is represented by Munyaradzai Bwanya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), was also charged with contravening section 4 of Statutory Instrument 110 of 2020 Public Health (COVID-19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 after he allegedly incited more than 50 people to gather without permission during the national lockdown period declared by government in a bid stop people from gathering in large numbers in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

In court, prosecutors alleged that Kunaka posted some video messages on social media platforms between 1 March 2020 and 30 July 2020 inciting people across the country to participate in illegal demonstrations which were held on 31 July 2020. Kunaka, prosecutors charged, incited people to gather at Africa Unity Square during the time which government had declared a national lockdown period prohibiting people from gathering.

-Online

A MAN who was peddling dagga has been arrested after cops found twists of marijuana stuffed in his underwear in a wardrobe.

A source said cops from Entumbane Police Station received a tip-off that Mpumelelo Tshuma (42) had planted dagga at his house and was also selling it.

Detectives went to his home and they found Tshuma’s niece, Sherlyn Moyo (20).

The source said the cops conducted a search at the house and discovered four plants of mbanje in a vegetable bed.

The source said: “One of the plants was two metres, the other one was 1,9 metres, the other one was 1,8 metres and the smallest one was 1,6 metres tall.”

The source said Moyo fingered her uncle as the owner of the dagga plants. The inquisitive cops also gathered that Tshuma hid twists of mbanje in his bedroom.

Police then waited for him.

Tshuma arrived home at around 4.30pm from work and the detectives pounced on him.

They asked where he hid his twists of mbanje and he led them to his bedroom.

“He had stuffed twelve twists of mbanje in underwear which he had covered with clothes in a wardrobe,” said the source.

Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident.

“We arrested a man from Entumbane suburb who had planted mbanje in his vegetable garden and was also selling it.”

Assistant Inspector Msebele applauded members of the public for supplying the police with information that led to the arrest of the mbanje peddler.- B- Metro

IN one of the most shocking revelations, a married woman who conceived a child with her lover and deceived her husband to raise it as his own had her clandestine deed exposed by a prophet she had consulted after the child had fallen sick.

Nothabo Moyo from Kingsdale suburb in Bulawayo had gone to the prophet with her mother-in-law.

It proved to be an unwise decision as the prophet ordered Moyo to tell her mother-in-law the truth about the biological father of her ailing child.

Scared that the child was going to die, Moyo reportedly confessed that the child was not that of her husband Gracious Maphosa, but of her unidentified boyfriend.

Details of the shocking confession are contained in Maphosa’s court papers in which he is applying for a downward variation of maintenance.

Maphosa, who is also now doubting paternity of the first child, is seeking variation from $3 000 to $1 500 per month towards his second child with Moyo while awaiting to do paternity tests.

The two separated in August last year after Moyo confessed that Maphosa was not the father of her second child.
In his application which is yet to be heard at the Bulawayo Maintenance Court, Maphosa said his main reason for downward variation was reduced working hours at his workplace due to Covid-19 lockdown which resulted in his salary being slashed.

“I am applying for downward variation in maintenance. I am no longer fully employed and my monthly income was affected after my working hours were reduced as a result of the Covid-19 national lockdown. I separated with Nothabo Moyo in August last year after she cheated on me and later confessed that I was not the biological father of her second child.

“She confessed after the child had fallen ill before a prophet she and my mother had consulted for help. After that confession, I’m also no longer sure if I’m the biological father of the first child and wanted the court to grant an order compelling me to pay $1 500 per month while waiting to go for paternity tests,” Maphosa’s affidavit reads in part.- B-Metro

By Thomas Madhuku| 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.

A jilted Chipinge lover could not stomach her live-in boyfriend’s decision to marry another woman and decided to take her own life.
Vimbai Mtetwa (18) could not fathom seeing her long time boyfriend Cams Sithole (24) settling with another woman and left a suicide note accusing him of betraying her.

Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda confirmed the incident which happened on February 4 in Rugare Village under Chief Garahwa.

“Vimbai consumed some poison after learning that Sithole had married a woman only identified as Tendai. Vimbai was working in Chiredzi when Sithole decided to settle with another woman. She came back home to take her own life.

“Sithole came back home to find Vimbai writhing in pain. She accused Sithole of betraying her love and trust by marrying another woman and informed him that she had consumed some poison,” said Inspector Chananda. Sithole alerted Vimbai’s sister, Martha Chirimbe, who rushed the now deceased to Chinyamukwakwa Clinic.

