By A Correspondent- South Africa, which will take delivery of its first batch of Covid-19 vaccines from India on Monday, has sparked controversy after declaring it will exclude millions of undocumented immigrants from its immunization program.
The discriminatory policy was announced by health minister Zweli Mkhize on Saturday, contradicting the country’s treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane who told news editors days earlier that the government will not “turn away undocumented people.”
“All you need when you go [to a vaccination center] is to show that you have got an ID, you are a South African registered voter,” Mkhize told SABC, appearing to even sideline foreign nationals with legal status.
“For those who are undocumented, we are not able to deal with that because at the moment we would like to be able to deal with people based on the South African registration. So at this point, we have no plan to deal with those that are not documented.”
South Africa is home to millions of migrants from all over the continent and beyond, who have sought refuge for economic and political reasons.
Mkhize’s remarks attracted immediate backlash from both locals and foreigners with one South African lawyer declaring the plan unconstitutional.
“The suggestion by minister of health, Zweli Mkhize, that vaccine rollout be limited to citizens is unconstitutional. The constitution guarantees the right to health to everyone in South Africa,” tweeted Advocate Jason Brickhill, a constitutional lawyer.
“It also makes no public health sense – the virus does not check people’s papers!”
Groups representing foreigners in South Africa also denounced the vaccination strategy saying excluding other groups will only complicate the already formidable war against the coronavirus pandemic.
Others called the policy irrational and xenophobic.
“What Mkhize is saying is that only South African citizens will get the vaccine; that means all foreigners here legally or illegally will not be vaccinated. It makes no sense,” Dr. Vusumuzi Sibanda, chairman of the African Diaspora Forum told the Voice of America’s Studio 7.
To date, South Africa has recorded more than 1.4 million Covid-19 infections and 44,000 deaths.
To achieve herd immunity, government aims to inoculate two-thirds of its population or 40 million people.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Monday receive the country’s first order of 1 million AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine doses from India which will be used to inoculate healthcare workers over the next three or so months.
South African press reported Sunday that the country – the worst hit on the continent – has secured an additional 20 million doses from Pfizer plus millions of vaccines from other drug manufacturers.
By A Correspondent| Local construction company that was contracted to rehabilitate Chimanimani roads following the devastating Cyclone Idai has been forced to respond to criticism of poor workmanship which saw part of the newly opened road giving in and collapsing, resulting in an accident that claimed one life.
Chimanimani residents have for long accused the company of doing a shoddy job and they felt vindicated when the road collapsed following incessant rains that hit the country since December last year.
One of the residents Lovex Itai Kimbini also alleged that Masimba construction workers were selling cement and diesel meant for the road to villagers in the process doing a disservice to the road project.
Now Masimba has responded to social media claims saying the collapsing of the road was not their fault but a small river that changed its course upstream after an existing culvert was blocked by debris.
“The Chimanimani area has been experiencing heavy rains since the beginning of the rainy season. In the early hours of 30 January 2021, a small river changed its course upstream after an existing culvert was blocked by debris. This resulted in water undermining the road just before the culvert, causing a section of the Wengezi Chimanimani road to collapse at the 69km peg. A ditch that is an estimated 3m deep and 3m wide, and impassable to traffic, was created.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the collapse may also have been aggravated by an underground stream. It is with sadness that we also inform you that a motorist travelling in the early hours of the morning of 30 January 2021, unaware of the state of the road, drove into the ditch and regrettably passed away. Our condolences go out to the family.
“Masimba Holdings Limited carried out extensive rehabilitation works on the Skyline Chimanimani road following damages caused by Cyclone Idai in 2019. The scope of the contracted works on the affected section was confined to resealing,” the company said.
They promised to open a detour for temporary use while they re-work on the collapsed section.
Masimba is one of the five companies awarded tenders for the Harare-Beitbridge Road project which is currently underway.
THE clampdown on mobile money transfer services is negatively impacting on the Intermediated Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) popularly known as 2c tax, which contributed poorly to revenue performance in the fourth quarter of 2020.
The country’s monetary authorities had raised a red flag over rampant abuse of mobile money platforms, which had become a source of speculative illegal forex dealings and drove wild exchange rate volatility.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) took sweeping measures in the second quarter of 2020, which included the ban on mobile money agents, a $5000 cap on mobile money transfer per day and one mobile money line per person among other interventions.
While the measures have been celebrated for restoring sanity in the financial services sector, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) says these have crippled the IMTT tax head.
“The Intermediated Money Transfer Tax performed below target and only contributed 6.63 percent to the quarterly revenue,” said Zimra in its 2020 fourth quarter performance report issued at the weekend.
“Monetary policy measures instituted in Q2 2020 have continued to impact negatively on the tax head as activity is limited on mobile money platforms, which had become a haven for parallel market activities.”
By A Correspondent| Following the death of former Zanu PF legislator for Mbare and Chipangano terror gang benefactor, Tendai Savanhu yesterday, a terrifying chapter in the minds of residents of Harare’s oldest township has ended.
Savanhu together with Jim Kunaka terrorised opposition MDC supporters in Mbare during and after elections leaving the surbub divided and terrified.
With Jim Kunaka now working with the opposition and Savanhu gone, it should feel like a new chapter has opened in Mbare.
Areas such as Matapi were no go area for opposition supporters with one local businessman Alex Mashamhanda popularly known as Mashwede taking years to complete his service station which was constantly interrupted by Zanu PF thugs under the guidance of Savanhu.
Also at Mupedzanhamo flea market and Mbare musika bus terminus, vending space was a preserve of Zanu PF members while Municipal police were over-powered and forced out to allow party thugs to control and charge buses for loading inside the terminus.
At some point, Chipangano also violently took control of a City Council building which they turned into an office and clock-room pocketing proceeds at the expense of the municipality.
After witnessing all these terrifying events, Mbare residents lived in constant fear of crossing the path with Zanu PF members as that would attract serious consequences including losing source of livelihood.
Such was Savanhu’s grip on Mbare which became a Zanu PF territory in the middle of an opposition stronghold.
With the Chipangano godfather now dead, doesn’t it feels like independence in Mbare?
By A Correspondent | Several sources have announced that former ZANU PF legislator for Mbare, Tendai Savanhu, has died aged 52.
Savanhu had deep G40 faction roots.
Tendai Savanhu
The former Deputy Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement’s death was revealed by the spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front (NPF), Jealousy Mawarire who posted on Twitter saying:
Receiving sad news that former Deputy Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Tendai Savanhu, is no more. MHDSRIP
Mr Savanhu is no more, a family source also told ZimEye.
They continued saying, the body has been taken by Nyaradzo Funeral Palour. They spoke to ZimEye just after midnight Monday morning.
By A Correspondent- A 44 year old Bulawayo man died before admission to Mpilo Central Hospital after he was assaulted over amacimbi by two men in Old Pumula suburb.
The late Mr Khumbula Homes Zulu suffered a swollen mouth and internal injuries after he was attacked by two men identified only as Tho and Rey whose ages are not known.
Mr Zulu was allegedly beaten for refusing to share his mopane worms with the two accused persons. He developed breathing complications after the assault and died two days later when his mother had taken him to the hospital.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident yesterday. He urged people who may have information that could lead to the arrest of the two accused persons to contact any nearest police station.
“Police are investigating a suspected case of murder which occurred in Old Pumula on the 25th of January 2021. “The deceased is Khumbula Homes Zulu, a male adult aged 44 years who resides in Old Pumula.
“The accused persons are Rey and Tho both of number 5313 Old Pumula, Bulawayo,” said Insp Ncube.
He said Zulu left home going to Old Pumula shops to buy amacimbi. After buying, he was approached by the accused persons who asked for some.
“A misunderstanding arose after he refused to share his amacimbi that led to a fist fight and after that Zulu went away to drink alcohol. At around 6pm Zulu visited his friend Freedom Dube and narrated his fist fight story complaining of hunger and having difficulties in breathing,” he said.
“On January 26, 2021 at around 8AM, Mr Dube woke him up and discovered that he was still having difficulties in breathing.
“He told Zulu’s mother but she dismissed it saying he usually experiences such.” Insp Ncube said Zulu’s condition continued to deteriorate until Mr Dube took him to his home at around 8pm.
“On 27 January 2021 at 2AM, Zulu’s mother summoned an ambulance which ferried him to Mpilo Central Hospital where he later died before admission. CID homicide attended the scene,” said Insp Ncube.
By A Correspondent- Two Beitbridge policemen sustained injuries after they were allegedly assaulted by the recently deployed army commandos.
Detective Sergeant Albert Gonye and Detective Constable Kurai Marongere of the Criminal Investigations Department were tracking suspects believed to be stealing from haulage trucks when they were attacked and detained by a group of soldiers.
The officer commanding Beitbridge Police District, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, however, denied that such an incident occurred.
But NewsDay is in possession of a letter written by the two detectives’ lawyers, which demanded to know the reasons for the pair’s assault and detention.
Lawyer Jabulani Mzinyathi of Garikai and Company law firm, in a letter copied to Nyongo district area prosecutor, and the officer in charge of Beitbridge police, demanded to know why the two police officers were detained without charge.
Gonye and Marongere were allegedly held for 13 hours at Beitbridge Police Station without charge.
Mzinyathi said Gonye sustained injuries when he was pushed against some objects.
He said the commandos, led by an army major and a captain, assaulted and disarmed the cops before deflating the tyres of their vehicles.
It is alleged that the two policemen were freed after Gonye demanded that he need to be treated for his injuries.
“Their arrest and subsequent detention was unlawful because there was no charge brought against them,” Mzinyathi said in the letter.
By A Correspondent- High Court judge Justice Clement Phiri has died from COVID-19 related complications.
Justice Phiri died on Sunday night at his home in Marondera. He had tested positive for COVID-19 days earlier.
His family also tested positive for coronavirus recently had recovered.
Justice Phiri had part of his foot amputated last year but had recovered and was now preparing to get a shoe for the remaining part.
He was appointed to the High Court bench in September 2015 along with four other judges; Justice Jester Helena Charewa, Justice Tawanda Chitapi, Justice Davison Moses Foroma, Justice Nyaradzo Priscilla Munangati-Manongwa and Justice Edith Kuda Mushore.
Before his appointment as a judge, Justice Phiri worked as a senior lawyer in private practice.
By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Municipality has urged residents whose homes were built in low-lying areas to evacuate as soon as possible.
The call comes after heavy rains pounded the area on Friday leading to the flooding of several homes in suburbs such as Seke Unit N Extension near ZAOGA, Seke Unit A Extension along Duri River, Seke Unit M, and the Pagomba area in Zengeza 4, as well as Manyame.
Chitungwiza acting town clerk Tonderai Kasu said:
On this basis as the municipality, we hereby strongly warn and urge those living in low-lying areas as well as those that built houses on wetlands, on riverbanks, on waterways and in streams to immediately evacuate now and without delay.
Meanwhile, Chitungwiza residents have accused land barons working with politicians of allocating residential stands in wetlands and on riverbanks.
Chitungwiza Residents and Ratepayers Association chairperson Arthur Taderera claimed that local politicians’ wont to illegally parcel out stands during election periods is the root cause of the problem.
He said:
Some of the stands were supposed to be allocated by council, but the houses are not in the council database and they were built on wetlands, and have no drainage systems.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says it is investigating some errant pharmacies and health facilities that receive foreign currency allotted on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe auction facility to import drugs to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms but then sell the medicines at exorbitant prices in foreign currency.
ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure said they have received numerous complaints from members of the public about the practice.
He said:
Medical supplies are one of those items that have been given priority in the allocation of foreign currency by the RBZ so the importers can bid at the auctions.
We have received complaints that some unscrupulous pharmacies were accessing the hard currency to procure COVID-19 drugs.
The drugs would be on shelves briefly. They would then de-shelve them and divert them onto the black market.
The government recently approved the use of Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug for “investigational” COVID-19 treatment.
This followed intense lobbying from some primary care physicians who argue that the fusion of Ivermectin and nanosilver was effective for palliative care for Covid patient.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Zimstat spokesperson, Mercy Chidemo said they have so far made significant progress in census mapping since they were granted essential service status.
Said Chidemo:
Currently, the Census mapping is ongoing and we have managed to map 45 per cent of the wards in Zimbabwe.
The census questionnaire and enumerator manual were adopted and approved by stakeholders.
We are now finalising the development of the data collection system.
We are doing our best to ensure the attainment of a successful and credible census.
Chidemo added that Zimstat has computerised data collection and processing and this will ensure the availability of oof census results in six months after data collection, rather than 12 months.
She said:
We have computerised data collection and processing. We will be using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing. Census results will be available six months after data collection.
Prior to this data collection was paper-based hence census results were being published as late as 24 months after data collection.
In November 2020, the government of Zimbabwe through ZINARA raised toll fees by 170% from 45 RTGS to 120 RTGS. Before 60 days have lapsed, the government has further increased the toll fees by a further 38 percent from 120RTGS to 165 RTGS. All these increaments are a burden on the traveller whose income continues to be depleted by the day. To further compound the woes for the traveling poor masses, the government has legalised the collection of toll fees in USD capped by a prouncement that Toll fees will automatically increase in RTGS terms as and when the exchange rate changes upwards.
The MDC Alliance appreciates that under such COVID-19 induced lockdown conditions, most travellers are civil servants in essential service. It therefore goes against logic that civil servants whose salaries are RTGS based and have not been increased to match the Pre RTGS era are the same salaries that are supposed to sustain Toll fees that have now been pegged to match the time when the country was under the USD era. What evades the mind of policy makers is the reality that the auction rate is reported to be stagnant for the past 6 months and therefore it remains buffling to have an increament of close to 200 percent compound in less than 60 days.
Transport remains a critical component in the cost build up of any business. Where toll fees are increased, fuel equally increased, it therefore means that the landed costs of any product or service rises by an equal measure and is borne by the consumer.
The government if it had people at heart would realise that the very same consumer is locked down and their means of income is very limited. The MDC Alliance calls on the government to head the call of labour unions across the labour spectrum and align salaries to pre October 2018 when they were USD based.
If the government sees it fit to align costs such as toll fees to the USD era, certainly income should follow suit. What is more painstaking is that while travellers pay such huge amounts through toll fees, reports of corruption and looting of funds at ZINARA continue unabated yet our roads continue to delapidate with government quick to blame Local Authorities who are no where near revenue collection of road user funds.
In a functional democracy, faced with such heartless and unreasonable astronomic increase in toll fees, motorists would drive into highways and park their cars enmasse blocking all highways until government becomes sensible and realistic to the economic challenges facing all of us. Unfortunately ours is an authoritarian dictatorship where freedom of expression is met by bullets flying at 45 degrees.
Hon Settlement Chikwinya (MP) MDC Alliance National Secretary for Transport and Logistics
Why then should you shoot unarmed civilians, arrest hundreds of MDC Alliance supporters and then call for dialogue?
In 2008, the Mugabe regime used the short sleeve and long sleeve crude tactic to enforce GNU talks —then is the so called new despensation different from the old?
Dr Joshua Nkomo had to flee -disguised as a pregnant woman during Gukurahundi.
Shiri ine murire wayo hairegi.
When praying with a hyena never close both eyes.Should you negotiate to free a trapped hungry lion?The economy has trapped the lion and now it’s demanding negotiations at gun point.
Don’t exploit people and expect them to stand on your side..Don’t play with people’s emotions and expect them to support your cause. You cannot expect to give bad things and receive good things.
Zanu PF must learn to do good things to the people.
Zimbabwe’s Covid-19 recovery rate has improved to 76 percent and hopes are high that the recovery rate will further improve.
Last month the rate was as low as 54 percent when the country lost more lives than what it lost between March and December last year. The recovery rate on Saturday was at 76,2 percent and 489 recoveries were recorded countrywide.
