Farai Dziva|Suspected state security agents are trailing MDC Alliance members in the ancient city of Masvingo as political tension rises before July 31 protests.
Soldiers also intimidated residents of the ancient city.On Monday troops from 41 brigade marched along the streets of Mucheke Suburb in a move meant to intimidate residents- according to political observers.
On Tuesday morning soldiers marched along the streets of Rujeko Suburb.
According to residents of the city of Masvingo, the soldiers marched without wearing masks and they did not observe the recommended “social distancing.”
Below is a statement from the MDC Alliance :
Today (Tuesday) Masvingo security personnel visited the houses of Masvingo Urban MDC Alliance district chair Mr Murangamwa Chanyau and Masvingo urban district organ Mr Peacemaker Mapope.
The security personnel visited MDC Alliance national youth organizer Mr Godfrey Kuraone’s residence in Masvingo.
It is a day commemorated to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis. It is an opportunity to step up national and interactive efforts on hepatitis.
It’s to encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public.
Theme: “Hepatitis free future” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that causes a range of problems that may progress to chronic liver disease or liver cancer. Hepatitis can be parasitic, bacteria, viral, autoimmune (body attacking itself) or genetic.
However of all the causes viral causes are the most common and most fatal.
Of the viral causes hepatitis A, B, C, D, E are the commonest.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine preventable hepatitis transmitted via feacal-oral. It is a contagious disease. People infected presents with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fatigue, malaise.
It is usually self limiting and treatment is symptom management. It does not usually cause chronic complications.
Hepatitis B is transmitted by body fluids or blood products, sharing needles and syringes and by sexual intercourse.
Infected people presents with fatigue, poor appetite, yellow eyes, abdominal pain. This type of hepatitis can be prevented as there is a vaccine available. Anyone at any age can get the vaccine. In Zimbabwe children are vaccinated at the age of 6, 10 and 14weeks.
Treatment can be with antivirals but it usually progress to cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C virus is also transmitted by body fluids, blood products, sharing needles and syringes and sexual intercourse.
Symptoms and signs are usually the same as those of Hepatitis B.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C but can be treated with antivirals. It also progress causing chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatitis D occurs as a coinfection with hepatitis B.
Transmission, signs and symptoms are the same as hepatitis B. If vaccinated against Hep B it also protects against Hepatitis D.
Hepatitis E istransmitted via feaco-oral route usually in shell fish, raw pig. There is no vaccine available.
Also self limiting and chronic complications are not common.
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Farai Dziva|Two concerned Zimbabweans have challenged the Zanu PF administration to stop the persecution of suffering citizens.
See statement below:
Our nation has degenerated into a banana republic dominated because of criminal elements.
To our surprise our government has become a monster such that everyone is living in fear. In short we are under siege, we are oppressed and we can’t breathe.
The recent arrest of Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chinono depicted the extent of lawlessness that we have been plunged into by the so called second republic.
Clearly the state has no case to answer on this one despite the amount of propaganda and spin doctoring.
The government has only one option to gain favour from the people and that is uprooting corruption and revive economy, honestly if they cant do this they must not expect the Zimbabweans to support is evil agenda of destroying the future of million lives.
To this day no amount of propaganda will rescue the governments incompetence.
People are not fools, right now the lockdown restriction is another evidence of the regimes incompetence.
The government has failed to put effective measures to deal with returnees which saw the country being hit with the increase of infections.
Instead of focusing on fighting the pandemic they are busy fighting the voices of the people in the name of Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chinono.
Free Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chinono, their crime is standing for the people CorruptionMustFall FreeJacob FreeHopewell
By A Correspondent- Mbembesi villagers are living in constant fear of violent illegal gold panners, popularly known as MaShurugwi, who have reportedly invaded the area and are digging around homesteads and gravesites in search of the precious metal.
The gangs, which are reportedly armed with axes and machetes, are defying the COVID-19 lockdown measures as they unleash a reign of terror in Mbembesi, about 50km out of Bulawayo along the Harare highway.
They have also dug near Chief Ndondo’s homestead.
There are reports that the panners are digging underneath the road network in the area, rendering them unsafe for vehicles.
Villagers say they are hopeless as any challenge to the gangs is met with violence.
Chief Ndondo yesterday confirmed that the illegal gold panners had become a menace in his area.
He admitted they were digging close to his homestead, but denied the desecration of graves.
“The issue of digging of gravesites appears to be untrue, but the illegal gold panners are a menace,” Chief Ndondo said.
“They have dug under our main roads and it is now dangerous for motorists to travel. We have reported to the police, but they kept on saying they didn’t have transport.” He added: “They (MaShurugwi) have caused a lot of damage. We are appealing for help to curb their criminal activities. It should not take long for police to act on an issue like this.”
A villager in Mbembesi, Nkululeko Majola, said the situation was volatile in the area. He appealed for the intervention of security forces.
“They have no respect of sacred places in our area. They are even digging in gravesites. You can imagine the kind of people we are dealing with. Right now, they are digging in our fields close to our homesteads. If you try to approach them, they turn very violent. We are living in fear,” he said.
Majola said as villagers, they were appealing to government to deploy soldiers to the area to restore order as they also fear the spread of COVID-19.
“These people come from different places, some of them from areas which have high number of cases of COVID-19 positive people. They also don’t adhere to COVID-19 prevention measures as they don’t have protective equipment. They mingle with locals at the business centre and they could spread of the deadly virus,” he said.
MaShurungwi have been causing chaos in Matabeleland during the lockdown period, especially in Gwanda, where they have reportedly robbed several mines, leaving a number of miners injured.
Farai Dziva|Leading human rights organization, ZIMRIGHTS is pushing for the prosecution of Zanu PF spokesman, Patrick Chinamasa for inciting public violence.
See statement below:
ZIMRIGHTS FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST MR. PATRICK CHINAMASA’S HATE SPEECH AND INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE 28 JULY 2020
Today, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) as well as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) against the hate speech by Acting ZANU PF Spokesperson Mr. Patrick Chinamasa.
In a communication to the two independent commissions, ZimRights has noted that hate speech and incitement to commit violence is prohibited by the laws of Zimbabwe and in violation of fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
By inciting his supporters to commit violence against anti-corruption protestors, Mr. Chinamasa is putting the lives of many Zimbabweans in danger.
ZimRights has noted that in the history of Zimbabwe, when leaders propagate hate speech, violence follows.
ZimRights is urging the ZHRC and the NPRC to investigate the statements by Mr. Chinamasa and have the law take its course.
It is a day commemorated to enhance awareness of viral hepatitis. It is an opportunity to step up national and interactive efforts on hepatitis.
It’s to encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public.
Theme: “Hepatitis free future” with a strong focus on preventing Hepatitis B among mothers and newborns.
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that causes a range of problems that may progress to chronic liver disease or liver cancer. Hepatitis can be parasitic, bacteria, viral, autoimmune (body attacking itself) or genetic.
However of all the causes viral causes are the most common and most fatal.
Of the viral causes hepatitis A, B, C, D, E are the commonest.
Hepatitis A is a vaccine preventable hepatitis transmitted via feacal-oral. It is a contagious disease. People infected presents with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, fatigue, malaise.
It is usually self limiting and treatment is symptom management. It does not usually cause chronic complications.
Hepatitis B is transmitted by body fluids or blood products, sharing needles and syringes and by sexual intercourse.
Infected people presents with fatigue, poor appetite, yellow eyes, abdominal pain. This type of hepatitis can be prevented as there is a vaccine available. Anyone at any age can get the vaccine. In Zimbabwe children are vaccinated at the age of 6, 10 and 14weeks.
Treatment can be with antivirals but it usually progress to cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C virus is also transmitted by body fluids, blood products, sharing needles and syringes and sexual intercourse.
Symptoms and signs are usually the same as those of Hepatitis B.
There is no vaccine for hepatitis C but can be treated with antivirals. It also progress causing chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Hepatitis D occurs as a coinfection with hepatitis B.
Transmission, signs and symptoms are the same as hepatitis B. If vaccinated against Hep B it also protects against Hepatitis D.
Hepatitis E istransmitted via feaco-oral route usually in shell fish, raw pig. There is no vaccine available.
Also self limiting and chronic complications are not common.
Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
By Fanuel Chinowaita | ANALYSIS | Lands and Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri has died, barely a few months after being accused of plotting to remove Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The development was announced by Norton legislator Temba Mliswa on Social media .
It is said that has been admitted at a local hospital after his driver had died of coronavirus.
However, according to some close source, Shiri did not die of corona virus but food poisoning which he reportedly consumed together with his driver at a rally in Rushinga.
“We are suspecting food poisoning but they are going to pin it on Covid.
“When they came back from Rushinga last week, the driver was complaining of heart burn. On Friday he went to work but Minister Shiri did not go to work. He had already started feeling funny, complaining that he felt like he had heart burn just like the driver”, said a close source who asked for anonymity.
While addressing cotton farmers at a rally in Rushinga last week, prior to their falling sick, Shiri urged farmers saying, “Ukatsindira ka pocket kako zvakasimba ne cotton unenge watove nekaticha kako” and he burst into loud laughter.
However his subjects didn’t take his joke lightly and they booed him.
Shiri was mocking the salary his government is giving to the teachers.
Retired Air Marshal Perrance Shiri was known for brutally killing Matebeleland people in the 1980s.
“The death of Perence Shiri could not have come soon enough for the people of Matabeleland where he commanded the Fifth Brigade which murdered more than 30 000 innocent civilians in cold blood 35 years ago.
“He was a cold blooded killer. Stories are told about he shot a pregnant woman in Nkayi because he did not want more dissidents to be born.
“He ordered a group of young men in Khezi to be lined up and shot; and had the villagers bury them in a mass grave. He used to boast about Matabeleland saying Kachisango kangu kandakapiwa navaMugabe kuti ndimboshereketa.
“If there is Hell, there a special place reserved for him”, posted a disgruntled citizen from Matebeleland on Social media.
Meanwhile, the government is yet to announce his status and burial date.
Farai Dziva|Leading human rights organization, ZIMRIGHTS is pushing for the prosecution of Zanu PF spokesman, Patrick Chinamasa for inciting public violence.
See statement below:
ZIMRIGHTS FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST MR. PATRICK CHINAMASA’S HATE SPEECH AND INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE 28 JULY 2020
Today, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) as well as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) against the hate speech by Acting ZANU PF Spokesperson Mr. Patrick Chinamasa.
In a communication to the two independent commissions, ZimRights has noted that hate speech and incitement to commit violence is prohibited by the laws of Zimbabwe and in violation of fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
By inciting his supporters to commit violence against anti-corruption protestors, Mr. Chinamasa is putting the lives of many Zimbabweans in danger.