Vimbai was transferred to St Peter’s Mission Hospital in Chisumbanje but she was pronounced dead upon arrival.-Manica Post

Listed retail chain, OK Zimbabwe Limited, has appointed Mr Maxen Karombo as the new group chief executive officer with effect from April 2021. He replaces Mr Alex Siyavora who is retiring on 31 March 2021.
In a public notice, OK Zimbabwe said Mr Karombo was joining the retail chain from Delta Corporation where he was executive director-operations and marketing for 10 years.

“The chairman and board of directors of OK Zimbabwe Limited are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Maxen Karombo to the position of group chief executive officer with effect from the 5th of April 2021,” said the group.

Mr Karombo has held various senior leadership roles in marketing and operations. Leveraging on his robust training in marketing, the company, said Mr Karombo grew his business leadership credentials at Unilever where he started off as marketing director for the South East Africa cluster, Zimbabwe customer development director, Unilever Uganda managing director and eventually Unilever Zimbabwe managing director.

“Max earned a Masters 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 Marketers Association of Zimbabwe,” said OK Zimbabwe.

On Mr Siyavora, the group said the outgoing group chief executive officer joined the company in 2001 as finance director before being promoted to group chief executive officer.

“During his tenure the company was named winner of the Top Performing Companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange in 2018.

“The company also received runner-up awards in 2019 and 2020, amongst other awards recognising the exceptional performance of the company,” it said. Under his leadership, the company extended its store footprint nationwide.

Mr Siyavora also oversaw the extensive refurbishment of the group’s 67 stores and he was also central to the company’s “brand refresh” innovation programme, and steered OK Zimbabwe through the two waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. -Chronicle

Front-line health workers, ports of entry officials and funeral parlour workers will be among the first to be vaccinated for Covid-19 when the doses arrive in the country on Monday as expected, ahead of the country’s largest ever vaccination programme.
According to a schedule released yesterday, the Government has finalised the inoculation plan ahead of the arrival of the first jabs.

The chronically ill, the elderly, prisoners and those living in refugee camps will also be prioritised as well as staff at all schools.

The training of those who will administer the vaccines is ongoing and is set to be completed before the arrival of the jabs from China.

Experts are being prepared to inoculate the nation against the virus that has threatened health populations across the globe.

Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Dr John Mangwiro announced the immunisation plan urging those who will be vaccinated to continue adhering to Covod-19 prevention protocols.

“The first batch of vaccines is expected to arrive in the country on the 15th of February 2021 from China and the vaccines will immediately be distributed to all provinces and districts across the country.

“May I assure you that we have adequate cold chain equipment to maintain the vaccines in their potent state up to the point of use.

“The role of the supply chain is to ensure effective vaccine storage, handling, and stock management, rigorous temperature control in the cold chain and maintenance of adequate logistics management information systems.”

Zimbabwe was also in advanced negotiations to acquire the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia, as well as pursuing global and regional facilities to secure more vaccines to cover all eligible people.

Dr Mangwiro said on arrival the jabs will be taken to central vaccine stores where they will follow the distribution chain to 10 provincial vaccine stores, 63 district vaccine stores and more than 1 800 service delivery health facilities such as clinic vaccine stores as well as rural health centres.

The inoculation will take three phases namely, demographic data collection, blood test for antibodies and swab- a sample will be required to determine the potency and the vaccination, the delicate process is being done to monitor and track any side effects.

However, Sinopharm vaccines from China have proved to be safe in clinical trials with efficacy rates ranging from 76 to 86 percent and are being used by other countries in controlling Covid-19.

The jabs will be administered at fixed facilities and mobile outreaches and assured the health workers will be ready in time to administer the jabs.

“The Ministry has already started training all health workers who will be involved in the vaccination programme and training will be completed soon in time for the planned roll out.”

Dr Mangwiro said policies, guidelines and systems for the management of Adverse Events Following (AEFI) Immunisation are already in place and our health workers will be on high alert to identify, report and manage any if they occur.

He said sensitisation of frontline workers has already begun for them to take up the vaccine to protect themselves. The vaccination programme in Zimbabwe will be conducted in a phased manner.

The first phase is for the high risk component of the population and is made up of two stages.

Stage 1 will target frontline workers at significantly high risk of Covid-19.