The Ministry of Health and Child care says as of Saturday, there were 108 hospitalised Covid-19 positive patients. Of those admitted, five are in intensive care units.
“As at 30 January 2021, Zimbabwe had 33 273 confirmed cases, including 25 361 recoveries and 1 193 deaths,” said the Ministry.
Health experts have maintained that prevention measures for Covid-19 remain unchanged and it is up to people to act responsibly so that the spread of the killer disease is contained. Among the basic self-protection measures, people are urged to avoid unnecessary movements and stay at home.
If they have emergencies and have to go out, they should properly wear masks, keep a social distance of up to one metre, wash hands regularly and continually sanitise surfaces and hands
In a statement on Saturday, Acting President and Health and Child Care Minister Dr Constantino Chiwenga said the recovery rate had greatly improved.
While giving an update on the Covid-19 induced lockdown, Dr Chiwenga said that Government will soon be bringing in vaccines against the pandemic, with a roll out plan and deployment strategy being finalised.
“In a bid to curtail the spread of the virus, the Government has also extended the level 4 National Lockdown which started early January to February 15 amid fears of new Covid-19 variants in the country. Even though the numbers we are losing to the pandemic are falling, we bemoan the fact that Zimbabweans are dying at all. Any death is one death too many,” he said.
“The level 4 National Lockdown that came into force on the 5th of January 2021 has stabilised our situation. In relative terms and since the lockdown, the number of infections have been decreasing substantially. Equally, our recovery rate has gone up from an all-time low of 54 percent to 75 percent.”
This comes as the country recorded a decline in Covid-19 cases last week as of Friday with 1 945 weekly new cases as compared to 4 126 in the previous week.
Statistics from the Ministry show that last week the day with the highest number of new infections was on Tuesday with 358 cases.
Multiple variants of the virus that causes Covid-19 have been documented globally and experts are researching whether the new variants are causing severe symptoms and more deaths.
Last month, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairperson of the African Union, announced that the African Union had secured a provisional 270 million Covid-19 vaccine doses on behalf of its member states, through advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to US$2 billion to the manufacturers by the African Export-Import Bank.
This was a remarkable milestone in efforts to ensure equitable access to the vaccine for Africa’s people.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says cases in its Africa region which excludes Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia have been increasing since the middle of September.
It added that “steeper increases have been observed since late November. “ WHO has since urged African nations to boost their surveillance of the virus to detect any mutations that may occur.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says one of these variants, originally detected in early October in neighbouring South Africa, shares some mutations with the variant detected in the UK.
There have been cases caused by the variant outside of South Africa and this variant seems to spread easier and quicker than other variants which experts say could be causing the upsurge of cases in Zimbabwe. -Chronicle
Why then should you shoot unarmed civilians, arrest hundreds of MDC Alliance supporters and then call for dialogue?
In 2008, the Mugabe regime used the short sleeve and long sleeve crude tactic to enforce GNU talks —then is the so called new despensation different from the old?
Dr Joshua Nkomo had to flee -disguised as a pregnant woman during Gukurahundi.
Shiri ine murire wayo hairegi.
When praying with a hyena never close both eyes.Should you negotiate to free a trapped hungry lion?The economy has trapped the lion and now it’s demanding negotiations at gun point.
Don’t exploit people and expect them to stand on your side..Don’t play with people’s emotions and expect them to support your cause. You cannot expect to give bad things and receive good things.
Zanu PF must learn to do good things to the people.
A Beitbridge lawyer has demanded full explanation of the alleged assault and illegal detention of two CID members by a group of commandos recently deployed to stop smuggling at the border post.
The cops who were on duty were assaulted last Thursday night and detained for 13 hours at Beitbridge Police Station without charge. According to a letter written by Advocate Jabulani Mzinyathi, the soldiers who are now in full control of security operations at the border found Detective Sergeant Albert Nyathi and Constable Kurai Marongere sitting in their cars parked outside the border post. The two produced their identity cards and proof that they were on duty starting at 430pm on Thursday to 7am on Friday.
Despite that, the soldiers who were led by a major and a captain assaulted, disarmed the cops and deflated their car before they took them to Beitbridge Police Station where an order was given for them to be detained. The Officer-in-charge obliged and detained the cops until 3pm the next day but he refused to place them in the cells because the soldiers allegedly failed to raise a charge against them.
Mzinyathi who is representing the two said their arrest and subsequent detention was unlawful because there was no charge brought against them. He demanded a full explanation of the incident and said he was preparing to sue.Mzinyathi’s letter was copied to the Officer-in-charge CID, Dispol and DPP.Sources told Two Nations that since the arrival of the soldiers, all Police officers and members of the Central Intelligence have been pushed out of the border operations and the post is being exclusively manned by soldiers from Harare.Recently one of the soldiers was allegedly arrested for robbery and this according to some sources angered the soldiers.Efforts to get a comment from national Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi were fruitless. – Masvingo Mirror
Some pharmacies are allegedly diverting onto the black market drugs bought using foreign currency allotted on the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe auction facility and then resold for much higher prices in foreign currency, with drugs that might be able to allieviate Covid-19 symptoms especially vulnerable to this scam.
These syndicates, which include pharmacies, and other health facilities demand payment in United States dollars despite the fact that they, or their importer or wholesaler, bought their currency at the auctions.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is now investigating and if hard evidence of the practice is found several pharmaceutical importers and retailers could be arrested.
In an interview, Zacc spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure, said their offices had been lately inundated with complaints and allegations of this practice.
“Medical supplies are one of those items that have been given priority in the allocation of foreign currency by the RBZ so the importers can bid at the auctions. We have received complaints that some unscrupulous pharmacies were accessing the hard currency to procure Covid-19 drugs.
“The drugs would be on shelves briefly. They would then de-shelve them and divert them onto the black market,” said Comm Makamure.
“The reports we are receiving are that some pharmacies, upon receiving RBZ auction proceeds they will insist on selling the drugs in foreign currency. The pharmacies are obviously taking advantage of spiralling of Covid-19 cases where more people are desperate.”
He said some of the drugs that have de-shelved but resurfaced on the black market include Ivermectin, an anti-parastic drug that is being studied to establish its efficacy in the treatment of Covid-19 symptoms, with Government having recently authorised its import for further studies.
Already the drug has been found on the black market in what Zacc suspects to have been a ploy by some unscrupulous pharmacies to cash-in from the Covid-19 spike.
Last week, the Government approved the use of the drug for “investigational” Covid-19 treatment following intense lobbying from some primary care physicians who argue that the fusion of Ivermectin and nanosilver was effective in caring for patients.
In her weekly Covid-19 update, chief cordinator of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, said the drug should only be administered and dispensed in controlled environments with strict monitoring to avoid wanton and indiscriminate prescription and dispensing of such medicines.
This approach would protect patients from unethical and unsafe doses, as well as counterfeit products, including veterinary Ivermectin.
There is no evidence as yet from a controlled scientific study that the drug does work, but the specific conditions now in place will at least ensure that patients do not come to harm while investigations continue.
Last week, Zacc opened investigations into laboratories and individuals accused of issuing certificates declaring a person free of Covid-19 without carrying out any tests, thus allowing potentially infected people to travel and interact with others, allowing the virus to spread.
There have been reports that at least one private laboratory and some State laboratories, or at least staff at these laboratories, have been issuing certificates and sets of fake results without doing the required test. Chronicle
One person died on the spot when Chimanimani highway, known as the Skyline, collapsed as a vehicle was passing.
The collapse which happened just after Charter Bridge is being attributed to incessant rains.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer Atherton Zindoga attributed the collapse to the incessant rains being received in the district and dismissed speculations of poor workmanship by the contractor. He explained:
There was an upstream river which changed its course of flow and forced its way underneath the road surface resulting in the collapse. The contractor did not work on this section because it was not affected what they just did was surfacing.
Our heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family. As a ministry we are going to lobby for resources to monitor and inspect our roads so that if preventable, such incidents should not happen again and claim lives, said Zindoga.
The Skyline – Chimanimani highway, was commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year following a post Cyclone Idai disaster reconstruction work by a local contractor.
The highway had survived recent tropical storms but collapsed after Charter Bridge resulting in the death of a person who was driving to Chimanimani.
ZBC News reports that the completion of the Jopa-Kopa highway has been delayed as a result of the incessant rains which are now causing landslides and diverting the flow of a number of rivers.
A Harare City Football Club official has dismissed reports suggesting that the club will be disbanded.
Reports on social media this week claimed that the Sunshine Boys franchise will be sold due to viability challenges.
However, the club’s spokesperson Michael Chideme on Saturday told Soccer24 that the reports were unfounded. He said:
Harare City Football Club is intact. We do not have any talk of disbandment. The club is there to stay and to contribute to the development of football in Zimbabwe.
Look at what we have done, we have produced some gems in the national league and we have also exported some gems to Europe.
So the club will still be running and we are actually looking forward to the resumption of the local league season when the COVID-19 crisis is over.
Some Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs are facing financial challenges as all football activities have been suspended since March last year due to COVID-19.
Apart from a few big clubs that are backed by sponsors, the rest of the PSL clubs depend on gate takings to fund their operations.
Full statement by Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) spokesman Donald Tatenda Marevanhema on the continued pre-trial detention of student leader Alan Moyo.
It is with great disappointment that we have received news that the high court has denied granting our fellow student leader Alan Moyo bail stating that his grounds of appeal were defective therefore bail was denied.
As a union, we would like to express our great displeasure over the ways in which the judiciary system is handling Alan Moyo’s case particularly the state prosecutors and judges.
It is important to note that justice delayed is no difference to justice denied, we are highly compelled by the fact that the state continues to take pleasure in holding Alan Moyo in the dungeons of terror despite the fact he hasn’t been proven guilty in any way.
Alan was and is still under arrest for simply demanding a better Zimbabwe, where the basic human fundamental rights are upheld, in the same context we are of opinion that the citizens’ demand for better quality life and democracy, is a demonstration that democracy cannot be viewed as only limited to elections and the exercise of civil and political rights.
Equally important is the quality of representation, better quality of life for citizens including respect for and protection of the totality of human rights.
We have spoken and we still speak, our position is the same we demand the immediate release of Alan Moyo from prison, unless or otherwise we are not to be heard we shall pursue other forms of engagement until justice is served and Alan experiences freedom.
ZINASU remains firmly determined in pursuing the vision of an inclusive and democratic Zimbabwe with students as integral stakeholders where students concerns are addressed and academic freedom upheld.
Several sources have announced that former ZANU PF legislator for Mbare, Tendai Savanhu, has died aged 52.
Tendai Savanhu
The former Deputy Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement’s death was revealed by the spokesperson of the National Patriotic Front (NPF), Jealousy Mawarire who posted on Twitter saying:
Receiving sad news that former Deputy Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Tendai Savanhu, is no more. MHDSRIP
Mr Savanhu is no more, a family source also told ZimEye.
They continued saying, the body has been taken by Nyaradzo Funeral Palour. They spoke to ZimEye just after midnight Monday morning.
ZIMBABWE’S first Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dr Jethro Ndombondayi Ndlovu, has died.
He was 66.
Acting Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira said the late diplomat, who was posted to the UAE in 2019, died at a Harare hospital following a short illness.
“The late Ambassador Ndlovu died at a local hospital in Harare after a short illness,” said Prof Murwira in statement.
“Details of funeral arrangements will be communicated in due course.”
In 1984, he joined the Air Force of Zimbabwe Aeronautical Inspection Services as a vibration and balancing inspector.
He was later promoted to Officer Commanding Aircraft Servicing Squadron as a maintenance manager at Thornhill Air Force Base in 1986. He rose through the ranks to become quality assurance chief aeronautical inspector in 1996. He had a short stint at Northland Engineering and Falcon Air, where he worked as a technical manager and general manager respectively between 1996 and 1998.
Between May 1999 and 2002, he was the airport manager at the Victoria Falls International Airport before assuming the same post at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
He later became director of airports and business development at the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) between 2012 and 2014 before leaving to join the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) as general manager.
Ambassador Ndlovu’s death comes at a time when he was the major driving force of the Second Republic’s engagement drive in the UAE. The new political administration’s foreign policy has resulted in growing diplomatic and economic relations between Harare and Abu Dhabi.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of UAE issued several federal decrees to establish the UAE Embassy in Harare in December 2018.
Trade between the two countries has been growing as a result. Figures from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), which were released during the UAE- Zim Food and Agribusiness Virtual Forum last week, show that the value of bilateral trade with UAE has increased from US$490 million in 2011 to nearly US$1 billion by 2019.
In his condolence message, ZANU PF Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu said the late Ambassador has left an indelible mark of distinction and loyalty to the nation.
“The ruling ZANU PF joins the rest of the nation in consoling His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, and the Ndlovu family following the untimely demise of Zimbabwe’s incumbent Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Cde Jethro Ndombondayi Ndlovu,” said Dr Mpofu.
“Ambassador Ndlovu’s passing on marks yet another unforeseen gloomy episode to our nation’s current Covid-19-induced devastations.
“The late Chief of Staff to Zimbabwe’s diplomatic corps in Dubai acquitted himself as a distinguished anti-colonial stalwart whose footprints in Zimbabwe’s national memory dates back to the days of our liberation struggle.
“The late diplomat’s test of unflinching loyalty to the nation also dates back to his diligent service to the nation after independence . . . The Sunday Mail
By A Correspondent- A plane carrying South Africa’s first batch of COVID-19 vaccines has left India and is expected to arrive in the country on Monday.
The development was announced by Sbu Ndebele, South Africa’s High Commissioner to India.
Ndebele said:
The shipment left Mumbai this morning, via Dubai and will arrive at OR Tambo International Airport tomorrow morning.
It is the most safely, highly guarded commodity and I can assure that there will be no danger of it being tampered.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Health Minister, Zweli Mkhize, says one million doses will be arriving from the Serum Institute of India
By A Correspondent- The former head of Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC)’s Radio One, now classic 263, Patrick Nyamhunga died.
Speaking on Nyamhunga’s death, veteran ZBC reporter, Reuben Barwe said local media has lost a patriot and hardworking man.
He said as one of the pioneers of programs on Zimbabwean history, culture and heritage, Patrick Nyavhunga modernised the media in independent Zimbabwe.
Details on the cause and place of death are still sketchy.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean and Prince Edward School old boy, Marvin Mapunde (aka Zuda) is one of the first reported Old boys (Old Hararians) to have received the first dose of the COVID-19 AstraZaneca Vaccine.
Writing on his Facebook profile, he made the announcement on Friday 29 January 2021. Mr Mapunde is based in the U.K. which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has a death toll of over 105 000 COVID-19 related fatalities.
Mr Mapunde was a popular prefect at the prestigious Prince Edward, boys only, Harare High School which was ranked 6th best high school in Africa in 2003, and amongst the top 10 schools in Africa in 2010 and is still to this day government-run. He had honours at Provincial level in rugby where he represented Mashonaland. The school got its name after a visit by Edward VIII in 1925 who was Prince of Wales at the time.
Zuda, as he was affectionately known by his friends excelled in Biology, Arts and Weightlifting. He was one of the few who had the privilege to walk on the world-famous Jubilee Turf.
Kind messages of congratulations were sent to Mr Mapunde by a number of people, including some from, Mr James William Von Broembsen, Mr Terrence Karamba and Mr Farai Msika who are all Old Hararians.
The vaccine that Mr Mapunde received is the AstraZeneca vaccine that is mostly manufactured in the U.K. and has caused political quagmires between the U.K. and the European Union (E.U.)
When asked how he was by another Old Hararian Mr Marvin Suerga, Mr Mapunde replied, “So far so good brother. Thanks for checking up on me?.”
