By A Correspondent- Some informal traders such as tuckshops, vendors and other similar businesses are no longer accepting ZWL$5.00 notes.

A survey conducted by a local publication at Harare’s Mbare Musika on Tuesday revealed that the notes have effectively been demonetised by the traders.

Only the major formal retailers such as OK Supermarkets, Colcom and Farmer’s shops were still accepting the notes.

While it is not clear why informal traders have “demonetised” the ZWL$5.00 notes, the recent spike in black market rates could have made their use inconvenient as one would need about 20 notes to buy US$1.00. ZIMPRICECHECK.COM hypothesises:

We are just speculating at this point. The truth is that most vendors use the money to buy foreign currency once they are done selling their wares.

Money changers are refusing these notes so the vendors cannot dispose of them. To prevent further loses they simply refuse to take them. That’s like the kiss of death.

If sellers won’t take them the public won’t take them either and just like that the note is demonetised.

So why are money changers refusing the note? Well, it could be because with rates having risen again and prices with them, small notes just become a burden.

They are harder to count and transact with leading to errors and time wasted counting and double-counting.

They are also bulky making you a police target as they are harder to hide. So as with coins they just refuse to take them and just like that it’s over for them.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has been slow to act as far as introducing higher denominations is concerned and this has made transacting in cash a cumbersome exercise as one would need to carry around “bricks’.

Early this year, RBZ Monetary Policy Committee member, Eddie Cross, said that $50, $100 and $200 banknotes will be introduced this year to complement the $2, $5, $10 and $20 notes already in circulation.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is appealing to members of the public for information that may lead to the identity of a man recorded in a video that has since give viral on social media platforms bashing his wife.

Police have said they are yet to establish the identity of the people involved, the place of occurrence and when the incident took place.

The statement read:

The ZRP reiterates that it is still looking for the victim and suspect as seen in a video circulating on social media, where a woman is being assaulted severely by a man with another woman recording (in the background) whilst urging the victim to confess.

Both the woman and the man have not been identified yet. Investigations have been instituted to establish their identity, place of occurrence and date.

Members of the public are encouraged to supply information at any nearest Police Station.

Some reports had claimed that police in Mashonaland West Province had arrested the assailant and his nephew and wife who were present during the assault.

However, Provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Margaret Chitove said the information about the arrest was false and misleading.

By A Correspondent- The Bulawayo City health department says the heavy rains that recently pounded the city have assisted in disrupting the breeding cycles of mosquitos, which makes the city safe from malaria.

City health director Edwin Sibanda told Southern Eye yesterday that they did not expect Bulawayo to be inundated with malaria cases after the heavy rains.

However, the department advised residents to clean their pool areas, which they said were good breeding grounds for mosquitos.

“We do not expect to record a rise in malaria cases because their breeding cycle has been washed away by the rains,” Sibanda said.

“We only expect to have serious cases of malaria once the rains stop around April or May,” he said.

Meanwhile, Matabeleland North provincial medical director Munekayi Padingani said the districts that were affected by malaria were Binga and Hwange.

He, however, did not give statistics.

“We have recorded cases of malaria this year and we deployed indoor residual spraying in Binga and Hwange districts.

“We also did mosquito net distribution in different provinces,” Padingani said.

Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, shaking chills, headaches, muscle aches, tiredness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Malaria may also cause anaemia and jaundice (yellow colouring of the skin and eyes) because of loss of red blood cells.-newsday

By A Correspondent- She wriggled in pain, trying to set herself free from the tightened grip of the menacing older woman, who was about to choke her to death.

She was too frightened to scream, let alone say anything.

The 17-year-old girl hoped that people in the neighbourhood would come to her rescue. Overwhelmed with a guilty conscience, she regretted having an extramarital affair with the woman’s husband, which had landed her in trouble that day.

Although they were in the midst of a busy street of the oldest residential suburb of Chivhu, nobody seemed to care. Fights over husbands and boyfriends were common in
the locality.

As Linda (not her real name) continued writhing in pain, the merciless woman tightened her grip even more, until one concerned passer-by ordered the release of the defenceless teenage girl.

Freed, the juvenile staggered and disappeared from the scene. Since she was seven, Linda and her younger brother were left under the custody of their elder brother after their mother, who raised them single-handedly went to neighbouring Botswana to eke out a living. That was the beginning of the troubles that followed.

With no one to reprimand her or guide her on childhood morality, Linda became a carefree child who behaved willynilly, including dating older men.

Due to the deepening economic crisis in Zimbabwe, many parents have migrated to the diaspora and left their children under the custody of their siblings.

The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the already broken social ties between parents in the diaspora and their children.

Due to travel restrictions, some parents have not been able to come back and reunite with their families.

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has stalled industrial activity and many Zimbabweans in the diaspora are struggling to make ends meets, resulting in their children back home facing financial difficulties.

Child protection consultant, Chinga Govhati said there were increased cases of child sexual exploitation and early marriage due to financial constraints, amid the COVID19-induced lockdown. She said the lockdown had negatively affected mostly children from poverty-stricken families, child headed families, and those living with disabilities.

“The lockdown was imposed unexpectedly and families did not have much time to prepare for it, even those in the diaspora had limited time to plan ahead,” Govhati said.

“It is worrisome that most cases of child abuse are going unreported, which derails justice for children.

“There is need for urgent action by authorities to mitigate continued violation of children’s rights, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Research has shown that while the issue of child marriages and prostitution is declining globally, it is increasing in some less economically developed countries including Zimbabwe, which is one of the top 40 countries with the highest prevalence of child marriages in Africa.

This is despite that Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of international and regional conventions, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child that prohibits abuse of girl children’s rights.

In 2016, the Constitutional Court outlawed marriages of those below 18 years and abolished section 22(1) of the Marriages Act, a ruling that earned the court an international award for criminalising child marriages.

But child rights activists argue that there is still need for more reforms on policy making to ensure promotion of children’s rights in line with international best practices.

In its 2019 report titled: “Call to Action”, Justice for Children, a legal aid organisation which promotes children’s rights, called upon authorities to address issues that have hindered progress in upholding the fundamental rights of children since they are dependent on the care of adults and the communities around them.

On Friday, Chinhoyi magistrate Melody Rwizi ordered a 16-year-old girl to pay a fine of $15 000 for violating COVID-19 regulations after she was found loitering in the streets around midnight. She was in the company of two older men who, however, evaded arrest.

Govhati said during these hard times of the pandemic, the law should be sensitive on issues to do with children and authorities should fight to protect them against continued abuse.

She said: “It is important that any child who is in conflict with the law be deemed a child in need of care and the utmost help be rendered to rehabilitate the child. That is the role of all duty bearers.

“It is unfortunate when duty bearers are construed as perpetuating vulnerability.

“We need the government to take the lead in child protection and to put in place measures that help promote children’s rights during pandemics and other emergency situations.”

In a 2019 research on vulnerable children, Unicef noted that children whose parents were working in the diaspora were not totally abandoned, but they lacked parental love and guidance which forced them into early or child marriages, prostitution, child labour or drug dealing.

“Households headed by children following parental death or abandonment represent particularly vulnerable household structures,” the Unicef report read.

“While older children may care deeply for their younger siblings, they may not be able to cope with the responsibility of household decision making and have to make enormous personal sacrifices which threaten their own development.”

Children who do not have adult protection, according to Unicef, are exposed to violation of their fundamental rights and are often excluded from benefiting from government policy initiatives.

Florence Mudzamiri, who is ward 7 councillor in Chivhu, and doubles as Zanu-PF Chikomba district secretary for gender and culture, said the COVID-19 lockdown had resulted in economic challenges and led parents to lose control of their children.

She said most children were engaging in sex work, mainly with gold panners, who were operating during the lockdown period.

“Even if they must reprimand their children against immoral behaviour, parents just cannot,” said Mudzamiri.

“They are clueless on how to raise money to fend for their children. Industries are closed due to the coronavirus, and people cannot find other ways of making money. In situations where children are not prostituting, parents, mostly those in the rural set up, are resorting to marrying off their children so that they get lobola to improve their own living standards.”

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president Obert Masaraure also said children from child-headed families were likely to exhibit moral decadence at school more than those who stayed with their parents or guardians.

He said: “In schools, children whose parents are abroad lack proper counselling and guidance at home. They lack emotional support, and are likely to be affected by anxiety during the trying times of the pandemic, which ultimately distract them from schooling.”

Alois Nyamazana, director for Fathers Against Abuse, a voluntary organisation which focuses on gender-based violence, said migration of parents to the diaspora also negatively impacted young boys, although the effects were more pronounced on girls.

