By A Correspondent- The country has recorded about 1 000 millimeters (mm) of rains on average in the ongoing rain season surpassing last year’s average rains by about 100 percent, the Meteorological Department has noted.
The maximum rains that the country has received this season was recorded in Nyanga which has since the onset of the rains received about 1 200mm, while areas that perennially receive below average rains such as Kezi in Matabeleland South have so far received around 700 mm (one mm of rain is equal to one litre per square metre of water on the surface).
The Department said Bulawayo Metropolitan Province which usually receives average to below average rains this year received between 500mm to 800mm on average while Harare recorded close to 1 000mm.
According to the Met Department, the rains received this year were last received in the 2016/17 rain season when the country had a bumper crop harvest which was complemented by the Command Agriculture programme. The Met Department said the country had by this time last season recorded 500mm on average.
“The country has so far received significant rainfall since the beginning of the season. On average the country has received 1 000mm. The areas that have received more rains are Nyanga which received 1 200mm that is as of Friday, February 5, followed by Chisengu in Chimanimani which has 1 150mm.
Areas that traditionally receive low rainfall such as Kezi received 700mm. The Lowveld which perennially receives below average rains also surpassed 500mm. Most rains are usually not uniform throughout a particular province because the province may not be in the same region and therefore calculating rainfall patterns by provinces may distort the average rains received,” said the department.
The department warned that the country was still to receive more rains.
“The flash floods witnessed in towns and cities show that the rains received this season are way above average. The rainfall patterns this year show that there would be good harvests. There are more rains in the Eastern Highlands as compared to the Lowveld.”
The department said few places such as Mwenezi, Rushinga, Guruve and Nyanyadzi are yet to surpass the 350mm mark so far. Much of the country though is already above 500mm of accumulated rainfall so far as the season progresses.
“Much of the country is within the above normal category owing to the heavy rains that are continuing. There are still a few areas which are in the below normal category The northern part of the Mashonaland provinces is in the normal category. Kezi is showing that the rainfall accumulated so far is way above normal.
“As of last week, (January 31) significant amounts were recorded mostly along the central parts of the country and in Matabeleland South. Chivhu, Kadoma, Mvuma, Binga, Zvishavane and Kezi all recorded amounts above 130mm.
Several other places were between 50mm and 100mm as the wet spell continues throughout the country. Between February 5 and February 13, significant rainfall precipitation amounts are expected in the western and northern parts of the country. Much of the precipitation is expected especially along the Zambezi valley.
Isolated showers are still expected throughout much of the country though.”-statemedia
MDC Alliance national vice-chairman Job Sikhala says he has been informed that he will soon face fabricated rape charges.
The combative Zengeza West Member of Parliament, who has been arrested more than 60 times without a single conviction, says the State’s strategy of cooking rape charges will not only affect him but other government critics.
Sikhala intimated that renowned journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono and another unnamed individual could face a similar charge.
I am informed that some concocted rape charges are coming. This will not only affect me but other citizens classified as state enemies. Beware [Hopewell Chin’ono] and another I am not at freedom to mention.
Last year, Chin’ono also claimed that he had been informed that spurious rape charges would be laid against him before his arrest in July on charges of inciting Zimbabweans to join a planned anti-government protest.
He was arrested again in November on charges of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
The award-winning journalist was arrested yet again in January this year on allegations of publishing falsehoods prejudicial to the State, a charge which no longer exists in statute books according to legal experts.
The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) says all foreign-registered vehicles are now required to pay toll fees in foreign currency in line with Statutory Instrument 32 of 2021 promulgated on Friday last week.
The move is expected to raise more funds for road refurbishment across the country. Most of the country’s roads especially in towns and cities are now in a bad shape following heavy rains received this season.
Zinara public relations and marketing manager Mr Tendai Mugabe confirmed that it was now mandatory for all foreign registered vehicles plying on Zimbabwe’s roads to pay toll fees in foreign currency.
“Yes, I can confirm that following the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 32 of 2021 all foreign registered vehicles are now required by the law to pay toll fees in foreign currency,” he said.
“This is a statutory obligation that all motorists have to abide by, and it is also going to help us raise the much-needed funds to disburse to our road authorities.
Most of our roads are now in a bad state after they were neglected for a long time and we hope these interventions by the Government to raise road funds will go a long way in making sure that we make meaningful disbursements to road authorities.”
Mr Mugabe said Zinara had embarked on a rebranding exercise where it would now restrict itself to its core mandate as enshrined in the Roads Act.
“It can be recalled that at some point Zinara overstepped its mandate and engaged in road development projects and that ended up being an audit issue,” said Mr Mugabe.
“The new management at Zinara is realigning the organisation’s operations in a massive rebranding exercise that will see the institution focusing solely on its legislative mandate.
“Our mandate as Zinara is to fix, collect and disburse road user fees to road authorities”.
Road development works are done by the four road authorities that we disburse to and these are the department of roads in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, the District Development, urban and rural councils.
“We have seen on social media people blaming Zinara for the deterioration of the road infrastructure in a clear indication that they are fully aware of Zinara’s mandate. It is important for the public to know and understand that Zinara is a road fund administrator.”
Mr Mugabe said their disbursements to road authorities were tied to the collections they do.
“We cannot disburse what we have not collected and at some point, the tariffs had become sub-economic for us to make meaningful disbursements.
“We are optimistic that the introduction of dual pricing is going to have a significant impact on the disbursements that we do towards road authorities,” Mr Mugabe said.
Former Labour, Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye has been arrested on allegations of fraud.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest saying she is facing charges related to illegal parcelling out of state land.
Kagonye has been fighting with environmental activists over a recreation park she intended to convert into a wedding venue.
The area situated along Mukuvisi river is also a wetland.
By A Correspondent- Temba Mliswa’s ex-lover, Susan Mutami, has accused the Norton legislator of being an abusive man and extortioner.
In a social media post this Sunday, Mutami said Mliswa habitually uses his sister name, Mary Mliswa, who is the Mashonaland West Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, to extort money from people.
Mutami, whose romantic relationship with Mliswa ended acrimoniously, claimed that the latter told her that he does not care about First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa at all. Said Mutami:
If I was a resident of Norton I would be very worried if I had a legislator like Temba Mliswa because he’s a very abusive man.
Anobira vanhu mari all in the context of my sister is the minister of Mash West, ndokubatsirai kuwana minda. Vanhu vodyirwa mari dzavo mahara.
Temba does not love the first family, he told me personally that he had a fight with the First Lady vakati havadi kumuona and he said he didn’t care about that woman at all as they were not related.
According to him Temba’s dad once helped the Mnangagwa family some years back so he said the president is oblidged to look after him and his siblings and that he paid 30k for his dad’s funeral.
Temba writes fake expose’s on people and goes on to extort money from people. He preaches let’s fight corruption yet he’s the one that’s corrupt.
Innscor is a victim of Temba and not only that but Paul Westwood in England.
I think the President needs to intervene in this Crisis.
People in Mashwest live in fear because of Temba and how he abuses the president’s name purporting to be his brother yet he’s not related to him.
By A Correspondent- Budiriro residents are up in arms with their council District Officer (DO) Chiratidzo Dzama whom they accuse of continuously parcelling out State land to land barons.
She is further accused of abusing her power by grabbing land for her self enrichment and also giving some to her friends and subordinates illegally.
Sources who spoke to this publication said she also dubiously allocated receipts to her allies.
“We are at war with Mai Dzama over stands she has denied low income housing vapostori their right to own land while parceling out to land barons like Taurai Munyika, Clifford Chimusoro and Muchineripi Utete, lamented the source who declined to be named.
Further investigations by this reporter proved that in the alleged corruption she is working closely with the council’s legal officer Alice Zeure who works at Town House.
Contacted for comment Dzama said the complainants can report their case to Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) but will not succeed as she is well connected.
“I am tired of these accusations the complainants can report me to ZACC and see if l get arrested, l am well connected,” fumed Dzama.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has started implementing recommendations of the Uchena Commission land audit which implicated several Zanu PF-linked land barons in the illegal sale of State land.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga has been tasked to implement findings of the probe and bring the culprits to book.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba confirmed the development on Friday.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has distanced itself from a collation of Grade 7 results showing a staggering number of schools, especially in Matabeleland, recording zero passes.
Zimsec released the 2020 Grade 7 results on Friday showing a sharp decline in the pass rate from the previous year.
A ranking of schools that has been circulating on social media showed at least 88 schools countrywide recorded zero percent pass rates.
According to the ranking, nine of the topranked schools were in Harare while Bulawayo did not have a school in the top 40.
Most of the worst-performing schools, with zero percent pass rates, were said to be in Matabeleland. However, Zimsec spokesperson Nicholette Dhlamini yesterday said the examinations body did not rank the schools according to the results.
“That report circulating on social media did not originate from Zimsec. We don’t rate individual schools, but I can confirm that there was a drop in the pass rate by 9.79% compared to the 2019 results,” Dhlamini said.
“The global trend due to the Covid-19 pandemic affected all learners in one way or the other, so it would have been expected that there would be a decline because of the situation learners found themselves in.”
On Friday, Zimsec board chairperson Eddy Mwenje said of the 327 559 candidates that sat for the examinations, 167 602 (51.17%) were females while 159 957 (48.83%) were males.
“The 2020 national pass rate is 37,11%, which is lower than the 2019 national pass rate, which was 46,9 %,” Mwenje said.
“This translates to a decrease of 9, 79%. “The pass rate for female candidates was 39.67% compared to 34.42% for males. “Indigenous languages recorded a high subject pass rates when compared to performances in English, Mathematics, Agriculture and General Paper.”
The ranking, that has now been disowned by Zimsec, generated a lot of debate on social media. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba posted a screenshot of the purported rankings and immediately put the blame for the alleged poor performance of the students on Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz).
Charamba’s tweet drew the ire of Artuz secretary-general Robson Chere.
“The fact that the administration chooses such an airhead to speak for the president says all about the calibre of the same administration,” Chere said.
“Last year was characterised by total incapacitation of teachers, who at one point were earning less than US$50.
“We agree that teachers play a decisive role in the advancement of education.
“It’s, however, not a secret that educators are not miracle-workers.”
He said the Covid-19 pandemic rendered teaching and learning almost impossible last year and government effected lockdowns with learners spending considerable time at home.
“Artuz was on record advising and even demanding that no exams should be administered for the simple reason that learners did not learn,” Chere said.
A Chinhoyi teacher, Rosten Mtapa, said the writing was on the wall as government decided to ignore calls by unions to address teachers’ welfare.-standard
By A Correspondent- Students at Zimbabwe’s tertiary institutions are up in arms with their institutions, which they accuse of charging exorbitant fees for online classes during the lockdown period.
Education institutions, including schools, universities and colleges, have been closed for most of the time since Zimbabwe first went into lockdown in March last year to slow down the spread of Covid-19.
This forced institutions to switch to online lessons to avoid disruption of learning activities, but most of them have not adjusted their fees accordingly.
Tariro Mapanga, a student at a local university, said she was struggling to access online learning programmes because data was expensive.
Mapanga believes her university could lessen the burden on her by reviewing the fees downwards so that she is left with some money to pay for the data.
“I now have extra financial responsibilities for me to be able to participate in online lessons,” she said.
“I need to pay for the data, and I have to dig deep into my savings to get a mobile phone compatible with e-learning. I am failing to meet all the expenses for e-learning while paying my full fees at the same time.”
Wilbert Muzarawetu, the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) students’ representative council vice-president, said the government was neglecting tertiary institutions, driving them to charge exorbitant fees. Muzarawetu said the government had also allowed outdated administration systems which compelled students to pay for what they were not utilising to continue running.
“They made efforts to enhance e-learning and negotiated a flexible and cheaper data package with local network service providers, but it’s not enough,” Muzarawetu said.
“As students’ representatives, we are approaching well-wishers for bailouts on behalf of the disadvantaged students, something which the government should have considered.
“The universities’ accounting systems should automatically adjust where necessary so that students pay for only what they are utilising.”
He said students were facing challenges accessing online lessons due to financial constraints and warned of an increase in the number of dropouts.
Zimbabwe national Students union president Takudzwa Ngadziore accused tertiary institutions of profiteering by forcing students to pay for services they were not utilising during lockdown.
“As it is now on the fees structure, students are still being ordered to pay for transport costs, yet no one is using their buses due to the lockdown restrictions,” Ngadziore said.
“Authorities should slash the fees during lockdown, and then review them on resumption of physical learning.
“It will then lessen the financial burden of students, which is hindering effective online learning.” uZ vice-chancellor Paul Mapfumo said students should engage the authorities formally for their concerns to be addressed.
“Paying tuition fee is meant to enhance learning for students and is approved by government,” Mapfumo said.
“Therefore, students cannot complain about tuition fees when they are still learning.
“On the issue of paying for ancillary costs, students have a forum to engage the university authorities and they can’t complain on public platforms.
“We are prepared to hear their proposal.”
Mapfumo described online lessons at the uZ as a success, adding challenges faced were yet to be brought to his attention.
By A Correspondent- Budiriro residents are up in arms with their council District Officer (DO) Chiratidzo Dzama whom they accuse of continuously parcelling out State land to land barons.
She is further accused of abusing her power by grabbing land for her self enrichment and also giving some to her friends and subordinates illegally.
Sources who spoke to this publication said she also dubiously allocated receipts to her allies.
“We are at war with Mai Dzama over stands she has denied low income housing vapostori their right to own land while parceling out to land barons like Taurai Munyika, Clifford Chimusoro and Muchineripi Utete, lamented the source who declined to be named.
Further investigations by this reporter proved that in the alleged corruption she is working closely with the council’s legal officer Alice Zeure who works at Town House.
Contacted for comment Dzama said the complainants can report their case to Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) but will not succeed as she is well connected.
“I am tired of these accusations the complainants can report me to ZACC and see if l get arrested, l am well connected,” fumed Dzama.
Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has started implementing recommendations of the Uchena Commission land audit which implicated several Zanu PF-linked land barons in the illegal sale of State land.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga has been tasked to implement findings of the probe and bring the culprits to book.
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba confirmed the development on Friday.
GOVERNMENT CAN’T OUTSOURCE RESPONSIBILITY. ( Response to Jamwanda aka George Charamba’s Utterances)
ARTUZ notes with shock the irresponsible insinuation uttered by one Jamwanda whom we understand is George Charamba to the effect that teachers are responsible for some dismal Grade 7 results in some schools across the country.
The fact that Mr Charamba does not understand the dynamics, ins and outs, intimacies and intricacies of education does not surprise us. His consistent uneducated utterances over the years have left everyone in no doubt whatsoever that he is dead from the neck upwards. The fact that the administration chooses such an airhead for speaking for the President says all about the calibre of the same administration.
ARTUZ, as usual a patriotic and generous teacher’s union wishes therefore to educate Mr Charamba about the basic tenets of education. We are used to work for free anyway. The education of our children is a simple triangle made up of teachers, learners and parents. This triangle is brought together by a responsible government through capacitating both parties. We all know that with unemployment rate of more than 90% parents are totally incapacitated to provide a conducive home and environment for their children to study. Parents who are struggling to put a square meal on the table can not be expected to provide for basic educational needs of their children. It is Mr Charamba’s government that has presided over the demise of all forms of meaningful employment hence casting all citizens into the pit of abject poverty.
Last year was characterised by total incapacitation of teachers whom at one point were earning less than US$50. We agree that teachers play a decisive role in the advancement of education. It’s however not a secret that educators are not miracle workers. Even religious missionaries were equipped with resources for their material welfare. Teachers simply could not execute their duties because they just didn’t have the resources to do so. Maybe Mr Charamba can point to us which employer was supposed to capacitate teachers.
The Covid 19 pandemic rendered teaching and learning almost impossible last year and government effected lockdowns with learners spending considerable time at home. Artuz was on record advising and even demanding that no exams should be administered for the simple reason that learners did not learn. The government as usual defaulted to its traditional command mode and we got command education with the attendant dismal results. Suddenly it is teachers’ fault according to the all knowing Charamba!
As Artuz we have always been clear, honest and forthright with our employer. We pointed to the dangers of incapacitation of teachers, we pointed to the effects of Covid and we agitated for a better economic climate in relation to the education sector. We correctly hold the government responsible for every poor result across the country. We did everything in our power to contribute towards better education. We regret nothing and celebrate everything.
We therefore advise Mr Charamba who happens to have the President’s ears to use his proximity to the President as a platform to address pertinent issues affecting the education sector. They may start by addressing the welfare of teachers, infrastructure in schools and combating Covid 19. His uneducated rants on Twitter are not helping anyone except exposing his arrogant ignorance.
By Simba Chikanza | 5 returning Zimbabweans are currently stranded in London due to a standoff between Britain and the Zimbabwean ambassador.
Col Christian Katsande
The Zim envoy to London has refused to assist UK Govt in releasing travel documents for volunteering returnees, in protest over the UK’s failure to title him, “His Excellency, Ret Col Christian Katsande,” in their correspondence letters. The British are simply calling him by his work title, ambassador.
War Between UK And Zim London Embassy As the Zim Ambassador Demands To Be Titled "His Excellency" – WHO WILL WIN THIS WAR? https://t.co/SPdbPiNAsJ
This adds fuel to the fire between the two nations days after the former colonial power imposed sanctions on four of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top security chiefs, one of whom is set to be appointed Foreign Affairs Minister.
POWER utility Zesa could be losing revenue to fraudsters working in cahoots with its employees who are illegally generating electricity tokens and then sell them to the public.
Some Zesa employees have been allegedly manipulating the system, generating and selling electricity tokens to customers without declaring the proceeds to the power utility company.
It is understood that some of the workers were manipulating the system to allow their agents to sell tokens and not remitting the money to Zesa.
Last week police arrested a Zesa employee and his agent for allegedly illegally generating electricity tokens and selling them to customers without the knowledge of the power utility company.
Police arrested Darlington Chiputura (41) a ZESA employee at the company’s headquarters in Harare together with his agent Joseph Wagusiwa (36) from Kadoma for allegedly illegally generating and selling electricity tokens.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the two suspects following a tip off.
“I can confirm that police have arrested Joseph Wagusiwa and Darlington Chiputura for fraud. Wagusiwa was arrested in Kadoma after a trap was set and a Zesa electricity token valued at ZWL$ 1 680 was recovered. The token had been sold to a potential client through a fraudulent system manipulation in the Zesa electricity data process.
Wagusiwa then implicated Chiputura who was responsible for generating the tokens at Zesa headquarters in Harare and supplied them to the first suspect for sale to the public for their own benefit,” he said.
It is alleged that some of the employees would manipulate the Zesa token system to create a parallel system that allows agents to sell electricity, illegally accessing the Zesa electricity database.- The Sunday News
A HEADMASTER and a driver at Mandwandwe Secondary School in Bulawayo are under investigation after 16 doors out of 32 that were replaced at classrooms by the School Development Committee reportedly went missing under unclear circumstances.
The school head, Mr Litmus Moyo, and an unnamed school driver have been implicated in the alleged scam after two of the missing doors were found installed at the driver’s house. He claimed that he was given the doors by Mr Moyo.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed that they were investigating circumstances surrounding the alleged theft of the doors but to date no arrests had been made. “Our officers are investigating that matter after a report was made but no arrests have been made so far,” said Insp Ncube.
Contacted for comment, the SDC chairperson, Mr Sign Bhebhe confirmed that they had reported the matter to the police after Mr Moyo had failed to give a substantive explanation on the whereabouts of the missing doors. “As the SDC we got a request from the school to replace the doors, we naturally approached parents who gave us a go ahead, we then went ahead to replace 32 doors at the school. However, we later got a tip off that the driver had taken some of the old doors to his house and for sure when we went there, we identified two of the old doors that had been installed at his house.