ZimRights has noted that in the history of Zimbabwe, when leaders propagate hate speech, violence follows.
ZimRights is urging the ZHRC and the NPRC to investigate the statements by Mr. Chinamasa and have the law take its course.
By A Correspondent- In an internal correspondence to staff members, the broadcaster’s acting chief executive officer Ms Helliate Rushwaya said the broadcaster would be implementing contact tracing, disinfection and testing measures from today.
“We learnt today, Tuesday 28th July 2020, that one of our colleagues has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Covid-19. The member of staff is based at ZBC Pockets Hill and last reported for duty on 16th July before taking time off. This is obviously worrying news for the individual concerned and we wish them a quick recovery.
“We would like to notify all staff that as a result of this development, staff on duty will be tested at Pockets Hill on Wednesday 29th July 2020. This will be be in addition to the pre-scheduled disinfection of Pockets Hill premises taking place on the same day,” the statement read.
As the measures took effect, normal programming would be disrupted while those that can work from home are expected to do so.
“For health, safety and well-being of all stage it our primary concern. For this reason, going forward, all staff with remote work capabilities are expected to work from home. Only critical staff are expected to report for work. Staff should consult with their managers for addition instructions and for any questions or concerns. Normal programming from Pockets Hill for both Radio and Television will be affected until further notice.”
By Antony Taruvinga| For the first time in the history of the country, we all have the equal chances of dying.
I am not going to mourn the death of a man who presided over the killing of over 20 000 Zimbabweans in Matebeleland region.
It was a massacre non of us would want to remember. I am angered that COVID-19 whisked him away before he could be afforded the opportunity to stand trial in a New Zimbabwe court of law.
God has a way of punishing the evil.
Maybe it’s God’s justice and if this pandemic could claim more of the same, our struggle for a New Zimbabwe would then be a walk in the park.
Never thought with all the ill- gotten wealth they possess, this flue like pandemic would claim their lives.
The innocent people who died in Matebeleland died a painful death. No one must be allowed to kill and get away with it.
Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo based cleric Isaac Makomichi has been summoned to the CID law and order section for urging Zimbabweans to pray for Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin’ono.
In a tweet last week, Makomichi urged Zimbabweans to pray for Ngarivhume and Chin’ono who were arrested for allegedly inciting public violence.
Makomichi has been accompanied by his lawyer Martin Mureri to the CID Law and Order offices.
“They called me today and advised me to visit their offices for an interview.
I don’t know what the issue is about.Last week I urged the people of Zimbabwe to pray for Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin’ono.
As a preacher of the word, it is my duty to pray for citizens – despite their political orientation,” said Makomichi.
Makomichi has also been targeted by state agents for sympathizing with MDC Alliance leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister, Air Marshal Perence Shiri was born on 11 January 1955 in Gweru.
Born Bigboy Samson Chikerema, the name Perrance Shiri seems to have been his nom de guerre.
He died Wednesday aged 65.
Shiri joined ZANLA in 1973 and rose through the ranks to become member of the High Command in 1977.
He then joined the Zimbabwe National Army in 1980, attained Brigadier rank in 1982 before he was transferred to Airforce as Air Commodore in 1984 and became a Commander from 1992 -2017.
Became Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement from November 2017 to date.
During his tenure as the commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, Shiri was also a member of the Joint Operations Command which exerted the day by day control over Zimbabwe’s government.
Shiri was a cousin to the late President Robert Mugabe.
It is reported that he called himself Black Jesus, because according to an anonymous claim on BBC Panorama documentary “The Price of Silence”, he “could determine your life like Jesus Christ. He could heal, raise the dead, whatever. So he claimed to be like that because he could say if you live or not.”
A liberation war veteran, Shiri’s chequered past saw him commanding the army’s Fifth Brigade unit that carried out the 1980s massacres of thousands of civilians in western Zimbabwe as the government sought to quell an insurgency.
From 1983 to 1984, the Zimbabwean Fifth Brigade, under Shiri’s command, was responsible for a reign of terror in Matabeleland known as Gukurahundi.
Over 20k people lost their lives during Gukurahundi while thousands more were tortured.
Despite this, in 1986, Shiri was granted a place at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.
In 1992, Shiri was appointed as the commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, taking over from Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Shiri was reported to have organised farm invasions by war veterans. However, these claims were not corroborated neither were they denied by Shiri, who was a very reserved individual who never disclosed much about his personal or political life.
When Zimbabwe was hit by food shortages in 2002, Mugabe dispatched Shiri to South Africa to purchase maize in a move that was backed by a credit note for the equivalent of £17 million from the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi.
With the Mugabe government facing increasing problems, the Zimbabwean media reported in February 2007 that Shiri was regularly attending General Solomon Mujuru’s unofficial meetings with other senior military commanders and some political leaders. These meetings had discussed forcing Mugabe to the polls in 2008 with a view to his replacement as president.
Zimbabwean lawyers and opposition politicians in 2008 accused Shiri of being the man behind the military assaults on illegal diggers in the diamond mines in the east of Zimbabwe.
Shortly before the disputed 2008 harmonised presidential election Shiri, along with other Zimbabwean Defence chiefs, held a press conference where they stated that defence and security forces had been deployed across the country to maintain peace and order in a remark aimed against the Movement for Democratic Change.
In 2002 the European Union barred Shiri from entering the EU and on 6 March 2003, George W. Bush ordered the blocking of any of Shiri’s property in the United States.
There was on Shiri’s life on 13 December 2008, when he was accosted by unknown people who shot at his car while he was on his way to his farm in Marondera.
The police reported that Shiri got out of his car thinking that one of his car tyres had burst and he was shot in the arm.
It has been speculated that the assassination attempt may have been a response to Shiri’s attacks on illegal diamond miners in 2008 or because of his role in Gukurahundi in Matabeleland in the 1980s.
In October 2013, Shiri’s only son, Titus Takudzwa Chikerema, died aged 21. Nothing is known about his mother’s identity or her whereabouts.
Shiri, allegedly helped plot the ouster of Robert Mugabe in the 2017 coup.
Two government sources said he died in the early hours of Wednesday.
Shiri was said to have gone into isolation then at some point he ended up being admitted in hospital where he met his demise.
While Shiri was certainly a commanding figure because of his expansive liberation war credentials, top government posts and his far reaching influence, little was known about his personal life.
No-one has ever seen Shiri’s spouse in the media or during public appearances. Shiri always rocked up solo prompting speculation that he was a divorcee but whose wife no-one knows about.
By A Correspondent| Zanu PF Youth League has urged party members not to wear regalia on 31 July saying they have unearthed a plan by the opposition to wear Zanu PF regalia during the planned demonstrations set for Friday.
In a statement, Zanu PF Youth League Acting Deputy Secretary, Tendai Chirau said the plot is meant to “hoodwink unsuspecting citizens and demonize the name of the revolutionary party by creating a false image of som ZANU PF members participating in the their heinous design for the benefit of their handlers.”
Chirau added that, “I hereby encourage all our Zanu PF Youth league members not to wear their party regalia on the 31st of July 2020 in order to expose and totally invalidate the enemy’s plot.”
I am now at Harare Central Police station to make a report against Patrick Chinamasa for inciting public violence as of Section 37 of the Criminal code.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- “I have respect for him (Biti) for his intellectual prowess. Let me say that he is very clever,” Chinamasa told journalists at Zanu PF headquarters in Harare Monday.
“But there you have him doing the bidding for his masters very well where he wrote to the World Bank not to give us Covid-19 related finances and resources and we have not received such resources.
“Zanu PF, therefore, appeals to our people not to be misled by the MDC Alliance malcontents whose preoccupation is to see our people and the economy suffer.”
Chinamasa should know that Zanu PF cannot have its cake and eat it too! He only showered Tendai Biti with praise for the purpose of building Biti as a credible opposition whose words would have influence IMF. The truth is Tendai Biti is a corrupt, incompetent and overrated opposition politician with a well-documented track record of failures. He has no intellectual or political credibility and no political influence. Of all the people, Patrick Chinamasa should know this since he played the leading role in celebrating Biti and his MDC’s friends’ breath-taking incompetence at the end of the 2008 GNU! record better than anyone else.
The IMF, WB and many other international financial institutions stopped giving Zimbabwe financial assistance back in the late 1999 when it was clear the country was failing to service’s mounting debt. Zimbabwe’s reputation as a pariah state ruled by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs have forced investors and lenders alike to shy away from doing business with the country. It is therefore rich to blame the WB’s recent decision to deny Zimbabwe financial assistance on Tendai Biti.
Chinamasa knows that Tendai Biti is not clever at all! If Biti or anyone of his follow MDC leaders had even the common sense of a village idiot then they would have implemented at least one democratic reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Not even the repeated nagging by SADC leaders to implement the reforms could get the MDC leaders to anything.
Of course, Patrick Chinamasa joined his leader, Robert Mugabe, and all the other Zanu PF leaders in celebrating their party’s greatest political revivals. Having signed the 2008 Global Political Agreement, agreeing to the implementation of the raft of democratic reforms designed to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship; no one would have believed Zanu PF would emerge at the end of the GNU with all its dictatorial powers untouched! No one!
When SADC leaders tried a last minute attempt to have the 2013 elections postponed to allow for the reforms to be implemented; it was Chinamasa himself, as then Minister of Justice, who reminded the diplomats that elections could not be postponed to allow reforms when no reforms proposals had ever been submitted in the five years of the GNU. It was MDC’s, not Zanu PF’s, fault that not even one reform proposal had been submitted.
Chinamasa and his Zanu PF cronies celebrated Tendai Biti and his MDC friends’ breath-taking incompetence in failing to submit even one token reform proposal in five years of the GNU. Chinamasa said nothing about respecting Biti’s “intellectual prowess” then!
Zanu PF’s contempt for the opposition is malicious, so malicious the party has stripped all its political opponents of their freedoms, rights and humanity. And all the ordinary Zimbabweans who have dared support the oppositions have been cloaked in the opposition’s colours and in turn stripped of their freedoms, etc.
“Zanu PF’s relationship with the people is watered with blood, it is unshakable. The party and its leadership will never allow this to happen. We will never allow any malcontents to take over this country,” Chinamasa fumed.
Since granting the ordinary people their right to free, fair and credible elections could resulted in election “malcontent opposition” it is therefore clear why Zanu PF has never ever allowed the people to exercise a free and democratic vote.
Zimbabwe has gone from a middle-income nation in 1980 with a robust and promising economy to one of the poorest nations today. Four decades of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption has left the country in economic ruins with unemployment a nauseating 90% and 34% of the people now living in abject poverty.
The nation has been stuck with the corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF regime for all these 40 years because the party rigged the elections to stop the people removing its leaders from office.