“Child-headed families are usually associated with poverty. For boys to fulfil the social construction of masculinity, they tend to shoulder the responsibility of fending for the family when their parents are not present. Due to scarcity of jobs in the country, they then end up engaging in criminal activities such as robberies, drug dealing, so that they get money for the upkeep of their siblings,” Nyamazana said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Cabinet yesterday declared the country’s road network a state of disaster as most of the roads have become untrafficable following damage by heavy rains being received across the country.

The declaration would trigger mobilisation and the release of funds to attend to the damaged roads. In light of the heavy rains, Cabinet also warned citizens that the country is at high risk of being hit by floods among other natural disasters.

Presenting the first 2021 post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the poor state of the roads was affecting efficient service delivery countrywide.

“Following a presentation on the state of the country’s roads by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo, Cabinet noted that due to extensive damages to roads, some areas have been rendered inaccessible. This state of affairs had adversely affected socio-economic activities such as distribution of food, inputs and delivery of important services. Cabinet has resolved that all roads in the country be declared a state of disaster,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

“The declaration would facilitate the release of resources for the repair and rehabilitation of all roads that require such works. The restorative works will cover all urban areas as well as the rural trunk roads. It will also pave way for the standardisation of quality roads under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development. The necessary legal procedures to give effect to the declaration is being worked on.”

She said due to the rains anticipated until the end of the rainy season next month, the public should be on high alert.

“People in malaria-prone areas should take necessary precautions, while those in flood-prone areas should relocate to high ground. Government will continue to institute measures to protect its citizens in the advent of natural hazards,” she said.

The minister said the rains have also exposed the irregular and dysfunctional settlements in local authorities which need immediate addressing.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government has set up a special taskforce to arrest land barons and officials who were involved in the illegal parcelling of state, municipal and private land to unsuspecting homeseekers.

Some of the homeseekers were allocated land where there are no services such as sewer, water and electricity which is expected with urban dwellers.

“Land barons were working in cahoots with corrupt State and municipal officers and fleecing unsuspecting home-seekers. Also evident is the widespread contamination of watercourses and water bodies, environmental degradation and the destruction of flora and habitats for fauna, and an emerging threat to public health,” said Minister.

She said Cabinet has created a team to correct the illegal settlement situation in urban centres while arresting culprits.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- ZAPU has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of practicing nepotism in the appointment of Cabinet ministers.

Commenting on Monday’s controversial appointment of Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Frederick Shava as the new Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zapu expressed strong reservations over the selection.

The party also accused Shava of being complicity in the early 1980s Gukurahundi atrocities which killed an estimated 20 000 people in the Midlands and Matabeleland provinces.

“Shava and Nokuthula Matsikenyere’s appointments are a portrayal of the ethnic politics that Mnangagwa is playing. The two all hail from Mberengwa in the Midlands where several Cabinet ministers also come from,” Zapu spokesperson Iphithule Maphosa said

Matsikenyere was appointed Manicaland provincial minister, replacing the late Ellen Gwaradzimba who died last month.

“Shava is also being rewarded for his staunch support of Mnangagwa’s Gukurahundi.”

The opposition party further questioned the latest appointment of Shava as a Cabinet minister when he was implicated in the infamous Willowgate car scandal which led to his resignation from government in the 1980s.

Shava, a former minister for labor and political affairs portfolio during the era of the now late President Robert Mugabe, was once convicted and sentenced to nine months in prison before he was acquitted by Mugabe after spending only one night in jail.

“However, we are not surprised that a thief of government cars has joined the Cabinet of ‘genocidists’. Shava’s appointment is also a telling on the absence of substance and capacity within the Lacoste faction of Zanu-PF. Plucking out a political dinosaur from the dustbins shows none was found capable both locally and within the rank and file of the 2017 ‘coupists’,” said Maphosa.

A number of Zimbabweans including exiled former minister Jonathan Moyo have criticised Shava’s appointment. He replaces Sibusiso Moyo who recently died from Covid-19 related complications.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration yesterday said it had not yet made a decision on the COVID-19 vaccine to buy although it had mobilised a US$100 million war chest to fight the global pandemic.

This was revealed yesterday by Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare where she said the Executive had agreed that it would take its time to ultimately make the decision on which vaccine to import to vaccinate citizens against the coronavirus.

“In that regard, Cabinet endorsed the following key guidelines: that Zimbabwe’s vaccination pro-gramme, in particular the choice of vaccines, needs to be science-based, with adequate researches and findings guiding decision-making and the course of action,” Mutsvangwa said.

“Zimbabwe will take decisions independently in the national interest, without undue influence,” she said.

This comes amid reports that neighbouring South Africa had suspended the planned roll out of AstraZeneca vaccine after realising that its efficacy to immunise against the second strain of COVID-19 in that country was much lower, although it could help prevent severe disease, hospitalisations and death.

The global respiratory disease had as of yesterday killed 1 353 Zimbabweans and infected over 34 000 others. There have been concerns that the government was taking long to in-form the nation about the choice of drugs that it would procure, with pressure groups urging it to shun Chinese vaccines. However, the government said it would not be rail-roaded into making rash decisions.

The country plans to vaccinate 10 million people and has already accepted a donation of 200 000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines from China, which are expected in Zimbabwe next week.

The government has also said that during the roll out of the vaccination programme, health workers, the elderly and other vulnerable groups would be prioritised.

Corporates will also be allowed to procure vaccines for their staff provided they cede 50% to the government.

“The private sector will also support government through a formula that they will keep 50% of what they procure for their employees,” Mutsvangwa said.

Meanwhile, Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro said the COVID-19 vaccine would be taken on a voluntary basis.

“The vaccine will be free of charge and only those willing will receive it, but we strongly urge people to take the vaccine. We already have structures that we have previously used for other vaccination programmes like polio, and these are still in place.

“We will need a lot of data. We will also collect blood to check for antibodies to COVID-19 in the participants, and also to check if they had the disease at the time of the test.

“We need people to be ready to give the information which will also be critical when getting the second dose, which is administered around 30 days after the first dose,” Mangwiro said.

He also said while those not willing to take the vaccine would not be forced, empirical scientific evidence had proved that vaccination against COVID-19 was a better option in fighting the respiratory disease.-newsday

The global cancer landscape is changing, according to WHO experts, on the eve of World Cancer Day 2021.

Breast cancer has now overtaken lung cancer as the world’s mostly commonly-diagnosed cancer, according to statistics released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in December 2020.

So on World Cancer Day, WHO will host the first of a series of consultations in order to establish a new global breast cancer initiative, which will launch later in 2021. This collaborative effort between WHO, IARC, the International Atomic Energy Agency and other multi-sectoral partners, will reduce deaths from breast cancer by promoting breast health, improving timely cancer detection and ensuring access to quality care.

WHO and the cancer community are responding with renewed urgency to address breast cancer and to respond to the growing cancer burden globally that is straining individuals, communities and health systems.

In the past two decades, the overall number of people diagnosed with cancer nearly doubled, from an estimated 10 million in 2000 to 19.3 million in 2020. Today, one in 5 people worldwide will develop cancer during their lifetime. Projections suggest that the number of people being diagnosed with cancer will increase still further in the coming years, and will be nearly 50% higher in 2040 than in 2020.

The number of deaths from cancer has also increased, from 6.2 million in 2000 to 10 million in 2020. More than one out of every six deaths is due to cancer.

While changes in lifestyle, such as unhealthy diets, insufficient physical activity, use of tobacco and harmful use of alcohol, have all contributed to the increasing cancer burden, a significant proportion can also be attributed to increasing longevity, as the risk of developing cancer increases with age. This reinforces the need to invest in both cancer prevention and cancer control, focusing on actionable cancers like breast, cervical and childhood cancers.

Late diagnosis and lack of access to treatment exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problems of late-stage diagnosis and lack of access to treatment. These occur everywhere but particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In addition to having to cope with the disruption of services, people living with cancer are also at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death.

A WHO survey conducted in 2020 indicated that treatment for cancer had been disrupted in more than 40% of countries surveyed during the pandemic. The findings of the survey have been backed up by published studies indicating that delays in diagnosis are common, while interruptions to and abandonment of therapy have increased significantly. Meanwhile, enrolment in clinical trials and research output have declined.

All stakeholders are working to respond. Some governments have been enabling their populations to seek cancer care safely. Health professionals have adapted treatment to meet the needs of their patients, including through the use of telemedicine, and civil society has supported patients by helping them coordinate their appointments and complete their treatment plans.

World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day, with its slogan “I can and I will”, is also an opportunity to show WHO’s commitment to other major global cancer programmes, on cervical cancer and childhood cancer.

The adoption of the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem and its associated goals and targets by the World Health Assembly in 2020 has provided added momentum to cervical cancer efforts. Three targets have been set for 2030: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine; 70% of women screened; and 90% of women identified with cervical cancer receiving treatment.