“When we asked him, he implicated the school head who initially neither denied or confirmed this assertion, we then went back to the school where we did an inventory on the old doors, where we found that only 16 were left, it is then that the school head professed ignorance on the whereabouts of the doors, which is why we had to report the issue to the police,” said Mr Bhebhe.
He said their worry was that school property could not just go missing when there were people meant to ensure its safety.
“Our thinking was that we were going to dispose of these doors and ensure that the funds raised are channeled towards the development of the school, not just for one person to benefit,” said the SDC chairperson.- The Sunday News
By A Correspondent- Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa said he is proud of the 18 children he has fathered with more than 10 women, while revealing that he pays US$25 000 each term for their school fees.
The firebrand legislator, who remains a bachelor, said he plans to continue bearing children but will eventually settle down when the right time comes.
Mliswa was speaking after being in the news last week following a fallout in his relationship with Australia-based Ms Susan Mutami who exposed controversial details on their estranged union.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Mail, Mliswa chose not to dwell much on the fallout, saying he was preparing to take legal action against some of the allegations that Ms Mutami made against him.
“The truth will come out and I am going to sue her. I am not going to sue because I need the money, I am going to take legal action not for myself but to protect people that were affected by the allegations such as the people of Norton, the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) think tank that looks up to me and my family.”
Quizzed about his children, he said: “Yes I have 18 children, and I love them very much. I am proud of them and I take very good care of them. Each term, I pay school fees of about US$25 000 because all my children attend top schools. I have 13 girls and 5 boys,” he said.
He said he will continue fathering children “to grow the clan” as his five siblings “are lazy to make children because they have just two or so”.
“We are six in our family but my brothers and sisters have just one or two children. So it is my duty to grow the clan. Our family is blessed. We have two legislators in Parliament and I count that as a blessing from God to my family.”
Asked if the plentiful children do not defile social norms, Mliswa said he had agreed not to get married to the women that he has fathered children with.
“People are different. I mostly date mature women, who are professionals and know what they want. Most of them come to an understanding with me just to have children and not get married. I have seen many marriages failing and I see a lot of cheating happening in marriages, so the marriage institution is not as sacrosanct as many people want to claim. What most people do not know is that in addition to my 18 children I take care of 600 other children through the Temba Mliswa foundation. This is in addition to other philanthropic projects that I carry out in my constituency.”
Mliswa denied allegations that he was bisexual. “Can a bisexual have 18 children? Those allegations were made just to tarnish my image.”
Farming
He spoke at length about his farming prowess, lauding the Government for the land reform programme, which he says has empowered him “more than anything else”.
He said he has made a lot of money from farming to look after his large family, dismissing claims by Ms Mutami that he was an extortionist.
“I rate Zimbabwe’s land reform programme as one of the best black empowerment initiatives the world has ever witnessed. I am what I am because of farming. This season is going to be a prosperous one for many farmers because of the good rains. At my farm in Karoi, I have put 400 hectares under maize to contribute to the country’s food security.
“At the very minimum, I am expecting a yield of at least 3 000 tonnes. This means I would have played my part in feeding the nation. Today (Thursday) we have started to harvest some green maize crop that we planted here at my house (in Borrowdale).
“I use this house as my research station for agriculture activities. I am proud to say that I have developed my farm better than what the white man did. My involvement in farming includes tobacco, where my company Saltlakes supported over 16 000 farmers, mainly small-scale growers.
“Currently, Saltlakes is leasing over 5 000 hectares for tobacco through the joint venture system that the Government has supported. So for someone to say I am an extortionist with the money I make from my farming ventures is just malice.”
Political career
Mliswa’s political career has been a roller coaster ride, at one time he rose to the post of Mashonaland West Zanu PF provincial chairperson, before he was fired from the ruling party in 2013, only to bounce back as an independent candidate and claim the Norton Constituency National Assembly seat.
“I see myself as a man of the people. I am a nationalist at heart, partly because I remain inspired by my father Kripper Peter Mliswa, who is an ex-Zipra combatant. I respect the President. Politics comes second when you love your country. That is why I stood as an independent candidate because I stand with the people.
“Some people say I influence my sister (Mashonaland West Minister for Provincial Affairs, Mary Mliswa), but what they do not know is that she is a hothead on her own. When we are together, we do not talk about politics because she respects my views and I respect hers.”
By A Correspondent- Popular jit singer Baba Harare (real name Braveman Chizvino) has taken to Facebook to introduce his new wife to Zimbabwe.
Baba Harare
The musician said he paid lobola yesterday for his wife and did not reveal her name on social media as he shared the following photos with his wife.
However, it has emerged that Baba Harare Married Nash TV presenter and musician Nomagugu Ncube who at some point was a member of a group named Ancient Times.
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The United Kingdom of Britain imposed sanctions on three security chiefs plus a minister of state security. The most likely to be appointed to the post, the Director General of the Central Intelligence, a respected career diplomat will face the UK head on.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Isaac Moyo with President Mnangagwa
This will surely cause a headache as he will be diplomatically expected to lead all and any engagement with the former colonial power.
The development comes as there is already a tiff between UK and Zimbabwe with the London based High Commissioner, His Excellency Ret’ Col Christian Katsande refusing to assist UK with releasing travel documents for Zimbabweans on a British list of returnees being sent back home. Alreadyour ambassador in the UK has failed to even issue a travel document to Zimbabweans willing to return home putting already damaged relations with England on another level.
Ambassador Katsande’s bitterness is all concerning the UK’s failure to address him as High Commissioner, His Excellency Ret’ Colonel Katsande. The British are calling him by his work title, of ambassador.
Zimbabweans numbering five so far are stranded in UK as a result of the ambassador’s standoff with UK.
In other forums, the question is asked what these targeted sanctions slapped against the four security chiefs will achieve.
Targeted sanctions are intended to be directed at individuals, companies and organizations, or restrict trade with key commodities. … Financial sanctions (freezing of funds and other financial assets, ban on transactions, investment restrictions.
Sanctions are one of the tools utilised to address human rights violations. They are also an increasingly prominent tool in the European Union’s foreign policy. International sanctions policy is part of a global trend towards individualisation: rather than affecting the state as a whole, bans nowadays are targeted at individuals identified as responsible for the abuses.
Originally developed within the context of the United Nations the practice of applying sanctions against individuals has become commonplace in EU foreign policy.
Sanctions against individuals represent the narrowest expression of a targeted sanction, discriminating clearly between targets and non-targets, while other types tend to display effects on non-targeted populations to different degrees. Although traditionally highly targeted, EU sanctions (including those applied against individuals) are gradually becoming less discriminating, largely as a result of frequent litigation.
Despite the increasing trend towards individualisation of sanctions, few instances are known as yet in which the behaviour of targets has been affected, at least in a way that incites compliance with the sender’s aims.
Still, a comprehensive inquiry into UN individually targeted sanctions found a compliance ratio of about 20 %, which does not deviate from common estimates for comprehensive embargoes. Nevertheless, even the most optimistic assessments concede that the performance of individual sanctions could be improved beyond present compliance ratios with the help of better informed targeting policies.
In his 1997 report on the work of the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance of economic sanctions: the Security Council’s tool to bring pressure without recourse to force. At the same time Annan worried about the harm that sanctions inflict on vulnerable civilian groups, and their collateral damage to third states.
He acknowledged that “[i]t is increasingly accepted that the design and implementation of sanctions mandated by the Security Council need to be improved, and their humanitarian costs to civilian populations reduced as far as possible.”
Widely shared concerns about humanitarian and third country effects can undermine the political unity required for the effective implementation of multilateral sanctions. The case of Iraq stands as Exhibit A. With the erosion of support for the embargo against Iraq, it is becoming clear that the effectiveness of a sanctions regime partly depends on how it addresses humanitarian issues.
Although virtually all sanctions regimes launched during the 1990s allow trade in humanitarian goods, the “blunt weapon” of comprehensive embargo inevitably hurts those at the bottom of the economic heap. Given the poor track record of sanctions in achieving their foreign policy goals, the conventional wisdom that civilian pain leads to political gain is being questioned. Many ask whether the costs of sanctions are worth the results.
Despite sanctions conveniently called targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe the lives of Zimbabwean citizens has become worse.
“Targeted sanctions” or “smart sanctions”, like “smart bombs”, are meant to focus their impact on leaders, political elites and segments of society believed to be responsible for objectionable behaviour, while reducing collateral damage to the general population and third countries.
Zimbabwe has been under the cruel jaws of the West and as the West chews and grinds the life out of every Zimbabwean life they try to beautify the evil act and call it targeted sanctions.
Before taking a closer look at certain measures, it may be useful to draw a distinction between “targeted” and “selective” sanctions. “Selective” sanctions, which are less broad than comprehensive embargoes, involve restrictions on particular products or financial flows. “Targeted” sanctions focus on certain groups or individuals in the target country and aim to directly impact these groups. But this has failed as it only cause strife on every Zimbabwean already groaning under the hard economic conditions.
The United Kingdom has slapped more sanctions on four Zimbabwean security officials over alleged human rights abuses, in a move that will restrict their travel to Britain and freeze their assets. They are being accused for stopping a marauding gang of thugs who wanted to storm the election command centre and change the election results. This is the same violence shown in America which Britain condemned. Why is it now condemning the enforcer and praising the hooligans. These people who tried to execute an electoral coup in Zimbabwe in 2018 were described as “stupids” by Nelson Chamisa the then president of the MDC A. The opposition United with security leaders in condemning the hooligans who are now being used as the source of the targeted sanctions. Applying a new sanctions regime following its exit from the European Union, the UK on Monday cited a crackdown on protests in January 2019 which killed 6 people even though the UK puts the figure are 17 in order to justify the illegal sanctions. as it introduced the sanctions on Minister for State Security Owen Ncube, as well as heads of police and intelligence organisations Britain purported to be working on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe.
This was a very shameful action by the United Kingdom. Zimbabwe is trying its best to re engage but we have countries like the UK undermining the efforts of the new dispensation.
We wonder what will the UK do if the Director General of Central Intelligence is appointed the minister of Foreign Affairs. He is a celebrated diplomat with diplomatic soft but forceful and fair approach to things. How would the former coloniser engage the minister of Foreign Affairs who is on their sanction list.
This shows that the effectiveness of arms embargoes in ending conflicts remains elusive.
This is particularly true when the targeted group does not controls valuable natural resources.
The assumption that targeted sanctions exert minimal humanitarian impact will not hold, Zimbabweans have a different story to tell. The so called targeted sanctions have ravaged and savaged our economy.
We must always remember that In August 1996, the Security Council voted to impose a flight ban on the government of Sudan for its suspected support of international terrorism. Implementation of the ban was delayed, however, and the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs subsequently issued a report on its possible humanitarian effects. The report showed that even a selective flight ban could cause humanitarian suffering.
The present study conceives of sanctions as measures imposed by an individual or collective sender that interrupt normal relations or benefits that would otherwise be granted in response to perceived misconduct by the target. This broad understanding includes economic and financial restrictions as well as diplomatic sanctions. In the EU context, sanctions have traditionally been referred to as ‘restrictive measures’ or méasures negatives in French, even though in recent times the term ‘sanctions’ is gaining currency also in EU parlance.
Despite targeted sanctions having first appeared in the context of the United Nations (UN), their origin is European, which explains their subsequent adoption in the EU context. The idea of targeted measures emerged in response to negative experiences with comprehensive trade embargoes in the mid-nineties, which led to hardship for whole populations due to the blanket interruption of all trade and finance. Following the international outcry over the Iraqi humanitarian catastrophe which was provoked by the UN embargo, in particular the high mortality rate among children, it became clear to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that the employment of similar measures would be politically untenable. This is the situation in Zimbabwe. Sanctions have destroyed whole communities and it is a wonder why the UK is so heartless as to impose more sanctions on a bleeding nation.
It’s human not to kick a man while he is down.
The anger exhibited by both America and the UK in imposing more sanctions is best described as witchcraft. Five people were killed in America in a political violence caused by a sitting president. The UK does not see this as a sanctionable act. Their eyes are fixed on Zimbabwe. Their regime change mantra has started again.
They find themselves hobbled in conducting business with us but sanctioning our leaders giving them the travel ban cuts them off from their companies and bank accounts. All for what? World wide the, travel bans seem to have had limited results.
In recent years, however, we have observed a few instances of targeted financial sanctions. These include measures such as a freeze on foreign assets of specifically designated individuals, state-owned companies and governments. Selective asset freezes were imposed on Haiti, Serbia-Montenegro, the Bosnian Serbs, and UNITA. The primary challenge facing these asset freezes is the identification of funds belonging to the individuals, governments and companies targeted. Although the means of tracking financial assets have greatly improved, so have the means of deception.
The record indicates that targeted sanctions have been used either as a “warm-up” for broader measures or as the supposed “knock-out” punch. To summarize, targeted sanctions may satisfy the need in sender states to “do something”, they may slake humanitarian concerns, and they may serve to unify fraying coalitions. But they are not a magic bullet for achieving foreign policy goals. Again quoting UN Secretary General: “The international community should be under no illusion: these humanitarian and human rights policy goals cannot easily be reconciled with those of a sanctions regime. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that sanctions are a tool of enforcement and, like other methods of enforcement, they will do harm. This should be borne in mind when the decision to impose them is taken, and when the results are subsequently evaluated.”
Did the UK consider the plight of Zimbabweans in piling more sanctions? This shows a typical disregard of the plight of Zimbabweans. The UK is only concerned with the regime change. But to whose benefit? Does it not please only Biti and his thick heads? The sinister reason behind the targeted sanctions is clear.
By A Correspondent- The former Minister of Labour, Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye has been arrested, ZBC News reports. Kagonye was reportedly arrested on fraud allegations and her arrest was confirmed to the publication by ZRP National Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.
Kagonye is being accused of illegally parceling out stands to home seekers.
This came a few days after Vice President Chiwenga last week said land barons will have their day in court and they will be made to compensate the home seekers they duped. President Mnangagwa came back to work and said at the top of his priority list is his desire to tackle the issue of land barons and preserving wetlands.
It is still not clear where Kagonye is detained at the moment. We will update this article if new details emerge.-statemedia
Kamhuka signs for new club Zimbabwe international Victor Kamhuka has signed for a new club.
The 30-year old former Dynamos and How Mine defender has signed for Malaysian Premier League side Royal Malaysian Police Football Club.
He inked a 2-year deal.
Kamhuka was on the ranks on Myanmar League side Ayeyawady United last season and got his debut Warriors call-up during the back to back AFCON qualifiers against Algeria last November.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
The ruling ZANU PF party has directed all its employees to report for duty on Monday, 8 February 2021 in spite of the current lockdown regulations.
In a circular addressed to all provincial chairpersons (Circular 2/2021), the party’s director-general D. Dzora said all party staff members should come to work in spite of the extension of the national lockdown by a further two weeks. He wrote:
This letter serves to inform you that all Party staff members are being required to report for duty on Monday 8th of February 2021 at 0800 hours as usual.
We are quite aware that lockdown has been extended for further two weeks.
Meanwhile, in a tweet in which she tagged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), MDC Alliance national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere queried why ZANU PF is not bound by the lockdown regulations when it is not an essential service.
Mahere challenged the police to put an end to ZANU PF impunity. Said Mahere:
Is Zanu PF an essential service?… Why is Zanu PF not bound by the lockdown regulations?… Why do you ignore their continued breaches? Are you captured?… This impunity must end.
Under Level IV lockdown, extended to 15 February 2021, only organisations classified under essential services are allowed to operate.
These include security organs, fuel service stations, the media, supermarkets, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, farmers, and miners among others.- Pindula News
Welcome to our weekly covid-19 update. In our fight against the covid-19 pandemic, we have emphasized the tools currently available to us, namely social distancing, masking up, avoiding super-spreader events like funerals, overcrowding in ZUPCO buses, uncalled for incarceration in prison cells for minor offenses, parties & weddings, and promoting hand washing and sanitizing, quarantine and isolation. These tools are aimed at preventing covid-19 infection from happening at all in the first place. Now we have a new kid on the block, called a covid-19 vaccine. It works by training our bodies to fight and defeat covid-19 when it enters our bodies. This is not a new tool in our fight against viral infections. It has given us great success against diseases like small pox, measles, polio, and many others.
There are things we must do right as a government and its people to benefit from the explosion of knowledge and vaccine technologies that we are witnessing today.
Firstly, we expect the government to do some due diligent processes to instill confidence into the population and allay the myriad of anxieties that presently cloud our minds. We want to know: Are the vaccines on offer safe? Are they better than the disease we are trying to prevent? Are they efficacious (i.e. do they work)? Do we have verifiable scientific data on safety and effectiveness, and have our own scientists verified the claims of the manufacturers? This is a good opportunity for Zimbabwe to start building capacity for vaccine manufacture. It’s doable.
It was exciting news to learn that the government has set aside a sum of USD100 million for vaccine procurement, and that all those who meet the clinical criteria will receive the vaccine for free. We were further tickled by the proposed roll out plan, to front line workers first, and then to the elderly and those with co-morbidities, reaching out to other sectors next. We await the detailed roll out plan that must be made public.
We also want to know: Is the government tapping into the COVAX facility, and are we going to work with other reliable partners we have worked with before in the field of immunization? What is the breakdown of government’s budget for this immunization effort, considering important pillars such as procurement, logistics, storage, distribution, administration, training and human resources? What is our current level of preparedness in terms of the cold chain? How is this going to affect the other immunization programs already in place, and how much money has the government set aside for research? The government should commission and fund research into covid-19 without delay. There is urgent need to understand how our vaccine choice will be impacted by emerging new variants like the so-called South African variant.
We need to raise awareness on the benefits and risks of vaccines in general, and of the covid-19 vaccine more specifically, and demystify conspiracy theories and other myths doing the rounds. There is need to involve other stakeholders like church leaders, traditional leaders, healthcare providers, workers’ unions, captains of industry, students, telecommunication companies, civil society, the United Nations family, and other partners, right from the beginning. We consider it prudent for the government to set up a multi-stakeholder advisory board on covid-19 vaccination, and give it both authority and responsibility. Transparency is extremely important in this venture, in light of our past experiences with covid-19 designated funds.
We urge all Zimbabweans to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to us, but until such a time as enough people have been vaccinated to reach the so-called herd immunity, there is need to contain the pandemic aggressively through existing means. These include eliminating all super spreader events, cushioning citizens and businesses economically, ensuring scientifically informed targeted lockdown measures, and providing adequate support to schools to open safely as the pandemic will be with Zimbabwe for most of 2021. We need to go a gear up in terms of testing, contact tracing and isolation. There is need to improve our services to those who get the infection. This means increasing the number of admission facilities, equipping healthcare workers properly with PPE, and conducting continuous training of health workers because information on this disease is continuously evolving.
Lastly, we wish to implore Zimbabweans to listen to our healthcare professionals for advice on vaccination. Let’s leave our prophets to concentrate on spiritual matters. We have been here before, and we all probably know some friends or relatives who lost their lives prematurely to HIV because of prophets in the past.
Here are a few key facts we all need to know about the covid-19 vaccine:
• Over 100 million covid-19 vaccine doses have already been administered globally. • The covid-19 vaccine will help prevent you from getting sick with covid-19.
