By A Correspondent- 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.
More details follow….
By Nomazulu Thata | We always realize extremely late that we the general populace is taken for a ride by people without any conscience, unscrupulous chancers in politics who masquerade as genuine revolutionaries and yet they are lining their pockets at our expense.
We are a desperate nation that seeks leadership to our chronic economic and political demise. We can believe anything we are told and hang on to it, do not even question genuinely their words and promises. Albert Matapo is not the only one to dupe us into thinking he has the means to redeem us from Zanu PF, there are several of them, but I will mention one: Pastor Evan Mawarire.
We learnt until extremely late last year 2020 that the man of God Pastor Evan Mawarire was an underhand, an implant of killer, a thug Mnangagwa. He was assigned to dub us and G-40 to thinking he was new crop intended to bring change in Zimbabwe through a revolution. This flag made history in Zimbabwe, Africa and abroad. We bought flags and surrendered our allegiance to the man of God: The right honourable Pasto Mawarire. He was dynamic, he was eloquent in speech and convincing us that he was the man of the moment: we went wild. When he was incarcerated, we went into overdrive, bought flags to identify ourselves with his cause wrote letters to Bremen amnesty international pleading with them to be active and voice their concern about ruthless government of then President Robert Mugabe that is silencing dissenting voices.
The Right Justice Priscilla Chigumba tried the case of Pastor Evans Mawarire and was set free on the first sitting. That should have raised a red flag, it did not. Pastor Mawarire was threatened by the powers that be that his pregnant wife was going to be raped. (If at all was true) Mawarire fled to South Africa enroute America. It should have dawned on us how he broke down; wept bitterly in one interview he made in South Africa. He was asked why he was fleeing leaving Zimbabwe at a time the people needed his leadership most. He was giving his back to the electorate who stood by him thick and thin at the Rotten Row court. We had no clues whatsoever why he wept so bitterly. His conscience was compelling and pelting him perhaps that what he was doing was wrong. Even Judas Iscariot, it is said, wept when he had realized the seriousness of selling Jesus Christ with 30 pieces of silver.
That interview he made in South Africa did not open our eyes either to realize that this man is fake, a big sell-out. We supported him all the same convinced that he was the right person to lead us to Canaan. When he arrived in USA, he was given asylum without an iota of doubt that he was seeking refugee from a brutal regime of Robert Mugabe. He had been written about in several international news media as the hero of the moment. The nation in the opposition pedestalized him as saviour. At last we had a courageous man who could stand against the Zanu PF.
Again in no time, hardly half a year had gone by, Mawarire was back in Zimbabwe. A pseudo (state managed) arrest was made at the airport upon his arrival. Mawarire had gained a lot of weight, fish and chip and ice cream and fast foods of America were visible in his body, a different man from the previous times. He was right, before #This flag, Mawarire and his family languished in poverty. Now it was eating time. Politics of the stomach.
We started to talk because things were not adding up to full total. Why is he back, risking arrest? What do those relaxed smiles in handcuffs at the back of an open police van mean? He was packaged in a land-rover that showed Mawarire, Mahere and all other well-wishers with big smiles all over their faces. He did not mind his arrest to our surprise. His interviews even with international journalists did not make sense anymore. Many questions were asked but we did not come out with tangle suspicion that this man is taking us for a ride. But his coming back sold him out, we did not put the jigsaw together and say what exactly it was between the lines. This problem remained in the air, unable to decipher the truth, to link the dots together about Pastor Evans Mawarire.
Evan Mawarire had chances that he played down when he arrived back from USA, curiously. Mawarire was approached by Nkosana Moyo, a presidential candidate who wanted him to be part of his 2018 elections campaign management. Whatever were reasons, we did not get it why it was not possible for Mawarire to team up with established opposition parties but preferred to go it alone and he becomes an independent, as councillor in Harare. According to me Mawarire fell from grace: from a presidential material to a mere councillor? Again that did not add to full total, not so long ago, Mawarire had the entire nation behind him.
Zimbabweans had a identified a leader in him. Little did the nation know that their prayers at Rotten Row High Court: “Herodi sunungura Mawarire: please free Mawarire” were the songs sung as vigil that saw him released. In retrospect, if Justice Chigumba was presiding over Mawarire’s case in court, no doubt, he was set free. As we now know Priscilla Chigumba is an implant of Mnangagwa with dubious connections. Zimbabwe is a dirty place to mingle in politics.
There is lot that we can say about the man of God who sold the nation for his stomach; to nurture his family. When the international press asked him the reasons why he came up with such a forceful movement: #This Flag, so powerful, so effective, a movement feared by Zanu PF. He spoke about his situation at home, that he was no longer able to feed his family with his merger salary of a pastor. As a young growing up child, he had witnessed independence that ushered a new dawn to the coming generation. He saw #flag of Zimbabwe in 1980 that had many aspirations for the future generations of this country. But here he was, immersed in poverty that is a threat to his children, he cannot adequately provide for them. Pastor Evan Mawarire spoke the truth in that interview: a truth that fell short of one piece of a jigsaw: he had to sell out to Mnangagwa to remove himself alone from poverty and not the nation.
Let me come back to the title of my article: Where is Albert Matapo? We Zimbabweans have this problem and habit of believing any social media without questioning the objectivity of their news. I have been listening to Gambakwe media for a while, a social media that gives us unfettered: unregulated, unchecked, unscrutinised news about Zimbabwe. In most cases it is news we want to hear and not the objectivity of it. It is in these U-Tube videos where I got to know Comrade Albert Matapo talking to the owner of Gambakwe media. Again I am one of those who believed that Mr. Matapo had answers to Zimbabwe political situation. He can explain his revolution amazingly easy to understand and comprehend the processes he was going to take to liberate Zimbabwe. For that reason this is exactly what we gullible want to hear: simple -to-understand solutions. The desperation in us as a nation make us listen and believe the stupidity of the last order.
Among other things that Albert Matapo spoke about is his comfort with the Zimbabwean army. He was going to lead the revolution and he is backed by the international community and of course the army. Zimbabweans will be free at last, freed from the bloodless revolution he was masterminding with the persons supposedly in the army. Matapo was organising his revolution inside Zimbabwe, collecting signatures from Zimbabweans to support his cause. He managed to mobilize people to work underground for him. He once travelled to South Africa and told us that he wanted to be near Zimbabwe for a while to coordinate with his people on the ground in collecting signatures.
When he returned to Sweden where he is currently domiciled, a man from Matabeleland North in Dete was caught by police in position of 4000 signatures from Matabeleland North residents. I am one of those people from Matabeleland who has said it loud that we did not need to take part in national demonstrations and signature collections. To unseat Zanu PF must be done by the people of Mashonaland who voted for Zanu PF in 1980. U Mafukufuku Dr. Joshua Nkomo told Zimbabweans to vote nontribal. Never give your vote to tribalists. Zanu PF is a tribal party please do not vote for it. We are stuck with Zanu: Matabeleland and Mashonaland put together. We now suffer the same atrocities from the Zanu PF regime.
I had hoped that the Mthwakazi parties were going to follow this story of a man from Dete who was incarcerated by the police in possession of 4000 signatures. The whole exercise has connotations of tribal betrayal. I have never heard one single incident where someone from Mashonaland was caught collecting signatures from the public for Albert Matapo. I will be excused if I said Albert Matapo is an army implant set to put the people of Matabeleland at the mercy of Zanu PF army. Gukurahundi is not a myth. Albert Matapo is well connected in the army in as much as Pastor Evan Mawarire was an implant from Mnangagwa Lacoste back then. I ask Albert Matapo to explain the to give us a satisfactory explanation of the whereabouts of the Dete man in question. Is he in prison? Where is he?
It is easy to recognize an informant; easy to identify someone who is not genuine with his words and actions: Albert Matapo is not truthful. I confess one thing: I once phoned Albert Matapo in Sweden and told him that I liked his movement. I asked why he is not making an alliance with political parties such as Nkosana Moyo’s APA party because Nkosana has a workable manifesto and constitution better than all other political manifestos put together. He declined this alliance, wanted to go it alone. That should have raised my eyebrows but did not then, only now.
It was year-in, year-out, continuous, and unending promises of independence from Zanu PF Mnangagwa by the end of the year rang hollow. The same Gambakwe media asked Matapo again, when is independence for Zimbabwe coming; it is 3 years down the line, and we are told the same liars: Freedom is coming tomorrow!!! There is no video conference with Gambakwe media because he has exhausted all the trick and liars, he could tell us.
Rumours are flying around that Advocate Mahere is a Zanu PF implant. I have never written one article challenging those that say Mahere is a Zanu PF implant inside MDC-Alliance. If the presidium in MDC-Alliance are comfortable Fadzai, who am I to challenge their wisdom. My appreciation for Fadzai Mahere is her gifted and talented aspect of a woman, something we older generation should embrace. However, we are a lot wiser now. Taneta nekuitiswa veduwe.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean doctor, Tsitsi Chawatama (42) is the new Save the Children United Kingdom chairperson.
Chawatama, a consultant paediatrician who grew up in Zimbabwe, has a wealth of clinical and development experience in Africa, having worked across the continent.
Save the Children is an international humanitarian aid organisation for children.
Commenting on her appointment, Chawatama said: “I am delighted and honoured to be joining the board of Save the Children UK at such a crucial time in history where children’s lives and their future wellbeing are threatened by unprecedented social, environmental and economic issues.”
She added: “I am a passionate advocate for children and excited to be part of the team working towards the important goals of protecting children, supporting families and ensuring that each child has a chance to achieve their potential and become whoever they want to be.”
Prior to her new appointment, Chawatama was involved with three other non-governmental organisations. She is also a trustee of Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and the Duke of Sussex to support vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana.
In addition, she is the vice-chair-person of AFRUCA-Safeguarding Children, an organisation which promotes the protection of children from BAME communities (Black and Minority Ethnic) in the UK, Europe and Africa and is a safeguarding trustee of UK-Med which responds to health emergency responses around the world.
Save the Children UK chief executive Kevin Watkins said Chawatama was bringing with her extensive experience needed to achieve the organisation’s objectives.
“Tsitsi brings with her a wealth of experience in child health and a deep commitment to child rights.” Watkins said.
“Staff is looking forward to work-ing with her to achieve our ambitious mission for children. I also want to extend my thanks on behalf of staff across SCUK to Charles Steel, our outgoing interim chair.”
By A Correspondent- Marry Chiwenga, the estranged wife of Vice President and Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga has poured her heart out via social media after she was denied access to her three minor children for more than a year and also having been blocked to travel outside the country for medical attention.
She wrote:
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- 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
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Jerry Ndlovu has died.
The former general manager of the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC) and former director of airports and business development at Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe died on Saturday morning at a private hospital in Harare.