Cancer is also a leading cause of death for children and adolescents, with an estimated 400 000 children diagnosed with cancer each year. On International Childhood Cancer Day, 15 February, WHO will be releasing a “how-to” guide for policy-makers and programme managers on strengthening childhood cancer programmes; a new assessment tool to facilitate harmonized data collection and to enable expedited, real-time interpretation of collected data on cancer among children; and an online community-of-practice information-sharing hub for childhood cancer.

Breast, cervical and childhood cancers all have a high chance of cure if diagnosed early and treated appropriately. This World Cancer Day, WHO is moving ahead with our partners around the world in efforts both to prevent and control cancer and also to provide support to all people living with cancer, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.

Credit:WHO

Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

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Twitter :zimonlinehealthcentre

By A Correspondent- Ten families in Matobo district, Matabeleland South province, were left without shelter after their homes were destroyed by the rains.

This was revealed in a recent joint report by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, Care, Plan International Zimbabwe, and the government.

The report revealed that many rural communities in Matabeleland South were seriously affected by the rains.

“Matobo district has been experiencing high rainfalls during the past few days with thunderstorms and destructive winds. On January 29, three homesteads were affected in ward 13, four houses in ward 10 were destroyed, and three homesteads were destroyed in ward 15.”

The report states that the items destroyed include food, furniture, utensils, clothes, solar panels and building material.

“There is a need to urgently assist with cement, roofing materials, and furniture in ward 10. Three homesteads lost their Blair toilets,” reads the report.

The organisations said the affected families urgently required building materials to rebuild their houses so as to reduce overcrowding.

“The affected households have women, young children, adolescent girls and elderly people who do not have access to adequate food, medication and basic sexual reproductive
healthcare and protection services,” reads the report.

Some of the most affected are said to be girls and women, while schoolchildren lost their books.

“This means that they need assistance to replace books which were destroyed by the rains. Schools were not affected as per the updates from the authorities,” reads the report.

Water points were also destroyed.-newsday

Former MDC-T National Chairperson, Abedinico Bhebhe has refuted claims that he was re-admitted into the opposition MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora.

Abedinico Bhebhe was expelled from the party shortly before the party’s chaotic Extraordinary congress held in December last year.

Abedinico Bhebhe issued the statement below. 

RESPONSE TO THE STATEMENT ON MR ABEDNICO BHEBHE’S PURPORTED RE-ADMISSION TO MDC-T

Fellow Comrades, Members of our Principled Party and the public in general, allow me to express my humble appreciation for all the support and encouragement you have continued to give me. I really appreciate it and sincerely grateful.

Following an MDC-T press release (06/02/2021) and the import of its content, I have felt it necessary to respond and clarify on certain perceptions created by that statement either deliberately or inadvertently. Under normal circumstances, I would not be addressing such matters through the media but since like all readers I also learnt of the purported re-admission through the press, it leaves me with no other option but to respond in kind. For the benefit of all, the cardinal rule for any re-admission of an expelled member, as provided for in the party constitution is for that concerned member to make an appeal in the next congress. For the record, I did not appeal and had no intention whatsoever to appeal to the EOC because of its chaotic and shambolic nature.

The supposed resolution to re-admit me in MDC-T as an ordinary party member is not only a violation of the party constitution, unless of course if the said gathering amended that clause as well, but more concerning is the devious portrayal as well as battering my character as if am a desperate politician seeking someone’s benevolence. That is unacceptable and should 600 10 unchallenged. Here are some basic facts that expose the infantile attempt to manipulate information for self-serving purposes:

1) It is on public record that I was expelled from the party for my incessant calls to all MDC leaders to take advantage of the Supreme Court judgment to settle our differences and unite against the common enemy. My plea resonated with most of our members. On a unifying crusade, I successfully contested and resoundingly won the first round of nominations in Bulawayo for presidency. Immediately I was summarily suspended and thereafter expelled.

2) I stated very clearly in an interview with Newsday (07/04/2020), that I would not be comfortable to be the organising secretary of a divided MDC. If the leadership could not find each other then I was not going to participate in EOC since that would be playing into the hands of ZAN U PF.#

3) Approximately three-quarters of the 2014 delegates were stopped from participating in the EOC just because they were backing my candidature.

4) The party constitution was flagrantly violated and Douglas Mworaora’s leadership is disputed because of the serious irregularities that accompanied the shameful elections. 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.

5) I approached the High Court to challenge my suspension and subsequent expulsion which paved the way for other contestants to hold the EOC without my participation.

That deprived me of my administrative and constitutional rights while it gave unfair advantage to Mr Douglas Mwonzora to contest for the highest party office having eliminated the participation of the main challenger whose victory was beyond doubt.

6) My constitutional rights were put under siege by the very National Council and I immediately lost the opportunity to contest for the presidency. What has changed NOW that I would renege on my pursuit of Justice and submit to it rigged leadership

In view of the aforementioned points, I want to make it categorically clear that I do not recognize the outcome of the 27Th December 2020 EOC and hence the so-called National Council has no legal mandate to readmit to what I do not even recognize. As far as I am concerned the EOC elections were not conducted and hence the amendment of the constitution illegitimate. My position is that the party must sit down and elect an interim leader pending it proper EOC, where every willing member is given a chance to vote or contest for the presidency.

Hon Abednico Bhebhe 9/02/2021

Cabinet ministers must before the end of March, draw up five-year action plans aligned to the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), for consideration by Government with the offices of the Vice Presidents continuing to monitor ministries clustered under their mandates.

President Mnangagwa told the first Cabinet meeting of the year at State House yesterday that ministers must incorporate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in the implementation of their policies and programmes to increase their accountability and ensure efficient service delivery.

The meeting was held in line with Covid-19 social distancing guidelines and was preceded by a minute of silence in memory of three Government ministers who died from Covid-19 this year. The late Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo and the late Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Joel Biggie Matiza as well as Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba died of Covid-19 related complications.

President Mnangagwa said this year would see the start of the implementation of NDS1, launched late last year to run for the next five years.

This year’s budget was already aligned to the implementation of the first year of the NDS1, so the pressure was on to ensure the set targets were met.

“Just last week, my office distributed the monitoring and evaluation policy guidelines for your use during the implementation of NDS1. It is critical to mainstream monitoring and evaluation in our policies and programmes to ensue efficient and effective service delivery, make informed decisions and enhance accountability,” President Mnangagwa said.

“A steering committee comprising members of the tripartite of the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development will, under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, produce periodic reports on results-based monitoring and evaluation,” he said.

The reports would be considered by the ministerial committee chaired by the Finance Ministry and would be supported by the e-enabled Whole of Government Performance Management System to produce periodic and on-demand performance data for informed decision-making as the year progresses.

The President said his office was open to support and provide guidance for all ministries for the attainment of Vision 2030.

“Cabinet will anchor its business on ensuring food security, infrastructure development and industrialisation as we strive for a world-class economy and society which enjoys peace within our borders and with our neighbours and international community at large,” President Mnangagwa said.

This year’s reports to Cabinet would be based on the ministerial plans as captured in the national and sectoral frameworks and he warned against the ad hoc presentation of issues without adequate consultations at appropriate forums, which, in the past, has led to undesirable policy reversals.

“As much as possible, the use of local resources in project implementation will be prioritised. We remain hopeful that the good rainfall season we are experiencing will provide the much needed impetus to our development efforts and avert the need for importation of staple grain,” President Mnangagwa said.

On Covid-19, the President said the return to level 4 lockdown was meant to reverse the spike in infections and deaths due to the virus.

Efforts to procure adequate supplies of vaccines were being put in place and the President thanked the Chinese government for donating 200 000 doses of vaccines. He also thanked Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for also donating the Sputnik Victory vaccine.

The President said all Cabinet ministers, their aides and drivers as well as staff entering the Cabinet venue, would be tested regularly for Covid-19.

Mechanisms were being put in place to ensure Cabinet members attended meetings virtually from their offices. – Herald

By A Correspondent- After buying more mines and banks, the mogul could become the country’s top gold buyer. Business kingpin Kudakwashe Tagwirei, under United States sanctions since August, aims to expand his commanding stake in Zimbabwe’s gold industry and could end up taking control of the country’s sole gold refinery and marketer, Africa Confidential understands.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya are working on a plan to break up Fidelity Printers and Refiners, an arm of the central bank that is officially the ultimate buyer of all Zimbabwe’s gold.

Fidelity has been criticised for delaying United States dollar payments to licensed gold exporters.

As the illegal gold trade, sponsored by politically-backed gangs, spirals out of control, the State-owned company has been losing out, depriving the government of hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue.

Gold smuggling is booming in Zimbabwe with consignments worth over US$1,5 billion last year shipped, often hand-carried by politically-connected people, to Dubai and India, according to International Crisis Group and other research organisations. But official gold exports through Fidelity fell by almost a quarter to US$800 million last year, according to RBZ figures.