In the Global fight against the pandemic and the apathy felt by many towards being vaccinated, one can only but admire the firm foundations and leadership shown by Mr Mapunde. Just as in the Prince Edward High School song which in part says, “as we lay aside the pen and abandon bat and ball, May we quit ourselves like men, answering our countries call.”
Mr Mapunde has surely answered his country’s call and received the vaccine much sooner than most, thus showing all who graced the Avenue of the Jakarandas, the quadrangle, the assembly and the strict military dress code, the vaccine is safe and on the whole the right thing to do, in order to save oneself, the human race and the country as we all know it is to take the vaccine.
If you went to school in Zimbabwe and would like to let others know that the vaccine is safe, regardless of where you are in life, please share this and write your name and the school you went to below, so that others may see that the vaccine really does work and was not made to kill us, but to help us.
By A Correspondent- A 30 year old man from Mvuma died after being beaten with a log several times on the head after being found with a married woman.
Chronicle reports that the incident happened last Wednesday at Central Estate, Mvuma at around 9 PM when Simangaliso Honde returned to his homestead unannounced and allegedly found his wife in the company of the now-deceased Munyaradzi Mugwagwa in the kitchen.
The incident was confirmed by Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko who said investigations were underway.
Mahoko said:
Police in Mvuma are investigating a murder case where a 30-year- old male adult died while admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital after he was assaulted with a log in the head after being caught with another man’s wife in the kitchen at Central Estate in Mvuma.
Insp Mahoko said it is alleged that when Honde returned and found the duo in the kitchen, a misunderstanding arose between him and the deceased.
Honde allegedly went out of the kitchen, took a thick wooden stick intending to assault Mugwagwa who fled towards a nearby bushy area.
Honde pursued him, caught up and struck him several times on the head until he started bleeding excessively.
The accused then took Mugwagwa to his homestead before calling one Darlington Hlomayi who took the deceased to Mvuma District Hospital.
Mugwagwa was further transferred to Gweru Provincial Hospital where he died on January 27.
Insp Mahoko appealed to members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands as this usually leads to unnecessary loss of life and property
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic has explained his CHAN squad had poor preparations and only eight players were fit to play at the tournament.
Zimbabwe was eliminated without a point after losing 1-0 in their opening Group A match. They succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Burkina Faso before losing 1-0 to Mali in the final match.
The results saw the Warriors placed as the worst team in the group stages.
But Logarusic believes the poor performance was largely because some of his players were not in the best condition.
“We were the only nation (at the tournament) that had no league football and our preparations were affected by the coronavirus outbreak,” the coach said.
“We only had ten trainings which were two hours long and this translates to twenty hours of preparation, and only eight players passed in those hours.
“Most of them passed less, in about five trainings and some of them did well in fewer than that.”
Logarusic, however, commended ZIFA for trying their best despite the coronavirus outbreak which affected the team’s preparations.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is reportedly contemplating leaving the Spanish giants at the end of the current season.
The 48-year-old Frenchman is in his second spell at the club and has led them to a record 11 titles since his appointment in 2016.
He has come under the microscope on several occasions this season, particularly when the 13-time European champions exited the Spanish Super Cup and Copa delRey in the same week, prompting suggestions that he might be sacked but it is now being reported that he is considering resigning at the end of the current campaign.
According to Spanish journalist Grégory Schneider, as cited by Real Madrid Live, Zidane’s plan is to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, take an 18-month break, then take over the French national team after the 2022 World Cup- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|ZINASU has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Alan Moyo from prison.
Moyo was denied bail by the High Court last week.
In a statement released on Saturday, ZINASU challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to release Moyo because students were ready to pursue all available options to push for his freedom.
See statement below:
Full statement by Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) spokesman Donald Tatenda Marevanhema on the continued pre-trial detention of student leader Alan Moyo.
It is with great disappointment that we have received news that the high court has denied granting our fellow student leader Alan Moyo bail stating that his grounds of appeal were defective therefore bail was denied.
As a union, we would like to express our great displeasure over the ways in which the judiciary system is handling Alan Moyo’s case particularly the state prosecutors and judges.
It is important to note that justice delayed is no difference to justice denied, we are highly compelled by the fact that the state continues to take pleasure in holding Alan Moyo in the dungeons of terror despite the fact he hasn’t been proven guilty in any way.
Alan was and is still under arrest for simply demanding a better Zimbabwe, where the basic human fundamental rights are upheld, in the same context we are of opinion that the citizens’ demand for better quality life and democracy, is a demonstration that democracy cannot be viewed as only limited to elections and the exercise of civil and political rights.
Equally important is the quality of representation, better quality of life for citizens including respect for and protection of the totality of human rights.
We have spoken and we still speak, our position is the same we demand the immediate release of Alan Moyo from prison, unless or otherwise we are not to be heard we shall pursue other forms of engagement until justice is served and Alan experiences freedom.
ZINASU remains firmly determined in pursuing the vision of an inclusive and democratic Zimbabwe with students as integral stakeholders where students concerns are addressed and academic freedom upheld.
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
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Why then should you shoot unarmed civilians, arrest hundreds of MDC Alliance supporters and then call for dialogue?
In 2008, the Mugabe regime used the short sleeve and long sleeve crude tactic to enforce GNU talks —then is the so called new despensation different from the old?
Dr Joshua Nkomo had to flee -disguised as a pregnant woman during Gukurahundi.
Shiri ine murire wayo hairegi.
When praying with a hyena never close both eyes.Should you negotiate to free a trapped hungry lion?The economy has trapped the lion and now it’s demanding negotiations at gun point.
Don’t exploit people and expect them to stand on your side..Don’t play with people’s emotions and expect them to support your cause. You cannot expect to give bad things and receive good things.
Zanu PF must learn to do good things to the people.
By A Correspondent- The UAE president has consoled president Emmerson Mnangagwa following the death of his sister, a number of his cabinet ministers and the ambassador of Zimbabwe to UAE due to the Covid-19.
Reported the Khaleej Times:
The UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a cable of condolences to Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, expressing sympathy over the death of his sister, a number of his ministers and the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the UAE, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have sent similar cables to the President of Zimbabwe.
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo- Not much has been done, since the inception of the so called new dispensation. Now that you have lost key pillars, the likes of Biggie Matiza, Ellen Gwaradzimba and the coup announcer, S.B Moyo, who was preferred by many as a stabilizer in the regime, you need to sit down and make a review, using the citizen’s perspective and contributions from the general public.
You need to work around the clock, to improve on the quality of people around you. I would like to believe, you have a headache on whom to pick considering the calibre of people around you both in the party and Government.
The current face of our politics and our country is not looking good, and not inspirational. Draw a line between politics and Development.
My two cents advice :
1. The current cabinet is not inspiring, and you may have to hunt for quality people in the corporate world, to make some replacements particularly in the Foreign Affairs, and Transport Ministry
2. You need to appoint Strategic thinkers around you, to improve the quality of work around your office
3. No inspiration within the current team. You need first hand information from the Independent Advisory Council, or from the general public
4. Your PR team is not doing good job. There is need to manage perceptions, from within and outside world.
5. On Foreign Affairs, you need a better understanding of what is required before any appointment. NB : perhaps you may need to place a call on Dr Walter Mzembi. He can deliver the best. He are the following names thrown on the market :
1. Dr Walter Mzembi ( preferred first option) 2. Dr Arikana Chihombori 3. Stuart Harold Comberbach ( Former Ambassador to Italy) 4. Pettina Gappa 5. Kirsty Coventry
6. Dr Nigel Chanakira 7. Ben Manyenyeni ( Former Mayor of Harare)
It is important that you study this list before making any considerations.
6. On Stembiso Nyoni, you need to look for replacement. It is time to study the global economy, paradigm shift, the world is looking young, with the advancement of technology, it is important to retire some of your cdes on national interest, and consider what is known to be the best for our country. We have so many women who can deliver in Women Affairs and Small Medium Enterprises area
7. You need to shelve the G40, Lacoste and MDC tag, and bring everyone on board. We have the likes of Mirriam Chikukwa, Walter Mzembi, and many others who did a good job, and they can be considered for key roles in Government
8. We need a strong Research and Development office to study the variances of Covid-19 pandemic. Government must consider this as a priority to cater for the Economic implications of this virus
9. We need a proper Economic Recovery framework ( plan).
10. Gonna are the days, where Zimbabwe survives on handouts, it’s time to creat employment, sound Development Policy, build stronger Institutions, and increase Foreign Direct Investment. The culture of handouts must stop.
11. We need proper Policy direction of Zimbabwe. There are too many inconsistencies on policy formulation and coordination
12. Succession Policy is very critical.
13. There is need for review in Judiciary Service Commission.
14. Involve captains of industry, Business Community, Researchers and many others in Strategic Thinking around the current trajectory.
15. You need to widen the scope of Covid-19 taskforce. The current one is not inspiring. You will loose nothing, by picking a taskforce from the Corporate World.
16. You need to turn the Government into a commercial brand.
17. The image of the Government need to improve on a number of areas.
18. Human Rights obligations is key and fundamental. Zim is once again under spotlight checks.
19. A serious reshuffle is long over due. This time around, you have to reshuffle everything. No inspiration for now. Consider this statement once again.
20. Redirection of expenditure to the main sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, Infrastructure Development, tourism, mining and industry is very important.
21. Seperate politics and Development. More energy and focus must be on Development. More resources must be channeled towards growth of our country.
22. Every Political player must be treated with respect, and this will build investor’s confidence.
23. Investment Policy must be reviewed. 24. You need to set up an Economic Independent Taskforce, to strengthen our Economic Recovery plan ahead of 2030 vision
25. Replace museum with a State of the Art hospital, near Warren Park 1. Consider a State of the Art hospital with world class medical facility
25. Old buildings must be replaced with proper Infrastructure Development plan.
26. Legacy is an important factor. You need to be remembered after you leave office. By now , there must be Hospitals, Universities, schools, spaghetti roads which should be named after you.
NB : Constructive criticism is an eye opener to your leadership and it strengthens your Capacity to deliver the best for our country
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST, and he can be contacted at [email protected]
Masimba Holdings Limited who were contracted to rehabilitate the Skyline to Chimanimani road have said they executed their duties diligently. This comes after the road collapsed killing a motorist recently.
We present Masimba Holdings Limited’s statement in full below.
THE SKYLINE TO CHIMANIMANI ROAD COLLAPSE
The Chimanimani area has been experiencing heavy rains since the beginning of the rainy season. In the early hours of 30 January 2021, a small river changed its course upstream after an existing culvert was blocked by debris. This resulted in water undermining the road just before the culvert, causing a section of the Wengezi Chimanimani road to collapse at the 69km peg. A ditch that is an estimated 3m deep and 3m wide, and impassable to traffic, was created. Preliminary investigations indicate that the collapse may also have been aggravated by an underground stream.
It is with sadness that we also inform you that a motorist travelling in the early hours of the morning of 30 January 2021, unaware of the state of the road, drove into the ditch and regrettably passed away. Our condolences go out to the family.
Masimba Holdings Limited carried out extensive rehabilitation works on the Skyline Chimanimani road following damages caused by Cyclone Idai in 2019. The scope of the contracted works on the affected section was confined to resealing.
Meanwhile, we have mobilised equipment to open a detour to allow vehicles to pass while we carry out repair works as per the Department of Roads engineering designs issued on 30 January 2021.
For further information, please contact: Pearl Mutiti [email protected]
Directors: G Sebborn (Chairman) *C Malunga (CEO) MM Di Nicola *A Makamure MW McCulloch PT Zhanda (Jnr.) *Executive
Last year, a 14-year-old Zimbabwean whizkid, Taida Mapara, made headlines after scoring 15 points in the June ZIMSEC examinations and enrolling for a medicine degree at Malawi Medical School. Dandaro Online interviewed Taida who was a student at Hillbright Science College.
Below are excerpts from the interview.
Dandaro: Who is Taida and where does she live? Taida is a girl who was able to achieve great things that not many people can, by the grace of God. She grew up in Harare, Zimbabwe and moved to Ghana in 2016. She is currently staying in Zimbabwe.
Dandaro: You came into prominence towards last year when you were featured in the press as a 14-year old, child prodigy who passed her A Levels and had been accepted by a university to study medicine. Was this always your goal? Taida: It was my goal to get into medical school, I have always wanted to become a doctor. It wasn’t my goal to become well known, I was surprised when I saw my name trending.
Dandaro: Have you actually started your degree programme? If so, where are you studying and how are you finding your course? Taida: Because of the pandemic I haven’t started. I am hoping to start in February 2021 (next month).
Dandaro: Tai, you are so young, most kids your age are still grappling with the basics of the Periodic Table, Pythagoras Theorem, etc. How are you able to relate to your age mates given that you are so far ahead, academically? Taida: Even though I am ahead academically, we share similar interests and learn from each other in different aspects of life. There is more to life than academics. Academically, I may be ahead, but when it comes to other things, we are the same.
Dandaro: Friends, do you have any given that you are so busy ?? If so, are most of your friends within your age group or older mates from uni? Taida: Like most people, I am busy. I still need to study. I know medicine is not an easy programme. The road will be bumpy, so I need to work hard. I have friends from different age groups, some older than me, some the same age and others younger than me. I get to learn from my older friends, and I get to be an example to my younger friends.
Dandaro: What do you do for fun? Taida: For fun, I like to dance with my friends, listen to music and draw.
Dandaro: We learnt from last year’s press release that you have younger siblings who happen to be twins. What’s your relationship like with them, do they understand the depths of your achievements? Taida: My siblings see me for who I am. To them I am their older sister no matter what.
Dandaro: We understand that you want to be a cardiologist. What is it that draws you to this particular field and how do you think you will be able to make a difference? Taida: Watching doctors on TV motivated me. Whenever I saw them, I would always say to myself, “I want to be like them”. Cardiology is the speciality that interests me the most. Who knows, this may change with time but I love it!
Dandaro: Do you intend to work in Zimbabwe or do you prefer taking your talents elsewhere in the future? Taida: I intend to work in Zimbabwe because it is my home and I would love to make it a better country.
Dandaro: You lived in Ghana for a couple of years. What can you tell us about your experience there? Taida: Ghana is a beautiful country with a lot of culture. The people there are very kind and loving. The food is amazing too.
Dandaro: Is the Ghanaian academic curricula similar to ours? Any improvements we can make on our side based on your experience there? Taida: They are similar, I didn’t have a hard time adapting during my stay there.
Dandaro: Going back to the socialising topic. Not trying to scare you ? but there is a fear that child geniuses risk missing basic things like rhaka-rhaka, nhodo, discos, etc. Is this something that bothers you? Taida: Not really because to my family and friends, I am no different to children my age, I take part in a lot of activities with them.
Dandaro: How have your parents been helping you navigate your amazing journey? Taida: They are always by my side guiding me and helping me. They give me advice and motivate me. I wouldn’t have made it this far without them.
Dandaro: Who is your hero and why? Taida: My parents are my heroes because they motivate me. I want to be like them when I grow up. They are very loving and caring people. They are very kind and people love being around them. They are great role models.
Dandaro: How did you grow the interest to exert yourself in academics, do you think it’s your natural aptitude or were there other factors? Taida: I just really like stationery and writing notes, so studying was fun for me. I did have hard times here and there but I stayed strong and never gave up.
Dandaro: In the event that Taida completes her studies, what’s next and what are her long-term objectives? Taida: I want to work, own a house and a car. I want to also further my studies, and maybe do some travelling.
Dandaro: Do you have any ideas or words of encouragement to share with young people out there? Taida: Never give up, failure is the stepping stone to success.
Dandaro: Tell us one thing you really like about Zimbabwe. Taida: I love the languages. Although I cannot speak all of them I love hearing people speak in their different languages and dialects.