• People who have already gotten sick with covid-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. We do not know yet how long immunity from natural infection will last. • Covid-19 vaccines cannot give you covid-19 disease. More on this next time. • Covid-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on covid-19 viral tests. • Covid-19 vaccine will NOT alter your DNA. We will explain this next time. • There is no microchip in the covid-19 vaccine. This is only a malicious rumour. It is the job of our regulatory authorities to verify the safety of all medicines, including vaccines. • Remember, after getting your vaccine you must continue to observe all the other prevention measures like masking up, social distancing, hand washing, sanitizing, etc. till the pandemic is over. The job of the vaccine is simply to prevent you from getting sick if you contract the virus.
More information on vaccines next week.
Many thanks to the MDC-Alliance Health Portfolio Committee for their input.
Dr H. Madzorera. Secretary for Health and Childwelfare. MDC-Alliance.
GOVERNMENT CAN’T OUTSOURCE RESPONSIBILITY. ( Response to Jamwanda aka George Charamba’s Utterances)
ARTUZ notes with shock the irresponsible insinuation uttered by one Jamwanda whom we understand is George Charamba to the effect that teachers are responsible for some dismal Grade 7 results in some schools across the country.
The fact that Mr Charamba does not understand the dynamics, ins and outs, intimacies and intricacies of education does not surprise us. His consistent uneducated utterances over the years have left everyone in no doubt whatsoever that he is dead from the neck upwards. The fact that the administration chooses such an airhead for speaking for the President says all about the calibre of the same administration.
ARTUZ, as usual a patriotic and generous teacher’s union wishes therefore to educate Mr Charamba about the basic tenets of education. We are used to work for free anyway. The education of our children is a simple triangle made up of teachers, learners and parents. This triangle is brought together by a responsible government through capacitating both parties. We all know that with unemployment rate of more than 90% parents are totally incapacitated to provide a conducive home and environment for their children to study. Parents who are struggling to put a square meal on the table can not be expected to provide for basic educational needs of their children. It is Mr Charamba’s government that has presided over the demise of all forms of meaningful employment hence casting all citizens into the pit of abject poverty.
Last year was characterised by total incapacitation of teachers whom at one point were earning less than US$50. We agree that teachers play a decisive role in the advancement of education. It’s however not a secret that educators are not miracle workers. Even religious missionaries were equipped with resources for their material welfare. Teachers simply could not execute their duties because they just didn’t have the resources to do so. Maybe Mr Charamba can point to us which employer was supposed to capacitate teachers.
The Covid 19 pandemic rendered teaching and learning almost impossible last year and government effected lockdowns with learners spending considerable time at home. Artuz was on record advising and even demanding that no exams should be administered for the simple reason that learners did not learn. The government as usual defaulted to its traditional command mode and we got command education with the attendant dismal results. Suddenly it is teachers’ fault according to the all knowing Charamba!
As Artuz we have always been clear, honest and forthright with our employer. We pointed to the dangers of incapacitation of teachers, we pointed to the effects of Covid and we agitated for a better economic climate in relation to the education sector. We correctly hold the government responsible for every poor result across the country. We did everything in our power to contribute towards better education. We regret nothing and celebrate everything.
We therefore advise Mr Charamba who happens to have the President’s ears to use his proximity to the President as a platform to address pertinent issues affecting the education sector. They may start by addressing the welfare of teachers, infrastructure in schools and combating Covid 19. His uneducated rants on Twitter are not helping anyone except exposing his arrogant ignorance.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- During India’s struggle for home rule, especially during the years when some felt Mahatma Gandhi’s passive resistance was going nowhere, the question did arise on whether they should wage an armed struggle.
“What kind of leaders will an armed struggle throw up?” Gandhi and the other leaders asked. “And are those the men and women we would want to lead the nation after independence?”
An armed struggle could have hastened India’s independence by a decade or two, no one will ever know for certain. The most important question is would India, led by liberation war leaders, be the healthy and functioning democracy it has been since independence? Probably not!
In the case of Zimbabwe, we did wage an armed struggle to end white colonial rule and the armed struggle did thrown up hawks who have ridden roughshod over the people, denying them their freedoms and rights including the right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country and even the right to life.
It was laughable, if it was not so tragic, that during the 1979 Lancaster House talks it was the black nationalists leaders who objected to the multi-party democratic Lancaster House constitution. Both Zanu PF and PF Zapu wanted a one-party state, they did not push for it only because each wanted to be the dominant party.
Mugabe and his Zanu PF party launched the 1983 to 1987 Gukurahundi massacre whose principle purpose was to crash Dr Joshua Nkomo and his PF Zapu, his main political challenge, and force them to join Zanu PF in the 1987 Unity Accord. The Unity Accord was then used as the excuse for imposing a de facto one-party dictatorship that has ruled the roost to this day.
Zimbabwe had many opportunities to end the Zanu PF dictatorship with the best of these coming during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. SADC leaders had managed to get Mugabe and his Zanu PF party to commit to the implementation of a raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the dictatorship. The task of implementing the reforms fell to Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC colleagues.
Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, they forgot about the reforms. They failed to implement even one reform in five years!
Ever since the 2008 GNU, Zanu PF has toned down the dictatorship by giving away a few gravy train seats and a share of the annual payout from the Political Party Finance Act as bait to entice the opposition to participate in elections even when it is clear Zanu PF was rigging the plebiscite. Zanu PF blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections, the regime failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll for Pete’s sake.
Still, the party was able to point to the opposition’s overwhelming enthusiastic participation in the elections as proof Zimbabwe is a functioning democracy. There were 23 presidential candidates and 130 political parties contested for the parliamentary seats to say nothing of independent candidates.
Zimbabwe had the potential to become the South Korea of Africa – a free dynamic and prosperous nation, if the country had had the fortune of quality leaders. Sadly, the armed struggle had thrown corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs as the nation’s leaders and Zimbabwe has become the North Korea of Africa – a nation with a few filthy rich and ruling elite crashing the poor and powerless majority into the dust.
“If the armed struggle throws up corrupt, incompetent and murderous thugs as the nation’s leaders; what must you do to wrestle power from these thugs?”
This is the third question Mahatma Gandhi and his fellow Indian leaders never asked because they ruled out the armed struggle. Zimbabwe had the armed struggle and it did thrown up corrupt and murderous tyrants. And for the last 40 years we, Zimbabweans have pretended the third question was irrelevant and have paid dearly for our folly as Zanu PF has dragged the nation deeper and deeper into the abyss.
The corona virus pandemic has hit Zimbabwe very hard because at the outbreak the country was already in an economic mess with its health care service all but broken. And going forward, Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence, the failure to test and isolate for example, has turned a tragedy into a catastrophe.
Nations get the government they deserve and we in Zimbabwe certainly deserve this corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship because we have done nothing to stop the thugs getting into power. And, once in power, for 40 years and counting, we have done nothing to remove them!
Power utility Zesa could be losing revenue to fraudsters working in cahoots with its employees who are illegally generating electricity tokens and then sell them to the public.
Some Zesa employees have been allegedly manipulating the system, generating and selling electricity tokens to customers without declaring the proceeds to the power utility company.
It is understood that some of the workers were manipulating the system to allow their agents to sell tokens and not remitting the money to Zesa.
Last week police arrested a Zesa employee and his agent for allegedly illegally generating electricity tokens and selling them to customers without the knowledge of the power utility company.
Police arrested Darlington Chiputura (41) a ZESA employee at the company’s headquarters in Harare together with his agent Joseph Wagusiwa (36) from Kadoma for allegedly illegally generating and selling electricity tokens.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the two suspects following a tip off.
“I can confirm that police have arrested Joseph Wagusiwa and Darlington Chiputura for fraud. Wagusiwa was arrested in Kadoma after a trap was set and a Zesa electricity token valued at ZWL$ 1 680 was recovered. The token had been sold to a potential client through a fraudulent system manipulation in the Zesa electricity data process.
Wagusiwa then implicated Chiputura who was responsible for generating the tokens at Zesa headquarters in Harare and supplied them to the first suspect for sale to the public for their own benefit,” he said.
It is alleged that some of the employees would manipulate the Zesa token system to create a parallel system that allows agents to sell electricity, illegally accessing the Zesa electricity database.
Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa said he is proud of the 18 children he has fathered with more than 10 women, while revealing that he pays US$25 000 each term for their school fees.
The firebrand legislator, who remains a bachelor, said he plans to continue bearing children but will eventually settle down when the right time comes.
Mliswa was speaking after being in the news last week following a fallout in his relationship with Australia-based Ms Susan Mutami who exposed controversial details on their estranged union.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Mail, Mliswa chose not to dwell much on the fallout, saying he was preparing to take legal action against some of the allegations that Ms Mutami made against him.
“The truth will come out and I am going to sue her. I am not going to sue because I need the money, I am going to take legal action not for myself but to protect people that were affected by the allegations such as the people of Norton, the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) think tank that looks up to me and my family.”
Quizzed about his children, he said: “Yes I have 18 children, and I love them very much. I am proud of them and I take very good care of them. Each term, I pay school fees of about US$25 000 because all my children attend top schools. I have 13 girls and 5 boys,” he said.
He said he will continue fathering children “to grow the clan” as his five siblings “are lazy to make children because they have just two or so”.
“We are six in our family but my brothers and sisters have just one or two children. So it is my duty to grow the clan. Our family is blessed. We have two legislators in Parliament and I count that as a blessing from God to my family.”
Asked if the plentiful children do not defile social norms, Mliswa said he had agreed not to get married to the women that he has fathered children with.
“People are different. I mostly date mature women, who are professionals and know what they want. Most of them come to an understanding with me just to have children and not get married. I have seen many marriages failing and I see a lot of cheating happening in marriages, so the marriage institution is not as sacrosanct as many people want to claim. What most people do not know is that in addition to my 18 children I take care of 600 other children through the Temba Mliswa foundation. This is in addition to other philanthropic projects that I carry out in my constituency.”
Mliswa denied allegations that he was bisexual. “Can a bisexual have 18 children? Those allegations were made just to tarnish my image.”
Farming
He spoke at length about his farming prowess, lauding the Government for the land reform programme, which he says has empowered him “more than anything else”.
He said he has made a lot of money from farming to look after his large family, dismissing claims by Ms Mutami that he was an extortionist.
“I rate Zimbabwe’s land reform programme as one of the best black empowerment initiatives the world has ever witnessed. I am what I am because of farming. This season is going to be a prosperous one for many farmers because of the good rains. At my farm in Karoi, I have put 400 hectares under maize to contribute to the country’s food security.
“At the very minimum, I am expecting a yield of at least 3 000 tonnes. This means I would have played my part in feeding the nation. Today (Thursday) we have started to harvest some green maize crop that we planted here at my house (in Borrowdale).
“I use this house as my research station for agriculture activities. I am proud to say that I have developed my farm better than what the white man did. My involvement in farming includes tobacco, where my company Saltlakes supported over 16 000 farmers, mainly small-scale growers.
“Currently, Saltlakes is leasing over 5 000 hectares for tobacco through the joint venture system that the Government has supported. So for someone to say I am an extortionist with the money I make from my farming ventures is just malice.”
Political career
Mliswa’s political career has been a roller coaster ride, at one time he rose to the post of Mashonaland West Zanu PF provincial chairperson, before he was fired from the ruling party in 2013, only to bounce back as an independent candidate and claim the Norton Constituency National Assembly seat.
“I see myself as a man of the people. I am a nationalist at heart, partly because I remain inspired by my father Kripper Peter Mliswa, who is an ex-Zipra combatant. I respect the President. Politics comes second when you love your country. That is why I stood as an independent candidate because I stand with the people.
“Some people say I influence my sister (Mashonaland West Minister for Provincial Affairs, Mary Mliswa), but what they do not know is that she is a hothead on her own. When we are together, we do not talk about politics because she respects my views and I respect hers.”
By A Correspondent| A Chipinge drug queen arrested with 35 kilograms of marijuana has been freed on $15 000 bail.
Shupikai Sigauke (34) of Munyamana Village in Chipinge was not asked to plead when she appeared before magistrate Franklin Kwananzi this week.
Her trial has been set for March 18. Prosecuting, Gift Bikita informed the court how police detectives raided Sigaukes home acting on a tip off that she was selling dagga from her home in Munyamana village.
They discovered the drug in eight plastic packets stashed in her spare bedroom.
It was weighed at 34,8kg and will be produced in court during her trial.
Health experts have recommended that the Government must consider easing tight lockdown restrictions and open up the economy as indications on the ground were that the country has reaped the benefits of the Level Four lockdown that was introduced at the beginning of the year to contain the spread of Covid-19.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, at the first week of January when the country introduced the strict lockdown, the country recorded 6 008 new Covid-19 cases, which by the second week increased to 6 382, but there has been a steady decline in new infections, with 4 126 recorded in the third week, 2 266 in the last week of January while last week (as at Friday) the country had 1 058 new infections.
In terms of deaths in the first week, 106 deaths were recorded, which went up to 200 in the second week, further increasing to 291 in the third week. However, the fatalities began to decline to 219 in the last week of January, with the country recording 110 deaths last week. The Level Four lockdown is set to end on 15 February.
Although the country is still on high alert, doctors said Government can now loosen the lockdown and open up more sectors of the economy to ensure a balance between people’s lives and their livelihoods. Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZIMA) president Dr Francis Chirowa said although there was need for an extension of the lockdown so as to arrest the pandemic, there was need to open up on some sectors of the economy.
“If it was just the pandemic alone, we would want to have an indefinite lockdown. But because the lockdown has its own effects on the economy, there is need for Government to loosen up but not completely take it away. All other measures such as social distancing, sanitisation and masking up should remain in place. Congregating should not be allowed at all while bars, saloons and churches should remain closed.
Also, the limited number of 30 people for funerals is okay. The challenge we have is that people that do not have comorbidities (chronic conditions) are young and very active and they may have the disease (Covid-19) but they may be asymptomatic and spreading it,” he said.
Zimbabwe World Health Organisation country representative Dr Alex Gasasira said the downward trend in the country’s epidemic was a testimony that the measures put in place by Government have yielded positive results and citizens have adhered to the regulations and protocols.
Dr Gasasira said for Government to lift the lockdown there was need for people to comply with Covid-19 protocols of maintaining social distance, masking up, limiting movements, limiting gatherings and socialisation.
“What we would recommend for people is to comply with Government regulations and limit movement, gathering and socialisation. Compliance to these measures in the absence of lockdown would also mean Government would not need to enforce the stringent measures.
The idea of lockdown is to ensure minimum movement and gathering.
“Movement and gatherings give the virus an opportunity to spread. Let us not give the virus a chance by complying with the measures. The downward trend of the epidemic gives us the belief that the preventative measures have been adhered to.
“In other countries where there is compliance transmission has been kept low and they have relaxed their conditions. Lockdown is usually the last option,” he said.
Mpilo hospital acting chief executive officer Professor Solwayo Ngwenya said lockdown measures would always attract debate as there was need to balance health measures and issues to do with the nation’s economy.
“Lockdowns and coronavirus are now a contentious subject because on one hand lockdowns cause a lot of economic disruptions. On the other hand, from a health perspective, a full lockdown is necessary as it helps us contain this pandemic and avoid mass infections that might lead to the crippling of the health sector subsequently leading to mass deaths,” said Prof Ngwenya.
He said the danger with downgrading the lockdown was that most countries would eventually revert back to full scale lockdown once infections rise.
“As a country it is difficult for me to comment whether we are ready or not to relax the lockdown but from where I am, the community I work from, I believe if we downgrade it might be catastrophic because there is a lot of infections in the community and a lot of people that are not being tested.
“The countries that are downgrading will actually soon go back to full scale lockdowns, it’s a vicious cycle, you relax, infections surge and you go back to full scale lockdown, but that is one thing which we have to accept because there is also the need for the economy to function,” said Prof Ngwenya.
Chief Coordinator for the National Response to the Covid-19 in the President’s Office Dr Agnes Mahomva said the downward curve on the country’s epidemic trend was an indication that the country’s response was on the right path.
Dr Mahomva said this however, does not rule out the possibility of a third wave of the pandemic.
“As of Thursday February 4, the country’s cumulative cases were 34 171 with recoveries at 27 759 which is about 81 percent and deaths were 1288. Bulawayo and Harare metropolitan Provinces continue to be the country’s main hotspots followed by Manicaland and Mashonaland East,” she said.
Dr Mahomva said the country cannot however, rule out the possibility of the third wave if citizens relax. She said medical practitioners must be guided by science on treatment guidelines and protocols.
A security guard and a cleaner employed by a local bank allegedly stole a client’s ATM card before withdrawing thousands of dollars from his account.
Takesure Chasukwa (47) and Silas Bvumbe (31) both denied the theft charges when they appeared before Mutare magistrate, Ms Audrey Muzhingi last week.
They were being charged with contravening Section 167 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
They were remanded in custody to March 2. Mr Kangai Tiriwamambo represented the State. Chasukwa is a security guard stationed at POSB, Mutare Branch, while Bvumbe is a cleaner at the same bank.
They allegedly withdrew $35 164 Mr John Tadzara’s bank account and bought US$291 which they shared.
The court heard that Chasukwa stole the ATM card on January 11 after Mr Tadzara had asked him to assist him to make a withdrawal at an ATM machine at the bank.
It was alleged that instead of using Mr Tadzara’s card on the ATM, Chasukwa used Catherine Kafumu’s card, which he had in his possession.
He remained with Mr Tadzara’s card.
The theft was discovered the following day when Mr Tadzara tried to buy some groceries.
He was told that the ATM card he wanted to use belonged to Kafumu, prompting him to make a police report.
Police’s investigations led them to Chasukwa who was found in possession of the card. He implicated Bvumbe leading to their arrest.
“After stealing the card, Chasukwa handed it over to Bvumbe the following day, together with the secret pin number. Bvumbe proceeded to buy two loaves of bread at OK Supermarket before approaching an airtime dealer, Stella Simon in search of American dollars.
“Simon gave Bvumbe US$291 in exchange of $35 000 after she had used the card at Econet Shop to buy airtime. Bvumbe surrendered the card and US$259 back to Chasukwa,” said Mr Kangai. Nothing was recovered.
HELL broke loose in Hobhouse high-density suburb of Mutare on Monday, with irate neighbours baying for the blood of a step-mother who allegedly bludgeoned a teenager to death and faked suicide as a cover-up.
Ishmael Chishakwe (13), who was a Grade Seven learner at Sheni Primary School in Dangamvura, had visited his father and stepmother at their Hobhouse lodgings when he allegedly committed suicide in the bathroom, something neighbours dismissed as the boy was always on the receiving end of his step-mother, Precious Chishakwe’s ire.
Residents and neighbours who suspected foul play in Ishmael’s death bayed for Precious’ blood, demanding an explanation on what had transpired as they claimed that circumstances of his death were not tantamount to suicide.
Ishmael’s father, Tapfumaneyi — an officer with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) — was at home when the teenager died and was reported to have been at sixes and sevens to narrate the events of the day.
Police could neither confirm nor deny that it was a murder case and said investigations were in progress.
“We can confirm that the boy was found dead in a suspected case of suicide in Hobhouse on Monday afternoon. However, investigations are in progress,” said Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda.
A neighbour who managed to force her way into the house after the Chishakwes had locked themselves inside their rented premises who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she saw Ishmael’s body in an empty bathroom tub, while a sponge that was around his neck was hanging from the tap.
She queried why a teenager would commit suicide using a soft sponge.
Neighbours also said it took more than an hour for police who are stationed less than 200 metres from the Chishakwe lodgings to be alerted of the incident.
Another neighbour, Ms Sara Chakuhwa, alleged that the couple wanted to keep the death as a secret and had already initiated processes of ferrying the corpse to their rural area when Tapfumaneyi was overheard talking to someone over the phone.