The right to a meaningful say in the governance of one’s country is a birth right, a universal right acknowledged in the UN Universal Human Rights. In Zimbabwe the right to free elections is now more that just a right, it is the only way the nation has to end the criminal worse of the country’s material resources that has left millions in abject poverty and hopelessness and despair.
After four decades of being denying one’s freedoms and rights, of being treated like a malcontent with no meaningful say in the governance of the country, of being forced into a life of hopelessness and despair; it is high time the people of Zimbabwe stood up to Zanu PF and reclaimed their rights and humanity!
The people of Zimbabwe must stand-up to this Zanu PF dictatorship and demand their right to a meaningful say in the governance of the country. The people must reject continued denial of their freedoms and rights under the nonsensical guise an unshakable “Zanu PF’s relationship with the people is watered with blood!”
Zanu PF does not have a divine or otherwise right to govern the country. The right to govern the country must be derive from the people of Zimbabwe in a free, fair and credible elections and not other source.
Zanu PF failed to hold free, fair and credible elections in July 2018, the party has no mandate to govern, the regime is illegitimate and must step down. After 40 years of holding this nation to ransom, enough is enough. Zanu PF must step down and no amount of Zanu PF threats will deter the nation from demanding change.
Zimbabwe’s government signed a $3.5 billion deal to compensate white commercial farmers who were evicted from their land two decades ago.
The agreement is a turning point in a dispute that tipped the southern African nation’s economy into freefall by slashing food production and export income, and incurred sanctions from the U.S. and European Union.
“Today marks a huge milestone,” Andrew Pascoe, president of the Commercial Farmers Union that represents the white farmers, said Wednesday at a signing ceremony in the capital, Harare. “As Zimbabweans, we have chosen to resolve this long-outstanding issue.”
It’s unclear how the compensation will be funded, at a time when Zimbabwe is in the midst of an economic crisis. The country is battling inflation of more than 700% and dealing with shortages of currency, fuel and food with over 90% of the population out of formal employment.
A committee has been formed by the government, farmers and donors to raise funding for the compensation, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said at the ceremony.
Zimbabwe has endured intermittent food shortages since the government began the often-violent program that seized most white-owned, large-scale farms from 2000. Zimbabwe’s rulers maintain that the land was taken forcibly during colonial times and needed to be returned to Black residents.
The compensation agreement is for improvements and assets on the more than 4,000 farms that were seized and doesn’t pertain to the land itself, Ben Gilpin, a director of the CFU, said earlier this month.
“This momentous event is historic,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa said at the ceremony. “It brings closure and a new beginning.”
The government of Zimbabwe has responded to a notice by senior doctors that they were withdrawing services over a number of issues including the inadequacy of personal protective equipment.
We present the response in full below.
The Executive, Senior Hospital Doctors Association
Attention: Dr S Nyaguse – Chiurunge Ref: Ministry of Health and Child Care P 0 Box CY1122 Causeway HARARE RE: NOTICE TO WITHDRAW FROM OFFERING SERVICES Reference is made to your letter dated 14 July 2020 addressed to the Acting Honourable Minister with regards to the above and a meeting held on the 27th of July 2020 to discuss the issues raised in your letter.
Below is the detailed response of the issues which you raised: 1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); It is noted that the demand for PPE is continuing to rise in sync with the rising number of Covid-19 cases. The procurement and distribution of PPE is a continuous process and not an event as the consumption rate is very high. PPE is the biggest cost driver in the prevention and containment of COVID-19. While efforts are in progress to expand local production of some of the items which will reduce pressure on resources required to import other products that are not produced locally, the Ministry is currently working with NatPharm to procure additional PPE and expeditiously distribute it to all stations. The latest PPE stock status shows that we have just over a month’s supply of PPE at the current usage rate.
As at 28 July 2020, a total of 253 health workers including student nurses had tested positive for COVID-19. The Pharmacy Directorate is finalizing the quantification of PPE requirements for submission to the Resource Mobilization Committee of the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19.
Please find attached the stock status as at 27 July 2020.
2. COVID-19 Testing of hospital inpatients Testing continues to be a challenge. Health Workers are struggling to provide services to clients without COVID-19 tests being carried out in the face of inadequate PPE. There has been an increase in poor outcomes in all departments as clients go unattended as a result of limited testing capacity. The Ministry has since written to all public and private institutions directing them to set up patients under investigation units (PUI Units) to facilitate timely attendance to patients seeking care.
Whilst COVID-19 testing has been decentralized, challenges continue to be faced on availability of some consumables such as Gene X-pert cartridges which are scarce on the international market. Donations of PCR testing kits were also received but our testing capacity is limited by the shortage of viral transport media VTM and swabs among other items which include boosting human resources. In that reign the Ministry is planning to recruit laboratory trained staff.
3. Medicines, medical sundries and medical equipment The availability of drugs, medical products and equipment is a direct function of the availability of forex, as over 90% of medicines are imported. Collectively we have not demonstrated capacity to produce our own drugs and equipment locally the high import bill for medicines and medical products. Covid-19 derailed the procurement processes that were in progress as resources had to be diverted to the pandemic. The new Ministry realigned staff is hitting the ground running to:
a. Establish requirements and priorities;
b. Establish the available resources both in local and forex; and
c. Initiate the procurement processes and follow up on existing commitments.
4. Payment of salaries in USD The Health Service Board with the guidance of the Acting Hon Minister have made submissions to Treasury to review Health Worker Packages. However, the Government is not in a position to pay salaries in USD. Full US dollarization of the economy is a tried, tested and failed concept. By February 2018 the country was dry of the US Dollar with citizens sleeping at the banks to withdraw their deposits to no avail. Foreigners also descended on Zimbabwe in search of the easily accessible US Dollars in addition to locals also externalizing their US Dollar reserves. There is absolutely nothing to stop that from happening again. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result is Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity. We have to be innovative and explore other ways of resolving these challenges.
a. The US Dollars is American currency printed by the Federal Reserve and is not printed for free for other countries; b. Other countries can only access the USD through international trade of goods and services;
c. The USD reserves generated by the Zimbabwean economy are not adequate to sustain import obligations such as fuel, food because of droughts and natural disasters, electrical power following droughts resulting in reduced generation, medicines and medical products aggravated by Covid-19, industrial and agricultural machinery just to mention a few. Diverting the limited USD forex to paying salaries is suicidal for the economy and social services provision.
d. Printing the ZWL$ without consideration to the economic fundamentals is inflationary and Zimbabweans are experiencing the horrors of a second wave of hyperinflation.
A measured approach in improving salaries and buying power of the currency is recommended as evidenced by some of the efforts which include the under listed:
i) The Government reviewed salaries by 5o% and paid a USD 75 denominated civil services Nostro card to Health Workers.
ii) A request for an upward review of the COVID-19 Risk Allowances was submitted to Treasury. (The Health Workers had requested for 400, 500 and 600 USD equivalent.)
iii) Use of arbitration to address sticky salary issues. 5. Payment of Clinical Allowances The payment of allowances to University of Zimbabwe Consultants was approved in principle.
To this end, the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has been processing payments pegged at an agreed RTGS3,50o per consultant per month.
Payments for March 2020 were made on the 3. of April 2020, whilst payments for April 2020 were made on the 3rd of June 2020 with payments for May and June having been processed on the 17th of July 2020. Whilst noting the payments, concern was raised on having Parirenyatwa meet the bill noting that the revenues inflows have declined since the onset of COVID-19.
6. Other emerging issues
a. Donor funded allowances from the Health Development Fund The HDF has set aside a budget of USD2 million to cover all Health Workers. Guided by presence at work this might cover only up to two months.
The Ministry has however opted for this amount to be used for procurement of PPE. b. Dual employment for University of Zimbabwe Consultants Concern raised by UZ-CHS over inconsistencies on the dual employment is noted. This issue has since been brought to the attention of the Honorable Minister and will be addressed as part of the ongoing restructuring of the public health sector.
It is hoped that the above responses answer the questions raised in your correspondence and we pray that you will reconsider your intention of withdrawing services with effect from after duty on the 29th of July 2020.
V SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND CHILD CARE: Dr G. Mhlanga ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND CHILD CARE Cc Hon Acting Minister of Health and Child Care: Prof. dr. A Murwira
Hon Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care: Dr J Mangwiro
Executive Director, Health Service Board: Ms R R Kaseke
Perrance Shiri was born Bigboy Samson Chikerema on 11 January 1955.
He joined ZANLA in 1973 and rose through the ranks to become a member of the High Command in 1977. At independence in 1980, he was attested into the Zimbabwe National Army and attained Brigadier rank in 1982.
He was transferred to Airforce of Zim as Air Commodore in 1984. In 1986, Cde Shiri was granted a place at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.
In 1992, Cde Shiri was appointed as the commander of the Air Force of Zim, taking over from Air Chief Marshal Josiah Tungamirai. Rt. Chief Air Marshal Shiri was in command of the Zimbabwean troops at the start of the Second Congo War.
By A Correspondent| Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono’s bail hearing that was set for Wednesday at the High Court has been postponed to tomorrow (Thursday) due to the absence of record of proceedings from the Harare Magistrates Court, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has said.
Chin’ono was denied last week Friday bail at the Harare Magistrates Court forcing his lawyers led by Beatrice Mtetwa to file a High Court appeal.
The hearing for the appeal had been set for today but had to be postponed to tomorrow.
“False start to bail hearing of Hopewell Chin’ono as record of proceedings from Magistrates Court hasn’t been brought to High Court,” ZLHR said.
Chin’ono was arrested on charges of inciting public violence.
By Problem Masau| As dusk dawns, 88-year-old Paulina Mapako sits on a bench outside her home preparing her evening meal in Katsande Village, Mutoko. Frail but still strong with a memory of an elephant, she narrates how her life have been transformed by Mathias and Mildred Madziyanzira who set up their gold milling company called MilMath Milling at Makosi Shops in 2012.
“They are God-sent”- said Gogo Mapako with a chuckle exposing her toothless mouth, “Ever since my husband died, they have been assisting me,”.
“As you can see I am preparing my evening dinner and the mealie meal and the cooking oil actually came from them,” she said.
Gogo Mapako revealed that the company was also constructing her house.
“They are constructing a new house for me,” she said. Gogo Mapako’s case is not in isolation.
Mathias and Mildred who rose to prominence through preaching the gospel know too well that helping orphans, widows and the needy is part of the Jesus’ great commission.
Gogo Mapako with a chuckle
“The company has identified the vulnerable in the community and is assisting with groceries. We have also identified children with school fees needs,” said the company’s general manager Nago.