US sanctions have had little effect on Tagwirei’s commercial ambitions and his influence on the government, which has lost some of its leading members such as Foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo to the coronavirus.

The United States Treasury says Tagwirei known as “Queen Bee” because of the political and financial power he wields has used his relationship with Mnangagwa “to grow his business empire dramatically and rake in millions of US dollars”.

Last year, an audio recording was leaked in which Tagwirei said he was behind the sacking of the country’s Energy minister Fortune Chasi, having warned him not to “ask too many questions about contracts for fuel supplies” (AC Vol 61 No 17, Inside the State capture project).

-AfricaConfidential

AN imbiber at a shebeen in Bulawayo allegedly ganged up with a friend and fatally stabbed their drinking mate for allegedly having an adulterous affair with his wife.

Peter Moyo (37) of Cowdray Park suburb had a misunderstanding with Ben Sibanda whom he accused of having an affair with his wife. The dispute degenerated into a fight resulting in Moyo ganging up with Robson Ndlovu who is still at large, and stabbing Sibanda on the head and right collar bone.

Sibanda died on the spot.

Moyo is facing a murder charge in connection with Sibanda’s death.

This emerged when Moyo filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

Moyo, who is a self-actor, said it is Sibanda who confronted him during a beer drink at a shebeen in Cowdray Park and accused him of having an affair with his wife.

“The deceased was intoxicated and started accusing me of having an affair with his wife before he kicked my container of beer. Robson Ndlovu then struck the deceased on the head with a brick and he sustained injuries leading to his death,” he said.

Moyo said he left the scene and travelled to his rural home in Lupane.

Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda dismissed Moyo’s application, saying the State has a strong prima facie case against the applicant.

“The allegations against the applicant are very serious. There seems to be evidence linking him to the commission of this offence and in view of that, I find that the State has a strong prima facie against applicant,” ruled the judge.

“I am satisfied that it is not in the interests of justice to admit Peter Moyo to bail pending trial. Wherefore, the application must fail and accordingly, it is dismissed.”

In his bail statement, Moyo said he is not a flight risk, arguing that there was no evidence linking him to the offence which would induce him to abscond trial.

He is denying the charge, saying there were no compelling reasons warranting his continued detention.

For the State, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza opposed the application, saying Moyo was likely to abscond given the seriousness of the offence coupled with the fact that his accomplice is still at large.

“After the commission of the offence, the applicant fled from the scene and was arrested the following day at Mbembesi Village in Lupane. Having skipped and jumped before the charges were put to him, there is real risk that upon admission to bail, he will abscond,” he said.

According to court papers, it was stated that on October 29 last year, Moyo, Ndlovu and Sibanda were drinking beer at a shebeen in Cowdray Park when an altercation ensued.

Moyo accused Sibanda of having an affair with his wife and the allegation did not go down well with the deceased resulting in a dispute. The misunderstanding degenerated into a fight during which Ndlovu beat up Sibanda. Moyo pulled out a knife and allegedly stabbed Sibanda on the head and right collar bone and he died on the spot.

Soon after committing the offence, Moyo and Ndlovu fled from the scene leaving the deceased lying dead in a pool of blood.

Moyo was arrested the following day at his rural home in Mbembesi Village in Lupane following a tip off.- Chronicle

THE fact that Bulawayo and Matabeleland South province have been receiving torrential rains since January is evident to everyone.

The fact that most dams nationally are full and spilling (including the largest inland waterbody Tugwi-Mukosi), is very clear to all and sundry.

But the biggest question is: why are Bulawayo supply dams still tottering at half to below half capacity?

According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) update of February 4 2021, Upper Ncema was 52,5%, Lower Ncema 20,2%, Inyankuni 51,5%, Mzingwane 29,6%, Insiza 63% and Mtshabezi 42,1%.

This is a serious cause for concern considering that most dams nationally are above 70% and some are 113% full.

On February 2, 2021, Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights sent a petition to Zinwa, key among the issues residents of Bulawayo sought answers for was why the Bulawayo supply dams were not filling up.

On February 7, another petition was handed to Bulawayo City Council (BCC) as the residents continued to seek answers to the same question.

The only attempt closer to a response came from some BCC officials who said that because it’s raining in Bulawayo, it doesn’t mean in the supply dams catchment areas it’s also raining. However, there is evidence that the catchment areas are also receiving rains.

So where is the problem?

In this opinion article, I will, therefore, seek to point out some issues that may be the contributing factors which need to be quickly investigated:

Catchment oversubscription

There is need to quickly investigate if the catchment areas of our supply dams are not oversubscribed with weirs and smaller dams that are affecting the receiving capacity of our major supply dams.

Once the catchment areas are oversubscribed with smaller dams and weirs, it means the dams downstream will suffer as less water will reach them.

Catchment management

How the catchment is managed may also be a key contributing factor.

Are the streams and tributaries within the main river basin not blocked or illegally diverted into private dams?

Are they not affected by streambank and river cultivation and illegal artisanal mining activities?

Are there no agricultural activities that are flattening the basin areas and thus limiting the scale and speed of runoff ?

Are there no illegal (consciously or subconsciously) runoff arrest or diversion activities happening in the river basin?

Disused mineshafts

The authorities need to investigate if there are no disused mineshafts that are now collecting water underground where instead of the runoff or streams flowing to the river, they now flow into these disused shafts.

These shafts may also have the net effect of reducing water runoff into dams as they will need to fill up first and then only when they are spilling will the water flow into dams.

Underground syphoning

There is also need to investigate if there are no disused or active mineshafts that are syphoning water underground.

Once the mineshafts are dug towards the dam sites, they also have the ability to syphon water from underground through leakages or leaching.

This also has the capacity to continually deplete dam levels.

Bulawayo storm drain direction

The authorities also need to investigate where the Bulawayo storm drains are channelled.

Bulawayo is a watershed area.

From Bulawayo, Matabeleland North rivers flow westwards and Matabeleland South rivers flow eastwards.

Our Bulawayo supply dams are in the east.

If the Bulawayo storm drains are channelled towards the west, that means they are not aiding our supply rivers, but are aiding the rivers that flow westward which do not assist our supply dams at all.

A joint operation involving Zinwa, the Environmental Management Agency and BCC is very important in addressing these critical questions.

Finally, an honest and objective examination of these factors may be the solution to the question why Bulawayo supply dams are taking ages to fill up?

——-
Khumbulani Maphosa is a human rights defender, co-ordinator of Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights and the current secretary for Bulawayo Water Action. He is contactable on maphosakhumbulani@ gmail.com

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Veteran Activists Association(VAA) is solidly behind President Nelson Chamisa, despite futile attempts by the Douglas Mwonzora political formation to arm-twist the veterans of the struggle for democracy.

Mr Tapiwa Mashakada who is singing from the Zanu PF chorus book last week attempted to place the veterans under Mr Mwonzora’s armpits.

See statement below:

MDC VAA Solidly Behind Nelson Chamisa

8 February 2021

Revolutionary greetings veterans. As VAA leadership led Dr Mafa Sibanda, we want to make it categorically clear without any equivocation or ambiguity that Tsvangirai’s legacy of servant leadership, courage and indefatigable resistance in face of brutal repression; service and self sacrifice, iconic leader of democracy and egalitarianism can only be realised under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa and his entourage.

We stand where we stood in 1999 and the blood of our fallen veterans and iconic leaders would continue to water our spirit of liberty until we complete the change through the ballot box.

As such, we want to rest assure genuine veterans of the democratic struggle that we are not part and parcel of Gideon Mangena’s group that have salivated at Mwonzora’s poisoned carrot to the extent of congratulating him for the so called presidential ascent in MDCT.

We respect Mwonzora, Khupe, Komichi, Mudzuri etc as human beings, so likewise do we respect any other veteran, but not the choice of their political path. Politics is a game of grassroots support and as VAA we will continue with our adjunctive welfare issues and in the process complement the mainstream MDCA quest for democracy and egalitarianism in Zimbabwe.

The character and stamina of VAA National and provincial leadership cannot navigate an unfamiliar democratic path. Vice Chair, Lucia Masekesa; SG, Musimiki; TG Mutisi; DTG, Hlalo; Organ, Gonhi; D Organ, Paul Madzore; coordinator, Bheki Jama Sibanda; Welfare, Mwedzi; Security, Zireva; D/Sec, Mutsvairo; Infor, B Mandava; D/Infor, Lewellin Sibanda; Sec for Legal Affairs, Daniel Molokele; Admin, Mubatsa, Women chair, E. Muzvondiwa; Denias Mudzingwa, Timothy Kondo, Pretty Ndlovu, Fisher etc are tried and tested leaders who can never waver from a clear democratic way forward.