“He was overheard by someone informing a relative of Ishmael’s death and their decision to ferry the corpse to their rural home. They wanted to keep the death under wraps, but it was all over the neighbourhood within minutes, prompting neighbours to besiege the house demanding the truth,” said Ms Chakuhwa.
She said Ishmael’s body had switch marks all over, allegedly inflicted by his step-mother’s beatings.
“I was outside when I heard the step-mother (Precious) calling the boy and shouting: ‘Idiot, unoda kudeedzerwa chikafu, unotenga chikafu pano here iwe. (You want me to always call you to come and eat, do you buy any food here?) Within 20 minutes, the child was dead and who can buy these suicide lies?
“I quickly rushed to their house and asked the stepmother if I could view the child. My intention was to render him first aid, but I was denied access. Precious told me that she was scared to go into the bathroom where the body was,” said Ms Chakuhwa.
Another neighbour who managed to view Ishmael’s body before it was taken to the mortuary for a post mortem by the police, said it was clear that the body was dragged into the bathroom.
“Precious told me that she was informed by a niece who was at the house that Ishmael had committed suicide. It is, however, shocking that anyone would believe that the child committed suicide in that bathroom, as tall as he was.
“He had marks on his neck and there was no water, towel or soap in the bathroom to corroborate their claim. His was just lying in an empty tub with his eyes open,” she said.
Ishmael’s former teacher, Mrs Victoria Chimonyo, said the teenager was staying with his aunt in Dangamvura after fleeing from abuses at the hands of his father and step-mother.
She said Ishmael had resorted to be a street urchin on countless occasions.
“I taught him when he was in Grade 5. Ishmael was a hardworking learner, but he was staying in an abusive environment. When I taught him, he was usually late and at most times, he would ran away from home to become a street kid at Sakubva Musika. Her aunt decided to take custody of him,” said Mrs Chimonyo.
In an interview, Precious distanced herself from Ishmael’s death.
“I was not there when the incident happened. I was told by my niece who was here that Ishmael had been instructed by his father to take a bath when he committed suicide. His father was reading a novel in the dining room. The boy took long to come out of the bathroom and when a follow-up was made, it was discovered that he had died. He might have been choked by a sponge which was around his neck. I could not entertain our neighbours at that time because I was still in a state of shock,” said a teary Chishakwe.
Efforts to contact Tapfumaneyi proved fruitless as he was said to be busy with Ishmael’s burial arrangements.
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has stressed the need for coexistence adding that there is power in embracing diversity.
On Saturday morning President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“THE POWER OF COEXISTENCE!! I have just seen and taken a picture of these trees here. This reminded me of the power of being together in diversity.
Conflict is evidence of barbarism. Coexistence is a sign of civilization and maturity . Blessed Sabbath to you beloved!”
Picture taken by President Chamisa on Saturday morning
POWER utility Zesa could be losing revenue to fraudsters working in cahoots with its employees who are illegally generating electricity tokens and then sell them to the public.
Some Zesa employees have been allegedly manipulating the system, generating and selling electricity tokens to customers without declaring the proceeds to the power utility company.
It is understood that some of the workers were manipulating the system to allow their agents to sell tokens and not remitting the money to Zesa.
Last week police arrested a Zesa employee and his agent for allegedly illegally generating electricity tokens and selling them to customers without the knowledge of the power utility company.
Police arrested Darlington Chiputura (41) a ZESA employee at the company’s headquarters in Harare together with his agent Joseph Wagusiwa (36) from Kadoma for allegedly illegally generating and selling electricity tokens.
National police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of the two suspects following a tip off.
“I can confirm that police have arrested Joseph Wagusiwa and Darlington Chiputura for fraud. Wagusiwa was arrested in Kadoma after a trap was set and a Zesa electricity token valued at ZWL$ 1 680 was recovered. The token had been sold to a potential client through a fraudulent system manipulation in the Zesa electricity data process.
Wagusiwa then implicated Chiputura who was responsible for generating the tokens at Zesa headquarters in Harare and supplied them to the first suspect for sale to the public for their own benefit,” he said.
It is alleged that some of the employees would manipulate the Zesa token system to create a parallel system that allows agents to sell electricity, illegally accessing the Zesa electricity database.- The Sunday News
A HEADMASTER and a driver at Mandwandwe Secondary School in Bulawayo are under investigation after 16 doors out of 32 that were replaced at classrooms by the School Development Committee reportedly went missing under unclear circumstances.
The school head, Mr Litmus Moyo, and an unnamed school driver have been implicated in the alleged scam after two of the missing doors were found installed at the driver’s house. He claimed that he was given the doors by Mr Moyo.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed that they were investigating circumstances surrounding the alleged theft of the doors but to date no arrests had been made. “Our officers are investigating that matter after a report was made but no arrests have been made so far,” said Insp Ncube.
Contacted for comment, the SDC chairperson, Mr Sign Bhebhe confirmed that they had reported the matter to the police after Mr Moyo had failed to give a substantive explanation on the whereabouts of the missing doors. “As the SDC we got a request from the school to replace the doors, we naturally approached parents who gave us a go ahead, we then went ahead to replace 32 doors at the school. However, we later got a tip off that the driver had taken some of the old doors to his house and for sure when we went there, we identified two of the old doors that had been installed at his house.
“When we asked him, he implicated the school head who initially neither denied or confirmed this assertion, we then went back to the school where we did an inventory on the old doors, where we found that only 16 were left, it is then that the school head professed ignorance on the whereabouts of the doors, which is why we had to report the issue to the police,” said Mr Bhebhe.
He said their worry was that school property could not just go missing when there were people meant to ensure its safety.
“Our thinking was that we were going to dispose of these doors and ensure that the funds raised are channeled towards the development of the school, not just for one person to benefit,” said the SDC chairperson.- The Sunday News
A misunderstanding over mealie-meal nearly turned tragic when a 34-year-old man from Bulawayo’s Mzilikazi high density suburb hit his 37-year-old sister-in-law with an iron rod on the head as punishment for asking why he had opened her mealie meal and prepared isitshwala without her say so.
This was heard when Andrew Sibanda appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Stephen Ndhlovu charged with physical abuse in contravention of the Domestic Violence Act.
He pleaded guilty and was remanded out of custody to 8 March on $5 000 bail for sentencing. He was ordered not interfere with witnesses.
Circumstances are that on 27 January 2021 Sibanda, who was supposedly hungry, opened his sister-in-law Caroline Mackie‘s mealie-meal without her consent and prepared isitshwala.
The court heard that this however, didn’t go down well with Mackie who then confronted Sibanda and asked him why he had opened her mealie-meal without her consent.
A misunderstanding arose between the two parties and Sibanda started insulting Mackie saying she was a prostitute. Sibanda then went out of the house and came back armed with an iron bar which he used to strike Mackie once on the head.
Mackie, who sustained some injuries, went and reported the matter to the police, leading to Sibanda’s arrest and subsequent appearance in court.
GOVERNMENT CAN’T OUTSOURCE RESPONSIBILITY. ( Response to Jamwanda aka George Charamba’s Utterances)
ARTUZ notes with shock the irresponsible insinuation uttered by one Jamwanda whom we understand is George Charamba to the effect that teachers are responsible for some dismal Grade 7 results in some schools across the country.
The fact that Mr Charamba does not understand the dynamics, ins and outs, intimacies and intricacies of education does not surprise us. His consistent uneducated utterances over the years have left everyone in no doubt whatsoever that he is dead from the neck upwards. The fact that the administration chooses such an airhead for speaking for the President says all about the calibre of the same administration.
ARTUZ, as usual a patriotic and generous teacher’s union wishes therefore to educate Mr Charamba about the basic tenets of education. We are used to work for free anyway. The education of our children is a simple triangle made up of teachers, learners and parents. This triangle is brought together by a responsible government through capacitating both parties. We all know that with unemployment rate of more than 90% parents are totally incapacitated to provide a conducive home and environment for their children to study. Parents who are struggling to put a square meal on the table can not be expected to provide for basic educational needs of their children. It is Mr Charamba’s government that has presided over the demise of all forms of meaningful employment hence casting all citizens into the pit of abject poverty.
Last year was characterised by total incapacitation of teachers whom at one point were earning less than US$50. We agree that teachers play a decisive role in the advancement of education. It’s however not a secret that educators are not miracle workers. Even religious missionaries were equipped with resources for their material welfare. Teachers simply could not execute their duties because they just didn’t have the resources to do so. Maybe Mr Charamba can point to us which employer was supposed to capacitate teachers.
The Covid 19 pandemic rendered teaching and learning almost impossible last year and government effected lockdowns with learners spending considerable time at home. Artuz was on record advising and even demanding that no exams should be administered for the simple reason that learners did not learn. The government as usual defaulted to its traditional command mode and we got command education with the attendant dismal results. Suddenly it is teachers’ fault according to the all knowing Charamba!
As Artuz we have always been clear, honest and forthright with our employer. We pointed to the dangers of incapacitation of teachers, we pointed to the effects of Covid and we agitated for a better economic climate in relation to the education sector. We correctly hold the government responsible for every poor result across the country. We did everything in our power to contribute towards better education. We regret nothing and celebrate everything.
We therefore advise Mr Charamba who happens to have the President’s ears to use his proximity to the President as a platform to address pertinent issues affecting the education sector. They may start by addressing the welfare of teachers, infrastructure in schools and combating Covid 19. His uneducated rants on Twitter are not helping anyone except exposing his arrogant ignorance.
Let me also reiterate that the govt of Zimbabwe will roll out COVID 19 vaccines for free to all our citizens who may wish – VP Chiwenga pic.twitter.com/4IOU5li3D5
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The United Kingdom of Britain imposed sanctions on three security chiefs plus a minister of state security. The most likely to be appointed to the post, the Director General of the Central Intelligence, a respected career diplomat will face the UK head on.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
Isaac Moyo with President Mnangagwa
This will surely cause a headache as he will be diplomatically expected to lead all and any engagement with the former colonial power.
The development comes as there is already a tiff between UK and Zimbabwe with the London based High Commissioner, His Excellency Ret’ Col Christian Katsande refusing to assist UK with releasing travel documents for Zimbabweans on a British list of returnees being sent back home. Alreadyour ambassador in the UK has failed to even issue a travel document to Zimbabweans willing to return home putting already damaged relations with England on another level.
Ambassador Katsande’s bitterness is all concerning the UK’s failure to address him as High Commissioner, His Excellency Ret’ Colonel Katsande. The British are calling him by his work title, of ambassador.
Zimbabweans numbering five so far are stranded in UK as a result of the ambassador’s standoff with UK.
In other forums, the question is asked what these targeted sanctions slapped against the four security chiefs will achieve.
Targeted sanctions are intended to be directed at individuals, companies and organizations, or restrict trade with key commodities. … Financial sanctions (freezing of funds and other financial assets, ban on transactions, investment restrictions.
Sanctions are one of the tools utilised to address human rights violations. They are also an increasingly prominent tool in the European Union’s foreign policy. International sanctions policy is part of a global trend towards individualisation: rather than affecting the state as a whole, bans nowadays are targeted at individuals identified as responsible for the abuses.
Originally developed within the context of the United Nations the practice of applying sanctions against individuals has become commonplace in EU foreign policy.
Sanctions against individuals represent the narrowest expression of a targeted sanction, discriminating clearly between targets and non-targets, while other types tend to display effects on non-targeted populations to different degrees. Although traditionally highly targeted, EU sanctions (including those applied against individuals) are gradually becoming less discriminating, largely as a result of frequent litigation.
Despite the increasing trend towards individualisation of sanctions, few instances are known as yet in which the behaviour of targets has been affected, at least in a way that incites compliance with the sender’s aims.
Still, a comprehensive inquiry into UN individually targeted sanctions found a compliance ratio of about 20 %, which does not deviate from common estimates for comprehensive embargoes. Nevertheless, even the most optimistic assessments concede that the performance of individual sanctions could be improved beyond present compliance ratios with the help of better informed targeting policies.
In his 1997 report on the work of the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance of economic sanctions: the Security Council’s tool to bring pressure without recourse to force. At the same time Annan worried about the harm that sanctions inflict on vulnerable civilian groups, and their collateral damage to third states.
He acknowledged that “[i]t is increasingly accepted that the design and implementation of sanctions mandated by the Security Council need to be improved, and their humanitarian costs to civilian populations reduced as far as possible.”
Widely shared concerns about humanitarian and third country effects can undermine the political unity required for the effective implementation of multilateral sanctions. The case of Iraq stands as Exhibit A. With the erosion of support for the embargo against Iraq, it is becoming clear that the effectiveness of a sanctions regime partly depends on how it addresses humanitarian issues.
Although virtually all sanctions regimes launched during the 1990s allow trade in humanitarian goods, the “blunt weapon” of comprehensive embargo inevitably hurts those at the bottom of the economic heap. Given the poor track record of sanctions in achieving their foreign policy goals, the conventional wisdom that civilian pain leads to political gain is being questioned. Many ask whether the costs of sanctions are worth the results.
Despite sanctions conveniently called targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe the lives of Zimbabwean citizens has become worse.
“Targeted sanctions” or “smart sanctions”, like “smart bombs”, are meant to focus their impact on leaders, political elites and segments of society believed to be responsible for objectionable behaviour, while reducing collateral damage to the general population and third countries.
Zimbabwe has been under the cruel jaws of the West and as the West chews and grinds the life out of every Zimbabwean life they try to beautify the evil act and call it targeted sanctions.
Before taking a closer look at certain measures, it may be useful to draw a distinction between “targeted” and “selective” sanctions. “Selective” sanctions, which are less broad than comprehensive embargoes, involve restrictions on particular products or financial flows. “Targeted” sanctions focus on certain groups or individuals in the target country and aim to directly impact these groups. But this has failed as it only cause strife on every Zimbabwean already groaning under the hard economic conditions.
The United Kingdom has slapped more sanctions on four Zimbabwean security officials over alleged human rights abuses, in a move that will restrict their travel to Britain and freeze their assets. They are being accused for stopping a marauding gang of thugs who wanted to storm the election command centre and change the election results. This is the same violence shown in America which Britain condemned. Why is it now condemning the enforcer and praising the hooligans. These people who tried to execute an electoral coup in Zimbabwe in 2018 were described as “stupids” by Nelson Chamisa the then president of the MDC A. The opposition United with security leaders in condemning the hooligans who are now being used as the source of the targeted sanctions. Applying a new sanctions regime following its exit from the European Union, the UK on Monday cited a crackdown on protests in January 2019 which killed 6 people even though the UK puts the figure are 17 in order to justify the illegal sanctions. as it introduced the sanctions on Minister for State Security Owen Ncube, as well as heads of police and intelligence organisations Britain purported to be working on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe.
This was a very shameful action by the United Kingdom. Zimbabwe is trying its best to re engage but we have countries like the UK undermining the efforts of the new dispensation.
We wonder what will the UK do if the Director General of Central Intelligence is appointed the minister of Foreign Affairs. He is a celebrated diplomat with diplomatic soft but forceful and fair approach to things. How would the former coloniser engage the minister of Foreign Affairs who is on their sanction list.
This shows that the effectiveness of arms embargoes in ending conflicts remains elusive.
This is particularly true when the targeted group does not controls valuable natural resources.
The assumption that targeted sanctions exert minimal humanitarian impact will not hold, Zimbabweans have a different story to tell. The so called targeted sanctions have ravaged and savaged our economy.
We must always remember that In August 1996, the Security Council voted to impose a flight ban on the government of Sudan for its suspected support of international terrorism. Implementation of the ban was delayed, however, and the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs subsequently issued a report on its possible humanitarian effects. The report showed that even a selective flight ban could cause humanitarian suffering.
The present study conceives of sanctions as measures imposed by an individual or collective sender that interrupt normal relations or benefits that would otherwise be granted in response to perceived misconduct by the target. This broad understanding includes economic and financial restrictions as well as diplomatic sanctions. In the EU context, sanctions have traditionally been referred to as ‘restrictive measures’ or méasures negatives in French, even though in recent times the term ‘sanctions’ is gaining currency also in EU parlance.
Despite targeted sanctions having first appeared in the context of the United Nations (UN), their origin is European, which explains their subsequent adoption in the EU context. The idea of targeted measures emerged in response to negative experiences with comprehensive trade embargoes in the mid-nineties, which led to hardship for whole populations due to the blanket interruption of all trade and finance. Following the international outcry over the Iraqi humanitarian catastrophe which was provoked by the UN embargo, in particular the high mortality rate among children, it became clear to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that the employment of similar measures would be politically untenable. This is the situation in Zimbabwe. Sanctions have destroyed whole communities and it is a wonder why the UK is so heartless as to impose more sanctions on a bleeding nation.
It’s human not to kick a man while he is down.
The anger exhibited by both America and the UK in imposing more sanctions is best described as witchcraft. Five people were killed in America in a political violence caused by a sitting president. The UK does not see this as a sanctionable act. Their eyes are fixed on Zimbabwe. Their regime change mantra has started again.
They find themselves hobbled in conducting business with us but sanctioning our leaders giving them the travel ban cuts them off from their companies and bank accounts. All for what? World wide the, travel bans seem to have had limited results.
In recent years, however, we have observed a few instances of targeted financial sanctions. These include measures such as a freeze on foreign assets of specifically designated individuals, state-owned companies and governments. Selective asset freezes were imposed on Haiti, Serbia-Montenegro, the Bosnian Serbs, and UNITA. The primary challenge facing these asset freezes is the identification of funds belonging to the individuals, governments and companies targeted. Although the means of tracking financial assets have greatly improved, so have the means of deception.
The record indicates that targeted sanctions have been used either as a “warm-up” for broader measures or as the supposed “knock-out” punch. To summarize, targeted sanctions may satisfy the need in sender states to “do something”, they may slake humanitarian concerns, and they may serve to unify fraying coalitions. But they are not a magic bullet for achieving foreign policy goals. Again quoting UN Secretary General: “The international community should be under no illusion: these humanitarian and human rights policy goals cannot easily be reconciled with those of a sanctions regime. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that sanctions are a tool of enforcement and, like other methods of enforcement, they will do harm. This should be borne in mind when the decision to impose them is taken, and when the results are subsequently evaluated.”
Did the UK consider the plight of Zimbabweans in piling more sanctions? This shows a typical disregard of the plight of Zimbabweans. The UK is only concerned with the regime change. But to whose benefit? Does it not please only Biti and his thick heads? The sinister reason behind the targeted sanctions is clear.
Zimbabwe recorded 13 deaths and 156 new cases on Saturday taking the cumulative total number of cases and deaths to 34487 and 1316 respectively.
The numbers confirm that the lockdown imposed by government at the beginning of the new year has paid dividends setting the stage for a review of the tight restrictions.
The ruling ZANU PF party has directed all its employees to report for duty on Monday, 8 February 2021 in spite of the current lockdown regulations.
In a circular addressed to all provincial chairpersons (Circular 2/2021), the party’s director-general D. Dzora said all party staff members should come to work in spite of the extension of the national lockdown by a further two weeks. He wrote:
This letter serves to inform you that all Party staff members are being required to report for duty on Monday 8th of February 2021 at 0800 hours as usual.
We are quite aware that lockdown has been extended for further two weeks.
Meanwhile, in a tweet in which she tagged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), MDC Alliance national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere queried why ZANU PF is not bound by the lockdown regulations when it is not an essential service.
Mahere challenged the police to put an end to ZANU PF impunity. Said Mahere:
Is Zanu PF an essential service?… Why is Zanu PF not bound by the lockdown regulations?… Why do you ignore their continued breaches? Are you captured?… This impunity must end.
Under Level IV lockdown, extended to 15 February 2021, only organisations classified under essential services are allowed to operate.