“We are grateful to MilMath for sinking the boreholes in our area. Unlike in other areas, water is readily available here,” said Eureka Katsande as she fetches water in Katsande Village.
“As part of our social corporate responsibility we have sunk a total of 16 boreholes,” said Mathias Madziyanzira. Many youths who could have followed the great trek of going to South Africa or Harare have found themselves employed at the mill. “ Our policy is that for general labour, we employ the locals. Most youths have been employed here. We only hire outside if it’s skilled labour,” said Madziyanzira.
While most rural stores are developing into white elephants and ghost shops, Makosi shopping area deep down in Mutoko is flourishing and blossoming.
“This area is starting to enjoy the ripple effects of our investment here. When we first set up here, the area was deserted with no meaningful activities. Today it’s like a town and there is a beehive of activities,” said Mildred Madziyanzira.
A modern settlement is developing in the area as people troop for the gold rush found in the area.
We publish below the various reactions posted by Zimbabweans on the social media following the announcement that former Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri has died.
Very sorry & sad to hear this. Met him many times & discussed way forward in improving agriculture & food security, who was very receptive to many suggestions. Most sincere condolences & prayers .
The death of Perence Shiri is a lesson to the surviving looters that by looting resources for the country’s health sector they will equally be looting the breathe of life. Theirs included!#ZanupfMustGo
— Tererai Obey Sithole (@TereraiSithole) July 29, 2020
Sadly, a lot more of these people who actively participated in these atrocities remain in gvt; enjoying taxpayers money. Many will still depart without facing for these crimes, or at the very least, letting the nation know what really happened. Sad.
One thing I like about this Covid is that it came from China their friends, secondly they can’t run away from it …thirdly they can’t shoot anyone because of it …Let’s hope it wipes out the entire Zanu pf5
It's tragic that Perence Shiri has departed without facing justice over the gukurahundi atrocities he committed in Matabeleland & Midlands provinces in the 1980s; nor telling the truth about those atrocities to help heal the nation. May God rest Shiri's victims in eternal peace! pic.twitter.com/gi8WxuFopZ
HARDCORE-BYO@Mr_Sipho10: Then someone says ‘condolences’! Zimbanje.
Perrance Shiri was the commander of the 5th brigade regiment that killed more than 20 000 civilians in Matland and Midlands.He was never arrested but instead he was promoted for his ruthlessness .May his soul never know peace even in death and whoever worked with him must perish pic.twitter.com/CTDO6BKvtX
Tinashe Chikara @kor3sp0ndentTembo_1: My heart bleeds for what the people of lower gwelo and mateleland suffered at the hands of these war mongers. The worst part is the blatant denial by these criminals of it ever happening yet the graves and witnesses are there to prove it happened. We need closure and retribution
njabulo dhlamini@njabulodhlamin3: Sometimes God takes time to reply but today our prayers are answered
Mčuphié@blackpage91: commander of the 5th brigade that wreaked havoc in Matebeleland during the early 1980s Gukurahundi left more than 20 000 innocent civilians dead. It is alleged that he officially opened it by skinning a pregnant woman alive and pulled out the foetus…to hell with Perrence Shiri
Also please prioritize hospitals if we can lose a minister what more of our people .It clearly shows we have poor hospital equipment and please pay nurses and doctors .Fix the country Mr President . Implement your manifesto ,u promised new hospitals silindile.
No Man’s Land@sg_samli: At times we behave like one day we will not die, causing untold suffering to other people. I pray that when i die people dont celebrate my death like this.
Assalam Alaikum@Aalimmufa: May we and our future leaders never inherit this kind of legacy.
Danny Zembe@dannyzembe: Its regretable that he has gone to the grave without ever giving his version of the 5th brigade’s time in Matebeland. What I know is that they must be an explanation to the actions taken. Its important for insiders to give us insight into the psychology of the 5th brigade.
Beke Bk@beke_bk: Where can I get this documentary
The Military Junta is full of individuals with pre-existing conditions or what we call comorbidities in medical terms & COVID will not spare them. They must repent these people otherwise vanopera rumwe rumwe. The presidium itself has 100% candidates for Heroes Acre. Look at them
My greatest worry is that ths evil man who was a foot soldier of a evil system died without facing justice.Victims needed closure.May his soul never rest,he destroyed an entire generation whose lives wil nver be the same.Death is the only equaliser in life.Why dd he change name?
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube has officially signed a US$3,5 billion compensation agreement with dispossessed white farmers under land reform.
The compensation is not for the land itself.
GLOBAL COMPENSATION DEED Entered into by and between
REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE Represented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and
(1) COMMERCIAL FARMERS UNION OF ZIMBABWE Represent. by Andrew John Pascoe and FARMERS
(2) THE SOUTHERN Represented by Cedric Robert Wilde AFRICAN and
(3) THE VALUATION CONSORTIUM (PRIVATE) LIMITED Represented by Anthony Meld Purkis IN RESPECT OF THE COMPENSATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON AGRICULTURAL LAND COMPULSORILY ACQUIRED FOR RESETTLEMENT PURPOSES
Global Compensation Deed
The issue has been outstanding since two decades ago when the state authorised the violent grabbing of land from then-owners – white farmers.
The land reform programme soiled Zimbabwe’s relations with the Western international community with the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union and their allies imposing sanctions on the country’s ruling party, companies and individuals linked to it and senior officials.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police has notified its members that all vacations and off and leaves have been cancelled except for those on maternity leave.
The notice stated that police officers will be deployed on the 31st of July. Reads the notice:
ALL FORMS OF TIME OFFS AND OCC LEAVE AND VAC LEAVE ARE CANCER ED BY THE COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF POLICE CMM SERVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE ON MATERNITY LEAVE STOP ALL MEMBERS TO BRING THEIR OWN BEDDING ON THE 30TH DAY OF JULY 2020 (THURSDAY) PREPARED TO SLEEP AT STATION ON STANDBY FOR BRIEFING AND A DEPLOYMENT TO BE CARRIED OUT ON THE 31ST DAY OF JULY 2020 AT 0300 HRS.
The development comes at the backdrop of opposition anti-corruption protests slated for the 31st of this month.
The state has since discouraged the citizenry from participating in the protests which it says violate lockdown restrictions.
Some of the organisers, Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin’ono have been arrested while others have been put on the police’s long list of wanted people.
PORT ELIZABETH– The Sword of Damocles is all now but hanging over President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s head, amid reports that a Zanu PF politburo faction has ditched the president, and switched sides to privately endorse Vice President, Rtd General Constantino Chiwenga, to replace him as leader, Spotlight Zimbabwe, can exclusively reveal.
The Zanu PF politburo, is a 49-member highest decision making body, which formulates and decides policy for the former liberation movement.
According to government insiders who spoke to Spotlight Zimbabwe on Monday, the disclosures have sent cold shivers running down Mnangagwa’s spine, after he is said to have received intelligence last week that the “rebel politburo members”, are allegedly working with the military and plotting to recall him from office, or impeach him for alleged corruption involving billions of dollars, in a worst case scenario.
Ironically, the ruling party has called for an ordinary session of the Politburo today at the party headquarters in Harare. Without stating the agenda of the meeting, Acting Secretary for Information and Publicity, Patrick Chinamasa, in a statement yesterday said:“The Secretary for Administration, Cde Dr Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 29 July 2020 at the party headquarters commencing 1000hrs.”
“The president is in serious panic mode,” said a senior official working for one of the country’s security ministries via mobile phone. “Operatives assigned to furnish him with weekly intelligence briefings, told him last week that there was a fifth column of rebel politburo members inside the party, working with the army to set in motion his recall from office, with the option of impeaching him for corruption involving billions of dollars if he refuses to go.”
Another official close to the ministry of defence, said the ring leader of the rebel Zanu PF politburo members, is a former diplomat who also played an instrumental role in the ouster of former leader, President Robert Mugabe.
“The ring leader and mastermind of the rebel politburo members is a former diplomat. Many people underestimate him, but he’s about to bring Mnangagwa down, after they had a falling out related to business deals. This cunning politician has the ear of military commanders, and is also a closet inner circle of the VP himself. I can also confirm to your publication, that the other key politburo faction members aligned to his camp, are mostly old guard Zanu PF members and former cabinet ministers in Mugabe’s government.”
Spotlight Zimbabwe, reported early this month, that Mnangagwa is likely going to be viciously forced out of power, following revelations that he was resisting to step down through a dignified resignation, leaving the country’s security establishment with no choice but to overthrow him for failing to manage the economy.
Cabinet ministers who spoke to us in confidence last night, indicated that today’s Politburo meeting, was in fact called by Mnangagwa using the secretary for administration, as he is “determined to identify and flush out the suspected rebel elements” inside the party’s highest decision making organ.
“Off course the main agenda is to do with action and security measures to be taken against Friday’s protests. However it is also an opportunity for him, to identify and flush out the suspected rebel elements, during their deliberations if you ask me,” one of the ministers said.
Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume, who is at the forefront in calling for street protests against corruption on Friday, has claimed that organisers of the protest, are getting a lot of support from Zimbabweans who are members of Zanu PF, civil society, in business, in the police, and in the military.
Ngarivhume has since been arrested, and is facing charges of inciting public violence. The oppositon politician has been denied bail and remanded in custody to the 7th of August 2020.
Perence Shiri is a man who operated in the Gaza front line during the liberation war, this area was largely Mashonaland central, he became some sort of legend and hero in the Mashonaland Central province. It came as no surprise that he was appointed as political head of Mashonaland Central in ZANU PF. The people of Mashonaland Central were thrilled as their liberator and hero had been assigned to lead the province in an economic revolution. Little did they know that the man who had championed liberation had turned killer, greedy oppressor, and suppressor of the People’s freedoms. Mashonaland Central is most probably the only province were Perence Shiri was viewed as a liberator, his role in Gukurahundi made him public enemy in Matebeleland provinces and other areas. Mashonaland Central gave him the benefit of the doubt and welcomed him because of his role in the province during the liberation struggle.
The People of Mashonaland Central had faith and hope in Perence Shiri only to be left with egg on their faces, as their hero turned out to be a zero.
Perence Shiri has presided over the destabilisation of zanu pf in Mashonaland Central. He equally presided over the looting of resources in Mashonaland Central, disenfranchising bona fide sons and Daughters of Mashonaland Central.
A British Rhodesian sell out
Some have labeled Perence Shiri as a fake hero. They labeled Perence as a fake hero after the military commander behind the worst atrocities of Robert Mugabe’s rule in Zimbabwe was invited to study at the British Ministry of Defence’s most prestigious college.
The invitation came barely a year after Perence Shiri led the fifth Brigade a force that committed the most serious crimes against humanity in Zimbabwe.