Dandaro: What is your favourite traditional dish? Taida: Rice rinedovi, muriwo nenyama
Dandaro: Any parting words? Taida: Hope I have motivated people out there to work hard and make their dreams a reality.
Multiple sources have confirmed this poisoning incident happened at OK Mabelreign, Harare. Now waiting on @OKZimbabwe and @PoliceZimbabwe. Have these workers recovered? What type of poisoning was that? How many are the victims? How safe is your building and it's products? https://t.co/z0w6yB4mkX
By A Correspondent- The recent spate of deaths of top government officials, including ministers who succumbed to Covid-19, have left President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a predicament.
Well-placed sources yesterday said Mnangagwa was in a quandary on whom to pick to replace the two key cabinet ministers. The president has exhausted his free-choice selection quota provided for by the Constitution and any more appointments ought to come from within Parliament.
Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo and Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza died a fortnight ago due to Covid-19 complications. Acting President Constantino Chiwenga presided over their burial at the National Heroes’ Acre last week in a historic triple burial that included former Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service commissioner-general Paradzai Zimondi.
A week before, Mnangagwa had presided over the burials of Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba and liberation war icon Moton Malianga at the national shrine. The two also succumbed to the novel coronavirus.
It is the replacement of Moyo and Matiza that could give Mnangagwa headaches when he returns to work this week at the end of his one-month-long annual leave.
Jostling for the two positions has reportedly already started within his ruling Zanu-PF, with some names being thrown around in a deliberate attempt to influence Mnangagwa’s decisions.
Interestingly though, none of the names being thrown around are constituency MPs and, therefore, may not be constitutionally eligible for consideration.
Mnangagwa has exhausted appointing his five non-constituency MPs as mandated by the Constitution, restricting his choice only to the existing pool of legislators. The two positions that he needs to fill require keen technocrats and/or experienced and exceptionally driven political brains that may not be easy to find from among his current MPs.
Section 104 (3) of the Constitution on appointment of ministers and Cabinet reads: “Ministers and deputy ministers are appointed from among Senators or Members of the National Assembly, but up to five, chosen for their professional skills and competence, may be appointed outside Parliament.”
Mnangagwa already has the five nonconstituency ministers namely: Higher Education minister Amon Murwira, Local Government minister July Moyo, Sports minister Kirsty Coventry, Lands minister Anxious Masuka and Finance minister Mthuli Ncube.
United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean lawyer Alex Magaisa said the death of the two ministers has put Mnangagwa in a precarious situation on his choice of replacements as he is restricted by the Constitution.
“His choices are extremely limited,” Magaisa said.
“He has to appoint from the current pool of elected representatives. Alternatively, he will have to sack some of those non-MPs if he wants to appoint new outsiders.
“He has only two options. The first one: he can only appoint from the current pool of elected MPs which means that his choices are very limited. But if he wants to bring in someone from outside Parliament, which opens the second option, that means he has to sack some of the current ministers who are not in Parliament. That will open up space so that he can appoint someone from outside Parliament. So that’s the only two options that he has.”
Some of the names of people being thrown in as Moyo’s replacement at Foreign Affairs include former Zimbabwe ambassador to China, Chris Mutsvangwa.
Zimbabwe’s current ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, Frederick Shava, is also been rooted for the position due to his reported closeness to western countries which Mnangagwa is desperate to re-engage. He once represented Zimbabwe in China.
International trade expert Stuart Comberbach’s name is also featuring among the list that also includes Murwira.
Comberbach is a special advisor in the ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some Zanu-PF members are reportedly making underground manoeuvres to replace Matiza. Observers believe the Foreign Affairs ministry is key to Mnangagwa, who is on a re-engagement drive.
University of Zimbabwe law lecturer Lovemore Madhuku said Mnangagwa had only one option, which was, however, limited in terms of choice.
He said his party could nominate replacements for Moyo and Gwaradzimba, who were both senators, and proceed to appoint them into ministers if he wants to take from outside. He, however, had no option on Matiza, who was a sitting MP.
But, Madhuku said, the replacements should come from the respective provinces, and that limited Mnangagwa’s choice.
“He may delay the appointments; allow the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to expedite processes and get the party to nominate replacements for Moyo and Gwaradzimba and appoint them as ministers,” Madhuku said.
But outside of this option, Madhuku said: “Mnangagwa has no way out, there is no room to manoeuvre, and he has to appoint from Parliament. He has to get them from Parliament. Five non-constituency ministers is the maximum the President can choose; he can’t do anything.”
On questions on competency among Zanu-PF legislators, Madhuku said: “Competency in Zanu-PF is the same; you cannot expect to get a very competent person from Zanu-PF.
“Mnangagwa will have to live with those who are there. The people cannot expect competency out of Zanu when they voted for a Zanu-PF President and also Zanu-PF has the majority in Parliament; the people should live with the incompetency that is there. It should not even be debated. Mnangagwa should choose from his mediocre MPs.”-standard
By A Correspondent- City of Masvingo has responded to reports that one of their employees in the engineering department mishandled its tank and pipe cleaning exercise leading to the recent pumping of near-sludge water to households.
In a public notice dated January 28, 2021, the city promised that it was addressing the source of the problem, but stopped short of disclosing finer details.
“The City of Masvingo regrets the supply of discoloured tap water which is brownish in colour. We are in the process of addressing the source of the problem and we trust we will be through by Sunday morning the 31st of January 2021.
“Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the city communicated.-TellZim
COVID19 Vaccine: The vaccine is cheaper than the costs of PPE, economic costs of lockdowns, and socio-psychological effects. With some innovative financial structuring and use of the 2020 budget surplus, we can purchase vaccines to inoculate the entire population of Zimbabwe.
In November 2020, the government of Zimbabwe through ZINARA raised toll fees by 170% from 45 RTGS to 120 RTGS. Before 60 days have lapsed, the government has further increased the toll fees by a further 38 percent from 120RTGS to 165 RTGS. All these increaments are a burden on the traveller whose income continues to be depleted by the day. To further compound the woes for the traveling poor masses, the government has legalised the collection of toll fees in USD capped by a prouncement that Toll fees will automatically increase in RTGS terms as and when the exchange rate changes upwards.
The MDC Alliance appreciates that under such COVID-19 induced lockdown conditions, most travellers are civil servants in essential service. It therefore goes against logic that civil servants whose salaries are RTGS based and have not been increased to match the Pre RTGS era are the same salaries that are supposed to sustain Toll fees that have now been pegged to match the time when the country was under the USD era. What evades the mind of policy makers is the reality that the auction rate is reported to be stagnant for the past 6 months and therefore it remains buffling to have an increament of close to 200 percent compound in less than 60 days.
Transport remains a critical component in the cost build up of any business. Where toll fees are increased, fuel equally increased, it therefore means that the landed costs of any product or service rises by an equal measure and is borne by the consumer.
The government if it had people at heart would realise that the very same consumer is locked down and their means of income is very limited. The MDC Alliance calls on the government to head the call of labour unions across the labour spectrum and align salaries to pre October 2018 when they were USD based.
If the government sees it fit to align costs such as toll fees to the USD era, certainly income should follow suit. What is more painstaking is that while travellers pay such huge amounts through toll fees, reports of corruption and looting of funds at ZINARA continue unabated yet our roads continue to delapidate with government quick to blame Local Authorities who are no where near revenue collection of road user funds.
In a functional democracy, faced with such heartless and unreasonable astronomic increase in toll fees, motorists would drive into highways and park their cars enmasse blocking all highways until government becomes sensible and realistic to the economic challenges facing all of us. Unfortunately ours is an authoritarian dictatorship where freedom of expression is met by bullets flying at 45 degrees.
Hon Settlement Chikwinya (MP) MDC Alliance National Secretary for Transport and Logistics
By A Correspondent- One of the trucks that was involved in a pile-up accident in Zambia in August last year resulting in more than six people being burnt beyond recognition belongs to Ephias Munodawafa, the current chief Murinye of Masvingo.
According to Zambian police public relations officer Esther Mwaata Katongo, the driver and the truck were unknown.
However, investigations have revealed the truck belongs to chief Murinye, who is the director of Zikrag investments and E&J Munodawafa (Pvt) Limited which specialises in haulage trucks.
The trucks were alleged to be unroadworthy and operating without certificates of fitness (COFs) resulting in Remigio Tafiranyika Dhima, who was a driver of a Nissan uD truck registration number ACZ 2450, getting involved in the accident where he was burnt beyond recognition.
Dhima is reported to have been involved in an accident on August 16, 2020 along the Chirundu-Kafue road at Kapiringozi hills with three other trucks.
One of the trucks, a Volvo truck registration number ACQ 2702, was being driven by another Zimbabwean, prince James of clear choice Logistics, and was on a breakdown. The third was another Zimbabwean male identified as Danmore Magoshe, of Srauss Logistics, driving a FAW truck registration number AEU 6414 and believed to have been carrying jet 1 fuel.
In chats before the tragic accident, Dhima, who was travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and carrying silicon manganese, was constantly complaining about his brakes and the vehicle’s condition.
The accident occurred when Dhima, who was descending a hill, lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure before hitting a FAW truck which was suspected to be carrying jet1 fuel and later went and hit a stationary Volvo truck which had a breakdown. All motor vehicles were completely burnt.
Investigations unearthed three originals cFos issued at VID Eastlea for E&J Munodawafa dated May 23, 2019 expiring on May 31, 2020 for his trailers.
All the three coFs were not cut and thus not attached on the trucks raising eyebrows about how the vehicles were operating for a whole year without COFs.
Contacted for comment, assistant manager at VID Eastlea, Caroline Tshuma, said she was not allowed to talk to the media.w
Sources revealed that according to Tongaat Hullets regulations, no haulage truck is supposed to load without a coF. it remains a mystery how Murinye’s company was allowed to load at the sugar company without coFs amid allegations of bribery having been taking place.
On September 20, 2020, the chief allegedly transferred $10 000 to Tsalani Hwizimani (Tongaat logistics manager) while Taurai Mushonga, the dispatcher controller, allegedly received $8 000 and several others employees also allegedly got some credit from his BancABc account, Heritage branch in Harare.
When reached for comment, the traditional chief placed all the blame on his former manager whom he accused of being the architect of all these misdeeds. He said the manager (a lady) was out to soil his name while also accusing this reporter of having an affair with her.
“If I have become so powerful to the extent of running trucks without coFs for a whole year, then I should congratulate myself for even being more powerful than the president himself. Go back to bed and ask her again why those coFs were not on the trucks.
“Sorry, I’m so used to being attacked by journalists especially those who are inclined to opposition politics in Zimbabwe. Go write all that which will make your heart feel good. You behave as if you write on behalf of God,” said Murinye.
When further quizzed on the money he deposited into the accounts of Tongaat employees, he said there was nothing wrong with it.
“It’s nothing new that we have donated to Zimbabwe sugar sales (ZSS) employees and other structures. it’s not a secret, at times we buy them food just like most companies do.
“There’s nothing to bribe for because we already have a contract. We usually give them Christmas presents. This time we gave them early because I would be having serious financial commitments in December.”
Hwizimani confirmed receiving money from chief Murinye, but said it was a debt the traditional chief was repaying.
“He was paying what he owed me. sorry, i am not allowed to comment on something in my line of duty,” he said.
Mushonga could neither confirm nor deny the allegations, but said whatever you hear from Murinye is the correct version.
Tongaat corporate affairs manager Adelide Chikunguru could not be reached for comment as her phone went unanswered.
By A Correspondent- Popular actor Blessing Chimhowa who plays Mbudziyadhura in the Gringo series broadcast on ZBCTV – was rushed to a local clinic in Gweru in the early hours of Wednesday after developing abdominal complications and discharged later on the day.
Mbudziyadhura’s longtime friend and manager Paradzai “Sekuru Para” Makosa confirmed the news to Standard Style on Friday, adding that the family made an appeal for financial support on Wednesday.
“He became ill suddenly on Tuesday afternoon and became worse overnight.
He was then rushed to a nearby clinic in the early hours of Wednesday. His health stabilised and he was later discharged without further referrals,” Makosa said.
“Upon receiving the message we panicked seeing that we are in the middle of this Covid-19 pandemic. Mbudziyadhura has long-term complications with abdominal injuries sustained from a car accident that nearly claimed his life in 2007.”
Makosa said the family was still looking for funds to cover Mbudziyadhura’s medical expenses.
“Well-wishers can still chip in because at the moment he is grounded. He needs to go for checkups,” he said.
“Hard times have befallen a lot of people in this country, and Mbudziyadhura has not been spared.
“He lost his full-time job at Hifa [Harare International Festival of the Arts] and subsequently medical benefits among many other packages. After losing his job and benefits, Chimhowa purchased a piece of land in Hozheri, Gweru, and he is planning to become a full-time farmer if his health improves.”
Mbudziyadhura acted in Gringo drama series on ZBCTV, Gringo Mari Iripi?, Gringo Troublemaker One and Two, and featured in Yellow Card. He has also featured on stage plays that include Fat Cats where he played a West African conman.
Sekuru Para disclosed plans to work on a Gringo series when Mbudziyadhura recovers and the intention to improve his visibility on social media.
“Currently, we are trying to create content for his new YouTube channel as well as grow an online community through Facebook and Instagram,” Makosa said.
“There is also a possibility of working on a new Gringo movie fronted by Sekuru Banda.
“Gringo’s son [Taurai] and Mbudziyadhura will pair to keep alive the legacy of the late comedian. All this was halted by Covid-19. The acting profession stood still since the pandemic’s outbreak.-standard
By A Correspondent- A public health official has said the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients will be done in controlled environments to avoid indiscriminate prescription and dispensing of the medicine.
Chief Coordinator of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, was speaking on Friday following the approval by the government of the use of the drug for “investigational” COVID-19 treatment.
Healthcare workers had lobbied for the use of the anti-parasitic drug saying the fusion of Ivermectin and nanosilver was effective in caring for patients.
Dr Mahomva asserted that the used of Ivermectin, that is the kind for humans, to treat COVID-19, will be closely monitored to protect patients from unethical and unsafe doses as well as counterfeit products, including veterinary Ivermectin.
She said:
Let me take this opportunity to remind you all, including our doctors, that all medicines, whether they are new or old, routine or investigational, must be registered with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) before they can be used or prescribed.
At the beginning of the month, MCAZ in its circular 5 of 2021 advised medical doctors and other healthcare workers against the use of unapproved veterinary Ivermectin for prevention of COVID-19 in humans.
In a more recent communication, MCAZ provided detailed guidance indicating that investigational medicines for COVID-19 such as Ivermectin, that is the kind for humans, are to be used under controlled and structured environments with specific settings and strict monitoring to avoid wanton and indiscriminate prescription and dispensing of such medicines.
By A Correspondent- Police in Buhera recently nabbed five suspected cattle rustlers who had stolen 19 herds of cattle from Makonya Village under Chief Nyashanu.
The five suspects appeared before Murambinda Magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai on allegations of stock theft on Wednesday and were all remanded in custody.
The state alleges that on the night of January 11 and 12 2021, Samson Mashingaidze, Trust Tabarira and Stanford Zivengwa stole 12 cattle from John Makonya’s pen, four from Netsai Gadzira and three from Muswe Majoni.
Makonya and Gadzira are both from Makonya Village while Majoni resides near Manhuru Township, under Chief Nyashanu.
The suspects intended to sell the beasts at Sari Abattoir in Harare and share the proceeds.
After rounding up the beasts, the group drove the cattle to Mashingaidze’s home where Jani Mumanyi and Blessing Mutumani were waiting with a vehicle to take them to Harare.
However, the suspects received a tip-off that police were coming for them and they ran away before loading the cattle in the truck.
Three of the suspects drove the cattle to a field near Manhuru Township where they left them tied to a tree.