The Zimbabwean Embassy in Ankara, Turkey said in a statement via Twitter:
The Embassy wishes to announce the sad and untimely passing on of Zimbabwe`s Ambassador to the UAE, HE. J.N. Ndlovu. We commiserate with the Ndlovu family and the nation at large at this difficult time. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Ambassador Ndlovu becomes the latest high-ranking Zimbabwean government official to succumb to the respiratory illness in 2021 following the deaths of cabinet ministers, Sibusiso Busi Moyo and Joel Biggie Matiza, as well as a minister for provincial affairs and devolution, Ellen Gwaradzimba.
By A Correspondent- Former Mutasa North Legislator Luke Masamvu (ZANU PF) has died.
He was 64.
Masamvu died in Harare last night after suffering from COVID-19 related complications.
Masamvu was also a well-known businessman in Marondera, Bindura and Manicaland.
In a statement via Facebook, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation, Tinoda Machakaire expressed his sadness over the death of Masamvu.
He wrote:
I was really saddened to learn of the untimely passing on of the Former Hon MP for Hauna 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.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
COVID is deadly. Remember to #stayhome and #maskup
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe had a negative trade balance of US$39 million in December 2020, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) has revealed.
In a statement on Friday, Zimstat said the total value of the country’s exports in December 2020 was US$488.3 million.
This was a 7.6% decrease from the value of total exports in November 2020, which was about US$528.4 million.
Zimstat said:
The value of total exports in December 2020 was US$488.3 million. This was a decrease of 7.6% from the value of total exports in November 2020, which was about US$528.4 million.
During the same period, imports increased slightly by 3.4% to US$527.2 million from US$509.8 million in November 2020.
While a positive trade balance was maintained for the four months in a row, at the end of 2019, the trade balance for December 2020 was a deficit of US$39 million
By A Correspondent- A motorist knocked down a police officer who was among a security team manning a security checkpoint in Harare recently and fled from the scene.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in a statement said that the incident occurred on Tuesday along Kirkman Road in Harare.
The suspect, who was driving a pink Honda Fit registration numbers ACU 0175, was pursued to Westlea where he dumped the vehicle and fled on foot.
Said Asst Insp Nyathi:
The ZRP is warning drivers against failing to stop at Police Check Points and failing to cooperate with Police Officers on the roads.
On 26/01/21, a motorist driving a pink Honda Fit registration numbers ACU 0175 approached a Police Roadblock along Kirkman Road, Harare and hit a Police Officer on the security checkpoint.
After the accident, the driver did not stop and was pursued up-to Westlea, where he dumped the motor vehicle and fled. Investigations are in progress.
In November last year, a policeman doing traffic enforcement duties near Fourth Street bus terminus died after he was run over by a truck.
The policeman was trying to arrest the driver for picking up a passenger at an undesignated place.
By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Municipality was on Saturday expected to hold an emergency meeting to address flooding in some parts of the sprawling town caused by a torrential downpour on Friday.
Reports indicate that some commercial buildings and houses in areas such as Zengeza 4, Chikwanha, Units L, K and N were inundated with floodwater rising to window level.
The floods have left scores of residents stranded with public infrastructure extensively damaged.
A motorist reportedly escaped unhurt after his car was swept away while trying to cross the flooded Duri stream.
Nyatsime suburb was also cut off from as the bridge linking it to the rest of the town was submerged.
Chitungwiza Town Council spokesperson Lovemore Meya last night confirmed that an emergency was pencilled for this Saturday.
He said:
We called for a meeting to map a way forward following the damage caused by the heavy rains this afternoon and the meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (today).
When there are natural disasters like these, we call a meeting and map a way forward as well as deploy resources to address the situation.
Chitungwiza has been invaded by land barons who have taken advantage of desperate home-seekers and parcelled out housing stands on wetlands.
Over 11 000 houses that were built on illegally allocated land could be razed to the ground by the council.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The police are investigating the murder of an illegal gold panner who was allegedly stabbed to death by his colleagues while sharing their proceeds.
Said the ZRP:
The ZRP is investigating a case of murder which occurred at Muzinda Shopping Centre, Hatcliffe, Harare, on 28/01/21 at about 1240 hrs.
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 on the two suspects only known as Geshem Nyamhingura and Bobbie.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has expressed concern over an increase of cases of drowning across the country despite repeated warnings to members of the public against crossing flooded rivers.
This follows the drowning of a health worker at Chambara River in Mwenezi and the drowning of three boys in Gwayi River while on a fishing expedition on Wednesday.
In a statement, the ZRP said the health worker from Mwenezi and his colleague drowned after their vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, was stuck in the mud at Chambara River.
The incident occurred on Thursday when the victim and his colleague remained in the vehicle overnight waiting for daybreak so that they could find a way to extricate their vehicle from the quag.
However, following heavy rains during the night, water levels rose whilst the two were stuck in the vehicle and upon trying to escape, the victim was swept away.
Tinashe Sambiri|Six armed men, belived to be State security agents raided MDC Alliance Councillor, Arnold Batirai – Dube’s house in Bulawayo on Thursday and assaulted his wife.
Batirai- Dube is the MDC Alliance councillor for ward 24 in Bulawayo.
A few days ago, Batirai-Dube argued government should not force citizens to pay US $ 60 for COVID-19 tests.Batirai-Dube further argued government received the $ 45 million to buy test kits.
” Six armed men broke into my house last night and attacked my wife.They also bashed my family members.
I escaped through the window and as we speak they are looking for me,” said Batirai-Dube.
Press Statement by Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Minister of Health and Child Care, General (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga on the extension of the Level 4 Lockdown measures by a further two (2) weeks to 15 February 2021.
EXTENSION OF LEVEL 4 NATIONAL LOCKDOWN MEASURES
Fellow Zimbabweans, we continue to see a high number of Covid 19 cases and, sadly, DEATHS. In the last week our new cases have been averaging about three hundred (300) per day, with deaths averaging twenty (20) per day.
Cumulative cases as at 1st January, 2021 were fourteen thousand AND eighty- four (14 084) and deaths were three hundred and sixty-nine (369), As at 28th January, 2021 cumulative cases reached thirty-two thousand six hundred and forty -six (32 646) with deaths breaching the thousand mark to give us one thousand one hundred and sixty (1 160). The situation is clearly worrisome.
Government continues to intensify testing and patient care throughout the Provinces
We have a likelihood of new strains and variants circulating. These strains are more transmissible and infectious. We are doing genomic sequencing to see if these strains are in our environment. Results will be published as soon as we have them.
Government will soon be bringing in vaccines against Covid 19. A roll out plan and deployment strategy is being finalized. The nation will be kept informed on all these developments.
The level 4 National Lockdown that came into force on the 5th of January 2021 has stabilized 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 fifty-four percent to the current one which is seventy-five percent. 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. Still, we need to stay the course by upping our vigilance.
The war is not yet won.
It is in light of this that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-In- Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, has decided to extend the level 4 National Lockdown by another two weeks to the 15th of February 2021.
The President fully appreciates the difficulties which come with this extension. Livelihoods are being disrupted yet we must save lives and our nation. We must not lose the momentum, which means:
– We must mask up
– Sanitize
– Maintain social distance
– Stay at home and,
– Get tested and if positive, self-isolate.
I thank you all for your cooperation. Together we will overcome.
God bless Zimbabwe
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,
Level Two- $2 000, Level Three- $5 000, Level Four- $20 000, Level Five- $30 000, Level Six- $60 000 and Level Seven $120 000.”
“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
The killing of the Mvuma Hospital snake was very much unnecessary, however I do understand their actions were due to fear. I will explain why we musnt kill snakes.
They play a very important role in the ecosystem, eating small organisms like rats/mice, lizards, frogs etc thereby controlling populations.
It’s highly likely that the snake was just following a rat/mouse or lizard when it strayed into the hospital.
Don’t be surprised to see why we problems with various small organisms, it is because we kill snakes which help us control them.
I know that most of us are very scared of snake, but just want to encourage people that next time when we see a snake, lets think in the context of creating another problem in terms of uncontrollable population of frogs, lizards, mice, rats before killing them.
If we kill all snakes that we see it means nothing will eat small organisms leading to an exponential growth in their population such that we struggle to control them.
Snakes only attack when they feel threatened. This applies to any other wild animal. I hope this will help us.
Lastly, when we have a boom in population of one , its an indication of a problem in the ecosystem where there are a few predators 2control tht organism eg large baboon population can mean threz few lions/leopards 2naturally kill some of them.
Swams of locusts ar due 2fewer birds eating them.
-Grenade
Statement by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) on the Beitbridge couple arrested for allegedly forwarding a WhatsApp message falsely claiming that Emmerson Mnangagwa had succumbed to corona.
ZLHR RESCUES COUPLE JAILED OVER MNANGAGWA’S FALSE DEATH REPORT
A BEITBRIDGE couple has been released from prison after Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members arrested and charged the duo with publishing or communicating falsehoods by sharing a message on a WhatsApp group stating that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had died after being administered a vaccine to treat him of coronavirus.
The couple, Vongai Nomatter Chiminya aged 20 years and Devine Panashe Maregere also aged 20 years, were on Friday 29 January 2021 ordered to pay RTGS$15 000 bail each by Beitbridge Magistrate Toendepi Zhou and ordered not to post any material on social media to do with government business.
Prosecutors told Magistrate Zhou that the couple on Tuesday 26 January 2021 unlawfully and intentionally forwarded an audio message to each other and later on, on a WhatsApp group alleging that President Mnangagwa had died on Monday 25 January 2021 as a result of a COVID-19 vaccination, which was administered to him at his ruling ZANU PF party headquarters.
Chiminya, prosecutors alleged, first received the audio message on her mobile phone number after it had been shared on a WhatsApp group titled “Ruwadzano Rwemadzimai” by a person only identified as Molly, who used a South African registered sim card.
Chiminya reportedly forwarded the message to her husband, who later on circulated the same message on a WhatsApp group titled “Agents and Runners, Beitbridge”.
Prosecutors said Chiminya, who is unemployed and Maregere, who is employed as a “runner” at Express Best Clearing Company, had no lawful right to act in the manner which they allegedly did.
After arresting the couple, ZRP members confiscated their mobile phone handsets, which will be used as exhibits during their trial.
The couple returns to court on 5 March 2021.
ENDS
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of protecting corrupt individuals.
Hon Biti argued Mr Mnangagwa should not cry for the removal of sanctions while he is deeply reluctant to implement key reforms.
According to Hon Biti, Zanu PF bigwigs are the real sanctions that must be removed.
Hon Biti made the remarks in an interview with a daily publication.
Said Hon Biti:” Emmerson Mnangagwa and his cronies are not concerned about the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF is an impediment to economic growth.Zanu PF should not hide behind sanctions- they know what is causing the social and economic problems in the country.