Shiri commanded the 5th Brigade which carried out a reign of terror in Matabeleland during 1983 and 1984. The slaughter claimed thousands of civilian lives and thousands more were tortured. This brigade left a huge black dent on Mugabe’s rule, Perence Shiri single-handedly ruined Mugabe’s legacy through 5 Brigade and the orders he gave on the ground.
Despite this, in 1986, Shiri took up a place at the Royal College of Defence Studies in London, an institution that describes itself as “the senior Defence academic institution in the United Kingdom. The most prestigious institution of its kind in the world”. Comrades wondered why Perence Shiri took up the offer, some questioned if he had been loyal to the revolution or the British were finally rewarding their mole.
BMATT commander General Sir Edward Jones, who commanded the British Military Advisory and Training team from 1983 to 1985, tells spoke highly of Perence Shiri he said: “Undoubtedly he was the man who was going to be important in Zimbabwe and I think it was important that we should influence him positively in so far as we could.” This statement by a British General exposed Perence Shiri as a double agent who had been under British influence. Questions remain unànswered on who was selling out comrades during the liberation struggle, is it not British Rhodesian boy Perence??
The black history
Perence Shiri who is known as “Black Jesus” Shiri went on to command the Zimbabwe Airforce. He took over from Josiah Tungamirai who ran a professional and organised entity that could account for resources allocated. Perence Shiri on the other hand as air force commander was a law unto himself, accountable to no one not even General Zvinavashe.
Perence Shiri is single-handedly responsible for all the blemishes on Mugabe’s rule. Perence Shiri led the initial disorganized farm invasions by war veterans together with Chenjarai Hundzvi, which destroyed the breadbasket status of Zimbabwe. Many white farmers are said to have been killed during the period at the instruction of Shiri.
Perence Shiri’s operations were ruthless and chaotic that it comes as a shock to have him as a full minister in a new dispensation cabinet.
Eyewitnesses say During the campaign of terror in Matabeleland in 1983 and 1984 he was known as “Black Jesus”, Shiri selected women in Silobela village in 1983 to be taken away to be raped, and to another who saw Shiri beat an old man unconscious.
The same character was expressed in the violent and unruly land reform program that was directed by Perence Shiri.
2008 Perence Shiri commanded forces that tortured people for voting for Tsvangirai, Perence Shiri is single-handedly responsible for the violence that rocked Zimbabwe in 2008. Legend has it that he personally tortured Morgan Tsvangirai in the dark rooms of Harare central police station.
Jumbo mine The ruthless hand of Perence Shiri has been visible in the decay of Mashonaland Central.
Godfrey Tsenengamu has every right to be furious at the political leadership over the events at Jumbo mine. Young people have been digging for gold at Jumbo mine for years and there were no reports of machete gangs or violence at the mineral-rich mine.
Things changed when Perence Shiri invited outsiders who planted machete gangs at Jumbo mine so that Kazembe Kazembe as Minister Home Affairs would deploy a crack team and drive the sons of Mashonaland central out of Jumbo mine paving way for outsiders who only want to loot the resources of Mashonaland Central without giving opportunities to the Sons and Daughters of the province.
Godfrey Tsenengamu failed to deal with Perence Shiri and Kazembe Kazembe ad they were his political seniors in the province, he opted to hammer the beneficiary of their actions who happens to be Kuda Tagwirei.
Kenneth Musashi could have turned Jumbo mine into an opportunity hub for all sons and Daughters of Mashonaland Central but the greedy cabal of Perence Shiri, Kazembe Kazembe and Mai Mavhunga chose to empower Tagwirei ahead of Musanhi, Tsenengamu and sons of Mashonaland Central.
Land Farms are grabbed on a daily basis, Mashonaland Central war veterans have been kicked off their productive lands, the youth have displaced and even heavyweights such as Saviour Kasukuwere are under attack on their own farmland.
Perence Shiri is using his Ministry of Lands and Agriculture position to punish those who do not support his agenda and that of his lackey Kazembe Kazembe.
Mashonaland Central has lost all hope that Perence Shiri has the best interests of the province and its people at heart. The people of Mashonaland Central have tried to voice their displeasure. They have demonstrated their anger and frustration through boycotting ZANU PF programs in Mashonaland Central and at the National level.
The People refuse to participate in party programs when their sons and Daughters such as Chen Chimutengwende are sidelined from issues pertaining to the province, kingpins such as Kenneth Musanhi are treated as outsiders, Nicholas Goche is reduced to an ordinary party member when he has invested his time and life towards the development of Mashonaland Central.
Development Economic development in Mashonaland Central has slowed down drastically. The people now feel the need for proper representation at the National level. Mashonaland Central brings significant numbers and votes to the ZANU PF table, yet the province has been relegated to a third class citizen’s province. Perence Shiri, Kazembe Kazembe and Mai Mavhunga have failed to stand for and initiate development programs for the people of Mashonaland Central. They serve their own personal interests and advance the interests of outsiders such as Kuda Tagwirei at the expense of the sons and Daughters of Mashonaland Central.
Unity Perence Shiri as a liberator and father figure should be uniting the people of Mash Central. Unfortunately, he and Kazembe Kazembe have arrogantly cast aside those who are popular at grassroots level. They have incapacitated genuine war vets who have popular support, they imposed an unelectable provincial commissar upon the people, further driving a wedge between the people of Mashonaland Central.
Perence Shiri is a failed leader who needs to go to the Chitepo School of ideology to get a refresher course on the ideals of the struggle and tactics of “gutsaruzhinji”.
Perence Shiri and Kazembe Kazembe need to wake up and smell the coffee before ZANU PF loses all the support it has enjoyed since the days of Ushewokunze, Border Gezi, Elliot Manyika and Saviour Kasukuwere.
Mashonaland Central needs political intervention and it is time that the Presidium took the concerns of the people seriously. Mashonaland Central is an important province in the political and agricultural puzzle of the Zimbabwe matrix. Political negligence and indifference to the will of the people in Mashonaland Central is suicidal and will haunt this administration sooner rather than later.
Classified as Gukurahundi architects Perence Shiri and Robert Mugabe
Social media users in Matabeleland are unanimously celebrating the death of Agriculture Minister Perence Shiri who was the commander of the merciless Gukurahundi battalion in the mid eighties.
The battalion butchered way over 20 000 people in the region over a period of Four years to the 1987 unity agreement.
Prominent media personality and voice of the region Zenzele Ndebele is amongst the hundreds that have posted on social media expressing their relief on the death of the man who was known as Black Jesus during the dark days.
A lot of women were raped by soldiers under the command of this man, Lots of children were left orphans coz of this man. A lot of women are widows coz of this man. He was the face of Gukurahundi.His brutality was unmatched. Our morden day Hitler. He was merciless # Asakhe pic.twitter.com/57t19QX4mD
ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) Commissioner General Godwin Matanga says demonstrations which are being planned for July 31 are illegal and warned that law enforcement agents are ready to enforce the law.
The ZRP chief urged Zimbabweans to disregard the anti-government protests saying they are illegal and not in line with COVID-19 regulations announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“My advice on the so called demos is that people should stay safe at their homes and observe all COVID-19 measures, the police will be ready to deal with anyone found breaching the regulations,” Commissioner General Matanga said.
Turning to enforcing Covid-19 regulations, the ZRP chief assured the public that ZUPCO has been engaged to provide transport in line with the current dusk-to-dawn curfew.
“For people who will be leaving their workplace after 15:00 hours, and find it difficult to secure transport, we are engaging ZUPCO so that enough buses are availed to ferry people home on time to avoid being caught during curfew times,” he said
The call for the public to desist from engaging in illegal demonstrations comes as the police are clamping down on perceived organisers of the demonstration.
ZBC have just announced that their Pocketshill studio has recorded a case of Covid-19 and will be disrupted for disinfection.
Below is the broadcaster’s notice on Twitter this morning.
LATEST: ZBC wishes to advise that a positive #Covid-19 case has been confirmed at Pockets Hill. @MoHCCZim guidance on contact tracing, disinfection and testing being implemented. Visitors not allowed until further notice and normal programming will also be affected. @nickmangwana
Tendai Biti, the MDC co-vice president has responded to Zanu PF acting spokesperson, Patrick Chinamasa who early this week accused him of biting the hand that fed him by continuously fighting against the ZANU PF government.
At a press conference on Monday, Chinamasa took an unprecedented swipe at Biti accusing him of being a puppet of the West.
“I have respect for him (Biti) for his intellectual prowess. Let me say that he is very clever,” Chinamasa said.
“But my disappointment is that he uses money that Zanu PF used to educate him to undermine the revolution to be a puppet and often I wonder how such an intelligent person cannot realise that he is being duped by his handlers. It is a pity.”
However, Biti hit back at Chinamasa, describing the former justice minister as a failed, dangerous Zanu PF appendage.
“Patrick Chinamasa is a failed but dangerous Zanu PF appendage. He is a sadistic, ruthless and cunning apparatchik without any restraint or limits,” he said.
“Part of his insane zeal comes from the fact that he did not participate in the liberation struggle, was hiding in a law firm. We reject the insane and unbalanced remarks of Chinamasa, a political ramshackle that needs to retire.”
I am deeply saddened to inform the Nation of the death of the Minister of Agriculture, Air Chief Marshall (rtd) Perrance Shiri, a long time friend and colleague. Cde Shiri was a true patriot, who devoted his life to the liberation, independence and service of his country. May his soul rest in peace.
…Mnangagwa announced saying: “I am deeply saddened to inform the Nation of the death of the Minister of Agriculture, Air Chief Marshall (rtd) Perrance Shiri, a long time friend and colleague….
Perrance Shiri
I’m gutted to just receive news that Rtd. Air Marshal, Hon. Perrence Shiri popularly known as “Gudo Guru” during the liberation war, is no more. A true nationalist & Commander par excellence, the late Shiri was one of the hard working & effective members of Cabinet. MHDSRIEP ??
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 29, 2020
Watch video downloading below.
By A Correspondent | Amid the Nyuchi sensation that has gripped the country, the general who has killed thousands of innocent Zimbabweans, Perrance Shiri has died.
The development comes barely 2 days after his driver passed away from COVID-19.
He briefly communicated with ZimEye last night and then his phone suddenly went offline at 2.34am.
The report was confirmed by several nepirced including the Information Secretary Nick Mangwana and the Norton MP Temba Mliswa, the latter who announced saying:
“I’m gutted to just receive news that Rtd. Air Marshal, Hon. Perrence Shiri popularly known as “Gudo Guru” during the liberation war, is no more.
“A true nationalist & Commander par excellence, the late Shiri was one of the hard working & effective members of Cabinet. MHDSRIEP. “
Nick Mangwana tweeted saying, he was a legend.