Police recovered all the 19 cattle valued at $470 000.
A Harare City Football Club official has dismissed reports suggesting that the club will be disbanded.
Reports on social media this week claimed that the Sunshine Boys franchise will be sold due to viability challenges.
However, the club’s spokesperson Michael Chideme on Saturday told Soccer24 that the reports were unfounded. He said:
Harare City Football Club is intact. We do not have any talk of disbandment. The club is there to stay and to contribute to the development of football in Zimbabwe.
Look at what we have done, we have produced some gems in the national league and we have also exported some gems to Europe.
So the club will still be running and we are actually looking forward to the resumption of the local league season when the COVID-19 crisis is over.
Some Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs are facing financial challenges as all football activities have been suspended since March last year due to COVID-19.
Apart from a few big clubs that are backed by sponsors, the rest of the PSL clubs depend on gate takings to fund their operations.
Own Correspondent | Controversial Masvingo preacher Isaac Makomichi is reportedly dating South African Zodwa Wabantu.
Last week the controversial preacher was accused of bedding a female school head.
According to impeccable sources, Makomichi was spotted with the South African socialite at a hotel in Masvingo.
The sources further claimed the socialite came to Makomichi to seek love charms and the two became friends. Their friendship then turned into a love affair, claimed the sources.
The sources further claimed Zodwa Wabantu funded Makomichi’s New Year’s trip to Mauritius.
Church leaders accuse Makomichi of promoting the spirit of prostitution by distributing his love charms to slay queens around the country.
Asked for a comment, Makomichi said: The person who told you is lying, if its true why didn’t he/she take pictures?
I have so many high profile clients that’s why I always visit expensive hotels. I don’t reveal names at all but the truth is that I am not in love with Zodwa Wabantu,” said Makomichi.
FORMER Zanu-PF Mutasa North legislator Luke Phibion Masamvu died yesterday in Harare from Covid-19-related complications. He was 62.
The former parliamentarian, who was a well-known businessman in Manicaland province, left behind 12 wives and 79 children. Brother and family spokesperson John Masamvu said mourners are gathered at the family’s Airedale Farm along the Rusape-Nyanga highway.
“It is a very sad day for the entire Masamvu family. We have lost a big family man who also served his country in Parliament,” he said.
Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Deputy Minister Tinoda Machakaire described the death of Masamvu as a huge loss.
“I was really saddened to learn of the untimely passing on of the former Honourable MP and businessman Cde LP Masamvu.
“I am praying for the family at this trying time. Losing a loved father is not easy at all. The wound never heals.
“My prayer for the family is that they find the strength to keep going.”
He lost his parliamentary seat after falling by the wayside during the 2018 Zanu-PF primary elections.- The Sunday News
Tinashe Sambiri| The MDC Alliance has described the failure by government to deal with COVID-19 superspreaders as regrettable.
Accoding to the MDC Alliance, the sudden proliferation of COVID-19 cases was caused by the festive season’s inward migration of Zimbabweans, mainly from South Africa.
See statement below:
MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert.
2nd Edition.
30 January 2021.
Last week, the MDC Alliance published its first Weekly Health Alert focusing on the Super Spreaders. This initiative will see the party through its Health Department led by Dr Henry Madzorera in conjunction with the Communications department dialoguing with you, fellow citizens on COVID-19 related issues. This week we are looking at the Lockdown, it’s extension and what needs to be done now. Together we will defeat COVID-19.
THE LOCKDOWN: WHERE TO NOW?
Following the comprehensive policy statement given by the People’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa on Thursday, we just want to re-emphasize the already dealt with issue of the lockdown, especially seeing that it has now been extended by a further two weeks at level 4.
On Saturday 02/01/21 the minister of health & childcare Rtd General Constantino Guveya Nyikadzino Chiwenga announced a strict lockdown and curfew for 30 days to curb the sudden upsurge in COVID-19 cases caused by the festive season’s inward migration of Zimbabweans, mainly from neighboring countries. In the week preceding the lockdown, the country had experienced 1342 new cases and 29 deaths. This was alarmingly high. Now, in spite of the lockdown, cumulative cases have increased from 14491 since January 2nd, 2021, to 32646 on Thursday the 28th of January 2021, an increase of 18155. In the same period, deaths have increased from 377 to 1160, an increase of 783, all in 26 days! This is the definition of a catastrophe. In themselves, these numbers do not mean the lockdown is not working, but they do mean we have a few serious things that we must do and there are tough decisions that government must make to flatten this curve. Whatever measures the government shall take must consider the welfare of the people, and the health of both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Government must be alive to the fact that emergencies such as we are in are fertile ground for thieves and rogue elements in both society and government to flourish.
What is the lockdown expected to achieve? The idea of the lockdown is to arrest transmission of the virus from person to person. This is achieved by identifying those who have the virus through testing, screening and isolating them till they are no longer shedding the virus. Keeping the people in their homes means we are reducing the population at risk from any unidentified positive case. Provision of high quality, time sensitive healthcare services must be maintained during the lockdown, both for COVID-19 patients and for other routine infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases. The epidemic has had the unfortunate effect of neglect of all the other usual conditions, and more people could easily die of these routine conditions than of COVID-19 sooner than later. The lockdown is also expected to protect the elderly and those with other co-morbidities. Government must monitor and report on certain key indicators to determine if we are making progress. Percentage of population tested and proportion that is positive, together with total number of deaths are good measures of progress. We must have a way of measuring the “happiness index” of our people particularly regarding our health care delivery system during this pandemic.
HOW HAVE WE FARED SO FAR?
Testing and isolation has been our major deficiency in this pandemic. We don’t compare at all to our neighbors and the international community. This is the major intervention that will flatten our curve. We do hope the two week extension of level 4 lockdown will be accompanied by serious testing and isolation, particularly in the known hot spots, and that any future lockdowns will be targeted, not blanket lockdowns. There have been absolutely no social safety nets for particular vulnerable groups like informal sector workers, the elderly and the poor. Ailing companies have not received any bailouts with consequent high levels of job losses. Super spreader events have been allowed to flourish. One notable super spreader is the crowded Zupco buses. Government must with immediate effect liberalise the transport system to reduce congestion in the buses. Monopolies of that nature create avenues of corruption for beaurocrats and politicians, and other rogue elements in society. Government has failed to establish COVID-19 treatment and admission facilities in most cities. People needing basic care are dying at home because of lack of such care, including simple oxygen supplementation. This is an urgent matter.
WAY FORWARD?
Make the best use of this two week extension. Intensify testing and isolation. Gather decent prevalence and incidence data and monitor progress scientifically. Consider targeted localized lockdowns in next phase, informed by data.
Set up free testing centres easily accessible to all citizens, in urban and rural areas.
Open up space for inclusive national dialogue and response.
Fulfill government’s promise and obligation to give food and sustenance to vulnerable populations .
Deal with corruption and recover all ill gotten wealth that belongs to the people.
Deal with all super spreaders, particularly Zupco buses and prisons. Give people their rights & freedoms, guarantee security of persons, and show goodwill to all humanity. We are ALL in the same cooking pot, and we need each other now more than ever.
Re-think government expenditure and divert funds to the fight against COVID-19.
Upgrade the health delivery system, including water and sanitation hygiene.
Kit up our frontline healthcare workers with adequate Personal Protective Equipment that instills confidence.
Urgently work on a vaccination policy and rollout plan. Inform citizens to instill hope.
Dr H Madzorera Secretary for Health & Childwelfare, MDC-Alliance
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo| Not much has been done, since the inception of the so called new dispensation. Now that you have lost key pillars, the likes of Biggie Matiza, Ellen Gwaradzimba and the coup announcer, S.B Moyo, who was preferred by many as a stabilizer in the regime, you need to sit down and make a review, using the citizen’s perspective and contributions from the general public. You need to work around the clock, to improve on the quality of people around you. I would like to believe, you have a headache on whom to pick considering the calibre of people around you both in the party and Government. The current face of our politics and our country is not looking good, and not inspirational. Draw a line between politics and Development. My two cents advice :
1. The current cabinet is not inspiring, and you may have to hunt for quality people in the corporate world, to make some replacements particularly in the Foreign Affairs, and Transport Ministry
2. You need to appoint Strategic thinkers around you, to improve the quality of work around your office
3. No inspiration within the current team. You need first hand information from the Independent Advisory Council, or from the general public
4. Your PR team is not doing good job. There is need to manage perceptions, from within and outside world.
5. On Foreign Affairs, you need a better understanding of what is required before any appointment. NB : perhaps you may need to place a call on Dr Walter Mzembi. He can deliver the best. He are the following names thrown on the market :
1. Dr Walter Mzembi ( preferred first option) 2. Dr Arikana Chihombori 3. Stuart Harold Comberbach ( Former Ambassador to Italy) 4. Pettina Gappa 5. Kirsty Coventry
6. Dr Nigel Chanakira 7. Ben Manyenyeni ( Former Mayor of Harare)
It is important that you study this list before making any considerations.
6. On Stembiso Nyoni, you need to look for replacement. It is time to study the global economy, paradigm shift, the world is looking young, with the advancement of technology, it is important to retire some of your cdes on national interest, and consider what is known to be the best for our country. We have so many women who can deliver in Women Affairs and Small Medium Enterprises area
7. You need to shelve the G40, Lacoste and MDC tag, and bring everyone on board. We have the likes of Mirriam Chikukwa, Walter Mzembi, and many others who did a good job, and they can be considered for key roles in Government
8. We need a strong Research and Development office to study the variances of Covid-19 pandemic. Government must consider this as a priority to cater for the Economic implications of this virus
9. We need a proper Economic Recovery framework ( plan).
10. Gonna are the days, where Zimbabwe survives on handouts, it’s time to creat employment, sound Development Policy, build stronger Institutions, and increase Foreign Direct Investment. The culture of handouts must stop.
11. We need proper Policy direction of Zimbabwe. There are too many inconsistencies on policy formulation and coordination
12. Succession Policy is very critical.
13. There is need for review in Judiciary Service Commission.
14. Involve captains of industry, Business Community, Researchers and many others in Strategic Thinking around the current trajectory.
15. You need to widen the scope of Covid-19 taskforce. The current one is not inspiring. You will loose nothing, by picking a taskforce from the Corporate World.
16. You need to turn the Government into a commercial brand.
17. The image of the Government need to improve on a number of areas.
18. Human Rights obligations is key and fundamental. Zim is once again under spotlight checks.
19. A serious reshuffle is long over due. This time around, you have to reshuffle everything. No inspiration for now. Consider this statement once again.
20. Redirection of expenditure to the main sectors of the economy such as Agriculture, Infrastructure Development, tourism, mining and industry is very important.
21. Seperate politics and Development. More energy and focus must be on Development. More resources must be channeled towards growth of our country.
22. Every Political player must be treated with respect, and this will build investor’s confidence.
23. Investment Policy must be reviewed. 24. You need to set up an Economic Independent Taskforce, to strengthen our Economic Recovery plan ahead of 2030 vision
25. Replace museum with a State of the Art hospital, near Warren Park 1. Consider a State of the Art hospital with world class medical facility
25. Old buildings must be replaced with proper Infrastructure Development plan.
26. Legacy is an important factor. You need to be remembered after you leave office. By now , there must be Hospitals, Universities, schools, spaghetti roads which should be named after you.
NB : Constructive criticism is an eye opener to your leadership and it strengthens your Capacity to deliver the best for our country?
Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo is the Head of Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking – ZIST, and he can be contacted at [email protected]
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Dr Jetro Ndombondayi Ndlovu has died. He was 66.
Amb Ndlovu reportedly succumbed to Covid-19 yesterday morning in the country after he had come to mourn his mother who died last week and his brother who died in December 2020.
The acting minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, confirmed Dr Ndlovu’s death. He said he died at a Harare hospital.
Member of Parliament for Umzingwane Constituency Brigadier General (Retired) Levy Mayihlome who worked with the late Ambassador in the constituency described him as a man with a strong passion for development. He said Dr Ndlovu recently tested positive to Covid-19.
“He was instrumental in coming up with the Umzingwane Development Trust concept. He was one of the founders and became the founding chairman because of his skill, experience and passion for development. He had been a general manager of several companies and had a wealth of knowledge. He was very passionate about development and when I won the Umzingwane constituency seat in the 2018 elections, he was one of the people who supported me with ideas on what to do in order to develop the constituency,” he said.
He added that Ambassador Ndlovu brought together people of Umzingwane to form Umzingwane Community Development Trust which bound them together in developing the constituency. The Trust has several clusters such as infrastructure, education, health, cultural heritage, industry, science and technology and mining, among others.
“When he was appointed to be the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, he remained an active member despite relinquishing his post for the ambassadorial duties. The country at large saw the same qualities that Umzingwane was seeing by duly appointing him as an ambassador to one of the richest parts of the world. We were excited to have Dr Ndlovu in the UAE as all ideas that he was seeing there, he was bringing to us and we were thinking that we would have synergies where he would link up Umzingwane with other cities there and bring in investors. We had so many ideas but alas, it was never to be. He is gone. Last month he lost his brother, last week he lost his mother, he had come for the funeral and now he is gone. It’s a day of mourning in Umzingwane,” said Hon Mayihlome.
Dr Ndlovu was a war veteran and was part of the Zipra aviation team as an aircraft technician. He was described as a humble man who never flaunted his well-to-do status and a man who discussed development with everyone he met no matter their status in society.
Dr Ndlovu served in the Airforce of Zimbabwe under various capacities, he also served in the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, Falcon Air and also sat in various boards.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF has sent a message of condolence to the Ndlovu family.
“The ruling Zanu-PF joins the rest of the nation in consoling His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Ndlovu family following the untimely demise of Zimbabwe’s incumbent Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Cde Jethro Ndombondayi Ndlovu.”
In a statement, the party’s Secretary for Administration Dr Obert Mpofu said Ambassador Ndlovu’s passing on marks yet another unforeseen gloomy episode to the nation’s Covid-19 induced devastations.
“The late Chief of Staff to Zimbabwean diplomatic corps in Dubai acquitted himself as a distinguished anti-colonial stalwart whose footprints in Zimbabwe’s national memory dates back to the days of our liberation struggle. The late diplomat’s test of unflinching loyalty to the nation also dates back to his diligent service to the nation after independence,” he said.
He described the death of Ambassador Ndlovu as an assault to the Second-Republic’s objective of reconstructing Zimbabwe’s diplomatic adhesion which had suffered unprecedented threats culminating in the nation’s extensive isolation by imperialist forces.
The United Arab Emirates President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sent a cable of condolences to Emmerson Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, expressing sympathy over the death of his sister, a number of his ministers and the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to the UAE, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have sent similar cables to the President of Zimbabwe.
Reuters reported that more than half of Zimbabwe’s 32,646 confirmed Covid-19 cases and two-thirds of its 1,160 deaths were recorded in January alone.
Among those who have died in the last few days were two cabinet ministers, a retired general and other high-ranking officials. The two ministers were treated in a private clinic.
Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga said on Friday it was likely that more transmissible variants of Covid-19 were now circulating in Zimbabwe and the government was investigating.
He said a stricter one-month lockdown that was re-introduced on January 2 and includes a dusk-to-dawn curfew and shutting land borders, would be extended by another two weeks.
By Jane Mlambo| Estranged wife of vice President Constantino Chiwenga has penned an emotional message wailing about being denied access to her children for over 14 months.
The two are engaged in a divorce battle and custody of children who are currently living with Chiwenga while Marry is being denied access.
Below is Marry’s full message shared on social media…..
How does it work when you are denied 110% access to your biological children, children that are below 10 years old, how does the justice system fail to recognize the rights of minors they claim to protect?
I have been denied access to my children by my estranged husband, yes, estranged, he is still my husband and I am still his wife.