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is protecting the archbishops of corruption and looting.How can we move forward as a nation?
Zanu PF is unique in terms of stealing State Resources.”
Conversation with Zimbabwe’s head of the COVID-19 Taskforce, Oppah Muchinguri on the sidelines of the funeral of Manicaland Minister, Ellen Gwaradzimba
A 108-year-old man from Bulilima district, Matabeleland South Province is appealing for help after his homestead was torched by his granddaughter’s boyfriend.
The assailant has been identified as Felix Moyo (25). Family spokesperson Miss Sibongile Nzimande said the family lost everything as Moyo was threatening to kill anyone who dared to enter the burning huts to remove property.
She said Moyo disappeared after the arson and by then everything had been reduced to ashes.
“Felix is a neighbour’s child and was in love with my sister Miss Nobesuthu Nyathi (25) who is eight months pregnant with his child. Their dispute started when they were at Bagani Business Centre,” she said.
Miss Nzimande said Felix torched all the family’s four huts including the one in which their 108-year-old grandfather Mr Lewis Phiri was sleeping in with his 66-year-old wife, Mrs Esinathisina Phiri.
“Our grandparents Mr Lewis Phiri and his wife Esinathisina were sleeping when this happened and grandmother managed to wake up and helped khulu to escape. We almost lost a nine-year-old child whom we had forgotten in one of the huts,” she said.
Mr Phiri said he has been reduced to a destitute and appealed to well wishers to help his family.
“This boy wanted us dead. We have nowhere to start from or go. We have no shelter, food or clothes and the rains are falling. We are now like baboons.
“I cannot afford to rebuild the torched huts because of old age and I am also ailing,” said Mr Phiri.
He said his family was already struggling before the latest development which has made the situation worse.
Chief Ndiweni said they have temporarily moved the family to Ndiweni council business centre where there are two empty houses.
“It is just a temporary measure because the family is indeed in need of help. I am appealing to the people of Zimbabwe to assist the family,” he said.
Miss Nobesuthu Nyathi said the dispute with her boyfriend was over 40 rand.
“Someone asked me to plait her hair at the shopping centre and she paid me 40 rand. He was drinking beer at the centre with friends and then he requested that I buy him beer. I bought him one calabash as I wanted to buy groceries with the rest of the money. He wanted me to spend all the money on beer hence the dispute,” she said.
The councillor for the area Clr Nanny Ndlovu appealed for help from well-wishers saying the family’s situation was desperate.
“This is a disaster and a painful situation for the family. He might not have killed them physically but he has destroyed their lives because he left them with nothing. As a community we are not able to provide all their needs,” she said
Clr Ndlovu said the family urgently needs building material, clothes and food.
She said well-wishers can contact her on 0776 982 854.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson Inspector Loveness Mangena said she had not yet received report on the incident.
-State Media
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
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?
Dr H Madzorera
Secretary for Health & Childwelfare, MDC-Alliance
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described Zimbabwe as the largest prison on earth.
Responding to questions from @budichanyau and @daddyhope on Twitter President Chamisa said:
“Ndakatosungwa izvozvi.Zimbabwe is the largest prison on earth.I hope that gives you enough comfort…”
See tweet below:
By Leonard Koni| Zimbabwean citizens from all walks of life have been fighting for change at great personal cost including human life. Every move has been countered with brutality and counter violence or by the use if captured courts and state securities.
The leadership today is all after the opposition than improving the people’s welfare.
There is a leadership disaster looming within the country. Our leaders have quickly forgotten what their mandate is. There is a lot of self centredness and leadership deficiencies.
Instead of fixing the ailing economy and attending to the ravaging #COVID19 pandemic that has caused a number of deaths in our hospitals and communities, the leaders have resorted to arresting whoever tweets about what is happening in the society.
Our government has reduced itself to a social media monitor.
This inept, corrupt, clueless and cruel government continue the overdrive in arresting MDC-Alliance leadership and political activists who interrogates its behaviour. To be precise, they lack the intelligence to govern.
Today we continue to see ugly events of the persecution and harassment of opposition leaders and political activists.
This is actually tarnishing the image of the country and not the opposition. One will start to wonder why the government spent a lot of money paying some American and British public relations companies to spruce up the image of the country and yet destroying it overnight.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has forgotten and must be reminded to go back to his inaugural statement at National Sports Stadium where he told the majority of Zimbabweans that he was different from Robert Mugabe and that he was doing things the new way. “The voice of the people is the voice of God”, I qoute.
Today, we no longer have a sound judiciary, a sound police force, a sound military, a sound intelligence team, a sound speaker of Parliament. Our courts should be citadels of justice but we see a different scenario.
All these have been eroded and fallen by the way side. The Zanu PF government has defiled and captured all these institutions and we we are left with a void leadership.
Last year we saw the arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and in 2021 the story continues with the arresting of Job Sikhala again and lately Fadzayi Mahere on spurious charges.
My question is – Will that arrest improve the country’s ailing economy or reduce the spiralling inflation in the country. Are the trio holding back the success of the country?
Its unfortunate that we still have many of blind Bartemeous who think that this government will take us to a promised land. There is no justice in Zimbabwe as we speak. What is the rationale of locking people in leg irons in the 21st century as if they have committed gruesome crimes?
All hope is not lost. The struggle continues.
Contacts
Twitter @Leokoni[email protected]WhatsApp +27616868508
Prospects for improved power supply appear much brighter this year following indications that the water level in the Kariba Dam, which produces more than half the electricity consumed in the country, has risen above 15 percentage points to 25,64 percent of the usable water.
This comes after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages water resources in the Zambezi River on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia,said it will allocate adequate water for power generation at Kariba Power Stations, north and south banks, throughout the year as the levels continue to rise.
Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475,50 metres and 488,50m (with 0,70m free-board) for hydro-power generation.
At about the same time last year, the lake contained just 9,12 percent of usable or live water.
The lake level is increasing with inflows from the Zambezi River and immediate Kariba Lower Catchment — closing at 479,15m (25,64 percent usable storage) on January 25, 2021, compared to 476,82m (9,12 percent usable storage) recorded on the same date last year.
The Kariba South Power station is the biggest local power generating plant at 1 050MW following its expansion from a 750MW.
ZRA chief executive officer Engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa, said on Tuesday it was encouraging that the water levels were rising at a time when they normally decrease.
From December 22, 2020, to January 18, 2021, the lake levels have increased by a total of 0,40 metres or 0,08 percent, thus pushing the overall lake levels to 3,2 metres above the Minimum Operating Level (MOL) of 475,5m on January 18, 2021.
“This 3,2 metres above the MOL translates to 14,55 billion cubic metre (BCM) of usable water storage currently in the lake.
“It is encouraging to note that the lake level, which should generally be in a decreasing trend at this time of the year, has continued to record a steady rise due to increased rainfall activity on and around the lake, leading to a lake level of 478,71m with 22,45 percent live/usable storage on January 18, 2021,” said Eng Munodawafa.
Based on the meteorological authorities’ projections of normal to above-normal rains for the ongoing 2020/2021 rainfall season, the Authority will maintain the 30 BCM of water allocated for power generation operations at Kariba for the year 2021, he said.
Eng Munodawafa said this will be shared equally between Kariba North Bank Power Station and Kariba South Bank Power Station.
At peak periods the national demand for power reaches 2 200MW against production potential of just 1 600MW at optimal generation levels for both major stations namely Hwange, which manages 550MW on average and Kariba South, a 1 050MW plant.
-State Media
By A Correspondent| Radio personality Samantha Musa popularly known as Misred has finally spoken on being bullied and trolled on social media.
Previously, Misred has been trolled by pole dancer Beverly Sibanda over remarks she made about the strippers name.
The ZiFM radio presenter was forced to speak after her post to market French based Zimbabwean soccer star Tino Kadewere’s Twitter account invited negative comments from social media users.
A Twitter account under the name ZimAround posted a Tweet which might have triggered locals to troll Misred. “Dear Tino Kadewere there’s a lady who host a radio show be careful with her anokudyira mare yese she has been stalking u since u joined Twitter” posted ZimAround.
The Tweet opened doors for many to body shame Misred which in the end did not go well with her as she responded, asking the person behind the handle for a talk.
“Oh hello. Let me say it pachena since you are here. Send me location so I can tell you in person…. zve pa twitter zvinonetsa.
“I’m not mad…. but it’s important people understand that because I keep quiet doesn’t mean I’m stupid. And this account just now lies at harassment levels. It’s Libel yemashuwa.,” replied Misred.
Misred went on to open up on her relationship with Kadewere. “Tino actually asked me to help. He is a young guy who I celebrate as a young brother and someone who raises the Zimbabwean flag. “Zimbabweans you are extremely cruel and I’m tired. “Do you know kuti munhu anoto affecteka ne these things, its not fair. “Do you know all I do is just to try support others,” she lamented.
South Africa has revealed that illegal immigrants will also benefit from the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine.
National Treasury director-general Dondo Mogajane said this during a virtual meeting between his department and the SA National Editors Forum on Wednesday afternoon.
“We are in SA and we have many millions of undocumented people and [we can’t say they shouldn’t receive the vaccine as they are undocumented]. The demand for the vaccine is going to be exceeded, and we are not going to turn away undocumented people…” said Mogajane
By A Correspondent |The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on government to urgently consider availing Covid-19 stimulus packages to distressed companies and save thousands of jobs in the long turn.
Presenting the workers’ response to the second Covid-19 wave, ZCTU secretary general, Japhet Moyo said government should urgently consider extending financial support to distressed business enterprises.
“Support to businesses also means protection of jobs threatened by direct and indirect disruption of businesses through the 30-day lockdown. Already, some of the companies are suffering from low capacity utilisation with some to as low as between 35 to 40% with the lockdown, further complicating their plight,” he said.
The labour body’s remarks come at a time when Zimbabwe has recorded 31,320 confirmed coronavirus cases and over 1 100 deaths.
In response to increased Covid-19 infections and deaths, the government instituted a new nationwide lockdown on January 5 with a curfew in effect from 6 pm to 6 am.
“A stimulus package for hardest hit sectors such as tourism, agriculture and manufacturing will ease the burden. Since the government already had the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund, this could be reactivated to support companies in distress as has been done in the past,” said Moyo.
He highlighted that access to the fund should be conditional and based on guarantees for job preservation and also to support the informal sector.
“This facility must be broadened to support the informal sector players taking into account their peculiar circumstances.”
18 people succumbed to COVID-19 while 306 were tested positive in the latest figures released by the ministry of health and child care on Friday.
The latest figures takes the cumulative total number of cases and deaths to 32952 and 1178 respectively.
In his speech to extend the current lockdown by a further two weeks, minister of health and child care Constantino Chiwenga said they had noted progress from the nearly a thousand cases per day the country was recording when they returned the country to level four, to the current average of 300 being recorded of late.