Meanwhile Mnangagwa announced saying: “I am deeply saddened to inform the Nation of the death of the Minister of Agriculture, Air Chief Marshall (rtd) Perrance Shiri, a long time friend and colleague.
“Cde Shiri was a true patriot, who devoted his life to the liberation, independence and service of his country. MHRIP”
Among their grievances was a demand that they be given adequate protective equipment (PPE) in the face of rising numbers of patients with the coronavirus. The lack of PPE has seen many health care workers testing positive. The doctors also demanded that their be paid in USD dollars.
While the government has sought to explain away some of these grievances the demand to be paid in USD dollars was rejected outright.
We publish below the full response by goverment:
The Executive, Senior Hospital Doctors Association
Attention: Dr S Nyaguse – Chiurunge Ref: Ministry of Health and Child Care P 0 Box CY1122 Causeway HARARE RE: NOTICE TO WITHDRAW FROM OFFERING SERVICES Reference is made to your letter dated 14 July 2020 addressed to the Acting Honourable Minister with regards to the above and a meeting held on the 27th of July 2020 to discuss the issues raised in your letter.
Below is the detailed response of the issues which you raised:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); It is noted that the demand for PPE is continuing to rise in sync with the rising number of Covid-19 cases. The procurement and distribution of PPE is a continuous process and not an event as the consumption rate is very high. PPE is the biggest cost driver in the prevention and containment of COVID-19. While efforts are in progress to expand local production of some of the items which will reduce pressure on resources required to import other products that are not produced locally, the Ministry is currently working with NatPharm to procure additional PPE and expeditiously distribute it to all stations. The latest PPE stock status shows that we have just over a month’s supply of PPE at the current usage rate.
As at 28 July 2020, a total of 253 health workers including student nurses had tested positive for COVID-19. The Pharmacy Directorate is finalizing the quantification of PPE requirements for submission to the Resource Mobilization Committee of the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19. Please find attached the stock status as at 27 July 2020.
COVID-19 Testing of hospital inpatients Testing continues to be a challenge. Health Workers are struggling to provide services to clients without COVID-19 tests being carried out in the face of inadequate PPE. There has been an increase in poor outcomes in all departments as clients go unattended as a result of limited testing capacity. The Ministry has since written to all public and private institutions directing them to set up patients under investigation units (PUI Units) to facilitate timely attendance to patients seeking care.
Whilst COVID-19 testing has been decentralized, challenges continue to be faced on availability of some consumables such as Gene X-pert cartridges which are scarce on the international market. Donations of PCR testing kits were also received but our testing capacity is limited by the shortage of viral transport media VTM and swabs among other items which include boosting human resources. In that reign the Ministry is planning to recruit laboratory trained staff.
Medicines, medical sundries and medical equipment The availability of drugs, medical products and equipment is a direct function of the availability of forex, as over 90% of medicines are imported. Collectively we have not demonstrated capacity to produce our own drugs and equipment locally the high import bill for medicines and medical products. Covid-19 derailed the procurement processes that were in progress as resources had to be diverted to the pandemic. The new Ministry realigned staff is hitting the ground running to:
a. Establish requirements and priorities;
b. Establish the available resources both in local and forex; and
c. Initiate the procurement processes and follow up on existing commitments.
Payment of salaries in USD The Health Service Board with the guidance of the Acting Hon Minister have made submissions to Treasury to review Health Worker Packages. However, the Government is not in a position to pay salaries in USD. Full US dollarization of the economy is a tried, tested and failed concept. By February 2018 the country was dry of the US Dollar with citizens sleeping at the banks to withdraw their deposits to no avail. Foreigners also descended on Zimbabwe in search of the easily accessible US Dollars in addition to locals also externalizing their US Dollar reserves. There is absolutely nothing to stop that from happening again. Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result is Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity. We have to be innovative and explore other ways of resolving these challenges.
a. The US Dollars is American currency printed by the Federal Reserve and is not printed for free for other countries; b. Other countries can only access the USD through international trade of goods and services;
c. The USD reserves generated by the Zimbabwean economy are not adequate to sustain import obligations such as fuel, food because of droughts and natural disasters, electrical power following droughts resulting in reduced generation, medicines and medical products aggravated by Covid-19, industrial and agricultural machinery just to mention a few. Diverting the limited USD forex to paying salaries is suicidal for the economy and social services provision.
d. Printing the ZWL$ without consideration to the economic fundamentals is inflationary and Zimbabweans are experiencing the horrors of a second wave of hyperinflation.
A measured approach in improving salaries and buying power of the currency is recommended as evidenced by some of the efforts which include the under listed: i) The Government reviewed salaries by 5o% and paid a USD 75 denominated civil services Nostro card to Health Workers. ii) A request for an upward review of the COVID-19 Risk Allowances was submitted to Treasury. (The Health Workers had requested for 400, 500 and 600 USD equivalent.) iii) Use of arbitration to address sticky salary issues.
Payment of Clinical Allowances The payment of allowances to University of Zimbabwe Consultants was approved in principle. To this end, the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has been processing payments pegged at an agreed RTGS3,50o per consultant per month. Payments for March 2020 were made on the 3. of April 2020, whilst payments for April 2020 were made on the 3rd of June 2020 with payments for May and June having been processed on the 17th of July 2020. Whilst noting the payments, concern was raised on having Parirenyatwa meet the bill noting that the revenues inflows have declined since the onset of COVID-19.
Other emerging issues
a. Donor funded allowances from the Health Development Fund The HDF has set aside a budget of USD2 million to cover all Health Workers. Guided by presence at work this might cover only up to two months. The Ministry has however opted for this amount to be used for procurement of PPE. b. Dual employment for University of Zimbabwe Consultants Concern raised by UZ-CHS over inconsistencies on the dual employment is noted. This issue has since been brought to the attention of the Honorable Minister and will be addressed as part of the ongoing restructuring of the public health sector. It is hoped that the above responses answer the questions raised in your correspondence and we pray that you will reconsider your intention of withdrawing services with effect from after duty on the 29th of July 2020.
Signed SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND CHILD CARE
Dr G. Mhlanga ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND CHILD CARE Cc Hon Acting Minister of Health and Child Care: Prof. dr. A Murwira Hon Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care: Dr J Mangwiro Executive Director, Health Service Board: Ms R R Kaseke
A 27-year-old Gweru man has been arrested for allegedly fatally assaulting his 16-year-old sister using a belt and a cord after accusing her of being promiscuous.
At one time, Terrence Tarisai of Clifton Park in Gweru, the court heard, took a break from assaulting his sister Tryphine when she asked for water since she was feeling weak.
After she drank the water, Tarisai allegedly continued to assault her leading to her death.
This was heard when Tarisai appeared before Gweru magistrate Mr Thomas Gurajena facing one count of murder.
He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to August 7.
Mr Gurajena advised him to apply for bail at the High Court. It is the State case that last week on Thursday at around midday in Clifton Park, Tarisai allegedly assaulted his sister Tryphine all over the body using a belt and a cord.
He was accusing his sister of promiscuity.
After the assault, the deceased complained that she was feeling cold and was put on a bed where she lay down. At around 3PM, it was discovered that she had died and a report was made to the police leading to Tarisai’s arrest.
The deceased sustained bruises on her back, arms and legs as a result of the assault by her brother.
Since the closure of Parliament on Monday, two Members of Parliament, Pretence Shiri of ZANU PF and Masango Matambanadzo, popularly known as The Blackman, of National Patriotic Front have died.
Lands and Agriculture minister Shiri died this morning. The development was announced by Norton legislator (independent) Temba Mliswa on social media.
Shiri missed cabinet on Tuesday with reports suggesting that he had been admitted to a local hospital after his driver had died of the coronavirus.
Mliswa posted on Twitter:
I’m gutted to just receive news that Rtd. Air Marshal, Hon. Perrence Shiri popularly known as “Gudo Guru” during the liberation war, is no more. A true nationalist & Commander par excellence, the late Shiri was one of the hard working & effective members of Cabinet. MHDSRIEP
*Rtd. Chief Air Marshal Shiri, gone to join his late son Tito….. my sincerest condolences
Mliswa, however, did not reveal the cause of death although it is suspected that he succumbed to the novel virus.
His death follows the suspension of Parliament on Monday after two legislators tested positive for the coronavirus.
Blackman, who was popular for philanthropic work and a practical hands-on approach to empower residents in Kwekwe, died on Tuesday morning at his Amaveni home.
A family spokesperson, Ms Angela Nyathi confirmed Blackman’s death.
“He passed on early this morning,” she said before emotions got the better of her and broke down.
Blackman had been unwell for some time and was in December last year flown to China on a medical emergency due to suspected food poisoning.
Blackman who was popular for addressing the needs of vendors, flea marketers and the underprivileged, will be remembered for walking across town listening to people’s concerns.
Mr Paul Chomukona, an Amaveni resident, said Backman was a humble legislator who would spend nights at residents’ funeral wakes.
“Blackman was a people’s person. He knew that his power was within the people, He would listen to every concern, even those raised by the least regarded person. So far, he is the only MP I know who could spend the whole night with mourners at a funeral wake,” said Mr Chomukona.
He said the late MP was a pillar of strength and was always available whenever needed.
Zimbabwe on Tuesday 28 July recorded four (4) coronavirus related deaths bringing the total number of fatalities to forty (40).
The development was announced by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in a statement that observed that the quartet was from Manicaland, Bulawayo and Mashonaland East provinces.
The deceased were three males, 2 aged 40 and one aged 59 and a female aged 50.
Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 2817 after 113 new cases were recorded. Of the new cases, 112 are local while the remainder is a returnee from South Africa.
Recoveries are at 604 after 62 new recoveries were recorded.
A Mberengwa woman died on the spot after her ex-lover allegedly struck her with a pickaxe on the head following a misunderstanding over the upkeep of their child.
Precious Zhou (39) died last Friday following the aggressive attack by Washington Ndlela (45) of Damsite Village under Chief Bvute.
Midlands Police Spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Joel Goko confirmed the incident.
“A 45-year-old man from Mberengwa struck his ex-lover once with a pick in the head and she died on the spot,” said Asst Inspector Goko.
He said Zhou met Ndlela and the two went to her home. “An argument arose about the upkeep of their child. Ndlela took a pick and struck Zhou once on the head and she died on the spot. Ndlela then fled the scene,” said Asst Inspector Goko.
He said Zhou’s friend, Precious Mavhundutse, found the body lying in a pool of blood.
The untimely death of Kwekwe Central Constituency legislator Mr Masango Matambanadzo, popularly known as Blackman, has not only left residents shell shocked but poorer.
Blackman, who was popular for philanthropic work and a practical hands-on approach to empower residents in Kwekwe, died on Tuesday morning at his Amaveni home.
