Fellow Zimbabweans we have seen a surge in Covid 19 cases during this festive season with 1,342 Covid 19 cases and 29 deaths being recorded in a week representing the highest number recorded so far. We have seen the number of Covid 19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 November to 14084 to date.
The cumulative number of Covid 19 cases in Zimbabwe as of 1 January 2021 is now 14084 cases and 369 deaths.
In view of the surge in covid 19 cases the Government has intensified testing and patient care throughout all the provinces.
In light of the recent surge in Covid 19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect:
Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.
The existing covid 19 preventive health measures will be strictly enforced that is to say correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization and temperature checks will be strictly enforced and offenders will be prosecuted.
Only essential services are to remain open such as hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only essential staff allowed to come to work. These services can only open at 8 am and must close at 3pm and will be subject to curfew that will start at 6pm and end at 6am.
Of the other commercial services only Part 4 lockdown order services such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture will operate as before. Other commercial services specified on Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say all formal businesses and registered informal traders are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2021 for 30 days.
Inter provincial and inter City transport services are restricted only to essential services and Part 4 commercial services.
People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives. Other exceptions are as specified in the lockdown order.
As for schooling only examination classes are to open now.
Cross border traders are stopped forthwith save for commercial and transit cargo related to essential and critical services.
Air transportation remains unhindered and will continue as before with arrivals and returning residents being required to present Covid 19 free certificates. As for land access only returning residents and essential service drivers will be admitted subject to presentation of Covid 19 free certificates. These certificates must have been issued at least 48 hours before departure.
Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
Fellow Zimbabweans we have seen a surge in Covid 19 cases during this festive season with 1,342 Covid 19 cases and 29 deaths being recorded in a week representing the highest number recorded so far. We have seen the number of Covid 19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 November to 14084 to date.
The cumulative number of Covid 19 cases in Zimbabwe as of 1 January 2021 is now 14084 cases and 369 deaths.
In view of the surge in covid 19 cases the Government has intensified testing and patient care throughout all the provinces.
In light of the recent surge in Covid 19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect:
Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.
The existing covid 19 preventive health measures will be strictly enforced that is to say correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization and temperature checks will be strictly enforced and offenders will be prosecuted.
Only essential services are to remain open such as hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only essential staff allowed to come to work. These services can only open at 8 am and must close at 3pm and will be subject to curfew that will start at 6pm and end at 6am.
Of the other commercial services only Part 4 lockdown order services such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture will operate as before. Other commercial services specified on Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say all formal businesses and registered informal traders are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2021 for 30 days.
Inter provincial and inter City transport services are restricted only to essential services and Part 4 commercial services.
People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives. Other exceptions are as specified in the lockdown order.
As for schooling only examination classes are to open now.
Cross border traders are stopped forthwith save for commercial and transit cargo related to essential and critical services.
Air transportation remains unhindered and will continue as before with arrivals and returning residents being required to present Covid 19 free certificates. As for land access only returning residents and essential service drivers will be admitted subject to presentation of Covid 19 free certificates. These certificates must have been issued at least 48 hours before departure.
Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
Constantino Chiwenga Minister of Health and Child Care
Joice Dube /Transform Zimbabwe leader and face of the July 31 Movement, Jacob Ngarivhume has called for the establishment of a National Transitional Authority, in order to rescue the country out of the myriad of problems it is faced with.
Wrote Ngarivhume on social media, ” We need fresh eyes and fresh minds to help stabilize our economy and men with integrity to lead the crucial international re-engagement effort. Our nation needs billions of dollars to stave off hunger and cushion struggling families in the next 12 months.”
Alois GQ Bunjira ] It is with a heavy heart that I learnt of the passing of Mama Java.Great woman who played a motherly role to me my friend Shuto ,especially in our early days of top flight football.We would spend time at their home with Mudhara Java and she would look after us well,cook for us,giving great advice with calming effect,more especially on days when chips were down.She would come watch our matches at Darryn T and always gave fair assessment.Her and Never Gombera’s wife,Mai Caro,were the two extra mothers that God gave me.We continued having a son/mother relationship even long after Mudhara Java was taken from us….
I shall forever appreciate the role she played in my life ,together with her late husband.
May your dear soul rest in power.You will be missed dearly ,moms
We are facing the most trying times of our generation
THE LOCKDOWN COURT CHALLENGE Hello, my name is Obert Kondongwe, and together with a few other like-minded souls, we are launching a legal challenge against the recent ZIM Govt Covid -19 Lockdown. We believe that the Govt has acted illegally and disproportionately over the COVID 19 lockdown and we are taking action. By forcing people to stay at home, and forcing businesses to close, they are, we believe, in contravention of basic Human Rights offered under our Constitution, International Human Rights conventions and the common law. The lockdown has and will lead to devastating economic impact (massive unemployment, tax increases, closure of businesses, etc) It has, and will lead to far more deaths from suicide, undiagnosed conditions, untreated conditions – indeed far more than would have been potentially saved by the lockdown. What we wish to achieve in bringing this case, is simply the freedom of individuals – the freedom to visit friends, freedom to earn a living, to socialize, in essence, the freedom of choice. That, of course, includes the freedom to stay inside – should you choose. This Court action challenges the lawfulness of (Coronavirus) Regulations, through which restrictions have been imposed on every aspect of personal and public life throughout Zimbabwe. It is our contention that the Regulations were, from the date on which they entered into force and various amendments, unlawful on the following grounds that: 1. They are ultra vires the Constitution in several respects as they infringe on fundamental human rights and freedoms; 2. They are over-rigid in considering only their effect on containing the coronavirus and not whether each of them were the least restrictive means of doing so or proportionate to the harms done by the restrictions, Thus, the Government failed to consider the following relevant considerations before deciding whether to impose the Regulations:
(a) the uncertainty of scientific evidence about the effectiveness of the restrictions; (b) the effect of the restrictions on public health, including deaths, particularly from untreated or undiscovered cancer and heart disease, mental health and the incidence of domestic violence; (c) the economic effect of the restrictions relative to the economic effect of alternative less restrictive means of limiting its spread; (d) the medium and long-term consequences of the measures; and (e) whether, in the light of those considerations, less restrictive measures than those adopted would have been a more proportionate means of obtaining the objective of restricting the spread of the coronavirus without causing disproportionate harms;
3. The restrictions, preventing social gatherings are a disproportionate breach of fundamental rights and freedoms protected by the Constitution and various Conventions on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. 4. There are principles of international law developed and adopted for that purpose during public health crises, in circumstances where restrictions are likely to impact upon a nexus of different rights and freedoms. They incorporate well established proportionality principles and must be considered alongside the proportionality of restrictions of individual rights, all of which will also be relevant to the determination of the challenge.
5. Restrictions should, at a minimum, be:
a. carried out in accordance with the law; b. directed towards a legitimate objective; c. strictly necessary in a democratic society to achieve the objective; d. the least intrusive and restrictive available to reach the objective; e. based on scientific evidence and neither arbitrary nor discriminatory in application; and f. be of limited duration, respectful of human dignity, and subject to review.
6. In such circumstances, they could only be proportionate if the positive effect of their imposition on the coronavirus (if any) relative to less restrictive measures was not outweighed by the harms they might cause.
7. The impact of the Regulations on rights and freedoms is particularly grave. In particular: a. They constitute a deprivation of liberty, by which no individual may leave the place where he lives. The only public health qualification to this right permits an individual to be quarantined. b. The maintenance of relationships with parents, children, and siblings, is deprived. c. The restrictions on gatherings prevent worshipers from attending or gathering in any places of worship other than for funerals. d. The interference with the political rights of association and social activities e. The isolation required by the Regulations being indirectly discriminatory on those with mental illness (in view of the isolation it imposes) on women (given that they are disproportionately affected by the domestic violence that has more than doubled during the ‘lockdown) and on poorer and disabled children (whose education has suffered much more than others). f. The closure of businesses will decrease their goodwill g. Many children will be denied the ‘basic minimum of education’,
8. The Court must evaluate the Regulations as follows:
(i) determine the appreciation of the facts upon which the policy was based; (ii) consider whether that appreciation was rational and continues to be rational on the basis of all the evidence before the government; and (iii) determine on the basis of that evidence whether the interferences are the least restrictive means of obtaining the objective of containing the virus while not causing disproportionate harms, and thus a proportionate response, based on a rational factual appreciation of the facts at the date of the review. (iv) Evaluation of comparative evidence is critical to any decision that the restrictions are either the least intrusive and restrictive available to reach the objective of reducing viral spread or are strictly necessary in a democratic society to achieve that objective. It is impossible to make either decision without it; and the apparent failure of the government to do so before imposing the Regulations or failing to terminate them can only undermine the suggestion that they are both proportionate and necessary.
WHAT MUST YOU DO TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COURT CHALLENGE
1. Spread the word so that we get as many subscribers to our petition;
2. Research on the subject and furnish material necessary to mount the challenge; e.g scientific and comparative evidence relating to pandemic preparation, lockdowns, covid 19, scientific material and evidence of the relative merits of alternative measures taken by other jurisdictions that at least demonstrate a real controversy amongst experts in the field about the efficacy and effectiveness of ‘lockdowns’ to reduce viral spread; and contradict the suggestion it is so much more effective than less regressive measures such as to justify the extreme impact it has on the rights and freedoms considered above. The reliability of modelling the spread of a novel virus when so many critical factors are unknown is highly contentious. The European state whose policy has been most at odds with the rest of the continent has been Sweden, which has not introduced a ‘lockdown’, has kept primary schools open and has not closed shops, restaurants or even bars.
3. Medical Expert evidence and others;
4. Legal fees for the Court challenge- we intend to set up a crowd funding scheme;
5. Contribute any other relevant ideas.
6. Join a particular committee. So far we have
a. Legal committee b. Finance committee c. Research committee d. Advisory committee e. Medical committee STRATEGIC PLAN GOING FORWARD 1. We want to serve the Minister of Heath and relevant Government bodies with our letter of demand for them to remove the lockdown restriction or at least lessen the restrictions by Wednesday 6 January 2021;
2. Failing which, we want to file our Court claim against the Lockdown by Monday 11 January 2020
Chipo Tshango, Zimbabwe has in the past 24 hours recorded 774 new cases of Covid-19 infections and 3 deaths.
The second wave of the pandemic outbreak is proving to be more challenging than the first months ago, which the government was able to timeously contain.
A government statement shows that out of the 774 new cases, the majority of the cases 571 are from Harare alone, while the deaths are recorded by Harare, Manicaland and Mash East.
In yet another intriguing murder case that has stunned the Mwenezi community, a 32- year-old woman from Neshuro allegedly axed her husband and daughter to death before committing suicide following a row over the upkeep of her in-laws.
Florence Nhotito of Paringira Village in the Makurirofa area of Neshuro on Saturday allegedly killed her husband Simbarashe Butete and daughter Leander (3), in cold blood before hanging herself on a tree, about 3km from her matrimonial homestead.
Stunned villagers found Simbarashe and his daughter Leander’s bodies lying in a pool of blood in their bedroom hut with two axes stuck in their heads.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed murder and suicide cases saying bodies of the trio were taken to Neshuro District Hospital.
Inspector Dhewa said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual circumstances leading to the grisly murders and suicide.
“Police managed to recover both axes that were stuck in the first deceased (Simbarashe) and the second deceased (Leander)’s bodies. The suspect, who is now deceased, was found hanging in a tree about 3km from her home and the bodies of the trio are awaiting postmortem,” said Inspector Dhewa.
According to facts gleaned by the police on Saturday morning, Simbarashe allegedly had a heated dispute with his wife over the upkeep of the former’s parents who stayed about 100 metres from their matrimonial home.
Its is not clear what precipitated the dispute but it erupted in the presence of their eight year-old son.
Florence allegedly then asked the son to go and fetch some firewood while she remained behind with the other two deceased.
After a while, Florence allegedly left her home and passed through a neighbour’s house where she told a juvenile girl that she had murdered her hubby and daughter and that she was going to kill herself.
The girl alerted other villagers about what Florence had told her before going to the latter’s mother-in-law’s house to also inform her.
Villagers ganged up and tried to apprehend Florence but she outpaced them and vanished into the bush.
They then went to Simbarashe’s homestead and found his lifeless body and that of his daughter lying in pools of blood on the bed and sofa respectively.
Two axes were stuck on the pair’s heads which also had deep axe cuts and the back and on the left and right side.
A further search by villagers led to the discovery of Florence’s body hanging on a tree branch on the outsksirts of the village.
A report was made to the police who came and took the bodies to the mortuary.-The Herald
State Media reports that the Zimbabwe Embassy in South Africa has re-aligned its operations in line with the new Covid-19 regulations under lockdown level 3.
These were announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa this week.
In a public notice yesterday, the consul-general to Johannesburg, Mrs Melody Chaurura said they were now limiting the number of clients to be served for the next three months.
“The Consulate has accordingly adopted a raft of measures in adherence to pronounced Covid-19 health protocols and for the safety of our clients and members of staff,” she said.
Mrs Chaurura said under the new order, all appointments for the period between January 2 and March 26 have been suspended with immediate effect.
She said the Consulate has also reduced the number of clients to be assisted per day from 600 to 300 people.
All clients who had confirmed bookings for the period January 2 and March 26 will be informed via their emails on the new appointment dates.
“In order to extend services, to already booked clients, the booking platform has been temporally closed for new bookings.
United States-based Zimbabwean goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva has landed a gloves deal with an American sportswear supplier, EGO Sport.
The 24-year-old former Dynamos shot-stopper is on the ranks of Michigan Stars Football Club in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA).
He took to Instagram to announce the deal: “I’m delighted to announce Egosport as my official gloves sponsor.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Egosport for the faith and belief that they have in me by making me part of this amazing brand. I believe our partnership will help both brands grow and take us to another level.”-Soccer24 Zimbabwe
Edinson Cavani has been banned for three games and fined $136,000 (£100,000) for using a racially insensitive word on Instagram.
The 33-year-old Uruguay international made the comment in response to a message of congratulations for his heroics in the 3-2 win at Southampton in November.
Responding to the message, Cavani said: ‘Gracias negrito.’ The Spanish term, which makes reference to race, translates directly as ‘Thanks black’.
The player explained the message, written in his native Spanish language, had a different meaning.
But the English FA has dismissed his defence and hit him with the ban.
He’ll miss games against Aston Villa (PL), Man City (EFL Cup) and Watford (FA Cup).
Cavani must also complete face-to-face education after admitting the charge for a breach of FA Rule E3.-Soccer 24 Zimbabwe
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has been plunged into mourning following the death of National Secretary for Security and Defence, Emmanuel Chimwanda.
Chimwanda, a former top cop, was fired by Zanu PF for refusing to persecute opposition members.
“The MDC Alliance mourns the passing on of the National Secretary for Security & Defense Emmanuel Chimwanda who was a former ZRP Ass Comm stationed in Masvingo and former Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission during the GNU era. The struggle is poorer.
May his soul rest in peace,” the party said in a statement.
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance has been plunged into mourning following the death of National Secretary for Security and Defence, Emmanuel Chimwanda.
Chimwanda, a former top cop, was fired by Zanu PF for refusing to persecute opposition members.
“The MDC Alliance mourns the passing on of the National Secretary for Security & Defense Emmanuel Chimwanda who was a former ZRP Ass Comm stationed in Masvingo and former Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission during the GNU era. The struggle is poorer.
May his soul rest in peace,” the party said in a statement.
Giving first aid to lightning strike victims while waiting for professional medical attention can save their lives. It is safe to touch a lightning strike victim. People struck by lightning DO NOT carry a charge.
Follow these four steps immediately to help save the life of a lightning strike victim:
Call For Help immediately.
Give directions to your location and information about the strike victim(s). It is safe to use a cell phone during a storm.
Assess The Situation
How many victims are there?Where was the victim struck?Is the storm still continuing?
Safety is a priority. Be aware of the continuing lightning danger to both the victim and rescuer. If the area where the victim is located is high risk (e.g., an isolated tree or open field), the victim and rescuer could both be in danger. If necessary, move the victim to a safer location. It is unusual for a victim who survives a strike to have any major broken bones that would cause paralysis or major bleeding complications unless the person suffered a fall or was thrown a long distance. Therefore, it may be safe to move the victim to minimize possible further exposure to lightning.
Respond Lightning often causes a heart attack. Check to see if the victim is breathing and has a heartbeat. The best place to check for a pulse is the carotid artery which is found on your neck directly below your jaw, as shown in the picture.
Resuscitate If the victim is not breathing, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim does not have a pulse, start cardiac compressions as well (CPR). Continue resuscitation efforts until help arrives. If the area is cold and wet, putting a protective layer between the victim and the ground may help decrease hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature).
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Lightning may also cause other injuries such as burns, shock, and sometimes blunt trauma. Treat each of these injuries with basic first aid until help arrives. Do not move victims who are bleeding or appear to have broken bones.
Source-Centre For Disease Control And Prevention
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said two hundred teenagers were arrested in Westgate Harare over New Year parties.
The police tweeted recently:
Breaking news The ZRP has arrested 200 teenagers who were having a party at number 344 Mukwa Drive, Westgate, Harare, in open contravention of the Government’s COVID-19 regulations. Some of the teenagers are dead drunk. More details to follow.
The tweet triggered varying responses with some pointing out the police’s double standards after it emerged that there was a New Year eve party in Mbare that was attended by thousands of revellers.
Some said authorities should have prevented it since the event had been advertised through flyers.
Meanwhile, police say about 52 people have been arrested in connection with the event while some of the organisers are reportedly on the run.
Some said authorities should not “pack prisons with people in places without any water or sanitizers. You’ll expose yourself to the virus”, adding that they should work with the Ministry of Health and Child Care for community testing and get people to isolate.
There has been complacency in Zimbabwe despite the surge in coronavirus cases in the Southern African country lately.
By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC’s Senator for Buhera, Christine Rambanepasi, who was also the mother to US-based Zimbabwean preacher Passion Java, has died.
Passion Java’s brother, Artwell, recently confirmed to the media that Senator Rambanepasi-Java had been terminally ill and had been discharged from hospital for home-based care.
Senator Rambanepasi-Java was reportedly suffering from an undisclosed type of cancer which was believed to be at an advanced stage.
Reports suggest that the 65-year-old Senator Christine Java nee Rambanepasi died just after 2 am Sunday morning at the Avenues Clinic.
By Charlton Hwende| I have noted a misleading report carried by the State Media on the alleged firing of the MDC Alliance workers.
The correct position as confirmed by our Communication Department is that our Workers are all on yearly contracts that expire on the 31st of December.
We are already in the process of preparing New Contracts for 2021 to regularize their employment.
Our official Party programs will resume on the 9th of January with Branches countrywide meeting to plan on programs of action for their respective Branch and also discussing and resolving on the National Programs that they want the Party to implement in 2021.
The Minister of Health and Child Care, Constantino Chiwenga has issued Statutory Instrument 10 of 2021 [CAP. 15:17], the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2021 (No. 9).
We present the SI below:
IT is hereby notified that the Minister of Health has, in terms of section 8(1) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations, 2020 (published in Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020) made the following order—
1. This order may be cited as the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2021 (No. 9).
2. The Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) Order, 2020, published in Statutory Instrument 200 of 2020 (hereinafter called “the principal order”), is amended in section 5 (“Prohibition of gatherings”) (1) by the deletion of “no gathering of more than one hundred individuals in any public place” and the substitution of “no gathering of more than two individuals in any public place”.
3. Section 25 (“Curfew, limitation of business hours and other measures affecting businesses”) of the principal order is amended by the repeal of subsections (2) and (3) and the substitution of— “(2) There shall be in force a curfew beginning at 1800 hours and ending at 0600 hours on the following day”.
4. The principal order is amended by the insertion after section 27 of the following sections—
“Partial Reversion to Level IV national lockdown
27A. (1) In this section—
“Level IV national lockdown” means the application of the national lockdown as if (subject to this section) Parts IV and V of the Order, together with section 19C (“Special provisions for liquor licensees”) are not in effect.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Order, for a period of thirty days with effect from the 3rd January, 2021, a Level IV national lockdown is in force subject to the following modifications —
(a) for the purpose of section 5 (“Prohibition of gatherings”) (1)(b), the maximum number of individuals who may be gathered at a funeral is thirty (30);
(b) section 5 (“Prohibition of gatherings”) (1)(i) (referring to individuals gathered pursuant to Part V) is suspended for the period of the Level IV national lockdown;
(c) section 5 (“Prohibition of gatherings”) (1)(j) (referring to individuals gathered for the purpose of worship) is suspended for the period of the Level IV national lockdown;
(d) section 5 (“Prohibition of gatherings”) (1)(j) (referring to individuals gathered for the purpose of public hearings) is suspended for the period of the Level IV national lockdown;
(e) section 5 (“Prohibition of gatherings”) (1)(k) (referring to individuals gathered at restaurants and hotels) is suspended for the period of the Level IV national lockdown, unless the individuals in question are hotel residents;
(f) Part IV (“Phased Relaxation of National Lockdown”) shall continue to be in force for the period of the Level IV national lockdown;
(g) Part V (“Level 2 Phased Relaxation of National Lockdown”) is suspended with effect from the 5th January, 2021, which suspension shall continue until the end of the period of the Level IV national lockdown;
(h) for the avoidance of doubt, section 19C (“Special provisions for liquor licensees”) is suspended for the period of the Level IV national lockdown;
(i) business hours for supermarkets and other essential and Part IV services supplying goods and services to customers shall be from 0800 hours to 1500 hours.”.
Supplement to the Zimbabwean Government Gazette Extraordinary dated the 2nd January, 2021. Printed by the Government Printer, Harare.
Zimbabwe has moved back into lockdown with immediate effect following a spike in Covid-19 cases which now top 14 000-plus. Over 300 deaths have also been recorded.
There is a serious second wave of Covid-19 pandemic in Bulawayo which is now the epicentre of this deadly disease.
What we don’t need at the moment is unclear & fake statement purportedly from Mpilo Hospital about number of infected people. The list here contains statistics from March 2020 to 31 December 2020 but the author didn’t specify for reasons known to her. The truth is most of those people recovered long time ago from the disease.
We need clear updates, give us the number of tested people and the true number of people infected with the Covid-19. The only way to beat this disease is to test people for free and don’t wait to test them when they feel unwell. In efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the GVT should impose stringent restrictions on movement of people, STOP Zupco packing passengers in their buses where there is no social distancing and also close borders.
Test, Track and trace is key to containing COVID-19 and can only be successful by making testing affordable.
The GVT should find efficient ways of tracing and tracking contact once an infection has been verified. The ability to track and trace infections for public health has emerged as one of the single most important interventions in trying to contain the disease and protect people.
By A Correspondent- The remains of the tourist who fell into the 108-meter-deep Victoria Falls chasm who was identified as Roy George Tinashe Dikinya, have been found trapped 100m down the cliff – 8m above water – but are yet to be retrieved.
Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management (Zimparks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo said rescue teams were now working to retrieve the body.
Said Farawo:
Meanwhile, Star FM journalist Tilda Moyo posted a picture on social media which is alleged to be of Dikinya before he slipped into the Victoria Falls Danger Zone and disappeared.
Tilda captioned the photo as follows:
This was the last picture of the Tourist who slipped and fell into the Victoria Falls Danger Zone.
By A Correspondent- Exiled former minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professor Jonathan Moyo has written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa urging him to cut short his annual leave to address the spike in coronavirus cases.
Moyo made the call at a time when COVID-19 is reportedly pushing local hospitals to the brink. He posted on Twitter:
Dear President Mnangagwa, Sir, you need to scrap your holiday and return to work urgently to save lives and livelihoods. The #coronavirus is sweeping across the country, leaving people helpless; as they see loved ones dying or failing to get treatment, as #Covid-19 cases spike!
Meanwhile, the rate of response from authorities has been painfully slow.
Only yesterday, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Constantino Chiwenga, announced strict measures to stop the spread of the novel virus that has already killed over 370 people in the country.
The reimposition of strict national lockdown regulations came after stakeholders had complained about the government’s decision to reopen the Beitbridge Border to allow returnees from South Africa where it is reported that an aggressive coronavirus variant was detected.
COVID-19 FIGHT REQUIRES A UNITY OF PURPOSE AND A PROPER PLAN !!
Sound public policy requires broad consultation of stakeholders. It must be scientific and for this reason it ought to be evidence-based. The latest lockdown measures lack scientific rigour, rationality and consistency. We would have preferred more inclusive consultation of business, labour, church and political leadership.
The application of rules must be fair and non-selective because the virus does not select on the basis of status, class or political affiliation. Rules are effective not only when they apply to others, but when applied to those who make them
The latest rules do not deal with the complementary measures that are necessary to support communities during lockdown. If people must stay at home, they need support because they cannot fend for themselves. Commanding the closure of the economy without the necessary supporting economic reliefs, medical and social measures is suicidal.
They forget that 80% of our economy is informal which means a lockdown without complementary support system will lose traction. Faced with starvation, people will be forced to breach lockdown rules, posing more risk to themselves and others.
For this reason, there ought to be an economic and social safety net to support people during lockdown. Simply announcing rules to keep people at home without more is a command style rulership which shows total disregard to people’s interests.
Another critical omission from the new measures is the failure to address the plight of healthcare staff on the frontline. Healthcare workers without PPE is like sending soldiers to the front without guns and ammunition. It’s cruel and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
There is a clear pattern emerging in the way rules are crafted and enforced. The principal target are the poor people while the wealthy are allowed a free pass. Breaches committed in Borrowdale by elites must be met with the same force as breaches in Mbare by ghetto youths.
What, for example, is the rationale for closing landports while keeping open airports? It appears elitist as air travel is limited to a few with means while the majority who use road transport are locked in.
The closure of borders also locks in hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who work and support families and the country in neighbouring countries. Their remittances are a major source of income but they are now locked in.
We don’t just have a health crisis here but a governance and leadership crisis. We have provinces even districts and we have hotspots and epicenters.Why don’t we have isolation and isolated lockdowns for hot spots,where we identify red zones than to lock the whole nation.
Mask up, Sanitize, Wash hands and Maintain Social Distancing!!
1.Sound public policy requires broad consultation of citizens. It must be scientific and for this reason it ought to be evidence-based.The latest lockdown measures lack scientific rigour,rationality &consistency.We suggest consultation with business, labour &Church #MaskUpZim
The application of rules must be fair and non-selective because the virus does not select on the basis of status, class or political affiliation. Rules are effective not only when they apply to others, but when applied to those who make them. #MaskUpZim
3.The latest rules do not deal with the supporting measures to citizens and communities during lockdown.If people must stay at home,support is key.Commanding the closure of the economy without the necessary support,economic reliefs,medical &social measures is suicidal. #MaskUpZim
4. They forget that 80% of our economy is informal which means a lockdown without complementary support system will lose traction. Faced with starvation, people will be forced to breach lockdown rules, posing more risk to themselves and others. #MaskUpZim
5. For this reason, there ought to be an economic and social safety net to support people during lockdown. Simply announcing rules to keep people at home without more is a command style rulership which shows total disregard to people’s interests. #MaskUpZim
6.Another critical omission from the new measures is the failure to address the plight of healthcare staff on the frontline. Healthcare workers without PPE is like sending soldiers to the front without guns and ammunition. It’s cruel and must be addressed as a matter of urgency
7. There is a clear pattern emerging in the way rules are crafted and enforced. The principal target are the poor people while the wealthy are allowed a free pass. Breaches committed in Borrowdale by elites must be met with the same force as breaches in Mbare by ghetto youths.
8. What, for example, is the rationale for closing landports while keeping open airports? It appears elitist as air travel is limited to a few with means while the majority who use road transport are locked in. #MaskUpZim
9. The closure of borders also locks in hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who work and support families and the country in neighbouring countries. Their remittances are a major source of income but they are now locked in. #MaskUpZim
10.We don’t just have a health crisis here but a governance and leadership crisis.We have provinces even districts and we have hotspots and epicenters.Why not have isolation and targeted lockdowns for hot spots,where we identify red zones than to lock the whole nation. #MaskUpZim
Sound public policy requires broad consultation of stakeholders. It must be scientific and for this reason it ought to be evidence-based. The latest lockdown measures lack scientific rigour, rationality and consistency. We would have preferred more inclusive consultation of business, labour, church and political leadership.
The application of rules must be fair and non-selective because the virus does not select on the basis of status, class or political affiliation. Rules are effective not only when they apply to others, but when applied to those who make them
The latest rules do not deal with the complementary measures that are necessary to support communities during lockdown. If people must stay at home, they need support because they cannot fend for themselves. Commanding the closure of the economy without the necessary supporting economic reliefs, medical and social measures is suicidal.
They forget that 80% of our economy is informal which means a lockdown without complementary support system will lose traction. Faced with starvation, people will be forced to breach lockdown rules, posing more risk to themselves and others.
For this reason, there ought to be an economic and social safety net to support people during lockdown. Simply announcing rules to keep people at home without more is a command style rulership which shows total disregard to people’s interests.
Another critical omission from the new measures is the failure to address the plight of healthcare staff on the frontline. Healthcare workers without PPE is like sending soldiers to the front without guns and ammunition. It’s cruel and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
There is a clear pattern emerging in the way rules are crafted and enforced. The principal target are the poor people while the wealthy are allowed a free pass. Breaches committed in Borrowdale by elites must be met with the same force as breaches in Mbare by ghetto youths.
What, for example, is the rationale for closing landports while keeping open airports? It appears elitist as air travel is limited to a few with means while the majority who use road transport are locked in.
The closure of borders also locks in hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who work and support families and the country in neighbouring countries. Their remittances are a major source of income but they are now locked in.
We don’t just have a health crisis here but a governance and leadership crisis. We have provinces even districts and we have hotspots and epicenters.Why don’t we have isolation and isolated lockdowns for hot spots,where we identify red zones than to lock the whole nation.
Mask up, Sanitize, Wash hands and Maintain Social Distancing!!
By A Correspondent- A Mwenezi woman allegedly axed her husband and daughter to death before hanging herself following a dispute over the upkeep of her in-laws.
Florence Nhotito (32) of Paringira Village in the Makurirofa area of Neshuro on Saturday allegedly killed her husband Simbarashe Butete and daughter Leander (3) before taking her own life.
Simbarashe and his daughter Leander’s bodies were found by villagers lying in a pool of blood in their bedroom hut with two axes stuck in their heads while Florence’s body was found hanging from a tree about 3km from her matrimonial homestead.
Reports suggest that on Saturday morning, Simbarashe quarrelled with Florence over the upkeep of his parents who stayed about 100 metres from their matrimonial home.
Following the heated exchange, Florence allegedly asked the couple’s eight-year-old son to go and fetch some firewood while she remained behind with the now deceased.
After a while, Florence allegedly left her home and passed through a neighbour’s house where she told a juvenile girl that she had killed her husband and daughter and was on her way to kill herself.
The girl alerted other villagers about what Florence had told her and they tried to apprehend the latter who outpaced them and disappeared into the bush.
He added that the bodies of the trio were taken to Neshuro District Hospital while investigations were ongoing to establish the actual circumstances surrounding the murders and suicide. Inspector Dhewa said:
Police managed to recover both axes that were stuck in the first deceased (Simbarashe) and the second deceased (Leander)’s bodies.
The suspect, who is now deceased, was found hanging in a tree about 3km from her home and the bodies of the trio are awaiting postmortem.-statemedia
ByA Correspondent- The 2020 November Ordinary Level examinations will resume on Tuesday and will be completed on 5 February.
The government said it will use the final O’ Level examinations to assess the safety of schoolchildren from the coronavirus, before announcing the dates for reopening of schools for all Forms and Grades.
Last week the government indefinitely postponed reopening of schools for the First Term, which was due to start on 4 January 2021 (tomorrow).
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Communications and Advocacy Director, Taungana Ndoro, revealed that the government moved away from the initial calendar to ensure more measures were put in place for preparation of schools opening. He said:
The whole logic behind the deferment of schools opening was to decongest classrooms and to give school heads time to come up with alternative infrastructure.
It was impossible to have two classes of the same form but different years at the same school at the same time, for instance, it was impossible to have this year’s Form Fours together with last year’s Form Fours at the same time.
When we opened under Phase one, these were the examination classes, we managed to contain the situation. However, the problem started when the other phases started coming back to school.
And most of the affected were boarding schools so we want to ensure that there is decongestion in schools.
Ndoro added that school heads have been instructed to identify and rehabilitate alternative spaces which can be used as classrooms or dormitories. Ndoro said:
We need to decongest the classes and have additional infrastructure so schools have been instructed to use every space available, be it basketball or tennis courts and be turned into classrooms and halls can be used as dormitories wherever possible.-statemedia
DMTL DISASSOCIATES ITSELF FROM MARAVANYIKA’S CONGRATURATORY LETTER
Douglas Mwonzora
It has come to us as shock to note that the DMTL National Coordinator has taken it upon himself to congratulate Mr. Douglas Mwonzora for having been declared the new MDCT President after a sham EOC held at the HICC on the 27th December of 2020. The MDC members and the world at large must know that it is the position of DMTL that we have seen no difference between what Mr. Nelson Chamisa and Mr Douglas Mwonzora did. They both grabbed power using violence and chicanery.
Both are guilty of the same offense.
We would like to put it categorically clear to the world that as DMTL, we unambiguously condemn the EOC process and its outcome.
We wouldn’t like to say much about anything at the moment since we have already started our legal challenge of that shameful event where non members of the party were bussed and brought in to vote as delegates of 2014. We wouldn’t like to bless any election where members were beaten with others hospitalized or in the name of one candidate.
In the meantime we are busy compiling evidence that we would like to take to court for litigation.
We cannot say principle is below the Party because lack of Democratic principles by Zanu led to the formation of MDC.If we accept rigged elections within our party, saying the party must move on then we have no moral standing to slam ZANU for rigging elections.
If Mr. Mwonzora abused Political Parties Finance while Secretary General of the party, what more when he is President?
By A Correspondent- The beleaguered MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says President Emmerson Mnangagwa will not “bury” him politically and has threatened a “vicious” 2021 comeback despite alleged attempts by his nemesis at decimating his party.
Chamisa conceded that 2020 was a difficult year for the MDC Alliance which he said had to contend with a vindictive Mnangagwa who was bitter with the 2018 presidential election results, hence his determination to destroy the opposition party at all costs.
Mnangagwa has since appeared to warm up to the controversial winner of the MDC-T extraordinary congress, Douglas Mwonzora, whom he has pledged to work with in the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad).
“ED (Mnangagwa), you have been working so hard, 24/7, to try and bury Nelson Chamisa. Note this: when you try to bury him, you are only planting him and he will only germinate even more viciously,” Chamisa said in an interview with The Standard yesterday.
“ED will never forgive us for drubbing him in 2018. The people’s crime is that they showed him a red card in 2018 only to get relief and extra time through the ConCourt.”
Describing the year 2021 as a “turning point”, Chamisa said: “Through the hurdles, attacks and downs of 2020, we remain standing and marching towards a free and new great Zimbabwe. Fighting for freedom is a national duty and a patriotic act. 2021 will be incredible and full of surprises.”
On Zanu-PF’s apparent interest and “excitement” over Mwonzora’s victory, Chamisa said: “A ruling or ruining party must never be allowed to organise, patronise, sponsor, define and determine its alternative. Never!”
Mnangagwa and his party have been congratulating Mwonzora on his election victory, a move the MDC Alliance has viewed as a way to accommodate a weaker opposition while pursuing the bigger picture of decimating Chamisa.
The MDC Alliance suffered several huge setbacks last year including the recalling of over 30 Members of Parliament by the then Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.
Over 80 councillors were also recalled by Khupe working with Mwonzora, and the MDC Alliance has accused them of being in cahoots with the ruling Zanu-PF party.
Mnangagwa has tried to bring Chamisa into the Polad dialogue platform, but the main opposition leader has snubbed the invitations saying the Polad forum did not present genuine dialogue.
In his congratulatory message to Mwonzora, Mnangagwa said: “A few days ago, the opposition MDC-T party held its elective congress in full compliance with and fulfilment of court judgements. Let me take this opportunity to formally and personally congratulate Mwonzora for prevailing at that congress.
“We took particular note of his declared wish to guide and reshape the politics of opposition towards constructive engagement with the government of the day. This is a very welcome move for our nation which is likely to put politics of rancour behind us thus triggering collaboration, development and the harmony we sorely need for national progress,” Mnangagwa added.
“Both as the ruling Zanu-PF party and as the government, we assure Senator Mwonzora and the MDC-T leadership our collaboration towards the growth and prosperity of our nation.
“We appeal to all those still stuck to yesterday’s politics of destruction and obstruction to learn from this salutary gesture by the MDC-T. To be in opposition need not mean being unduly negative, confrontational, divisive and disloyal to one’s nation and people.”
Last week, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba took to microblogging site Twitter to suggest working together with Mwonzora in Polad.
“Last but not least significant, Mwonzora made mention by name of only two political organisations in Zimbabwe, his MDC-T and Zanu-PF, both of which he placed on even, co-operating plenitude.
“Read together with the notion of responsible opposition, that seems to suggest engagement (with) the ruling party, something Khupe had started. Much rests on how he relates to Polad, although he hinted he believed in unity of opposition,” Charamba said.-standard
According to online sources, current evidence suggests that transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19, occurs primarily between people through direct, indirect, or close contact with infected people through infected secretions such as saliva and respiratory secretions, or through their respiratory droplets, which are expelled when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks or sings.
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you have symptoms but you cannot get tested, what should you?
Here are a few things that you can do to help prevent the further spread of the virus:
Do stay at home for 14 days
Do stay calm
Do ensure you have family members on hand wh can help you to get shopping and things you need
Do keep connected to people you can about by phone and video calls
I have noted a misleading report carried by the State Media on the alleged firing of the MDC Alliance workers.
The correct position as confirmed by our Communication Department is that our Workers are all on yearly contracts that expire on the 31st of December.
We are already in the process of preparing New Contracts for 2021 to regularize their employment.
Our official Party programs will resume on the 9th of January with Branches countrywide meeting to plan on programs of action for their respective Branch and also discussing and resolving on the National Programs that they want the Party to implement in 2021.
By Lynette Sibanda | Zimbabwe’s relationship with China can be traced back as far as 2003 after nation’s stand off with the European Union which resulted in the country facing great economic depression. The idea of bilateral cooperation between states can be traced back from the adoption of the Havana Charter which was a way to restore economic health to the world through cooperation in solving problems relating to international trade. The latter has paved way to a more recent blueprint adopted by the United Nations. The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goal which is aimed at achieving a more sustainable future for all countries by 2030. China and Zimbabwe have maintained cooperation by adopting goal (17) of the agenda 2030 which is aimed at strengthening global partnership for sustainable development.
In a bid to strengthen its economy Zimbabwe has over the years tried to maintain its relations with China hence the introduction of the Look East Policy inorder to strengthen its relations with countries in the East and in this case China. China has stood as an ally to Zimbabwe because of its principle of non interference in the internal affairs of the country. China has continued its support to Zimbabwe in the face of the economic sanctions imposed by the West and this has resulted in China being one of Zimbabwe’s largest trading partners. China is Zimbabwe’s fourth largest trading partner and its largest source of investment. The adoption of the look east policy has strengthened trade and bi-lateral investments between Zimbabwe and China. Zimbabwe is more of a dependent partner to China and this has seen China providing the largest market for its exports and support to its fragile economy. Zimbabwe is well endowed with mineral and natural resources and it is no doubt that China, with its rapidly growing economy has an appetite for these resources. Thus bilateral relationship between Zimbabwe and China is somewhat beneficial on both parties because Zimbabwe is largely dependent on China for economic investment whilst China wants to benefit from Zimbabwe’s vast mineral resources.
Although this bilateral relationship has faced a lot of criticism, the relationship between these two countries has been strengthened by they urge to promote cooperation between themselves. Their conduct in their diplomatic relations has without a doubt led to some form of mutual beneficial relationship. For example, the agricultural sector has over the years benefited from the Chinese aid through the issuing of loans inorder to buy mechanisms for the agricultural sector. With the crippling economic situation in Zimbabwe, the Chinese have been considered as an ally and this has over the years strengthened the relationship between the two countries. The Chinese have also benefited a lot from their bilateral relationship with Zimbabwe and this has somewhat had an impact on the Chinese economy which has been rapidly growing over the years.
With China being one of the leading foreign direct investors of Zimbabwe, the country has been appraised for its continued support to Zimbabwe in the face of the sanctions and the crippling economy.
The relationship between the two states is characterized by a sense of mutuality which has seen both countries being dependent from each other. Zimbabwe has benefited from Chinese loans, grants and investments whilst on the other hand China has benefited from the mineral resources in Zimbabwe. In other words both parties play a crucial role in facilitating the Agenda 2030 goals which is meant to facilitate development and economic growth through cooperation. In this case both countries have benefited from each other through the facilitation of trade and cooperation between them. In other words, China has been a partner if not the only ally whom Zimbabwe has trusted over the years especially with regards to economic development and sustainable growth. .
Lynette Sibanda is a Msc International Trade & Diplomacy at the University of Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has described the death of human rights activist Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo as a devastating blow to the nation.
Fuzwayo succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.
“Such dreadful times! Just learnt that the Gwanda based Human rights defender, Bekezela Fuzwayo succumbed to Covid19.
I knew the brother as a great leader and community organizer.Fuzwayo stood for human rights,dignity and justice. Rest in peace our tower.The people shall govern,” President Chamisa said in a statement on Twitter.
By A Correspondent- Bulawayo based community radio initiative Youth-Star FM has expressed concern over the unfairness of the distribution of radio licences recently awarded by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ).
BAZ made calls for applications for community radio stations.
Youth-Star FM director Philani Ncube said the licensing of community radios was not clear.
“When it comes to licensing, it’s not something independent. You will find that in each and every media initiative licenced, there is a link to a certain political party,” said Ncube.
“We are appealing for transparency when licensing media initiatives and that the Zanu-PF government should stay away from fielding their party people in the media industry.”
By A Correspondent- Chimanimani residents who had been moved to safe areas ahead of the anticipated devastating effects of Cyclone Chalane have started moving out of evacuation centres with the last batch expected to go back to their homes today.
The move brings relief to the government that was apparently struggling to feed the villagers in the safe havens.
There were fears that Chimanimani would be hit hard by the Tropical Cyclone Chalane which appeared to have taken both the path and characteristics of Cyclone Idai which wreaked havoc in the area in march 2019, leaving a trail of destruction while killing hundreds of people.
The government yesterday confirmed the new development to The Standard.
Heavy rains pounded nyanga with strong winds on Friday night and there were reports of panic among villagers as the rainfall recorded up to 70 millilitres.
Mutare had recorded 42 millilitres while Chimanimani got less than 30 millilitres when the downgraded tropical depression hit Zimbabwe according to the metrological services department.
Manicaland Provincial Development Coordinator and Civil Protection Unit chairperson Edgar Seenza said villagers in Chimanimani urban had already gone back to their respective areas.
“People are starting to move out from the evacuation centres since the tropical depression has passed Zimbabwe. in Chimanimani urban they have since gone back to their respective areas,” he said.
“Those housed at Mutambara High School, mostly Ngangu villagers, are expected to move out of the evacuation centre tomorrow (today),” he said.
“We are also expecting to move people out of St Patricks the same day with those at Mutambara high School.”
Seenza yesterday said he had received a disturbing report of heavy rains in Nyanga.
“I have just been told that last night on Friday, there were heavy rains in Nyanga. The area recorded 70 millilitres of rainfall and there were strong winds,” he said.
“I am yet to receive a report of any destruction, but I will be briefed later. I am urging people in Nyanga not to panic because these are normal rains.”
The tropical depression has since passed Zimbabwe heading towards Botswana.-standard
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is deeply concerned about the high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe.
President Chamisa urged Zimbabweans to stick to stipulated precautions to avert the spread of the deadly pandemic.
Doctors have revealed that hospitals battling to contain the rising Coronavirus cases.
Below is President Chamisa’s statement:
Extremely concerned at the level at which Covid-19 is now killing our citizens.
Doctors informed me that all Covid-19 hospital units are full.Citizens are now dying without getting access to hospitalization. Be vigilant follow Covid-19 precautions at all times:mask up, wash hands!
We are losing relatives, friends and members of our communities to this deadly pandemic. We cannot afford to be as complacent as we have been in recent months. Our communities are paying the price. We must change our conduct if we are to beat this pandemic.
I call upon responsible offices to apply & encourage precautions.
The virus does not select,therefore selective application of rules is self-defeating.I extend my prayers to all those who are unwell & salute our healthcare warriors for taking the frontline role in this deadly war.
“Fadza Mutengi weDoro” might be a song, but something worse than it was the conclusion in Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s nation address last night.
Constantino Chiwenga
As he ended his strict lockdown regime, VP Chiwenga who himself is an alcoholic, said:
“Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents.”
The development comes as the well known Lootepreneur, Kuda Tagwirei was filmed partying at a hotel on new years Eve.
We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
In light of the recent surge in Covid 19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect;
VP CHIWENGA'S NATION ADDRESS We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
1. Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.
2. The existing COVID 19 preventive health measures will be strictly enforced that is to say, correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization, and temperature checks will be strictly enforced and offenders will be prosecuted.
3. Only essential services are to remain open such as … hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only – essential staff allowed to come to work. These services can only open at 8 am and must close at 3pm and will I be subject to curfew that will start at 6pm and end at 6am.
4. Of the other commercial services only Part 4 lockdown order services such as mining, manufacturing and 2 agriculture will operate as before. Other commercial services specified on Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say, all formal businesses and registered informal trader’s are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2071 for 30 days.
5. Inter provincial and inter City transport services are restricted only to essential services and Part 4 commercial services.
6. People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives. Other exceptions are as specified in the lockdown order
7. As for schooling only examination classes are to open now.
8. Cross border traders are stopped forthwith save for commercial and transit cargo related to essential and critical services.
9. Air transportation remains unhindered and will continue as before with arrivals and returning residents being required to present Covid 19 free certificates. As for land access only returning residents and essential service drivers will be admitted subject to presentation of Covid 19 free certificates. These certificates must have been issued at least 48 hours before departure.
10. Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
POLICE have confirmed the arrest 2 321 people on New Year’s Day for allegedly violating Covid-19 containment restrictions during the holiday as authorities continue to crackdown on reckless behaviour that promotes the spread of coronavirus infections.
Law enforcement agents are eager to question popular Harare music producer Arnold Kamudyariwa, also known as DJ Fantan, after he organised an unsanctioned musical concert in Mbare on New Year’s Eve, in breach of the regulations.
Yesterday, police arrested 200 teenagers who were having a party in Westgate in open contravention of the Government’s Covid-19 regulations. Upon arrest, some of the teenagers were heavily intoxicated.
A Mutare businessman was arrested after hosting a show headlined by sungura musician Alick Macheso at Watsomba business centre.
In Mbare, 52 people have been arrested after videos and pictures of the event went viral.
In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police officers deployed to patrol in Mbare were in soup for allowing DJ Fantan’s event to take place.
“We are also aware of the incident of an alleged unsanctioned gathering in Mbare on New Year’s Eve and investigations have been instituted,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“So far, 52 people have been arrested and we are looking for DJ Fantan, who operates a recording studio at Block 14 Matapi Flats and David House Entertainment operators for openly defying the Government’s Covid-19 measures on health, safety and security.
“The police officers who were allegedly on the ground on the day have been directed to shed more light on what transpired.
“In Watsomba, Mutare police have arrested a local businessman who hired musician, Alick Macheso, to perform at a family event at the Growth Point in violation of the national lockdown measures.”
He warned that police would come down hard on members of the public who do not abide by the Covid-19 containment regulations.
Asst Comm Nyathi said on New Year’s Eve, police recorded a number of disturbing murder cases linked to beer-drinking binges.
“On December 31, 2020, at Tshelela Nyoni’s shop, Silalatshani, Filabusi, a 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed with an okapi knife following a misunderstanding.
“Again, on December 31, 2020, a 41-year-old man was stabbed on the chest with a knife after a misunderstanding over a girlfriend at Drummond Shops, Makhado, Beitbridge.-The Sunday Mail
… Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions…
We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
In light of the recent surge in Covid 19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect;
VP CHIWENGA'S NATION ADDRESS We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
1. Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.
2. The existing COVID 19 preventive health measures will be strictly enforced that is to say, correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization, and temperature checks will be strictly enforced and offenders will be prosecuted.
3. Only essential services are to remain open such as … hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only – essential staff allowed to come to work. These services can only open at 8 am and must close at 3pm and will I be subject to curfew that will start at 6pm and end at 6am.
4. Of the other commercial services only Part 4 lockdown order services such as mining, manufacturing and 2 agriculture will operate as before. Other commercial services specified on Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say, all formal businesses and registered informal trader’s are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2071 for 30 days.
5. Inter provincial and inter City transport services are restricted only to essential services and Part 4 commercial services.
6. People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives. Other exceptions are as specified in the lockdown order
7. As for schooling only examination classes are to open now.
8. Cross border traders are stopped forthwith save for commercial and transit cargo related to essential and critical services.
9. Air transportation remains unhindered and will continue as before with arrivals and returning residents being required to present Covid 19 free certificates. As for land access only returning residents and essential service drivers will be admitted subject to presentation of Covid 19 free certificates. These certificates must have been issued at least 48 hours before departure.
10. Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
Below is a part transcript of the interview of MDC-T ‘President’ Senator, Douglas Mwonzora on the 1st January 2021.
https://youtu.be/0jyNRumYiZg
MWONZORA: I’m going to take Dr Khupe once she recovers, Eng Mudzuri as the deputy president, and myself we go to the speaker, and we make an announcement after we have seen the Speaker, we can’t preempt it.
QUESTION: So basically you’re in control of the party, it is not like you’re getting instructions from George Charamba or Emerson Mnangagwa ?
MWONZORA: I don’t get instructions from anyone I’m the President of the Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai. I don’t get instructions from the president, Mr Mnangagwa, I don’t get instructions from George Charamba.
I am the president of the MDCT and I will act as one.
QUESTION: When are we likely to see a govt of National Unity in which you will be prime minister as per some of the conversations you’re having here?
MWONZORA: No we haven’t discussed that Simba. Nobody has approached me with that proposition.
QUESTION: But in some of the discussions I see here you did mention that you’re going to be Prime Minister, and you will create jobs.
MWONZORA: that’s not correct I never talked to that person.
QUESTION: So this WhatsApp message is fake then? That’s what you’re saying?
MWONZORA: Aaah, it’s incorrect. Yeah its incorrect, I never talked to anybody. Remember there’s no way that I can say I will be prime minister, when I am not a Prime Minister and when nobody has talked to me about it. So I am the leader of the opposition, I am the president of the movement for democratic change. Just like that, I am not the prime minister of Zimbabwe.
QUESTION: Sir, so you didn’t send 10gb data to Nyamasvisva?
MWONZORA: No I did not.
QUESTION: I have got a record here, an Ecocash record,
MWONZORA: No I did not.
QUESTION: In which you said we can do without Chamisa, are going to have a GNU set up.
MWONZORA: Chamisa is not an issue here,
And if Chamisa wants to talk to me he can talk to me, I never talked to Chamisa. Vhamisa is not an issue at all, in this issue, and I’ve not talked to… So I don’t think your record is correct.
By Paddington Japajapa| When Bishop Abel Tendekayi Muzorewa the then puppet Rhodesian Government Partner against the Patriotic Front, tried to stop the War of Liberation “Hondo yeChimurenga” by misleading the Masses From further Participating in the War, nobody listened to him because the masses new what they wanted,that was real change.The Patriotic Front Continued with the smooth execution of the War until final Victory was Certain, in April 1980, which brought Independence to Zimbabwe. A situation reminiscent to the Bishop Abel Muzorewa Ian Smith Partnership is Obtaining and being given Birth to in Zimbabwe,a Marriage between Zanu Pf and its Concourt constructed Partner MDCT now under the Leadership of former Bishop Abel Muzorewa,s UANC Party Member Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora, of the Simboti Toetem.Mwonzora and His Cabal of Mudzuri Khupe and Komichi a Combination of sell outs who have decided to sell the People Struggle so as to get into a Marriage of Convenience with MDCA,s bitterest enemy Zanu Pf, are going to face very strong resistance and rejection by the Zimbabwean Masses during any election in this Country.The MDCT Project a Creation of Zanu Pf through the Concourt is going to face the full Wrath and Furry of the People for hijacking and trying to destroy the People,s Project, which the People struggled to built over the last 20 years.
The People of Zimbabwe who have suffered heavily under the Oppressive Zanu Pf Regime which is not different at all from the same suffering which the masses went through under the brutal and cruel Smith Regime plus Colonisation for 90 years, are very bitter and will never forgive Mwonzora and Cabal for selling out their Project.They always Say revenge is Sour and surely the Masses are going to heavily revenge at the March 2023 General Election.The Masses shall say,we Voted and chose our MPS,Senators and were given PR Members of Parliament by the New 2013 Zimbabwean Constitution, but some Renegades who Betrayed Nelson Chamisa and violated the MDC Founding Father Morgan Richard Tsvangirayi,s Will and Wish, hijacked the People,s Project and sold it to the Enemy, Zanu Pf.From the way President Mnangagwa endorsed and Congratulated Mwonzora for winning the MDCT Leadership it is now very clear that the two are very close buddies.Mwonzora in his Victory Speech on ZBCTV News at 8pm on Thursday, categorically declared that he was going to work with Zanu Pf full time to address the country,s Socio Political and Economic challenges.How can an Opposition Political Party quickly accept and promise to work full time with a ruling Party in Government that has been Mercilessly brutalising illtreating,arresting and imprisoning the Opposition Political Party Members as they wish recently.The way the Zanu Pf Police,CIO and Millitary Machinery has been brutalising the MDCA Members makes one to think twice before accepting an Olive Branch from such Government.The Zanu Pf Government is one of the most Brutal Regime on Earth, worse than the Smith Regime and to quickly embrace it as a Partner in Governance must not be as easy as a b c or 1 2 3.
I the writer of this article Paddington Japa Japa i am one of the Victims of the Brutality and Cruelity of this Zanu Pf Government,i was sentenced to three years in Jail with one year Suspended for every five years for a Crime which i never Committed.Had it not been for the professionalism and impartiality of some of a few brave High Court Judges,three quarters of innocent MDCA Supporters will by now be rotting in Jail for crimes they never committed.Zanu Pf leadership is after a one Party State System were no one makes them accountable to their misdemeanors.
I want to advise Mwonzora and Cabal that you shall face the real litmas test during the 2023 General Election,Zimbabweans will never forgive you and your Concourt Constructed MDCT Circus for being Sell outs.I bet you if you are going to get 100 000.00 Hundred thousand votes in total through out the Country you will be lucky.
Judas Iscariot sold Jesus Christ for 34 Cents but at the end he hanged Himself on a tree,and the Word of God says Cursed is the One who hangs Himself on a tree,for He has already Judged himself for condemnation into the Abyss, bottom less pit or Hell.
THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE PADDINGTON JAPA JAPA IS AN NC/NEC MEMBER MDCA/PRESIDENT OF CIVIC SOCIETY ORGANISATION CALLED ZCEO/SOCCER ADMINISTRATOR/EVANGELIST WITH A LOCAL PENTECOSTAL CHURCH/POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND AN ACADEMIC Bsc Hons Psychology.
ADDITIONAL LOCKDOWN MEASURES IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF COVID 19 CASES IN ZIMBABWE
• Fellow Zimbabweans we have seen a surge in Covid 19 cases during this festive season with 1,342 Covid 19 cases and 29 deaths being recorded in a week representing the highest number recorded so far. We have seen the number of Covid 19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 November to 14084 to date. The cumulative number of Covid 19 cases in Zimbabwe as of 1 January 2021 is now 14084 cases and 369 deaths.
• In view of the surge in covid 19 cases the Government has intensified testing and patient care throughout all the provinces.
In light of the recent surge in Covid 19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect;
Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.
The existing covid 19 preventive health measures will be strictly enforced that is to say correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization and temperature checks will be strictly enforced and offenders will be prosecuted.
Only essential services are to remain open such as hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only essential staff allowed to come to work. These services can only open at 8 am and must close at 3pm and will be subject to curfew that will start at 6pm and end at 6am.
Of the other commercial services only Part 4 lockdown order services such as mining, manufacturing and agriculture will operate as before. Other commercial services specified on Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say all formal businesses and registered informal traders are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2021 for 30 days.
Inter provincial and inter City transport services are restricted only to essential services and Part 4 commercial services.
People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives. Other exceptions are as specified in the lockdown order.
As for schooling only examination classes are to open now.
Cross border traders are stopped forthwith save for commercial and transit cargo related to essential and critical services.
Air transportation remains unhindered and will continue as before with arrivals and returning residents being required to present Covid 19 free certificates. As for land access only returning residents and essential service drivers will be admitted subject to presentation of Covid 19 free certificates. These certificates must have been issued at least 48 hours before departure.
Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
THE movement of travellers at Beitbridge Border Post has improved significantly after authorities from Zimbabwe and South Africa beefed up immigration personnel amid revelations that South Africa has tightened up security to arrest those with fraudulent Covid-19 certificates and those that enter through illegal crossing points.
SA’s Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi told the media yesterday that they were going to be very strict with those trying to enter the neighbouring country using fake Covid-19 certificates.
He said the country had deployed more workers at six busy borders including Beitbridge to speed up the clearance of traffic under strict Covid-19 protocols.
“We are not going to entertain those who use fraudulent documents. Our immigration officers are going to refuse them entry as they are undesirable immigrants,” he said.
He said they were adding more workers to complement the efforts by the military to minimise irregular migration at illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.
“We are deploying an additional 60 immigration officials to work with the National Defence Forces in curbing issues of border jumping along our borders.
“A helicopter is being dispatched to aid patrols along our border with Zimbabwe,” said the Minister.
Very short moving queues of southbound light motor vehicles could be seen on the Zimbabwean border by the end of the day.
In addition, traffic has been separated into light and heavy vehicles and buses to enhance a speedy flow of operations.
Hand washing basins and foot baths have also been put at all entry points to buildings in the border to minimise the risk of coronavirus infections.
It is also understood that the bulk of Zimbabweans based in South Africa left the country between 28 December and New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, a total of 74 Zimbabweans were refused entry into South Africa and returned, after finding their way to the neighbouring country illegally.
The department of immigration in Zimbabwe is also conducting an enforcement and compliance operation targeting border jumpers and is intercepting an average of 40 people daily.
AT least 102 people died, while 398 others were injured in the 1 546 road accidents that occurred during the festive season mainly due to recklessness and speeding, police have said.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the number of deaths recorded this festive season were lower compared to the previous season.
Asst Comm Nyathi most of the accidents were caused by speeding, inattention, misjudgement — following too close and recklessness on the part of drivers.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police informs the nation that the following road traffic accident statistics were recorded from 15 December 2020 to January 02 2021 compared to 15 December 2019 to January 02 2020 which includes Unity Day, Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year’s holidays.
Between 15 December 2020 to January 02, 2021, at least 1 546 traffic accidents were recorded of which 67 were fatal while 102 people were killed and 398 injured while during the same period last year 1 406 accidents were recorded of which 74 were fatal. At least 111 people were killed while 503 were injured.
Most of the accidents occurred along highways and towns as a result of speeding, inattention, misjudgement following too close and recklessness on part of drivers,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said most vehicles that were involved in the accidents were exceeding their carrying capacities.
He said some motorists were now attacking police officers enforcing lockdown regulations in trying to evade arrest.
“There were two major fatal accidents. On December 25, six people died after a commuter omnibus collided head-on with a Toyota Hilux at the 75km peg along Mvuma-Gweru Road. In Mutoko 17 people perished on December 27 at the 130 km peg when an Isuzu KB collided head on with a BMW.
“We observed that both public and private vehicles are carrying more than their capacities while some of the vehicles are not roadworthy.
Vehicles with worn out tyres, defective lights, faulty brakes are being driven recklessly without regard for personal safety and that of other road users.
Some unruly elements are even attacking police officers enforcing Covid-19 regulations as witnessed in Harare and Bulawayo. This conduct will not be tolerated and the law will take its course,” he said.
According to those that were with this person on the same bus they say she was wearing a mask but it didn't cover the nose. We should learn to wear the mask properly to avoid such embarrassment.
Below is the full Twitter Thread by social media personality ‘Majaira Jairosi’ on home remedies for people suffering from COVID-19.
I know most of you do not realise that I am also a Respiratory medicine specialist. Today I want to do a thread about how people could be helped to relieve the symptoms of COVID-19 Virus. Those with questions, I am offering free consultation.
Antibiotics don’t necessarily work especially in viral pneumonia-like the one which COVID-19 virus cause but if a person develops bacterial pneumonia in the presence of viral pneumonia then antibiotics are necessary.
Anti-inflammatory medication like Prednisolone or dexamethasone are proving to be effective in COVID 19 virus. The virus is causing the inflammation of the airways resulting in a person becoming breathless, hence the need to treat people with anti-inflammatory medication.
I prefer giving patients high flow oxygen than intubation because intubation is a hazardous procedure itself. With intubation, most people end up developing what we call ventilation-induced pneumonia on top of COVID 19 virus.
Home Remedies: Kunatira though not scientifically proven some people have found kunatira (nebulisation) using traditional herbs like boiled eucalyptus tree leaves (mashizha emupuranga) helpful. Eucalyptus leaves have anti-inflammatory properties.
I hear people looking for ventilators, yes they are very important for treating hypoxia in people with COVID 19 virus, but oxygen does not treat breathlessness. Bronchodilators do treat breathlessness by opening up airways that is why I’m recommending kunatira.
Kunatira is equivalent to nebulisation just as I would do when bronchodilating a patient using ipratropium or salbutamol nebulisers.
Home remedies: In addition to kunatira (Steaming or nebulisation) eat food with anti-inflammatory properties like berries, avocados, fatty fish, broccoli, Bell peppers and chilli peppers & green tea. Lemon is good but it has antibacterial properties than anti-inflammatory.
When we intubate people, we usually put the patient in prone position to improve oxygenation, so if you have COVID 19 virus I suggest that you take time to sleep on your stomach or on your side for a change. Never lie in supine position/facing upwards.
Struggling with breathlessness: use what we call pursed-lip breathing technique – breathing in through your nose & breathing out through your mouth as if you are whistling. Ndatenda.
Below is the full Twitter Thread by MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa in response to new lockdown regulations announced by VP Chiwenga, who is also Health Minister, on Saturday.
Sound public policy requires broad consultation of citizens. It must be scientific and for this reason, it ought to be evidence-based. The latest lockdown measures lack scientific rigour, rationality and consistency. We suggest a consultation with business, labour and Church.
The application of rules must be fair and non-selective because the virus does not select on the basis of status, class or political affiliation. Rules are effective not only when they apply to others, but when applied to those who make them.
The latest rules do not deal with the supporting measures to citizens and communities during the lockdown. If people must stay at home, support is key.
Commanding the closure of the economy without the necessary support, economic reliefs, medical and social measures is suicidal.
They forget that 80% of our economy is informal which means a lockdown without complementary support system will lose traction.
Faced with starvation, people will be forced to breach lockdown rules, posing more risk to themselves and others.
For this reason, there ought to be an economic and social safety net to support people during the lockdown. Simply announcing rules to keep people at home without more is a command style rulership which shows a total disregard to people’s interests.
Another critical omission from the new measures is the failure to address the plight of healthcare staff on the frontline.
[Having] healthcare workers without PPE is like sending soldiers to the front without guns and ammunition. It’s cruel and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
There is a clear pattern emerging in the way rules are crafted and enforced. The principal target is the poor people while the wealthy are allowed a free pass.
Breaches committed in Borrowdale by elites must be met with the same force as breaches in Mbare by ghetto youths.
What, for example, is the rationale for closing land ports while keeping open airports? It appears elitist as air travel is limited to a few with means while the majority who use road transport are locked in.
The closure of borders also locks in hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who work and support families and the country in neighbouring countries. Their remittances are a major source of income but they are now locked in.
We don’t just have a health crisis here but a governance and leadership crisis. We have provinces even districts and we have hotspots and epicentres.
Why not have isolation and targeted lockdowns for hot spots, where we identify red zones than to lock the whole nation?
Below is the full Twitter Thread by MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa in response to new lockdown regulations announced by VP Chiwenga, who is also Health Minister, on Saturday.
Sound public policy requires broad consultation of citizens. It must be scientific and for this reason, it ought to be evidence-based. The latest lockdown measures lack scientific rigour, rationality and consistency. We suggest a consultation with business, labour and Church.
The application of rules must be fair and non-selective because the virus does not select on the basis of status, class or political affiliation. Rules are effective not only when they apply to others, but when applied to those who make them.
The latest rules do not deal with the supporting measures to citizens and communities during the lockdown. If people must stay at home, support is key.
Commanding the closure of the economy without the necessary support, economic reliefs, medical and social measures is suicidal.
They forget that 80% of our economy is informal which means a lockdown without complementary support system will lose traction.
Faced with starvation, people will be forced to breach lockdown rules, posing more risk to themselves and others.
For this reason, there ought to be an economic and social safety net to support people during the lockdown. Simply announcing rules to keep people at home without more is a command style rulership which shows a total disregard to people’s interests.
Another critical omission from the new measures is the failure to address the plight of healthcare staff on the frontline.
[Having] healthcare workers without PPE is like sending soldiers to the front without guns and ammunition. It’s cruel and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
There is a clear pattern emerging in the way rules are crafted and enforced. The principal target is the poor people while the wealthy are allowed a free pass.
Breaches committed in Borrowdale by elites must be met with the same force as breaches in Mbare by ghetto youths.
What, for example, is the rationale for closing land ports while keeping open airports? It appears elitist as air travel is limited to a few with means while the majority who use road transport are locked in.
The closure of borders also locks in hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans who work and support families and the country in neighbouring countries. Their remittances are a major source of income but they are now locked in.
We don’t just have a health crisis here but a governance and leadership crisis. We have provinces even districts and we have hotspots and epicentres.
Why not have isolation and targeted lockdowns for hot spots, where we identify red zones than to lock the whole nation?
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance will roll out a robust campaign to fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The party has called for vigilance as cases of the deadly pandemic continue to rise in Zimbabwe and across the globe.
“The main organs of the MDC Alliance will have strategic planning meetings early this month to roll out our action plan for 2021.
The urgent need for political reforms, the deepening economic crisis and the policy implications of Covid-19 will be among our priorities,” the party said in a statement.
Leaked government documents reveal the country’s hospitals have been overwhelmed by rising Coronavirus cases.
“The country’s hospitals are struggling to cope with the high incidence of COVID-19 cases,” a government source told ZimEye.com.
By Dorrothy Moyo | The controversial self proclaimed pastor Panganai Java’s mother, Christine Rambanepasi has died.
She was 65.
Impeccable sources close to the preacher told ZimEye, Senator Christine Rambanepasi passed away just after 2am Sunday morning.
Passion Java
She had cancer and was hospitalised at the Avenues Clinic.
The development comes after her son, who calls himself Passion Java, flew to Zimbabwe where not long after his arrival, he announced that his mother has fallen ill.
Born in November 1956, in Buhera, she was an MDC Alliance member, of proportional representation in parliament.
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is deeply concerned about the high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe.
President Chamisa urged Zimbabweans to stick to stipulated precautions to avert the spread of the deadly pandemic.
Doctors have revealed that hospitals battling to contain the rising Coronavirus cases.
Below is President Chamisa’s statement:
Extremely concerned at the level at which Covid-19 is now killing our citizens.
Doctors informed me that all Covid-19 hospital units are full.Citizens are now dying without getting access to hospitalization. Be vigilant follow Covid-19 precautions at all times:mask up, wash hands!
We are losing relatives, friends and members of our communities to this deadly pandemic. We cannot afford to be as complacent as we have been in recent months. Our communities are paying the price. We must change our conduct if we are to beat this pandemic.
I call upon responsible offices to apply & encourage precautions.
The virus does not select,therefore selective application of rules is self-defeating.I extend my prayers to all those who are unwell & salute our healthcare warriors for taking the frontline role in this deadly war.
The 2321 were arrested on New Year’s Day for allegedly violating Covid-19 containment restrictions during the holiday as authorities continue to crackdown on reckless behaviour that promotes the spread of coronavirus infections.
Law enforcement agents are eager to question popular Harare music producer Arnold Kamudyariwa, also known as DJ Fantan, after he organised an unsanctioned musical concert in Mbare on New Year’s Eve, in breach of the regulations.
Yesterday, police arrested 200 teenagers who were having a party in Westgate in open contravention of the Government’s Covid-19 regulations. Upon arrest, some of the teenagers were heavily intoxicated.
A Mutare businessman was arrested after hosting a show headlined by sungura musician Alick Macheso at Watsomba business centre.
In Mbare, 52 people have been arrested after videos and pictures of the event went viral.
In a statement yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police officers deployed to patrol in Mbare were in soup for allowing DJ Fantan’s event to take place.
“We are also aware of the incident of an alleged unsanctioned gathering in Mbare on New Year’s Eve and investigations have been instituted,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“So far, 52 people have been arrested and we are looking for DJ Fantan, who operates a recording studio at Block 14 Matapi Flats and David House Entertainment operators for openly defying the Government’s Covid-19 measures on health, safety and security.
“The police officers who were allegedly on the ground on the day have been directed to shed more light on what transpired.
“In Watsomba, Mutare police have arrested a local businessman who hired musician, Alick Macheso, to perform at a family event at the Growth Point in violation of the national lockdown measures.”
He warned that police would come down hard on members of the public who do not abide by the Covid-19 containment regulations.
Asst Comm Nyathi said on New Year’s Eve, police recorded a number of disturbing murder cases linked to beer-drinking binges.
“On December 31, 2020, at Tshelela Nyoni’s shop, Silalatshani, Filabusi, a 25-year-old man was fatally stabbed with an okapi knife following a misunderstanding.
“Again, on December 31, 2020, a 41-year-old man was stabbed on the chest with a knife after a misunderstanding over a girlfriend at Drummond Shops, Makhado, Beitbridge.
“In Filabusi, a 49-year-old man was stabbed with a knife on December 16, 2020, and later succumbed to the injuries on December 30, 2020.”
He had attempted to resolve a dispute between the suspect and other family members, said Asst Comm Nyathi.
In an unrelated incident in Mwenezi on December 29, a six-year-old girl was fatally assaulted by her uncle with a switch after she had lost track of cattle she was herding along with another minor.
“In a bid to conceal the crime, the suspect and his accomplice cut off the girl’s private parts and set the body on fire.
“They were arrested following a tip-off.”
Our Masvingo Bureau chief George Maponga reports that the suspect, Taruziva Sithole (37) of Chomutamba Village 3, allegedly connived with his friend Shackmore Dube (26) of the same village to kill Sithole’s niece, Irene Sithole, before torching her corpse beyond recognition.
Sithole and Dube have since been arrested and appeared in court before Mwenezi Resident magistrate Mr Honest Musiiwa facing murder charges.
The duo was not asked to plead by Mr Musiiwa who on Friday remanded them in custody to January 14 and advised them to seek bail at the High Court.
Prosecutor Mr Lyton Katsidzira told the court that Sithole and Dube connived to kill the former’s niece after the later had been promised a vehicle and lots of money for a juvenile girl’s body parts by an unknown person in South Africa. – state media/additional reporting
The MDC Alliance Students’ Council is disturbed by the prolonged incarceration of one of our own Alan Moyo. Our NEC led by chairperson Prince Gora visited Cde Moyo on Thursday and found him in good spirits but in need of his freedom. Alan is just a student leader whose only crime is believing and fighting for academic freedoms and a better Zimbabwe.
Today is the 25th day of his imprisonment and the state continues to play micky mouse games with Moyo’s freedom in particular Magistrate Judith Taruvinga who deliberately distorted the report of Alan’s bail hearing and left out key information. The record was as a result struck off at the high court and his lawyer now have to go back to the lower court to have the record corrected. All this is being done to deny Alan Moyo freedom which we equally continue to demand. If they do not free him, we will soon be freeing our anger as we have done before.
The ED Mnangagwa led government has failed and its only response to the wailing people of Zimbabwe is the use of force to silence us instead of silencing us through addressing the crisis in the country. Surely the government will never tire in frustrating us but we will also never tire in demanding and fighting for a better Zimbabwe.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has described 2021 as a “turning point.”
In his New Year message President Chamisa called for unity of purpose in fighting for freedom:
2021 A TURNING POINT!
Through the huddles,attacks and downs of 2020. We remain standing and marching towards a free and New Great Zimbabwe.Fighting for freedom is a national duty and patriotic act.No oppressor is more powerful than the Oppressed who are United.
2021 must be incredible and full of surprises! Let’s make history. Secure Victory this 2021.
Save and serve your great country. Wishing you an action-packed, happy and blessed new year! #Godisinit
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has described 2021 as a “turning point.”
In his New Year message President Chamisa called for unity of purpose in fighting for freedom:
2021 A TURNING POINT!
Through the huddles,attacks and downs of 2020. We remain standing and marching towards a free and New Great Zimbabwe.Fighting for freedom is a national duty and patriotic act.No oppressor is more powerful than the Oppressed who are United.
2021 must be incredible and full of surprises! Let’s make history. Secure Victory this 2021.
Save and serve your great country. Wishing you an action-packed, happy and blessed new year! #Godisinit
The funeral arrangements for the late former Highlanders midfield ace Richard Choruma have been released.
Choruma died in South Africa last week after a short illness at the age of 42.
It has now been revealed he will be buried on Saturday January the 9th.
His body will arrive at JNM airport on Friday at 12pm then there will be a memorial service the same day at McDonald Hall from 1pm to 4pm.
The church service is on Saturday at St Patrick’s Church then the hearse will proceed via Barbourfields stadium to his final resting place at Lady Stanley Cemetery.
VP CHIWENGA'S NATION ADDRESS We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
Other commercial services specified in part 5 of the knockdown order that is to say all former businesses and registered informal traders are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2021 for 30 days – VO Chiwenga
10. Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
… number of covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe in light of the recent search in covid-19 cases the following stiff measures are being put in place with immediate effect: gatherings are being reduced no more than 30 people at funerals.
By Julius Choto | Hello Zimbabwe , hello the world . I am Julius Choto the father of the slain footballer Kelvin Tinashe who was brutally shot and killed by ZRP Chitungwiza in 2019 Jan 14-16 Protest that swept the country.
Today I and other Progressive Democratic Zimbabweans across the globe are in celebration of the first ever success story after challenging and wining our High Court case against the fascist regime for the callous murder.
Firstly I would like to acknowledge the support I got form the oppressed of Africa, the Progressive Democratic forces of Zimbabwe and the whole world wide ,the mighty ZHLR Lawyers, Human rights Watch, Human rights Commission, Amnesty International of SADC. I also acknowledge the unwavering support I got from ZimEye News (supported by Deighton Pierce Glynn) MDC-A President Advocate Nelson Chamisa who made the case international.
My fellow Zimbabweans this victory is ours together. We have been to long living in oppression in the land of our birth. One can never know that one is oppressed when he is perpetually oppressed. This success story of Kelvin Tinashe Choto through his father Julius Choto is and must be a big Eye opener to all the oppressed of our time and it’s a stern warning to all Dictators. We are going to be free again and its inevitable.
THE JOURNEY
The journey to victory of late Tinashe Success story was not on an easy road .I nearly befell the same fate as my son, and put my family security at stake through attempts of direct invasion of my home and work place. VIDEO:
Soon after the burial , I was suppose to get the post-mortem report .Police refused to give it to me .My Lawyers advised to go to court .I got the report outside court settlement. When it was time for inquest, concerned parties ie (family members ,witnesses, police) were suppose to group up and show evidence but Chitungwiza police connived with their friends at Chitungwiza Magistrates Court and did their own fake inquest and finalised the case in our absence .They did this because they could not investigate themselves. I then applied for Default Judgement at High Court .The government never stood firm for their fake inquest because they were shameful of their actions. My case sailed through to the rooftop because there was no opposition , hence victory.
Most cases happen in the dark ,so according to the fascist ,no one is accountable in atrocities of darkness .That is why most cases die in their infancy or initial stages .The other set back is when fear of the unknow overrides courage especially when your loved ones discourage you to challenge Authorities.
According to Amnesty International Kelvin Tinashe case was the most clearest of them all because it happened in broad day light ,in front of about 10000 to 15000 people .
The scarf that they put on around their necks is a Rasta flag ,a symbol of African peace that supports Earthman connection. It’s a gross abuse of it by trying to gain political milage with it . Come on Zimbabwean people. There is hope for Democratic Victory as the case of
Tinashe Kelvin Choto is a mirror of all the atrocities that happened in independent Zimbabwe from Gukurahundi to the so called New Dispensation Era ,even that of Solomon Mujuru.
The Freedom train is coming and going our way ,so Zimbabweans get on board .Victory for Democracy is certain and near .These are the fruits of our courage , persistence and determination
While technology seems to favour the young and energetic, the story is not the same for one of the youngest cabinet ministers in president Emmerson Mnangwagwa’s government, Hon Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of ICT Postal and Courier Services.
As the year comes to an end, we review various government ministries, their performance, targets and more importantly achievements against set goals.
And also how they solved various ministerial problems.
Many, probably know the minister as the camera shy, one who only relies on written speeches and rarely says anything off head about the sector, a sign of lack of passion and understanding of the sector he is supposed to be overseeing.
The Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services is one interesting ministry in Zimbabwe.
It is one of the youngest ministry in the government of Zimbabwe.
Officially commissioned in 2009 following a pact which gave birth to Government of national Unity.
It came after the ministry of Transport and Communication split into two, that is the Ministry of Transport & Energy and the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services.
A young minister during the government of national unity, Nelson Chamisa was mandated to stir up the new ministry.
Chamisa was 31 years of age then.
The current Minister, Jenfan Muswere, who is now the fifth minister since the inception of the ministry is 39years as at Dec 2020.
Born on the 19th of December 1981, Jenfan Muswere a Zanupf youth league secretary of finance romped to victory when he won the Makoni West parliamentary seat.
Those in the political sectors , know him as one of the key actors who was instrumental in making sure that president Mnangagwa escaped death at the height of political persecution during the last days of president Mugabe.
For playing such a role, many felt that president Mnangagwa rewarded him with a ministerial post, one he has completely failed to deliver.
Unfortunately, the youthful minister has failed to excite the sector unlike his predecessors.
Instead of using his energy to grow the ministry he has been fingered as part of the biggest problems in the ICT sector.
Evidently, the sector has lost it’s economic value in his full view, as he chise to remain behind the scenes, yet his hand is strongly felt.
The biggest let down was his failure and lack of interst to fix Telecel Zimbabwe’s demise. Telecel is currently incapacitated and the minister has failed to implement the government’s proposed partial Privatization to bring the once fastest growing mobile operator back to its former glory.
He has never uttered policy or direction on how best they can recapitalise the asset, while the ship continues to sink.
He has failed to restore sanity in one of the state owned enterprise telecommunications company, NetOne.
The country is experiencing mobile network challenges, tariff issues have been a cause of concern among customers.
The regular Potraz has switched to the cost based billing system driving instability to both the consumers and the operators as they chase dollar value.
Former ministers who came before him aggressively championed removal duty on ICTs and priority payments on ICT imoortation and services, this has been ignored in toto.
Unlike his predecessors who worked so hard to make the ministry vibrant and move with the digital era, Muswere seems to be ignorant of what is expected of him.
To take you back a little bit, Nelson Chamisa was the first minister before Webster Shamu replaced him after the demise of the government of national unity. He wss popular for making sim cards and handsets prize tumble.
Shamu who also seemed to have no clue about the technology industry did nothing but read speeches before he was replaced by Supa Mandiwanzira.
Shamu however did not interefer in the internal politics and day to day running of state owned enterprises, he was not a technocrat but allowed experts to deliver, while he continued to read his speeches.
Mandiwanzira understood the dynamics of technology quite well which was also supported by his eloquence in speech. He was a business mogul, very ambitious minister and knew exactly how things must go no tonsistain the sector.
Unfortunately he was a straight businessman, who failed to mix politics and business of the day.
The former Television presenter did not last long after the removal of the late president Robert Mugabe from power through a military assisted process.
The New Dispensation headed by the current President, Emmerson Mnangagwa took over and handed the ministry to Kazembe Kazembe with Muswere as deputy.
Kazembe is the most sober minister we have ever had, he is reported to have appointed board members he has never physically met, but had beautiful resumes, it was appointment based on merit not aristocracy.
A cabinet reshuffle saw the promotion of Muswere to Ministerial post.
The ministry has never had any serious issues or controversy, but not during the times of Supa Mandiwanzira, who was blamed by former NetOne Boss, Reward Kangai for introducing to the nation what is now called the “Birth and growth of a cartel in the ICT sector” in Zimbabwe.
This opened a can of worms which we still think to date are running the sector.
The biggest problem in the ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services is lack of policy direction, strategies and ideas to move Zimbabwe tech sector out of the doldrums.
The other problem has been focusing on the only state owned enterprises that has been making profit, NetOne.
TelOne has been doing very well of late, there has not been any reported scandal except the Pachedu fiber deal that has gone quiet.
The other issue that has raised eyebrows in the ministry is how and why the ministry recently licensed only dark fiber Africa as the latest ISP and IAP at the time it cancelled multiple of local licenses.
Yet the government had been preaching infrastructure sharing to stop duplication of services .
It seems there is so much energy, focus and strategies to milk the NetOne, with many battles today sucking in many officials, a move which to date caused serious instability at the second largest telecommunications company in the country.
State players evidently continue to wrestle over NetOne financial resources.
The then NetOne managing director Reward Kangai broke his silence after he was fired from company exposing how the cartels were fighting over the company’s resources.
Kangai wrote to then President Robert Mugabe in a letter entitled thenbirth and growth of a cartel in the ICT sector in Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately most of his allegations and evidence he unearthed were ignored or had a political initiated outcome.
The accused Supa Mandiwanzira was however exonerated of most of these allegations that were levelled against him by state.
Kazembe Kazembe tried to stabilize the ship when he took over as minister, he fired the boards that were being used and created new ones altogether.
Telecel was sinking because the former minister had announced that he was going to close it and promised to cancel its license, however, it only turned out that the government was the fiery bidder when Telecel finally decided to pack up.
Long story short the government then acquired Telecel.
Kazembe Kazembe fired the previous boards that were appointed by his predecessor.
Thisbsaw a new Potraz, Zimpost, NetOne and Zarnet board being appointed and these to date were reported to have performed professionally and independently.
To date some of his boards are still running, but the NetOne ghost again visited the current dispensation.
The biggest problems started off when NetOne board led by Chairman Mutizwa complained about serious unprofessionalism and lack of corporate governance.
The chairperson and other board members were then either pushed out or forced to resign as the NetOne tensions heightened.
This complaint needs to be visited and an inquiry is meant to be done to come out with proper findings.
The biggest problem in the ICT sector was how Telecel was acquired, and why to date there is no share certificate availed and funding strategy by the major stakeholder who is government.
The ministry of ICT has 60% stake in Telecel but to date has failed to inject capital into its entity.
Lack of capital resources have seen Telecel Zimbabwe slowly sinking.
In the past years Telecel Zimbabwe was the country’s fastest growing mobile network but to date its revenues have plungeg, subscribers depleted and national coverage dwindle.
As if that was not enough it has lost human resources to competitors.
It’s mobile money facility, Telecash, has crushed out with very few base stations running nationwide.
This asset would have operated better with a better investor but the ministry has remained mum and clueless on how to solve it.
Supa Mandiwanzira was very popular for driving the infrastructure sharing policy , the vision was to try and reduce duplication of services and encourage investments in other less serviced areas.
This vision was immediately abandoned when he left office.
The ministry in its wisdom created a company called Zarnet, it has board members on government payroll and basically the company is not known for anything else except duplication of service, yet the ministry is still maintaining it .
Another biggest let down from the ministry of ICT was its failure to defend or advocate on removal or subsided duty on ICTs.
This is the legacy that was fought for and installed by the first minister, driving Zimbbawe’s mobile and voice penetration with an all time time figure of 102% voice penetration and 60% data penetration.
However, these high statistics are greatly falling and dropping with each and every passing year, a red indicator which needs urgent attend attention as ICTs are major drivers of the nation’s GDP.
Back to NetOne confusion, of the board members appointed by Kazembe Kazembe only one board member did not resign.
She was not forced to do so like others, as alleged, infact she was promoted.
Today she is the acting Netone board chairperson and her name is Susan Mutangadura.
This is part of the biggest problem at NetOne which the ICT minister Jenfan Muswere has personally created by appointing her.
According to our sources she has violated all known basics corporate government ethics in the history of the ministry.
Mutangadura sucked in the permanent secretary of ICT engineer Sam Kundishora into her scandals where she lied before the courts of law, a crime of perjury that Mamvura was never a board member.
In his attempt to exonerate the great Susan, Permanent Secretary Kundishora wrote a rather embarrassing letter telling the world that Mutangadura was innocent of not acknowledging the appointment, as he had not announced the appointment as the Permanent secretary.
This attempt however did not decriminalize the crime, unfortunately one of the board members Ranga Mavhunga was arrested for this crime, while surprisingly Susan Mutangadura was protected from the long arm of the law, as she was not arrested or prosecuted for the same crimes her subordinate is facing.
To put the ministry into another disrepute , the permanent secretary wrote another shameful letter again where he told the police officers to stop investigating reported crimes at NetOne because they are not complaining or aggrieved by the allegations, hence the state must look other side.
This was a new low by the ministry of ICT under Jenfan Muswere as they clearly self incrimate in their ignorance of basic application of the law.
The ministry of ICT pulled another shocker when they insisted of hiring ZTE, a company linked to the infamous Kangai cabal case, where the government was ready to pay a new company millions for billing and switching services already offered by a competitor techno tree.
Under Muswere’s watch NetOne lost an arbitration case against payments solutions provider Formula Telecom Solutions (FTS) in the London International Court of Arbitration
NetOne was demanded to pay Israel-based FTS US$5 million in compensation
The latest complete disrespect of rule of law occured when the NetOne board tried to fire its former CEO Lazarus Muchenje, senior manager Loveness Goverah and Tauya Mugwagwa on termination of contract basis, a move which the judge blocked for the managers, legally setting a precedence.
Justice Dube said that by” failing to comply with the requirements of section 12(4a) of the labour act, NetOne failed to comply with the due process of law”.
Irked by such a judgment the board appealed against it, a move which the minister must have reigned.
NetOne under Susan Mutangadura has been in continuous contempt of court, where the company risks being sued as they willfully violate the nation’s court orders.
The first contempt of court was when they physically barred Muchenje from attending work, even after winning a High Court interdict.
The second contempt was when they withdrew a court case awaiting judgment and go ahead to fire the CEO when there is a current interdict stopping them from doing so.
The have recently done another contempt of court by announcing in the government gazette that a CEO has been fired when they know for sure that they have been stopped from firing or hiring a CEO till the high court finalizes the case.
This is another clear disregard of the law as they continue to operate like carefree mafias.
The worst that is happening is that NetOne under Mutangadura is bleeding millions in futile court cases, which it drops and resurges at cost.
If NetOne was a private company no shareholder would have allowed such attitude.
Minister Muswere has failed to reign in all these issues and one wonders whether its incompetence, errors of omission or commission.
Any progressive minister would have reigned in and stopped these serious issues collapsing the once highly regarded tech sector in Zimbabwe.
France-based Warriors striker Tino Kadewere has finally broken silence on the courtesy call he made on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The 24-year old and members of his family were hosted by the veteran politician at State House on Wednesday before he returned to his base in France.
Reacting for the first to the meeting, which trended for two days on social media, the lanky striker said, as cited by The Herald: “It was an honor to be able to get to meet His Excellency.”
“When my brother told me that we had been invited by the President, I was touched and I said to myself this has always been a dream.”
“It gave me a boost in my head and so much confidence that even the President himself is proud of what I am doing,” he added.
Kadewere also said he couldn’t believe how “humble” the President and his family are.
“It gives me the courage to be able to do more for my country. The book present he gave me is wonderful. I never expected it. I was actually shocked about how humble the First Family is.”
“Those people are very humble. I shed a tear ndichipinda muState House kuti only if my (late) brother Prince was alive awonawo His Excellency.”
“It’s every sportsperson’s dream to meet the President,” concluded the Olympique Lyon man. Credit- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
In light of the recent surge in Covid 19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect;
VP CHIWENGA'S NATION ADDRESS We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
1. Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.
2. The existing COVID 19 preventive health measures will be strictly enforced that is to say, correct wearing of face masks, social distancing, hand sanitization, and temperature checks will be strictly enforced and offenders will be prosecuted.
3. Only essential services are to remain open such as I= hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets, with only – essential staff allowed to come to work. These services can only open at 8 am and must close at 3pm and will I be subject to curfew that will start at 6pm and end at 6am.
4. Of the other commercial services only Part 4 lockdown order services such as mining, manufacturing and 2 agriculture will operate as before. Other commercial services specified on Part 5 of the lockdown order that is to say, all formal businesses and registered informal trader’s are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2071 for 30 days.
5. Inter provincial and inter City transport services are restricted only to essential services and Part 4 commercial services.
6. People must stay at home save for buying food and medicines or transporting sick relatives. Other exceptions are as specified in the lockdown order
7. As for schooling only examination classes are to open now.
8. Cross border traders are stopped forthwith save for commercial and transit cargo related to essential and critical services.
9. Air transportation remains unhindered and will continue as before with arrivals and returning residents being required to present Covid 19 free certificates. As for land access only returning residents and essential service drivers will be admitted subject to presentation of Covid 19 free certificates. These certificates must have been issued at least 48 hours before departure.
10. Just to be clear, restaurants, bottle stores and bars are closed for 30 days except for bars and restaurants serving hotel residents. Also, tourist facilities and national parks will operate as before subject to the usual health precautions.
The funeral arrangements for the late former Highlanders midfield ace Richard Choruma have been released.
Choruma died in South Africa last week after a short illness at the age of 42.
It has now been revealed he will be buried on Saturday January the 9th.
His body will arrive at JNM airport on Friday at 12pm then there will be a memorial service the same day at McDonald Hall from 1pm to 4pm.
The church service is on Saturday at St Patrick’s Church then the hearse will proceed via Barbourfields stadium to his final resting place at Lady Stanley Cemetery.
Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance leader, President Nelson Chamisa, has described 2021 as a “turning point.”
In his New Year message President Chamisa called for unity of purpose in fighting for freedom:
2021 A TURNING POINT!
Through the huddles,attacks and downs of 2020. We remain standing and marching towards a free and New Great Zimbabwe.Fighting for freedom is a national duty and patriotic act.No oppressor is more powerful than the Oppressed who are United.
2021 must be incredible and full of surprises! Let’s make history. Secure Victory this 2021.
Save and serve your great country. Wishing you an action-packed, happy and blessed new year! #Godisinit
VP CHIWENGA'S NATION ADDRESS We have seen the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths almost double in 2 months from 8374 on 1 Nov 2020 to 14084 to date, the cumulative number of COVID19 deaths as of 1 Jan 2021 is now 14084 cases, and 396 deaths.
Other commercial services specified in part 5 of the knockdown order that is to say all former businesses and registered informal traders are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2021 for 30 days – VO Chiwenga
… number of covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe in light of the recent search in covid-19 cases the following stiff measures are being put in place with immediate effect: gatherings are being reduced no more than 30 people at funerals.
The MDC Alliance Students’ Council is disturbed by the prolonged incarceration of one of our own Alan Moyo. Our NEC led by chairperson Prince Gora visited Cde Moyo on Thursday and found him in good spirits but in need of his freedom. Alan is just a student leader whose only crime is believing and fighting for academic freedoms and a better Zimbabwe.
Today is the 25th day of his imprisonment and the state continues to play micky mouse games with Moyo’s freedom in particular Magistrate Judith Taruvinga who deliberately distorted the report of Alan’s bail hearing and left out key information. The record was as a result struck off at the high court and his lawyer now have to go back to the lower court to have the record corrected. All this is being done to deny Alan Moyo freedom which we equally continue to demand. If they do not free him, we will soon be freeing our anger as we have done before.
The ED Mnangagwa led government has failed and its only response to the wailing people of Zimbabwe is the use of force to silence us instead of silencing us through addressing the crisis in the country. Surely the government will never tire in frustrating us but we will also never tire in demanding and fighting for a better Zimbabwe.
Other commercial services specified in part 5 of the knockdown order that is to say all former businesses and registered informal traders are suspended from Tuesday 5 January 2021 for 30 days – VO Chiwenga
… number of covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe in light of the recent search in covid-19 cases the following stiff measures are being put in place with immediate effect: gatherings are being reduced no more than 30 people at funerals.
Giving first aid to lightning strike victims while waiting for professional medical attention can save their lives. It is safe to touch a lightning strike victim. People struck by lightning DO NOT carry a charge.
Follow these four steps immediately to help save the life of a lightning strike victim:
Call For Help immediately.
Give directions to your location and information about the strike victim(s). It is safe to use a cell phone during a storm.
Assess The Situation
How many victims are there?Where was the victim struck?Is the storm still continuing?
Safety is a priority. Be aware of the continuing lightning danger to both the victim and rescuer. If the area where the victim is located is high risk (e.g., an isolated tree or open field), the victim and rescuer could both be in danger. If necessary, move the victim to a safer location. It is unusual for a victim who survives a strike to have any major broken bones that would cause paralysis or major bleeding complications unless the person suffered a fall or was thrown a long distance. Therefore, it may be safe to move the victim to minimize possible further exposure to lightning.
Respond Lightning often causes a heart attack. Check to see if the victim is breathing and has a heartbeat. The best place to check for a pulse is the carotid artery which is found on your neck directly below your jaw, as shown in the picture.
Resuscitate If the victim is not breathing, immediately begin mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If the victim does not have a pulse, start cardiac compressions as well (CPR). Continue resuscitation efforts until help arrives. If the area is cold and wet, putting a protective layer between the victim and the ground may help decrease hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature).
IMPORTANT REMINDER: Lightning may also cause other injuries such as burns, shock, and sometimes blunt trauma. Treat each of these injuries with basic first aid until help arrives. Do not move victims who are bleeding or appear to have broken bones.
Source-Centre For Disease Control And Prevention
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance will roll out a robust campaign to fight against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
The party has called for vigilance as cases of the deadly pandemic continue to rise in Zimbabwe and across the globe.
“The main organs of the MDC Alliance will have strategic planning meetings early this month to roll out our action plan for 2021.
The urgent need for political reforms, the deepening economic crisis and the policy implications of Covid-19 will be among our priorities,” the party said in a statement.
Leaked government documents reveal the country’s hospitals have been overwhelmed by rising Coronavirus cases.
“The country’s hospitals are struggling to cope with the high incidence of COVID-19 cases,” a government source told ZimEye.com.
By Jane Mlambo| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who is also the minister of health and child care will today issue a statement on national lockdown as Covid-19 cases and deaths continue to escalate since the beginning of the new wave.
Zimbabwe is currently battling a new Covid-19 wave that has seen all designated hospitals reaching their carrying capacity while new cases continue to be reported everyday.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa began his annual leave today meaning he is not available to address the nation on the new measures to be taken to contain the situation that is already spilling out of hand.
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa has described the death of human rights activist Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo as a devastating blow to the nation.
Fuzwayo succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday.
“Such dreadful times! Just learnt that the Gwanda based Human rights defender, Bekezela Fuzwayo succumbed to Covid19.
I knew the brother as a great leader and community organizer.Fuzwayo stood for human rights,dignity and justice. Rest in peace our tower.The people shall govern,” President Chamisa said in a statement on Twitter.
By A Correspondent- Daniel Sibanda hit his wife Sethule Moyo with a sjambok after he discovered that she was trading his sexual goods for a bucket of maize.
After several fruitless efforts to tell her husband to fend for his family Sethule told the court that she ended up devising a survival plan. “I had to engage in transactional sex with a truck driver after my husband failed to fend for the family while he came home drunk, but with no money,” she said.
She said the truck driver would sleep with her for money that could buy a bucket of maize and other necessities.
“I can’t call it a love affair, it’s a batter trade where I would sleep with him and he would give me money to buy 10kg mealie-meal or a bucket of maize and groceries such as sugar and cooking oil. He would also give me cash,” she said.
She added that her husband would get money from piece jobs but he would squander it on booze with friends at Lupane Business Centre. “My husband makes money from piece jobs, but he blows it on beer and comes home drunk. He would demand sadza, when I told him there is no mealie-meal he would hit me with open hands,” she said.
Sethule told the court that her husband last week hit her several times with a sjambok causing her to suffer bruises all over the body.
“My husband last week hit me all over the body with a sjambok, I sustained bruises all over the body and I was failing to sit,” she said.
Thulani admitted that he thumped his wife.
“I got a tip-off that she was seeing a truck driver, after that I ambushed her and caught her with him at Lupane Business Centre and on that day Sethule had left saying she was going to visit her ailing uncle. I had to beat her up.
When I got home in the evening on that particular day, I once again hit her because I had gathered that she had been cheating on me with that truck driver and they were seen on several occasions together,” he said.
He appeared before Lupane resident magistrate Ndumo Masuku facing physical abuse charge. He pleaded guilty. Thulani was remanded out of custody to next week on Tuesday for sentencing.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- A gang of knife-wielding robbers pounced on a sleeping couple, took cash before bashing the naked woman on the buttocks and took turns to rape her in front of her wailing children.
The couple cannot be named for ethical reasons.
The family source who requested not to be named said on Christmas Eve at around 8PM when the couple and their children had retired to bed, the husband heard noise from the kitchen.
“He wrapped himself with a towel and rushed to check what was happening, he got the shock of his life when he saw four men standing in the kitchen. Fear gripped him as the two of the accomplices grabbed him by the neck and pointed a knife to his face while warning him not to scream, he never screamed,” said the family source.
They demanded cash while threatening to kill them, said a source close to investigations.
“He gave one of the accused persons a Samsung J2 cellphone. The two accused persons searched the house and took R630 which was in a wallet under the mattress and US$4 which was in the wardrobe,” said the source.
The robbers then proceeded to the bedroom where they beat up his wife with a stick on the buttocks before raping her.
“They took turns to rape her without protection in front of her children who were crying. After committing the horrendous act they fled,” said the source.
On Christmas Day the couple reported the matter at Magwegwe Police Station. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident.
“We confirm that we are investigating a case of unlawful entry, rape and robbery. We are making some follow ups. This was an unfortunate situation where four unknown men broke into a house and raped a woman in front of her children.
“We urge members of the public to come up with information to help the police to arrest these robbers because we believe these robbers are not from the Mars but are from the community and someone knows them.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- The entertainment industry is once again feeling the pinch as events and night clubs are locked down for the next two weeks.
That said, many South Africans, including celebrities, were forced to find alternative and creative ways of making money during the national lockdown.
Sultry socialite turned businesswoman Zodwa Wabantu is not letting the lockdown stop her from securing the bag.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the “Zodwa Wabantu: Uncensored star announced that since President Cyril Ramaphosa has decided to shut down the indoor and outdoor events due to the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic she has made other means to make a living.
The star said since she won’t be able to entertain her fans with her sexy dance moves, she opted to sell eggs and live chickens from her tour bus.
The star urged her 1,4 million fans to suggest which areas she should start with on her latest business venture.
Zodwa is expanding her horizons in the beauty industry as she recently announced she would be opening a beauty salon in Mpumalanga in 2021.
Evolving from a socialite to a businesswoman over the years, the Soweto-born star managed to garner a string of property development businesses, the cosmetic range, perfumes, lipstick and petroleum jelly.
The star, who recently made a big move to Joburg, has announced that she’s set to launch her own premium cider.
She is also venturing into the world of performing arts.
Sharing a video clip on her Instagram page recently, the queen of dance announced that she would be starting 2021 with a bang as she goes back to school.
She is joining the Star Quality Performing Arts College that is home to renowned artistes including “Skeem Saam” actor Eric Macheru, former “Our Perfect Wedding” host Kayise Ngqula and “The Queen” actor Vusi Thanda. – IOL
By A Correspondent- Two conmen were taught a hard lesson that they will never forget as they were thoroughly bashed for trying to dupe an illegal money changer by giving him a fake US$100 near Chicken Inn, opposite Tredgold building in Bulawayo.
The dramatic incident happened on Tuesday at around 10:30PM just in front of the fast-food outlet.
The unfortunate conmen were trying to trick the money changer by giving him a fake US$100 for RTGS cash.
However, their plan landed them into hot soup.
The alert money changer quickly noticed that it was fake money, he then swiftly called his colleagues, who came and rounded off the two partners in crime.
One of the illegal money changers who was feeling the texture of the money exclaimed in a high-pitched voice “iyi fake mari check, they must be beaten because they are thieves.”
One of the illegal money changers hit one of the conmen and others joined in assaulting them.
The incident happened in front B-Metro lenses. One of the conmen who was only identified as Dumo was “clapped” twice and released.
But his dreadlocked friend only identified as Trevor was taught a hard lesson that he will he will never forget.
Money changers and people who were milling around took turns to kick him, while some punched him with fists. He bled from the mouth and nose.
No one cared that he was excessively bleeding as they took turns to kick and hit him.
The major highlight of the incident was when one vendor hit him several times with a sjambok all over the body causing Trevor to wail for help. They tore his shirt and trousers with some wanting to cut off his dreadlocks.
He tried to cover his essentials but it was a fruitless effort because they hit him even on the hands and arms, forcing him to leave his assets dangling in the open for everyone to see.
Two police officers who were on patrol came to his rescue and warded off the vicious mob.
By A Correspondent- A man, who has been enduring a sex drought since 2015, was caught having sex with a donkey in a bushy area near his homestead in Gokwe.
The bestiality incident which has become a subject of discussion in Manami Village happened last week on Friday.
According to a source Kudakwashe Moyo, who was herding cattle, bumped into Silvanos Mukwazhi while he was busy bonking a village head’s donkey in the bush.
Seeing that he had been caught in a shameful act, Mukwazhi who had lowered his trousers to knee level during the act, took to his heels.
The source said the frightened Mukwazhi left his shoes at the scene.
Moyo never bothered to give chase, he took the shoes and headed to the owner of the donkey’s homestead and reported Mukwazhi.
“He reported the matter to the village head Ncube who later referred the matter to Chief Mkoka. Chief Mkoka is the one who is presiding over the matter,” said the source.
Appearing before Chief Mkoka, Mukwazhi said since 2015 after he unceremoniously broke up with his long-time flame, no lady has been accepting his love proposal.
“For five years now my life has been a sad episode because there is no lady who has been accepting my love proposal,” said Mukwazhi.
He said he has sought help from a prophet but nothing has changed.
“I enlisted the services of a prophet to help me exorcise the bad spell that was presumably cast upon me by my ex-girlfriend five years ago, but nothing changed.
“Since that time I have not had sex, out of desperation I had to have sex with a donkey of the village head,” he told Chief Mkoka’s traditional court.
Chief Mkoka confirmed the incident: “I am a handling a case of bestiality where Silvanos Mukwazhi was caught having sex with a donkey belonging to the village head. He admitted and apologised. The court will sit on Thursday next week for a ruling.”-statemedia
By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo businessman is embroiled in a bitter marital battle which has all elements of a soap opera after his wife sensationally claimed her marriage had been turbulent and fraught with fights, quarrels and accusations and counter-accusations of witchcraft.
Nkani Khoza proprietor of a local school retail company, Totally Uniforms is being accused by his wife Virginia Khoza of being verbally, physically and emotionally abusive.
Virginia claimed her husband who wants to divorce her also wants to suspend her from their company so that he can enjoy the fruits of their hard work alone.
Virginia bared her soul at the Bulawayo Civil Court where she was seeking a protection order against her husband. In her affidavit she claimed her husband was no longer observing the marriage vows that he pledged the day they got married.
“I am applying for a protection order against my husband because he is verbally, emotionally and psychologically abusive towards me and this has been going on since March 2020. He accuses me of practising witchcraft.
“He is also threatening to suspend me from being a manager at our family-owned business and confiscating my car keys. I no longer have peace due to his constant harassment. I worked very hard to keep the company ticking but now he wants me to leave so that he enjoys the profits alone.
He also harasses me in the presence of customers and doesn’t give me money,” protested Virginia. She further stated that her husband was also selling their matrimonial property without her consent.
Nkani in his response denied all the allegations levelled against him. He told the court that his wife was the one who was violent adding that at one time she threatened to stab him with a kitchen knife if he ever tried to divorce her.
“I am very much opposed to the application. It is clear from what she is saying that the protection order is in bad faith. The protection order is about the emotional and psychological abuse which all doesn’t exist.
“At work she is a manager and I’m the chief executive officer. She is supposed to directly report to me, but she is refusing to take orders saying we are equal.
“Our problems started in March as she has clearly stated and this was after my son from the previous marriage came to our house and joined us at work. She was angered by that and started alleging that I wanted him to inherit our business.
“I told her I was just helping him as my son. This is despite the fact that, I also raised her three children from the previous marriage and we are still staying with one of them who has since married and has a child who is nine years old. He is still staying at my house without paying rent but I had never complained,” fumed Nkani.
He said his wife has also banned his relatives from visiting their matrimonial home in Parklands.
“In November I lost my aunt in Chiredzi and I was pained when she said she has gone to hell and that was good. She also insulted and assaulted my two sisters who stay in Beitbridge. What happened is that she took one of the ladies from our church and went with her to my rural home in Beitbridge.
“I was not aware that they were going to my rural home, until I got a call that she had assaulted my sister and her husband. After assaulting the first one, she then proceeded to my other sister’s homestead where she also wanted to assault her but fortunately, she didn’t find her at home as she had gone to church,” said Nkani.
He further said he once involved church elders to solve their marital problems but to no avail.
“When the church elders tried to counsel us, she became violent and started fighting resulting in the meeting being abandoned. She continued with the fight when we got home when she took a big kitchen knife and started demonstrating how she will rip off my stomach if I divorce her. She also went to my nephew and told him that if ever
I attempted to divorce her, she will kill me”.
He adds: “She once spotted a snake in the house and when it disappeared, she said it was my snake.
The following day the kids spotted that snake and I took boiling water and killed it. When I told her I had killed the snake which she alleged was mine, she said she knows that I‘ll meet in the spiritual world with other people”.
Virginia however, insisted that her husband was verbally abusing her by constantly alleging that she was a witch.
“I am the one who approached the church elders to reprimand him as he was always alleging that I’m a witch and that I killed my late husband and uncle. Sometime in March he woke up at around 1AM and when I asked him what was going on, he remained quiet.
“He later answered saying he was shown a vision by his late uncle telling him to leave the house because what was happening was not making him happy. He then says I use rosaries (sacramentals of the Catholic Church) from our church to tie his neck and feet. I told him that it is a demonic issue,” said Virginia.
Virginia’s application was however, dismissed by presiding magistrate Nomasiko Ndlovu, after she failed to give satisfactory reasons why she went to Beitbridge and attacked her husband’s sister and her husband.
By A Correspondent- An unnamed businessman is facing charges of contravening COVID-19 regulations after he hired Sungura maestro Alick Macheso to perform at a family birthday celebration in Watsomba, Manicaland on New Year’s eve.
Speaking to the state media, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the event in Watsomba did not go ahead as it was stopped by police.
Said Nyathi:
The businessman is now also facing charges of contravening COVID-19 regulations, where it is said twenty people attended the celebrations, but we want to verify.
We are also aware that Macheso had been hired to perform on the 31st of December by another businessman in Mutare.
That event was stopped by the police. So we want musicians to be responsible. Let’s not take for granted the issue of COVID-19.
Musicians should comply with covid-19 regulations. Business-people should comply with covid-19 regulations. This includes members of the public.
Please, please, let us not wait for the police to force us to wear a mask, to practise social distancing, to sanitise.
Ass Comm Nyathi also revealed that fifty-two people have been arrested following an illegal music concert held in Harare’s Mbare suburb on New Year’s Eve.
He said police are looking for the chief suspect in the case, popular music promoter, DJ Fantan, who is allegedly on the run.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said that fifty-two people have been arrested over the illegal Mbare New Year’s music concert.
Speaking to ZBC News, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police are looking for music producer, DJ, and manager at Chill Spot Records, Fantan, real name Arnold Kamudyariwa, who is believed to be on the run.
He said:
We are conducting investigations and so far indications are that 52 people were arrested when police moved in to stop this bash, and we are told Fantan has a studio in Mbare where he puts speakers outside and plays music. He is now on the run. Police are currently looking for him.
We want to assure the public that definitely, action will be taken. We are also conducting investigations to find out what really the police officers on the ground did… what role they played.
This comes after pictures and videos from the New Year’s Eve bash surfaced on social media platforms on Friday.
The government was roundly criticised for allowing a “coronavirus superspreader” event to take place at a time when there is a surge in new infections and hospitals were reportedly full of COVID-19 patients.
Tinashe Sambiri|President Nelson Chamisa is deeply concerned about the high incidence of COVID-19 cases in Zimbabwe.
President Chamisa urged Zimbabweans to stick to stipulated precautions to avert the spread of the deadly pandemic.
Doctors have revealed that hospitals battling to contain the rising Coronavirus cases.
Below is President Chamisa’s statement:
Extremely concerned at the level at which Covid-19 is now killing our citizens.
Doctors informed me that all Covid-19 hospital units are full.Citizens are now dying without getting access to hospitalization. Be vigilant follow Covid-19 precautions at all times:mask up, wash hands!
We are losing relatives, friends and members of our communities to this deadly pandemic. We cannot afford to be as complacent as we have been in recent months. Our communities are paying the price. We must change our conduct if we are to beat this pandemic.
I call upon responsible offices to apply & encourage precautions.
The virus does not select,therefore selective application of rules is self-defeating.I extend my prayers to all those who are unwell & salute our healthcare warriors for taking the frontline role in this deadly war.
By A Correspondent- Three pupils from Mutero High School in Gutu have been given three months wholly suspended jail sentences for bullying.
The three, Stewart Mazuru (20), Tapiwa Gijima (18) and a minor (17) appeared before Gutu magistrate Mandlenkosi Ndlovu last Friday.
The State said that the three accused another student of stealing a mobile phone.
After accusing the minor, the bullies took the complainant to a dam where they assaulted him for three hours while at the same time pushing him into the water.
They only stopped bullying the minor after the lunch bell rang. The incident occurred on December 12, 2020.
The State led by Samuel Magobeya said that the accused asked the complainant to accompany them to the school dam a slight distance away from the school which complainant agreed to. Complainant however, attempted to run away after noticing that there was no one at the dam.
The accused then chased him and took turns to assault him accusing him of stealing Mazuru’s mobile phone. The court heard that the accused would push him into the dam after assaulting him.
“The three accused took turns assaulting the complainant whom they accused of stealing a mobile phone belonging to Mazuru. They pushed him into the dam after every assault and only let him free after the lunch hour siren rang,” said Magobeya.
By A Correspondent- War veterans yesterday said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is turning around the economy and the country is moving in the right direction.
Addressing the media in Harare, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said war veterans were fully behind Mnangagwa’s economic policies.
“As the (ZNLWVA) we are happy about the stewardship of this economy by our president. We stood by him in elections and we will continue standing by him, he is doing a fantastic job in managing the finances of this country and the introduction of-PFumvudza farming is great progress to boost agricultural production, which guarantees food self-sufficiency and commercialise smallholder agriculture,” Mutsvangwa said.
“If we look back to 1980, we wanted political history, in 2000 we wanted political history by recovering our land and its resources, what was left was our financial victory.
“From that time, the country suffered from wayward financial management, everyone remembers the hyperinflation of the first republic, especially in 2008 when the whole population lost its historic service,” Mutsvangwa said.
He said war veterans have started preparing for their long-overdue congress.
“We have set up a committee consisting of seven chairpersons from various districts which will be chaired by the vice chairman of ZNLWVA, who will be in charge of transport and logistics arrangements.
“We are announcing in the shortest possible time the holding of the congress of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association. We are telling members of the ZNLWVA across the country that the conference is going to be held in due course and there will be elections of the new leadership, which will emanate from that congress.
“The activities which are going on to date have been completely suspended by the president. He is taking charge of the formation of the war veterans league as the organ of the party and this shall be under the office of the political commissar,” he added.
Extremely concerned at the level at which Covid19 is now killing our citizens.Doctors informed me that all Covid-19 hospital units are full.Citizens are now dying without getting access to hospitalization. Be vigilant follow Covid-19 precautions at all times:mask up, wash hands!
By A Correspondent- Queen Ndlovukazi Nomalanga Ndiweni-Moyo, King Mambo’s first wife has died, the Chronicle reports. Queen Nomalanga reportedly died in South Africa a day before yesterday after a short illness.
Her death was announced by Chief Bekezela Bhekimpi Nyathi who told the publication that: We want to let the nation know that our mother Queen Ndlovukazi Ndiweni-Moyo, the first wife of King Mambo has passed on in South Africa due to a short illness today.
As a Royal Family, we lived happily and during the Christmas Holiday, she was here as we celebrated the holiday together at our homestead in Mawabeni, Umzingwane District
The family spokesperson said they were making efforts to repatriate her body for burial at their homestead in Mawabeni. Burial arrangements are yet to be announced we will update this article if new details emerge.
47-year-old Queen Nomalanga has 5 children 3 boys and 2 girls. According to the publication, she was president when her husband King Mabo married a second wife Queen Ndlovukazi Priscilla Percy Ndlovu in October this year.
On another note, Queen Nomalanga ‘s cowife Queen Priscilla last week donated Christmas goodies to the elderly at Entembeni Old people’s home. In donating the goodies the queen said she wanted to bring Christmas cheer to everyone.-statemedia
By A Correspondent- Police have confirmed the theft of ZWL$200 000 from Nyaradzo Funeral Services in Bulawayo’s Donnington West industrial site by an unknown person.
The suspect allegedly stole the money either by stealing the company’s ATM card, which was then used to “swipe” at several shops in town or through card cloning.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube disclosed that the theft happened recently when the company’s accountant sent an internal security guard, Genesis Mlala, to purchase some groceries. Insp Ncube explained:
We received a case of theft which occurred under Tshabalala area where on the 20th of December the accountant of Nyaradzo funeral services Donnington West who gave an ATM card to Genesis Mlala, a male adult aged 35 years residing at Pumula East who is the internal security of the company to go and purchase the company groceries for the kitchen.
Upon making a transaction at Ok Mart, the card declined due to lack of funds in the account.
Then this Genesis Mlala phoned the person advising her that there were no funds in the account and was told to return back to the office.
Some investigations were carried out by the company and an online bank statement request revealed that an unknown accused person swiped using the company ATM card on some shops in town and withdrawing ZWL$203 673 without company approval.
A report was made to the police; no arrest yet, but it was observed that the company ATM card was kept in a locked drawer in the accountant’s office.
We are investigating to establish which card was used to swipe. Was it the same card which was being kept by this accountant or a duplicate card was used? Investigations are in progress.
By Majaira Jairos | I got a call this morning to say Thompson Dondo has gone to live with Satan.
I haven’t got enough details surrounding his death other than that he succumbed to COVID 19. Thompson was a very shady character, who was involved in modern slavery in UK, where he used undocumented Zimbabweans almost for nothing as he was paying them peanuts.
Some Zimbabweans were trafficked into the UK which is the reason why he ended up being in trouble with the UK authorities. He had to escape from the UK and he has died a fugitive. It is unfortunate that he has passed on without disclosing who abducted Tawanda Muchehiwa Tawanda Muchehiwa, but he was part of the Ferret Team.
Thompson was a military nurse before we went to UK where he initially worked as a nursing carer via an Agency. He also worked as a driver for carers for that same Nursing Agency.
He later left to form his own Agency with another Zimbabwean and this is when they involved themselves in modern day slavery and human trafficking in Middlesbrough.
Once back home here in Zimbabwe, because of his military background, he joined the CIO as an informer and subsequently became fully involved as a Ferret.
Now, the biggest questions are, will Tawanda Muchehiwa ever get justice? Will the other Ferret details now come out in the open and own up to their evil acts now that Dondo is gone? Personally I think that Thompson’s demise was a divine intervention.
I believe that where earthly justice system fails, heavenly justice system takes over.
To this end, may Tawanda Muchehiwa continue to recover physically and psychologically.
By A Correspondent- The MDC T has asked the nation to pray for their former leader and party VP after she has been hospitalized.
The update was posted by MDC T on Twitter in a post that said she was in a stable condition:
@DrThoko_Khupe has now been admitted to a local private health facility for further management. She is in a stable condition and is in good spirits. We expect her to fully recover soon. Thank you for your prayers Zimbabwe.#CovidIsReal#StayHome#MaskUp#Sanitize
@DrThoko_Khupe has now been admitted to a local private health facility for further management. She is in a stable condition and is in good spirits. We expect her to fully recover soon. Thank you for your prayers Zimbabwe.#CovidIsReal#StayHome#MaskUp#Sanitize pic.twitter.com/ZyaUFzE5HY
Thokozani Khupe was one of the delegates at the HICC on Sunday where about a thousand people gathered to elect a new leader for the court-sanctioned MDC T congress.
She announced she tested positive for COVID-19 2 days after the congress on 29 December.
THokozani Khupe at one point was diagnosed with cancer and she beat the disease and even went on to establish her own cancer foundation, The Thokozani Khupe Cancer Foundation to help those suffering from cancer.
France-based Warriors striker Tino Kadewere has finally broken silence on the courtesy call he made on President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The 24-year old and members of his family were hosted by the veteran politician at State House on Wednesday before he returned to his base in France.
Reacting for the first to the meeting, which trended for two days on social media, the lanky striker said, as cited by The Herald: “It was an honor to be able to get to meet His Excellency.”
“When my brother told me that we had been invited by the President, I was touched and I said to myself this has always been a dream.”
“It gave me a boost in my head and so much confidence that even the President himself is proud of what I am doing,” he added.
Kadewere also said he couldn’t believe how “humble” the President and his family are.
“It gives me the courage to be able to do more for my country. The book present he gave me is wonderful. I never expected it. I was actually shocked about how humble the First Family is.”
“Those people are very humble. I shed a tear ndichipinda muState House kuti only if my (late) brother Prince was alive awonawo His Excellency.”
“It’s every sportsperson’s dream to meet the President,” concluded the Olympique Lyon man. Credit- Soccer24 Zimbabwe
The state media reported that Impala CEO #ThompsonDondo succumbed to #COVID19 but his company issued a statement and said he died of kidney failure. Who is lying here?
#ThompsonDondo Contradictions over the cause of death of #ImpalaCarRental boss. Contrastingly, The Herald reports that Dondo succumbed to Covid-19 and added that details would be availed by the family spokesperson. pic.twitter.com/MzIlvSHAFH
By A Correspondent- 2 Men from Mwenezi reportedly murdered a 6-year-old girl, cut out her private parts before burning her body beyond recognition.
Taruziva Sithole (37) of Chomutamba Village 3 and his friend Shackmore Dube (26) from the same village killed Sithole’s niece Irene Sithole before torching her corpse on 29 December.
The matter came to light in court yesterday where the duo who stood charged with murder before Mwenezi Magistrate Honest Masiiwa.
The state, led by Lyton Katsidzira alleged that:
Sithole and Dube connived to kill the former’s niece after the later had been promised a vehicle and lots of money for a juvenile girl body parts by an unknown person in South Africa.
Sithole, who was staying with Irene at his house allegedly decided to kill her so that Dube could take her private parts to South Africa.
On 29 December around 8pm Sithole allegedly started attacking Irene with a log and she collapsed and died.
He allegedly took his niece’s lifeless body and put it in a bag before using a cloth to remove stains of blood to conceal the vice.
At around midnight on the same day, Sithole took Irene’s corpse in the bag and went outside to meet Dube who was waiting for him a few metres from his house.
Dube then allegedly proceeded to cut off Irene’s genitals before the pair proceeded to burn her body in a fire until it was burnt to ashes save for some teeth, ribs and parts of the skull that remained.
The matter came to light after Irene went missing and Sithole’s wife raised alarm with neighbours that he had seen him pounding his niece with a log.
The gruesome murder of young Irene came barely 4 months after another gruesome murder of another minor Tapiwa Makore who was murdered by a Murehwa headman and his father’s brother Tapiwa Makore.-statemedia
By Majaira Jairosi | I got a call this morning to say Thompson Dondo has gone to [REDACTED] . I haven’t got enough details surrounding his death other than that he succumbed to COVID 19.
Thompson was a very shady character, who was involved in modern slavery in UK, where he used undocumented Zimbabweans almost for nothing as he was paying them peanuts. Some Zimbabweans were trafficked into the UK which is the reason why he ended up being in trouble with the UK authorities. He had to escape from the UK and he has died a fugitive. It is unfortunate that he has passed on without disclosing who abducted Tawanda Muchehiwa, but he was part of the Ferret Team.
Thompson was a military nurse before we went to UK where he initially worked as a nursing carer via an Agency. He also worked as a driver for carers for that same Nursing Agency. He later left to form his own Agency with another Zimbabwean and this is when they involved themselves in modern day slavery and human trafficking in Middlesbrough.
Once back home here in Zimbabwe, because of his military background, he joined the CIO as an informer and subsequently became fully involved as a Ferret.
Now, the biggest questions are, will Tawanda Muchehiwa ever get justice? Will the other Ferret details now come out in the open and own up to their evil acts now that Dondo is gone?
Personally I think that Thompson’s demise was a divine intervention. I believe that where earthly justice system fails, heavenly justice system takes over. To this end, may Tawanda Muchehiwa continue to recover physically and psychologically.