These include health workers, ports of entry personnel – ZIMRA, immigration, customs, funeral parlour, security personnel and village health workers. Stage 2 will target those with chronic illnesses, the elderly aged 60 years and above, inmates and prison population and others in confined settlements including refugee camps. The second phase will cater for lectures, all schools staff and other staff at medium risk depending on the epidemiological picture of the disease.

The third phase will target those at relatively low risk until everyone is covered. – Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|Former Zanu PF MP Killer Zivhu believes POLAD has nothing to offer to the troubled nation grappling with deepening economic woes.

Zivhu was responding to Prefessor Lovemore Madhuku’s invitation to President Nelson Chamisa to join POLAD.

According to Zivhu, POLAD is a useless platform that cannot resolve the political crisis in the country.

“Don’t expect me to support any political party in Zimbabwe because I don’t belong to any of them, I support individuals on merit such as ED the President and Advocate Nelson Chamisa.

Professor Madhuku I have much respect for you but your NCA since its formation,haina kumboita kana Councillor chaiye not to mention Mps nokuti hamufi vakaita even one in the next 50 years.

Ndimi monzi muri kuita zve Polad varume danai Chamisa zvifambe ndiye munhu kwete vamwe kkkk.

Polad chinjayi zita Chamisa agouyawo mukaramba muchingoti Polad kungopedza henyu masamba ne sugar muchimwa tea pasina zvinobuda.

Chokwadi chemahara chandakuudzai,” Zivhu wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|Unruly Zanu PF elements disrupted the burial of MDC Alliance Masvingo Provincial Youth Assembly official Simbarashe Mafaune in Mwenezi on Thursday.

Mafaune was the MDC Alliance Provincial Youth Assembly secretary for education.He was laid to rest in Sarahuro, Mwenezi East.

There was commotion at the funeral as Zanu PF hooligans blocked MDC Alliance members from addressing mourners.

MDC Alliance Masvingo Provincial Youth Assembly spokesperson, Timothy Muswere told ZimEye.com on Thursday mourners were shocked by Zanu PF supporters’ uncouth behaviour.

” There was chaos at the funeral as Zanu PF hooligans barred our members from addressing mourners.

However, our treasurer Tendeukai Mandizvidza eventually managed to address mourners.

In attendance were provincial vice chair youth assembly, Lovemore Mapuranga
Chivi south CCC Youth secretary Caleb Hwada
Mwenezi East and West CCCs- all wings led by Treasurer Mandizvidza.

Mafaune was appointed because of his hardwork in Mwenezi. He was working on launching a programme of sourcing sanitary pads for the girl child in schools.

Mafaune left behind two children and a wife,” said Muswere.

The nation yesterday mourned the death of tycoon and major investor Mr Mahomed Mussa with the business community leading tributes for one of Zimbabwe’s largest wholesalers.

Mr Mussa died at his home in Harare in the early hours of yesterday, days before his 75th birthday.

He was buried on the same day in line with Muslim tradition.

Family members dispelled reports that the business mogul had died of Covid-19, saying he succumbed to natural causes related to old age.

Mr Mussa was the director and founder of the MM group, which incorporates wholesale operations, hardware shops, LP gas retailing, furniture and electrical appliances sales.

“It is with sadness that we announce the passing away of our beloved father Mahomed Mussa from this temporary life to the real life of the hereafter.

“Death was written and everything else is just an excuse. We should always be happy with the decree of Allah Ta’ala. May Allah Ta’ala forgive the deceased and raise his status,” the statement from the family read.

Mr Mussa’s business creation and development went beyond establishing a major complex of businesses.

He was also a major property investor who completely rebuilt and redeveloped a large number of complete city blocks centred on Guy Clutton Brock Avenue in the south of the city centre.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president Dr Tinashe Manzungu described his death as a huge loss to the business fraternity.

“Today is a sad day as we mourn the death of a beacon in the business industry. He has played a big role and leaves unending footprints. Aspiring businesspeople always looked up to him and the way he operated which was devoid of unethical profiteering.

“It is unfortunate he dies at a time Zimbabwe is creating a conducive environment to make capital comfortable in this country. Established business leaders like Mussa are needed for resuscitation of our industries.

“Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends and his business partners,” said Dr Manzungu.

Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe president Dr Israel Murefu said Mr Mussa’s death was a big loss to their community.