History will always absolve us and we will always focus on alleviating plight of living veterans and that of the relatives of our fallen veterans of the democratic struggle. Our collective effort and institutional memory will never betray us. President Chamisa is currently our best foot forward and we encourage unity, cooperation, ingenuity, dexterity and enthusiasm in the rank and file of MDCA in order to complete Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy in Zimbabwe.

For and on behalf of MDCA VAA.

DSG, Dr Takavafira M. Zhou

Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Veteran Activists Association(VAA) is solidly behind President Nelson Chamisa, despite futile attempts by the Douglas Mwonzora political formation to arm-twist the veterans of the struggle for democracy.

Mr Tapiwa Mashakada who is singing from the Zanu PF chorus book last week attempted to place the veterans under Mr Mwonzora’s armpits.

See statement below:

MDC VAA Solidly Behind Nelson Chamisa

8 February 2021

Revolutionary greetings veterans. As VAA leadership led Dr Mafa Sibanda, we want to make it categorically clear without any equivocation or ambiguity that Tsvangirai’s legacy of servant leadership, courage and indefatigable resistance in face of brutal repression; service and self sacrifice, iconic leader of democracy and egalitarianism can only be realised under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa and his entourage.

We stand where we stood in 1999 and the blood of our fallen veterans and iconic leaders would continue to water our spirit of liberty until we complete the change through the ballot box.

As such, we want to rest assure genuine veterans of the democratic struggle that we are not part and parcel of Gideon Mangena’s group that have salivated at Mwonzora’s poisoned carrot to the extent of congratulating him for the so called presidential ascent in MDCT.

We respect Mwonzora, Khupe, Komichi, Mudzuri etc as human beings, so likewise do we respect any other veteran, but not the choice of their political path. Politics is a game of grassroots support and as VAA we will continue with our adjunctive welfare issues and in the process complement the mainstream MDCA quest for democracy and egalitarianism in Zimbabwe.

The character and stamina of VAA National and provincial leadership cannot navigate an unfamiliar democratic path. Vice Chair, Lucia Masekesa; SG, Musimiki; TG Mutisi; DTG, Hlalo; Organ, Gonhi; D Organ, Paul Madzore; coordinator, Bheki Jama Sibanda; Welfare, Mwedzi; Security, Zireva; D/Sec, Mutsvairo; Infor, B Mandava; D/Infor, Lewellin Sibanda; Sec for Legal Affairs, Daniel Molokele; Admin, Mubatsa, Women chair, E. Muzvondiwa; Denias Mudzingwa, Timothy Kondo, Pretty Ndlovu, Fisher etc are tried and tested leaders who can never waver from a clear democratic way forward.

History will always absolve us and we will always focus on alleviating plight of living veterans and that of the relatives of our fallen veterans of the democratic struggle. Our collective effort and institutional memory will never betray us. President Chamisa is currently our best foot forward and we encourage unity, cooperation, ingenuity, dexterity and enthusiasm in the rank and file of MDCA in order to complete Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy in Zimbabwe.

For and on behalf of MDCA VAA.

DSG, Dr Takavafira M. Zhou

Former MDC-T National Chairperson, Abedinico Bhebhe has refuted claims that he was re-admitted into the opposition MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora.

Abedinico Bhebhe was expelled from the party shortly before the party’s chaotic Extraordinary congress held in December last year.

Abedinico Bhebhe issued the statement below. 

RESPONSE TO THE STATEMENT ON MR ABEDNICO BHEBHE’S PURPORTED RE-ADMISSION TO MDC-T

Fellow Comrades, Members of our Principled Party and the public in general, allow me to express my humble appreciation for all the support and encouragement you have continued to give me. I really appreciate it and sincerely grateful.

Following an MDC-T press release (06/02/2021) and the import of its content, I have felt it necessary to respond and clarify on certain perceptions created by that statement either deliberately or inadvertently. Under normal circumstances, I would not be addressing such matters through the media but since like all readers I also learnt of the purported re-admission through the press, it leaves me with no other option but to respond in kind. For the benefit of all, the cardinal rule for any re-admission of an expelled member, as provided for in the party constitution is for that concerned member to make an appeal in the next congress. For the record, I did not appeal and had no intention whatsoever to appeal to the EOC because of its chaotic and shambolic nature.

The supposed resolution to re-admit me in MDC-T as an ordinary party member is not only a violation of the party constitution, unless of course if the said gathering amended that clause as well, but more concerning is the devious portrayal as well as battering my character as if am a desperate politician seeking someone’s benevolence. That is unacceptable and should 600 10 unchallenged. Here are some basic facts that expose the infantile attempt to manipulate information for self-serving purposes:

1) It is on public record that I was expelled from the party for my incessant calls to all MDC leaders to take advantage of the Supreme Court judgment to settle our differences and unite against the common enemy. My plea resonated with most of our members. On a unifying crusade, I successfully contested and resoundingly won the first round of nominations in Bulawayo for presidency. Immediately I was summarily suspended and thereafter expelled.

2) I stated very clearly in an interview with Newsday (07/04/2020), that I would not be comfortable to be the organising secretary of a divided MDC. If the leadership could not find each other then I was not going to participate in EOC since that would be playing into the hands of ZAN U PF.#

3) Approximately three-quarters of the 2014 delegates were stopped from participating in the EOC just because they were backing my candidature.

4) The party constitution was flagrantly violated and Douglas Mworaora’s leadership is disputed because of the serious irregularities that accompanied the shameful elections. 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.

5) I approached the High Court to challenge my suspension and subsequent expulsion which paved the way for other contestants to hold the EOC without my participation.

That deprived me of my administrative and constitutional rights while it gave unfair advantage to Mr Douglas Mwonzora to contest for the highest party office having eliminated the participation of the main challenger whose victory was beyond doubt.

6) My constitutional rights were put under siege by the very National Council and I immediately lost the opportunity to contest for the presidency. What has changed NOW that I would renege on my pursuit of Justice and submit to it rigged leadership

In view of the aforementioned points, I want to make it categorically clear that I do not recognize the outcome of the 27Th December 2020 EOC and hence the so-called National Council has no legal mandate to readmit to what I do not even recognize. As far as I am concerned the EOC elections were not conducted and hence the amendment of the constitution illegitimate. My position is that the party must sit down and elect an interim leader pending it proper EOC, where every willing member is given a chance to vote or contest for the presidency.

Hon Abednico Bhebhe 9/02/2021

By A Correspondent- Mazowe valley waters Private Limited company is not at peace with Mazowe Rural District Council MRDC after the local authority accepted their branded bins and abandoned them in their yard .

The new water company allegedly donated 6 bins to MRDC which were never used.

Mazowe Valley Waters Chief Executive officer Tafadzwa Makaya said they have made follow-ups to the effect of the abandoned bins but he is not getting a satisfactory answer.

“On November 25 last year we donated our branded bins to our local council in a bid to develop a partnership and synergies with the council in the management of solid waste,” Makaya said.

“This was in support of their vision and mission statement which reads an empowered prosperous community by December 2030 and to provide quality services through community participation.”

MRDC chief executive officer Liberty Mufandaedza said the delay in installing the bins was necessitated by trying to find the best location with excessive garbage.

“There was a delay in deciding where the bins could be fixed for effective use. It was finally agreed that the bins be placed in Glendale where there is more garbage than anywhere else in Mazowe district. The bins have since been taken to Glendale,” said Mufandaedza.

The bottling company said the task was given to Joshua Nyashanu the Community development officer whom they handed over their donation.

“As a company we made a follow up to our donations and saw the bins abandoned in the yard. We questioned both Mufandaedza and Nyashanu who promised to install them in Concession but to date they are still abandoned in the council yard,” lamented Makaya.

Contacted for comment Nyashanu confirmed the case and blasted the water company for reporting their case to the press.

“We have their bins but why did these guys approach the press they were supposed to come back to us not to report to the press so we cannot assist them now,” fumed Nyashanu.

Meanwhile, the bins were also donated in support of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s monthly clean up campaigns.

By Showbiz Reporter| Mambos Chicken have always on top of events with the best headline titles to suit their daily marketing, but never have they been this naughty to the level of screaming louder than the Norton MP Temba Mliswa. The restaurant has released the below graphic which says: “Huku yauno Temba,” while also flashing a “Norton 18” byline at the end.

Mliswa’s messy affair with his ExGirlfriend Susan Mutami has taken the nation by storm since last week. – ZimEye PICTURE:

By A Correspondent- Police in Victoria Falls have arrested a mechanic who had terrorized residents by breaking into vehicles stealing car batteries and wheels.

Isaac Desmond Banda (25) of 1377 Chinotimba is facing six counts of theft after breaking into six cars between April and December last year.