The idea of holding onto my children, my personal property like clothes and the division of our assets is so that he can hold onto me.
He does not believe in his own claims and allegations, knowing the fabrication of it all is much closer to home than the eye can see.
14 months I have not seen my children that are aged 10, 9 and 7, neither have I spoken to them, he has been shuttling from one international hospital to another yet he has denied me the same opportunity, KARMA WILL LOCATE HIM.
When abuse of power and authority, and the use of heavily armed military personnel are used to fight one defenceless WIFE with no skill or defence training of some sort, you wonder if the C.I.C is agreeable to this, my human rights as a mother has been infringed upon, how can you have a justice system so careless to the extent of protecting a public officer to continue to commit a crime…
I cannot fight him, I can never win, he has tools which my mind can only process but bearing in mind that David had nothing… DANIEL 2 vs 1-30. I miss my children so much it hurts…
By A Correspondent| City of Harare has mocked residents who illegally built houses on wetlands and now experiencing flooding saying they should remove their structures and apply for proper housing stands.
In a Twitter post two days, City of Harare also urged the illegal settlers to report the land barons who sold them land.
Dear Residents
Those who illegally built on wetlands and are now facing access challenges to their “properties” this is the time to see reason and agree with council. Remove the illegal structures and apply for proper housing land. Report the barons who sold you the land.
This includes those who built on stream and river banks.
Estranged wife of vice President Constantino Chiwenga has penned an emotional message wailing about being denied access to her children for over 14 months.
The two are engaged in a divorce battle and custody of children who are currently living with Chiwenga while Marry is being denied access.
Below is Marry’s full message shared on social media…..
How does it work when you are denied 110% access to your biological children, children that are below 10 years old, how does the justice system fail to recognize the rights of minors they claim to protect?
I have been denied access to my children by my estranged husband, yes, estranged, he is still my husband and I am still his wife.
The idea of holding onto my children, my personal property like clothes and the division of our assets is so that he can hold onto me.
He does not believe in his own claims and allegations, knowing the fabrication of it all is much closer to home than the eye can see.
14 months I have not seen my children that are aged 10, 9 and 7, neither have I spoken to them, he has been shuttling from one international hospital to another yet he has denied me the same opportunity, KARMA WILL LOCATE HIM.
When abuse of power and authority, and the use of heavily armed military personnel are used to fight one defenceless WIFE with no skill or defence training of some sort, you wonder if the C.I.C is agreeable to this, my human rights as a mother has been infringed upon, how can you have a justice system so careless to the extent of protecting a public officer to continue to commit a crime…
I cannot fight him, I can never win, he has tools which my mind can only process but bearing in mind that David had nothing… DANIEL 2 vs 1-30. I miss my children so much it hurts…
By Jane Mlambo| Two years after Chimanimani witnessed one of the worst floods in history when Cyclone Idai ravaged the area and some parts of Chipinge, a portion of the road linking the area to the rest of the world has collapsed leaving locals with more questions than answers over the quality of work done.
The locals blame the constructor (name supplied) assigned to rebuild that portion for engaging in corrupt dealings selling cement meant for the road to locals at very cheap prices.
Now that part of the road between Chimanimani District office and Skyline has collapsed due to incessant rains currently being experienced in the country.
According to Chimanimani residents, one person died when a vehicle plunged into the collapsed road.
a vehicle plunged into the collapsed road along Chimanimani-Wengezi Road
“We have more questions than answers for Masimba Holdings. One life lost just because of greed and corrupt activities. Truly this company must be held accountable,” one resident posted on Facebook.
By A Correspondent| The now popular South African artist who specialises in drawing celebrities has returned with another controversial art in memory of Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi and Jonas Gwangwa who all died on the 23rd of January albeit different years.
Rasta first made waves when he released a ‘caricature’ of Mtukudzi following his death, a picture that invited ridicule as it appeared far divorced from the real music legend.
He later followed up with many other celebrities, earning himself a huge following who in a way enjoy his art.
Now he has returned with another one which has already attracted plenty of comments on his Twitter account.
MASVINGO – An alarming number of inmates have tested positive to Covid19 at Mutimurefu, one of the largest prisons in the country, reliable sources have told The Mirror.
The sources told The Mirror that of the 150 prisoners tested so far, 110 are positive. The prisoners are being tested in batches of 75.
It is understood that 53 inmates tested positive on Wednesday last week while 57 tested positive three days ago (Sunday).
Provincial Covid-19 taskforce spokesperson Rodgers Irimayi confirmed the Wednesday figure and said that he was yet to get the Sunday figure.
Efforts by The Mirror to find out what arrangements is done to separate the affected prisoners from those who are free from the virus were futile. However, all of Zimbabweans’ prisons are overcrowded and this is a big problem in the fight against the pandemic
Full statement by Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) spokesman Donald Tatenda Marevanhema on the continued pre-trial detention of student leader Alan Moyo.
It is with great disappointment that we have received news that the high court has denied granting our fellow student leader Alan Moyo bail stating that his grounds of appeal were defective therefore bail was denied.
As a union, we would like to express our great displeasure over the ways in which the judiciary system is handling Alan Moyo’s case particularly the state prosecutors and judges.
It is important to note that justice delayed is no difference to justice denied, we are highly compelled by the fact that the state continues to take pleasure in holding Alan Moyo in the dungeons of terror despite the fact he hasn’t been proven guilty in any way.
Alan was and is still under arrest for simply demanding a better Zimbabwe, where the basic human fundamental rights are upheld, in the same context we are of opinion that the citizens’ demand for better quality life and democracy, is a demonstration that democracy cannot be viewed as only limited to elections and the exercise of civil and political rights.
Equally important is the quality of representation, better quality of life for citizens including respect for and protection of the totality of human rights.
We have spoken and we still speak, our position is the same we demand the immediate release of Alan Moyo from prison, unless or otherwise we are not to be heard we shall pursue other forms of engagement until justice is served and Alan experiences freedom.
ZINASU remains firmly determined in pursuing the vision of an inclusive and democratic Zimbabwe with students as integral stakeholders where students concerns are addressed and academic freedom upheld.
A Harare City Football Club official has dismissed reports suggesting that the club will be disbanded.
Reports on social media this week claimed that the Sunshine Boys franchise will be sold due to viability challenges.
However, the club’s spokesperson Michael Chideme on Saturday told Soccer24 that the reports were unfounded. He said:
Harare City Football Club is intact. We do not have any talk of disbandment. The club is there to stay and to contribute to the development of football in Zimbabwe.
Look at what we have done, we have produced some gems in the national league and we have also exported some gems to Europe.
So the club will still be running and we are actually looking forward to the resumption of the local league season when the COVID-19 crisis is over.
Some Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs are facing financial challenges as all football activities have been suspended since March last year due to COVID-19.
Apart from a few big clubs that are backed by sponsors, the rest of the PSL clubs depend on gate takings to fund their operations.
One person died on the spot when Chimanimani highway, known as the Skyline, collapsed as a vehicle was passing.
The collapse which happened just after Charter Bridge is being attributed to incessant rains.
Manicaland Provincial Roads Engineer Atherton Zindoga attributed the collapse to the incessant rains being received in the district and dismissed speculations of poor workmanship by the contractor. He explained:
There was an upstream river which changed its course of flow and forced its way underneath the road surface resulting in the collapse. The contractor did not work on this section because it was not affected what they just did was surfacing.
Our heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family. As a ministry we are going to lobby for resources to monitor and inspect our roads so that if preventable, such incidents should not happen again and claim lives, said Zindoga.
The Skyline – Chimanimani highway, was commissioned by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November last year following a post Cyclone Idai disaster reconstruction work by a local contractor.
The highway had survived recent tropical storms but collapsed after Charter Bridge resulting in the death of a person who was driving to Chimanimani.
ZBC News reports that the completion of the Jopa-Kopa highway has been delayed as a result of the incessant rains which are now causing landslides and diverting the flow of a number of rivers.
Four people drowned in two separate incidents last week while either trying to cross or fish in flooded rivers following heavy rains.
Three minors drowned in the Gwayi River on Wednesday during an ill-fated fishing expedition, police have said.
“The ZRP is concerned with various reports of drowning despite campaigns against crossing flooded rivers,” police said on Twitter. “This follows a recent report of drowning of three minors aged 12,14 and 15 in Gwayi River on 27 January.
“The victims went for fishing and drowned.” In a separate incident, a health worker was swept away after trying to cross a flooded Chambara River in Mwenezi.
“In Mwenezi on 28 January, a health worker was swept away by floods after their Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle was stuck in the mud at Chambara River.
“The victim and his colleague remained in the vehicle overnight before being trapped by rising water whilst inside the vehicle, and upon trying to escape, the victim was swept away.”
Meanwhile, police are investigating a case of murder after a man was struck by a brick and stabbed with a knife in Hatcliffe following an altercation over proceeds from an illegal mining venture.
“The ZRP is investigating a case of murder which occurred at Muzinda Shopping Centre, Hatcliffe, Harare, on 28 January at about 12.40pm.
“The victim was struck by a brick and stabbed by a home-made knife on the back after a dispute over the sharing of proceeds from illegal mining escapades in Mazowe.
“Meanwhile, a manhunt has been launched for two suspects only known as Geshem Nyamhingura and Bobbie.” -Sunday Mail
A search party for two men believed to have drowned in the Makhakavhule area of Beitbridge when their inflatable boat capsized in uMzingwane River early yesterday continued late into the night.
Two people managed to swim to the banks of the river after the mishap.
Eyewitnesses said the four men had been promised 800 rand reward by a woman who wanted them to rescue her cow which was drowning in the flooded river.
“The now-deceased, along with the two survivors, were reportedly coming from a village party known as a stokvel when they heard about the reward.
‘‘They were visibly drunk. They then entered into an inflatable boat intending to rescue the cow. Unfortunately, the boat capsized soon after they got into the violent tide,” the eyewitness said, adding that it was highly likely that the missing duo had drowned.
A report was made to the police, who joined the villagers in the search party. The witnesses said the cow later managed to swim across the river.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge District, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo, said the search for the missing pair was still on.
“Our team is still on the ground searching for the two men and we can only give you more details at a later stage,” he said.
Another man who was stranded in an island along the same river in Zezani area managed to swim across the river when water levels subsided on Saturday morning.
The man spent the whole of Friday marooned. -Sunday Mail
The Government will soon begin scouting for alternative land for people settled on wetlands and other undesignated areas to prevent possible disasters, especially in the wake of floods that affected Chitungwiza on Friday.
Speaking during a tour of houses affected by the floods yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said those settled on wetlands and riverbanks should immediately approach authorities to get assistance.
“We want the population to understand this and even those who are in these areas (Chitungwiza): We want them to come forward and say I think we are settled in a wrong place. You don’t regularise a person who is sitting in a wetland, you can’t. You don’t regularise someone who is in a stream. So when we are talking about regularisation, we are saying let’s move those people who are in wetlands.”
He urged the affected residents to register with councils. “And where they know the person who falsely gave them that land, they should also be telling us now to say, ‘I was given this land by so and so and here is what I paid to that person’, and we deal with it.
“If they were given by the council and have all the history of the money they were paying to council, they should also tell us so that we have a record of what is happening.
“If they remain silent, let them not cry foul when we now take action to remove them.”
Mrs Elizabeth Muchenje and her family are living if fear after their house was flooded following heavy rains that pounded Unit L, in Chitungwiza on Friday.
National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe said the Government had no choice but to destroy all unplanned settlements, which have become hotspots for natural disasters, disease outbreaks and crime.
“Those are the areas which we are saying we are going to look for experts to ensure that they are serviced. But there are land barons who are taking advantage of that and are parcelling out land in the middle of the night and telling people to build quickly because the Government will come and regularise. We are not doing that anymore; the Government is saying no.”
Chitungwiza mayor Councillor Lovemore Maiko praised the Second Republic for taking a tough stance on illegal settlements.
“The majority of the things that we see around town are things that happened during the First Republic, and the Second Republic has been very clear in terms of making sure that we address these things. We do not want Chitungwiza to be the biggest shanty town in the country.”
Some affected residents narrated their ordeals to The Sunday Mail.
Marvelous Chimhau (35) of Unit L Extension said: “What started like a normal day ended up in disaster after heavy rains pounded this area yesterday (Friday) afternoon. Water started flowing into the house and all the household goods are wet as we speak.
“We did not sleep last night. My neighbour was not at home, so people from the neighbourhood had to rescue the children, including one who is still in preschool, from the flooded house.”
Another resident, Tsitsi Muchenu (25) of Unit L’s Garikai Stands, said illegal structures were the most affected because they were built on wetlands.
“All this shows desperation among the home seekers who are also susceptible to manipulation by land barons, who are selling stands everywhere,” she said.
Rowesai Mazhindu (44), who stays near a dilapidated bridge that links Unit L and Chirasavana Township in Seke Rural, said most home seekers were at the mercy of land barons.
“When you join these co-operatives, the directors appear genuine at first. You are made to pay huge sums of money only to be allocated a stand in a place like this,” she said.
“In the end, you build a house because you are desperate to have a roof over your head. But, I think our local council is letting us down; they should be proactive and stop these land barons.
“We are, therefore, appealing to the Government to intervene and make sure that people are allocated legal stands.”
Chitungwiza Town Council spokesperson Mr Lovemore Meya said the town was mobilising support for the affected. -Sunday Mail
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, on Thursday implored the nation to unite in the fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Although President Chamisa pointed out government’s glaring shortcomings in dealing with the deadly pandemic, he emphasized that the virus should be viewed as a national catastrophe.
Read full statement below:
FIGHTING COVID-19 TO BUILD A HEALTHY NATION – AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Fellow Zimbabweans,
I come to you in circumstances of extreme national emergency.
We have an extraordinary situation in our country. We are facing an extremely challenging national outlook.
The COVID 19 pandemic is wrecking havoc in every family, every village, every suburb and every community. Remember, every COVID 19 statistic is a human being.
Every other day, we are losing another friend, another workmate, another relative, another leader and another Zimbabwean.
Just as of yesterday, Zimbabwe recorded 1075 deaths. May their souls rest in peace. Our figure for those who have tested positive to date is over the 30000 mark.
My condolences to all those who lost their loved ones and my commiserations for those who are not feeling well. We continue to pray that they get well soon!
Let us observe a minute of silence in honor of our dear departed.
COVID-19 poses an existential threat to our existence. It may threaten our national security and collective public safety if not handled with astuteness and statesmanship.
It can’t be business as usual. A catastrophe is staring us in the face. We must take extraordinary action before the situation is out of control. We can correct this only if we get our act together as a people.
On the 30th of January 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the corona virus disease (Covid19) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations of 2005.
Zimbabwe reported its first official Covid19 case on the 20th of March 2020. Since then, a lot has happened and been done.
We appreciate the various initiatives by different stakeholders and government.
The response of the Ministry of Health in particular and the Government in general is noted and appreciated.
Various initiatives have been instituted to ameliorate the situation. In this regard, we salute our nurses, doctors who have been outstanding as a battalion of patriots and national heroes and heroines.
For your courage and ingenuity our country will remain in debt to you and your families.
We wish to also thank our Environmental health professionals who are doing contact tracing. Our port health officers, lab scientists running the tests, general hands cleaning the wards and housing covid patients, among many other Health care workers who risk their lives to save our nation.
We also honor our police, military, (soldiers) prison and intelligence services including all those offering essential services in various sectors.
We salute our information and communication practitioners, the media, our journalists for the great work in spreading the information on COVID 19 and keeping the nation informed on this deadly pandemic.
We wish to thank the international community. The United Nations, European Union, United States of America, United Kingdom and China among many others.
Allow me to thank our neighboring countries in particular South Africa and Botswana for bearing the burden of carrying our citizens in the Diaspora.