“It is a sad loss, he played an important role even in supporting small and upcoming businesses. It is sad we are losing many influential people. My condolences to his family and associates,” said Dr Murefu.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Mr Henry Ruzvidzo said he hoped the business he founded would continue to thrive.

Zimbabwean-born leading global Islamic scholar Dr Mufti Ismail Menk said on Twitter: “Today we’ve lost one of the elders of the Muslim Community of Zimbabwe. Al Haji Mahomed Mussa was a legend, a well-known businessman and philanthropist. May Allah Almighty forgive his shortcomings and grant him Paradise.”- The Herald

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Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance( Namibia) has described Industry and Commerce Minister Sekesai Nzenza as a clueless pathological liar.

Nzenza embarrassed herself on national television in a bid to atone for the glaring shortcomings of the regime she serves.

Nzenza was at pains to defend the cornered regime.

See below the MDC Alliance’s response to Nzenza’s remarks:

Minister of Industry and Commerce ,Sekai Nzenza is a pathological liar, Mdc Alliance Namibia lambasts her crude oil joke.

11 February 2021

Mdc Alliance Namibia was shocked , transfixed , mesmerized and perturbed by the pathological lies generated by a clueless Zanupf minister of Industry and Commerce responding to the recent upward trends in the sky-rocketing prices of basic staples such as cooking oil, mealie-meal , and other similar basic commodities. Following a storm from the desperate and hungry citizenry, people were seriously concerned and demanded answers from the totalitarian government and so the Minister of Industry and Commerce was frog-marched by the pathetic situation resulting in her shoddy address on Ztv.

High prices are coming when civil servants receive meagre salaries. They cannot afford to buy a single nutritious meal per day. As if it is not burden for them, they can’t manage to send their children to school. Our civil workers are wallowing in abject poverty when Zanupf politicians are busy paddling poitical lies on the captured national television. Mdc Alliance Namibia is in absolute solidarity with the suffering citizens and we advocate for more social liberation policies from the governing party. We believe that our people deserve better working and living conditions. As a Labour party, we demand that Zanupf fix the economy or handover power to the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa who possesses great potential to put the economy on a sounder footing as an alternative government.

Nzenza’s foolish gesture has been the subject of much ridicule and pandemonium in Zimbabwe and abroad. Social democrats in Namibia would like to believe that the escalation of prices is a product of Zanupf’s looting and gross misgovernance in the motherland. The Minister must stop condemning crude oil for the shortages since it is apparent that Zanupf looters are concentrating on senseless and barefaced corruption. Blaming crude oil is just a scape-goat and smokescreen to conceal the government’s inability to bring political and economic stability in the country. How can she say that cooking oil is made from crude oil , a term that is almost exclusively used to refer to unrefined petroleum? It is clear that crude oil and vegetable oil are both natural oils , but share very different properties and uses. This is a clear testimony of political bankruptcy being displayed by these selfish, greedy and helpless Zanupf political goons.

Moreover, Mdc Alliance Namibia is cognisant of how cooking oil is made! Oil used for cooking is usually derived from plant or animal fats for example:corn, sunflower, olive,peanut, coconut etc hence it is foolhardy to be convinced that our problems are emanating from rise in crude oil which they import to make cooking oil. This level of incapacity and lack of an intellectual touch in Zanupf ministers is quite astounding. The level of ignorance unravels a detrimental lack of expertise from the clueless Zanupf minister. As a district, we are clear that corruption and looting have become a national religion in Zanupf governance. Why importing maize after grabbing the land from the year 2000 to date ? Minister of Industry and Commerce without industries is an automatic tool for looting and corruption.

Furthermore, we urge citizens to demand more genuine answers as to why prices of basic commodities are escalating. Zanupf must be compelled to revisit its 2018 election manifesto on the ways to revamp the stinking economy. It is now imperative to demand an end to corruption in Zanupf so that the country can recover from these artificial economic challenges. Mdc Alliance Namibia rejects to be hoodwinked by Sekai Nzenza who is desperate to defend her ill-gotten wealth. It is an insult to the intelligentsia of the nation to appoint a minister who does not comprehend the technical language in her ministry given the astonishing literacy level in Zimbabwe. She exposed our competent education system to public scathing.

In a nutshell, Zanupf looters and wealth grabbers must be constitutionally pushed out of public offices because they have dismally failed to resuscitate the sunken economy. Lets all demand answers to the Zimbabwean question. We deserve decent livelihoods as a people.