View the latest update below…
The victim of Thursday’s car crash in South Wairarapa was a respected and experienced local government official.
Police have confirmed that Godwell Mahowa, 58, of Lower Hutt, was killed after his car was hit by a train near Featherston.
Mahowa died after his car collided with a train at Speedy’s Crossing on Western Lake Rd, in South Wairarapa, at about 2pm on Thursday.
A police spokesperson said they were still investigating the circumstances of the crash, and extended their sympathies to Mahowa’s family and friends.
Mahowa was a popular member of staff at South Wairarapa District Council, where he worked as planning manager since 2019.
He held similar positions at Tasman and Masterton District Councils, having established a career in land use and environmental management in Zimbabwe before moving to New Zealand.
Offices and libraries across the district were closed today as a mark of respect.
Harry Wilson, SWDC’s chief executive, said the organisation “suffered a terrible loss”.
“Godwell Mahowa, a loving husband, father, and to us our planning manager and friend, was taken from us suddenly and far too soon. Tragically, his car collided with a train outside Featherston while on his way to a site visit.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Godwell’s wife, children, close family and friends at this very sad time. Our thoughts are also with the train driver, rail team and first responders who will also be affected by this tragedy.
“As you can imagine, as a small and close-knit council, we are all finding this news difficult to process today.
“Godwell was a much-loved and respected member of the SWDC whānau.
“He had been part of our team since September 2019, quickly fitting in and being an inspiration the Planning Team, who he regularly referred to as ‘part of my family’. Godwell’s dedication to his role and passion for what he did was clear to all who worked with him, and he will be sorely missed.
“Thank you to all those who have sent their thoughts and prayers to us and Godwell’s family. Please give them privacy at this time to allow them to grieve together.”
Masterton District Council chief executive Kath Ross worked with Mahowa during his tenure there.
She said staff were “shocked” to hear of his death.
“It was devastating news for many of us.
“There really are no words to describe how awful this tragedy is and our hearts go out to Godwell’s wife, their children, and wider family and friends, as well as our colleagues at SWDC.
“Godwell was employed as a senior resource planner at the council from June 2018 to August 2019, and our contact with him continued as part of work on Wairarapa Combined District Plan.
“Many people in our community will also have had contact with him.
“We got to know Godwell as a wonderful, gentle, humorous person – he was a genuinely lovely man.
“We know he will be greatly missed.”
The New Zealand Transport Agency’s Safer Rail team, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, and the Serious Crash Unit are investigating the crash.
-NZ Herald
By A Correspondent| The state owned Herald has distanced itself from a circulating report on social media claiming that DNA tests will become compulsory for new born babies before issuance of birth certificates.
Posting on Twitter, The Herald said;
“Dear readers, there is a paragraph circulating on social media, in which we are said to have written a story saying that “DNA tests to become compulsory,” with our website link embedded at the bottom.
Please disregard the story, as it did not originate from us.
-Editorial
By A Correspondent| According to Zimstat, the value of total exports in December 2020 was US$488.3 million, a decrease of 7.6% from the value of total exports in November 2020, which was about US$528.4 million.
During the same period, imports increased slightly by 3.4% to US$527.2 million from US$509.8 million in November 2020.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president endai Biti has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa of protecting corrupt individuals.
Biti argued that Mnangagwa should not cry for the removal of sanctions while he is deeply reluctant to implement key reforms.
According to Biti, Zanu PF bigwigs are the real sanctions that must be removed.
Biti made the remarks in an interview with a daily publication.
Said Biti:” Emmerson Mnangagwa and his cronies are not concerned about the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF is an impediment to economic growth.Zanu PF should not hide behind sanctions- they know what is causing the social and economic problems in the country.
Mnangagwa is protecting the archbishops of corruption and looting.How can we move forward as a nation?
Zanu PF is unique in terms of stealing State Resources.”
Press Statement by Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Minister of Health and Child Care, General (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga on the extension of the Level 4 Lockdown measures by a further two (2) weeks to 15 February 2021.
EXTENSION OF LEVEL 4 NATIONAL LOCKDOWN MEASURES
Fellow Zimbabweans, we continue to see a high number of Covid 19 cases and, sadly, DEATHS. In the last week our new cases have been averaging about three hundred (300) per day, with deaths averaging twenty (20) per day.
Cumulative cases as at 1st January, 2021 were fourteen thousand AND eighty- four (14 084) and deaths were three hundred and sixty-nine (369), As at 28th January, 2021 cumulative cases reached thirty-two thousand six hundred and forty -six (32 646) with deaths breaching the thousand mark to give us one thousand one hundred and sixty (1 160). The situation is clearly worrisome.
Government continues to intensify testing and patient care throughout the Provinces
We have a likelihood of new strains and variants circulating. These strains are more transmissible and infectious. We are doing genomic sequencing to see if these strains are in our environment. Results will be published as soon as we have them.
Government will soon be bringing in vaccines against Covid 19. A roll out plan and deployment strategy is being finalized. The nation will be kept informed on all these developments.
The level 4 National Lockdown that came into force on the 5th of January 2021 has stabilized 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 fifty-four percent to the current one which is seventy-five percent. 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. Still, we need to stay the course by upping our vigilance.
The war is not yet won.
It is in light of this that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Commander-In- Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, has decided to extend the level 4 National Lockdown by another two weeks to the 15th of February 2021.
The President fully appreciates the difficulties which come with this extension. Livelihoods are being disrupted yet we must save lives and our nation. We must not lose the momentum, which means:
– We must mask up
– Sanitize
– Maintain social distance
– Stay at home and,
– Get tested and if positive, self-isolate.
I thank you all for your cooperation. Together we will overcome.
God bless Zimbabwe
THE intriguing Tsoriyo family soap opera which can turn Hollywood, Bollywood or Nollywood script writers and directors green with envy is set for its climax as it has spilled into Chief Marange’s court.
The soap pairs parents against daughters, with plots and sub-plots emerging with each passing day. Denials and threats are also the order of the day as the family members continue washing their dirty linen in public.
The Tsoriyo daughters are accusing their father, Raymond of possessing snakes that quench their sexual desires on them.
The Tsoriyo siblings, Mary (44), Shylet (40), Muchanyara (35) and Takura (30), and two others who refused to divulge their names sought Chief Marange’s intervention last week after getting little joy from Chief Makoni’s court where their father has been defaulting attending the court since March 2020. Chief Marange confirmed being approached by the Tsoriyo siblings who claim that their father had turned them into sex slaves. In a telephone interview with The Weekender, Chief Marange, said he will leave no stone unturned for justice to prevail and ensure that the siblings are freed from their bondage. He said the matter will be heard tomorrow (Saturday).
“They will appear at my court tomorrow (Saturday). Their father should attend, failure to do so, we will seek the services of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. His children claim that they are living in hell because of his misdemeanour. He should clear his name. He cannot continue playing hard to get.
“The truth should come out. We want to know whether he is responsible for what his family has been going through or not. There should also be a way forward because the Tsoriyo daughters claim that their father obtained the wealth enhancing charms from someone within my area of jurisdiction,” said Chief Marange.
Mary explained that her father has seven children, six daughters and a son.
She said the snakes are not only tormenting the five girls, but their brother as well.
She said their eldest sister who is also the first born is ‘‘safe’’ since she was born before their father had acquired the charms.
“Our father is said to have acquired these wealth enhancing charms before I was born. By then, our elder sister who is also the first born was already born and her happiness could not be sacrificed. She is happily married and stays in Harare.
“The snakes torture us the young siblings. Our brother is also not being spared, as he has nothing to show for his hard working,” claimed Mary. The daughters further claim that their father has been in possession of the charms for over four decades. Last week, the siblings’ mother, Tsitsi, refused to comment on the alleged bad blood between her husband and daughters, saying the two parties were in a better position to do so. Their father, Raymond, has not been picking up calls. – Manica Post
Greater Manchester Police have charged a 32 year old Zimbabwean man after an ambulance pulled into an Asda (supermarket) with the emergency lights flashing.
Officers in Harpurhey said they saw the occupants of the emergency vehicle – a family – go into the supermarket to do their shopping at around 10pm on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said:
“Blessing Mukaukirwa, 32, of no fixed abode, has been charged with single counts of driving while disqualified, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, using a vehicle with unauthorised blue lights and failing to appear at court.
“He has been remanded in custody and is to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today.”
Traffic officers had earlier tweeted that the vehicle arrived at the supermarket with its blue lights flashing, and that the occupants went inside to do their shopping.
After being tracked down, the ambulance – believed to have been bought second hand – was then seized.
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,
Level Two- $2 000, Level Three- $5 000, Level Four- $20 000, Level Five- $30 000, Level Six- $60 000 and Level Seven $120 000.”
“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
By A Correspondent| A Beitbridge couple has been released from prison after Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members arrested and charged the duo with publishing or communicating falsehoods by sharing a message on a WhatsApp group stating that President Emmerson Mnangagwa had died after being administered a vaccine to treat him of coronavirus.
The couple, Vongai Nomatter Chiminya aged 20 years and Devine Panashe Maregere also aged 20 years, were on Friday 29 January 2021 ordered to pay RTGS$15 000 bail each by Beitbridge Magistrate Toendepi Zhou and ordered not to post any material on social media to do with government business.
Prosecutors told Magistrate Zhou that the couple on Tuesday 26 January 2021 unlawfully and intentionally forwarded an audio message to each other and later on, on a WhatsApp group alleging that President Mnangagwa had died on Monday 25 January 2021 as a result of a COVID-19 vaccination, which was administered to him at his ruling ZANU PF party headquarters.
Chiminya, prosecutors alleged, first received the audio message on her mobile phone number after it had been shared on a WhatsApp group titled “Ruwadzano Rwemadzimai” by a person only identified as Molly, who used a South African registered sim card.
Chiminya reportedly forwarded the message to her husband, who later on circulated the same message on a WhatsApp group titled “Agents and Runners, Beitbridge”.
Prosecutors said Chiminya, who is unemployed and Maregere, who is employed as a “runner” at Express Best Clearing Company, had no lawful right to act in the manner which they allegedly did.
After arresting the couple, ZRP members confiscated their mobile phone handsets, which will be used as exhibits during their trial.
The couple returns to court on 5 March 2021.
NYANGA villagers recently braved the flooded Gairezi River to repatriate the body of a local man who died in Mozambique on a makeshift canoe for burial in Nyamutowa Village.
However, their act of bravery which has gone viral on social media, has landed them in hot soup as they stand accused of flouting laws on the repatriation of dead bodies.
Chengetai Nyamutowa (43) died after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Mozambique together with two others whose conditions were reported to be critical.
A video of about 12 men repatriating the coffin bearing Nyamutowa’s remains in a makeshift canoe has since generated debate, with many applauding the repatriation as a traditional rite, but condemning the use of an undesignated crossing point and crossing a flooded river.
In the video clip, Nyamutowa’s relatives and villagers are heard singing, ululating and applauding the bravery of men who repatriated the body from Mozambique.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, said:
“Nyamutowa had travelled to Mozambique when he was involved in an accident on January 23. He was travelling on a motorcycle when the accident happened and died on the spot.
“It was established that Nyamutowa’s family and community members used a makeshift canoe to repatriate the body through the flooded Gairezi River.
“These people face arrest and investigations are already underway to identify the culprits. They should have adhered to the repatriation processes of taking the body through a designated entry point.”
He added: “We have noted with deep concern that parties involved are adults who are supposed to take a leading role in conscientising each other against attempts to cross flooded rivers.
“People need to be more cautious and take steps to protect themselves and their loved ones. We have noted with concern major causes of drowning such as experimenting with flooded rivers where people for the fun of it cross rivers holding onto tails of cattle or riding on logs or makeshift canoes as well as misjudgement of the water depth or strength of a current. Deep and fast flowing waters are dangerous and we urge people to be extra cautious.”
Nyanga North Member of National Assembly, Cde Chido Sanyatwe, condemned the act, saying there is need to establish a legal crossing point in the area.
“There is need to establish a legal crossing point in the area than having people risking their lives through using illegal points or flooded rivers. More lives could have been lost through drowning or being swept away by the flooded river. Several drowning cases have been reported in the area,” she said. – Manica Post
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 pauses 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 starring 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Funerals and congested places like prisons have become serious super spreaders.
Our prisons have become covid superspreder, hot spots and zones.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Always for Better and greater Zimbabwe!
A NEW GREAT ZIMBABWE IS POSSIBLE!
GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE.
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 pauses 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 starring 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Funerals and congested places like prisons have become serious super spreaders.
Our prisons have become covid superspreder, hot spots and zones.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Always for Better and greater Zimbabwe!
A NEW GREAT ZIMBABWE IS POSSIBLE!
GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE.
Tinashe Sambiri|Six armed men, belived to be State security agents raided MDC Alliance Councillor, Arnold Batirai – Dube’s house in Bulawayo on Thursday and assaulted his wife.
Batirai- Dube is the MDC Alliance councillor for ward 24 in Bulawayo.
A few days ago, Batirai-Dube argued government should not force citizens to pay US $ 60 for COVID-19 tests.Batirai-Dube further argued government received the $ 45 million to buy test kits.
” Six armed men broke into my house last night and attacked my wife.They also bashed my family members.
I escaped through the window and as we speak they are looking for me,” said Batirai-Dube.
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
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Tinashe Sambiri| An MDC Alliance official based in the United Kingdom, Blessing Simpson Madzima has urged democratic forces to push for the release of Alan Moyo.
Moyo was denied bail by the High Court on Thursday.
“The case of Allan has become a National issue and demands involvement of every citizen. We all need to say something to demand his release.
Allan has become a target of political fraud and judiciary corruption. There is a lot happening between some political animals and the state agents which we condemn at the highest level. His case is no longer a case of justice and the law, it is victimisation and torture for him to agree to a certain political outfit which does not represent the people’s sentiments and a majority. We demand consistency and fairness in his case which is similar to other cases we have witnessed people being released or granted bail.
Allan does not deserve to be in jail. He is a genuine and honest activist fighting and representing people’s demand for their freedoms. Release him now,” said Madzima.
A MAN from Trenance suburb in Bulawayo has been arrested after he assaulted his wife to death with fists and stones for allegedly cheating on him.
A family member who preferred not to be named said Craig Walters (43) got wind that his wife Meryline Walters (38) was sharing his velvet cake with another man in the suburb.
The family member said then it happened that on 23 January this year Meryline delayed coming home, her husband got worried and left home at around 6PM to look for her.
“Craig met his wife near a bushy area a few metres away from their house and that did not go down well him. He accused his wife of cheating on him, but his wife stood her ground saying it was not true that she was cheating on him. But he maintained that she was sleeping around. What caused the situation to spiral out of control was that when he asked her what she was doing in the bush, she gave a flimsy response,” said the family member.
The family member added: “An argument ensued between the two resulting in Craig hitting his wife with fists and booted feet all over the body causing her to fall down and bleed.” As if that was not enough he reached for stones and hit her while she was wriggling on the ground.
“She bled profusely, shockingly, Craig left her around 8:30PM lying on the ground and went home,” said the family insider.
The family member said at around 10PM Craig went back to the scene of the crime and found her lying unconscious in a pool of blood.
“He lifted her and took her home. He placed her on a sofa in the lounge room expecting that she would be fine. He left her there and retired to bed. Later on one of the family members tried to wake her up but she could not wake up prompting him to call their elderly relative who came and discovered that she had passed on. The relative reported the matter at a police station. Craig was arrested,” said a family member.
A source close to investigations said police attended the scene and found the deceased lying unconscious on a sofa while covered with a blanket.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.- B-Metro
VIDEO LOADING BELOW
By A Correspondent- A Kenyan Pilot from a certain airline in Kenya has reportedly been flying for 8 years after forging the results of his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) an equivalent of Zimbabwe’s O Level or GSE, K24TV reports.
According to the publication the man who cannot be named for legal reasons had a certificate that stated that he got a B+ in the KCSE but it has emerged he did not. Details of how the airline found out about the pilot’s fake credentials are still not known.
He reportedly obtained his Comercial Pilot License using his fake certificate and his credentials and credibility are now being questioned and he will appear before a Kenyan court sometime this quarter.
The incident is similar to the one recorded in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago when it emerged that the ZIMCHE boss used a fake O Level certificate to get a promotion at her workplace and even attain a degree.
Source: K24TV
By A Correspondent- Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube has said the government is targeting to vaccinate 10 million or 60% of Zimbabwe’s population which according to him will be herd immunization. According to Professor Mthuli Ncube, the government has set aside $100 million for the 10 million doses.
Ncube was speaking during an interview with The Anchor when he said:
We have set aside a minimum of US$100 million equivalent for the vaccine and the way we have calculated is we are assuming the cost of US$5 a shot and multiply that by TWO as each person will get TWO shots.
We are targeting 10 million citizens which is about the herd immunity [and] is about 60 percent of the population.
We have adequate resources, mobilized adequate resources in our budget to be able to meet the cost of the vaccine. All options are on the table, we are negotiating with China, India and Russia.
He also spoke about the government’s efforts to fight the pandemic and said they have used over ZWL $25 Billion for different reasons during the pandemic:
Since March last year we have used ZWL25 Billion and it has been spread right across different aspects namely to cover the risk allowances of health workers and other frontline workers. It covered the upgrade of health facilities and also there have procurement of other materials, drugs, PPEs among other things we need to fight this pandemic.
A Ministry of Health official has said vaccines will be administered to ministers, MPs, Frontline workers, and security forces first when they are eventually available.
By A Correspondent- The man who died in a crash between a car and a train in South Wairarapa on Thursday was driving for work when the collision happened.
Godwell Mahowa, from Lower Hutt was killed when his car was struck by a commuter train at Speedy’s Crossing near Featherston about 2 pm on Thursday, police confirmed on Friday afternoon.
The 58-year-old worked as a planning manager at the South Wairarapa District Council and the small, close-knit team of staff, had been left reeling, council chief executive Harry Wilson said in a statement.
Wilson described Mahowa as a loving husband, father and friend, who was taken “suddenly and far too soon”.
“Tragically, his car collided with a train outside Featherston while on his way to a site visit,” Wilson said.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with Godwell’s wife, children, close family and friends at this very sad time. Our thoughts are also with the train driver, rail team and first responders who will also be affected by this tragedy.”
Wilson said Mahowa was a much-loved and respected member of the council “whānau”, who had quickly fitted in with the organisation after he started working there in September 2019.
He was an inspiration to the planning team who he regularly referred to as “part of my family”.
Police at a cordon near Featherston after a car and train collided on Thursday.
“Godwell’s dedication to his role and passion for what he did was clear to all who worked with him, and he will be sorely missed,” Wilson said.
He thanked everyone who had sent thoughts and prayers to Mahowa’s loved ones.
In the wake of Mahowa’s death, the council’s Martinborough offices and three libraries were closed on Friday for all but urgent matters. Featherston Library would stay closed on Saturday.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash. Police extended their sympathies to Mahowa’s family and friends in a statement.
The collision caused delays to Wairarapa train line services. On Friday, some morning commuters had to take replacement bus services.
-wires
By A Correspondent- As ransom to “release” his wife from their matrimonial home after she had threatened to divorce him for being violent, a Bulawayo man has demanded his lobola back.
Prosper Mshangwe (26) ordered his wife Melinda Karimbanemoyo (26)’s parents to first refund him his lobola money before he allows her to walk out of their matrimonial home.
This was revealed when Mshangwe appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Noma Ncube charged with physical abuse.
It was the State’s case that on 3 December 2020 and at around 1 PM, Mshangwe came home from an unknown destination. His wife then told him that she was no longer interested in him because of his violent behavior.
Mshangwe responded to his wife saying if she wanted him to release her, her parents should first pay him back his lobola.
The court further heard that at around 5 PM when Mshangwe’s mother came back from work she found him in the same violent state, and she tried to calm him down but to no avail.
It is reported that Mshangwe then forcibly took the knife which his wife was clasping in her hands and threatened to fatally stab everyone at home.
His wife then reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest and subsequent appearance in court.
According to B-Metro, he was convicted on his own plea and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment of which four months were suspended for five years on the condition of good behavior.
The remainder of eight months imprisonment was further suspended on the condition that he completes 280 hours of community service at Thomas Rudland Primary School.
By A Correspondent- There was drama at the funeral of Chief Chikore after his children from his polygamous marriages engaged in endless battles over burial rights.
Chief Chikore, born Dennis Mushambi-Chikore, of Makoni District succumbed to Covid-19 at Rusape General Hospital last week, he was 97.
Children from the traditional leader’s second wife Ms Elizaberth Gwefete claimed the burial rights angering children from the Chief’s first wife Ms Chenzira Chikore.
According to family sources, Mrs Chikore and her children were not informed of the Chief’s death only to receive the news from the grapevine.
Ms Gwefete’s children reportedly approached Makoni District Development Coordinator, Mr Edwin Mashindi, requesting for funeral assistance to bury their father.
Mr Mashindi then contacted elders of the Chief’s clan who said they knew nothing about the Chief’s demise.
Ms Gwefete and her children went ahead with burial arrangement and contacted Nyaradzo Funeral Services to assist in the burial of their father.
News of the secret burial reached Mrs Chikowore and her children who then contacted senior clan members, the District Development Coordinator’s Office and police to stop the burial.
After stopping the burial the chief’s body was driven 150 km back to Rusape and a grave that had been dug at Ms Gwefete’s home was refiled.
The bickering family members finally reached an agreement and the chief was buried on Tuesday night in Manyakanyaka Mountain in accordance with cultural and traditional rites.
Chief Chikore’s daughter from the first marriage, Winnet, said her stepmother and her children wanted to settle a grudge with Mrs Chikore by denying the Chief a decent send-off.
When a chief dies, the funeral is supposed to be a secret until after the burial. We have sacred burial places for departed chiefs. We were shocked by the behaviour of Elizabeth (Ms Gwefete) and her children as they wanted to bury our father at their doorstep. A chief cannot be buried like an ordinary villager.
We did our best as his children to make sure that his status was not lowered. Some people were taking advantage of his advanced age to make him do questionable things, including seeking a peace order against us the children of his first wife, she said.
Tinashe Sambiri| An MDC Alliance official based in the United Kingdom, Blessing Simpson Madzima has urged democratic forces to push for the release of Alan Moyo.
Moyo was denied bail by the High Court on Thursday.
“The case of Allan has become a National issue and demands involvement of every citizen. We all need to say something to demand his release.
Allan has become a target of political fraud and judiciary corruption. There is a lot happening between some political animals and the state agents which we condemn at the highest level. His case is no longer a case of justice and the law, it is victimisation and torture for him to agree to a certain political outfit which does not represent the people’s sentiments and a majority. We demand consistency and fairness in his case which is similar to other cases we have witnessed people being released or granted bail.
Allan does not deserve to be in jail. He is a genuine and honest activist fighting and representing people’s demand for their freedoms. Release him now,” said Madzima.
Holding local authorities accountable
By Posper Tiringindi
It has become increasingly necessary and important to ensure that local authorities are accountable to citizens because when citizens elect officials, they are delegating responsibility to them as their agents hence the elected councils have a duty to be downwardly accountable to citizens.
Accountability, put simply, means that the holder of responsibility must report to citizens on the use of public resources/funds and must be answerable for failing to meet their legal obligations. Holders of responsibility must be aware that there is a possibility of sanction if they do not fulfil their responsibilities.
From time immemorial citizens have been using traditional tools for accountability which include: elections, public demonstrations as well as advocacy campaigns. However, the traditional tools have their limitations in bringing accountability. In some instances, the tools are ineffective. For instances public demonstrations can be considered illegal by rule of law and victimisation of activists can result in failure to put checks and balances. Elections also have discrepancies as they take a long time to bring accountability, for instances elections are held after every 5 years, hence holding a public figure accountable once in 5 years can result in disastrous outcomes and running of local authorities. Recalling of non-performing councillors has its own limitations as well as it often requires significant resources to hold elections. The other gap is when non-performing councillors are re-called from office, it is done by an individual, either party leader or minister and yet the correct position would be going back to the electorate and have referendum on whether they want councillor to leave office or not . The correct procedure is the matter must be dealt with at the referendum stage.
Lessons learnt- A case of Masvingo City Council
Four councillors, Cllr Godfrey Kurauone, Cllr Daniel Mberikunashe, Cllr Tarusenga Vhembo and Cllr Richard Musekiwa were re-called from office and there were no replacements. Worries are; when they were elected a lot money was spent to run elections and at last individual person with is own or her interest decided to re-call the four from office paralysing service delivery.
Lately, new tools for accountability were created and are proving to be more effective where there is political will by the local authorities to accept citizen participation in council processes. There is need for open governance to ensure broader participation by citizens and civil society in council programmes like formulation of strategic planning ,strategic review and budgeting processes. Councils and municipalities have the obligation to enable citizens and civil society to participate not only at the phase of preparation of local programmes, but also in monitoring their implementation.
However, in order for citizens to participate in holding their local authorities accountable, they must have the necessary information to be able to participate.
Lessons learnt – A case of Masvingo City Council
An observation which was made and partly applauded was the creation of public relations and communications office. It is however regrettable or unfortunate that the officer is just a ceremonial position without authority to disseminate crucial information or influence change in favour of the citizens. More often than not the officer practice self-censorship as some issues become way above the office’s pay grades. Decisions remain with the helm resulting in the offices of public relations merely a gap filler. The city council’s grading system cripples potential and will power to perform. Lastly there is the issue of cyber bullying and gender-based violence by rogue elements in the society which has severely affected the operations of the office eg in Masvingo Residents Trust group on the 22nd of December 2020, we discovered some group members insulted the City of Masvingo Public relations Officer and we really apologised for such rogue elements. We need to dwell on peaceful engagements. There is need for empowerment of the office of public relations if harmony between the two parties has to be achieved.
There is slight improvement on information dissemination because of the introduction of the office of the Public Relations Officer since the role is merely a spokesperson or mouthpiece. The officer cannot challenge or question decisions made by management whether right or not. Therefore, A snap survey of most local authorities from urban to rural reveal that most citizens have no access to information from their various local authorities. The only way citizen participation can be achieved is only when there is communication between them and the local authorities. Imagining citizen participation without dialogue between the two parties is just far-fetched, since getting access to information is very difficult for the average citizen.
The politics and provision of service delivery in local authority cannot be understood without understanding the dynamics of political infighting and resultant implications for municipal service delivery.
Warriors and Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba will stay at the Birmingham-based club beyond the January transfer window.
The 27-year-old has had little very little league action in the 2020-21 campaign, his second season in England after making the move from Belgian side Club Brugge in August 2019.
Nakamba has been reduced to peripheral roles at Villa Park and despite attracting interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray and Spanish side Valencia, he will be staying beyond the January transfer window, which ends on Monday.
“Yes, he is staying at Aston Villa,” confirmed a source close the midfielder when asked on the decision he has made on his future.
Nakamba put on a nearly flawless display against Newcastle United after making his first appearance for the claret and blue in over a month but was an unused substitute in the 2-3 defeat to Burnley on Wednesday.
The club is believed to be unwilling to sell or loan him.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Press Statement by Acting President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Minister of Health and Child Care, General (Rtd) Dr C.G.D.N Chiwenga on the extension of the Level 4 Lockdown measures by a further two (2) weeks to 15 February 2021.
EXTENSION OF LEVEL 4 NATIONAL LOCKDOWN MEASURES
At a time when his own lawyer has died plus the highest number of national heroes buried in a month period since Rhodesia, vice president Constantino Chiwenga has announced saying:
West Ham have agreed a deal to sign Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard on loan for the rest of the season.
The forward, who has had limited game time at United, will travel to London after having his medical in Manchester.
The total cost of the deal reportedly involves a £1.5million loan fee plus Lingard’s £80,000-a-week wages for the rest of the season.
The player seemed to have confirmed his next destination after posting on social media a picture of his packed bags and with a caption ‘Hammer Time’.-Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Greater Manchester Police have charged a 32 year old Zimbabwean man after an ambulance pulled into an Asda (supermarket) with the emergency lights flashing.
Officers in Harpurhey said they saw the occupants of the emergency vehicle – a family – go into the supermarket to do their shopping at around 10pm on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said:
“Blessing Mukaukirwa, 32, of no fixed abode, has been charged with single counts of driving while disqualified, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, using a vehicle with unauthorised blue lights and failing to appear at court.
“He has been remanded in custody and is to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today.”
Traffic officers had earlier tweeted that the vehicle arrived at the supermarket with its blue lights flashing, and that the occupants went inside to do their shopping.
After being tracked down, the ambulance – believed to have been bought second hand – was then seized.
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) president Felton Kamambo has admitted that there should be proper planning if the Warriors entertain any chance of excelling and achieving their goals in 2021.
The Harare businessman was speaking in the wake of the local-based Warriors’ disastrous CHAN 2021 campaign in which they finished without a point after three consecutive defeats.
“This is a year which we feel we have to get results, especially with the national team,” he told The Herald.
“We need to give our fans something to cheer about by qualifying for the AFCON finals. We also need to focus on the World Cup qualification. This means we will need to plan ahead so that we achieve our targets,” added Kamambo.
The national team still has AFCON and World Cup qualifiers to play later this year.
Zimbabwe are second in Group H of the qualifiers for the continental showpiece behind defending champions Algeria and will compete with Ghana, South Africa and Ethiopia for a ticket to the world’s greatest football extravaganza is Qatar 2022.- Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has described Zimbabwe as the largest prison on earth.
Responding to questions from @budichanyau and @daddyhope on Twitter President Chamisa said:
“Ndakatosungwa izvozvi.Zimbabwe is the largest prison on earth.I hope that gives you enough comfort…”
See tweet below:
Tinashe Sambiri|Six armed men, belived to be State security agents raided MDC Alliance Councillor, Arnold Batirai – Dube’s house in Bulawayo on Thursday and assaulted his wife.
Batirai- Dube is the MDC Alliance councillor for ward 24 in Bulawayo.
A few days ago, Batirai-Dube argued government should not force citizens to pay US $ 60 for COVID-19 tests.Batirai-Dube further argued government received the $ 45 million to buy test kits.
” Six armed men broke into my house last night and attacked my wife.They also bashed my family members.
I escaped through the window and as we speak they are looking for me,” said Batirai-Dube.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of protecting corrupt individuals.
Hon Biti argued Mr Mnangagwa should not cry for the removal of sanctions while he is deeply reluctant to implement key reforms.
According to Hon Biti, Zanu PF bigwigs are the real sanctions that must be removed.
Hon Biti made the remarks in an interview with a daily publication.
Said Hon Biti:” Emmerson Mnangagwa and his cronies are not concerned about the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF is an impediment to economic growth.Zanu PF should not hide behind sanctions- they know what is causing the social and economic problems in the country.
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is protecting the archbishops of corruption and looting.How can we move forward as a nation?
Zanu PF is unique in terms of stealing State Resources.”
A Dutch court has ordered the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell to pay compensation over oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, a ruling which could pave the way for more cases against multinational oil firms.
The Court of Appeal in The Hague on Friday ruled that the Nigerian arm of the British-Dutch company must issue payouts over a long-running civil case involving four Nigerian farmers who were seeking compensation, and a clean-up, from the company over pollution caused by leaking oil pipelines.
The court did not hold Shell’s parent company, which is headquartered in the Netherlands, directly responsible, but ordered it to install a leak detection system on the Oruma pipeline, which has a significant number of the spills in the case.
“Shell Nigeria is sentenced to compensate farmers for damages,” the court said in its ruling, which can be appealed via the Dutch Supreme Court.
The amount of compensation will be established at a later date. The court did not specify how many of the four farmers would receive compensation.
Although only Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary was found responsible, the decision could pave the way for more environmental cases against the company.
Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris, reporting from the Nigerian capital, Abuja, said the verdict would be greeted with “relief and joy” by farmers in Nigeria.
“Hundreds of people have queued up to sue shell for contaminating the Niger Delta,” Idris said, citing cases brought against Shell in the UK and the Netherlands.
“I spoke to an activist a short while ago who said, ‘This is just the beginning’, and a lot of analysts also believe it [the ruling] will open the floodgates to so many litigations against oil production companies that have been operating in Nigeria.”
The case was initiated in 2008 by the farmers and the Friends of the Earth campaign group, who were seeking reparations for lost income from contaminated land and waterways in the Niger Delta region, the heart of the Nigerian oil industry.
The spills concerned were between 2004 and 2007, but pollution from leaking oil pipelines remains a big problem in the Niger Delta.
“Tears of joy here. After 13 years, we’ve won,” the Dutch branch of Friends of the Earth tweeted following Friday’s ruling.https://c9267565ed4b18a95dba5eba59f99893.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html
Donald Pols, head of the NGO’s Dutch branch, described the court’s decision as “fantastic news for the environment and people living in developing countries”.
“It means people in developing countries can take on the multinationals who do them harm,” he said.
Shell argued that saboteurs were responsible for leaks in underground oil pipes that have polluted the delta. The company also argued that it should not be held legally responsible in the Netherlands for the actions of a foreign subsidiary, meaning Shell Nigeria.
But the appeals court ruled that while sabotage was the most likely scenario in two of the villages affected, it could not be established beyond reasonable law, meaning the Nigerian subsidiary was liable.
Shell said in a statement following the ruling that it continues to believe the spills were caused by sabotage, adding it was dismayed that the firm’s Nigerian subsidy – the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) – was judged to be culpable.
“We are … disappointed that this court has made a different finding on the cause of these spills and in its finding that SPDC is liable,” the company said.
Shell discovered and started exploiting Nigeria’s vast oil reserves in the late 1950s and has faced heavy criticism from activists and local communities over spills and for the company’s close ties to government security forces
Friends of the Earth, which has supported the Nigerian farmers in their legal battle, argues that leaking pipes are caused by poor maintenance and inadequate security and that Shell does not do enough to clean up spills.-Aljazeera
Tinashe Sambiri| An MDC Alliance official based in the United Kingdom, Blessing Simpson Madzima has urged democratic forces to push for the release of Alan Moyo.
Moyo was denied bail by the High Court on Thursday.
“The case of Allan has become a National issue and demands involvement of every citizen. We all need to say something to demand his release.
Allan has become a target of political fraud and judiciary corruption. There is a lot happening between some political animals and the state agents which we condemn at the highest level. His case is no longer a case of justice and the law, it is victimisation and torture for him to agree to a certain political outfit which does not represent the people’s sentiments and a majority. We demand consistency and fairness in his case which is similar to other cases we have witnessed people being released or granted bail.
Allan does not deserve to be in jail. He is a genuine and honest activist fighting and representing people’s demand for their freedoms. Release him now,” said Madzima.
Watch the address by Chiwenga below…
Holding local authorities accountable
By Posper Tiringindi
It has become increasingly necessary and important to ensure that local authorities are accountable to citizens because when citizens elect officials, they are delegating responsibility to them as their agents hence the elected councils have a duty to be downwardly accountable to citizens.
Accountability, put simply, means that the holder of responsibility must report to citizens on the use of public resources/funds and must be answerable for failing to meet their legal obligations. Holders of responsibility must be aware that there is a possibility of sanction if they do not fulfil their responsibilities.
From time immemorial citizens have been using traditional tools for accountability which include: elections, public demonstrations as well as advocacy campaigns. However, the traditional tools have their limitations in bringing accountability. In some instances, the tools are ineffective. For instances public demonstrations can be considered illegal by rule of law and victimisation of activists can result in failure to put checks and balances. Elections also have discrepancies as they take a long time to bring accountability, for instances elections are held after every 5 years, hence holding a public figure accountable once in 5 years can result in disastrous outcomes and running of local authorities. Recalling of non-performing councillors has its own limitations as well as it often requires significant resources to hold elections. The other gap is when non-performing councillors are re-called from office, it is done by an individual, either party leader or minister and yet the correct position would be going back to the electorate and have referendum on whether they want councillor to leave office or not . The correct procedure is the matter must be dealt with at the referendum stage.
Lessons learnt- A case of Masvingo City Council
Four councillors, Cllr Godfrey Kurauone, Cllr Daniel Mberikunashe, Cllr Tarusenga Vhembo and Cllr Richard Musekiwa were re-called from office and there were no replacements. Worries are; when they were elected a lot money was spent to run elections and at last individual person with is own or her interest decided to re-call the four from office paralysing service delivery.
Lately, new tools for accountability were created and are proving to be more effective where there is political will by the local authorities to accept citizen participation in council processes. There is need for open governance to ensure broader participation by citizens and civil society in council programmes like formulation of strategic planning ,strategic review and budgeting processes. Councils and municipalities have the obligation to enable citizens and civil society to participate not only at the phase of preparation of local programmes, but also in monitoring their implementation.
However, in order for citizens to participate in holding their local authorities accountable, they must have the necessary information to be able to participate.
Lessons learnt – A case of Masvingo City Council
An observation which was made and partly applauded was the creation of public relations and communications office. It is however regrettable or unfortunate that the officer is just a ceremonial position without authority to disseminate crucial information or influence change in favour of the citizens. More often than not the officer practice self-censorship as some issues become way above the office’s pay grades. Decisions remain with the helm resulting in the offices of public relations merely a gap filler. The city council’s grading system cripples potential and will power to perform. Lastly there is the issue of cyber bullying and gender-based violence by rogue elements in the society which has severely affected the operations of the office eg in Masvingo Residents Trust group on the 22nd of December 2020, we discovered some group members insulted the City of Masvingo Public relations Officer and we really apologised for such rogue elements. We need to dwell on peaceful engagements. There is need for empowerment of the office of public relations if harmony between the two parties has to be achieved.
There is slight improvement on information dissemination because of the introduction of the office of the Public Relations Officer since the role is merely a spokesperson or mouthpiece. The officer cannot challenge or question decisions made by management whether right or not. Therefore, A snap survey of most local authorities from urban to rural reveal that most citizens have no access to information from their various local authorities. The only way citizen participation can be achieved is only when there is communication between them and the local authorities. Imagining citizen participation without dialogue between the two parties is just far-fetched, since getting access to information is very difficult for the average citizen.
The politics and provision of service delivery in local authority cannot be understood without understanding the dynamics of political infighting and resultant implications for municipal service delivery.
Tinashe Sambiri|Six armed men, belived to be State security agents raided MDC Alliance Councillor, Arnold Batirai – Dube’s house in Bulawayo on Thursday and assaulted his wife.
Batirai- Dube is the MDC Alliance councillor for ward 24 in Bulawayo.
A few days ago, Batirai-Dube argued government should not force citizens to pay US $ 60 for COVID-19 tests.Batirai-Dube further argued government received the $ 45 million to buy test kits.
” Six armed men broke into my house last night and attacked my wife.They also bashed my family members.
I escaped through the window and as we speak they are looking for me,” said Batirai-Dube.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice president Hon Tendai Biti has accused Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa of protecting corrupt individuals.
Hon Biti argued Mr Mnangagwa should not cry for the removal of sanctions while he is deeply reluctant to implement key reforms.
According to Hon Biti, Zanu PF bigwigs are the real sanctions that must be removed.
Hon Biti made the remarks in an interview with a daily publication.
Said Hon Biti:” Emmerson Mnangagwa and his cronies are not concerned about the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF is an impediment to economic growth.Zanu PF should not hide behind sanctions- they know what is causing the social and economic problems in the country.
Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa is protecting the archbishops of corruption and looting.How can we move forward as a nation?
Zanu PF is unique in terms of stealing State Resources.”
By A Correspondent- A school head in Nyanga and three teachers were last week jailed for opening a school and conducting lessons in violation of current COVID-19 lockdown measures.
Maxwell Marombedza (56), a principal at Apex College, and the three teachers; namely Timothy Nyagadza (59), Tinashe Tsara (31) and Allan Musakanda (36) were last week dragged before a magistrate.
The quartet appeared before Nyanga magistrate, Annie Ndiraya, charged with opening an educational institution to learners not exempted during the national lockdown.
The suspects were each ordered to pay $50 000 or spend six months in jail after another six months were conditionally suspended for five years.
Meanwhile, Officer Commanding Manicaland Police (operations) Assistant Commissioner Johannes Chinembiri Govo on Thursday asserted that the wanton violation of lockdown restrictions will end soon. He said:
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.
By A Correspondent- The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has amended its dress policy to allow Muslim women to wear headscarves as part of their uniform.
This follows a court challenge by Muslim army major Fatima Isaacs over regulations restricting religious wear.
Isaacs had been criminally charged in June 2018 with wilful defiance and failing to obey lawful instructions after her superior asked her not to wear a hijab (headscarf) under her military beret.
In January 2020, the military court at the Castle of Good Hope near Cape Town withdrew all charges against Isaacs.
As a result, Muslim female soldiers can now wear a tight black headwrap on duty as long as it did not cover ears.
SANDF spokesman Mafi Mgobozi told AFP:
The SANDF dress regulation was updated to allow the wearing of headscarves by Muslim (women) according to stipulations in the dress regulations.
The South Africa-based Legal Resources Centre, which represented Isaacs, welcomed the development in a statement posted on Twitter.
It said:
The LRC has been engaged in discussions with the SANDF, resulting in the SANDF amending its religious dress policy, to allow Muslim women to wear their hijab with their military uniform.
As such, we filed a Notice of Withdrawal in the Equality Court.
According to an online source, the hijab is a head covering, generally a veil or a scarf, worn in public or in the presence of non-familial adult males by some Muslim women.-eNCA
Two men are marooned in the Mtshabezi River in Siyoka area some 100km west of Beitbridge town after their Nissan Truck was swept away early today as they attempted to cross the flooded river.
The men who are yet to be identified managed to swim and climb on some tall trees in the river where they are still patched.
The incident occurred at around 1 am and the two have been on top of trees since then.
The bridge is partially broken and already the Rural Development Committee is working on getting a contractor to fix the damages.
It links most villages in Beitbridge West with the border town and Gwanda.
According to a villager from Siyoka , Mr Morris Mhlanga, they have since notified the local Civil Protection Unit for help.
“The two were travelling towards Madzivhe area when the truck was swept away off a damaged bridge.
We are still on the scene waiting for help and our worry is that those trees might be swept away as water levels continue to rise,” said Mr Mhlanga.
He said the villagers were afraid of getting into the water where levels continue to rise.
Mr Mhlanga said the truck had been stuck between two trees in the river.
District Civil Protection Unit chairperson, Mrs Sikhangazile Mafu Moyo said they were now organising a rescue team to help the two men.
“We are now working on sending a rapid response team on the ground and are also engaging the army to provide a helicopter if need be,” she said.-statemedia
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights| We have just rescued a couple in Beitbridge by securing their release from prison after they were arrested & detained for allegedly communicating falsehoods by sharing a message on a WhatsApp Group stating that President Mnangagwa had died on 25 January.
Prosecutors claimed that the couple shared an audio on a WhatsApp Group alleging that President Mnangagwa had died as a result of a COVID-19 vaccination, which was administered to him at his ruling ZANU PF party headquarters.
The couple Vongai Nomatter Chiminya aged 20 and Devine Panashe Maregere were on Friday ordered to pay 15 000 bail each by Beitbridge Magistrate Toendepi Zhou & ordered not to post any material on social media to do with govt business. The couple returns to court on 5 March.
By A Correspondent- Some Chinese cities are using samples taken from the anus to detect potential COVID-19 infections as China steps up screening to make sure no potential carrier of the new coronavirus is missed amid regional outbreaks and ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays.
A throat swab on a 52-year-old man in Weinan, a city in northern Shaanxi province, showed negative result after the person showed symptoms such as coughing and appetite loss, a city official said on Wednesday, but he tested positive using nose and anal swabs.
The person, who had been put in a centralised facility for medical observation as a close contact of another carrier earlier this month, was then confirmed as a COVID-19 patient, the official told a news conference.
Anal swabs require inserting a cotton swab 3 to 5 centimetres (1.2 to 2.0 inch) into the anus and gently rotating it. Last week, a Beijing city official said that anal swabs were taken from over 1,000 teachers, staffers and students at a primary school in the city after an infection had been found. Their nose and throat swabs and serum samples were also collected for testing.
Additional tests using anal swabs can avoid missing infections, as virus traces in faecal samples or anal swabs could remain detectable for a longer time than in samples taken from upper respiratory tract, Li Tongzeng, a respiratory and infectious disease doctor in Beijing city, told state TV last week. He added that such samples are only necessarily for key groups such as those under quarantine.
Stool tests may be more effective than respiratory tests in identifying x in children and infants since they carry a higher viral load in their stool than adults, researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) had said in a paper published last year.-Reuters
By A Correspondent| Expelled NetOne Chief Executive Officer Lazarus Muchenje’s bid to bounce back at the mobile network operator has collapsed after the High Court refused to entertain his appeal on the basis that it had no jurisdiction to poke its nose in purely employment matters.
Muchenje approached the High Court to challenge his expulsion from NetOne which was confirmed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In delivering her judgment, Justice Esther Muremba ruled that Muchenje’s application was misplaced as the constitution had created Labour courts whose sole mandate is to handle employment matters.
“This court has no jurisdiction to deal with purely employment matters, its jurisdiction having been restricted by the Constitution which created the Labour Court as a Specialist Court to handle employment matters,” ruled Muremba.
“Clearly, this is not a matter for an interdict and a declaratur, the applicant is actually challenging the termination of his employment contract and seeking reinstatement as CEO of sixth respondent (NetOne) through the back door,” she added.
Muchenje was also ordered to pay the costs incurred by the respondents.
By A Correspondent- The water level in the Kariba Dam has risen above 15 percentage points to 25,64 per cent of the usable water, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has revealed.
At about the same time last year, the lake contained just 9,12 per cent of usable or live water. The water level is rising at a time it should be falling, based on experiences from previous years.
Kariba Dam produces more than half of Zimbabwe’s electricity and a rise in its water level raises the prospects for improved power supply in the foreseeable future.
ZRA chief executive officer Engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa, said on Tuesday from December 22, 2020, to January 18, 2021, the lake levels have increased by a total of 0,40 metres or 0,08 per cent.
This has pushed overall lake levels to 3,2 metres above the Minimum Operating Level (MOL) of 475,5m on January 18, 2021.
Munodawafa added:
This 3,2 metres above the MOL translates to 14,55 billion cubic metres (BCM) of usable water storage currently in the
lake.
It is encouraging to note that the lake level, which should generally be in a decreasing trend at this time of the year, has continued to record a steady rise due to increased rainfall activity on and around the lake, leading to a lake level of 478,71m with 22,45 per cent live/usable storage on January 18, 2021.
Munodawafa said ZRA, which manages water resources in the Zambezi River on behalf of Zimbabwe and Zambia, will maintain the 30 BCM of water allocated for power generation operations at Kariba for the year 2021.
This is based on weather forecasts of normal to above-normal rains for the ongoing 2020/2021 rainfall season.
The Kariba South Power station generates 1 050MW after it was expanded from a 750MW plant.-statemedia
VIDEO LOADING BELOW …
By A Correspondent- A 60 year old widow from Mwenezi recently lost all her meagre assets after a fire gutted her house while she was working in the fields.
Margaret Kamwemvura, of village 10 Liburgia under Chief Neshuro, told TellZim News that the fire incident occurred on 25 January this year.
Kamwemvura suspects that her son’s cellphone which was on charge might have exploded resulting in the fire.
She said:
One of my sons left his phone charging with a universal charger so it seems the battery exploded and caused the fire.
We had left home for the fields when the accident occurred and we were only alerted about the fire after we had seen thick smoke blowing from the direction of our homestead.
We then got home to find that everything had been destroyed and nothing was recovered including my cellphone which I had left inside the house.
All our entire belongings were destroyed as this was the only house that sheltered everything for us. We are only left with the clothes on our bodies and nothing else.
Kamwemvura lives with her two unemployed sons and she can be contacted on her grandchild Prince Hove’s mobile number 0777111013.
Five illegal miners were trapped at Elvington Mine near Chegutu around 4am yesterday after a shaft they were working on collapsed.
Mashonaland West Development Coordinator and Civil Protection Unit Provincial head Mr Josphat Jaji yesterday said: “We received a report from the Ministry of Mines officials that at least five illegal miners have been trapped.
“The inspectors are on the ground and have indicated that one is confirmed to be alive and his leg is trapped.”
Mines Ministry officials said the ground is unstable, making rescue efforts “complicated” and dangerous.
-State Media
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has gazetted toll fees payable in foreign currency.
Through Statutory Instrument 32 of 2021, the government has set USD tollgate fees from US$2.00 to US$10.00 depending on the type of the vehicle. The fees are as follows:
The government said toll fees for foreign-registered vehicles shall be payable in United States Dollars or equivalent in other foreign currencies, using the above rates.
The toll fees in foreign currency may be payable in local currency at the foreign currency auction rate.
Meanwhile, residents living in areas within a 10km radius from a tollgate situated in their area will pay a daily toll fee of US$4.00 (without discount).
Former Deputy Minister at Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology Development Godfrey Gandawa has blasted Zanu Pf supporters for their hypocritical calls for “ubuntu” while failing to recognise their role in creating an angry and bitter culture among citizens.
Below is the full thread:
The unfortunate celebrations that followed the death of SB Moyo and other govt officials appear to have angered the regime, prompting hypocritical calls for “ubuntu”. The regime has to recognise the direct role it has played in creating an angry and bitter culture.
The president’s spokesperson publicly taunted a victim of state-sponsored torture, Tawanda Muchehiwa, asking him if his ‘buttocks had healed’. This uncouth behaviour was not rebuked by Mnangagwa, despite a public outcry, suggesting that govt agrees with it.
Now, if the president’s spokesperson can publicly celebrate the torture of a 21-year-old student why would such a govt be surprised that the public will equally celebrate news of its demise? The regime is in no position to demand decency because it has no decency itself.
This was not an isolated incident. The president’s spokesman also mocked the death of an opposition councillor who had perished under unclear circumstances in Hurungwe. It is hypocrisy of the worst kind that such a govt expects commiserations from the very people it abuses.
Then Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi mocked Joana Mamombe suggesting she was a prostitute that had been attacked after demanding payment in foreign currency. The callous remarks came after she, and two others, were abducted and sexually assaulted by suspected state agents.
Mutodi was not sanctioned for this uncouth behaviour. When he was eventually fired, it was reported that this had nothing to do with his attack on Mamombe. It is apparent that govt and Zanu PF found nothing untoward in what he had said.
How then does that same govt act surprised when the public breaks with cultural expectations and celebrates the death of Zanu PF or govt-linked officials? The lack of decency began in govt and is filtering into society. Mnangagwa’s regime appears not to understand this.
Mnangagwa himself publicly said if he was God he would “switch off the oxygen” for opposition supporters. That is not the language of a decent man, let alone the president of a nation. It is outrageous that such a callous regime actually expects condolences from its victims
The culture of denouncing rivals at political rallies is distinctly Zanu PF. The ruling party has no interest in the politics of ideas, where arguments are made, and the better view prevails in the national interest. Instead, it is full of threats and violence.
Talk is cheap. If the regime genuinely desires unity, it must begin to take substantive actions to resolves the People’s Grievances. You cannot in one breath cheer the murder of your opponents and in the next call for national unity.
By A Correspondent- A 27 year old police impersonator has been jailed for 40 months in prison for robbing a banana vendor of his hard-earned cash.
Tariro Chigwedu robbed Talent Mabanjira of US$1 and ZWL $100 on two different occasions while claiming to be a police officer.
It is in the States case that on the 6th of January 2021, the Chigwedu approached Mabanjira at TM Hyper while he was busy selling his bananas.
Chigwedu who was eager to swindle Mabanjira of his hard-earned cash is alleged to have informed Mabanjira that he was a police officer based at Drill Hall and was attached at the license inspectorate.
After that, Chigwedu allegedly went on to inform Mabanjira that he was under arrest for selling bananas during the enforced lockdown period.
He said for him to be released he had to pay a US$3 fine, to which Mabanjira told him he had only US$1. The accused is alleged to have accepted the US$1 from Mabanjira and dashed off after receiving the money.
Believing that he had discovered an easy way to make money, the court heard that Chigwedu returned to TM hyper and found Mabanjira busy selling his bananas, he once again stopped him and demanded cash while also claiming to be a police officer.
The unsuspecting Talent gave him $100 after that he left in a hurry.
However, on 23 January things changed for Chigwedu, he went back to TM hyper and used the same modus operandi to swindle Mabanjira, but Mabanjira demanded to see his ZRP identity card first.
After he failed to produce it, Mabanjira called passersby who helped him in apprehending Chigwedu. They took him to a police station leading to his arrest.
Chigwedu appeared before Tredgold courts magistrate Stephen Ndlovu and pleaded guilty to two counts of impersonation
In passing his sentence, magistrate Stephen Ndlovu Tariro condoned Chigwedu’s behavior saying;
“You must be ashamed of yourself for dragging the name of the police force into the mud by extorting innocent civilians while masquerading in borrowed robes of our esteemed police force, therefore you deserve a custodial sentence.”
He was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison, however, eight months were suspended on condition of good behavior. He will effectively serve 40 months behind bars.BMetro