We also wish to thank our wonderful citizens in the diaspora. For all the knowledge contributed and the remittances that have kept families going under the extreme severity yet necessary lockdown regulations. We note in particular the ventilors contributed by our citizens in Australia.
We thank those who have been donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in hospitals. Particularly in Bulawayo, Matebeleland South, Kwekwe, Chitungwiza, Hwange to mention a few.
I am happy that this positive effort is not being politicized and I hope we can continue with the unison spirit as a people.
I also thank you, the individual citizens who have been exceptional in creative ways to help citizens. The Ekusileni project is a case on point.
We thank you for the selfless service and sacrifices.
Let me also thank the people at home. Let me thank you all my fellow countrymen, the great Zimbabwean people. You have done us proud. Although the virus is bad, l know that given the state of our health care system things could have been worse.
You the people of Zimbabwe have acted as our national reserve guard force against the pandemic. You have made sure you mask up and have continued to remind each other to mask-up and to do so properly.
We thank you all, the peace loving and hardworking citizens of Zimbabwe, for your love, care and amity.
We also thank Our God, The Almighty, for the providence and preservation.
Although the approach of central government has been deficient in several key areas, we choose not to play politics with this serious issue. We have steered clear of finding fault and blame gaming suffice to help improve on and complement the strategy of government.
The objective underlying this proposed plan is to offer an alternative policy framework to the manner in which the Government has approached the COVID19 response thus far.
We posit this policy mix and alternative plan to shed light on how citizens, development partners and the regional community can work together in driving a more coordinated response to save lives, protect livelihoods and prevent our economy from collapsing.
In addition to tapping from international best practice and global experience and relying on the best scientific evidence, we suggest a uniquely Zimbabwean response that is customized and tailored to the circumstances, competencies and conteext of our great nation.
COVID-19 EMERGING ISSUES ZIMBABWE
CAPACITY OF HEALTH INSTITUTIONS. With COVID19 cases almost tripling in the last 6 weeks, our hospitals are overwhelmed and failing to cope with the number of COVID19 infected patients requiring hospital admissions. We know that 10-15% of all cases will progress to severe illness and approximately 5% of cases will become critically ill.
The average daily cases over the past 2 weeks in Zimbabwe are around 700 cases. This means that between 70 and 105 people per day may progress to severe disease which may require hospitalisation.
These numbers are too high for our health infrastructure to cope and as a result our capacity to handle severe cases of COVID-19 seem to be surpassed by the pandemic resulting in suboptimal and in some instances non-existent emergency services for people with severe COVID-19. Parirenyatwa needs to increase COVID-19 response infrastructure immediately.
This may be one of the reasons for the high death rates that we have been witnessing over the past weeks. There is need to urgently increase the bed capacity in public hospitals so that patients with COVID-19 have access to oxygen therapy, as well ventilators for those who are critically ill. These services need to be decentralized and become available in all provinces. The situation is not good at all. Access to a bed and oxygen therapy must be more readily available across the country.
LOCKDOWN. Whilst the lockdown was a welcome move to try and minimize the rate of spread of infections, there is need to effectively implement the lockdown. Studies have shown it is better to implement a short but effective lockdown rather than a prolonged lockdown as compliance with lockdown regulations goes down with a prolonged lockdown.
The unavailability of social safety nets for the vulnerable, considering our heavily informal economy, means that people will be forced to breach lockdown regulations if search of food, water and money to cater for their families. This again reduces the effectiveness of the lockdown. We must be careful not to flatten the economy in our bid flatten the curve. We face the risk of a lockdown induced poverty.
It is desirable and advisable to adopt other approaches to a lockdown. We could consider a partial lockdown or a spatial lockdown or a staggered lockdown. Lockdowns are not meant to be permanent solutions, there is need to create a lockdown exit strategy.
WE REITERATE THAT, CONTRARY TO THE WHOLESALE, UNSTRUCTURED AND PANIC INDUCED SHUTDOWN WE WOULD PURSUE AN ALTERNATIVE PATH THAT SAVES LIVES AND PROTECTS LIVELIHOODS, PREVENTING OUR ECONOMY FROM COLLAPSING AND SAVING OUR PEOPLE FROM HUNGER.
TESTING AND SCREENING. Our neighbours South Africa have reported a new variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, being named B.1.351. This strain has been shown to be more transmissible than the original covid19 virus. With people coming into Zimbabwe for the festive season using our porous borders as well as reports of invalid and fake COVID-19 certificates, there is likelihood that this strain may have been imported into the country.
Health professionals are reporting difference in clinical presentations between the first wave and the current wave of infections, as well as a high rate of false negative results on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. This is an indicator that we might be dealing with a different strain of covid19 virus. There is need for us to conduct tests (or through the help of other countries like neighbouring South Africa if we cannot conduct the genetic testing of the virus) to ascertain what type of virus we are dealing with. We also welcome the availability of the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests, which have been shown to be more reliable in detecting COVID-19 than the Antibody tests. These tests are much cheaper than the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. We need to increase availability of these tests across the country so that we can detect as much people as possible, isolate those positive, and conduct contact tracing. This will slow down the rate of infections.
Leadership is now required. We immediately demand the reduction of the cost of our health services. In fact we must make it free for COVID-19 patients who are in serious condition. We must decentralize testing and roll out free testing to rural areas at growth points and townships including at all clinics and hospitals.
HEALTH WORKERS WELFARE AND CAPACITY. Our health workers have been on the frontline fighting this pandemic. However, in order for them to effectively do their job they need to be capacitated with the necessary tools of trade. According to the Health Services Board, over 1500 health workers have already been infected with COVID-19, and 7 deaths recorded.
The intermittent and chronic shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) is one of the reasons why we have this huge number of health workers getting infected. Recently nurses at Sally Mugabe hospital were protesting over the shortage of PPE. The situation is similar in other hospitals across the country. PPE should be readily available in order to at least offer protection to our frontline workers. Shortage of health workers is a major reason why we have limited bed capacity for covid19 patients.
We therefore cannot afford to continue losing health workers either through deaths or through absenteeism from work when infected health workers undergo their mandatory isolation periods. We need adequate Remuneration as an incentive including a risk allowance for all our health care workers.
CONTINUOS CARE FOR OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS. Whilst the attention and focus is on combating the COVID19 pandemic, there is need to continue providing care for other health conditions so as to avoidable morbidity and mortality from other illnesses. Recently Parirenyatwa Hospital announced that they are scaling down Chemotherapy services at their radiotherapy centre.
This severely compromises access to care for cancer patients as there are only 2 institutions in the public sector offering such services in the whole country. Measures need to be put in place to make sure that services for chronic conditions such as HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, mental illness as well as access to reproductive health and maternal and child health continue during the pandemic.
We have experienced above normal rains and floods this year, and with the malaria season approaching, there is a likelihood of an increase in malaria cases. People should continue to access services in order to avoid deaths from malaria.
SUPER SPREADERS.
Funerals and congested places like prisons have become serious super spreaders. Our prisons have become covid superspreder, hot spots and zones.
COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL OUT PLAN. Many countries in Europe, America and Asia have already begun vaccinating their populations.
In Africa, though vaccinations have not begun, many countries including South Africa and Kenya have already placed orders for vaccines. Whilst the country is set to benefit vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) backed COVAX scheme, as well as from arrangements from the African Union (AU), these vaccines will not be enough for attainment of herd immunity (which is estimated at approximately 60%). There is need for the government to set aside funds for the procurement of additional support.
More importantly, it is necessary for Africa to invest into Research and Development to provide solutions for our local people. We are a continent with great capacity to deal with any disease. We need to invest more in studying the mutating virus, so that we avail the best solution which is safe for our people.
Zimbabwe needs to: • Avail funds for the development, manufacturing and procurement of COVID-19 solutions. • Avail funds for treatment of the communities. • Start the process of identifying at risk populations who are supposed to receive the treatment first. For an treatment plan, priority must be given to the elderly, the vulnerable, people living with disabilities, widows, orphans and our frontline workers.
WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?
Our national strategy must be predicated upon the following;
1.Broad based inclusive national task force. 2.Elaborate testing, screening and isolation plan. 3.Capacitating health institutions and frontline workers. 4.Zonal Spatial lockdown targeting epicenters. 5.Resourcing strategy through domestic resource mobilization and global appeals.
Unleashing 4th industrial revolution and the internet of things.
The following are immediate:
There is need for a deliberate approach to involve all the players, political, labour, Government, academics, churches, citizens, CSOs, private sector – a United Team Zimbabwe approach;
Establish a National Covid Advisory Group of Experts and let science take the lead;
Invite World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts for an assessment and evaluation of current National response.
Contrary to the current situation where citizens are on lockdown with no testing taking place, Government must roll out national testing by contacting a door to door testing approach.
In the same vein, as we continue to fight corona virus, the following measures must be considered: a. Provision of personal protective equipment for our frontline staff such as nurses, doctors, janitors, administrative staff, police, soldiers and state employees; b. Provision of at least US$2000 risk allowance and tax exemption for all health professionals, security servicemen/women and government workers on duty. We want to emphases that, in view of the disparities in the exchange rates, this must be paid in hard cash, that is, in USD; c. Provision of sanitisers and masks for all; d. Provision of radio and TV lessons dedicated for the education of the masses about corona virus; e. In view of rampant corruption which have become a permanent feature under the Second Republic, will call upon Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of corona virus issues by Government.
With input from (1), come up with safety nets for the citizens during and after lockdown and come up with elaborate measures aimed at containing the virus. Among the cushioning measures Government should consider should include: a. Rolling out of humanitarian support to vulnerable people. This may include provision of cash handouts and the subsidized basic goods such as mealie meal, water, internet, electricity and fuel for our vulnerable and most at risk populations; or provide specialized support to the elderly people, persons with disability amongst others; b. Creation of new model for informal sector trading where basic of commodities in undertaken that seeks to achieve decongestion and decentralization. The aim will be ensure sustained livelihoods.
In line with stakeholders, Government must develop information tool kit for the citizens with a view to create awareness on the progress made towards containing the virus. This information tool kit must be extensively disseminated through various media channels/platforms and campaigns in hotspot areas.
The information tool kit must provide specific details such as number of people tested per day, accurate statistical figures on the outcomes of the tests with hope that this information can provide evidence to show how the country is coping with the disease and possible indication of how the lockdown will last as opposed to being reactive. For Zimbabwe, because of our context where we have over 5.7 million people in the informal sector, it is important that we get out of the lockdown quickly to save lives from hunger. Hence, the importance of reasonable statistical evidence on testing and the level of prevalence of the pandemic cannot be overemphasised.
In view of the need to save lives from hunger and the corona virus and also saving the economy from total collapse, we need to come out of lockdown and seal our borders save for trade and come up with an organised strategy of returning back to work with inputs from (1);
There is need for a post lockdown strategy that articulates how various sectors of the economy will be resuscitated and developed using a phased approach. There is need for a clear strategy on how the economy will be rescued and be brought back to life, how people will return back to work, how children will go back to school – This may take the form of a spatial and tier approach to lockdown – A back to normal life roadmap –.
In the interim, Government must look at Look at the education sector and what can be done to ensure students don’t lose much learning time. Alternative teaching methods must be fully explored and scaled up using platforms such as TV and radio whilst the cost of data must be subsidized for students.
There is need to explore the use of TV, the role Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) can play in providing both radio and television lessons. Radio lessons will help even those in remote areas because of its wide coverage. Teachers and teachers’ associations should be engaged on how best they can teach their students during this pandemic.
Civil servants who can work from home should be allowed to do so and decongest the work place. Civil servants must be given access to data and availed digital gadgets and services. We must encourage and enforce fumigation of these work places.
There is need to marshal resources for the countries Covid response. This may include budget recasting and budget virementing. a. Cut down government expenditure especially on non essential items like luxury vehicles for government officials and civil service. b. Channeling the touted surplus towards the Covid response.
14 . We must empty remand prisons expect for very very serious offenses Give amnesty to most prisoners except those on very very serious charges. We need a plan to decongest them or strict regimes of testing, screening and isolation and regular disinfecting.
We must allow churches to open for controlled number of people provided there is social distancing, masking and other COVID-19 protocols.
There is need to ensure we pay attention to our economy and ensure it survives the tide of the Covid pandemic. From policy perspective, the following are necessary:
a. In order to improve competitiveness of our exporters and eliminate exchange rate losses, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) must allow banks to take full control of foreign exchange trading with a view to guarantee an efficient price discovery where the informal rate converges with the formal rate or where the disparities between the two rates are minimised to levels below 10%.
b. Furthermore, whilst we understand the importance of sharing foreign currency as a scarce resource for national development purposes, the recently announced export retention of 40% in a period which is characterised by COVID-19 pandemic, drought of stimulus package and over 30% disparities between the formal exchange rate and the parallel market rate, is both regressive and inconsiderate. In view of this, we call upon the RBZ to reduce export retention to 20% – thus allowing exporters to retain 80% of our export earnings.
c. Government failure to offer real stimulus package to save businesses is a cause for great concern. It must be appreciated that both the ZWL$18 billion package for large business and ZWL$600 million for SMEs are a drop in the ocean.
This is so considering that the economy requires funding in the region of US$5 billion.
In line with (1), we call upon Government to come up with a reasonable package to save businesses small and large.
d. Government should consider a number of fiscal measures aimed at reducing tax burden for businesses and individuals where appropriate. The following must be considered: i. Immediate removal of the 2% tax to spur business growth; ii. Rationalization of tax where sectors such as tourism and mining with 22 and 15 tax heads, respectively should see some of the tax heads being removed.
In the long term there is need for a post Covid reconstruction and recovery programme. This takes inputs from (1);
More importantly, must depoliticize Covid and understand that it kills anyone and everyone Since the effects of COVID-19 are non-partisan, I want to implore each and every Zimbabwean to take this opportunity to be each others keeper.
We know the inadequacies of our system and the struggles of collective well-being; however, now is the time to look to each other to ensure that we fight COVID-19 through our collective Ubuntu. Our brothers and sisters are dying, we must wash our hands, mask-up and keep our distance. No one is coming to save us, it’s time we work together to stop the spread Unity is key in the face of COVID-19. All of us must put aside their political differences and work together in the fight against COVID-19. It’s not the time to score political points but to work together. Those who like to trade insults and grand standing its not the time our people are dying.
I appeal to the international community to save the country’s health sector and the pple of Zimbabwe. NB. The sector was struggling before the pandemic and Covid has obviously led to it being overwhelmed and it needs support. We appeal to the international community ,donors ,business tycoons, Zimbabweans in the diaspora who can assist. Fellow countrymen we must wither the covid 19 storm. Our best medical brains should be allowed to lead in the fight against this global pandemic.The same team managed to reduce the HIV prevalence rate likewise they will manage to contain this pandemic if we listen and allow the experts to guide us. I encourage the nation to follow the guidelines and protocols of reducing the spread of the pandemic.
To Our Bishops, Pastors, the church body and Intercessors and believers we encourage to continue to stand in the gap to pray for our nation. We must stand in prayer with those who have been affected by the pandemic. May the Holy Spirit comfort all the families who lost their loved ones.
I enjoin citizens to be vigilant and resilient. Together we waged and won struggle s in the past including the hard won liberation struggle. Together we will win and wither the covid storm. Together we have all the answers to all our problems.
We are one People but politics and politicians make us to be different people.
It is a patriotic duty to tell anyone to mask up and to not engage in super spreader events.
Fellow Zimbabweans, there is no problem we can’t solve when we are one and United.
From ZAMBEZI TO LIMPOPO, One people, One vision, One Future!
Tinashe Sambiri| The MDC Alliance has described the failure by government to deal with COVID-19 superspreaders as regrettable.