These include security organs, fuel service stations, the media, supermarkets, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, farmers, and miners among others.- Pindula News
Female candidates outperformed their male counterparts in the 2020 Grade 7 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) results published last week.
Announcing the results on Friday, ZIMSEC board chair Professor Eddie Mwenje said the pass rate for girls was almost five percent higher than boys. This year’s national pass rate dropped by over 9 percent.
“The total number of candidates who sat for the 2020 Grade seven examination was 337 559. This figure is 1,35 percent higher than the 2019 entry which was 323 207. The 2020 national pass rate is 37,1 percent, which is lower than 2019 national pass rate, which was 46,9 percent.
“This translates to a decrease of 9,8 percent in the pass rate,” he said in a statement. Out of 327 559 candidates who sat for the 2020 Grade 7 examinations, 167 602 (51,2 percent) were females and 159 957 (48,3 percent) were males.
“The entry of female candidates was higher than male candidates by 4,78 percent. The pass rate for female candidates was 39,7 percent compared to 34,4 percent for males.”
Candidates excelled in indigenous languages more than all other subjects. “Like in 2019, Indigenous languages again recorded high subject pass when compared to performances in English, Mathematics, Agriculture, and General Paper. While the pass rates in Shona, Ndebele, Nambya, Tshivenda, Xichangana and Kalanga were above 65 percent, Sesotho and Tonga were at 54,6 percent and 52,4 percent respectively.”
This year’s exams saw an increase in Braille candidate entry and a better pass rate compared to the previous year.
Also, there was an increase for enlarged print, physical impaired and hard of hearing candidates in 2020 compared to the previous year.
“There was an increase in Braille candidate entry as compared to the 2019 cohort. The 2020 cohort performed better than the 2019 candidates by 15,8 percent.
“Although there was an increase in entry in 2020 as compared to 2019 for enlarged print, physical impaired and hard of hearing candidate categories, there was a drop in pass rates by 3,3 percent, 19,8 percent and 11,5 percent respectively.”
Prof Mwenje told The Sunday Mail that the examination body is currently working on schools’ provincial rankings which will be released in two weeks.
“We are still working on rankings for the provinces, as you know we ceased producing individual school rankings a while back.
“However, the rankings are now done per provinces. We will be ready in about two weeks.- Sunday Mail
By A Correspondent- Harare City Council plans to slash maize planted on undesignated land amid concerns chemicals from fertilisers used by farmers are contaminating the city’s water sources.
There are also fears over alleged crimes taking place under the cover of the maize fields.
City of Harare’s public relations manager Mr Michael Chideme warned residents last week that “the law will take its course”.
Most of the crop planted late last year, has reached tussling stage and will be ready for harvesting soon.
City by-laws prohibit planting crops on undesignated land.
“The law will take its course on people who are growing crops on undesignated areas in the city,” said Mr Chideme.
He could not divulge when the exercise, which is likely to be controversial, would begin. An official in the city’s urban planning department told The Sunday Mail that there were growing concerns over the environmental damage caused by haphazard urban agriculture.
“There were deliberations within council and it was agreed that all maize planted in areas which are not designated for agriculture must be removed,” said the official, who elected to remain anonymous.
“Council is now concerned with the environmental degradation caused by haphazard urban agriculture.”
Harare Residents Trust (HRT) director Mr Precious Shumba said the city should clamp down on urban agriculture before planting begins.
“If the City of Harare did not approve of urban agriculture in undesignated places, they should have deployed sufficient manpower to warn residents against tillage in those areas,” said Mr Shumba.
“They should not have allowed the crop to reach maturity stage.
“The city should just leave the crop as it is because it is contributing to household food security for struggling urban families.
“Harare should develop a clear programme of support to smallholder farmers and designate land for urban farming.”
Environmentalist Mr Kindness Maridza of Conserve Africa said urban farming has resulted in contamination of raw water sources.
“There is increased siltation of our rivers or raw water sources, in particular Lake Chivero, Seke and Harava dams, thereby reducing their capacity,” said Mr Maridza.
“This is mainly caused by urban agriculture.
“Some residents are using fertilisers, which affect water treatment processes, making water production more expensive.”
Urban farming is major a source of food security for some households in cities around the country.
The late Zanu PF Central Committee member, businessman and former Mutasa North Member of Parliament, Luke Phibion Masamvu, left behind a will that will soon be read out to his surviving 12 wives and 79 children, a family member said.
Masamvu succumbed to Covid-19 in January 30 and left behind a sprawling business empire. The deceased’s brother, Mr John Masamvu, said a lawyer is handling Masamvu’s estate.
“His lawyer called the family after the news of his death and told them that family members should wait on plans to distribute the deceased estate. So we are waiting for directives from the lawyer to move forward on that,” he said.
Sources said there are already some differences between family members on sharing late businessman empire, whose interests include retail, farming and transport.
Legal experts say if a man leaves behind two widows, the senior wife ordinarily gets two-thirds of the estate, with the junior wife getting a third.
However, in the case of multiple widows, the estate is distributed equally among all spouses, according to Mr Tarinda Mukuno of Mukono and Bote Executors said.
“The inheritance plan is drawn up for the benefit of the beneficiaries such as widows and children, who have a right to inherit from the estate.
“It should include how the minor children will be maintained from the estate and from proceeds of sale of assets,” he said, adding that widows can also claim spousal maintenance from the estate. –Sunday Mail
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has stressed the need for coexistence at a time the nation is grappling with economic problems.
The country is also battling to contain the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
The Zanu PF regime has dismally failed to resolve the economic impasse in the country.Instead of concentrating on resolving the economic crisis, Zanu PF is working with disgruntled opposition elements in a desperate ploy to dismantle the MDC Alliance.
On Saturday morning President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page: THE POWER OF COEXISTENCE!! I have just seen and taken a picture of these trees here. This reminded me of the power of being together in diversity.
Conflict is evidence of barbarism. Coexistence is a sign of civilization and maturity . Blessed Sabbath to you beloved!
NORTON legislator Mr Temba Mliswa said he is proud of the 18 children he has fathered with more than 10 women, while revealing that he pays US$25 000 each term for their school fees.
Temba Mliswa
The firebrand legislator, who remains a bachelor, said he plans to continue bearing children but will eventually settle down when the right time comes.
Mr Mliswa was speaking after being in the news last week following a fallout in his relationship with Australia-based Ms Susan Mutami who exposed controversial details on their estranged union.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Sunday Mail, Mr Mliswa chose not to dwell much on the fallout, saying he was preparing to take legal action against some of the allegations that Ms Mutami made against him.
“The truth will come out and I am going to sue her. I am not going to sue because I need the money, I am going to take legal action not for myself but to protect people that were affected by the allegations such as the people of Norton, the Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (YARD) think tank that looks up to me and my family.”
Quizzed about his children, he said: “Yes I have 18 children, and I love them very much. I am proud of them and I take very good care of them. Each term, I pay school fees of about US$25 000 because all my children attend top schools. I have 13 girls and 5 boys,” he said.
He said he will continue fathering children “to grow the clan” as his five siblings “are lazy to make children because they have just two or so”.
“We are six in our family but my brothers and sisters have just one or two children. So it is my duty to grow the clan. Our family is blessed. We have two legislators in Parliament and I count that as a blessing from God to my family.”
Asked if the plentiful children do not defile social norms, Mliswa said he had agreed not to get married to the women that he has fathered children with.
“People are different. I mostly date mature women, who are professionals and know what they want. Most of them come to an understanding with me just to have children and not get married. I have seen many marriages failing and I see a lot of cheating happening in marriages, so the marriage institution is not as sacrosanct as many people want to claim. What most people do not know is that in addition to my 18 children I take care of 600 other children through the Temba Mliswa foundation. This is in addition to other philanthropic projects that I carry out in my constituency.”
Mr Mliswa denied allegations that he was bisexual. “Can a bisexual have 18 children? Those allegations were made just to tarnish my image.”
He spoke at length about his farming prowess, lauding the Government for the land reform programme, which he says has empowered him “more than anything else”.
He said he has made a lot of money from farming to look after his large family, dismissing claims by Ms Mutami that he was an extortionist.
“I rate Zimbabwe’s land reform programme as one of the best black empowerment initiatives the world has ever witnessed. I am what I am because of farming. This season is going to be a prosperous one for many farmers because of the good rains. At my farm in Karoi, I have put 400 hectares under maize to contribute to the country’s food security.
“At the very minimum, I am expecting a yield of at least 3 000 tonnes. This means I would have played my part in feeding the nation. Today (Thursday) we have started to harvest some green maize crop that we planted here at my house (in Borrowdale).
“I use this house as my research station for agriculture activities. I am proud to say that I have developed my farm better than what the white man did. My involvement in farming includes tobacco, where my company Saltlakes supported over 16 000 farmers, mainly small-scale growers.
“Currently, Saltlakes is leasing over 5 000 hectares for tobacco through the joint venture system that the Government has supported. So for someone to say I am an extortionist with the money I make from my farming ventures is just malice.”
Mr Mliswa’s political career has been a roller coaster ride, at one time he rose to the post of Mashonaland West Zanu PF provincial chairperson, before he was fired from the ruling party in 2013, only to bounce back as an independent candidate and claim the Norton Constituency National Assembly seat.
“I see myself as a man of the people. I am a nationalist at heart, partly because I remain inspired by my father Kripper Peter Mliswa, who is an ex-Zipra combatant. I respect the President. Politics comes second when you love your country. That is why I stood as an independent candidate because I stand with the people.
“Some people say I influence my sister (Mashonaland West Minister for Provincial Affairs, Mary Mliswa), but what they do not know is that she is a hothead on her own. When we are together, we do not talk about politics because she respects my views and I respect hers.” -Sunday Mail
A HEADMASTER and a driver at Mandwandwe Secondary School in Bulawayo are under investigation after 16 doors out of 32 that were replaced at classrooms by the School Development Committee reportedly went missing under unclear circumstances.
The school head, Mr Litmus Moyo, and an unnamed school driver have been implicated in the alleged scam after two of the missing doors were found installed at the driver’s house. He claimed that he was given the doors by Mr Moyo.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed that they were investigating circumstances surrounding the alleged theft of the doors but to date no arrests had been made. “Our officers are investigating that matter after a report was made but no arrests have been made so far,” said Insp Ncube.
Contacted for comment, the SDC chairperson, Mr Sign Bhebhe confirmed that they had reported the matter to the police after Mr Moyo had failed to give a substantive explanation on the whereabouts of the missing doors. “As the SDC we got a request from the school to replace the doors, we naturally approached parents who gave us a go ahead, we then went ahead to replace 32 doors at the school. However, we later got a tip off that the driver had taken some of the old doors to his house and for sure when we went there, we identified two of the old doors that had been installed at his house.
“When we asked him, he implicated the school head who initially neither denied or confirmed this assertion, we then went back to the school where we did an inventory on the old doors, where we found that only 16 were left, it is then that the school head professed ignorance on the whereabouts of the doors, which is why we had to report the issue to the police,” said Mr Bhebhe.
He said their worry was that school property could not just go missing when there were people meant to ensure its safety.
“Our thinking was that we were going to dispose of these doors and ensure that the funds raised are channeled towards the development of the school, not just for one person to benefit,” said the SDC chairperson. -Sunday News
Tinashe Sambiri|Hard-hitting MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has posited that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is the worst government in the history of governments.
Hon Biti also condemned the persecution of Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.
“The cost of bread and fuel has just gone up .Toll fees doubled up last week. Zim triple digit inflation is steadily spiking back to 600 %. Talk of stability is deranged dross. Regime is clueless &extractive.Easily the worst government in the history of governments. ZanupfMustGo.”
“Absolutely ridiculous. The weaponization of bail proceedings must stop . Perceptions of judicial capture undermine judiciary itself.
Emmerson has taken Zim to new depths of rights abuses. These women are innocent. The crime they are accused of does not even merit jail,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.
The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are: fever, dry cough and fatigue.
Other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include: loss of taste or smell; nasal congestion; conjunctivitis (also known as red eyes); sore throat; headache; muscle or joint pain; different types of skin rash; nausea or vomiting; diarrhoea; chills or dizziness. Symptoms of severe Covid-19 disease include: shortness of breath; loss of appetite; confusion; persistent pain or pressure in the chest; and high temperature (above 38 °C). More severe and rare neurological complications such as strokes, brain inflammation, delirium and nerve damage.
People of all ages who experience fever and/or cough associated with difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or loss of speech or movement should seek medical care immediately.
If possible, call your health care provider, hotline (in Zimbabwe the number is 2019) or health facility first, so you can be directed to the right clinic.
What should I do if I have Covid-19 symptoms?
If you have any symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, call your health care provider or Covid-19 hotline for instructions and find out when and where to get a test, stay at home for 14 days away from others and monitor your health. If you have shortness of breath or pain or pressure in the chest, seek medical attention at a health facility immediately.
Call your health care provider or hotline in advance for direction to the right health facility. If you live in an area with malaria or dengue fever, seek medical care if you have a fever. If local guidance recommends visiting a medical centre for testing, assessment or isolation, wear a medical mask while travelling to and from the facility and during medical care.
Also keep at least a one-metre distance from other people and avoid touching surfaces with your hands.
This applies to adults and children.
Are antibiotics effective in preventing or treating Covid-19?
Antibiotics do not work against viruses; they only work on bacterial infections. Covid-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of Covid-19. In hospitals, physicians will sometimes use antibiotics to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections which can be a complication of Covid-19 in severely ill patients. They should only be used as directed by a physician to treat a bacterial infection.
Precautionary measures
Stay safe by taking some simple precautions, such as physical distancing, wearing a mask, especially when distancing cannot be maintained, keeping rooms well ventilated, avoiding crowds and close contact, regularly cleaning your hands, and coughing into a bent elbow or tissue — www.who.int
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Tinashe Sambiri|Political observers have described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s remarks on the need to respect the rule of law and democracy in Zimbabwe as typical crocodile antics.
In his statement on the current situation in the country, Mnangagwa said all citizens should uphold the principles of the rule of law.
However, political observers have pointed out that Mnangagwa is using crocodile tactics to mislead the nation.
Below is part of Mnangagwa’s statement:
Those in the criminal justice system and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission are urged to decisively and swiftly bring perpetrators of crime and corruption to book.
In the spirit of multilateralism and guided by the ideals of the United Nations Charter; we will esteem and extend mutual respect to all nations.
Our country in-turn expects the same from other members of the global community, as we together advance sustainable economic growth, democracy and a more peaceful world.
On the international relations front; Zimbabwe is committed to remain being a good neighbour to all and making a positive contribution within the comity of nations, for a better world.
The preservation of our democratic principles, constitutional values and the rule of law must be upheld by all citizens, with no exceptions.
As I conclude, I once again urge us all to remain resolute and hopeful. This pandemic and the constraints, insecurity and anxieties it has brought along will surely end. Let us not despair, Zimbabwe is rising. Together we will cross the finish line and achieve Vision 2030. For now, we must carry on looking after each other, protecting the vulnerable and protecting our loved ones.
Tinashe Sambiri|Political observers have described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s remarks on the need to respect the rule of law and democracy in Zimbabwe as typical crocodile antics.
In his statement on the current situation in the country, Mnangagwa said all citizens should uphold the principles of the rule of law.
However, political observers have pointed out that Mnangagwa is using crocodile tactics to mislead the nation.
Below is part of Mnangagwa’s statement:
Those in the criminal justice system and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission are urged to decisively and swiftly bring perpetrators of crime and corruption to book.
In the spirit of multilateralism and guided by the ideals of the United Nations Charter; we will esteem and extend mutual respect to all nations.
Our country in-turn expects the same from other members of the global community, as we together advance sustainable economic growth, democracy and a more peaceful world.
On the international relations front; Zimbabwe is committed to remain being a good neighbour to all and making a positive contribution within the comity of nations, for a better world.
The preservation of our democratic principles, constitutional values and the rule of law must be upheld by all citizens, with no exceptions.
As I conclude, I once again urge us all to remain resolute and hopeful. This pandemic and the constraints, insecurity and anxieties it has brought along will surely end. Let us not despair, Zimbabwe is rising. Together we will cross the finish line and achieve Vision 2030. For now, we must carry on looking after each other, protecting the vulnerable and protecting our loved ones.
By A Correspondent- Data reportedly released by The City Of Harare has revealed that one of Zimbabwe’s Northern suburbs Borrowdale is the suburb that was hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic as more people from the suburb tested positive for the virus.
According to investigative journalists NewsHawks, Harare shared the following statistics.
Borrowdale statistics Borrowdale statistics
The full report of these statistics is yet to be made public. Meanwhile the COVID-19 second wave new cases are seemingly going down as the country is recording between 250 and 107 new cases per day as compared to the 500+ cases that were being recorded early last month.
By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF is deeply divided over claims that soldiers were beating up people in GokweNembudziya with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, saying the claim was a ploy to tarnish the country’s image.
Gokwe-Nembudziya senator Maybe Mbowa, who is the ruling party’s women’s league political commissar, recently claimed that soldiers had become a menace in the district where they were harassing people.
Mbowa’s claims unwittingly gave credence to reports of human rights violations by the military, but the government and Zanu-PF have often denied the allegations.
Wadyajena, who is both MP and the party’s district co-ordinating committee chairperson for Gokwe-Nembudziya, yesterday denied that soldiers were wreaking havoc in the district.
“I wish to categorically disassociate Gokwe-Nembudziya constituency and myself from the mischievous and poisonous comments recently made by Senator Maybe Mbowa on fictional military brutality in Nembudziya constituency,” Wadyajena said.
“I take great exception to this sinister plot by Ms Mbowa to ruin the image of the government and His Excellency Cde ED Mnangagwa as Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“Her actions are intended to harm the image of the country and our President in line with the impending sanctions review by the United States, the European Union and also as a justification for the recent United Kingdom embargo on some security service chiefs on the basis of human rights violations.”
The United Kingdom this week placed Mnangagwa’s four security chiefs under sanctions over their alleged involvement in the 2018 and 2019 killings of civilians by the army. The international community has accused Harare of human rights violations with the military accused of harassing citizens.
Wadyajena said it was not surprising that Mbowa’s audio was first published in foreign media outlets to tarnish the image of the country.
“What is expressed in the audio that she has been circulating are her own fabrications and as the Gokwe-Nembudziya MP, I wish to state that no such beatings or attacks ever took place in Nembudziya.
“I have challenged Ms Mbowa and her associates to produce a single shred of evidence of the said attacks and she has repeatedly failed to do so. Failure by Ms Mbowa and her associates to also report their claims of harassment of the villagers to the Zimbabwe Republic Police speaks volumes about the validity and authenticity of her story and confirms her desire to tarnish the image of President Mnangagwa, the government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Army to the international community.
“These very damaging lies cannot and should not be ignored because of their broader implications locally and globally,” he said.
In a leaked audio discussion with an unidentified person, she addressed as a senior member of the security sector in the district, Mbowa claimed to have received several reports of soldiers harassing villagers.
Mbowa was quoted as saying: “I can phone straight to the President because I suspect there is something happening behind the scenes. I don’t know what it is, but I am even ready to engage their (soldiers’) leader here. You can invite me to your meetings and I talk to them.
“I got several reports and I initially ignored them thinking people were lying. The recent report was about a former teacher who was harassed and was beaten by the soldiers while forcing him to crawl. Another victim was forced into the water. Imagine in these COVID-19 times, someone is forced into the water exposing them to the virus.”
She added:
“We want to know what these soldiers stand for. Are they there for the government and are they there to see to it that government regulations have been followed?”
On Thursday, Mbowa said Mnangagwa had intervened and stopped the beatings.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has stressed the need for coexistence adding that there is power in emracing diversity.
