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By A Correspondent- Farmer’s organisations have expressed concerns over the incessant rains that have pounded the country for the past few days as they have the potential of ruin their crops.

Most parts of Mashonaland Central – Mt Darwin and Bindura – Mashonaland West and Midlands have been receiving large amounts of rainfall. A recent update from the Metrological Services Department shows that the country is expected to receive more rains up until this Wednesday with flash flooding anticipated in some areas.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president, Shadreck Makombe, said farmers in Mashonaland Central are much concerned about the plant growth which has been hindered by the heavy rains.

“In Mount Darwin where most farmers grow crops like beans, sugar and soya, these types of crops need moderate rainfall but the rains have been damaging such crops.

“Farmers now have been complaining about how most agro-chemical dealers have been fluctuating the prices of chemicals and fertilisers which is a negative response considering the fact that too much rain means too much chemicals and fertilisers to be applied,” Makombe told the Daily News on Sunday.

He, however, urged farmers to use organic fertilisers, urea and manure to resuscitate their plant growth. Makombe also urged farmers to understand the types of soils on their land so they understand the type of crops and fertilisers they are supposed to use.

Zimbabwe Women Farmers Association president, Dephinah Nkomo, said the rains have negatively affected plant growth as places like Chegutu have received at least 75mm of rainfall in the past week.

“The red soils in Chegutu tend to be sticky when it receives too much water and that has affected our plants. We are also unable to cultivate our lands because of too much rainfall. “I just urge farmers to use organic fertilisers so that we can receive the intended yield,” Nkomo said.

Zimbabwe National Farmers Union president, Edward Dune, said even though the country has been receiving incessant rains, it was a sign of good future yields.

“Most farmers have been working towards solving the problems that they have been facing of continuous rains. “The only problem is high production costs because more and more fertilisers and chemicals are required for a bumper harvest; otherwise we are looking forward to good crop returns than losses,” Dune said.

-dailynews

By A Correspondent- Police in Bulawayo have upped their fight against lockdown violators by deploying water cannons in the central business district to disperse loitering people.

This comes after police said nearly 10 000 people have been arrested countrywide for not wearing face masks and more than 16 000 were arrested for flouting lockdown regulations within a week.

Since January 5, Zimbabwe has reverted back to a hard lockdown as the government tries to curb the rising new infections and deaths during this second wave of the pandemic.

As of yesterday, the country has recorded 666 deaths from the confirmed 26 109 cases since March 2020. Under the current regulations, only essential service workers are allowed free movement while ordinary citizens are expected to remain indoors.

Businesses offering essential services like supermarkets and banks are only allowed to operate from 8am to 3pm. A dusk-till-dawn curfew has also been imposed but this has not deterred some rogue elements from still violating the lockdown regulations.

Since Wednesday, Bulawayo police have been using their crowd control tactics to ensure all lockdown violators vacate the CBD. A convoy of riot trucks will be moving around the city warning the public to return home and not loiter.

If the violators remain on the streets, the water cannons are then moving in to force the people to leave. Residents can be seen fleeing from the high-velocity stream of water being flung by the canons.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Abednico Ncube told the Daily News on Sunday they were simply doing their duty to ensure citizens abide by the lockdown regulations.

“People violate the lockdown just like other cities and as police we are doing our job to make sure that people adhere to the law,” he said.

Ncube urged members of the public to take heed of the lockdown call and stay at home if they don’t have any essential business to do in the CBD.

-dailynews

By A Correspondent- A man from Harare has been slapped with a $6000 fine after attempting to force Beitbridge Border Post immigration officials to allow him passage into South Africa by falsely claiming that he was running errands for President Mnangagwa’s son, Sakhile.

Frank Munhukwaye (67) of Highfield, who is employed as a driver at Elliot and Shepard Pvt (Ltd), was arrested on Friday after alert immigration officials uncovered his ruse.

He appeared yesterday before magistrate Miss Eunice Chimweta facing charges of contravening the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act.

Prosecuting, Mr Tariro Makaya told the court that on January 15, Munhukwaye arrived at the border Post at around 4pm where he attempted to intimidate immigration officials to allow him passage under the guise of running errands for the President’s son.

The court heard that while at the port of entry, he approached the head of station, Mr Nqobile Ncube, indicating that he was on a secret operation and must be allowed passage into the neighbouring country.

He was asked to produce his passport and Government identification documents.

The State said Munhukwaye could only produce an ordinary passport before indicating that he had been sent to undertake some errands by the President’s son.

Mr Sakhile Mnangagwa was contacted and he denied having any relationship with the accused. The matter was reported to the police leading to Munhukwaye’s arrest.

By A Correspondent- Leaked letters addressed to Chitungwiza Town Council bosses have exposed the government’s involvement in the demolition of homes and other illegal structures in Harare and the dormitory town with the hand of Local Government minister July Moyo coming out prominently.

Provincial development coordinator (PDC) Tafadzwa Muguti is also exposed as an influential figure in a complex scheme involving the ruling party Zanu-PF whose hidden hand controls Chitungwiza council’s day-to-day operations.

Chitungwiza Town Council recently announced plans to demolish about 11 000 illegal structures, which include residential and commercial properties.

In December, MDC Alliance was accused of being behind similar demolitions after council officials demolished Budiriro houses in Harare.

However, the recently leaked correspondence to Chitungwiza council bosses by Moyo and Muguti reveal that the two effectively run the town of Chitungwiza.

In a letter dated December 1, 2020 to Chitungwiza mayor Lovemore Maiko gleaned by The Standard, Moyo ordered the local authority to abide by Muguti’s orders to provide a list of houses to be demolished.

“I wish to advise that the Provincial Development Coordinator (Muguti) was carrying out his normal duties when he instructed on the matters you allude to. I would like to encourage Chitungwiza to cooperate with the Provincial Development Coordinator in the day-to-day affairs,” Moyo wrote.

The two’s influence does not end with the city resolutions on how to deal with illegal structures alone.

“As requested in your letter, I expect the following instructions to be adhered to:

“To rescind the resolution which rotated the Town Clerk post holder from Mrs (Evangelista) Machona to Engineer (David) Duma.

“To deal with the issue of leakages of documents

“To supply with the list of all sites to be demolished.”

After Moyo’s directive, Muguti, in a letter dated January 8, gave Chitungwiza Town Clerk Machona three days to respond to his initial instructions and that of the minister.

Acting on Muguti’s instructions, the director of works, David Duma, then wrote a memo dated January 12 to the acting town clerk outlining 40 sites earmarked for demolition.

“This memo serves to submit the list of proposed demolition sites derived from a meeting held on December 21 at 14:15 hours in the council chamber and chaired by Mr Mvere, the CSO (Chief Security Officer). I cross-checked with the one earlier submitted by the housing department and they are similar in most respects. I have noted the absence of the commercial list,” Duma’s memo reads.

The 1 000 properties set to be demolished in Chitungwiza included houses illegally built on wetlands, railway servitudes, Zesa power lines and sewer lines which were reportedly parcelled out by land barons.

The demolitions are likely to happen at the end of the rainy season.

However, Harare Metropolitan Residents Forum (Hamref), a coalition working towards improved service delivery and good local governance in Harare Metropolitan province, denounced the planned demolitions.

“The demolitions have clearly turned out to be a boxing ring between two opposing political parties, that is the ruling Zanu-PF party-controlled national government and the opposition MDC Alliance-controlled urban local authorities,” said Hamref chairperson Marvellous Kumalo.

“That has perpetuated a situation where two elephants fight while the grass suffers. The end result is absence of accountability with the two contesting parties absolving themselves from assuming responsibility.

“The process of these demolitions fails to allow operations of Section 276(1), which accords local authorities the right to govern on their own initiative the local affairs of the people within which they are established.”

Kumalo said the PDC office and Local Government ministry were usurping the powers of local authorities.

“We further emphasised that failure to implement the letter and spirit of devolution as enunciated in the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe, will create a super powerful ministry of Local Government at the expense of other ministries in Zimbabwe. Events happening during the demolitions in Harare Metropolitan Province have justified our concern,” he said.

Kumalo said Hamref was also concerned with the timing of demolitions.

“The timing of these demolitions is very bad. Besides the fact that we are in the rainy season, we have a contextual issue of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown,” he said.

“During times when Covid-19 cases are surging in Zimbabwe, priority should be given to fighting the pandemic as opposed to demolitions which place citizens on open grounds where water, sanitation and hygiene services will be very bad.”

Kumalo, who is also the director of the Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association, challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to release findings of the Justice Tendai Uchena-led Commission of Inquiry into the sale of State land.

According to the Uchena report, land barons, housing cooperative leaders, property developers and politically-connected people illegally sold $3 billion worth of urban State land since 2005.

“Land barons responsible for allocating land are known in Chitungwiza and Harare and we have institutions mandated to deal with corruption. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the judiciary are institutions that should deal with corruption and all criminal cases respectively,” Kumalo said.

“Section 74 of the 2013 Constitution of Zimbabwe gives citizens freedom from arbitrary evictions and compels authorities to secure a court order before demolitions.”

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum has since written to Chitungwiza Municipality to reconsider its decision to demolish illegal structures.

“For avoidance of doubt, the judgement granted by Justice Tsanga on October 15, 2020 barred Chitungwiza Municipality from damaging or destroying any houses in Chitungwiza and Manyame area without a valid court order. We have annexed this court order to this letter for ease of reference,” wrote Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum public interest litigation specialist Darlington Marange.

Chitungwiza Municipality has over the years threatened to demolish thousands of houses built on spaces reserved for clinics, churches, schools, cemeteries, recreational activities, roads and under high-voltage electricity pylons.

Muguti claimed what he was doing was above the law and meant to bring sanity to the province under his jurisdiction.

“What we have started has made many people angry. Most Twitter fanatics hate anything done by President Mnangagwa and they can’t appreciate that crimes cannot be politicised. The person takes their crime and government stands alone. It’s time we separate that analogy,” Muguti tweeted on Wednesday.

Last month Harare City Council demolished illegal structures in Budiriro acting under a court order and the government distanced itself from the exercise.-standard

By A Correspondent- The government has been left embarrassed after one of its top most government officials, Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri accused China of creating the novel coronavirus that has killed millions across the globe.

In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, Muchinguri blames Zimbabwe’s all weather friend of experimenting, and creating covid-19 alleging that China had however failed to contain the deadly disease.

She said:

“The disease is now on a fresh peak now. Cases are rising again. They (Chinese) are the ones who started their experiments and things got out of hand and now their experiments are costing us.”

The first human cases of Covid-19 were reported by officials in Wuhan City, China, in December 2019.

“They cannot control this now. They have cost us. Those whom we call our all-weather friends, look at what they have done to us.”

However, in a damage control effort, the Foreign Affairs Ministry moved in Saturday and dismissed immediately, Muchinguri’s statements as they did not reflect the government’s position.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Constance Chemwayi said Zimbabwe did not hold China responsible for the emergence and spread of Covid-19.

“Reference is made to a purported telephone conversation between the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Honourable O.P.Z. Muchinguri-Kashiri and a journalist, Simba Chikanza, that is circulating on the social media platforms,” she said.

“We wish to make it clear that the sentiments expressed do not reflect the position of the Government of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe and China enjoy excellent relations. The government does not hold the Chinese Government responsible for the emergence and spread of the coronavirus that has affected every global citizen.

“Government appreciates that China has exercised global leadership in efforts to find both the cause and a solution to the pandemic.”

We publish below the full text of the interview with ZimEye:

Washaya mwana wangu washaya meaning she is dead, my daughter is dead. Mwana wangu washaya kani she is gone she is gone. Takaedza kani takaedza meaning we tried everything we really tried to help her get better. The Lord has laughed at us we tried everything….the children. What about the children? They have killed me (Ellen’s death) has destroyed me. This has destroyed me. I am in pain, so much pain. ….

What? drink ginger? I am not sick. I am well. I am not sick. It’s just people that are saying lies. They are lying. I am not sick. I am very well and healthy. They have said that I am sick but it’s not true. They have said that I am sick four times and even suggested that I have died four times. But it’s not true.

Ok my children. I suffered a lot with Ellen. I couldn’t sleep while she was sick. The doctors talked to me everyday, together with the children. She was in pain she was in so much pain. She has let us down today. Hazvina mhosva…..

She took everything, all the medication…everything we tried. Vaccine? No there is no vaccine yet in the country. I will never take the vaccine. I will not take “your” vaccine, I will not take your vaccine unless if it’s developed by our own people, Zimbabweans. If they develop our own vaccine. Why can’t we also develop our own vaccine. Why should we take that which is developed by others? Why can’t we also make our own vaccine? Let’s develop our own.

We are trying our own, we are also trying our own that which we are developing with the help of the Chinese maybe it will be successful maybe it will be successful. I do not know. 

Chinotimba. I also heard that he is not well. I also heard that Chinamasa is sick….Chinotimba I heard that he is not well. I heard that he is not too well. But I am well and not sick. I am assisting a lot of people. I am the one helping a lot of people who are not well here in Manicaland. Ana Getty vese I brought them here everyone in Manicaland I am helping them. Bringing them here to help with their treatment. I am looking for resources to help them getting them treated. 

It is not possible (to stay at home) I am going to the children. I can’t leave them alone Ellen’s children. I can’t do that. We left together with Ellen, we left their home while going to seek treatment. I left with their sick mother. They (other family members) were all sick but they got better. I can’t leave them.

Zimbabweans are dying. This is serious. Covid 19 is serious. The Chinese, the disease is now on a fresh peak now. Cases are rising again. They are the ones who started their experiments and things got out of hand and now their experiments are costing us. They cannot control this now. They have costed us…. those whom we call our all weather friends, look at what they have done to us.  We have to be strong. Indeed we have to be strong

Let me attend to the children so that we can organise the funeral. We have managed to take the body to Doves so we need to do the heroes burial. We are liasing with the leaders. We are talking to the party leadership. Please forgive me so that I can start doing the job ….we are taking extra care we are wearing the masks 4 4,  face screens, gloves everything. We are drinking the medicines zinc garlic we are drinking we will not stop. But Covid 19 is killing it is killing people. Its still a journey. We are protecting our health wearing masks, social distancing everything. Zvakaoma. This is a deadly disease, it is a killer disease. It has wrecked havoc.

These people, who are now at the top at ZBC, they are not doing anything. They are just busy promoting themselves (the top stalwarts at ZBC). They are not even conscientising the public on the dangers of Covid-19….

On the safety of the president in the wake of Covid- 19…..Vanokanganiswa meaning he is not safe at all.  Our enemies are using the people around him (bodyguards) to spread the virus to our senior leaders. We are even suspecting that. It is well my son. Thank you.   

By A Correspondent- As authorities continue to battle to contain the deadly coronavirus, amid alarming deaths and new infections in the country, Zimbabwe’s stretched funeral parlours say they are now being overwhelmed by the virulent disease.

Apart from having to queue at cemeteries to bury Covid-19 victims, morticians who spoke to the Daily News On Sunday yesterday also warned that they were likely to run out of mortuary space soon, due to the soaring Covid-19 deaths.

Both the Zimbabwe Association of Funeral Assurers (Zafa) and individual funeral assurance companies, said they had not expected to be dealing with such high numbers of coronavirus burials at this point. All this comes as Zimbabwe continues to battle to contain the deadly respiratory disease, which has killed scores of Zimbabweans since the turn of the new year.

On Friday, Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister, Ellen Gwaradzimba, was among 30 people who succumbed to the novel coronavirus – whose national death toll is now approaching 700. Moonlight Funeral Services was among the country’s biggest funeral parlours which confirmed to the Daily News yesterday that Covid-19 deaths had stretched players in the life assurance industry.

Its services director, Charity Mungofa, said that it was increasingly getting difficult, as a result, to bury Covid-19 victims within the stipulated 48 hours due to congestion at graveyards.

“At most cemeteries now, it’s becoming complicated because of the numbers. We used to take just a day to bury a person, but it has since changed and it now takes two days.

Here, we are having an average of 18 burials per day. Of those 18, about six would have succumbed to coronavirus.

“In some cases at most cemeteries, graves … are no longer enough to cater for all deaths daily. We used to book a place today and bury a person the following the day, but all that has changed.

“We now have a backlog and we are now keeping the bodies in mortuaries, something that is now exposing our employees to Covid-19,” Mungofa told the Daily News On Sunday.

She also revealed that some employees of funeral parlours had contracted coronavirus due to the increased exposure brought about by soaring deaths.

“We have a few cases of employees who have contracted Covid-19 and they are isolated at home. In such cases, the companies have chipped in by testing members regularly,” Mungofa added.

Surprisingly, she also said, the rapidly increasing Covid-19 deaths had impacted negatively on the finances of funeral parlours.

“Financially, it’s really impacting us negatively. You find that there are issues to do with PPE (personal protective equipment) which were not even paid for by policyholders.

“We are buying our own PPE because we are treating every death as Covid-19, to protect our employees because they are the ones who are conducting removals. These PPE are very expensive and it’s something that is affecting companies big time,”

Mungofa further explained to the Daily News On Sunday. She also said that most parlours were now grappling with storage space, as their mortuaries were not designed to store so many bodies.

In addition, she said, the advent of Covid-19 had also created other problems for them as it was difficult to remove bodies of those who would have died at home – because police were wary of risks posed by the spread of coronavirus.

“In terms of body removals, we are overwhelmed. Our policyholders and their dependents are dying in numbers. So, we are overwhelmed. “People are dying in their homes and getting their bodies to the mortuary has since become a huge issue.

Police, for fear of their lives I guess, are taking their time to be involved. “For instance, when a death is reported to the police, they are expected to attend immediately for paperwork to allow undertakers to take over, but presently it’s difficult.

“The procedure has become too complicated and at times it’s now even taking up to five hours to collect a dead body,” Mungofa told the Daily News On Sunday.

On his part, national police spokesperson, Paul Nyathi, said law enforcers were trying their best to follow all necessary Health ministry protocols. “All body clearances are undertaken in line with protocols by WHO (the World Health Organisation) and the Health ministry.

“We urge those that have grievances to approach police or the Health ministry so that if there are any grey areas these can be sorted out,” he said. Zafa general manager, Taka Svosve, also confirmed to the Daily News On Sunday that the spiralling Covid-19 deaths and infections were threatening the viability of funeral parlours.

“If Covid-19 cases continue to spike, there is a possibility of an unusual spike in claims on funeral policies, meaning an unexpected hit on cash flow and other resources for funeral assurers. Naturally, this Covid-19 situation also creates anxiety amongst funeral parlour staff, like everywhere else. The fear of the known or unknown again naturally takes grip. Our members are, however, maintaining 24/7 vigilance on the safety of their staff in light of this Covid-19 pandemic,” Svosve said.

While representatives of funeral parlours were reluctant to share the actual numbers of Covid-19 burials that they were doing, investigations by the Daily News On Sunday revealed that in Harare alone, funeral companies were handling at least 25 “Covid-19 burials” a day.

In off the record-briefings with employees at the main cemeteries in the capital, undertakers confirmed that this figure approximated the reality on the ground.

“Here, we are having an average of 18 burials per day. Of those 18, about six would have succumbed to coronavirus.

“We were actually overwhelmed last Sunday as we had to deal with 45 burials, of which 10 cases were a result of Covid-19,” an undertaker at one of the Harare City Council cemeteries told the Daily News On Sunday.

Another undertaker said: “Daily we are handling an average of 16 burials, seven of which will be of Covid-19. What we are doing here is that all coronavirus burials take place after 3pm to avoid contact”. The undertakers said at times cemeteries would be “completely overwhelmed”, resulting in burial backlogs at mortuaries.

Amid the runaway cases of Covid-19 cases, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga urged Zimbabweans on Friday not to panic, but to be even more vigilant in their daily lives – as the country reels from the second wave of the lethal coronavirus.

This came in the wake of Gwaradzimba’s death, who became the second minister to die from coronavirus – after the former Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement minister, Perrance Shiri, also succumbed to the disease in July last year. Shiri, a liberation struggle stalwart and former military commander – who was born Bigboy Samson Chikerema before he joined the war of independence in the 1970s – endured a difficult and lonely death in his car, as he tried in vain to drive himself to a hospital for treatment.

Chiwenga – who is also Health and Child Care minister – said authorities were doing all they could to manage the disease, further rejecting social media chatter that the country did not have adequate beds and equipment to deal with Covid-19 patients.

“It would be … an exaggeration at this stage, to suggest that our Health institutions are overwhelmed by cases of Covid-19. Admittedly, the recent escalation of cases of the pandemic in the country caused a high demand for healthcare.

“Nonetheless, let me re-assure citizens that Zimbabwe’s public and private health institutions still have adequate capacity to offer health services to all patients,” Chiwenga said.

“It is also well-documented that among the active cases recorded so far … two to three percent warranted hospitalisation with specialised treatment.

“At least 12 to 13 percent required discharge within two to three days of admission … while the bulk of 85 percent only required self-isolation,” Chiwenga added.-dailynews

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC MDC Alliance activist, Terrence Manjengwa, who was arrested by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration for denouncing police brutality, has implored the people of Zimbabwe to assume a common stance and free themselves from tyranny.

Manjengwa’s sentiments were echoed by fearless MDC Alliance Students Council Secretary General, Rujeko Hither Mpambwa who challenged Mr Mnangagwa to release detained political activists.

Manjengwa wrote on Facebook:
“After languishing in Mnangagwa’s concentration camp for over 2 months in 2020, I came face to face with Mnangagwa’s brutality, It was something that emboldened my resolve to continue fighting.

It’s now time to regroup as young people and confront what is before us. We are our own liberators.”

Speaking on the rampant persecution of political activists by Mr Mnangagwa’s administration, Mpambwa said:

“We are tired of being tossed around by the Zanu PF regime. The detention of our leaders is unacceptable.

Mnangagwa must release all political prisoners with immediate effect. The persecution of Advocate Fadzayi Mahere, Hon Job Sikhala, Alan Moyo and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono is a reflection of the Zanu PF regime’s ruthlessness.”

ZANU PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER DEMANDS THAT THE MUCHINGURI INTERVIEW BE DELETED – SHOULD WE DELETE?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 17, 2021

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By A Correspondent- A 20 year old man Wayne Zebediah Makoni was yesterday brutally murdered by 6 men in Shurugwi.

The development was revealed by Muzvare Betty Makoni on twitter who posted:

My cousin brother’s 20 year  son, Wayne Zebediah Makoni was brutally murdered by 6 men in Shurugwi in Zimbabwe. Even from afar we feel murdered as a family. I read about such murders a lot but when it hits home like this, I feel useless. No justice. No arrests. Its hurting.

By A Correspondent- A constable stationed at Dangamvura Police Station has been arrested on allegations of releasing a suspect he had nabbed for illegally selling beer to members of the public in breach of Covid-19 regulations after demanding a US$30 bribe.

Manicaland police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, confirmed the arrest of Mwaruta on January 8.

He is facing criminal abuse of duty charges as defined in Section 174 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

It is alleged that on the day in question, Charles Mwaruta who was on his way to Alpha Police Base at Dangamvura Shopping Centre for his afternoon shift duty met the complainant, Gideon Chamunanga (30) who was selling beer from his Isuzu ELF five-tonne truck and arrested him for selling liquor to unlicensed individuals.

The police officer asked the complainant to drive his truck to Dangamvura Charge Office.

While at the station, the constable informed his superior, Sergeant Stanford Mapete about the arrest and he was duly instructed to record a statement from the complainant which he did.

However, Mwaruta who was in possession of the keys to the truck took Chamunanga to where the vehicle was parked intending to offload the liquor as exhibits, then demanded the bribe.-The Sunday News

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe last week experienced its worst week with spiking Covid-19 infections and 200 deaths as the country continues to suffer the consequences of the second wave of the global pandemic.

With health officials saying scientists are still to ascertain whether the new infections are a result of the new strain of the virus or not, figures in the country continue to balloon with the recovery rate tumbling to below 60 percent.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care the country last week recorded 6 382 new infections and 200 deaths by yesterday. Harare had the highest figure of new infections with 2 768 cases while Bulawayo had 332 new cases. In terms of deaths Harare recorded 52 and Bulawayo 30. The country has now recorded 26 881 cases, 15 872 recoveries and 683 deaths since March last year.

In terms of active cases, Harare continues to have the highest number with 4 560 cases, followed by Manicaland Province which has 1 259 cases and Mashonaland East which has 1 091 cases, Bulawayo has the fourth highest number of active cases with 664 infections while Mashonaland West has the least number with 399 active cases. The national recovery rate for the week averaged 59 percent.

Giving her weekly Covid-19 update the Chief Co-ordinator of the national response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva noted that the recent surge in new infections was now causing a strain on provincial teams hence they could be falling short in recording all the recovered cases.

She said they had noted the public concern over the reported low recovery rate. At the peak of the first wave, in July 2020, the recovery rates were reported as above 90 percent on average.

“The recent surge in cases has put a big strain on provincial teams in tracking cases in order to appropriately and timely classify the cases’ clinical status and due to these large numbers provinces have tended to prioritise tracking of moderate and severely ill Covid-19 cases as these need urgent medical attention.

“The delayed tracking of positive cases that are generally well with no signs and symptoms but isolating and recovering from home has resulted in some recovered cases being included in the national recovery statistics a bit late and hence giving the impression that the national recovery rate is low,” said Dr Mahomva.

She said there was a need for the public to change their attitude towards the lockdown noting that if people continued to ignore Covid-19 set prevention protocols and the lockdown regulations new infections would certainly continue to surge.

“We need to take the current lockdown as seriously as we took the first one. Unfortunately, it appears most people are not taking this lockdown seriously. A survey conducted by a team of global scientists in August 2020 confirmed that Zimbabwe’s success in managing the first wave was mainly due to the stringent lockdown measures,” said Dr Mahomva.

Recently health experts predicted an extension of the 30-day lockdown imposed by Government if people continued to deviate from recommended guidelines meant to stop the spread of Covid-19. The country went to level four lockdown at the beginning of the month as the Government tries to contain the ballooning figures.

Among the many facets of the lockdown there is now a dusk to dawn curfew and shutting down of non-essential services.

The essential services’ operating hours have been reduced and now open at 8am and close at 3pm. Public gatherings including church services and weddings have been banned while a maximum of 30 people are allowed to attend a funeral.

OPPAH MUCHINGURI ATTACKS CHINA FOR ALLEGEDLY CREATING COVID, I AM TAKING ZINC BUT PEOPLE ARE DYING ALL OVER https://t.co/iA2uD1mczv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 15, 2021

By A Correspondent- Defence minister Oppah Muchinguri has revealed that she will not take the covid-19 vaccine adding that she will only take a vaccine developed by Zimbabweans.

In an exclusive teleconvesation with ZimEye Saturday morning, Muchinguri said she would never take the covid 19 vaccine unless if it is developed locally.

We publish below the full text by Muchinguri:

Washaya mwana wangu washaya meaning she is dead, my daughter is dead. Mwana wangu washaya kani she is gone she is gone. Takaedza kani takaedza meaning we tried everything we really tried to help her get better.

The Lord has laughed at us we tried everything….the children. What about the children? They have killed me (Ellen’s death) has destroyed me. This has destroyed me. I am in pain, so much pain. ….

What? drink ginger? I am not sick. I am well. I am not sick. It’s just people that are saying lies. They are lying. I am not sick. I am very well and healthy. They have said that I am sick but it’s not true. They have said that I am sick four times and even suggested that I have died four times. But it’s not true.

Ok my children. I suffered a lot with Ellen. I couldn’t sleep while she was sick. The doctors talked to me everyday, together with the children. She was in pain she was in so much pain. She has let us down today. Hazvina mhosva…..

She took everything, all the medication…everything we tried. Vaccine? No there is no vaccine yet in the country. I will never take the vaccine. I will not take “your” vaccine, I will not take your vaccine unless if it’s developed by our own people, Zimbabweans. If they develop our own vaccine. Why can’t we also develop our own vaccine. Why should we take that which is developed by others? Why can’t we also make our own vaccine? Let’s develop our own.

We are trying our own, we are also trying our own that which we are developing with the help of the Chinese maybe it will be successful maybe it will be successful. I do not know. 

Chinotimba. I also heard that he is not well. I also heard that Chinamasa is sick….Chinotimba I heard that he is not well. I heard that he is not too well. But I am well and not sick. I am assisting a lot of people. I am the one helping a lot of people who are not well here in Manicaland. Ana Getty vese I brought them here everyone in Manicaland I am helping them. Bringing them here to help with their treatment. I am looking for resources to help them …getting them treated. 

It is not possible (to stay at home) I am going to the children. I can’t leave them alone Ellen’s children. I can’t do that. We left together with Ellen, we left their home while going to seek treatment. I left with their sick mother. They (other family members) were all sick but they got better. I can’t leave them.

Zimbabweans are dying. This is serious. Covid 19 is serious. The Chinese, the disease is now on a fresh peak now. Cases are rising again. They are the ones who started their experiments and things got out of hand and now their experiments are costing us. They cannot control this now. They have costed us…. those whom we call our all weather friends, look at what they have done to us.  We have to be strong. Indeed we have to be strong

Let me attend to the children so that we can organise the funeral. We have managed to take the body to Doves so we need to do the heroes burial. We are liasing with the leaders. We are talking to the party leadership. Please forgive me so that I can start doing the job ….

We are taking extra care we are wearing the masks 4 4,  face screens, gloves everything. We are drinking the medicines zinc garlic we are drinking we will not stop. But Covid 19 is killing it is killing people. Its still a journey. We are protecting our health wearing masks, social distancing everything. Zvakaoma. This is a deadly disease, it is a killer disease. It has wrecked havoc.

These people, who are now at the top at ZBC, they are not doing anything. They are just busy promoting themselves (the top stalwarts at ZBC). They are not even conscientising the public on the dangers of Covid-19….

On the safety of the president in the wake of Covid- 19…..Vanokanganiswa meaning he is not safe at all.  Our enemies are using the people around him (bodyguards) to spread the virus to our senior leaders. We are even suspecting that. It is well my son. Thank you.   

OPPAH MUCHINGURI ATTACKS CHINA FOR ALLEGEDLY CREATING COVID, I AM TAKING ZINC BUT PEOPLE ARE DYING ALL OVER https://t.co/iA2uD1mczv

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) January 15, 2021

Washaya mwana wangu washaya meaning she is dead, my daughter is dead. Mwana wangu washaya kani she is gone she is gone. Takaedza kani takaedza meaning we tried everything we really tried to help her get better. The Lord has laughed at us we tried everything….the children. What about the children? They have killed me (Ellen’s death) has destroyed me. This has destroyed me. I am in pain, so much pain. ….

What? drink ginger? I am not sick. I am well. I am not sick. It’s just people that are saying lies. They are lying. I am not sick. I am very well and healthy. They have said that I am sick but it’s not true. They have said that I am sick four times and even suggested that I have died four times. But it’s not true.

Ok my children. I suffered a lot with Ellen. I couldn’t sleep while she was sick. The doctors talked to me everyday, together with the children. She was in pain she was in so much pain. She has let us down today. Hazvina mhosva…..

She took everything, all the medication…everything we tried. Vaccine? No there is no vaccine yet in the country. I will never take the vaccine. I will not take “your” vaccine, I will not take your vaccine unless if it’s developed by our own people, Zimbabweans. If they develop our own vaccine. Why can’t we also develop our own vaccine. Why should we take that which is developed by others? Why can’t we also make our own vaccine? Let’s develop our own.

We are trying our own, we are also trying our own that which we are developing with the help of the Chinese maybe it will be successful maybe it will be successful. I do not know. 

Chinotimba. I also heard that he is not well. I also heard that Chinamasa is sick….Chinotimba I heard that he is not well. I heard that he is not too well. But I am well and not sick. I am assisting a lot of people. I am the one helping a lot of people who are not well here in Manicaland. Ana Getty vese I brought them here everyone in Manicaland I am helping them. Bringing them here to help with their treatment. I am looking for resources to help them getting them treated. 

It is not possible (to stay at home) I am going to the children. I can’t leave them alone Ellen’s children. I can’t do that. We left together with Ellen, we left their home while going to seek treatment. I left with their sick mother. They (other family members) were all sick but they got better. I can’t leave them.

Zimbabweans are dying. This is serious. Covid 19 is serious. The Chinese, the disease is now on a fresh peak now. Cases are rising again. They are the ones who started their experiments and things got out of hand and now their experiments are costing us. They cannot control this now. They have costed us…. those whom we call our all weather friends, look at what they have done to us.  We have to be strong. Indeed we have to be strong

Let me attend to the children so that we can organise the funeral. We have managed to take the body to Doves so we need to do the heroes burial. We are liasing with the leaders. We are talking to the party leadership. Please forgive me so that I can start doing the job ….we are taking extra care we are wearing the masks 4 4,  face screens, gloves everything. We are drinking the medicines zinc garlic we are drinking we will not stop. But Covid 19 is killing it is killing people. Its still a journey. We are protecting our health wearing masks, social distancing everything. Zvakaoma. This is a deadly disease, it is a killer disease. It has wrecked havoc.

These people, who are now at the top at ZBC, they are not doing anything. They are just busy promoting themselves (the top stalwarts at ZBC). They are not even conscientising the public on the dangers of Covid-19….

On the safety of the president in the wake of Covid- 19…..Vanokanganiswa meaning he is not safe at all.  Our enemies are using the people around him (bodyguards) to spread the virus to our senior leaders. We are even suspecting that. It is well my son. Thank you.   

By A Correspondent- Klosad Clinical Diagnostics Lab a laboratory allegedly owned by former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo has been issuing fake COVID-19 certificates to international travellers without even testing them, The Sunday Mail reports.

The syndicate behind the scam is reportedly charging $45 for their services. The matter came to light after the publication following a tip-off embarked on a week-long investigation and notified one Mr. Nyamugama and told them they needed fake COVID-19 certificates.

According to the publication:

An unsuspecting Mr Nyamugama asked the crew to return in a couple of days as he wanted to organise with his workmates first. The crew exchanged phone numbers with Mr Nyamugama who communicated regularly via Whats App, using his number 077 5 438 768.

On Monday January 11, 2021, the certificates were produced at US$45 each. The crew paid US$45 for one certificate (which was handed over immediately) and another $4 500 for the second document via EcoCash to the number 077 5 438 768 using the exchange rate of US$1 to $100.

This second certificate was collected on Tuesday January 12, 2021.The certificates were signed off by two different people, one by a C. Guzha and the other by a T. Tenesi while B. Nyakuedzwa approved both certificates, indicating that the syndicate is tightly-knit and involves a wide network.

Mr. Nyamugama reportedly did not make any attempts to test the crew as per standard procedure.

When contacted for comment ZRP Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they will investigate the issue: We have already arrested individuals and syndicates selling fake certificates at Robert Mugabe International Airport, Beitbridge Border Post and Chirundu Border Post.

We are aware that there are some who are operating underground and we urge members of the public who have information about such operations to come forward so that we can begin investigations.

Obadiah Moyo was fired from his ministerial job last year after journalists unearthed the COVIDgate that involved Drax selling COVID-19 sundries to the government at inflated prices.

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- The wife of former Minister of State in the office of former Vice-President Joice Mujuru Sylvester Nguni reportedly succumbed to COVID-19 yesterday, The Standard reports.

The reports were confirmed by Nguni himself who also told the publication that he wanted to be left alone as he was still in shock after the death of his wife. The twice-divorced Nguni’s wife’s name could not be established at the time of publishing.

Havard educated Nguni who is the father of musician Tehn Diamond also lost his mother to the disease last year. Gogo Nguni was the country’s fourth COVID-19 death in 2019.

By A Correspondent- An 18-year-old herd boy from Breasts Village in Chief Mazvihwa’s area is in court after he slept with his boss’ 12-year-old daughter resulting in a pregnancy which was noticed two weeks ago.

It started like a song for the two when they were playing inside a hut at the homestead and they then agreed to indulge in sex.

One sexual encounter led to another and this happened several times until the girl got pregnant, the court heard.

Thabiso Gumede appeared before Zvishavane Resident Magistrate facing charges of indulging in sex with a minor.

The State says during the month of December 2020 at around 9pm the accused was playing with the complainant in the kitchen hut. The two agreed to sex and this continued thereafter.

On January 3, 2021 the complainant realised that she was pregnant and her mother reported the case to the Police leading to the arrest of Gumede.

Gumede was remanded to February 2 2021.

Taurai Muzvimwe represented the State.

By A Correspondent- Morgen Komichi has said for the opposition to be able to win the hearts of many and defeat the ruling party, they need to unite forces.

Komichi who recently contested to become the MDC T President and got 9 votes took to Twitter to register his thoughts on the issue of a unified opposition and said:

An Opposition United Front is the only option for Zimbabwe. Time is running out. Genuine Electoral and Political Reforms can be achieved by a well organized and United Platform of Zimbabweans. An inclusive stakeholder approach must be considered.

People who responded to his tweet accused him of destroying the organ that had been put in place by veteran MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Komichi is part of the people that left the MDC Alliance and joined MDC T after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Thokozani Khupe in March 2020.

By A Correspondent- President Mnangagwa yesterday conferred national hero status on the late Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba (60) and founding nationalist and Zanu-PF Central Committee member Morton Dizzy Paul Malianga (91) who both died on Friday.

Dr Gwaradzimba succumbed to Covid-19 while Malianga had been unwell for some time.

Zanu-PF National Chairperson, who is also Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, delivered the President’s message to the Gwaradzimba and Malianga families at their respective Highlands and Greystone Park homes in Harare yesterday.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the two national heroes would be buried at the National Heroes Acre on a date to be advised.

She said the President and the party saw it befitting to honour the late comrades as national heroes for the contributions they made to liberate the country.

The Ministries of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Health and Child Care had started working on the modalities and logistics on how the burial of the two will be conducted.

Speaking at the late Malianga’s home, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri described the late cadre as a towering figure who pioneered nationalist politics in the 1950s.

Malianga was founding president of the National Democratic Party at its formation in 1959. After the NDP was banned in December 1961, he became Zapu Secretary for Public Affairs in 1961.

“He was an exemplary nationalist leader who pioneered the struggle for our national independence. We will always reminisce on his unwavering commitment to the self-determination of the black majority.”

In his speech to mourners, Mr Nyaradzai Mutondo, nephew to Malianga, thanked the Zanu-PF leadership for recognising the journey that was walked by his uncle.

Malianga leaves behind wife, Effie Malianga and two sons Paidamoyo and Waraidzo.

Turning to Dr Gwaradzimba, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the late illustrious daughter of the soil was a champion of development in Manicaland.

“She was a freedom fighter and long-time educationist and passionate advocate for development, who will be remembered for her role in wartime educational programmes with a number of leading cadres who developed learning materials for refugees in camps,” she said.

Family representative Mr Afaras Mtausi Gwaradzimba thanked the President and party for honouring Dr Gwaradzimba.

“We want to thank the party and the President for honouring Dr Gwaradzimba in such a way and for recognising her contributions to the party and country at large,” he said.

In a condolence message, the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs paid tribute to Dr Gwaradzimba.

The Ministry said the late Dr Gwaradzimba, whose Chimurenga name was Shee Tapera, joined the liberation struggle in 1976.

She underwent military training in Tanzania at Nachigwea Military Academy in 1977 and was deployed and operated in the Gaza province that covered the South and South-Eastern regions of the country between 1977 and 1978 where she rose to detachment command level in the Provincial Command structure.

After independence, Dr Gwaradzimba rose through the party ranks to be a member of the Zanu-PF Central Committee and Provincial Chairperson of Manicaland province Women’s League. In 2018, she was elected Senator for Manicaland province covering Mutare Central and North, Mutasa South and Dangamvura-Chikanga constituencies.

Dr Gwaradzimba was appointed Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister in 2018, a post she held until her untimely death.

In her illustrious professional career, she sat on several corporate boards, among them the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, University of Zimbabwe Council, Grain Marketing Board, Zimbabwe Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Board and Zimpapers Board among others. She is survived by three sons.

Zanu-PF Women’s League Secretary Mable Chinomona said Dr Gwaradzimba’s “sudden death has left us in great shock and pain as the void left is not easily replaceable.”

“Dr Gwaradzimba was instrumental in pushing for and defending the Party position on Women and Youth at all stages of the Constitution-making process by representing the Party in COPAC. Today the country has a Women’s Quota reserved for Women in the National Assembly since 2013 in pursuit of the 50/50 gender equality goal across sectors and most importantly in Leadership.

“As Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, she spearheaded various development programmes that have emancipated many people in the province especially during the trying times of Cyclone Idai wherein her astute leadership qualities demonstrated amazing levels of patriotism, selflessness and love for her country and others ahead of herself.

“The country has lost a mother, leader and above all a dedicated comrade who shall be dearly missed among us. We pray for God’s strength and comfort to her family, colleagues and all who knew and worked with her.”

Born on June 8, 1930, the late Malianga hailed from a politically active family.

From 1959 when he joined the Southern African National Congress after completing his studies in South Africa, Malianga would successively be involved in the founding of the National Democratic Party, NDP, the Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (Zanu), all the time assuming top leadership positions in these organisations.

Arrested, detained and restricted continuously throughout his active political life before independence, the late Malianga, whose brother Washington was deeply politically involved, never flinched from the national cause, and was to travel far and wide agitating and canvassing for the freedom of his people and the creation of a democratic, non-racial order in a free Zimbabwe.

Malianga was imprisoned from 1964 to 1974 for his political activities.

After his release in 1974, he worked together with other members of the Zanu Central Committee in a mobilisation campaign for the liberation war. He also took part in the Victoria Falls, Geneva Conference and Lancaster House Conference that led to the country’s independence in 1980.

In the first Parliament of Zimbabwe in 1980, Malianga was appointed Senator and became Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Development in 1981. Two years later, he became Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development.

He was also appointed Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce in 1990 and was a Zanu-PF Central Committee member until his death.

By A Correspondent- Gwanda town is slowly turning to be a ticking bomb as residents are no longer observing regulations of the ongoing 30-day strict lockdown.

Under the newly imposed Level 4 lockdown, members of the public who are not providing essential services are required to stay at home. Throughout last week Sunday News observed that bus and kombi touts who ply the Gwanda-Bulawayo route were at work, despite the ban of inter-provincial travel.

The police were seen to be in a cat and mouse mode as they tried to chase away the touts but all their efforts went down the drain as once they moved from the vicinity, the touts would get back to their working place along 1st Avenue and Main Street.

A tout identified as Ndlovu said, “We have no option but to be on the streets if we want to make a living and provide for our families.”

Restaurants not serving hotel residents were also operational, although only selling takeaways. Phone dealers who are situated at 4th Avenue at a place commonly known as Emabhizeni were operational although they are not classified under essential service providers. Money changers located along 2nd Avenue were also doing their illegal operations. However, informal traders who sell clothes and street vendors have not been seen in the city centre since the start of the lockdown.

As the news crew was making rounds in Jahunda, Geneva, Phakama and Spitzkop, among other suburbs, it observed that scores of residents not providing essential services were roaming around the streets defying the stay at home call.
Last week during the Matabeleland South Covid-19 provincial taskforce meeting, Environmental Management Agency (Ema) Matabeleland South provincial manager Mr Descent Ndlovu noted that residents were not following the lockdown and Covid-19 regulations. “Scores of people are seen moving around town or western suburbs and even meeting police officers without properly wearing their masks and the police just let them be as at times the police officer will also be not properly wearing their masks,” said Mr Dube.

In an interview, Gwanda Rural District Council acting chief executive officer Mr Nkosilathi Ncube urged members of the public to adhere to Government orders.

“The call to stay at home is vital and therefore as the local authority we urge members of the public to adhere to the Government regulations so that everyone plays their part in mitigating the spread of Covid-19,” said Mr Ncube.-statemedia

AMA, where am I ever going to see you? Is this how it’s going to end?” cried a heartbroken 21-year-old Chido Sibare as the funeral hearse carrying her mother’s body drove past.

Her mother succumbed to the deadly Covid-19 and social media was, the following morning, buzzing with pictures of family members running after the hearse as it drove away with their relative’s remains which would be buried by a Covid-19 task force, while they could only watch from a distance.

Many people have not been accorded the chance to bid farewell to their loved ones and to make matters worse, government has set stringent rules over the transportation of bodies outside places of their death.

The rules are apparently aimed at limiting the number of bodies transported to rural areas as well as banning body-viewing. The government will now clear the movement of bodies straight to the burial site from mortuaries or funeral parlours.

This, according government, will help curtail the spread of Covid-19. Corpses can only be transported to faraway places when they are “hermetically sealed” and placed in “triple coffins”.

Researchers have, however, questioned the logic behind these restrictions insisting Covid-19 can only be spread from dead bodies if there is physical contact.

According to Dr Faheem Younus, the head of Infectious Diseases Clinic, University of Maryland, US, the virus does not fly through the air. It is a respiratory drop that requires close contact.

Based on this theory, the ban on the travel of dead corpses and body-viewing is unnecessary and only worsens the pain on relatives.

As Covid-19 cases continue to rise, more and more measures have been put in place as a way to curb the virus from spreading. Some of the regulatory measures include that people wear masks, social distance, avoid greeting with hands and to avoid church and family gatherings. These regulations have effectively changed the way of life everywhere in the world.

Cultures too have been affected a great deal and at great pain too. African culture dictates that when a family member or a relative dies, people gather to pay their last respects, commiserate and find closure as it were – to prove and to accept that the person is no more and has been buried. The process usually involves a lot of physical contact as people mourn and console each other.

But the advent of Covid-19 has changed all that to a point where it might soon be necessary that people are buried wherever they would have died and relatives are not accorded the chance to attend the funeral. Where the body of a loved one is brought to the village for burial, the law still allows just 30 people to attend the burial – something totally alien to the African culture where the bigger the number of mourners spoke to the popularity of the deceased person.

Social distancing has required that people keep each other at arm’s length and lockdown enforcement has made it literally unlawful for relatives and friends to visit.

Lockdown dictates that everyone stays at home to minimise interaction and infection – unless it is absolutely necessary to leave the house.

The Standard last week set out to find out what people think about some of the measures put in place to limit the spread of Covid-19. The survey showed that people have divergent views on the various measures, but most shared repugnance over the most recent regulation seeking to stop the movement of corpses for burial in places of their choice, especially to rural areas.

Harare resident Ishmael Maukazuva said the decision to ban movement of dead bodies was not right and infringed on the rights of people to choose a place for their final resting place and also was un-African.

“People are already hurt by losing their beloved ones in ill-equipped health institutions. Now, barring them from burying their relatives in their places of choice is inflicting more pain.”

Tatenda Mararike said: “Covid-19 regulations now seek to force us to abandon the way of our ancestors. We are in trouble. All our lives we have known that a person is laid to rest with one of its own. Where I come from it is an abomination to be buried among strangers in towns.

“If we continue like this, we will surely perish from the wrath of angry ancestors. Government, through its policies, is simply invoking more problems for the country. How do you expect even the rains to fall when such sacrilege is being committed?” he said.

Tanaka Muchirahondo said: “We need to understand we are living through a crisis. Death is so final. Is it not right to try to prevent it as much as possible? The preservation of life should be the most important thing now. I am not saying it is right, but I understand.”

Chief Mutekedza from Chikomba district said: “It is understandable that government is making efforts to contain the virus, but there is need to offer dignity to the dead in accordance with Zimbabwean culture.

“In my view, relatives of the dead should be allowed to bury their loved ones in places of their choice, but under strict Covid-19 regulations. What if the relatives can’t afford the grave fees charged in towns? Yes, we are in difficult times of the pandemic, but we cannot sacrifice our tradition and bury our beloved ones like dogs,” Mutekedza said.

Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association president George Kandiero said the new normal had totally changed the way Africans go about with their lives, especially burial rites. He, however, said because of the pandemic which was beyond people’s control, we had limited choices, including the preservation of our culture.

“It is a very pertinent issue that you are raising. Our customs and traditions have been violated. Our dead are no longer given the right to spend a night, to lie in state in their homes before departing for burial. We are no longer saying goodbye; paying our last respects properly,” Kandiero said.

“But from our own point of view as custodians of tradition, we seek appeasement in everything we do as Zimbabweans. At this point in time it’s a huge crisis we are facing and if we don’t follow these guidelines, we will all perish.”

He said although it was painful and difficult, it was only right that Zimbabweans accept the reality of the situation they were in.

“The family in this case has to sit down and perform rites to let the ancestors know of the situation on the ground and why you have failed to carry out certain rites. You also need to speak with the dead person so that he or she understands the situation although nowadays most of the people are passing on fully aware of the new normal,” said Kandiero.

“It’s clear as day that our traditions and customs have totally shifted; it’s now called the new normal. We are trying to adjust, but it’s an issue troubling all of us.”-standard

By A Correspondent- Four people appeared before a Harare court yesterday on allegations of trying to stash part of the loot stolen by suspected armed robbers that were arrested last week in connection with the US$2,5 million heist that occurred along the Harare-Chinhoyi Road.

Chiedza Musvibe-Chirara (32), Juliet Chirara (38), Chipo Chirara (42) and Levy Idana (36) were facing charges of defeating the course of justice when they appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Judith Taruvinga.

Juliet, Chiedza and Chipo were freed on $10 000 bail each, while Idana was remanded in custody to January 17 for bail ruling.

The court heard that on a date unknown to the prosecutor, but after the ZB Bank cash-in-transit robbery which occurred on January 6, Chiedza, who is wife to alleged armed robber Charles Chirara, took her husband’s share of US$100 000 cash from Juliet and Chipo, who are her sisters-in-law.

It is alleged that upon arrival at their place of residence, the trio discussed how they would safe-keep the money and agreed to dig a hole inside the house, where they put the money and covered it with cement before placing a wardrobe on top of where the money had been hidden.

It is alleged that after learning of Chiedza’s husband’s arrest on January 12, the trio retrieved the money before vacating their places of residence.

The court heard that they subsequently phoned Idana seeking refuge, after which they were advised to stop using their cellphones as they could be tracked by the police.

It is the State’s case that Idana secured a place for them and rented a flat in Bluffhill, Harare.

It is alleged that when detectives arrived at Juliet’s place of residence intending to recover the money, they discovered that no one was there.

The court heard that on January 14, the detectives received information that the trio was now staying in Bluffhill.

They made a follow-up, leading to the quartet’s arrest.

-statemedia

Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa will not attend next week’s inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, a list of guests seen by 7NN shows.

Mnangagwa has been excluded from the proceedings at the U.S. Capitol Jan.20 along with North Korean despot Kim Jong Il and the blacklisted rulers of Iran, Vietnam and Belarus. Mnangagwa is considered a serious security threat after his Varakashi cyber-terror group was caught by the CIA encouraging violence that followed the police killing of George Floyd.

U.S. intelligence agency, the Office for Foreign Assets Control also found that Mnangagwa was involved in grand corruption, moving billions of dollars of state funds from the Treasury to offshore accounts run by his henchman Kudakwashe Tagwirei and a front company called Sotic International, registered in Mauritius but with secret financial dealings in the British Virgin Islands. Tagwirei was placed under sanctions by Donald Trump in August 2020.

Mnangagwa was first blacklisted in 2001, when evidence emerged that he was the architect of the extreme violence that accompanied invasion of white-owned farms and elections.

President Cyril Ramaphosa from neighbouring South Africa will lead the African delegation as AU chair, much to the chagrin of ZANU-PF, which has publicly clashed with him and his ANC. Ramaphosa has previously pushed for the lifting of U.S.sanctions against the Harare junta.

However, in the wake of public recriminations via the SABC, Ramaphosa abruptly closed the Beitbridge border on Monday, a development critics say will cripple the Zimbabwean economy dependent on South Africa to market minerals that are keeping the economy functional. Ramaphosa cited #COVID19 to justify the border closure but senior ANC officials said the unexpected frontier closure was a sign of the deteriorating relations between the party and ZANU-PF.

Despite security concerns, the inauguration is expected to be a festive event attended in person or virtually by people from around the world, from government representatives to celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi and Ant.

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officers are reportedly denying MDC Alliance Spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, MDC Alliance Chairman Job Sikhala, and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono access to their lawyers. This was revealed by lawyer Douglas Coltart who said the trio is also being denied access to their own food as well.

Colart shared a document from an application made by Chin’ono last year that said they were unconvicted prisoners and they should have access to their own food and their lawyers and said:

Hopewell Chin’ono, Job Sikhala and Fadzayi Mahere are being denied access to their lawyers and to their own food (to which they’re entitled as unconvicted prisoners). Prison authorities are defying a court order we previously obtained on this issue the last time it happened.

The trio was denied bail by the court for different reasons after they were arrested for allegedly tweeting falsehoods by ZRP officers last week.

Source: Douglas Coltart Twitter 

BBy A Correspondent- Salvation Army-run Howard Hospital might close for some days after 20 workers at one of Mashonaland Central’s largest hospital reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

The publication spoke to one of the nurses who didn’t want to be named who said:

We are short staffed and working under extreme pressure. Besides our depeleted staff complement, we are also living and working in fear of our lives because the PPE is not enough, yet the wards are overwhelmed with patients coming from areas across the province.

The health workers have reportedly soldiered on amid reports that they are working without adequate PPE. This comes amid reports that. 7 frontline workers at Chitungwiza City Health Department reportedly contracted COVID-19 and one frontline worker reportedly succumbed to the virus. Meanwhile, public hospitals are reportedly running out of medical oxygen and hospital beds as the country reek from the COVID-19 second wave.

Dirty water coming out of water taps in Masvingo exposing residents to diseases…

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa should stop blaming perceived political rivals for his own blunders.

In a message of encouragement to the nation, President Chamisa said Mr Mnangagwa’s administration has dismally failed to address the escalating problems affecting the nation.

Said President Chamisa:

It cannot be normal when government torments journalists and ordinary citizens.

They think they are correct while everyone else outside their administration is wrong.

They say journalists are wrong, citizens are wrong , South Africa is wrong…

It cannot be normal when children are not going to school because of Coronavirus.They don’t have alternative learning methods.

The blame game will not solve anything, let them admit failure.

It cannot be normal when citizens are being bashed by the police. Zimbabwe will never die, let us not lose hope, lets remain positive.

They are blaming perceived opponents instead of concentrating on resolving problems affecting the nation…

Tinashe Sambiri| Zanu PF stalwart, Oppah Muchinguri- Kashiri says the Chinese people are to blame for experimenting with the deadly Coronavirus.

This follows the death of Minister of State for Manicaland, Ellen Gwaradzimba.

Read Muchunguri-Kashiri’s remarks below:

Washaya mwana wangu washaya meaning she is dead, my daughter is dead. Mwana wangu washaya kani she is gone she is gone.

Takaedza kani takaedza meaning we tried everything we really tried to help her get better. The Lord has laughed at us we tried everything….the children. What about the children? They have killed me (Ellen’s death) has destroyed me. This has destroyed me. I am in pain, so much pain. ….
What? drink ginger? I am not sick. I am well. I am not sick. It’s just people that are saying lies. They are lying. I am not sick. I am very well and healthy. They have said that I am sick but it’s not true. They have said that I am sick four times and even suggested that I have died four times. But it’s not true.
Ok my children.

I suffered a lot with Ellen. I couldn’t sleep while she was sick. The doctors talked to me everyday, together with the children. She was in pain she was in so much pain. She has let us down today. Hazvina mhosva…..
She took everything, all the medication…everything we tried. Vaccine?

No there is no vaccine yet in the country. I will never take the vaccine. I will not take “your” vaccine, I will not take your vaccine unless if it’s developed by our own people, Zimbabweans. If they develop our own vaccine. Why can’t we also develop our own vaccine. Why should we take that which is developed by others? Why can’t we also make our own vaccine? Let’s develop our own.

We are trying our own, we are also trying our own that which we are developing with the help of the Chinese maybe it will be successful maybe it will be successful. I do not know.

Chinotimba.
I also heard that he is not well. I also heard that Chinamasa is sick….Chinotimba I heard that he is not well. I heard that he is not too well. But I am well and not sick. I am assisting a lot of people. I am the one helping a lot of people who are not well here in Manicaland. Ana Getty vese I brought them here everyone in Manicaland I am helping them. Bringing them here to help with their treatment. I am looking for resources to help them getting them treated.

It is not possible (to stay at home) I am going to the children. I can’t leave them alone Ellen’s children. I can’t do that. We left together with Ellen, we left their home while going to seek treatment. I left with their sick mother. They (other family members) were all sick but they got better. I can’t leave them.
Zimbabweans are dying. This is serious. Covid 19 is serious.

The Chinese, the disease is now on a fresh peak now. Cases are rising again. They are the ones who started their experiments and things got out of hand and now their experiments are costing us. They cannot control this now. They have costed us…. those whom we call our all weather friends, look at what they have done to us.

We have to be strong. Indeed we have to be strong
Let me attend to the children so that we can organise the funeral. We have managed to take the body to Doves so we need to do the heroes burial. We are liasing with the leaders. We are talking to the party leadership. Please forgive me so that I can start doing the job ….we are taking extra care we are wearing the masks 4 4, face screens, gloves everything.

We are drinking the medicines zinc garlic we are drinking we will not stop. But Covid 19 is killing- it is killing people. Its still a journey. We are protecting our health wearing masks, social distancing everything. Zvakaoma. This is a deadly disease, it is a killer disease. It has wrecked havoc.

These people, who are now at the top at ZBC, they are not doing anything. They are just busy promoting themselves (the top stalwarts at ZBC).

They are not even conscientising the public on the dangers of Covid-19….
On the safety of the president in the wake of Covid- 19…..Vanokanganiswa meaning he is not safe at all.

Our enemies are using the people around him (bodyguards) to spread the virus to our senior leaders. We are even suspecting that. It is well my son. Thank you.

MAY YOU ASSIST BRING BACK OUR MISSING MRS SIBONGILE DUBE OF MLOYI AREA IN MBALABALA , MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA APPEALS

16 JANUARY 2021

We are extremely worried and undergoing horrific sleepless nights because of the continued missing of the beloved mother-in-law of Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch Secretary for Elections.

Our mother(SIBONGILE DUBE) was last seen around the 22nd of December 2020 at her home situated in Mloyi Area in MBALABALA along Zvishavane road from Bulawayo. It is not easy to lose a 60 year old teacher who was contributing a lot in the education sector. Mrs Sibongile Dube is dark in complexion.

As a sure way of offering solidarity to our leader and brother in the national democratic revolution, we are appealing for assistance from all Zimbabweans and non-Zimbabweans under sun to help us recover our mother. The police, the CIOs, CIDs and securocrats are also expected to effectively help to bring back Mrs Sibongile Dube given their investigation antics. For any information that can help us find her, please contact +263775721155/0773569916/772831815 or nearest police station.

We will appreciate any effort to recover our beloved mother-in-law. Thank you in advance!

BringBackSibongileDube

SheIsOurMother

WeNeedToRest

SheIsAnEducator

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa has said Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa should stop blaming perceived political rivals for his own blunders.

In a message of encouragement to the nation, President Chamisa said Mr Mnangagwa’s administration has dismally failed to address the escalating problems affecting the nation.

Said President Chamisa:

It cannot be normal when government torments journalists and ordinary citizens.

They think they are correct while everyone else outside their administration is wrong.

They say journalists are wrong, citizens are wrong , South Africa is wrong…

It cannot be normal when children are not going to school because of Coronavirus.They don’t have alternative learning methods.

The blame game will not solve anything, let them admit failure.

It cannot be normal when citizens are being bashed by the police. Zimbabwe will never die, let us not lose hope, lets remain positive.

They are blaming perceived opponents instead of concentrating on resolving problems affecting the nation…

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala will return to court on February 18 after being denied bail by a Harare magistrate.

Hon Sikhala, MDC Alliance spokesperson, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono are being persecuted for exposing the Zanu PF regime’s callousness.

The MDC Alliance has condemned the persecution of its members by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s troubled administration.

“They have denied our national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere bail. She will again, go back to remand prison.

She is not a criminal. Stop using unjust detentions against opponents.

Her Bail ruling will be handed down on Monday 18/01/21 at 11:15hrs in court 11 by magistrate Utahwashe.

Both her arrest and detention is illegal. She must get her freedom unconditionally.

Magistrate Nduna dismissed Hon. Sikhala’s bail application and said he should wait for commencement of trial while in prison custody.

Hon Sikhala will return to court on 18 February 2021,” MDC Alliance said in a statement.

Zanu PF Spokesperson Succumbs To COVID-19

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Secretary for Information, Ronald Ndava has succumbed to the deadly Coronavirus.

Ndava succumbed to the deadly pandemic at Chiredzi General Hospital on Friday night, according to Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Commissar, Jevas Masosota.

38 people have succumbed to the deadly virus in Masvingo.

“Ronald Ndava succumbed to the deadly virus last night and burial arrangements are yet to be announced,” a Zanu PF official said.

By A Correspondent- Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Chitungwiza Health Department have been forced to cut down their operations after some of their staff members contracted the coronavirus in recent weeks.

The development was announced in a statement that was issued Thursday by Parirenyatwa spokesperson, Linos Dhire, who observed that scaling down operations will greatly affect patients.

Read the statement:

We would like to advise our patients on chemotherapy and the general public that our radiotherapy centre has not been spared the effects of Covid-19.

Some staff members and patients have been infected and this is posing serious risks. Chemotherapy patients are most vulnerable as their immunity may be impaired by their treatment and disease.

In the meantime, hospital authorities are reviewing relevant protocols to safeguard both patients and staff; our doctors are reviewing patients on a case-by-case basis and making appropriate decisions.

Meanwhile, Chitungwiza City Health Department revealed that at least one of its staff members had died while seven have been infected by the deadly virus.

In a Thursday statement, Chitungwiza town clerk, Tonderai Kasu, said:

Even before the onset of the pandemic, Chitungwiza Municipality was short of health professionals. The current circumstances have worsened these shortages of qualified staff.

As a result of the current severe staff shortages, and with immediate effect, Chitungwiza Municipality will be temporarily closing one of its municipal clinics; that is St Mary’s Clinic.

This clinic shall remain open for emergency cases only; all non-emergency cases that would normally be attended to at St Mary’s shall be attended to at Zengeza Clinic for the time being.

This comes when Zimbabwe has been hit by the second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has since killed over 630 people since March last year.

The announcement is also made amid calls for the government to provide frontline workers with personal protective equipment (PPEs) to shield them from the virus.

By A Correspondent- Exiled former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Jonathan Moyo has suggested that President Emmerson Mnangagwa knows what happened to journalist and political activist Itai Dzamara who was allegedly kidnapped in 2015.

Dzamara’s whereabouts are still unknown.

Asked by Magamba TV what happened to Itai Dzamara, Jonathan Moyo said:

I appreciate that you and many others find it easier to ask me and find it very difficult to ask Emmerson Mnangagwa…Remember that on the day he (Dzamara) disappeared Emmerson Mnangagwa was acting President.

Back in 2015, Moyo claimed that the opposition knew where Dzamara was adding that he was hiding in Botswana and would one day come out.

Dzamara, in 2014, began his one-man protest movement by sitting in Africa Unity Square calling for then-President Robert Mugabe to relinquish power over maladministration.

Soon others began to join him.

Dzamara was abducted while in a barber where he was getting his beard trimmed. It is reported that five men with a white Nissan twin cab which seemed to be circling the block took him alleging that he was a cattle thief.

He was never seen since then.

Uganda’s President for the past 34 years Yoweri Museveni has reportedly defeated firebrand youthful politician Bobi Wine to become the country’s president for the next 5 years, Aljazeera reports.

According to the publication, Uganda’s election commission declared Museveni the duly elected winner today and said he garnered 5.85 million votes, or 58.64%, while Bobi Wine won 3.48 million votes or 34.83%.

Uganda Election Commission EC chairman Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama. in announcing Museveni as the winner reportedly said:

The electoral commission declares Yoweri Museveni … elected president of the republic of Uganda

Bobi wine yesterday said he was the elected president at a press conference he said he had video evidence of the government rigging elections.

Meanwhile, the EU in Uganda has said it was impressed with the peaceful and organized elections despite reports on social media that armed state agents surrounded Bobi Wine’s house yesterday. The country voted on Thursday amid an internet and social media blockade ordered by Museveni’s government.

-Aljazeera

Former Energy Minister Advocate Fortune Chasi has said the power cuts the country experienced in the recent past demanded that responsible authorities be hands-on.

He posted on Twitter following a public outcry over power blackouts that had lasted for almost a week in some parts of Harare.

He tweeted:

It was heartening to see people call poor service delivery – especially against ZETDC. It reminded me of my erstwhile mandate & how I used to descend to the ground to find solutions.

Do you remember how I was often ridiculed? How people would say “a whole minister bla bla”. Essentially saying I was doing menial work. A desperate situation demands one to be hands-on! That’s a key way of improving service delivery!

During the period in question, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) issued statements suggesting that the power cuts were as a result of rains-triggered faults.

The power utility dismissed claims that the blackouts could have been caused by the inadequacy of power in the country saying Zimbabwe was generating enough power to meet the demand.

Meanwhile, electricity has been restored in some parts of the country while some are still without power.

Production in the country was low last year and might be low again this year if power issues continue unabetted.

-FortuneChasi

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara) wants to switch from manual collection of toll fees to an electronic tolling collection (ETC) method that allows vehicles to pass through a toll gate without requiring any action or stopping by the driver.

In a notice in the Government Gazette yesterday, the road authority requested for expressions of interest for the supply, installation, configuration and commissioning of an ETC solution using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology.

Zinara currently operates 31 toll gates on the major highways of Zimbabwe. The amount of traffic in recent years has surged due to the increasing number of vehicles. Zinara’s quest to switch to ETC comes on the back  of increasing numbers of vehicles on the roads, resulting in problems such as long queues, delays, congestion and fuel wastage.

“The payment methods that are in operation at the toll plazas depend on the network communication systems operated by mobile network operators and the point-of-sale machines from banks and these payment methods have inherent delays and are not capable of coping with the increased traffic volumes.

“The current payment procedure can be slow, which often results in traffic jams at the toll plazas on busy highways. “The above challenges have created a huge negative implication on revenue collection and have created a nightmare for the motoring public,” read part of the notice.

To curtail the challenges, Zinara said the introduction of the ETC system at the tolling points would ease congestion and unnecessary delays.

“ECT will help to automate the collection of toll fees, ensure classification and toll collections are easily reconciled as well as reduce the manual intervention in toll collection,” further read the notice.

Typical methods for collecting tolls are manual collection, automatic toll collection via coin machines, and ETC. Manual toll collection is the simplest form in which a collector operating from a booth collects the money.

ETC is the most complex and the latest method for collecting tolls. Although it has been in use for more than 20 years, it will be new to Zimbabwe. ETC lanes improve the speed and efficiency of traffic flow and save drivers’ time.

An ETC system is capable of electronically charging a toll to an established customer account. The system can determine whether a passing car is registered, automatically charging those vehicles, and alert the local highway patrol about users that are not registered.

-dailynews

EDITOR,

In line with the Zimbabwe Constitution Section 67 (1)(b), 67 (2)(b)(c) and 67(3)(a)(b) that confers Zimbabwean citizens political and electoral rights related to political membership and suffrage, the Patriotic Zimbabweans in Diaspora (PZD) party was birthed.

Hitherto, multitudes of fellow country men and women of all races were either playing peripheral roles in existing political parties or were excluded.

In spite of their obvious substantial intellectual and socioeconomic impact on the nation, they have not been allowed to have a stake in the political destiny of their motherland.

Admittedly, it is a predicament which has been self-imposed and to a great extent accepted by the dormant diaspora.

Considering the foregoing, Zimbabweans living and working abroad have awoken from their slumber and decided to end their observer status and apathetic approach towards the affairs of their country.

Led by the interim president and one of the founders, Lieutenant (Retired) Charles Muchineripi Mutama, the Patriotic Zimbabweans in Diaspora is a political party made up of Zimbabweans living in various countries across the globe.

Its mandate is to ensure that:

– Voting rights are extended to the estimated four million Zimbabweans living abroad;

– A process of radical political and economic reform is initiated by all stakeholders;

– The diaspora participates in all elections;

– Zimbabwe returns to the community of nations;

– Corruption and arrested development are comprehensively dealt with;

All economically marginalised people at home and abroad begin to enjoy their natural wealth and, above all;

– The electoral system is overhauled to meet regional and international standards.

Since the beginning of this new year, the PZD has embarked on an intensive membership drive utilising social media, associations, and clubs in the diaspora in its effort to mobilise and build this young and unique party which is open to all Zimbabweans.

Currently, the majority of the membership is drawn from countries such as South Africa, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and more recruitment work is being done in Australia and New Zealand.

In Zimbabwe, multimedia resources and personnel have been deployed to introduce the party to the electorate and potential members.

As part of our broader vision, the PZD party is a link between the past and the future.

There is nexus between our revolutionary political agenda and the aspirations of the past anti-colonial and anti-native coloniality leadership.

In a world where political and economic dimensions are changing rapidly, the PZD party is a dynamic Pan-Africanist organisation which will complement the role being played by progressive political parties in Zimbabwe while embracing modern concepts of democracy.

The PZD will forge alliances with indigenous parties or individuals who share a common vision of transferring power to civilian rule through any other means popular with the will of the majority.

Finally, as a party of expatriates and Zimbabweans living abroad, the PZD party will leverage its human capital, international networks and economic resource base to return Zimbabwe to the community of nations and to revive an economy in comatose.

The PZD party embraces international best practices in its governance and as such will make it its mission to cultivate that culture in the current toxic Zimbabwean body politic.

Founder

Charles Muchineripi Mutama

"I just did an interview over the phone with @HEBobiwine. He says he is essentially under house arrest — with no one allowed in or out of his house. He says the government’s intent is to isolate him." ~@eyderp.

We request @_AfricanUnion, @IGADPeace and @UNGeneva to intervene. pic.twitter.com/YkGy7bZaoj

— People's Human Rights Forum (PHRF) (@UgandaHuman) January 16, 2021

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, Vice President Chiwenga has said COVID-19 vaccination is going to be voluntary.

He made the remarks in his COVID-19 update on Friday as some members of the pubic are indecisive on whether to take the vaccine or not. In a statement,

Chiwenga said:

I am also aware that some of our citizens are anxious to get vaccinated. The Government is following the development and dissemination of COVID 19 vaccines by other states, with keen interest.

Despite the observations made that other African, European and Asian countries had started rolling out vaccines, Zimbabwe adopted a measured approach, with experts interrogating all safety concerns.

As soon as all technical and administrative obligations are met, Zimbabweans can expect to be vaccinated. The vaccination is going to be voluntary.

Let me underscore that my Ministry is doing everything possible to ensure that our citizens are safe from possible side effects of some COVID 19 vaccines, currently on the shelf.

Some members of the public are afraid of the side effects of the vaccines while some are even alleging that the vaccine is against their religious beliefs.

By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has spoken out on the use of moringa and Zumbani to treat Covid-19.

Zumbani and Moringa have become much sought after traditional herbs in the country as people widely believe it can treat Covid-19.

The practice of “kunatira/kufufira (inhaling steam laced with herbs) has been so popular that sellers are making a lot of money selling herbs like Zumbani, Moringa, and Mufandichimuka.

In a press statement, Vice President Chiwenga said;

“Before I conclude my Press Statement, someone asked me whether traditional medicines such as Mufandichimuka, Moringa, Zumbani, and other herbs can be used to treat COVID 19 or substitute drugs for COVID 19?”

“Some Traditional Doctors were said to claiming that their patients recovered after administering herbs. My comment would be that, you might be aware that some modern medicines are actually derived from traditional herbs,” he said.

He urged citizens to rely on scientific backed evidence use of herbs and home remedies in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

“Yes, it is possible that some traditional medicines can be used to treat COVID 19 however, there is a need for scientific researches to be done to ascertain their efficacy. The Ministry of Health and Child Care actually operationalized the Traditional Medicines Department, which is pre-occupied with researches in this area,” he added.

Following the recent surge in Covid-19, VP Chiwenga called on citizens to abide by the lockdown regulations in the face of the worsening Covid-19 crises.

He also urged members of the public to continue to observe guidelines of wearing masks, observing social distance, and sanitization.

The New York Post reported that Twenty-three people died in Norway within days of receiving their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, with 13 of those deaths – all nursing home patients – apparently related to the side effects of the shots, health officials said.

Common reactions to the vaccine, including fever and nausea, “may have contributed to a fatal outcome in some frail patients,” Sigurd Hortemo, chief physician at the Norwegian Medicines Agency, said in a Friday statement.

All 13 were nursing home patients and at least 80 years old. While officials aren’t expressing serious concern, they are adjusting their guidance on who should receive the vaccine.

The news comes just over a week after officials reported the deaths of just two nursing home residents after they received the Pfizer jab.

More than 30,000 people in Norway have received the first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine in the Scandinavian country since late last month, according to official figures.

“We are not alarmed by this,” Steinar Madsen, medical director with the agency, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “It is quite clear that these vaccines have very little risk, with a small exception for the frailest patients.”

“Doctors must now carefully consider who should be vaccinated,” he added. “Those who are very frail and at the very end of life can be vaccinated after an individual assessment.”

The agency reported Thursday that a total of 29 people had suffered side effects, including the 13 people who died.

Twenty-one women and eight men experienced side effects, officials said.

Besides those who died, nine had serious side effects — including allergic reactions, strong discomfort and severe fever — while seven had less serious ones, including severe pain at the injection site.

In total, more than 57,000 cases and 500 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported in Norway, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Health officials noted that around 400 people die each week in the nursing home population.

A Pfizer rep said the pharmaceutical giant is “aware of reported deaths” following the administration of the vaccine in Norway and is working with the Norwegian Medicines Agency “to gather all the relevant information.”

“Norwegian authorities have prioritized the immunization of residents in nursing homes, most of whom are very elderly with underlying medical conditions and some which are terminally ill,” a spokeswoman said in a statement. “[The Norwegian Medicine Agency confirms] the number of incidents so far is not alarming, and in line with expectations.”

“All reported deaths will be thoroughly evaluated by [the agency] to determine if these incidents are related to the vaccine,” she added. “The Norwegian government will also consider adjusting their vaccination instructions to take the patients’ health into more consideration.”

NewYorkPost

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum (The Forum) has expressed concern over what they called an apparent trend of manipulation of the criminal justice system to punish dissent through prolonged and undue pre-trial incarceration.

The rights group also bemoaned the selective targeting of political opposition leaders and human rights defenders.

This came after journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, MDC Alliance vice-chairperson Job Sikhala, and MDC Alliance party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere were arrested last week and charged for allegedly communicating falsehoods.

They are being charged under section 31(a)(iii) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

In a statement yesterday, the Forum said political opposition leaders and human rights defenders are being arrested on frivolous charges as the State has weaponised the criminal justice system to intimidate and threaten perceived voices of dissent.

“The collective incidents of arrests related to political opponents, human rights defenders and other opposition figures on frivolous and vexatious charges are not isolated to these latest arrests,” read part of the statement.

“In November 2020, police officers arrested Jacob Mafume on charges of criminal abuse of office, in addition to subsequent charges of allegedly interfering with a key witness.”

Many activists have been arrested for speaking against the government, in September 2020, Takudzwa Ngadziore was arrested on charges of participating in a public gathering with intent to promote public violence, Youngerson Matete, Prince Gora and Allan Moyo were arrested on similar charges.

“In all these cases, the wrath and retribution of the government is clearly evidenced by the adoption of pre-trial incarceration procedures as a punitive measure.

“A case in point is that of student activist, Allan Moyo, who has been remanded in prison for the past thirty-seven days without a trial.”

“It appears that the government has become fixated with punishing dissenting voices in the country through prolonged pre-trial incarcerations,” the lobby group said.

The Forum said these arrests are seemingly meant to intimidate opposition figures from speaking out and calling for the government to be accountable to its people while government continues to default on its obligations in terms of the Constitution and in terms of international law.

“In terms of sections 58, 59, 60 and 61 the Constitution of Zimbabwe, citizens are entitled and well within their rights to speak out and complain when their freedoms have been infringed upon,” the Forum added.

-newsday

By A Correspondent- Former Principal Immigration Officer Munyaradzi Mushimbo has approached the High Court seeking to have the Zimbabwe Financial Clearing Association (ZFCA) remove his name from the roll of blacklisted people.

In the application, he cited Portcullis Financial Clearing Bureau (PFCB), an affiliate of ZFCA, as the respondent. Mushimbo was arrested last February on charges of criminal abuse of office after he reportedly facilitated the illegal stay of Chinese nationals in the country but was later found not guilty and acquitted on March 2.

According to the application, Mushimbo is a director at Hedridge Investments, Golden Keyz Mine, Octa Front Consultants as well as Glen Freight Logistics, dealing in freight, mining and logistics.

On December 31, a commercial bank informed Mushimbo that his account had been declined to his dismay as a transfer of RTGS$120 000 had been done only days before.

He attempted to open new accounts with other banks to no avail, leading him to conclude that-PFCB had not removed him from the blacklist, making it impossible for him to trade.

Mushimbo, represented by Tatenda Mushangwe, approached the High Court citing that the tag on Mushimbo was due to a newspaper article and should not even have been placed on him to begin with.

“It is obvious from a cursory look at the circumstances that the tag is intended by the respondent to be ad infinitum. I do not want to delve much into the fact that the tag must not even have been placed in the first place on account of a newspaper article,” the application reads.

“That despite, the listing itself on the mere basis of a newspaper article and with no follow through on the finalisation of the matter fails to convince anyone that the national reasonable man on the proverbial commuter omnibus would consider that conduct to be reasonable.”

He is also claiming that the tag is infringing on his constitutional right as it is hindering him from trading. “I have every reason to say that my constitutional rights are being infringed. I am not persuaded that there is any reasonable justification for such infringements on my rights.”

-dailynews

By A Correspondent- Forty five suspended police officers have approached the High Court seeking an order to be released from Chikurubi Detention Barracks (DB) where they have been committed since January 4.

The officers, through their lawyer Tafadzwa Muvhami, have filed an urgent chamber application citing police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga, Assistant Commissioner (Harare province) Dube and Criminal Investigations Department Sergeant Zaranyika as respondents.

Assistant Inspector Raymond Chidyagwai and 44 other officers were ordered to report for duty on January 4 at Chikurubi Detention Barracks. Upon arrival, the officers were committed to hard labour without a time limit by the respondents as punishment after their recent suspension from the force for various reasons.

Since their arrival, the officers have reportedly been ordered by the respondents to carry out tasks that do not have anything to do with their official duties.

“From January 4, 2021, we have been ordered to carry bricks from one point to the other, sweeping the yard, watering the garden and working in the police fields and our supervisor’s fields, which have nothing to do with our duties.

“We are also ordered to fetch water for our supervisors and weed their gardens for their personal benefit. “The respondents have labelled us bandits and we actually work more than the other members who are committed to serve their sentences at Chikurubi DB,” Chidyagwai’s affidavit reads.

The officers also claim they are being exposed to inhumane punishment and treatment by their superiors. In their application, the officers want the High Court to grant an order that Dube and Zaranyika have no authority to place them on indefinite punishment as no court has convicted them of any wrongdoing.

“The applicants have not been committed to hard labour by any court of law and it appears that the 1st and 2nd respondents have turned themselves into a court of law with unfettered powers,” the officers claim.

The police bosses are yet to respond to the application.-DailyNews