A family spokesperson, Ms Angela Nyathi confirmed Blackman’s death.
“He passed on early this morning,” she said before emotions got the better of her and broke down.
Blackman had been unwell for some time and was in December last year flown to China on a medical emergency due to suspected food poisoning.
He was in his second term as legislator for the constituency he first won in 2013 after thumping MDC Alliance’s Blessing Chebundo.
Blackman who was popular for addressing the needs of vendors, flea marketers and the underprivileged, will be remembered for walking across town listening to people’s concerns.
Mr Paul Chomukona, an Amaveni resident, said Backman was a humble legislator who would spend nights at residents’ funeral wakes.
“Blackman was a people’s person. He knew that his power was within the people, He would listen to every concern, even those raised by the least regarded person. So far, he is the only MP I know who could spend the whole night with mourners at a funeral wake,” said Mr Chomukona.
He said the late MP was a pillar of strength and was always available whenever needed.
Mrs Evelyne Gazimbi a flea market operator described Blackman as a man of action.
“I remember at one time when we were having problems with council over operational licences, we rushed to him and he called the resident Minister there and then. He did not want issues that would remain hanging. As flea market operators we have lost a shield, one we would always rush to in times of need,” she said.
Kwekwe Residents and Ratepayers Association secretary Mr Alex Homela also described the late Matambanadzo as one who served Kwekwe with all due diligence.
“He knew no political affiliation when it came to serving the people of Kwekwe. He would mix with everyone and help residents without looking at political background,” said Mr Homela.
He said Matambanadzo was a philanthropist even before he became legislator.
“He started philanthropy work way back when he was still a cameraman. He would save a few dollars and mobilise food for the underprivileged. This work grew even bigger when he was elected into office. We say go well and you have played your part,” he said.
Matambanadzo, a free-spirited legislator, made his name during his time in the ruling party when he won the Kwekwe Central constituency in 2013.
After crossing the floor from Zanu-PF to join the National Patriotic Front, Matambanadzo remained popular in his constituency and it was no shock that he retained the seat in the 2018 harmonised elections becoming the only NPF legislator in the house of assembly.
He once made headlines when he addressed a rally while on the shoulders of one of his aides for close to 30 minutes, proving how popular he was within the populace.
During his tenure, Blackman helped revitalise the constituency through a number of projects.
He also facilitated the purchase of an ambulance that was donated to Kwekwe General Hospital.
His Principal Director, Mr Agritty Dube said while they were not sure what killed Blackman, they strongly suspect food poisoning.
He said Blackman will be buried in Hurungwe tomorrow.
“I have been in liaison with the family members and there is going to be a body viewing at Amaveni Stadium on Wednesday. The body will then be ferried to his farm where there will be an overnight vigil before being taken to Hurungwe for burial,” said Mr Dube.
I’m gutted to just receive news that Rtd. Air Marshal, Hon. Perrence Shiri popularly known as “Gudo Guru” during the liberation war, is no more. A true nationalist & Commander par excellence, the late Shiri was one of the hard working & effective members of Cabinet. MHDSRIEP ??
— Sabhuku Temba P. Mliswa (@TembaMliswa) July 29, 2020
Watch video downloading below.
By A Correspondent | Amid the Nyuchi sensation that has gripped the country, the general who has killed thousands of innocent Zimbabweans, Perrance Shiri has reportedly died.
The report comes barely 2 days after his driver passed away from COVID-19.
He briefly communicated with ZimEye last night and then his phone suddenly went offline at 2.34am.
The report was confirmed by the Norton MP Temba Mliswa who announced saying:
I’m gutted to just receive news that Rtd. Air Marshal, Hon. Perrence Shiri popularly known as “Gudo Guru” during the liberation war, is no more. A true nationalist & Commander par excellence, the late Shiri was one of the hard working & effective members of Cabinet. MHDSRIEP
The English Premiership relegation drama, which appeared to have ended on Sunday, could be fought in the boardroom with Bournemouth now considering legal action against Hawk-Eye.
The Cherries finished 18th, on the table, one place and one point below Aston Villa.
However, the failure by Hawk-Eye technology, during the first match of Project Restart between Villa and Sheffield United, when the Blades were denied what appeared to be a legitimate goal, could become a huge legal issue.
Villa keeper Orjan Nyland carried the ball across the line after Oliver Norwood’s cross but play carried on, without a goal being awarded to the Blades.
Referee Michael Oliver received no indication, on his watch or in his earpiece, the ball was over the line and waved play on with the match finishing goalless.
Had the goal been given, and Villa lost that match, with the remainder of the season playing out identically, Bournemouth would have stayed up at Villa’s expense on goal difference.
Bournemouth would have survived relegation after their 3-1 win over Everton on the final day of the season.
Hawk-Eye issued an apology, saying it was the first time their system had failed in over 9 000 matches.
“During the first half of Aston Villa vs Sheffield United match at Villa Park, there was a goal-line incident where the ball was carried over the line,’’ the company said.
“The match officials did not receive a signal to the watch nor earpiece as per the Goal Decision System (GDS) protocol.
“The seven cameras located in the stands around the goal area were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender, and goalpost.
“This level of occlusion has never been seen before in over 9 000 matches that the Hawk-Eye goal line technology system has been in operation.
“Hawk-Eye unreservedly apologises to the Premier League, Sheffield United, and everyone affected by this incident.”
By A Correspondent | Amid the Nyuchi sensation that has gripped the country, the general who has killed thousands of innocent Zimbabweans, Perrance Shiri has reportedly died.
The report comes barely 2 days after his driver passed away from COVID-19.
He briefly communicated with ZimEye last night and then his phone suddenly went offline at 2.34am.
The report was confirmed by the Norton MP Temba Mliswa who announced saying:
I’m gutted to just receive news that Rtd. Air Marshal, Hon. Perrence Shiri popularly known as “Gudo Guru” during the liberation war, is no more. A true nationalist & Commander par excellence, the late Shiri was one of the hard working & effective members of Cabinet. MHDSRIEP
Thabani Mpofu is the Director of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit
Extensive land fraud involving councillors and council executives is now suspected to be widespread and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit (SACU) is spearheading a nationwide probe on the main urban councils to arrest and prosecute all corrupt elements.
The head of SACU Mr Thabani Mpofu said the illegal land deals recently unearthed in Harare were not peculiar to the capital city alone. Preliminary reports show that probable corruption was also rife in other cities like Mutare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Masvingo.
Mr Mpofu said SACU will work with other investigating arms, the police and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), to investigate the cases.
“There is a comprehensive investigation into massive corrupt land allocations in most urban cities. We received information that the malpractices noted in the recent Harare land scandal, are also happening in other major urban centres like Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and Gweru.
“The emerging thread shows that councillors are working with executive council officials to corruptly parcel out or allocate themselves tracts of land. To that end, SACU and all State institutions involved in fighting corruption are now seized with the investigations. There will be no sacred cows. Those caught on the wrong side of the law will be prosecuted without fear or favour,” he said.
SACU was appointed by President Mnangagwa in 2018 to collaborate with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and other such institutions in the fight against corruption.
It is also responsible for assisting ZACC and other investigative agencies of the State in the perusal and consideration of corruption dockets, subject to the issuance of authority to prosecute by the Prosecutor General.
It also prosecutes corruption cases referred to the National Prosecuting Authority by investigative agencies.
The overall objectives of the unit are to improve efficiency in the fight against all forms of corruption and to strengthen and improve the effectiveness of the national mechanisms for the prevention and fight against corruption in accordance with the anti-corruption strategy.
Over a dozen Harare City Council officials, including MDC Alliance Mayor Herbert Gomba, human resources and former housing director Matthew Marara, the city’s town planner Samuel Nyabeze and surveyor Munyaradzi Bowa have been arrested over the $1 million Kuwadzana stands scandal and the efforts to cover up the illegal deal.
Some were arrested for corrupt land deals done in other parts of Harare.
But their arrest could just be a tip of the iceberg of the rot in MDC Alliance run councils countrywide that have been invaded by the party heavyweights to finance their fancy lives, sponsor subversion as well as set a war chest for the 2023 elections.
Top police officers — an Assistant Commissioner and a Superintendent — were arrested together with two junior officers for allegedly covering up for the scandal in their investigations. A chief public prosecutor in the National Prosecuting Authority was also arrested over the scandal after being allocated a stand, allegedly as a pay-off.
Investigations are still ongoing in Harare with indications that more could be arrested over the saga.
Several other politicians have been implicated in the Harare City Council corruption saga, most being members of the opposition MDC-A, which is running the affairs of Harare.
They were allocated stands without following the proper procedure.
As part of the corruption, a process that could take weeks or months to complete would be done in less than two hours, while council resolutions could be fast-tracked to ensure those who were sold the residential stands, often jumped the housing waiting list and had their residential stands in a matter of hours.
Residents in all Harare suburbs, have been complaining for several years that public open spaces on council land, and in particular wetlands, are suddenly rezoned for development without any of the required planning procedures and that a developer suddenly appears. Even if the rezoning was justified, questions arise over how a particular developer for council land is chosen, or allowed in without any competitive bidding.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s former subsidiary, Fiscorp, which handled the Farm Mechanisation Programme between 2007 and 2008, has challenged former legislator, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti and self-exiled former Cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere, to prove that they repaid the loans through which they received equipment under the scheme.
It also emerged that Mr Kasukuwere got an assortment of farm implements and not just two tractors that he claimed to have paid for.
This comes as former RBZ Governor, Dr Gideon Gono, tried to set the record straight saying the programme was not corrupt.
Responding to earlier claims by United Kingdom-based commentator, Dr Alex Magaisa, Dr Gono said last week that the programme, which was carried out during a difficult period, started as a loan and was later changed to a grant after the then Government of National Unity had approved the switch.
And yesterday, former Fiscorp chief executive Mathews Kunaka said no beneficiary was invoiced to repay the equipment and challenged Kasukuwere and Bhasikiti to provide details showing their repayments.
He said Fiscorp never issued invoices and beneficiaries never knew the amount they owed, but only signed for delivery of the equipment.
Kunaka’s response followed claims by Bhasikiti and Kasukuwere, who on Twitter said they repaid their loans.
Commenting on his Twitter handle last week, Bhasikiti said; “Those who are saying farm mechanisation was for free are telling blatant lies. I paid $10 billion for mine, which was worked as the United States dollar equivalent then.”
On his Twitter handle, Kasukuwere said: “I think the RBZ should invoice and collect the money. These are public funds and no one should put up useless defence for looting. I paid for the two tractors that I got and I am happy to receive an invoice from the RBZ if I owe them anything.”