On Saturday morning President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page:
“THE POWER OF COEXISTENCE!! I have just seen and taken a picture of these trees here. This reminded me of the power of being together in diversity.
Conflict is evidence of barbarism. Coexistence is a sign of civilization and maturity . Blessed Sabbath to you beloved!”
Picture taken by President Chamisa on Saturday morning
By A Correspondent- A Mount Darwin minor died on the spot after a parked Isuzu pick-up truck lost its brakes and crushed her.
The minor’s father had parked it the previous day before it crushed her the following day.
Acting Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo confirmed the case.
“I can confirm a fatal accident in Mount Darwin where a one-year-old child died after she was run over by an Isuzu registration number APR8266 owned by Amon Kajokoto, father to the deceased,” Dhliwayo said.
According to police, Kajokoto parked his vehicle the previous day and his children started playing behind the car the next day when it moved and crushed his one-year old daughter.
Police warned motorist to avoid dangerous parking and to ensure that their handbrakes are in good working condition.-Newsday
By Dr Masimba Mavaza | The United Kingdom of Britain imposed sanctions on three security chiefs plus a minister of state security. The most likely to be appointed to the post, the Director General of the Central Intelligence, a respected career diplomat will face the UK head on.
Isaac Moyo with President Mnangagwa
This will surely cause a headache as he will be diplomatically expected to lead all and any engagement with the former colonial power.
The development comes as there is already a tiff between UK and Zimbabwe with the London based High Commissioner, His Excellency Ret’ Col Christian Katsande refusing to assist UK with releasing travel documents for Zimbabweans on a British list of returnees being sent back home. Alreadyour ambassador in the UK has failed to even issue a travel document to Zimbabweans willing to return home putting already damaged relations with England on another level.
Ambassador Katsande’s bitterness is all concerning the UK’s failure to address him as High Commissioner, His Excellency Ret’ Colonel Katsande. The British are calling him by his work title, of ambassador.
Zimbabweans numbering five so far are stranded in UK as a result of the ambassador’s standoff with UK.
In other forums, the question is asked what these targeted sanctions slapped against the four security chiefs will achieve.
Targeted sanctions are intended to be directed at individuals, companies and organizations, or restrict trade with key commodities. … Financial sanctions (freezing of funds and other financial assets, ban on transactions, investment restrictions.
Sanctions are one of the tools utilised to address human rights violations. They are also an increasingly prominent tool in the European Union’s foreign policy. International sanctions policy is part of a global trend towards individualisation: rather than affecting the state as a whole, bans nowadays are targeted at individuals identified as responsible for the abuses.
Originally developed within the context of the United Nations the practice of applying sanctions against individuals has become commonplace in EU foreign policy.
Sanctions against individuals represent the narrowest expression of a targeted sanction, discriminating clearly between targets and non-targets, while other types tend to display effects on non-targeted populations to different degrees.
Although traditionally highly targeted, EU sanctions (including those applied against individuals) are gradually becoming less discriminating, largely as a result of frequent litigation.
Despite the increasing trend towards individualisation of sanctions, few instances are known as yet in which the behaviour of targets has been affected, at least in a way that incites compliance with the sender’s aims.
Still, a comprehensive inquiry into UN individually targeted sanctions found a compliance ratio of about 20 %, which does not deviate from common estimates for comprehensive embargoes.
Nevertheless, even the most optimistic assessments concede that the performance of individual sanctions could be improved beyond present compliance ratios with the help of better informed targeting policies.
In his 1997 report on the work of the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance of economic sanctions: the Security Council’s tool to bring pressure without recourse to force. At the same time Annan worried about the harm that sanctions inflict on vulnerable civilian groups, and their collateral damage to third states.
He acknowledged that “[i]t is increasingly accepted that the design and implementation of sanctions mandated by the Security Council need to be improved, and their humanitarian costs to civilian populations reduced as far as possible.”
Widely shared concerns about humanitarian and third country effects can undermine the political unity required for the effective implementation of multilateral sanctions. The case of Iraq stands as Exhibit A. With the erosion of support for the embargo against Iraq, it is becoming clear that the effectiveness of a sanctions regime partly depends on how it addresses humanitarian issues.
Although virtually all sanctions regimes launched during the 1990s allow trade in humanitarian goods, the “blunt weapon” of comprehensive embargo inevitably hurts those at the bottom of the economic heap. Given the poor track record of sanctions in achieving their foreign policy goals, the conventional wisdom that civilian pain leads to political gain is being questioned. Many ask whether the costs of sanctions are worth the results.
Despite sanctions conveniently called targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe the lives of Zimbabwean citizens has become worse.
“Targeted sanctions” or “smart sanctions”, like “smart bombs”, are meant to focus their impact on leaders, political elites and segments of society believed to be responsible for objectionable behaviour, while reducing collateral damage to the general population and third countries.
Zimbabwe has been under the cruel jaws of the West and as the West chews and grinds the life out of every Zimbabwean life they try to beautify the evil act and call it targeted sanctions.
Before taking a closer look at certain measures, it may be useful to draw a distinction between “targeted” and “selective” sanctions. “Selective” sanctions, which are less broad than comprehensive embargoes, involve restrictions on particular products or financial flows. “Targeted” sanctions focus on certain groups or individuals in the target country and aim to directly impact these groups. But this has failed as it only cause strife on every Zimbabwean already groaning under the hard economic conditions.
The United Kingdom has slapped more sanctions on four Zimbabwean security officials over alleged human rights abuses, in a move that will restrict their travel to Britain and freeze their assets. They are being accused for stopping a marauding gang of thugs who wanted to storm the election command centre and change the election results. This is the same violence shown in America which Britain condemned. Why is it now condemning the enforcer and praising the hooligans. These people who tried to execute an electoral coup in Zimbabwe in 2018 were described as “stupids” by Nelson Chamisa the then president of the MDC A. The opposition United with security leaders in condemning the hooligans who are now being used as the source of the targeted sanctions.
Applying a new sanctions regime following its exit from the European Union, the UK on Monday cited a crackdown on protests in January 2019 which killed 6 people even though the UK puts the figure are 17 in order to justify the illegal sanctions. as it introduced the sanctions on Minister for State Security Owen Ncube, as well as heads of police and intelligence organisations Britain purported to be working on behalf of the people of Zimbabwe.
This was a very shameful action by the United Kingdom. Zimbabwe is trying its best to re engage but we have countries like the UK undermining the efforts of the new dispensation.
We wonder what will the UK do if the Director General of Central Intelligence is appointed the minister of Foreign Affairs. He is a celebrated diplomat with diplomatic soft but forceful and fair approach to things. How would the former coloniser engage the minister of Foreign Affairs who is on their sanction list.
This shows that the effectiveness of arms embargoes in ending conflicts remains elusive.
This is particularly true when the targeted group does not controls valuable natural resources.
The assumption that targeted sanctions exert minimal humanitarian impact will not hold, Zimbabweans have a different story to tell. The so called targeted sanctions have ravaged and savaged our economy.
We must always remember that
In August 1996, the Security Council voted to impose a flight ban on the government of Sudan for its suspected support of international terrorism. Implementation of the ban was delayed, however, and the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs subsequently issued a report on its possible humanitarian effects. The report showed that even a selective flight ban could cause humanitarian suffering.
The present study conceives of sanctions as measures imposed by an individual or collective sender that interrupt normal relations or benefits that would otherwise be granted in response to perceived misconduct by the target. This broad understanding includes economic and financial restrictions as well as diplomatic sanctions. In the EU context, sanctions have traditionally been referred to as ‘restrictive measures’ or méasures negatives in French, even though in recent times the term ‘sanctions’ is gaining currency also in EU parlance.
Despite targeted sanctions having first appeared in the context of the United Nations (UN), their origin is European, which explains their subsequent adoption in the EU context. The idea of targeted measures emerged in response to negative experiences with comprehensive trade embargoes in the mid-nineties, which led to hardship for whole populations due to the blanket interruption of all trade and finance. Following the international outcry over the Iraqi humanitarian catastrophe which was provoked by the UN embargo, in particular the high mortality rate among children, it became clear to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that the employment of similar measures would be politically untenable. This is the situation in Zimbabwe. Sanctions have destroyed whole communities and it is a wonder why the UK is so heartless as to impose more sanctions on a bleeding nation.
It’s human not to kick a man while he is down.
The anger exhibited by both America and the UK in imposing more sanctions is best described as witchcraft. Five people were killed in America in a political violence caused by a sitting president. The UK does not see this as a sanctionable act. Their eyes are fixed on Zimbabwe. Their regime change mantra has started again.
They find themselves hobbled in conducting business with us but sanctioning our leaders giving them the travel ban cuts them off from their companies and bank accounts. All for what? World wide the, travel bans seem to have had limited results.
In recent years, however, we have observed a few instances of targeted financial sanctions. These include measures such as a freeze on foreign assets of specifically designated individuals, state-owned companies and governments. Selective asset freezes were imposed on Haiti, Serbia-Montenegro, the Bosnian Serbs, and UNITA. The primary challenge facing these asset freezes is the identification of funds belonging to the individuals, governments and companies targeted. Although the means of tracking financial assets have greatly improved, so have the means of deception.
The record indicates that targeted sanctions have been used either as a “warm-up” for broader measures or as the supposed “knock-out” punch.
To summarize, targeted sanctions may satisfy the need in sender states to “do something”, they may slake humanitarian concerns, and they may serve to unify fraying coalitions. But they are not a magic bullet for achieving foreign policy goals. Again quoting UN Secretary General: “The international community should be under no illusion: these humanitarian and human rights policy goals cannot easily be reconciled with those of a sanctions regime. It cannot be too strongly emphasized that sanctions are a tool of enforcement and, like other methods of enforcement, they will do harm. This should be borne in mind when the decision to impose them is taken, and when the results are subsequently evaluated.”
Did the UK consider the plight of Zimbabweans in piling more sanctions? This shows a typical disregard of the plight of Zimbabweans. The UK is only concerned with the regime change. But to whose benefit? Does it not please only Biti and his thick heads? The sinister reason behind the targeted sanctions is clear.
By A correspondent- A Dangamvura man bashed his wife accusing her of giving him insufficient money to buy beer.
According to The Manica Post the altercation ended with 32-year-old Gift Tinashe Muzokomba assaulting his wife, Ellenia Shoko (36) with a wooden hoe handle and a hosepipe.
Mutare magistrate, Audrey Muzhingi presided over the matter when Muzokomba was recently convicted of physical abuse charges as defined in Section 3 (1) (a) as read with Section 4 of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:16.
Muzokomba was fined $6 500.
In sentencing him, magistrate Muzhingi said Muzokomba acted unlawfully, therefore he had to be punished with a hefty fine that will deter him from committing similar offenses in the future.
The State proved that on January 16, Muzokomba returned from a beer binge in the early hours of the day and accused Shoko of giving him little money to buy beer the previous day. Shoko had given him $1 000.
An argument ensued with Muzokomba demanding more money for another beer outing. This was despite Shoko’s plea that the only money in the house was left for groceries.
Muzokomba grabbed a hosepipe and assaulted Shoko several times all over the body. While she was writhing in pain on the ground, Muzokomba took a wooden hoe handle and further assaulted her.
It was the State’s case that Muzokomba left her lying on the floor and in pain.
Muzokomba was arrested after neighbors came to her rescue and took her to the police station to make a report.
By A Correspondent- Over the Christmas Holiday, Vice President Chiwenga, the late Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo, and army general Engelbert Rugeje reportedly met in the resort town of Victoria Falls where they reportedly discussed a fightback strategy as President Mnangagwa moves to solidify his grip on power, The NewsHawks reports.
This comes amid reports that President Mnangagwa has reneged on his handshake promise with Vice President Chiwenga after the November 2017 coup to only lead for one term and hand over the reins to his deputy who will, in turn, hand them over to someone else after one term.
President Mnangagwa is reportedly strategically placing his friends and trusted lieutenants in positions that will help him retain power when the time comes or if the need arises according to the publication.
A security source that spoke to the publication said Chiwenga at some point in December was discussing a fightback strategy:
Chiwenga was in Victoria Falls during the festive period, with a group of 15 family members and friends. Moyo was also there with his family, including his wife. Rugeje was also there.
There were many VIPs in town. Hotels were full, restaurants and the rainforest buzzing with a hive of activity. These VIPs couldn’t travel out of the country due to Covid-19, so they swarmed local tourist destinations.
Moyo was staying in the presidential suite at Victoria Falls Hotel, but when Chiwenga arrived he vacated it for him and moved to Elephant Hills Resort. Rugeje was also staying at Elephant Hills.
The three had a number of meetings, in which they discussed family issues, holiday events and serious political matters. Their meetings will have a bearing on how political events will unfold going forward but Moyo’s death will affect so many things.
The publication said
The death of SB Moyo and Perrance Shiri coupled with president Mnangagwa’s alleged strategy of appointing his ethnic Karanga homeboys, mostly from the Midlands and Masvingo provinces has reportedly shifted the balance of power in President Mnangagwa’s favour as he gears up for 2023 and left the VP isolated.-theHawks
By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has filed an urgent High Court application seeking to compel the Government to provide a COVID-19 National Vaccination Deployment Plan.
The application comes at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that the country will vaccinate more than 60 percent of the population with the first phase targeting frontline health workers, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.
“Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking to compel the Government to provide a COVID-19 National Vaccination Deployment Plan and the accompanying budget in the face of the ravaging pandemic that has killed over two million people worldwide and over 1200 in Zimbabwe. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 at ZimRights we have always called upon the government to ensure human rights are at the centre of the fight against COVID-19,” said ZimRights.
The human rights pressure group says it has operationalized a COVID-19 response strategy that is premised on three pillars namely humanitarian response, human rights monitoring and policy advocacy pillar.
“It is under the third pillar (policy advocacy) that ZimRights now seeks to compel the Government of Zimbabwe to take positive steps to stop the spread of the virus as other governments are doing. At a time when governments the world over are investing in measures to protect their populations, the Government of Zimbabwe has been investing in destroying people’s homes and informal markets while ignoring the most urgent task of saving lives,”
ZimRights says in the founding affidavit filed on behalf of the lobby group by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the ZimRights Director Dzikamai Bere states that section 29 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe obliges the State to take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic accessible and adequate health service throughout Zimbabwe.
He adds “Section 29 (3) in particular obliges the State to take all preventive measures within the limits of the resources available to it, including education and public awareness programmes against the spread of diseases. Section 76 obliges the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to health care.”
By A Correspondent | Prison guards at Harare remand prison have prevented mass escape of inmates by firing gun shots after an inmate had led several others to hide in a cell ceiling.
The gun shots were fired after the number of inmates failed to tally when officers were locking up prisoners at 1800hrs.- More follows
By A Correspondent- Political observers have described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s remarks on the need to respect the rule of law and democracy in Zimbabwe as typical crocodile antics.
In his statement on the current situation in the country, Mnangagwa said all citizens should uphold the principles of the rule of law.
However, political observers have pointed out that Mnangagwa is using crocodile tactics to mislead the nation.
Below is part of Mnangagwa’s statement:
Those in the criminal justice system and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission are urged to decisively and swiftly bring perpetrators of crime and corruption to book.
In the spirit of multilateralism and guided by the ideals of the United Nations Charter; we will esteem and extend mutual respect to all nations.
Our country in-turn expects the same from other members of the global community, as we together advance sustainable economic growth, democracy and a more peaceful world.
On the international relations front; Zimbabwe is committed to remain being a good neighbour to all and making a positive contribution within the comity of nations, for a better world.
The preservation of our democratic principles, constitutional values and the rule of law must be upheld by all citizens, with no exceptions.
As I conclude, I once again urge us all to remain resolute and hopeful. This pandemic and the constraints, insecurity and anxieties it has brought along will surely end. Let us not despair, Zimbabwe is rising. Together we will cross the finish line and achieve Vision 2030. For now, we must carry on looking after each other, protecting the vulnerable and protecting our loved ones.
By A Correspondent- Hell broke loose in Hobhouse high-density suburb of Mutare on Monday, with irate neighbours baying for the blood of a step-mother who allegedly bludgeoned a teenager to death and faked suicide as a cover-up.
Ishmael Chishakwe (13), who was a Grade Seven learner at Sheni Primary School in Dangamvura, had visited his father and stepmother at their Hobhouse lodgings when he allegedly committed suicide in the bathroom, something neighbours dismissed as the boy was always on the receiving end of his step-mother, Precious Chishakwe’s ire.
Residents and neighbours who suspected foul play in Ishmael’s death bayed for Precious’ blood, demanding an explanation on what had transpired as they claimed that circumstances of his death were not tantamount to suicide.
Ishmael’s father, Tapfumaneyi — an officer with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) — was at home when the teenager died and was reported to have been at sixes and sevens to narrate the events of the day.
Police could neither confirm nor deny that it was a murder case and said investigations were in progress.
“We can confirm that the boy was found dead in a suspected case of suicide in Hobhouse on Monday afternoon. However, investigations are in progress,” said Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda.
A neighbour who managed to force her way into the house after the Chishakwes had locked themselves inside their rented premises who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she saw Ishmael’s body in an empty bathroom tub, while a sponge that was around his neck was hanging from the tap.
She queried why a teenager would commit suicide using a soft sponge.
Neighbours also said it took more than an hour for police who are stationed less than 200 metres from the Chishakwe lodgings to be alerted of the incident.
Another neighbour, Ms Sara Chakuhwa, alleged that the couple wanted to keep the death as a secret and had already initiated processes of ferrying the corpse to their rural area when Tapfumaneyi was overheard talking to someone over the phone.
“He was overheard by someone informing a relative of Ishmael’s death and their decision to ferry the corpse to their rural home. They wanted to keep the death under wraps, but it was all over the neighbourhood within minutes, prompting neighbours to besiege the house demanding the truth,” said Ms Chakuhwa.
She said Ishmael’s body had switch marks all over, allegedly inflicted by his step-mother’s beatings.
“I was outside when I heard the step-mother (Precious) calling the boy and shouting: ‘Idiot, unoda kudeedzerwa chikafu, unotenga chikafu pano here iwe. (You want me to always call you to come and eat, do you buy any food here?) Within 20 minutes, the child was dead and who can buy these suicide lies?
“I quickly rushed to their house and asked the stepmother if I could view the child. My intention was to render him first aid, but I was denied access. Precious told me that she was scared to go into the bathroom where the body was,” said Ms Chakuhwa.
Another neighbour who managed to view Ishmael’s body before it was taken to the mortuary for a post mortem by the police, said it was clear that the body was dragged into the bathroom.
“Precious told me that she was informed by a niece who was at the house that Ishmael had committed suicide. It is, however, shocking that anyone would believe that the child committed suicide in that bathroom, as tall as he was.
“He had marks on his neck and there was no water, towel or soap in the bathroom to corroborate their claim. His was just lying in an empty tub with his eyes open,” she said.
Ishmael’s former teacher, Mrs Victoria Chimonyo, said the teenager was staying with his aunt in Dangamvura after fleeing from abuses at the hands of his father and step-mother.
She said Ishmael had resorted to be a street urchin on countless occasions.
“I taught him when he was in Grade 5. Ishmael was a hardworking learner, but he was staying in an abusive environment. When I taught him, he was usually late and at most times, he would ran away from home to become a street kid at Sakubva Musika. Her aunt decided to take custody of him,” said Mrs Chimonyo.
In an interview, Precious distanced herself from Ishmael’s death.
“I was not there when the incident happened. I was told by my niece who was here that Ishmael had been instructed by his father to take a bath when he committed suicide. His father was reading a novel in the dining room. The boy took long to come out of the bathroom and when a follow-up was made, it was discovered that he had died. He might have been choked by a sponge which was around his neck. I could not entertain our neighbours at that time because I was still in a state of shock,” said a teary Chishakwe.