He would then sell the parts for cheaper prices

Banda was arrested last week following investigations by police.

Police are making more inquiries on a series of other theft of car parts crimes that have been happening in the city which Banda could be linked to.

Banda appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa on Friday charged with six counts of theft.

He applied for bail and the magistrate remanded him in custody to Wednesday for ruling.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- Corruption accused Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Henrietta Rushwaya, has been reinstated as the organisation’s top boss after she was suspended last year.

The nine-lives ex-ZIFA boss was suspended by the federation’s committee a few days after she was caught at Robert Mugabe International airport with over 6kg of gold has bounced back as ZMF boss after the board suspended her as they were convinced she was putting the name of the organisation into disrepute.

In a meeting held at the Rainbow Towers on Tuesday, ZMF National Executive members unanimously agreed to reinstate Rushwaya with immediate effect saying her suspension was unconstitutional.

The miners’ federation admitted Rushwaya’s suspension was not lawful and that it is the duty of the National Executive and not of the General Council to suspend her.

A gesture to lift the suspension was moved by Daniel Chitenje.

Watch video below:

By A Correspondent- An exclusive report by Maverick Citizen which is a post mortem of the rot that killed the Zimbabwean dream of freedom and independence identifies President Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the cartel bosses in Zimbabwe. I

The 64-page report which details the scale of the theft among others illicit cross-border financial transactions is being published in South Africa.

The report, “A Study of Cartel Dynamics” notes that underhand dealings cost Zimbabwe up to a staggering US$3-billion a year and billions in gold and diamonds smuggled out of the country.

Maverick Citizen claims that the report was last week sent to Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, and all those implicated in the report seeking their comments but they did not respond.

The publication says the report focuses on business cartels because these are the vehicles used for state capture.

An anonymous expert who was asked to review the report pointed out that normally cartels work to undermine the state but in Zimbabwe, however, they are in league with the highest people in the land.

The report also explains that because cartels and corrupt economic behaviour are “by their very nature secretive… it is difficult to accurately measure how much wealth the citizens of Zimbabwe have lost because of cartel activities.”

Nevertheless, the authors of the report provide several examples that point to the sheer scale of the theft:

• Illicit cross-border financial transactions cost Zimbabwe between $570-million and $3-billion a year;
• Intra-country fraud associated with cartels could cost up to $1-billion every year;
• According to a 2020 report by the International Crisis Group, up to $1.5-billion worth of gold per year is illegally smuggled out of the country;
• Billions of dollars in diamonds go unaccounted for; and
• In 2018 Zimbabwe’s auditor-general noted that 82% of government expenditure had financial irregularity in one form or another.

Transparency International ratings have over the years consistently ranked Zimbabwe among the most corrupt countries in the world.

Ironically, Mnangagwa is identified as one of the cartel bosses when he declared war on corruption when he rose to power in 2017 and pledged to take necessary measures to address it

By A Correspondent|The MDC Veteran Activists Association(VAA) is solidly behind President Nelson Chamisa, despite futile attempts by the Douglas Mwonzora political formation to arm-twist the veterans of the struggle for democracy.

Mr Tapiwa Mashakada who is singing from the Zanu PF chorus book last week attempted to place the veterans under Mr Mwonzora’s armpits.

See statement below:

MDC VAA Solidly Behind Nelson Chamisa

8 February 2021

Revolutionary greetings veterans. As VAA leadership led Dr Mafa Sibanda, we want to make it categorically clear without any equivocation or ambiguity that Tsvangirai’s legacy of servant leadership, courage and indefatigable resistance in face of brutal repression; service and self sacrifice, iconic leader of democracy and egalitarianism can only be realised under the leadership of Nelson Chamisa and his entourage.

We stand where we stood in 1999 and the blood of our fallen veterans and iconic leaders would continue to water our spirit of liberty until we complete the change through the ballot box.

As such, we want to rest assure genuine veterans of the democratic struggle that we are not part and parcel of Gideon Mangena’s group that have salivated at Mwonzora’s poisoned carrot to the extent of congratulating him for the so called presidential ascent in MDCT.

We respect Mwonzora, Khupe, Komichi, Mudzuri etc as human beings, so likewise do we respect any other veteran, but not the choice of their political path. Politics is a game of grassroots support and as VAA we will continue with our adjunctive welfare issues and in the process complement the mainstream MDCA quest for democracy and egalitarianism in Zimbabwe.

The character and stamina of VAA National and provincial leadership cannot navigate an unfamiliar democratic path. Vice Chair, Lucia Masekesa; SG, Musimiki; TG Mutisi; DTG, Hlalo; Organ, Gonhi; D Organ, Paul Madzore; coordinator, Bheki Jama Sibanda; Welfare, Mwedzi; Security, Zireva; D/Sec, Mutsvairo; Infor, B Mandava; D/Infor, Lewellin Sibanda; Sec for Legal Affairs, Daniel Molokele; Admin, Mubatsa, Women chair, E. Muzvondiwa; Denias Mudzingwa, Timothy Kondo, Pretty Ndlovu, Fisher etc are tried and tested leaders who can never waver from a clear democratic way forward.

History will always absolve us and we will always focus on alleviating plight of living veterans and that of the relatives of our fallen veterans of the democratic struggle. Our collective effort and institutional memory will never betray us. President Chamisa is currently our best foot forward and we encourage unity, cooperation, ingenuity, dexterity and enthusiasm in the rank and file of MDCA in order to complete Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy in Zimbabwe.

For and on behalf of MDCA VAA.

DSG, Dr Takavafira M. Zhou

By A Correspondent | Justice Webster Chinamora has ended 8-day detention of MDC leaders,  Hon. Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri by setting aside Magistrate Mambanje’s ruling denying them bail.

Justice Chinamora ordered the duo to pay RTGS$10 000 bail each and report at a police station once a fortnight.

The two were arrested last week and charged for allegedly obstructing justice and violating lockdown rules.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) President Henrietta Rushwaya has been reinstated as the Federation President following her suspension last year.

During a meeting held at short notice at the Rainbow Towers today, ZMF members unanimously agreed to reinstate Rushwaya with immediate effect saying her suspension was unconstitutional.

The Federation stated that the suspension was not lawful and that it is the duty of the National Executive not of the General Council (Management Committee) to suspend her.

Mr Daniel Chitenje moved the motion to lift the suspension before it was seconded unanimously.

Rushwaya has been reinstated forthwith.

More to follow…

By A Correspondent- Botswana on Monday executed two men who were convicted and sentenced to death for murder.

In a statement this Monday, Botswana Prison Service Assistant Commissioner Wamorena Ramolefhe said Wedu Mosalagae, 33, and Kutlo Setima, 29 years, both males, were executed for separate murders.

Assistant Commissioner Ramolefhe said the two convicts lost their appeals to the High Court of Appeal on the 5th August 2020.

The statement read:

The Botswana Prison Service wishes to inform the public that the execution of the death penalty passed on Mr Wedu Mosalagae, 33 years, of Letlhakane village and Mr Kutlo Setima, 29 years, of Ghanzi, was carried out this morning, (Monday 8th February 2021) at Gaborone Central Prison.

Mosalagae was committed to death by Francistown High Court on the 8th August 2019, for the murder of Ms Barobi Rampape on the 24th November 2012 at Nkoshe Ward at Letlhakane while Setima was committed to death by the High Court of Botswana at Lobatse 24th May 2019 for the murder of Ms Tsone Kosi of Kgaphamadi ward, Ghanzi.

They both lost their appeals to the High Court of Appeal on the 5th of August 2020.

Capital punishment is an emotive subject and some regional countries, notably South Africa have abolished it.

However, like Botswana, Zimbabwe still upholds the death penalty and the end of 2018, there were at least 81 people on death row.

In March 2018, President Emerson Mnangagwa commuted the death sentences for those that had been on death row for more than 10 years, benefiting at least 16 people.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF will tomorrow hold its politburo meeting, amid indications that the COVID-19 pandemic will take centre stage during deliberations.

This comes at a time the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of high-profile ruling party members and government officials including ministers Sibusiso Moyo (Foreign Affairs and International Trade), Joel Biggie Matiza (Transport and Infrastructural Development) and Ellen Gwaradzimba (Manicaland Provincial Affairs), as well as securocrats Retired BrigadierGeneral Collen Moyo and prisons boss Paradzayi Zimondi, who were all interred at the National Heroes Acre late last month.

In a statement yesterday on behalf of the Zanu-PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu, who is reportedly recovering from COVID-19, the ruling party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said the politburo would hold its meeting on Wednesday.

“The secretary for administration Cde Dr OM Mpofu wishes to advise members of the public that there shall be a politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday February 10, 2021 at the party headquarters commencing at 1000 hours. All members should be seated by 0945 hours sharp,” Moyo said.