CrudeOilIsNotCookingOil
ZanupfMustGo
FreeAllanMoyo

FreeLastMaengahama

FreeTungamiraiMadzokere
DemLoot
NoToCorruption
LootersMustGo

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance( Namibia) has described Industry and Commerce Minister Sekesai Nzenza as a clueless pathological liar.

Nzenza embarrassed herself on national television in a bid to atone for the glaring shortcomings of the regime she serves.

Nzenza was at pains to defend the cornered regime.

See below the MDC Alliance’s response to Nzenza’s remarks:

Minister of Industry and Commerce ,Sekai Nzenza is a pathological liar, Mdc Alliance Namibia lambasts her crude oil joke.

11 February 2021

Mdc Alliance Namibia was shocked , transfixed , mesmerized and perturbed by the pathological lies generated by a clueless Zanupf minister of Industry and Commerce responding to the recent upward trends in the sky-rocketing prices of basic staples such as cooking oil, mealie-meal , and other similar basic commodities. Following a storm from the desperate and hungry citizenry, people were seriously concerned and demanded answers from the totalitarian government and so the Minister of Industry and Commerce was frog-marched by the pathetic situation resulting in her shoddy address on Ztv.

High prices are coming when civil servants receive meagre salaries. They cannot afford to buy a single nutritious meal per day. As if it is not burden for them, they can’t manage to send their children to school. Our civil workers are wallowing in abject poverty when Zanupf politicians are busy paddling poitical lies on the captured national television. Mdc Alliance Namibia is in absolute solidarity with the suffering citizens and we advocate for more social liberation policies from the governing party. We believe that our people deserve better working and living conditions. As a Labour party, we demand that Zanupf fix the economy or handover power to the people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa who possesses great potential to put the economy on a sounder footing as an alternative government.

Nzenza’s foolish gesture has been the subject of much ridicule and pandemonium in Zimbabwe and abroad. Social democrats in Namibia would like to believe that the escalation of prices is a product of Zanupf’s looting and gross misgovernance in the motherland. The Minister must stop condemning crude oil for the shortages since it is apparent that Zanupf looters are concentrating on senseless and barefaced corruption. Blaming crude oil is just a scape-goat and smokescreen to conceal the government’s inability to bring political and economic stability in the country. How can she say that cooking oil is made from crude oil , a term that is almost exclusively used to refer to unrefined petroleum? It is clear that crude oil and vegetable oil are both natural oils , but share very different properties and uses. This is a clear testimony of political bankruptcy being displayed by these selfish, greedy and helpless Zanupf political goons.

Moreover, Mdc Alliance Namibia is cognisant of how cooking oil is made! Oil used for cooking is usually derived from plant or animal fats for example:corn, sunflower, olive,peanut, coconut etc hence it is foolhardy to be convinced that our problems are emanating from rise in crude oil which they import to make cooking oil. This level of incapacity and lack of an intellectual touch in Zanupf ministers is quite astounding. The level of ignorance unravels a detrimental lack of expertise from the clueless Zanupf minister. As a district, we are clear that corruption and looting have become a national religion in Zanupf governance. Why importing maize after grabbing the land from the year 2000 to date ? Minister of Industry and Commerce without industries is an automatic tool for looting and corruption.

Furthermore, we urge citizens to demand more genuine answers as to why prices of basic commodities are escalating. Zanupf must be compelled to revisit its 2018 election manifesto on the ways to revamp the stinking economy. It is now imperative to demand an end to corruption in Zanupf so that the country can recover from these artificial economic challenges. Mdc Alliance Namibia rejects to be hoodwinked by Sekai Nzenza who is desperate to defend her ill-gotten wealth. It is an insult to the intelligentsia of the nation to appoint a minister who does not comprehend the technical language in her ministry given the astonishing literacy level in Zimbabwe. She exposed our competent education system to public scathing.

In a nutshell, Zanupf looters and wealth grabbers must be constitutionally pushed out of public offices because they have dismally failed to resuscitate the sunken economy. Lets all demand answers to the Zimbabwean question. We deserve decent livelihoods as a people.

CrudeOilIsNotCookingOil
ZanupfMustGo
FreeAllanMoyo

FreeLastMaengahama

FreeTungamiraiMadzokere
DemLoot
NoToCorruption
LootersMustGo

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya