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



1. CAPACITY OF HEALTH INSTITUTIONS.
   
With COVID19 cases almost tripling in the last 6 weeks, our hospitals are  overwhelmed and failing to cope with the number of COVID19 infected patients requiring hospital admissions. We know that 10-15% of all cases will progress to severe illness and approximately 5% of cases will become critically ill.

The average daily cases over the past 2 weeks in Zimbabwe are around 700 cases. This means that between 70 and 105 people per day may progress to severe disease which may require hospitalisation.

These numbers are too high for our health infrastructure to cope and as a result our capacity to handle severe cases of COVID-19 seem to be surpassed by the pandemic resulting in suboptimal and in some instances non-existent emergency services for people with severe COVID-19. Parirenyatwa needs to increase COVID-19 response infrastructure immediately.

This may be one of the reasons for the high death rates that we have been witnessing over the past weeks. There is need to urgently increase the bed capacity in public hospitals so that patients with COVID-19 have access to oxygen therapy, as well ventilators for those who are critically ill. These services need to be decentralized and become available in all provinces. The situation is not good at all. Access to a bed and oxygen therapy must be more readily available across the country.




2. LOCKDOWN.

   Whilst the lockdown was a welcome move to try and minimize the rate of spread of infections, there is need to effectively implement the lockdown. Studies have shown it is better to implement a short but effective lockdown rather than a prolonged lockdown as compliance with lockdown regulations goes down with a prolonged lockdown.

The unavailability of social safety nets for the vulnerable, considering our heavily informal economy, means that people will be forced to breach lockdown regulations if search of food, water and money to cater for their families. This again reduces the effectiveness of the lockdown. We must be careful not to flatten the economy in our bid flatten the curve. We face the risk of a lockdown induced poverty. 

It is desirable and advisable to adopt other approaches to a lockdown. We could consider a partial lockdown or a spatial lockdown or  a staggered lockdown. Lockdowns are not meant to be permanent solutions, there is need to create a lockdown exit strategy.

WE REITERATE THAT, CONTRARY TO THE WHOLESALE, UNSTRUCTURED AND  PANIC INDUCED SHUTDOWN WE WOULD PURSUE AN ALTERNATIVE PATH THAT SAVES LIVES AND PROTECTS LIVELIHOODS, PREVENTING OUR ECONOMY FROM COLLAPSING AND SAVING OUR PEOPLE FROM HUNGER.



3. TESTING AND SCREENING.
Our neighbours South Africa have reported a new variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, being named B.1.351. This strain has been shown to be more transmissible than the original covid19 virus. With people coming into Zimbabwe for the festive season using our porous borders as well as reports of invalid and fake COVID-19 certificates, there is likelihood that this strain may have been imported into the country.

Health professionals are reporting difference in clinical presentations between the first wave and the current wave of infections, as well as a high rate of false negative results on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. This is an indicator that we might be dealing with a different strain of covid19 virus. There is need for us to conduct tests (or through the help of other countries like neighbouring South Africa if we cannot conduct the genetic testing of the virus) to ascertain what type of virus we are dealing with.

We also welcome the availability of the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests, which have been shown to be more reliable in detecting COVID-19 than the Antibody tests. These tests are much cheaper than the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. We need to increase availability of these tests across the country so that we can detect as much people as possible, isolate those positive, and conduct contact tracing. This will slow down the rate of infections.

Leadership is now required. We immediately demand the reduction of the cost of our health services. In fact we must make it free for COVID-19 patients who are in serious condition. We must decentralize testing and roll out free testing to rural areas at growth points and townships including at all clinics and hospitals.




4. HEALTH WORKERS WELFARE AND CAPACITY.
   
Our health workers have been on the frontline fighting this pandemic. However, in order for them to effectively do their job they need to be capacitated with the necessary tools of trade. According to the Health Services Board, over 1500 health workers have already been infected with COVID-19, and 7 deaths recorded.

The intermittent and chronic shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) is one of the reasons why we have this huge number of health workers getting infected. Recently nurses at Sally Mugabe hospital were protesting over the shortage of PPE. The situation is similar in other hospitals across the country. PPE should be readily available in order to at least offer protection to our frontline workers. Shortage of health workers is a major reason why we have limited bed capacity for covid19 patients.

We therefore cannot afford to continue losing health workers either through deaths or through absenteeism from work when infected health workers undergo their mandatory isolation periods.

We need adequate Remuneration as an incentive including a risk allowance for all our health care workers.



5. CONTINUOS CARE FOR OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS.
   
Whilst the attention and focus is on combating the COVID19 pandemic, there is need to continue providing care for other health conditions so as to avoidable morbidity and mortality from other illnesses. Recently Parirenyatwa Hospital announced that they are scaling down Chemotherapy services at their radiotherapy centre.

This severely compromises access to care for cancer patients as there are only 2 institutions in the public sector offering such services in the whole country. Measures need to be put in place to make sure that services for chronic conditions such as HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, mental illness as well as access to reproductive health and maternal and child health continue during the pandemic.

We have experienced above normal rains and floods this year, and with the malaria season approaching, there is a likelihood of an increase in malaria cases. People should continue to access services in order to avoid deaths from malaria.

6. SUPER SPREADERS.

Funerals and congested places like prisons have become serious super spreaders.
Our prisons have become covid superspreder, hot spots and zones.

7. COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL OUT PLAN.
   
Many countries in Europe, America and Asia have already begun vaccinating their populations.

In Africa, though vaccinations have not begun, many countries including South Africa and Kenya have already placed orders for vaccines. Whilst the country is set to benefit vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) backed COVAX scheme, as well as from arrangements from the African Union (AU), these vaccines will not be enough for attainment of herd immunity (which is estimated at approximately 60%). There is need for the government to set aside funds for the procurement of additional support.

More importantly, it is necessary for Africa to invest into Research and Development to provide solutions for our local people. We are a continent with great capacity to deal with any disease. We need to invest more in studying the mutating virus, so that we avail the best solution which is safe for our people.

Zimbabwe needs to:
• Avail funds for the development, manufacturing and procurement of COVID-19 solutions.
• Avail funds for treatment of the communities.
• Start the process of identifying at risk populations who are supposed to receive the treatment first.
For an treatment plan, priority must be given to the elderly, the vulnerable, people living with disabilities, widows, orphans and our frontline workers.

WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

Our national strategy must be predicated upon the following;

1.Broad based inclusive national task force. 
2.Elaborate testing, screening and isolation plan.
3.Capacitating health institutions and frontline workers.
4.Zonal Spatial lockdown targeting epicenters.
5.Resourcing strategy through domestic resource mobilization and global appeals.

6. Unleashing 4th industrial revolution and the internet of things.
    
   The following are immediate:
    
7. There is need for a deliberate approach to involve all the players, political, labour, Government, academics, churches, citizens, CSOs, private sector – a United Team Zimbabwe approach;
8. Establish a National Covid Advisory Group of Experts and let science take the lead;
9. Invite World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts for an assessment and evaluation of current National response.
10. Contrary to the current situation where citizens are on lockdown with no testing taking place, Government must roll out national testing by contacting a door to door testing approach.
11. In the same vein, as we continue to fight corona virus,  the following measures must be considered:
    a. Provision of personal protective equipment for our frontline staff such as nurses, doctors, janitors, administrative staff, police, soldiers and state employees;
    b. Provision of at least US$2000 risk allowance and tax exemption for all health professionals, security servicemen/women and government workers on duty. We want to emphases that, in view of the disparities in the exchange rates, this must be paid in hard cash, that is, in USD;
    c. Provision of sanitisers and masks for all;
    d. Provision of radio and TV lessons dedicated for the education of the masses about corona virus;
    e. In view of rampant corruption which have become a permanent feature under the Second Republic, will call upon Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of corona virus issues by Government.
12. With input from (1), come up with safety nets for the citizens during and after lockdown and come up with elaborate measures aimed at containing the virus. Among the cushioning measures Government should consider should include:
    a. Rolling out of humanitarian support to vulnerable people. This may include provision of cash handouts and the subsidized basic goods such as mealie meal, water, internet, electricity and fuel for our vulnerable and most at risk populations; or provide specialized support to the elderly people, persons with disability amongst others;
    b. Creation of new model for informal sector trading where basic of commodities in undertaken that seeks to achieve decongestion and decentralization. The aim will be ensure sustained livelihoods.
13. In line with stakeholders, Government must develop information tool kit for the citizens with a view to create awareness on the progress made towards containing the virus. This information tool kit must be extensively disseminated through various media channels/platforms and campaigns in hotspot areas.
14. The information tool kit must provide specific details such as number of people tested per day, accurate statistical figures on the outcomes of the tests with hope that this information can provide evidence to show how the country is coping with the disease and possible indication of how the lockdown will last as opposed to being reactive. For Zimbabwe, because of our context where we have over 5.7 million people in the informal sector, it is important that we get out of the lockdown quickly to save lives from hunger. Hence, the importance of reasonable statistical evidence on testing and the level of prevalence of the pandemic cannot be overemphasised.
15. In view of the need to save lives from hunger and the corona virus and also saving the economy from total collapse, we need to come out of lockdown and seal our borders save for trade and come up with an organised strategy of returning back to work with inputs from (1);
16. There is need for a post lockdown strategy that articulates how various sectors of the economy will be resuscitated and developed using a phased approach. There is need for a clear strategy on how the economy will be rescued and be brought back to life, how people will return back to work, how children will go back to school – This may take the form of a spatial and tier approach to lockdown – A back to normal life roadmap –.
17. In the interim, Government must look at Look at the education sector and what can be done to ensure students don’t lose much learning time. Alternative teaching methods must be fully explored and scaled up using platforms such as TV and radio whilst the cost of data must be subsidized for students.

There is need to explore the use of TV, the role Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) can play in providing both radio and television lessons. Radio lessons will help even those in remote areas because of its wide coverage.

Teachers and teachers’ associations should be engaged on how best they can teach their students during this pandemic.

12. Civil servants who can work from home should be allowed to do so and decongest the work place. Civil servants must be given access to data and availed digital gadgets and services. 
We must encourage and enforce fumigation of these work places.
13. There is need to marshal resources for the countries Covid response. This may include budget recasting and budget virementing.
    a. Cut down government expenditure especially on non essential items like luxury vehicles for government officials and civil service.
    b. Channeling the touted surplus towards the Covid response.

14 . We must empty remand prisons expect for very very serious offenses
Give amnesty to most prisoners except those on very very serious charges.
We need a plan to decongest them or strict regimes of testing, screening and isolation and regular disinfecting.

15. We must allow churches to open for controlled number of people provided there is social distancing, masking and other COVID-19 protocols.
16. There is need to ensure we pay attention to our economy and ensure it survives the tide of the Covid pandemic. From policy perspective, the following are necessary:

a. In order to improve competitiveness of our exporters and eliminate exchange rate losses, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) must allow banks to take full control of foreign exchange trading with a view to guarantee an efficient price discovery where the informal rate converges with the formal rate or where the disparities between the two rates are minimised to levels below 10%.

b. Furthermore, whilst we understand the importance of sharing foreign currency as a scarce resource for national development purposes, the recently announced export retention of 40% in a period which is characterised by COVID-19 pandemic, drought of stimulus package and over 30% disparities between the formal exchange rate and the parallel market rate, is both regressive and inconsiderate. In view of this, we call upon the RBZ to reduce export retention to 20% – thus allowing exporters to retain 80% of our export earnings.

c. Government failure to offer real stimulus package to save businesses is a cause for great concern. It must be appreciated that both the ZWL$18 billion package for large business and ZWL$600 million for SMEs are a drop in the ocean.

This is so considering that the economy requires funding in the region of US$5 billion.

In line with (1), we call upon Government to come up with a reasonable package to save businesses small and large.

d. Government should consider a number of fiscal measures aimed at reducing tax burden for businesses and individuals where appropriate. The following must be considered:
i. Immediate removal of the 2% tax to spur business growth;
ii. Rationalization of tax where sectors such as tourism and mining with 22 and 15 tax heads, respectively should see some of the tax heads being removed.

In the long term there is need for a post Covid reconstruction and recovery programme. This takes inputs from (1);


More importantly, must depoliticize Covid and understand that it kills anyone and everyone

Since the effects of COVID-19 are non-partisan, I want to implore each and every Zimbabwean to take this opportunity to be each others keeper.

We know the inadequacies of our system and the struggles of collective well-being; however, now is the time to look to each other to ensure that we fight COVID-19 through our collective Ubuntu. Our brothers and sisters are dying, we must wash our hands, mask-up and keep our distance.

No one is coming to save us, it’s time we work together to stop the spread.Unity is key in the face of COVID-19. All of us must put aside their political differences and work together in the fight against COVID-19. It’s not the time to score political points but to work together. Those who like to trade insults and grand standing its not the time our people are dying.

I appeal to the international community to save the country’s health sector and the pple of Zimbabwe. NB. The sector was struggling before the pandemic and Covid has obviously led to it being overwhelmed and it needs support. We appeal to the international community ,donors ,business tycoons, Zimbabweans in the diaspora who can assist.
Fellow countrymen we must wither the covid 19 storm.

Our best medical brains should be allowed to lead in the fight against this global pandemic.The same team managed to reduce the HIV prevalence rate likewise they will manage to contain this pandemic if we listen and allow the experts to guide us.
I encourage the nation to follow the guidelines and protocols of reducing the spread of the pandemic.

To Our Bishops, Pastors, the church body and Intercessors and believers we encourage to continue to stand in the gap to pray for our nation. We must stand in prayer with those who have been affected by the pandemic. May the Holy Spirit comfort all the families who lost their loved ones.

I enjoin citizens to be vigilant and resilient. Together we waged and won struggle s in the past including the hard won liberation struggle. Together we will win and wither the covid storm.
Together we have all the answers to all our problems.

We are one People but politics and politicians make us to be different people.

It is a patriotic duty to tell anyone to mask up and to not engage in super spreader events.

Fellow Zimbabweans, there is no problem we can’t solve when we are one and United.

From ZAMBEZI TO LIMPOPO,
One people, One vision, One Future!

Always for Better and greater Zimbabwe!

A NEW GREAT ZIMBABWE IS POSSIBLE!

GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE.

JUST IN: Pro-democracy campaigner Allan Moyo, who has spent more than 50 days in detention, will continue detained in prison after Justice Foroma dismissed his bail appeal.

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) January 28, 2021

Moyo was arrested on 7 December for alleging that President Mnangagwa is destroying people's future.

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) January 28, 2021

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

By A Correspondent- A self-styled prophet allegedly raped a woman who had visited his shrine seeking prayers for her sick child, after prescribing a concoction mixed with lemons that resulted in her passing out in the midst of the healing session.

Samuel Guta (45) of Apostle of Power of Unity in Christ Church, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday, charged with rape.

He was not asked to plead to the charges when he appeared before magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi, who remanded him in custody to February 2.

Mr Mangosi advised Guta to approach the High Court for bail application.

Prosecutor Mr Shepherd Makonde had it that on January 1, Guta called the woman to his shrine located at Churu Farm in Glen View, Harare, for prayers.

It is alleged Guta told the woman to bring lemons, which he said were needed to heal the child.

Upon arrival at the shrine, Guta asked the woman to squeeze the lemon juice on her hands, feet and breasts and she complied.

The court heard that Guta started praying for the woman, who then suddenly passed out.

Allegations are that Guta took advantage of the woman’s state and raped her.

The woman was surprised to find herself lying without her undergarments.

Before she came to terms with what had happened, Guta is said to have repeated the same prayer resulting in the woman passing out again, before allegedly raping her for the second time.

Irked by Guta’s actions, the woman reported the matter to the police, leading to Guta’s arrest.-statemedia

President Nelson Chamisa addresses the nation on the current COVID-19 situation in the country.Watch video below:

FIGHTING COVID-19 TO BUILD A HEALTHY NATION – AN ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19

Fellow Zimbabweans,

I come to you in circumstances of extreme national emergency.
We have an extraordinary situation in our country. We are facing an extremely challenging national outlook.

The COVID 19 pandemic is wrecking havoc in every family, every village, every suburb and every community. Remember, every COVID 19 statistic is a human being. 

Every other day, we are losing another friend, another workmate, another relative, another leader and another Zimbabwean.

Just as of yesterday, Zimbabwe recorded 1075 deaths. May their souls rest in peace. Our figure for those who have tested positive to date is over the 30000 mark.

My condolences to all those who lost their loved ones and my commiserations for those who are not feeling well. We continue to pray that they get well soon!

Let us observe a minute of silence in honor of our dear departed.

COVID-19 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



1. CAPACITY OF HEALTH INSTITUTIONS.
   
With COVID19 cases almost tripling in the last 6 weeks, our hospitals are  overwhelmed and failing to cope with the number of COVID19 infected patients requiring hospital admissions. We know that 10-15% of all cases will progress to severe illness and approximately 5% of cases will become critically ill.

The average daily cases over the past 2 weeks in Zimbabwe are around 700 cases. This means that between 70 and 105 people per day may progress to severe disease which may require hospitalisation.

These numbers are too high for our health infrastructure to cope and as a result our capacity to handle severe cases of COVID-19 seem to be surpassed by the pandemic resulting in suboptimal and in some instances non-existent emergency services for people with severe COVID-19. Parirenyatwa needs to increase COVID-19 response infrastructure immediately.

This may be one of the reasons for the high death rates that we have been witnessing over the past weeks. There is need to urgently increase the bed capacity in public hospitals so that patients with COVID-19 have access to oxygen therapy, as well ventilators for those who are critically ill. These services need to be decentralized and become available in all provinces. The situation is not good at all. Access to a bed and oxygen therapy must be more readily available across the country.




2. LOCKDOWN.

   Whilst the lockdown was a welcome move to try and minimize the rate of spread of infections, there is need to effectively implement the lockdown. Studies have shown it is better to implement a short but effective lockdown rather than a prolonged lockdown as compliance with lockdown regulations goes down with a prolonged lockdown.

The unavailability of social safety nets for the vulnerable, considering our heavily informal economy, means that people will be forced to breach lockdown regulations if search of food, water and money to cater for their families. This again reduces the effectiveness of the lockdown. We must be careful not to flatten the economy in our bid flatten the curve. We face the risk of a lockdown induced poverty. 

It is desirable and advisable to adopt other approaches to a lockdown. We could consider a partial lockdown or a spatial lockdown or  a staggered lockdown. Lockdowns are not meant to be permanent solutions, there is need to create a lockdown exit strategy.

WE REITERATE THAT, CONTRARY TO THE WHOLESALE, UNSTRUCTURED AND  PANIC INDUCED SHUTDOWN WE WOULD PURSUE AN ALTERNATIVE PATH THAT SAVES LIVES AND PROTECTS LIVELIHOODS, PREVENTING OUR ECONOMY FROM COLLAPSING AND SAVING OUR PEOPLE FROM HUNGER.



3. TESTING AND SCREENING.
Our neighbours South Africa have reported a new variant of the SARS-COV-2 virus, being named B.1.351. This strain has been shown to be more transmissible than the original covid19 virus. With people coming into Zimbabwe for the festive season using our porous borders as well as reports of invalid and fake COVID-19 certificates, there is likelihood that this strain may have been imported into the country.

Health professionals are reporting difference in clinical presentations between the first wave and the current wave of infections, as well as a high rate of false negative results on Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. This is an indicator that we might be dealing with a different strain of covid19 virus. There is need for us to conduct tests (or through the help of other countries like neighbouring South Africa if we cannot conduct the genetic testing of the virus) to ascertain what type of virus we are dealing with.

We also welcome the availability of the COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests, which have been shown to be more reliable in detecting COVID-19 than the Antibody tests. These tests are much cheaper than the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. We need to increase availability of these tests across the country so that we can detect as much people as possible, isolate those positive, and conduct contact tracing. This will slow down the rate of infections.

Leadership is now required. We immediately demand the reduction of the cost of our health services. In fact we must make it free for COVID-19 patients who are in serious condition. We must decentralize testing and roll out free testing to rural areas at growth points and townships including at all clinics and hospitals.




4. HEALTH WORKERS WELFARE AND CAPACITY.
   
Our health workers have been on the frontline fighting this pandemic. However, in order for them to effectively do their job they need to be capacitated with the necessary tools of trade. According to the Health Services Board, over 1500 health workers have already been infected with COVID-19, and 7 deaths recorded.

The intermittent and chronic shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) is one of the reasons why we have this huge number of health workers getting infected. Recently nurses at Sally Mugabe hospital were protesting over the shortage of PPE. The situation is similar in other hospitals across the country. PPE should be readily available in order to at least offer protection to our frontline workers. Shortage of health workers is a major reason why we have limited bed capacity for covid19 patients.

We therefore cannot afford to continue losing health workers either through deaths or through absenteeism from work when infected health workers undergo their mandatory isolation periods.

We need adequate Remuneration as an incentive including a risk allowance for all our health care workers.



5. CONTINUOS CARE FOR OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS.
   
Whilst the attention and focus is on combating the COVID19 pandemic, there is need to continue providing care for other health conditions so as to avoidable morbidity and mortality from other illnesses. Recently Parirenyatwa Hospital announced that they are scaling down Chemotherapy services at their radiotherapy centre.

This severely compromises access to care for cancer patients as there are only 2 institutions in the public sector offering such services in the whole country. Measures need to be put in place to make sure that services for chronic conditions such as HIV, Diabetes, Hypertension, mental illness as well as access to reproductive health and maternal and child health continue during the pandemic.

We have experienced above normal rains and floods this year, and with the malaria season approaching, there is a likelihood of an increase in malaria cases. People should continue to access services in order to avoid deaths from malaria.

6. SUPER SPREADERS.

Funerals and congested places like prisons have become serious super spreaders.
Our prisons have become covid superspreder, hot spots and zones.

7. COVID-19 VACCINE ROLL OUT PLAN.
   
Many countries in Europe, America and Asia have already begun vaccinating their populations.

In Africa, though vaccinations have not begun, many countries including South Africa and Kenya have already placed orders for vaccines. Whilst the country is set to benefit vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) backed COVAX scheme, as well as from arrangements from the African Union (AU), these vaccines will not be enough for attainment of herd immunity (which is estimated at approximately 60%). There is need for the government to set aside funds for the procurement of additional support.

More importantly, it is necessary for Africa to invest into Research and Development to provide solutions for our local people. We are a continent with great capacity to deal with any disease. We need to invest more in studying the mutating virus, so that we avail the best solution which is safe for our people.

Zimbabwe needs to:
• Avail funds for the development, manufacturing and procurement of COVID-19 solutions.
• Avail funds for treatment of the communities.
• Start the process of identifying at risk populations who are supposed to receive the treatment first.
For an treatment plan, priority must be given to the elderly, the vulnerable, people living with disabilities, widows, orphans and our frontline workers.

WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

Our national strategy must be predicated upon the following;

1.Broad based inclusive national task force. 
2.Elaborate testing, screening and isolation plan.
3.Capacitating health institutions and frontline workers.
4.Zonal Spatial lockdown targeting epicenters.
5.Resourcing strategy through domestic resource mobilization and global appeals.

6. Unleashing 4th industrial revolution and the internet of things.
    
   The following are immediate:
    
7. There is need for a deliberate approach to involve all the players, political, labour, Government, academics, churches, citizens, CSOs, private sector – a United Team Zimbabwe approach;
8. Establish a National Covid Advisory Group of Experts and let science take the lead;
9. Invite World Health Organisation (WHO) and other experts for an assessment and evaluation of current National response.
10. Contrary to the current situation where citizens are on lockdown with no testing taking place, Government must roll out national testing by contacting a door to door testing approach.
11. In the same vein, as we continue to fight corona virus,  the following measures must be considered:
    a. Provision of personal protective equipment for our frontline staff such as nurses, doctors, janitors, administrative staff, police, soldiers and state employees;
    b. Provision of at least US$2000 risk allowance and tax exemption for all health professionals, security servicemen/women and government workers on duty. We want to emphases that, in view of the disparities in the exchange rates, this must be paid in hard cash, that is, in USD;
    c. Provision of sanitisers and masks for all;
    d. Provision of radio and TV lessons dedicated for the education of the masses about corona virus;
    e. In view of rampant corruption which have become a permanent feature under the Second Republic, will call upon Government to ensure transparency and accountability in the handling of corona virus issues by Government.
12. With input from (1), come up with safety nets for the citizens during and after lockdown and come up with elaborate measures aimed at containing the virus. Among the cushioning measures Government should consider should include:
    a. Rolling out of humanitarian support to vulnerable people. This may include provision of cash handouts and the subsidized basic goods such as mealie meal, water, internet, electricity and fuel for our vulnerable and most at risk populations; or provide specialized support to the elderly people, persons with disability amongst others;
    b. Creation of new model for informal sector trading where basic of commodities in undertaken that seeks to achieve decongestion and decentralization. The aim will be ensure sustained livelihoods.
13. In line with stakeholders, Government must develop information tool kit for the citizens with a view to create awareness on the progress made towards containing the virus. This information tool kit must be extensively disseminated through various media channels/platforms and campaigns in hotspot areas.
14. The information tool kit must provide specific details such as number of people tested per day, accurate statistical figures on the outcomes of the tests with hope that this information can provide evidence to show how the country is coping with the disease and possible indication of how the lockdown will last as opposed to being reactive. For Zimbabwe, because of our context where we have over 5.7 million people in the informal sector, it is important that we get out of the lockdown quickly to save lives from hunger. Hence, the importance of reasonable statistical evidence on testing and the level of prevalence of the pandemic cannot be overemphasised.
15. In view of the need to save lives from hunger and the corona virus and also saving the economy from total collapse, we need to come out of lockdown and seal our borders save for trade and come up with an organised strategy of returning back to work with inputs from (1);
16. There is need for a post lockdown strategy that articulates how various sectors of the economy will be resuscitated and developed using a phased approach. There is need for a clear strategy on how the economy will be rescued and be brought back to life, how people will return back to work, how children will go back to school – This may take the form of a spatial and tier approach to lockdown – A back to normal life roadmap –.
17. In the interim, Government must look at Look at the education sector and what can be done to ensure students don’t lose much learning time. Alternative teaching methods must be fully explored and scaled up using platforms such as TV and radio whilst the cost of data must be subsidized for students.

There is need to explore the use of TV, the role Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation (ZBC) can play in providing both radio and television lessons. Radio lessons will help even those in remote areas because of its wide coverage.

Teachers and teachers’ associations should be engaged on how best they can teach their students during this pandemic.

12. Civil servants who can work from home should be allowed to do so and decongest the work place. Civil servants must be given access to data and availed digital gadgets and services. 
We must encourage and enforce fumigation of these work places.
13. There is need to marshal resources for the countries Covid response. This may include budget recasting and budget virementing.
    a. Cut down government expenditure especially on non essential items like luxury vehicles for government officials and civil service.
    b. Channeling the touted surplus towards the Covid response.

14 . We must empty remand prisons expect for very very serious offenses
Give amnesty to most prisoners except those on very very serious charges.
We need a plan to decongest them or strict regimes of testing, screening and isolation and regular disinfecting.

15. We must allow churches to open for controlled number of people provided there is social distancing, masking and other COVID-19 protocols.
16. There is need to ensure we pay attention to our economy and ensure it survives the tide of the Covid pandemic. From policy perspective, the following are necessary:

a. In order to improve competitiveness of our exporters and eliminate exchange rate losses, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) must allow banks to take full control of foreign exchange trading with a view to guarantee an efficient price discovery where the informal rate converges with the formal rate or where the disparities between the two rates are minimised to levels below 10%.

b. Furthermore, whilst we understand the importance of sharing foreign currency as a scarce resource for national development purposes, the recently announced export retention of 40% in a period which is characterised by COVID-19 pandemic, drought of stimulus package and over 30% disparities between the formal exchange rate and the parallel market rate, is both regressive and inconsiderate. In view of this, we call upon the RBZ to reduce export retention to 20% – thus allowing exporters to retain 80% of our export earnings.

c. Government failure to offer real stimulus package to save businesses is a cause for great concern. It must be appreciated that both the ZWL$18 billion package for large business and ZWL$600 million for SMEs are a drop in the ocean.

This is so considering that the economy requires funding in the region of US$5 billion.

In line with (1), we call upon Government to come up with a reasonable package to save businesses small and large.

d. Government should consider a number of fiscal measures aimed at reducing tax burden for businesses and individuals where appropriate. The following must be considered:
i. Immediate removal of the 2% tax to spur business growth;
ii. Rationalization of tax where sectors such as tourism and mining with 22 and 15 tax heads, respectively should see some of the tax heads being removed.

In the long term there is need for a post Covid reconstruction and recovery programme. This takes inputs from (1);


More importantly, must depoliticize Covid and understand that it kills anyone and everyone

Since the effects of COVID-19 are non-partisan, I want to implore each and every Zimbabwean to take this opportunity to be each others keeper.

We know the inadequacies of our system and the struggles of collective well-being; however, now is the time to look to each other to ensure that we fight COVID-19 through our collective Ubuntu. Our brothers and sisters are dying, we must wash our hands, mask-up and keep our distance. No one is coming to save us, it’s time we work together to stop the spread

Unity is key in the face of COVID-19. All of us must put aside their political differences and work together in the fight against COVID-19. It’s not the time to score political points but to work together. Those who like to trade insults and grand standing its not the time our people are dying.

I appeal to the international community to save the country’s health sector and the pple of Zimbabwe. NB. The sector was struggling before the pandemic and Covid has obviously led to it being overwhelmed and it needs support. We appeal to the international community ,donors ,business tycoons, Zimbabweans in the diaspora who can assist.

Fellow countrymen we must wither the covid 19 storm.

Our best medical brains should be allowed to lead in the fight against this global pandemic.The same team managed to reduce the HIV prevalence rate likewise they will manage to contain this pandemic if we listen and allow the experts to guide us.

I encourage the nation to follow the guidelines and protocols of reducing the spread of the pandemic.

To Our Bishops, Pastors, the church body and Intercessors and believers we encourage to continue to stand in the gap to pray for our nation. We must stand in prayer with those who have been affected by the pandemic. May the Holy Spirit comfort all the families who lost their loved ones.


I enjoin citizens to be vigilant and resilient. Together we waged and won struggle s in the past including the hard won liberation struggle. Together we will win and wither the covid storm.
Together we have all the answers to all our problems.

We are one People but politics and politicians make us to be different people.

It is a patriotic duty to tell anyone to mask up and to not engage in super spreader events.

Fellow Zimbabweans, there is no problem we can’t solve when we are one and United.

From ZAMBEZI TO LIMPOPO,
One people, One vision, One Future!

Always for Better and greater Zimbabwe!

A NEW GREAT ZIMBABWE IS POSSIBLE!

GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE.

By A Correspondent- Former Daily News journalist Lloyd Mbiba has died.

Mbiba reportedly died last night in Bulawayo.

Details surrounding the cause of his death were still sketchy by the time of writing.

More details to follow….

Dear Editor

Police details manning Chitungwiza road near Manyame bridge are fleecing motorists using that road.

I was travelling from Mbudzi round about on my way home to Chitungwiza and there was a queue of cars at that check point.

We were delayed until it was after 6pm before they closed that road and accused every motorist of violating the curfew.

They were demanding bribes for you to pass through.

ZACC please help us.

Concerned motorist

By A Correspondent- The chairperson of the Parliamentary Health Committee, Dr Ruth Labode has queried why citizens are being asked to pay for Covid-19 tests when government received an estimated US$45 million to procure Covid-19 test kits.

Labode said people should not be paying for Covid-19 tests and attributed the development to corruption.

She said:

“The Global Fund gave Zimbabwe US$45m to buy Covid-19 test kits. Why are people still forced to pay US$60 for a Covid-19 test? It’s corruption.”

More details follow……

President Nelson Chamisa addresses the nation on the current COVID-19 situation in the country.Watch video below:

https://youtu.be/Y-lng01tG2A

By A Correspondent- The serial bed-hopping antics of Plumtree-based businessman Bhekisisa Bhebhe, who was chucked out of his in-laws’ house after his shenanigans were exposed, caused the marriage dissolution that befell a Bulawayo businessman and his then wife Sithandekile Magida.

It is alleged Bhebhe, who frequents Bulawayo has since been seen with Sithandekile Magida for some time and their relationship has been going for the past two years.

“Sithandekile has been seeing Bhebhe for the past two years behind her husband’s back. And she even posted on Facebook saying she has been in the farming business with Bhebhe for some time. Shockingly during their marriage she did not introduce Bhebhe to her husband and that raised eyebrows,” said a source close to Sithandekile.

The impeccable source said Sithandekile was customarily married to a man named Wonder Phiri, but their union developed cracks. And it came down crashing in October last year.

“The two Sithandekile and Wonder were married under unregistered customary marriage. Their marriage started to develop cracks sometime last year and the two approached courts to mend it sadly the situation never healed as a result they dissolved their union last year,” said the privy source.

Contacted for comment Phiri said: “To set the record straight I got married to Sithandekile on 22 December 2018 under unregistered customary marriage that was terminated on 28 October last year. That is all I can say, kindly stop calling me because that is a closed chapter. I’m now minding my own affairs.”

But Sithandekile, who is a sales and distribution manager for a local brewery company, still insists through her lawyer that she is married and the union is blessed with two children. She does not state who she is married to.

“She is a married family person with two children,” reads the letter in part.

Sithandekile refuted the allegations that she was cohabiting with Bhebhe.

“He (Bhebhe) does not stay with me, anyone can come and see whether I’m staying with him or not. I stay with my child and a helper. Actually we are in business . . . he was our customer,” said Sithandekile.

Ruponiso told this reporter that after her husband stumbled on the dirty WhatsApp messages, he confronted Bhebhe.

“These messages have caused me a lot of problems, my husband confronted Bhebhe after seeing them and Bhebhe apologised. Bhebhe’s wife Rebecca got angry as well after seeing the messages and wrote to me a message on Facebook saying due to my affair with Bhebhe I have caused a rift in her marriage,” said the distraught Ruponiso.

Bhebhe’s open zip game has seen him being suspended by Guta Ra Mwari Zvimiso’s (GRMZ), the church that he goes to. The church’s leadership found him guilty and stopped him from carrying out church duties. A letter of his censure was signed by Barnabas Benson Chimoto, the leader of GRMZ.

“A meeting was held on December last year at GRMZ headquarters after the leadership received numerous reports that Bhebhe was having sexual and extra- marital relations involving a large number of women and having a sexual relationship with a member of GRMZ,” reads the letter which B-Metro is in possession of.

The source said the meeting was presided over by the representatives of the supreme council, international council and disciplinary committee of GRMZ.

“It was unanimously agreed that Bhebhe must be immediately stripped off of his duties as an Evangelist at GRMZ and should attend services as an ordinary member. He must remove the red tie and revert to wearing khaki tie. He is not to carry out any duties during GRMZ services such as, but not limited to: chairing of meetings, reading of standing orders or conducting choirs,” reads the letter.

The source further states that things are not so rosy in Bhebhe’s marriage as well as his wife Rebecca, who is based in Britain, wants out of the marriage and has filed for divorce after his dirty secrets came tumbling out of the closet after someone posted sexually explicit messages that he exchanged with Ruponiso on a church WhatsApp group.

Bhebhe and Rebecca are in the said church WhatsApp group.

Efforts to confirm whether Bhebhe received the letter were fruitless as his mobile phone went straight to voicemail.

Meanwhile, a number of emissaries, some of them journalists and a popular DJ, who were sent by Bhebhe tried, but failed to exert undue pressure on B-Metro to drop the story last week. Promises of financial rewards were made.

The Zimpapers Human Resources Department in Bulawayo was made aware of the bribery attempts.

By A Correspondent- A 17 year old boy from Springs Farm in Umguza on the outskirts of Bulawayo decided to cut his life short by jumping into a dam and drowning himself after his flame dumped him for an illegal gold miner.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a case about a 17-year-old boy who was found floating at a dam in Springs Farm in Umguza on the outskirts of Bulawayo,” said Insp Ncube.

According to a close family member the deceased Mthabisi Joel Nkiwane got heartbroken after his 16-year-old sweetheart dumped him for an illegal gold miner.

Last week on Sunday Mthabisi, who was still emotionally hurt that the “money man” snatched his girlfriend, left home to get a haircut at a salon at around 11:30AM.

But he never went there — instead he went to a dam!

“His parents got worried after he failed to return on that particular day, they reported the matter to the police. Villagers carried out a manhunt around the village,” said the source.

The source added: “During the search the community members stumbled on his trousers and a cap a few metres away from the dam. Upon checking around they saw the deceased’s lifeless body floating on the water in the dam.”

A source close to investigations said the deceased left a note.

“The note was detailing that he was so heartbroken after his girlfriend that he loved so much dumped him. He could not bear the heart-break and decided to end his life,” said the source close to investigations.

Community members went back to inform the police that they discovered the deceased’s body floating on water in a dam.

Police attended the scene and the Sub Aqua section of Zimbabwe Republic Police retrieved the deceased’s body from the dam.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has appointed Tongoona Chitando as acting general manager (GM) following the recent death of Joseph Mashika.

Chitando will double up as the acting chief finance officer.

His appointment comes after the NRZ board indefinitely suspended its proposed ‘crisis’ meeting to deal with appointment of a new GM and a dip in freight volume.

NRZ spokesperson, Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed Chitando’s appointment.

“Chitando has been steering the ship since the death of our acting GM and the weekend meeting which was supposed to appoint the person who will in the meantime run the parastatal has been suspended indefinitely,” Maravanyika told Business Time on Tuesday this week.

He said the proposed board meeting failed to take place at the weekend due to the death of the Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza last Friday.

Matiza was buried yesterday at the National Heroes Acre.The proposed meeting was supposed to map the way forward in terms of restructuring the parastatal following the death of Mashika who passed on January 17.

An NRZ board member, Mashika was appointed as acting GM in August last year following the retirement of Lewis Mukwada.

Chitando faces a daunting task of trying to turn the parastatal’s fortunes around following a dip in volumes.

In 2019, NRZ reported 2.8m tonnes and then dropped to 2.5m tonnes in 2020. The dip is largely premised on the issue of the Covid-19 pandemic.

-BusinessTimes

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo woman caused a rumpus in court when she revealed that her cheating husband, who no longer sleeps with her, was in the habit of inserting his fingers into her privates to check if she was having sex with other men.

The heart-broken woman, Memory Ndlovu, claimed that the alleged sexual abuse by her husband, Mehluli Mpofu, was punishment against her for refusing to go to their rural home.

Ndlovu from Sauerstown, bared her husband’s abusive behaviour at the Bulawayo Civil Court, where she was seeking a legal recourse against him saying he was emotionally, psychologically and sexually abusing her.

She also stated that her husband wanted to kill her so that he can sell their matrimonial home and squander the proceeds with his girlfriend only identified as Nancy.

“I am the applicant in this matter and the respondent Mehluli Mpofu is my husband. He has gone violent and is threatening to kill me so that he can sell the house. He took all the property to our rural home.He has a girlfriend called Nancy and is no longer regarding me as his wife.

He is refusing to sleep with me. He is always inserting his fingers into my privates to check if I’m sleeping with other men. I want the court to protect me against his verbal, physical and sexual abuse,” pleaded Ndlovu.

In response Mpofu had no kind words for his wife whom he labelled a “serial” liar.

“Your Worship this woman is a liar. The problem is that she does not want to go to our rural home. I never threatened her with death or threaten to sell our matrimonial house.

What happened is that she saw a message which I had received from a friend whom I had asked for help on what I should do to force her to go to the rural area.

The friend then just jokingly advised me that what about if I sell the house,” said Mpofu.

Presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu referred the couple for counselling.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- A 28 year old drunk man has been arrested after he slashed his father with a grass slasher for restraining him from bashing his girlfriend for allegedly leasing his sexual goodies to a neighbour.

The dramatic incident happened last week on Thursday at around 09:30PM at Kingsdale plots.

While Henry Gukwa was in his bedroom beating his flame with fists for having a sexual affair with his neighbour, his father Misafadzo Gukwa heard the noise and dashed to Henry’s bedroom and tried to cool the tempers.

But the tables turned as Henry ran berserk and manhandled his father for siding with his girlfriend, the court heard.

It is said he head-butted him before turning him into a punching bag.

It had to take Henry’s mother to restrain the marauding Henry who was all over his father.

It is said Henry broke free and reached for a slasher.

He “slashed” his father on the head and leg before he fled, leaving him wailing and bleeding on the ground, the court heard.

The bleeding Misafadzo staggered to Queenspark police station where he reported the matter. Misafadzo was referred to hospital where he was admitted and has since been discharged.

Cops tracked him (Henry) down and arrested him in the city centre last week on Saturday.

He was arraigned before Tredgold courts’ magistrate Shepherd Munjanja facing physical abuse charge. He pleaded guilty.

He was remanded out of custody and will come for sentencing on 18 February.

-Bmetro

By Correspondent- The Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T has recalled a councillor from Lupane, Cllr June Mpofu, of Matshiya Ward 15 under the Kusile Rural District Council.

However, Cllr Mpofu has vowed to challenge his recall saying he cannot be recalled by the opposition party since he belongs to the Welshman Ncube-led MDC faction under the MDC Alliance banner.

Kusile RDC Chief Executive Officer Christopher Chuma wrote a letter to Cllr Mpofu, dated 25 January, informing him that the latter had been expelled from the MDC-T. The letter read in part:

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works has declared Matshiya Ward 15 of Kusile Rural District Council, this is upon receipt of communication from the Movement of Democratic Change (T) (MDCT) advising that Councillor June Mpofu of Matshiya Ward 15 Kusile Rural District Council has been expelled from the party.

… The vacancy is with immediate effect and the council will process any allowances that are due to you at the date of this letter.

Cllr Mpofu told CITE that the recall was instigated by people who were offended because he refused to ‘cross over’ to the Thokozani Khupe faction.

He said:

There is a candidate who lost the election who has been bothering me saying I should join their faction. I don’t intend to leave my party for any reason.

This letter only came when I refused to yield to his request. I will meet up with my party leaders and we will discuss a way forward.

Reports indicate that Mwonzora intends to wield the axe on some legislators and councillors who are loyal to Khupe, a former MDC-T acting president who was verbally and physically abused at the party’s extraordinary congress last month.-CITE

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has advised members of the public to ask for identification from police officers upon arrest to avoid falling victim to imposters.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said when in doubt, people must demand to be taken to the nearest police station or verify with stations’ command.

This comes after a 27-year-old fake police officer “arrested” a 29-year-old man in Bulawayo on Saturday last week and demanded US$1 from his victim.

However, the imposter was apprehended by a mob and handed over to the police. Asst Comm Nyathi said in a statement:

In a case of Impersonation which occurred in Bulawayo on the 23/01/21 at around 1530 hrs, a man (27) approached a victim (29) at corner Fort Street and 10th Avenue.

The suspect identified himself as a policeman and demanded USD $1.00 from him before he was arrested by a mob and handed to the Police.

Members of the public must ask for identification from anyone claiming to be a police officer to avoid being duped.

Members of the public must demand to be taken to the nearest police station or verify with stations’ command, if in doubt.

By A Correspondent- A man from Mhangura was allegedly killed by his cousin for dating a woman significantly older and for stealing some household property.

The now deceased’s remains were found dumped in the bush on Monday with hyenas having devoured part of them.

Closes friends and relatives of the deceased, Cosmos Chitofu, told NewsDay that he was employed by the Tsetse Control Department.

Mashonaland West police spokesperson Inspector Margaret Chitove didn’t answer calls or respond to questions sent on her mobile phone when the publication sought for a comment.

However, a close relative told NewsDay that Cosmas went missing on January 19 and people believed that he was at work.

He said:

This is a sad moment for our family as a bid to help out a brother turned out nasty after the young brother killed him

Deceased, who was the elder brother, had a misunderstanding with his younger brother Elton. He told Elton to stop dating an over-aged woman.

She has four children from her previous marriage. Elton was also accused of stealing household goods to please his newfound love.

-newsday

LARGE CROWD AT HEROES ACRE, HOW MANY CAN YOU COUNT?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 27, 2021

BURIAL OF SB MOYO, MATIZA, ZIMONDI https://t.co/PihRZz2L5M

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 27, 2021

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…..

Minister Of State For Midlands, Larry Mavima has dumped his own teenage daughter, who looks like him, and suddenly begun demanding a DNA test.

His denial comes after albeit acknowledging his daughter all this while and paying maintenance for her.

We connect to the minister and his daughter LIVE on ZimEye

Govt Says Hospital Care Is Free For COVID Cases | TRUTH or UTTER NONSENSE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 28, 2021

Public hospitals can handle the Covid-19 case-load for free and there is no need for anyone to pay exorbitant fees demanded by private providers for Covid-19 testing and treatment. 

Responding to concerns about the costs of private treatment, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said Government hospitals and other public institutions run by local authorities, including in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare were offering free testing and other services. 

“Government is offering all services provided by private hospitals,” said the ministry’s spokesperson Mr Donald Mujiri. “Government is offering testing, admission, treatment surgery for Covid-19 patients, and in some cases follow-up.” .

Medical Superintendent at Gweru Provincial Hospital Dr Fabian Mashingaidze said Government institutions are admitting Covid-19 patients for free. 

Gweru Provincial Hospital has one of the best Covid-19 patients centres partly-funded by a local private company. 

“We are admitting patients for free and we have one of the best Covid-19 centre at the hospital after we received some funding. We also have ventilators at the centre and we have been admitting patients at our new facility,” said Dr Mashingaidze. 

Some private hospitals are charging in excess of US$5 000 for admission of Covid-19 patients.On top of the fixed admission fees, the patients are required to pay an additional US$100 or more per day depending on the condition of the patient. 

Most people say they prefer home-based care partly because of steep hospitalisation fees. Generally at least 85 percent of patients can be treated at home, with varying levels of hospital care needed for the rest. 

“It is a very difficult situation which we are facing because for one to be accepted in a private hospital, you need to have at least US$3 000 cash upfront for non-Intensive Care Unit patients who are exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms and US$5 000 for those seeking ICU admission. The figures are just too high,” said Mr Edmore Nherera, who said he had a relative turned away after failing to fork out US$3 000. 

“It is by God’s grace that my relative is recovering at home in isolation, but what about many who fail to raise such amounts. They are dying at home,” he said.

Another person who declined to be named said he was paying US$300 per day at a private hospital for a close relative.

Director for a leading private hospital in Gweru, Dr Josaya Tayi, said the charges were standard and were in tandem with many other private hospitals throughout the country.

“In the Midlands, we are actually the lowest, check with other private hospitals in Bulawayo and Harare and you will find out the money being charged by private hospitals in Midlands is low,” he defended their charges.

Dr Tayi said it was costly to attend to Covid-19 patients with personal protective equipment for an individual health official going for US$80.

“So imagine that figure of US$80 for a single medical staff and with over 10 medical staff at the institution, how much does that translate to? It’s very costly,” he said. -Herald

Mr Douglas Mwonzora is now a “darling” of State publications raising questions about the agenda that informs the reportage.

See article below:

IN what has been described as a new era of collaborative and constructive opposition politics, MDC leader Mr Douglas Mwonzora has called for oneness in the fight against Covid-19.

Mr Mwonzora’s statement follows President Mnangagwa’s call for unity among Zimbabwe in the fight against Covid-19, a pestilence that has affected most families in the country regardless of political affiliation.

President Mnangagwa said the war of liberation was won on the basis of collective effort, adding that the ongoing pandemic would be defeated if all Zimbabweans played their part.

On his part, Mr Mwonzora, who leads the country’s biggest opposition party, urged Zimbabweans to come together in the fight against the global pandemic that has wreaked livelihoods and claimed lives on an unprecedented scale.

In a post on his social media pages, Mwonzora said the Covid-19 pandemic is a crisis that goes beyond political affiliations or personalities.

“We plead with the international community and all stakeholders to assist the Government to make sure that protective clothing is available to all our frontline workers, that protection, in the form of masks as well as sanitisers is made available to poor communities free of charge”.

“This pandemic knows no political affiliation, the fight against Covid-19 should never be politicised, we are all one in the fight against this pandemic. This is time for us as a people to come together and defeat this disease, obviously, this is not the time to score cheap political scores,” said Mr Mwonzora.

Mwonzora’s position signals a major shift in the opposition where some characters have in the past thrived on divisive politics of sabotaging Government to gain political mileage, albeit at the suffering of Zimbabweans.- The Herald

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said every citizen has the right to be granted bail.

According to President Chamisa, pretrial detention of political activists is ” persecution by prosecution.”

” It is a constitutional right for every citizen to be granted bail.We’re hopeful that
@JobSikhala1
,Allan
will be granted bail. Pre trial detention is persecution by prosecution.#FreeAllanMoyo #FreeJobSikhala.”

He also said COVID-19 awareness messages should be written in local languages:

This is excellent! We shall do more to encourage use of local
anguages to communicate to all Zimbabweans. Let this be the national rhythm. A people’s default setting is their own culture and language!!”

He also wrote a message of encouragement to MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere:
“It is well! Keep leading and stay strong.. Victory is our next story!”

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said every citizen has the right to be granted bail.

According to President Chamisa, pretrial detention of political activists is ” persecution by prosecution.”

” It is a constitutional right for every citizen to be granted bail.We’re hopeful that
@JobSikhala1
,Allan
will be granted bail. Pre trial detention is persecution by prosecution.#FreeAllanMoyo #FreeJobSikhala.”

He also said COVID-19 awareness messages should be written in local languages:

This is excellent! We shall do more to encourage use of local
anguages to communicate to all Zimbabweans. Let this be the national rhythm. A people’s default setting is their own culture and language!!”

He also wrote a message of encouragement to MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere:
“It is well! Keep leading and stay strong.. Victory is our next story!”

There is more PPE at the Heroes Acre than at all hospitals combined. pic.twitter.com/rhdOpmOt9v

— Gerald Nyoni???? (@drGeraldNyoni) January 27, 2021

By A Correspondent- A whizkid from Harare’s private school St Georges College attained 20 points in the recently published Cambridge A-Level examination results, ZTN News reports.

According to the publication, Garikayi Gijima who in 2019 came top in the world for A Level Mathematics scored A* in the following subjects:

1. Accounting
2. Mathematics
3. Computer Science
4. Further Maths

Speaking to the publication, Gijima said staying focused during the pandemic was challenging. He also said St Georges also had a 100% pass rate and a number of his friends had straight As.

Meanwhile, ZIMSEC is yet to publish Grade 7 form 4 and A-Level examination results. ARTUZ is urging teachers to boycott marking examinations because of the ongoing pandemic.

#BREAKING– Zim Govt okays Ivermectin "evaluation" for #Covid-19 treatment. Allows its importation. @schikanza @ZadhrDoctors @SeniorDoctors pic.twitter.com/IUogVC0I2J

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 27, 2021

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….,

I am back from 19 days of incarceration at Chikurubi Prison after @PoliceZimbabwe LIED in court that I had tweeted about a child being killed by one of their officers.

My arrest was arbitrary.
The charge was anchored by a law that DOESN’T exist.
Thank you ALL for the solidarity! pic.twitter.com/oNvsZNTtvK

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) January 27, 2021

By A Correspondent- The local currency depreciated by almost a percentage point on Tuesday in an auction which failed to make allotments on all qualified bids. The Zimbabwe dollar was quoted at 82.6756 after depreciating 0.716% from 82.0833 last week while the black-market rates held steady within the 105-115 range as most formal retailers have adopted black market rates in their operations.
 
N Richards Wholesalers are operating on 112, pharmacies at 110 while Simbisa in stores are at 100 as concerns continue being raised about the crawling peg at the auction.
 
According to data from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, combined bids were at a record 500 but only 73% of that received allotments. The total value of bids accepted was at US$39.8 million but only 70% or US$28 million was allotted. The main auction had US$26.04 million and allocations while the SMEs received US$1.97 million.
 
There was a cut-off of bids at 82, which was the lowest accept rate. The lowest bid rate was at 80. The highest bid rate was at $87 recorded at the Main auction. The difference between the highest and lowest bid moved to 6.10% from 8.75% at the last auction. The average weighted rate is now 4.97% lower than the highest bid from 5.65% due to the currency’s appreciation towards the highest bid. The difference between the parallel market rate (of 110) and the average weighted rate is at 28.62%.
 
Raw Materials continued to be the biggest benefactor as they were allotted US$12.96 mln although this was below last week’s US$15.6 mln. Machinery and Equipment was allotted US$4.6 mln, with Fuel, Gas and Electricity, Consumables, Retail and Distribution, Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals and Services receiving amounts above US$1 mln, with Paper and Packaging getting lower.
 
Meanwhile, in its weekly Reserve Money update, the Reserve Bank noted that Government deposits with the bank were up by $1.37 billion. This signifies a huge withdrawal of liquidity from banks. Coupled with a net sale of foreign exchange by the Bank, reserve money fell by $1.02 billion to $19.73 billion in the week ending 15 January.
 
The Zipit buying rate was oscillating around 107-109 while the selling price for traders ranged between 113-117 for large amounts. Mobile money rates were quoted at 103 for both One Money and Ecocash transactions.
 
Cryptocurrencies are currently on a bear run as Ethereum retreated from its all-time high in the week as it lost 4.91% to $1 284.95. Bitcoin was down 2.40% to $31 750.50 as it continues to shy away from the record $40 000 level. Bitcoin Cash eased 2.89% to $423.41.

-finx

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo man last week allegedly assaulted his wife with stones and booted feet in a bushy area over an undisclosed misunderstanding leading to her death.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.

The accused, Craig Walters (43) allegedly killed his wife Merilyn Walters (38) on January 24. Both lived in Trenance.

“Allegations are that on January 24, Walters was with his wife Merilyn at a bushy area behind Number Two Bulawayo Drive, in Trenance, when they had a misunderstanding over an undisclosed issue.

Walters then assaulted his wife with stones, fists and booted feet and left her lying on the ground helpless, before proceeding to his place of residence,” Ncube said.

He said on the same day at night, Walters took his children aged 18 and 14 years to the bushy area and they carried Merilyn home.

Their daughter phoned her uncle to notify him about the critical condition of her mother.

The uncle reported the matter to the police who, upon arrival at the Walters residence, found Merilyn dead.

Ncube said the police, who attended to the scene, discovered that the deceased had injuries all over her body and her clothes were soaked in blood.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- A 78 year old grandpa from Hopley is putting his life in danger by stubbornly continuing to have sex.

According to H-Metro, Sekuru Makiwa who suffers from urinary incontinence has refused to heed medical advice for him to stop having sexual relations. In fact, Sekuru Makiwa has gone as far as removing his catheter in order for him to continue having sex with his mistress.

Unsurprisingly, this issue did not go down well with his children who responded by chasing the mistress away. This has led to the septuagenarian threatening to kill himself if he is denied conjugal services.

Narrating his troubles with his children over his sex life, Sekuru Makiwa told H-Metro,

“My wife Annah Takaendesa passed on in 2013. After my wife’s death, my children want me to desist from having sex with my second wife.

“I am now looking for poison so that I drink it and die so that it becomes the end nekuti mwana haangapinde mugumbeze mangu achiti hamungaroore mumwe mukadzi.

“These children chased her away.”

Sekuru Makiwa appealed to his children for them to accept his mistress and welcome her into the family because he needs someone to take care of him.

“I need someone who will care for me, one who will do laundry for me, one who will wipe me if I soil my clothes. Up to when are they (children) going to be cleaning my soiled clothes?” he asked.

Sekuru Makiwa also reminisced of his younger days when he had many lovers.

“Haa ndoraive basa redu iroro. Ndozvataifarira chaizvo. Whenever I was not accepted by any girl, I would firmly inform her that my ancestral spirits did not accept a witch in their clan.

“The next time I would come across the girl, she would readily accept to be in love with me.”

The septuagenarian said that his generation was lucky that at the time they were in their prime, there were not as many venereal diseases.

-statemedia

Some of the ventilators will certainly end up at that tagwirei hospital.

— Taurai (@Marty19027963) January 27, 2021

By A Correspondent- Two security guards from strike company were yesterday jailed 16 months by a Guruve magistrate for stealing herbicides and fertilizers from a farmer who they were providing security services.

Kenton Mupaushe (26) and Donny Matiti pleaded guilty to the charges before magistrate Geraldine Mutsotso.

The court heard that during the period extending from January 2 to 22 the duo was on guard at Plot 1 Stockwell farm in Mvurwi.

The two hatched a plan to steal herbicides and fertilizers from the plot owner Diana Danai Saungweme.

They stole 6 x 50 kilograms of fertilizers and sold 4 to Solomon Marimana, another one to Clever Homani while the remaining one was applied in the guards’ field.

On a separate date, the convicts unlocked a tobacco barn and stole a 20 litre Nato herbicide which they sold to Solomon Marimana.

Working on a tip-off the police intercepted the duo trying to steal some fertilizers using the same modus operandi.

Upon being interviewed by the police they revealed how they stole the inputs and where they sold them.

Some of the loot was recovered and was used as an exhibit in court.

By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement has changed its name to Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement after the setting up of a new department aimed at preparing and implementing a Comprehensive National Fisheries Industry Development Plan.

The new department is named Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. An update from the ministry this afternoon revealed that President Mnangagwa approved the setting up of the new ministry.

“The department will formulate and implement Fisheries Research and Development Programme, formulate and enforce laws, rules and regulations governing the management of fisheries; among many other functions.

“The Fisheries and Aquatic Resources department will also provide extensive development support services in all aspects of fisheries production, processing and marketing and promoting proper utilisation and conservation of the country’s fisheries and aquatic resources,” read the statement.-statemedia

I am thankful for your support that you give me all the time , l am this year's winner of Zimbabwe Achievers Awards Canada/USA 2021 Outstanding Achievement in Sport. I will forever be greatful .This year the awards were held virtually because of Covid 19 , remember always Mask up pic.twitter.com/Sl6CvHc8B1

— Tanya Muzinda (@TanyaMuzinda) January 27, 2021

#Zimbabwe : @RSF_inter is relieved that journalist Hopewell Chin'ono @daddyhope was granted bail this morning after spending 20 days in jail. Yet, there is absolutely no ground to keep limiting his use of social network or his freedom of movement. #JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/eGyHvdx2Ll

— RSF (@RSF_inter) January 27, 2021

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s prominent and foremost heart specialist physician Professor James Gita Hakim has died from Covid 19 related complications.

He was a professor of medicine and past chair of the UZ Medical School.

As reports of his death filtered yesterday, there was outpouring of grief as the medical fraternity paid tribute to Dr Hakim.

Mr Samkange, veteran surgeon and director of the UZ Institute of Continuing Health Education (ICHE) described Dr Hakim’s death as a huge blow to the country.

“Today we lost Professor James Gita Hakim. Professor Hakim was an exceptional Physician. He was an exceptional medical doctor, fantastic diagnostician and easily caring for his patients deeply but never hesitating to ask if we could not do better. He was a committed teacher, never thinking that one could do too much for the students; a mentor whose commitment to the development of the trainees will take some passing. He was a natural researcher: unique in that he wanted every colleague to reach their full potential.

He wrote so many papers, was respected and cherished in the region, the continent and the world over. He founded organisations and institutions that developed Medicine, our country and our continent. Though he had to leave his native Sudan at a young age, he never forgot it in his works AND he did a lot more for Zimbabwe than some of us. He will be remembered as a giant, so humble, so towering and yet so down to earth and shattering relevant.

He has left a void thst will be so difficult to feel. Our heartfelt gratitude to his family for sharing him with us; we pray that they are comforted in this very arduous time.”

Said Dr Norman Matara:

“We have lost a great professor of medicine, a teacher, researcher, and above all a humble and good person.

“This is a huge loss for the nation. Go well professor, your contribution to science and medicine will forever be invaluable – broken heart.”

Dr Hakim studied medicine at the University of Makerere in Uganda and specialised in internal medicine in Kenya, UK, Germany, Australia and South Africa.-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The Private sector has reportedly pledged to meet the cost of vaccinating their employees.

The state media reported that sources that attended the meeting between business leaders and president Mnangagwa yesterday said the private sector pledged to purchase twice their vaccination needs.

According to the publication:

As part of a National Comprehensive COVID-19 Response, the Private Sector agreed to embark in a new chapter of a science-driven health sector reform management policy framework. The Private Sector offered to pay for twice its requirements and make available 50% of this to Government for high priority public sector use  in this joint effort to tackle the pandemic

This came after the Ministry of Health officials told parliament on Monday the Russia and China have offered Zimbabwe vaccines they have developed. Health officials also said MPs,

-statemedia

Imagine https://t.co/ors0y9gnHd

— Promise Mkwananzi (@pmkwananzi) January 27, 2021