Accoding to the MDC Alliance, the sudden proliferation of COVID-19 cases was caused by the festive season’s inward migration of Zimbabweans, mainly from South Africa.
See statement below:
MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert.
2nd Edition.
30 January 2021.
Last week, the MDC Alliance published its first Weekly Health Alert focusing on the Super Spreaders. This initiative will see the party through its Health Department led by Dr Henry Madzorera in conjunction with the Communications department dialoguing with you, fellow citizens on COVID-19 related issues. This week we are looking at the Lockdown, it’s extension and what needs to be done now. Together we will defeat COVID-19.
THE LOCKDOWN: WHERE TO NOW?
Following the comprehensive policy statement given by the People’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa on Thursday, we just want to re-emphasize the already dealt with issue of the lockdown, especially seeing that it has now been extended by a further two weeks at level 4.
On Saturday 02/01/21 the minister of health & childcare Rtd General Constantino Guveya Nyikadzino Chiwenga announced a strict lockdown and curfew for 30 days to curb the sudden upsurge in COVID-19 cases caused by the festive season’s inward migration of Zimbabweans, mainly from neighboring countries. In the week preceding the lockdown, the country had experienced 1342 new cases and 29 deaths. This was alarmingly high. Now, in spite of the lockdown, cumulative cases have increased from 14491 since January 2nd, 2021, to 32646 on Thursday the 28th of January 2021, an increase of 18155. In the same period, deaths have increased from 377 to 1160, an increase of 783, all in 26 days! This is the definition of a catastrophe. In themselves, these numbers do not mean the lockdown is not working, but they do mean we have a few serious things that we must do and there are tough decisions that government must make to flatten this curve. Whatever measures the government shall take must consider the welfare of the people, and the health of both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Government must be alive to the fact that emergencies such as we are in are fertile ground for thieves and rogue elements in both society and government to flourish.
What is the lockdown expected to achieve? The idea of the lockdown is to arrest transmission of the virus from person to person. This is achieved by identifying those who have the virus through testing, screening and isolating them till they are no longer shedding the virus. Keeping the people in their homes means we are reducing the population at risk from any unidentified positive case. Provision of high quality, time sensitive healthcare services must be maintained during the lockdown, both for COVID-19 patients and for other routine infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases. The epidemic has had the unfortunate effect of neglect of all the other usual conditions, and more people could easily die of these routine conditions than of COVID-19 sooner than later. The lockdown is also expected to protect the elderly and those with other co-morbidities. Government must monitor and report on certain key indicators to determine if we are making progress. Percentage of population tested and proportion that is positive, together with total number of deaths are good measures of progress. We must have a way of measuring the “happiness index” of our people particularly regarding our health care delivery system during this pandemic.
HOW HAVE WE FARED SO FAR?
Testing and isolation has been our major deficiency in this pandemic. We don’t compare at all to our neighbors and the international community. This is the major intervention that will flatten our curve. We do hope the two week extension of level 4 lockdown will be accompanied by serious testing and isolation, particularly in the known hot spots, and that any future lockdowns will be targeted, not blanket lockdowns. There have been absolutely no social safety nets for particular vulnerable groups like informal sector workers, the elderly and the poor. Ailing companies have not received any bailouts with consequent high levels of job losses. Super spreader events have been allowed to flourish. One notable super spreader is the crowded Zupco buses. Government must with immediate effect liberalise the transport system to reduce congestion in the buses. Monopolies of that nature create avenues of corruption for beaurocrats and politicians, and other rogue elements in society. Government has failed to establish COVID-19 treatment and admission facilities in most cities. People needing basic care are dying at home because of lack of such care, including simple oxygen supplementation. This is an urgent matter.
WAY FORWARD?
Make the best use of this two week extension. Intensify testing and isolation. Gather decent prevalence and incidence data and monitor progress scientifically. Consider targeted localized lockdowns in next phase, informed by data.
Set up free testing centres easily accessible to all citizens, in urban and rural areas.
Open up space for inclusive national dialogue and response.
Fulfill government’s promise and obligation to give food and sustenance to vulnerable populations .
Deal with corruption and recover all ill gotten wealth that belongs to the people.
Deal with all super spreaders, particularly Zupco buses and prisons. Give people their rights & freedoms, guarantee security of persons, and show goodwill to all humanity. We are ALL in the same cooking pot, and we need each other now more than ever.
Re-think government expenditure and divert funds to the fight against COVID-19.
Upgrade the health delivery system, including water and sanitation hygiene.
Kit up our frontline healthcare workers with adequate Personal Protective Equipment that instills confidence.
Urgently work on a vaccination policy and rollout plan. Inform citizens to instill hope.
Dr H Madzorera Secretary for Health & Childwelfare, MDC-Alliance
Tinashe Sambiri| The MDC Alliance has described the failure by government to deal with COVID-19 superspreaders as regrettable.
Accoding to the MDC Alliance, the sudden proliferation of COVID-19 cases was caused by the festive season’s inward migration of Zimbabweans, mainly from South Africa.
See statement below:
MDC Alliance Weekly Health Alert.
2nd Edition.
30 January 2021.
Last week, the MDC Alliance published its first Weekly Health Alert focusing on the Super Spreaders. This initiative will see the party through its Health Department led by Dr Henry Madzorera in conjunction with the Communications department dialoguing with you, fellow citizens on COVID-19 related issues. This week we are looking at the Lockdown, it’s extension and what needs to be done now. Together we will defeat COVID-19.
THE LOCKDOWN: WHERE TO NOW?
Following the comprehensive policy statement given by the People’s President, Advocate Nelson Chamisa on Thursday, we just want to re-emphasize the already dealt with issue of the lockdown, especially seeing that it has now been extended by a further two weeks at level 4.
On Saturday 02/01/21 the minister of health & childcare Rtd General Constantino Guveya Nyikadzino Chiwenga announced a strict lockdown and curfew for 30 days to curb the sudden upsurge in COVID-19 cases caused by the festive season’s inward migration of Zimbabweans, mainly from neighboring countries. In the week preceding the lockdown, the country had experienced 1342 new cases and 29 deaths. This was alarmingly high. Now, in spite of the lockdown, cumulative cases have increased from 14491 since January 2nd, 2021, to 32646 on Thursday the 28th of January 2021, an increase of 18155. In the same period, deaths have increased from 377 to 1160, an increase of 783, all in 26 days! This is the definition of a catastrophe. In themselves, these numbers do not mean the lockdown is not working, but they do mean we have a few serious things that we must do and there are tough decisions that government must make to flatten this curve. Whatever measures the government shall take must consider the welfare of the people, and the health of both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Government must be alive to the fact that emergencies such as we are in are fertile ground for thieves and rogue elements in both society and government to flourish.
What is the lockdown expected to achieve? The idea of the lockdown is to arrest transmission of the virus from person to person. This is achieved by identifying those who have the virus through testing, screening and isolating them till they are no longer shedding the virus. Keeping the people in their homes means we are reducing the population at risk from any unidentified positive case. Provision of high quality, time sensitive healthcare services must be maintained during the lockdown, both for COVID-19 patients and for other routine infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases. The epidemic has had the unfortunate effect of neglect of all the other usual conditions, and more people could easily die of these routine conditions than of COVID-19 sooner than later. The lockdown is also expected to protect the elderly and those with other co-morbidities. Government must monitor and report on certain key indicators to determine if we are making progress. Percentage of population tested and proportion that is positive, together with total number of deaths are good measures of progress. We must have a way of measuring the “happiness index” of our people particularly regarding our health care delivery system during this pandemic.
HOW HAVE WE FARED SO FAR?
Testing and isolation has been our major deficiency in this pandemic. We don’t compare at all to our neighbors and the international community. This is the major intervention that will flatten our curve. We do hope the two week extension of level 4 lockdown will be accompanied by serious testing and isolation, particularly in the known hot spots, and that any future lockdowns will be targeted, not blanket lockdowns. There have been absolutely no social safety nets for particular vulnerable groups like informal sector workers, the elderly and the poor. Ailing companies have not received any bailouts with consequent high levels of job losses. Super spreader events have been allowed to flourish. One notable super spreader is the crowded Zupco buses. Government must with immediate effect liberalise the transport system to reduce congestion in the buses. Monopolies of that nature create avenues of corruption for beaurocrats and politicians, and other rogue elements in society. Government has failed to establish COVID-19 treatment and admission facilities in most cities. People needing basic care are dying at home because of lack of such care, including simple oxygen supplementation. This is an urgent matter.
WAY FORWARD?
Make the best use of this two week extension. Intensify testing and isolation. Gather decent prevalence and incidence data and monitor progress scientifically. Consider targeted localized lockdowns in next phase, informed by data.
Set up free testing centres easily accessible to all citizens, in urban and rural areas.
Open up space for inclusive national dialogue and response.
Fulfill government’s promise and obligation to give food and sustenance to vulnerable populations .
Deal with corruption and recover all ill gotten wealth that belongs to the people.
Deal with all super spreaders, particularly Zupco buses and prisons. Give people their rights & freedoms, guarantee security of persons, and show goodwill to all humanity. We are ALL in the same cooking pot, and we need each other now more than ever.
Re-think government expenditure and divert funds to the fight against COVID-19.
Upgrade the health delivery system, including water and sanitation hygiene.
Kit up our frontline healthcare workers with adequate Personal Protective Equipment that instills confidence.
Urgently work on a vaccination policy and rollout plan. Inform citizens to instill hope.
Dr H Madzorera Secretary for Health & Childwelfare, MDC-Alliance
A PRINCIPAL at Apex College in Nyanga and three teachers were last week jailed for opening a school and conducting lessons, while more than 5 000 have been arrested for violating lockdown restriction measures in Manicaland since January 5.
The quartet, Maxwell Marombedza (56), Timothy Nyagadza (59), Tinashe Tsara (31) and Allan Musakanda (36) last week appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, charged with opening an educational institution to learners not exempted during national lockdown as defined in Section 4 (1) (e) of the Statutory Instrument.
The quartet was ordered to pay $50 000 each or spend six months in jail after another six months were wholly suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
Mr Tafara Chawatamba prosecuted.
The court heard that Marombedza, Nyagadza, Tsara and Musakanda, on January 13, were found conducting face-to-face lessons at Apex College in Nyanga with 12 non-examination class learners who are not exempted from attending lessons during national lockdown.
The four were teaching one Form one, three Form Two, two Form Three and six incoming Form Four learners.
The register which was used by the quartet to endorse attending lessons and to record their temperatures was recovered at the scene and was used as an exhibit in court.
Officer Commanding Manicaland Police (operations) Assistant Commissioner Johannes Chinembiri Govo revealed yesterday (Thursday) that a number of operations have been rolled out across the province to curb rampant violation of lockdown restrictions.
“We have noted with concern that there are some sections of the society who are not taking the Covid-19 restrictions seriously. There is unnecessary movement and pirate taxis are still operating ferrying people across towns.
“This is coming to an end as we are rolling our strict measures to ensure that people comply with the law. We will constantly monitor roadblocks across the province to ensure that our officers are complying to given directives. Some people are not taking curfew seriously and we have heightened patrols to ensure compliance,” said Asst Comm Govo.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, said the lockdown violation offences are categorised in eight classes.
He said in Mutare, a total of 29 people were arrested for failing to comply and having liquor at undesignated places, while 548 were nabbed for flouting road regulations.
91 were arrested for illegal business operations. 1 539 people who could not account for their movement were arrested, while 1 205 people were nabbed for not putting up face masks.
During the on-going enforcement exercises, a total of 802 people were arrested for random criminal nuisance.
Insp Chananda encouraged people to maintain social distancing and adhere to Covid-19 regulations.
Meanwhile, criminal fines have been reviewed upwards with members of the public who violate lockdown regulations now risk paying a spot fine of $5000.
The new fine schedule is contained in Statutory Instrument (SI) 25 of 2021 issued on Monday by the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Level 14 offences, the highest level of offences, now attract a fine of $1,6 million up from $800 000 and include such crimes as concealing treason, deliberately transmitting HIV, robbery which is not committed in aggravating circumstances.
“It is hereby notified that the minister has, in terms of section 280 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 made the following notice.This notice may be cited as the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice 2021,” the SI read.
“The First Schedule to the Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23 is repealed and substituted by the following. Level One $1 000,
“Levels eight to 14 shall attract the following fines respectively $200 000, $240 000, $280 000, $400 000, $800 000, $1 200 000 and $1 600 000. The criminal law codification and reform Standard scale of fines notice 2020 published Statutory Instrument 272 of 2020 is repealed.”- Manica Post
Own Correspondent | Controversial Masvingo preacher Isaac Makomichi is reportedly dating South African Zodwa Wabantu.
Last week the controversial preacher was accused of bedding a female school head.
According to impeccable sources, Makomichi was spotted with the South African socialite at a hotel in Masvingo.
The sources further claimed the socialite came to Makomichi to seek love charms and the two became friends. Their friendship then turned into a love affair, claimed the sources.
The sources further claimed Zodwa Wabantu funded Makomichi’s New Year’s trip to Mauritius.
Church leaders accuse Makomichi of promoting the spirit of prostitution by distributing his love charms to slay queens around the country.
Asked for a comment, Makomichi said: The person who told you is lying, if its true why didn’t he/she take pictures?
I have so many high profile clients that’s why I always visit expensive hotels. I don’t reveal names at all but the truth is that I am not in love with Zodwa Wabantu,” said Makomichi.
#VisitUganda where a newly "duly elected" MP from the ruling party, Solomon Selwanyi is chased &tossed by angry mourners like a chicken thief from a funeral for stealing the election! This was in Bukhooli North constituency, Bugiri district.?#WeAreRemovingADictatorpic.twitter.com/Ryuhdi1hg8
By A Correspondent- Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Larry Mavhima has said he used both traditional and modern medicines as remedies for COVID-19.
Senator Mavhima survived the novel coronavirus and now says people must have regular medical check-ups.
He said:
At first, I was in denial. I could not even imagine the aspect of visiting a hospital. That I could be diagnosed with the virus was beyond my imagination. It took the intervention of my family to say I was no longer myself. They said I was weak and that is when I had to seek medical attention, he said.
It was quite a difficult moment for me. My doctors subscribed some antibiotics which I used to boost my immune system and get rid of some mucus that was building inside my lungs. I was also advised to do kunatira (steaming) with eucalyptus leaves and all sorts of concoctions. I would also drink tea and use Zumbani until I eventually tested negative, explained Mavhima.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution who is also the Chairperson of the Midlands COVID-19 Taskforce is now a COVID-19 ambassador.
He warned members of the public against flouting lockdown rules, saying they are for the good of the nation.
THREE suspected armed robbers have been nabbed on allegations of shooting and injuring a Granary couple before getting away with money and mobile phones all valued at US$20 000.
Givemore Musurudzwa, Ravrage Chigagure and Brendon Gwenzi appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts yesterday where they are facing armed robbery charges.
They were not asked to plead to the allegations and were remanded in custody and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecutors allege that on November 4 last year, the trio was allegedly seen following one of the complainants from his business premises in Mbare after he had received a huge amount of money after sales.
Musurudzwa, Chigagure, Gwenzi and their three accomplices, who are still at large, went to the complainants’ house in Granary, Harare, shot at the door and force-opened it with a hammer to gain entry.
They were armed with a pistol and a rifle and broke into the complainants’ bedroom and shot the wife on the leg and shot the husband on the right thigh before demanding money.
Allegations are that they were given a wallet with US$2 600 which they said was not enough.
It is alleged that the husband was again shot on the left thigh before the robbers ransacked the house and found another US$5 000 which was hidden under the bed and several mobile phones.
The robbers allegedly shot the husband again in the legs and threatened to kill the couple’s son before they left the house.
While in the yard, they also slashed the husband’s vehicle wheels before disappearing into the night.-dailynews