Efforts to contact Tapfumaneyi proved fruitless as he was said to be busy with Ishmael’s burial arrangements
By A Correspondent | Prison guards at Harare remand prison have prevented mass escape of inmates by firing gun shots after an inmate had led several others to hide in a cell ceiling.
The gun shots were fired after the number of inmates failed to tally when officers were locking up prisoners at 1800hrs.- More follows
Residents in the Iron Duke area of Mazowe are still struggling to come to terms with last Sunday’s events when a dam burst, causing the loss of a reported five lives.
It was a repeat of the year 1995 when Candy Dam burst again last Sunday according to Ward 18 Councillor Canaan Moyo who rushed to the area due to danger warnings he received at 7:30 am.
“I was in Glendale and got a message from my farm that you cannot cross the bridge, water is rising across it. That was around 7: 30. I came and realised the situation was similar to 1995.
“I had to evacuate people who were there at the river banks telling them in about 30 to 45 minutes the dam can burst because the sound that I could hear was similar to 95/96 when the dam burst so those who listened left,” said Councillor Canaan Moyo.
“I am father to Godknows Mudavanhu a 21-year-old who was swept away. The dam at Advocate’s (Martin Dinha) farm burst and came to fill Iron Duke Dam and led to an overflow and filled the river which in turn filled the bridge.
“My son and his friend Evidence were taking pictures when disaster struck. They did not have a chance to run for their lives neither did the community have a chance to rescue them,” said Davis Chaitezvi.
One of the young men, 22-year-old Evidence Chipadze and Cecilia Philip who was in her late 30s are yet to be found, while two other unknown people suspected to be artisanal miners are reportedly missing.
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has described president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration as the worst government in the history of governments.
Hon Biti also condemned the persecution of Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.
“The cost of bread and fuel has just gone up .Toll fees doubled up last week. Zim triple digit inflation is steadily spiking back to 600 %. Talk of stability is deranged dross. Regime is clueless &extractive.Easily the worst government in the history of governments. ZanupfMustGo.”
“Absolutely ridiculous. The weaponization of bail proceedings must stop . Perceptions of judicial capture undermine judiciary itself.
Emmerson has taken Zim to new depths of rights abuses. These women are innocent. The crime they are accused of does not even merit jail,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.
AL Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane believes the pressure is on European champions Bayern Munich when the two sides meet in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Monday.
Mosimane masterminded a 1-0 win over Qatar champions Al Duhail yesterday, to set up a last four clash against the German powerhouse.
No African team has ever won the tournament and the South African tactician is seeking to end that long wait but he insists the pressure, heading into the eagerly-awaited game, is on Bayern.
“It would be nice to take Bayern to penalties,” Mosimane said according to BBC.
“We should have fun I think. We have nothing to lose, everything to get. Imagine we win that match, our life will turn around.
“Very difficult match to win. Big team, the champions, they’ve won their cup, they’ve won their league, they’ve won the Champions League. What else they haven’t won.
“OK we did the same in Africa, we won everything. The treble. But they are Bayern. Bayern has got pressure. They must beat us,” he added.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Kamhuka signs for new club Zimbabwe international Victor Kamhuka has signed for a new club.
The 30-year old former Dynamos and How Mine defender has signed for Malaysian Premier League side Royal Malaysian Police Football Club.
He inked a 2-year deal.
Kamhuka was on the ranks on Myanmar League side Ayeyawady United last season and got his debut Warriors call-up during the back to back AFCON qualifiers against Algeria last November.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has stressed the need for coexistence at a time the nation is grappling with economic problems.
The country is also battling to contain the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
The Zanu PF regime has dismally failed to resolve the economic impasse in the country.Instead of concentrating on resolving the economic crisis, Zanu PF is working with disgruntled opposition elements in a desperate ploy to dismantle the MDC Alliance.
On Saturday morning President Chamisa wrote on his official Facebook page: THE POWER OF COEXISTENCE!! I have just seen and taken a picture of these trees here. This reminded me of the power of being together in diversity.
Conflict is evidence of barbarism. Coexistence is a sign of civilization and maturity . Blessed Sabbath to you beloved!
Picture taken by President Chamisa on Saturday morning
Tinashe Sambiri|Hard-hitting MDC Alliance vice president, Hon Tendai Biti has posited that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is the worst government in the history of governments.
Hon Biti also condemned the persecution of Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration.
“The cost of bread and fuel has just gone up .Toll fees doubled up last week. Zim triple digit inflation is steadily spiking back to 600 %. Talk of stability is deranged dross. Regime is clueless &extractive.Easily the worst government in the history of governments. ZanupfMustGo.”
“Absolutely ridiculous. The weaponization of bail proceedings must stop . Perceptions of judicial capture undermine judiciary itself.
Emmerson has taken Zim to new depths of rights abuses. These women are innocent. The crime they are accused of does not even merit jail,” Hon Biti wrote on Twitter.
Welcome to our weekly covid-19 update. In our fight against the covid-19 pandemic, we have emphasized the tools currently available to us, namely social distancing, masking up, avoiding super-spreader events like funerals, overcrowding in ZUPCO buses, uncalled for incarceration in prison cells for minor offenses, parties & weddings, and promoting hand washing and sanitizing, quarantine and isolation. These tools are aimed at preventing covid-19 infection from happening at all in the first place. Now we have a new kid on the block, called a covid-19 vaccine. It works by training our bodies to fight and defeat covid-19 when it enters our bodies. This is not a new tool in our fight against viral infections. It has given us great success against diseases like small pox, measles, polio, and many others.
There are things we must do right as a government and its people to benefit from the explosion of knowledge and vaccine technologies that we are witnessing today.
Firstly, we expect the government to do some due diligent processes to instill confidence into the population and allay the myriad of anxieties that presently cloud our minds. We want to know: Are the vaccines on offer safe? Are they better than the disease we are trying to prevent? Are they efficacious (i.e. do they work)? Do we have verifiable scientific data on safety and effectiveness, and have our own scientists verified the claims of the manufacturers? This is a good opportunity for Zimbabwe to start building capacity for vaccine manufacture. It’s doable.
It was exciting news to learn that the government has set aside a sum of USD100 million for vaccine procurement, and that all those who meet the clinical criteria will receive the vaccine for free. We were further tickled by the proposed roll out plan, to front line workers first, and then to the elderly and those with co-morbidities, reaching out to other sectors next. We await the detailed roll out plan that must be made public.
We also want to know: Is the government tapping into the COVAX facility, and are we going to work with other reliable partners we have worked with before in the field of immunization? What is the breakdown of government’s budget for this immunization effort, considering important pillars such as procurement, logistics, storage, distribution, administration, training and human resources? What is our current level of preparedness in terms of the cold chain? How is this going to affect the other immunization programs already in place, and how much money has the government set aside for research? The government should commission and fund research into covid-19 without delay. There is urgent need to understand how our vaccine choice will be impacted by emerging new variants like the so-called South African variant.
We need to raise awareness on the benefits and risks of vaccines in general, and of the covid-19 vaccine more specifically, and demystify conspiracy theories and other myths doing the rounds. There is need to involve other stakeholders like church leaders, traditional leaders, healthcare providers, workers’ unions, captains of industry, students, telecommunication companies, civil society, the United Nations family, and other partners, right from the beginning. We consider it prudent for the government to set up a multi-stakeholder advisory board on covid-19 vaccination, and give it both authority and responsibility. Transparency is extremely important in this venture, in light of our past experiences with covid-19 designated funds.
We urge all Zimbabweans to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to us, but until such a time as enough people have been vaccinated to reach the so-called herd immunity, there is need to contain the pandemic aggressively through existing means. These include eliminating all super spreader events, cushioning citizens and businesses economically, ensuring scientifically informed targeted lockdown measures, and providing adequate support to schools to open safely as the pandemic will be with Zimbabwe for most of 2021. We need to go a gear up in terms of testing, contact tracing and isolation. There is need to improve our services to those who get the infection. This means increasing the number of admission facilities, equipping healthcare workers properly with PPE, and conducting continuous training of health workers because information on this disease is continuously evolving.
Lastly, we wish to implore Zimbabweans to listen to our healthcare professionals for advice on vaccination. Let’s leave our prophets to concentrate on spiritual matters. We have been here before, and we all probably know some friends or relatives who lost their lives prematurely to HIV because of prophets in the past.
Here are a few key facts we all need to know about the covid-19 vaccine:
• Over 100 million covid-19 vaccine doses have already been administered globally. • The covid-19 vaccine will help prevent you from getting sick with covid-19.
• People who have already gotten sick with covid-19 may still benefit from getting vaccinated. We do not know yet how long immunity from natural infection will last. • Covid-19 vaccines cannot give you covid-19 disease. More on this next time. • Covid-19 vaccines will not cause you to test positive on covid-19 viral tests. • Covid-19 vaccine will NOT alter your DNA. We will explain this next time. • There is no microchip in the covid-19 vaccine. This is only a malicious rumour. It is the job of our regulatory authorities to verify the safety of all medicines, including vaccines. • Remember, after getting your vaccine you must continue to observe all the other prevention measures like masking up, social distancing, hand washing, sanitizing, etc. till the pandemic is over. The job of the vaccine is simply to prevent you from getting sick if you contract the virus.
More information on vaccines next week.
Many thanks to the MDC-Alliance Health Portfolio Committee for their input.
Dr H. Madzorera. Secretary for Health and Childwelfare. MDC-Alliance.
Tinashe Sambiri|Political observers have described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s remarks on the need to respect the rule of law and democracy in Zimbabwe as typical crocodile antics.
In his statement on the current situation in the country, Mnangagwa said all citizens should uphold the principles of the rule of law.
However, political observers have pointed out that Mnangagwa is using crocodile tactics to mislead the nation.
Below is part of Mnangagwa’s statement:
Those in the criminal justice system and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission are urged to decisively and swiftly bring perpetrators of crime and corruption to book.
In the spirit of multilateralism and guided by the ideals of the United Nations Charter; we will esteem and extend mutual respect to all nations.
Our country in-turn expects the same from other members of the global community, as we together advance sustainable economic growth, democracy and a more peaceful world.
On the international relations front; Zimbabwe is committed to remain being a good neighbour to all and making a positive contribution within the comity of nations, for a better world.
The preservation of our democratic principles, constitutional values and the rule of law must be upheld by all citizens, with no exceptions.
As I conclude, I once again urge us all to remain resolute and hopeful. This pandemic and the constraints, insecurity and anxieties it has brought along will surely end. Let us not despair, Zimbabwe is rising. Together we will cross the finish line and achieve Vision 2030. For now, we must carry on looking after each other, protecting the vulnerable and protecting our loved ones.
Residents in the Iron Duke area of Mazowe are still struggling to come to terms with last Sunday’s events when a dam burst, causing the loss of a reported five lives.
It was a repeat of the year 1995 when Candy Dam burst again last Sunday according to Ward 18 Councillor Canaan Moyo who rushed to the area due to danger warnings he received at 7:30 am.
“I was in Glendale and got a message from my farm that you cannot cross the bridge, water is rising across it. That was around 7: 30. I came and realised the situation was similar to 1995.
“I had to evacuate people who were there at the river banks telling them in about 30 to 45 minutes the dam can burst because the sound that I could hear was similar to 95/96 when the dam burst so those who listened left,” said Councillor Canaan Moyo.
“I am father to Godknows Mudavanhu a 21-year-old who was swept away. The dam at Advocate’s (Martin Dinha) farm burst and came to fill Iron Duke Dam and led to an overflow and filled the river which in turn filled the bridge.
“My son and his friend Evidence were taking pictures when disaster struck. They did not have a chance to run for their lives neither did the community have a chance to rescue them,” said Davis Chaitezvi.
One of the young men, 22-year-old Evidence Chipadze and Cecilia Philip who was in her late 30s are yet to be found, while two other unknown people suspected to be artisanal miners are reportedly missing.
By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has filed an urgent High Court application seeking to compel the Government to provide a COVID-19 National Vaccination Deployment Plan.
The application comes at a time President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that the country will vaccinate more than 60 percent of the population with the first phase targeting frontline health workers, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.
“Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking to compel the Government to provide a COVID-19 National Vaccination Deployment Plan and the accompanying budget in the face of the ravaging pandemic that has killed over two million people worldwide and over 1200 in Zimbabwe. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 at ZimRights we have always called upon the government to ensure human rights are at the centre of the fight against COVID-19,” said ZimRights.
The human rights pressure group says it has operationalized a COVID-19 response strategy that is premised on three pillars namely humanitarian response, human rights monitoring and policy advocacy pillar.
“It is under the third pillar (policy advocacy) that ZimRights now seeks to compel the Government of Zimbabwe to take positive steps to stop the spread of the virus as other governments are doing. At a time when governments the world over are investing in measures to protect their populations, the Government of Zimbabwe has been investing in destroying people’s homes and informal markets while ignoring the most urgent task of saving lives,”
ZimRights says in the founding affidavit filed on behalf of the lobby group by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the ZimRights Director Dzikamai Bere states that section 29 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe obliges the State to take all practical measures to ensure the provision of basic accessible and adequate health service throughout Zimbabwe.
He adds “Section 29 (3) in particular obliges the State to take all preventive measures within the limits of the resources available to it, including education and public awareness programmes against the spread of diseases. Section 76 obliges the State to take reasonable legislative and other measures within the limits of the resources available to it, to achieve the progressive realisation of the right to health care.”
The 2020 Grade 7 exam results out. A whooping 88 schools across the country recorded 0% pass rate. Overall, the pass rate was well under 50% – a real cause for concern. The factors contributing to such a high failure rate in national examinations have to be interrogated. pic.twitter.com/rRPgMmht8b
By A Correspondent- Hell broke loose in Hobhouse high-density suburb of Mutare on Monday, with irate neighbours baying for the blood of a step-mother who allegedly bludgeoned a teenager to death and faked suicide as a cover-up.
Ishmael Chishakwe (13), who was a Grade Seven learner at Sheni Primary School in Dangamvura, had visited his father and stepmother at their Hobhouse lodgings when he allegedly committed suicide in the bathroom, something neighbours dismissed as the boy was always on the receiving end of his step-mother, Precious Chishakwe’s ire.
Residents and neighbours who suspected foul play in Ishmael’s death bayed for Precious’ blood, demanding an explanation on what had transpired as they claimed that circumstances of his death were not tantamount to suicide.
Ishmael’s father, Tapfumaneyi — an officer with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) — was at home when the teenager died and was reported to have been at sixes and sevens to narrate the events of the day.
Police could neither confirm nor deny that it was a murder case and said investigations were in progress.
“We can confirm that the boy was found dead in a suspected case of suicide in Hobhouse on Monday afternoon. However, investigations are in progress,” said Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda.
A neighbour who managed to force her way into the house after the Chishakwes had locked themselves inside their rented premises who spoke on condition of anonymity, said she saw Ishmael’s body in an empty bathroom tub, while a sponge that was around his neck was hanging from the tap.
She queried why a teenager would commit suicide using a soft sponge.
Neighbours also said it took more than an hour for police who are stationed less than 200 metres from the Chishakwe lodgings to be alerted of the incident.
Another neighbour, Ms Sara Chakuhwa, alleged that the couple wanted to keep the death as a secret and had already initiated processes of ferrying the corpse to their rural area when Tapfumaneyi was overheard talking to someone over the phone.
“He was overheard by someone informing a relative of Ishmael’s death and their decision to ferry the corpse to their rural home. They wanted to keep the death under wraps, but it was all over the neighbourhood within minutes, prompting neighbours to besiege the house demanding the truth,” said Ms Chakuhwa.
She said Ishmael’s body had switch marks all over, allegedly inflicted by his step-mother’s beatings.
“I was outside when I heard the step-mother (Precious) calling the boy and shouting: ‘Idiot, unoda kudeedzerwa chikafu, unotenga chikafu pano here iwe. (You want me to always call you to come and eat, do you buy any food here?) Within 20 minutes, the child was dead and who can buy these suicide lies?
“I quickly rushed to their house and asked the stepmother if I could view the child. My intention was to render him first aid, but I was denied access. Precious told me that she was scared to go into the bathroom where the body was,” said Ms Chakuhwa.
Another neighbour who managed to view Ishmael’s body before it was taken to the mortuary for a post mortem by the police, said it was clear that the body was dragged into the bathroom.
“Precious told me that she was informed by a niece who was at the house that Ishmael had committed suicide. It is, however, shocking that anyone would believe that the child committed suicide in that bathroom, as tall as he was.
“He had marks on his neck and there was no water, towel or soap in the bathroom to corroborate their claim. His was just lying in an empty tub with his eyes open,” she said.
Ishmael’s former teacher, Mrs Victoria Chimonyo, said the teenager was staying with his aunt in Dangamvura after fleeing from abuses at the hands of his father and step-mother.
She said Ishmael had resorted to be a street urchin on countless occasions.
“I taught him when he was in Grade 5. Ishmael was a hardworking learner, but he was staying in an abusive environment. When I taught him, he was usually late and at most times, he would ran away from home to become a street kid at Sakubva Musika. Her aunt decided to take custody of him,” said Mrs Chimonyo.
In an interview, Precious distanced herself from Ishmael’s death.
“I was not there when the incident happened. I was told by my niece who was here that Ishmael had been instructed by his father to take a bath when he committed suicide. His father was reading a novel in the dining room. The boy took long to come out of the bathroom and when a follow-up was made, it was discovered that he had died. He might have been choked by a sponge which was around his neck. I could not entertain our neighbours at that time because I was still in a state of shock,” said a teary Chishakwe.
Efforts to contact Tapfumaneyi proved fruitless as he was said to be busy with Ishmael’s burial arrangements
By A Correspondent- The Government is beefing up security along its border with South Africa to curb intrusive leakages and other rent-seeking activities which could be costing the country over US$1 billion annually in unpaid customs duty.
Organised evasion of duty is also compromising State development projects and the viability of businesses that abide by all customs requirements.
State Security Minister, Owen Ncube said yesterday that the Government had noted with concern the level of smuggling between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The Minister visited Beitbridge Border Post yesterday with senior members of the Sub-National JOC (Joint Operations Command) to assess the state of security and the level of crime along the borderline.
Among those who accompanied him are Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga, Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander General Philip Valerio Sibanda, Air Marshal Elson Moyo (Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander), State Security Director General Ambassador Isaac Moyo and other senior security officials.
The team also visited the River Ranch illegal crossing point which is 30km east of the main port of entry.
This is a common area used by smugglers due to its close proximity to both the Beitbridge to Bulawayo and Beitbridge to Harare highways.
According to Minister Ncube, the common goods that are being smuggled into the country include building material, explosives, flea market wares, illicit medicines, groceries, fuel, and electrical gadgets, among others.
“This can’t go on forever. We are here today with all heads of security in the country,” said the Minister.
“We have seen and noted where the leakages are coming from and we are going to be addressing the issues with immediate effect. We want to seal all the porous routes/areas between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
“The country is losing a lot of revenue in customs duty to well organised syndicates and let those involved in such vices know that the honeymoon will soon be over”.
The Minister said they had also taken note of recommendations by various arms of the Government which have visited the border line before.
I'm surprised you have a USD account when our poorly paid and oppressed civil servants are paid in your useless bond currency. You don't need donations, make use of the surplus you always boast about
I would suggest you open up business ,which company or well wisher has money to donate when businesses are closed ,some businesses have not opened up for 8 months and are still paying rentals ,unfortunately sir this move ,is questionable at any level,just open up we work ,period.