A source close to the meeting said the issue of COVID-19 would top the agenda at the meeting.

“The issue of COVID-19 will top the agenda, especially now that we are at a stage where we are about to roll out COVID-19 vaccines,” the source said.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Incessant rains have caused serious damage to infrastructure and crops in Matabeleland South, with villagers fearing for the safety of their houses.

Matobo district ward 15 councillor Dickson Moyo told Southern Eye yesterday that it was the first time since the 1970s that the area had experienced heavy rains which destroyed crops.

He said most families were now facing hunger after their crops were washed away by flash floods.

“Our crops are now a writeoff, even those planted through the Intwasa/Pfumbudza scheme. The government was supposed to assist us with fertiliser to avert leaching, but we only got it last week. Mkhokha village has more than 1 000 villagers, but we only received 200 bags of fertilizer, which is not enough,” Moyo said.

He said incessant rains last hit Matabeleland South in the 1970s, adding that several homesteads had their huts damaged by the rains as they were constructed using non-durable material.

MDC Alliance provincial chairman Solani Moyo said in Bulilima East, roads had been turned into rivers. He said Manzamnyama River experienced flash floods.

“Villagers have spent two weeks without entering their fields due to the continuous rains that we are receiving in Bulilima everyday. Our crops are now clogged up with water, making them a write-off,” Moyo said.

He said he had to assist some villagers in Huwana village with meal-mealie, after their homesteads were destroyed by the rains.-newsday

By A Correspondent- The 16 year old Chinhoyi girl who was recently fined $15 000 for violating Covid-19 curfew regulations on Saturday has been granted free bail pending appeal by Chinhoyi magistrate, Mr Tendai Banda.

The girl, (identity concealed) of no fixed bode was also facing a 60-day jail term if she failed to pay the fine by 15th day of this month.

Last week, Chinhoyi magistrate’s Ms Melody Rwizi found the girl guilty of contravening Section 25 (2) of Statutory lnstrument (SI) 10/21 for disobeying curfew orders and regulations and was convicted for breaching Section 4 (i)(a) of SI 83/20 that criminalises loitering and unnecessary movement during national lockdown.

Thirty days were set aside by the magistrate for the next two years on condition the girl does not commit a similar offence.

The court heard that on 28 January 2021 at around 11 pm, the girl was arrested when she was loitering at Chinhoyi’s Gadzema main bus terminus in the company of two unidentified men.

The two men escaped.

She was taken to Chemagamba Police Station where she was charged for breaching the on-going curfew meant to curtail the spread of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Nyasha Sibesha prosecuted.

Representing the girl, Justice for Children represented by its lawyer Ms Pamellah Musimwa, spearheaded the release of the girl on free bail.

The accused has since been taken to Kadoma Training Institute under the care Department of Social Welfare.

The lawyer argued that imprisonment should be used as a last resort whilst also taking into consideration the best interests of the child.

JCT, she said, was concerned about the levels of child rights violations that children are being exposed to starting from families, communities, and duty bearers. statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has petitioned the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) over police officers fond of throwing tear smoke on commuter omnibuses.

The petition came soon after an incident last Friday, where police officers threw teargas canisters into a kombi along Seke Road in Harare, which had passengers inside.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he had not received a report about the incident.

A passenger, who spoke to NewsDay, said: “Four canisters were fired from the car which was in transit along Seke Road. We were waiting for transport and we ran in all directions after teargas had been thrown into the bus. Smoke is still stuck in my throat.”

He said his mask still smelt of tear smoke.

“No one was run over or hit by cars since the drivers stopped their cars after seeing commotion, but what surprised me is that there were also other police officers who were waiting for transport at the scene where teargas was thrown into a kombi,” he said.

PAZ president Tafadzwa Goliati said: “On Friday, we received complaints from passengers that commuters, who were coming from work, were tear-gassed by riot police at Coca-Cola along Seke Road. Today (Monday) in the morning, we received the same news that at the same place, the police in a black Honda Fit vehicle teargassed passengers.

“This is dangerous because in the process passengers run for their lives, and they may end up being hit by cars. Teargassing people during the COVID-19 era is not only bad, but it is dangerous. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, and imagine what teargas will do to weaken the respiratory system.”

Goliati said the country needed to be freed from such kinds of torture.

“What they are doing is very wrong and it has no place in a democratic world. My question is: who is going to be answerable to the injuries and deaths that might happen as a result of this unbecoming behaviour by our security forces. Zimbabwe needs to be freed from this kind of torture.”

Last year, seven police officers who teargassed a commuter omnibus packed with passengers in Harare were arrested.-newsday

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Mozambique Lt. General (Rtd) Douglas Nyikayaramba has died.

The development was confirmed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa this Tuesday during the first cabinet briefing at State House.

Multiple sources however alleged that Nyikayaramba succumbed to covid-19.

This publication was however in the process of establishing the cause of death by the time of writing

More details follow…

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Mozambique Lt. General (Rtd) Douglas Nyikayaramba has died.

The development was confirmed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa this Tuesday during the first cabinet briefing at State House.

Multiple sources however alleged that Nyikayaramba succumbed to covid-19. This publication was however in the process of establishing the cause of death by the time of writing

More details follow…

By A Correspondent| Following the death of Foreign Affairs minister SB Moyo, Agriculture minister Perrence Shiri and now Douglas Nyikayaramba among other top military brass credited for the November 2017 military coup, a Zanu PF faction fronted by vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been decimated giving President Emmerson Mnangagwa an edge against his foes.

Nyikayaramba was confirmed dead this morning with sources saying he succumbed to the deadly COVID-19.

According to sources to Zanu PF, Chiwenga had succeeded in keeping to his faction, military personnel who were part of the coup that removed the late former President Robert Mugabe.

On the other hand, Mnangagwa relied on party stalwarts some of who are now stationed at the party headquarters and provincial chairpersons some of whom rallied behind him during the time he was under fire from the G40 faction.

Mnangagwa went on to appoint his own people in key party and government positions with one case in point being the replacement of Engelbert Rugeje by Victor Matemadanda to the position of National Commissar.

The move was seen as part of Mnangagwa’s plot to deal with Chiwenga aligned people who were occupying key party positions.

Chiwenga has also fought for his people including SB Moyo and Perrence Shiri but COVID-19 seems to have other ideas giving Mnangagwa an edge in the power dynamics.

By A Correspondent- Police have intensified the enforcement of lockdown measures, including vetting of people passing through various checkpoints leading into city centres.

The move has resulted in long queues at most checkpoints especially those leading into Harare’s city centre in the morning.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the Level 4 lockdown was still in place and warned the public against disregarding the measures.

“The ZRP confirms that on February 5, 2021, 3 459 people were arrested for Covid-19 related contraventions.

“On February  6, 3 643 people were arrested for Covid-19 related breaches and on February 7, 2 848 people were arrested for Covid-19-related infringements,” he said.

“It appears some people are not adhering to lockdown measures and police have heightened operations to ensure compliance, hence the long queues being witnessed at roadblocks.

“There are a lot people who are travelling without exemptions. These are the very people who try to bribe their way through roadblocks.”

He said since the beginning of the national lockdown on March 30, 2020, a total of 403 544 people had been arrested for violating national lockdown measures.

“Most of those arrested were in violation of movement restrictions. Members of the public are advised to comply with the measures put in place by the Government to reduce the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

All those exempted and regarded as offering essential service for the nation were required to produce exemption letters at all roadblocks.

At a checkpoint near Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport along Seke road, reporters witnessed various motorists being turned back home after failing to produce required documents.

Zupco buses were stopped and every passenger was being ordered to disembark and produce an exemption letter.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Teachers have bemoaned the drop in the 2020 Grade Seven pass rate and urged Government to work with mobile network providers so that data for online lessons is affordable.

The national pass rate is 37,11 percent compared to 46,9 percent recorded in 2019, translating to a decrease of 9,79 percent.

Statistics from the Zimbabwe Schools Examinations council (Zimsec) shows that the total number of candidates who sat for the 2020 Grade Seven examination was 327 559. This figure is 1,35 percent higher than the 2019 entry of 323 207.

Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) president Mr Richard Gundani said the drop in the 2020 Grade Seven pass rate can be attributed to many factors including the Covid-19-induced lockdown and teachers incapacitation.

“School closed in the wake of the Covid-19 environment. As a result of lack of access to online, distance learning opportunities and absence of teachers due to incapacitation, the majority of learners from public schools and rural schools were excluded from any form of learning as they could not afford the cost of remote learning or extra lessons and that has affected the overall Grade Seven results,” he said.

Mr Gundani said to reverse the downward trend in the pass rate there is need to motivate teachers by paying them decent salaries, postpone examinations during disasters to give learners adequate preparation time and provide adequate infrastructure and learning materials. He said there is also a need for equitable distribution of funds and resources in favour of schools in disadvantaged communities to avoid the growing gap between the rich and the poor or between urban and rural schools.

“Commitment on the part of learners and parents is a critical success factor. The demands of the new curriculum require that parents play an active role in supporting both the school and the learner. Had these exams been postponed and learners afforded adequate time, we could have realised a much better pass rate,” said Mr Gundani.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) National Secretary Mr Nation Mudzitirwa said learners did not have enough time to learn last year. From January to March, he said, most teachers were incapacitated to report for duty and then from March to September schools were closed because of Covid-19 lockdown.

“When schools opened in September the salary dispute between teachers and employer was not yet resolved so the majority of teachers were incapacitated to report for work again. So, learners were forced into examinations without completing their syllabi. As a union we once recommend that when we are faced with such challenges, examinations should be postponed to give learners enough time to prepare,” he said.

Mr Mudzitirwa said the salary dispute between teachers and Government should be fairly resolved so that teachers are paid salaries that motivate them to effectively perform their duties.

“A restoration of the US$520 salary is the immediate solution to the salary impasse between teachers and the Government,” he said.

Mr Mudzitirwa said rural schools have a majority of learners who failed and therefore there is a need to increase the rural allowance to motivate rural teachers.

Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (Ptuz) secretary for research Mr Josiphat Gwezhira said to improve the pass rate, there is a need to introduce a competent system of continuous assessment.

“Radio and TV lessons were a mirage for over 80 percent of the pupils. Some got private teachers and online lessons but they are expensive for both teachers and students, they all cannot afford to buy data bundles. As a way forward there is a need for strategies to make up for the learning time lost as a result of Covid-19 pandemic and teachers’ incapacitation. We need to work together as teachers, parents, pupils and the Government. The Government must approach the mobile network providers so that they avail cheap smartphones or tablets and data so that all pupils have access to online learning,” said Mr Gwezhira.

By A Correspondent- A Harare man faces life in prison for allegedly tampering with National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) infrastructure and removing a railway block from a defunct railway line in the city.

Maxwell Dzawanda (41) was yesterday charged with violating the 1972 Railway Act when he appeared before magistrate Barbara Mateko. He was remanded to today for bail application.

Allegations were that on February 6, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department Minerals section received information that Dzawanda was in possession of NRZ property at his home.

The detectives then teamed up with NRZ loss control officers and proceeded to his place of residence in Hopley.

It is alleged that on arrival, they spotted Dzawanda, who was opening his carpentry shop, questioned him and he showed them the eight-metre-long railway block weighing 30kg.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- There was drama in Kazunga village,Guruve when an unidentified Witch hunter popularly known as Tsikamutanda took to his heels in his regalia while bare footed after  police pounced on him this Saturday.

The witch hunter who was on a cleansing ceremony allegedly fled into a maize field resulting  in police failing to locate him.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe confirmed the case.

“We are looking for a Tsikamutanda who is alleged to be extorting people in Mahuhwe area,” Mundembe said.

According to the police they have arrested two  Tsikamutandas who have since appeared before Guruve magistrates court.

“We arrested two witch hunters John Musunda (33) of Nyamhunga village Hurungwe and Emmanuel Tandi (50) from Zvimba and they have since appeared before a Guruve magistrate Geraldine Mutsotso who granted them  bail and are expected back in court on March 11,” Mundembe said.

Meanwhile, the Tsikamutandaz are allegedly working with traditional leaders in extorting villagers and subsequently sharing the proceeds.

Police urged witch hunters to shun their activities.

“They should stop their activities including gathering people during lockdown.”

By A Correspondent- Former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye is expected in court today to answer fraud allegations relating to the illegal sale of State land in Harare and Mashonaland East Provinces.

She was arrested on Sunday in a coordinated operation by the Police Anti-Corruption Unit and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU).

Kagonye becomes the third former minister to be asked to account for charges relating to land allocations, and the eleventh on corruption-related charges, although four have fled the country.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed that Kagonye’s arrest was coordinated by the Police Anti-Corruption Unit and SACU.

“Kagonye was arrested on fraud allegations related to illegal land sales in and around Harare and Mashonaland East provinces,” he said.

Sometime in 2015, Kagonye through her company Glorious Properties was sucked into Goromonzi South land disputes where she was accused of swindling cooperatives, among them Shingiriro Housing Cooperative.

By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Municipality has halted demolition of illegal structures that have sprouted in the dormitory town until it received “policy direction” from central government.

The local authority announced the move after Chitungwiza Residents Trust (Chitrest) demanded to be furnished with a list of residential stands earmarked for demolition.

Chitrest, through its lawyers Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Idirashe Chikomba, had on January 13 written to council demanding a list of properties awaiting demolition after the local authority, in a leaked memorandum dated January 12, 2021, announced plans to demolish over 11 000 illegal structures.

In a statement, acting town clerk Tonderai Kasu said the issue of demolitions and regularisation had been put on hold as they required policy direction.

“It is noted as well that you have taken interest in the status of, and progress regarding regularisation of illegal settlements in Chitungwiza. You are hereby informed that the issues of both demolitions and regularisation are matters that require policy direction.

“This policy direction is supposed to come from both local and national levels, which consists of Cabinet, and our parent ministry of Local Government and Public Works,” Kasu said.

“Many of the issues you are raising with respect to both demolitions and regularisation are still the subject of policy formulation discussions that are taking place at both local and national level and hence at the present time the administration of the municipality is waiting for guidance in the form of policy direction on these matters.”

He said any administrative action to be taken by the municipality would be subject to compliance with section 74 of the Constitution.

Over the years, Chitungwiza has been experiencing problems of illegal structures built on spaces reserved for clinics, churches, schools, cemeteries, recreational activities, roads, under high voltage electricity pylons and on wetlands.

Meanwhile, the St Mary’s Clinic, which had been closed since January 14 due to staff shortages after seven frontline health workers tested positive to COVID-19, has been reopened.

Kasu told stakeholders in a notice that the clinic was still short-staffed even if 24 of the workers that tested positive to the coronavirus recovered after self-isolation.

The council has four clinics. The others are Zengeza Clinic, Seke North and Seke South.-newsday

By A Correspondent- A Bindura man is earning a living through breeding flies as animal feed at a time flies are associated with unhygienic practices and condemned for causing diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhoea.

Josphat Nyika told NewsDay that he had mastered the art of turning flies into animal feed, which could be a gamechanger in terms of the development of stockfeed at a time the country is grappling with the high cost of corn-based stockfeed.

Nyika, who is an agriculture graduate said: “As organic waste decays and decomposes, it produces a lot of greenhouse gases that affect the ozone layer and triggers climate change. On a daily basis, an average of one metric tonne of organic waste is produced at dumpsites. Garbage at dumpsites produce odorous smells that attract flies, making them a health hazard,” Nyika said.

“There are a number of fast-food outlets at the marketplace which used to struggle to eliminate house flies breeding at the dumpsite, just less than 20 metres away from their shops. They at times resorted to using fly traps and pesticides to eliminate flies, but could not do anything to deal with the odorous smell produced by the decaying and decomposing organic waste.

“This has become a breeding hub for diseases such as cholera and typhoid. So this innovation has managed to make use of the organic waste dumped at Chipadze Vegetable Market to produce stockfeed,” he said.

Nyika said he collected waste to feed the flies, adding that the project was a sigh of relief to nearby food outlets which used to struggle with flies emanating from the dumpsites.

On average, he collects 500kg of organic waste daily to feed black soldier fly larvae. The flies are fed to pigs, fish and poultry.

Nyika said breeding flies had helped in creating a friendly environment.

“As the waste will not be left to decompose on its own, the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted into the environment is reduced. Also, the environmental nuisance caused by the decaying organic waste is minimised,” he said.

He said the breeding of flies complemented government’s clean-up campaign.

“The innovation to use the organic waste to feed the black soldier fly larvae to produce stockfeed comes at a time the government has launched the national clean-up campaign to be held once every month. The government through the Environmental Management Agency is calling upon young people to come up with innovations that green the communities, thereby creating green jobs,” he said.

“The project site is away from residential areas and is surrounded by trees which will clean the air from the substrate tanks making it safe for animals and human beings,” he said.

He said black soldier fly larvae were rich in protein.

“The black soldier fly larvae and pupae will be harvested, dried and protein-rich stockfeed will be made to feed fish, poultry and swine. Poultry and fish can also be fed from live black soldier fly pupae or larvae,” he said.

With support from both government and the private sector, Nyika said the programme of breeding flies could create employment and end animal feed challenges.

“We aim to train small-scale poultry farmers on the use of black solder fly larva to feed poultry and help them set up black soldier fly breeding facilities to alleviate stockfeed challenges,” he said.-newsday