By A Correspondent- Over the Christmas Holiday, Vice President Chiwenga, the late Foreign Affairs Minister SB Moyo, and army general Engelbert Rugeje reportedly met in the resort town of Victoria Falls where they reportedly discussed a fightback strategy as President Mnangagwa moves to solidify his grip on power, The NewsHawks reports.
This comes amid reports that President Mnangagwa has reneged on his handshake promise with Vice President Chiwenga after the November 2017 coup to only lead for one term and hand over the reins to his deputy who will, in turn, hand them over to someone else after one term.
President Mnangagwa is reportedly strategically placing his friends and trusted lieutenants in positions that will help him retain power when the time comes or if the need arises according to the publication.
A security source that spoke to the publication said Chiwenga at some point in December was discussing a fightback strategy:
Chiwenga was in Victoria Falls during the festive period, with a group of 15 family members and friends. Moyo was also there with his family, including his wife. Rugeje was also there.
There were many VIPs in town. Hotels were full, restaurants and the rainforest buzzing with a hive of activity. These VIPs couldn’t travel out of the country due to Covid-19, so they swarmed local tourist destinations.
Moyo was staying in the presidential suite at Victoria Falls Hotel, but when Chiwenga arrived he vacated it for him and moved to Elephant Hills Resort. Rugeje was also staying at Elephant Hills.
The three had a number of meetings, in which they discussed family issues, holiday events and serious political matters. Their meetings will have a bearing on how political events will unfold going forward but Moyo’s death will affect so many things.
The publication said
The death of SB Moyo and Perrance Shiri coupled with president Mnangagwa’s alleged strategy of appointing his ethnic Karanga homeboys, mostly from the Midlands and Masvingo provinces has reportedly shifted the balance of power in President Mnangagwa’s favour as he gears up for 2023 and left the VP isolated.-theHawks
By A Correspondent- The ruling ZANU PF party has directed all its employees to report for duty on Monday, 8 February 2021 in spite of the current lockdown regulations.
In a circular addressed to all provincial chairpersons (Circular 2/2021), the party’s director-general D. Dzora said all party staff members should come to work in spite of the extension of the national lockdown by a further two weeks.
He wrote:
This letter serves to inform you that all Party staff members are being required to report for duty on Monday 8th of February 2021 at 0800 hours as usual.
We are quite aware that lockdown has been extended for further two weeks.
Meanwhile, in a tweet in which she tagged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), MDC Alliance national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere queried why ZANU PF is not bound by the lockdown regulations when it is not an essential service.
Mahere challenged the police to put an end to ZANU PF impunity.
Said Mahere:
Is Zanu PF an essential service?… Why is Zanu PF not bound by the lockdown regulations?… Why do you ignore their continued breaches? Are you captured?… This impunity must end.
Under Level IV lockdown, extended to 15 February 2021, only organisations classified under essential services are allowed to operate.
These include security organs, fuel service stations, the media, supermarkets, pharmacies, healthcare facilities, farmers, and miners among others.
By A Correspondent- A total of 378 women died while giving birth in Zimbabwe since January this year which translates to a maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of about 127 per 100 000 births.
Of these women, 66 died at home while 312 lost their lives at health institutions.
In the Trends in Maternal Mortality Study, the United Nations considers a MMR of less than 100 as low, between 100 and 299 as moderately low, and high when it is 300 to 499.
Experts say the country’s MMR shows great strides in combating death of pregnant women but point out that lack of ante natal care in most rural areas is driving the figure up.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care says 302 802 births have been recorded countrywide since January this year and 32 293 of those were conducted at home.
Zimbabwe’s MMR has been one of the highest in the world compared to the globally acceptable figure of 100. MMR is the number of women who die during pregnancy and childbirth, per 100 000 live births.
The World Health Organisation defines maternal mortality as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration, site and form of ending, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes.
MMR is also used to measure a country’s developmental status and is affected by economics.
Zimbabwe like every SADC state made regional and national commitments to at least halve maternal deaths or ensure the rate is 70 per 100 000 births by 2030 as spelt by the Sustainable Development Goal number three.
Statistics from the Ministry show that Mpilo Central Hospital and the United Bulawayo Hospitals recorded some of the fewest maternal deaths compared to other health institutions.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Data reportedly released by The City Of Harare has revealed that one of Zimbabwe’s Northern suburbs Borrowdale is the suburb that was hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic as more people from the suburb tested positive for the virus.
According to investigative journalists NewsHawks, Harare shared the following statistics.
Borrowdale statistics Borrowdale statistics
The full report of these statistics is yet to be made public. Meanwhile the COVID-19 second wave new cases are seemingly going down as the country is recording between 250 and 107 new cases per day as compared to the 500+ cases that were being recorded early last month.
FULL STATEMENT- Shortly after announcing that MPs, Councillors allowances have been increased by btwn 50-100%, "BROKE" govt appeals for donations from private sector towards #Covid19#vaccine procurement. pic.twitter.com/DRZ0DIFPSP
By A Correspondent- Diaspora based well-wishers under the banner of Friends of Iam4byo Fighting COVID-19 have petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa to urgently open Ekusileni Hospital to allow Bulawayo residents to enjoy better health care.
The grouping last year donated US$21 000 towards the rehabilitation of Ekusileni Medical Centre to cater for COVID 19 patients.
United States-based Friends of Iam4byo Fighting COVID-19 member Edwin Moyo yesterday said it was disheartening that the hospital was still to open after about 200 members in the United States contributed US$21 000 towards the purchase of beds for COVID-19 patients.
“Mr President, open Ekusileni Hospital. People are dying,” part of the petition read.
“In June 2018, ahead of the July 2018 general elections, you announced that the government had engaged Indian Sharda Group of Institutions (SGI) to operate the health facility, Ekusileni Hospital.”
He added: “We were of the idea that it would open soon to assist the people. But until now it’s not clear what is holding it back.”
Ekusileni Medical Centre, the brainchild of the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, has failed to open for many years due to what critics say is lack of political will by the Zanu-PF government.
The health facility was last year designated as one of the COVID-19 centres in Bulawayo together with Thorngrove, United Bulawayo, Mater Dei and Mpilo Central hospitals.
Government announced last April that Ekusileni would be made a COVID-19 facility and soon after, the hospital’s chief executive officer said he had already filled 70% of the required personnel at the health centre.
“After the announcement, Eku-sileni Hospital started recruiting health personnel and acting chief executive officer, Absalom Dube, said they had filled 70% of the required personnel in to be able to admit the first 50 patients,” read the petition.
“In October, 2020, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (and Health and Child Care minister) visited the Hospital and pledged to ensure it operates. November 30, 2020 was set as a re-opening date.”
The diasporans said Chiwenga noted the initial phase would be operationalised as a national COV-ID-19 referral centre and indicated that Ekusileni would be utilised as a specialist, research and teaching institution after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs minister Judith Ncube said she was not at work and would be in office on Monday to fully respond to the diasporans’ concerns.
“I am not at work, I will better respond to their concerns on Monday. I acknowledge the receipt of the do-nation which came from the US and we appreciate their gesture,” Ncube said.
“You remember I made a plea to the diasporans to assist, telling them that there is no one who will help us except them. So when they have responded to out appeal, we should also tell them how far we have gone with the project. They are right to ask for an update?”-Newsday
By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF is deeply divided over claims that soldiers were beating up people in GokweNembudziya with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ally, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, saying the claim was a ploy to tarnish the country’s image.
Gokwe-Nembudziya senator Maybe Mbowa, who is the ruling party’s women’s league political commissar, recently claimed that soldiers had become a menace in the district where they were harassing people.
Mbowa’s claims unwittingly gave credence to reports of human rights violations by the military, but the government and Zanu-PF have often denied the allegations.
Wadyajena, who is both MP and the party’s district co-ordinating committee chairperson for Gokwe-Nembudziya, yesterday denied that soldiers were wreaking havoc in the district.
“I wish to categorically disassociate Gokwe-Nembudziya constituency and myself from the mischievous and poisonous comments recently made by Senator Maybe Mbowa on fictional military brutality in Nembudziya constituency,” Wadyajena said.
“I take great exception to this sinister plot by Ms Mbowa to ruin the image of the government and His Excellency Cde ED Mnangagwa as Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
“Her actions are intended to harm the image of the country and our President in line with the impending sanctions review by the United States, the European Union and also as a justification for the recent United Kingdom embargo on some security service chiefs on the basis of human rights violations.”
The United Kingdom this week placed Mnangagwa’s four security chiefs under sanctions over their alleged involvement in the 2018 and 2019 killings of civilians by the army. The international community has accused Harare of human rights violations with the military accused of harassing citizens.
Wadyajena said it was not surprising that Mbowa’s audio was first published in foreign media outlets to tarnish the image of the country.
“What is expressed in the audio that she has been circulating are her own fabrications and as the Gokwe-Nembudziya MP, I wish to state that no such beatings or attacks ever took place in Nembudziya.
“I have challenged Ms Mbowa and her associates to produce a single shred of evidence of the said attacks and she has repeatedly failed to do so. Failure by Ms Mbowa and her associates to also report their claims of harassment of the villagers to the Zimbabwe Republic Police speaks volumes about the validity and authenticity of her story and confirms her desire to tarnish the image of President Mnangagwa, the government of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe National Army to the international community.
“These very damaging lies cannot and should not be ignored because of their broader implications locally and globally,” he said.
In a leaked audio discussion with an unidentified person, she addressed as a senior member of the security sector in the district, Mbowa claimed to have received several reports of soldiers harassing villagers.
Mbowa was quoted as saying: “I can phone straight to the President because I suspect there is something happening behind the scenes. I don’t know what it is, but I am even ready to engage their (soldiers’) leader here. You can invite me to your meetings and I talk to them.
“I got several reports and I initially ignored them thinking people were lying. The recent report was about a former teacher who was harassed and was beaten by the soldiers while forcing him to crawl. Another victim was forced into the water. Imagine in these COVID-19 times, someone is forced into the water exposing them to the virus.”
She added:
“We want to know what these soldiers stand for. Are they there for the government and are they there to see to it that government regulations have been followed?”
On Thursday, Mbowa said Mnangagwa had intervened and stopped the beatings.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- A Mount Darwin minor died on the spot after a parked Isuzu pick-up truck lost its brakes and crushed her.
The minor’s father had parked it the previous day before it crushed her the following day.
Acting Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Naison Dhliwayo confirmed the case.
“I can confirm a fatal accident in Mount Darwin where a one-year-old child died after she was run over by an Isuzu registration number APR8266 owned by Amon Kajokoto, father to the deceased,” Dhliwayo said.
According to police, Kajokoto parked his vehicle the previous day and his children started playing behind the car the next day when it moved and crushed his one-year old daughter.
Police warned motorist to avoid dangerous parking and to ensure that their handbrakes are in good working condition.-Newsday
By A correspondent- A Dangamvura man bashed his wife accusing her of giving him insufficient money to buy beer.
According to The Manica Post the altercation ended with 32-year-old Gift Tinashe Muzokomba assaulting his wife, Ellenia Shoko (36) with a wooden hoe handle and a hosepipe.
Mutare magistrate, Audrey Muzhingi presided over the matter when Muzokomba was recently convicted of physical abuse charges as defined in Section 3 (1) (a) as read with Section 4 of the Domestic Violence Act, Chapter 5:16.
Muzokomba was fined $6 500.
In sentencing him, magistrate Muzhingi said Muzokomba acted unlawfully, therefore he had to be punished with a hefty fine that will deter him from committing similar offenses in the future.
The State proved that on January 16, Muzokomba returned from a beer binge in the early hours of the day and accused Shoko of giving him little money to buy beer the previous day. Shoko had given him $1 000.
An argument ensued with Muzokomba demanding more money for another beer outing. This was despite Shoko’s plea that the only money in the house was left for groceries.
Muzokomba grabbed a hosepipe and assaulted Shoko several times all over the body. While she was writhing in pain on the ground, Muzokomba took a wooden hoe handle and further assaulted her.
It was the State’s case that Muzokomba left her lying on the floor and in pain.
Muzokomba was arrested after neighbors came to her rescue and took her to the police station to make a report.
By A Correspondent- Government has reviewed upwards the sitting allowances paid to Members of Parliament and councillors in the country’s 32 local authorities as well as provincial council members by between 50 and 100%.
MPs will have their allowances hiked by 100%, while provincial council members and councillors were awarded a 75% and 50% increase, respectively. The windfall will be backdated to January last year.
Local Government minister July Moyo confirmed the increment, which, however, falls way short of what the councillors and MPs have been demanding since 2019.
Moyo said he had already written to councils advising them of the development.
“We have three elected levels consisting of MPs, those in provincial councils and local authorities,” Moyo said.
“The President approved new rates for MPs, councillors and provincial council members.
“The levels of allowances are as follows: 50% for councillors, 75% for provincial council and 100% for MPs.”
In 2019, councillors and mayors around the country engaged the central government, demanding an increase in their allowances by at least 250%, citing the rise in prices of basic goods and services.
Government later approved an increase, which will see each councillor getting $5 000 from $2 000. In back pay, each councillor will pocket not less than $26 000 (US$260). According to a letter written by their umbrella association, the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (Ucaz), the Local Government minister informed them through a circular of the review of their allowances.
The letter, written on January 15, was signed off by Ucaz president Josiah Makombe (Gweru mayor) and copied to Moyo and all town clerks and secretaries.
It reads: “Reference is made to the address by the Honourable Minister of Local Government, Cde July Moyo, during the 79th AGM (annual general meeting) held on December 13, 2020 at the Elephant Hills Hotel.
“He pointed out that councillors should be paid levels of allowances set out at various levels based on percentages that are paid to members of parliament. Councils need not wait for another circular as long as they have obtained reliable information on the adjustment to the salaries of MPs.
“It is against this background that the presidential committee at its meeting on January 13 2021 resolved to recommend that councillors be paid their outstanding allowances backdated from January to October 2020.
“Councils must effect the latest adjustment from December 2020 in line with the increase in allowances for Members of Parliament which is at a rate of $47 002.
“May councils implement the councillors’ allowances to the letter and spirit of circular 13 without further delay and prejudice to council’s welfare,” Makombe said.-Newsday
By A Correspondent- There is a thin line between love and hate, a Kadoma man can attest to this adage after his young wife of four years allegedly laced his cup of tea with poison intending to end his life.
Francis Khondanani escaped death by a whisker after his 24-year-old wife Tanyaradzwa Denhere served him with a cup of poisoned tea.
Tanyaradzwa packed her bags after the incident and is now on the run.
Police in Kadoma have since launched an investigation of suspected food poisoning under case number 4547203 and have sent Mr Khondanani for a medical examination. This serves to confirm that the above presented to us with a sample of tea. He suspects it might have been tempered with in an attempt to poison him.
Unfortunately, we do not have the laboratory capacity to analyse the tea. We have suggested that the sample be taken to a private laboratory for analysis, reads part of a letter addressed to ZRP Kadoma from Kadoma General Hospital.
Khondanani said he was now on the road to recovery and had been examined by doctors in Harare. I have been to Harare for medical checks and I am getting better though I have not fully recovered yet.
The doctors are currently examining a sample of the tea I drank that day ,so we are waiting for results, but meanwhile, I have opened a case at Kadoma Central Police station.
Francis narrated his heartwrenching ordeal at the hands of his beloved wife and mother of their child saying:
I don’t know what came over Mai Noku. We have been together for four years and God blessed us with a daughter Nokutenda.
We were always happy, and recently we toured the country’s resorts from Nyanga, Kariba and even Bulawayo because that’s what she loved. I took her places and she really looked happy to me.
On Saturday 23 January, she said she was not feeling well in the morning. She literally fell into my arms and looked pale and was shivering and she asked me to hold her because she felt sick. She really looked scared and when I asked her she said ‘hana yangu iri kurova’. She insisted she was okay but I had to make sure she sat down until she felt better.
I later left the house without taking breakfast and told her I would eat during lunchtime but upon coming back I was shocked to find her busy with the house chores. I asked how she was feeling and she said she was very fit. She offered me a cup of tea and I took it before leaving for work.
When I was about to leave, Mai Noku akandimhanyira akati asi munonyara kukisser mukadzi wenyu here? I smiled back ndikati ‘no ndinonyarei zvangu’ then she came closer to me and I kissed her cheek. This was the first time she did something like that but handina kuzviisa mumusoro. She stood by the gate waving at me kusvika mota yaenda,” he said.
It did not take much time before I started having stomach cramps, by this time I had reached the office. I thought it was something minor but it got worse and I postponed my 2pm meeting.
I had to drink two litres of fresh milk trying to vomit but it didn’t change. Ndaingorutsa mukaka wegawega and drove back home. I couldn’t walk straight the pain was severe and sharp.
When I got home I found Mai Noku gone, all her clothes were not there. I had a running stomach and I am sure that saved me. I later managed to go to the hospital.
ALL PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSONS RE: REPORTING FOR DUTY DURING LOCKDOWN PERIOD This letter serves to inform you that all Party staff members are being required to report for duty on Monday 8′ of February 2021 at 0800 hours as usual. We are quite aware that lockdown has been extended for further two weeks. Your maximum cooperation will be appreciated.
A CHIKANGA family is grappling to come to terms with the disappearance of their daughter-in-law who packed her belongings and left behind two minor children following an altercation with her husband.
Chengetai Janet Nyamande (23) left her matrimonial house in Chikanga on January 6 following an altercation with her husband, Solomon Mukau over romantic messages she had sent to her male friends on WhatsApp and Facebook which were discovered by her husband.
She left behind their two-year-old boy and six-year-old girl. This was confirmed by Mukau’s brother, Nigel Nyemba in a telephone interview on Tuesday afternoon.
A notice looking for her whereabouts has gone viral on the social media, while reward money of US$800 has been put on the table by the family for anyone with information leading to her whereabouts.
The family has also filed a missing person report at Mutare Central Police Station under RRB number 3228021.
Said Nyemba: “My brother still loves his wife. It all started on January 6 when they had an altercation over Nyamande’s alleged love messages on Facebook and WhatsApp with male friends. Upon discovering the messages, my brother confronted Nyamande.
“After their altercation, my brother stormed out of the house and went away. I think my brother’s wife panicked and decided to leave in fear of the unknown. My brother is not a violent person and I think his wife thought something worse was coming. She went away and we have never heard from her since January 6.”
He said they received an anonymous call that Nyamande was in Chitungwiza and had to drive there. However, they failed to locate her after the informant’s phone was switched off. Efforts to contact Nyamande proved fruitless as she is reported to have left her phone behind.
“We are appealing to anyone with information leading to her whereabouts to contact us on 0787867750. We are willing to part with US$800 to get her back,” added Nyemba.- Manica Post
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa believes his 43rd birthday is evidence of God’s grace.
President Chamisa turned 43 on February 2.
“43 YEARS- EVIDENCE OF GOD’S GRACE! Thank you Lord. Thank you dear friends for making this life more meaningful…God bless you.”
Commenting on Hon Biti’s conglatulatory message, President Chamisa wrote:
“Thank you Cde & brother @BitiTendai . You have been such a pillar in this liberation and transformation journey. We will make Zimbabwe that JEWEL again!Tinosvika chete #Godisinit.”
Below is Hon Biti’s birthday message to President Chamisa:
“Forty three years ago you embarked on a journey of liberation transformation and democratization . Let us finish this struggle . Happy birthday Comrade President…”
On the current political crisis Hon Biti argued: “ They have pushed the reform mantra for 3 years . But we know them .They are an incorrigible recaltricient bunch of irredeemable illegitimate thugs .Being ranked 157 out of 180 on the Corruption Index confirms who they are .