In an interview yesterday, Kunaka said he was not aware of any payment that could have been made for the farm mechanisation, as no valuation had been done at the time of distribution.
He said claims by Kasukuwere to have repaid his loan through a former Fiscorp staffer, Moses Chundu, were preposterous since he was a low ranking official, who served the firm briefly before joining the Office of the then Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, during the inclusive Government.
“I am keen to establish how such payments were made because I am not aware of any,” said Kunaka.
“If they did, they must produce invoice against which payment was made, we will also be keen to see the receipts.
“We would want to know how were the payments made. Was it through a bank transfer, if so, we would want to know the bank and account number into which payment went and date of payment.”
Kunaka said it was strange for one to say payment was made when Fiscorp had not prepared invoices.
The Herald has also seen correspondences from the then Fiscorp general manager, Mrs Winnie Mushipe, professing ignorance about claims by the two politicians that they repaid their loans.
It also emerged that the equipment that Bhasikiti received was worth US$43 496 and he should have paid $217,5 trillion and not $10 billion given the prevailing exchange rate at the time.
Contrary to Kasukuwere’s claims that he paid for his two tractors, The Herald is reliably informed that he got an assortment of farm equipment valued at US$159 208.
Some of the implements Kasukuwere got included a disc harrow T12 (US$13 253), Massey Ferguson tractor (US$42 450), Disc plough (US$8 700), a four-wheel drive tractor (US$24 000), Sprayer Gaspardo (US$16 118), Boom sprayer (US$5 967), Generator 30 KVA (US$5 200), Three disc plough CMEC US$8 200 and a Case tractor (US$35 320.)
Kasukuwere’s brothers also took an array of farm implements.
Stan Kasukuwere got farm implements worth US$423 246.
The implements Stan got included two-disc harrow (US$20 000), a combine harvester (US$206 892), a tractor SAME (US$38 000), another tractor (US$25 405) and another tractor (US$26 654).
He also got a fertiliser spreader (US$16 118) and two seed drill (US$20 000.)
Kasukuwere’s other brother, Tichaona, got equipment worth US$55 291, including a New Holland tractor, two disc harrows and a generator.
Tongai Kasukuwere, another brother of his, got farm implements to the tune of US$396 539, which included six row planter, boom sprayer, combine harvesters, integral seed drill, SAME Explorer tractor, three motor bikes, John Deere wheat head, maize head, Baine standard disc harrow, fertiliser spreader among others.
Kasukuwere’s other brother, Dickson Mafios, got equipment to the tune of US$41 020.
In his clarification last week, Dr Gono said the RBZ Debt Assumption Act did not contain the $200 million under farm mechanisation.
LONDON. — The English Premiership relegation drama, which appeared to have ended on Sunday, could be fought in the boardroom with Bournemouth now considering legal action against Hawk-Eye.
The Cherries finished 18th, on the table, one place and one point below Aston Villa.
However, the failure by Hawk-Eye technology, during the first match of Project Restart between Villa and Sheffield United, when the Blades were denied what appeared to be a legitimate goal, could become a huge legal issue.
Villa keeper Orjan Nyland carried the ball across the line after Oliver Norwood’s cross but play carried on, without a goal being awarded to the Blades.
Referee Michael Oliver received no indication, on his watch or in his earpiece, the ball was over the line and waved play on with the match finishing goalless.
Had the goal been given, and Villa lost that match, with the remainder of the season playing out identically, Bournemouth would have stayed up at Villa’s expense on goal difference.
Bournemouth would have survived relegation after their 3-1 win over Everton on the final day of the season.
Hawk-Eye issued an apology, saying it was the first time their system had failed in over 9 000 matches.
“During the first half of Aston Villa vs Sheffield United match at Villa Park, there was a goal-line incident where the ball was carried over the line,’’ the company said.
“The match officials did not receive a signal to the watch nor earpiece as per the Goal Decision System (GDS) protocol.
“The seven cameras located in the stands around the goal area were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender, and goalpost.
“This level of occlusion has never been seen before in over 9 000 matches that the Hawk-Eye goal line technology system has been in operation.
“Hawk-Eye unreservedly apologises to the Premier League, Sheffield United, and everyone affected by this incident.”
Now, according to talkSPORT, Bournemouth directors will “discuss taking legal action’’ against the firm after finishing in the bottom three. Bournemouth won 3-1 against Everton, on the final day of the season.
Thomas Horton of Football Law, speaking to Football London after the incident, had said Sheffield United could launch legal action, in the event they were denied European football, by the outcome of that match.
“In order for it to even be considered, it would have to come to a point where Sheffield United have missed out on a UEFA club competition position in the league, or even that they have not finished as high up the league as they could have done, because of the two points they’ve missed out on had they won 1-0 against Aston Villa,’’ said Horton-The Herald
CBZ has joined the list of companies that have recorded COVID-19 positive cases and temporarily halted operations.
CBZ reportedly closed 7 Branches after 35 employees tested positive for COVID-19.
This was revealed the Bank’s CEO Blessing Mudavanhu who said:
To date out of over 900 tests conducted, regrettably a total of 35 of our staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.
One of our staff members sadly passed away on Sunday 26 July 2020, having also tested positive.
We anticipate opening of these Branches and offices within 48–72 hours for continued business thereafter According to the publication here are the 7 branches that have been closed:
Selous Avenue
Southerton
Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
Highfield
Samora Machel Avenue
Westgate
Robert Mugabe Avenue CBZ which is the country’s largest banks in terms of branches has 50 branches countrywide-Newzwire
ZIMRIGHTS FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST MR. PATRICK CHINAMASA’S HATE SPEECH AND INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE 28 JULY 2020
Today, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has lodged a complaint with the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) as well as the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) against the hate speech by Acting ZANU PF Spokesperson Mr. Patrick Chinamasa.
In a communication to the two independent commissions, ZimRights has noted that hate speech and incitement to commit violence is prohibited by the laws of Zimbabwe and in violation of fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
By inciting his supporters to commit violence against anti-corruption protestors, Mr. Chinamasa is putting the lives of many Zimbabweans in danger.
ZimRights has noted that in the history of Zimbabwe, when leaders propagate hate speech, violence follows.
ZimRights is urging the ZHRC and the NPRC to investigate the statements by Mr. Chinamasa and have the law take its course.
THERE will be no public gatherings during the Heroes Day and Zimbabwe Defence Forces Day holidays and commemorations will be held online to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The country is set to commemorate Heroes and Defence Forces Day on August 10 and August 11. Traditionally, the public gathers at national and provincial level to commemorate the two significant days to honour the country’s heroes as well as recognise the work done by the Defence Forces in protecting the nation.
However, Covid-19 which is rapidly spreading in the country has seen Government imposing a national lockdown to contain the virus.
Cabinet yesterday approved that public gatherings for Heroes and Defence Forces Days be suspended as the country did with the Independence Day commemorations in April.
In April, President Mnangagwa delivered a televised Independence Day message and there were no public gatherings.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa during the 26th post-Cabinet briefing yesterday said the days will be observed virtually.
She said Heroes Day commemorations will be held under the theme “remembering our heroes” while Defence Forces Day will run under the theme “ZDF: Celebrating 40 years of excellent service to the people”.
“The virtual celebrations will take place over a period of two (2) weeks and covered by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC)-TV, which will extensively feature the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s exploits, community assistance projects and the Defence Forces Medical Outreach Programme,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Meanwhile, Cabinet also approved a national fabric which is set to be launched on 10 August.
“On a related matter, Cabinet approved the national fabric for Virtual launching on 10 August, 2020.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development presented the fabric, which was arrived at through an extensive consultative process,” the Minister said- Chronicle
A source has told ZimEye, there is growing belief that the Auxillia Mnangagwa accident yesterday was an attack against her by members of a faction that is not happy with her husband, Emmerson's leadership. They said this without providing proof to support[port their claim.
Mwenezi East MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Chairman George Makonzo today was illegally arrested by ZRP Mwenezi on capricious allegations that he posted a tweet calling for citizens to protest against corruption on 31 July.
Makonzo’s arrest add up to a high number of MDC Alliance supporters who have illegally rounded up by the panic stricken regime ahead of 31 July protests.
It is very clear that the illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa regime do not respect freedom of expression nor freedom of opinion.
In this information superhighway era, it will be injustice to this generation and generations to come for us to keep tight lipped while our basic rights are trampled upon.
The regime must know that 31 July is a reality and we never ever relent until real criminals stealing the national cake on our behalf go!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
The ZRP cop who led the arrest of journalist Hopewell Chinono, Smart Matongo, is a long time AFM church member, ZimEye has established. pic.twitter.com/yYN5JfjhpT
Farai Dziva|Suspected state security agents are trailing MDC Alliance members in the ancient city of Masvingo as political tension rises before July 31 protests.
Soldiers are also intimidating residents of the ancient city.On Monday troops from 41 brigade marched along the streets of Mucheke Suburb in a move meant to intimidate residents- according to political observers.
On Tuesday morning soldiers marched along the streets of Rujeko Suburb.
According to residents of the city of Masvingo, the soldiers marched without wearing masks and they did not observe the recommended “social distancing.”
Below is a statement from the MDC Alliance :
Today Masvingo security personnel visited the houses of Masvingo urban MDC Alliance district chair Mr Murangamwa Chanyau and Masvingo urban district organ Mr Peacemaker Mapope.
Earlier today, the security personnel visited MDC Alliance national youth organizer Mr Godfrey Kuraone’s residence in Masvingo.
By Farai D Hove | The Minister of Agriculture, Perrance Shiri has been hospitalised amid COVID fears after his personal driver collapsed and died from the disease.
Minister Shiri briefly responded to ZimEye late Tuesday evening from his hospital bed.
Zimbabwe has 2,704 confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and 36 deaths. The Zimbabwean government since declared the COVID-19 crisis a “national disaster” on Friday, March 27, a move allowing it to commandeer State resources towards fighting COVID-19, to use emergency regulations, and to deploy personnel for the same services.
Emmerson Mnangagwa;s administration began a nationwide lockdown on March 30, which was slightly eased and extended indefinitely on May 16. The measure is intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 and requires public activities to cease and informal markets to close, with exceptions for certain food and fuel vendors as well as health-related facilities.
It is mandatory for people to wear face masks in public.
Briefly responding to a question, the minister acknowledged he has been hospitalised, before switching off.
It could not be immediately established which hospital is holding him.
Farai Dziva|Suspected state security agents are trailing MDC Alliance members in the ancient city of Masvingo as political tension rises before July 31 protests.
Soldiers are also intimidating residents of the ancient city.On Monday troops from 41 brigade marched along the streets of Mucheke Suburb in a move meant to intimidate residents- according to political observers.
On Tuesday morning soldiers marched along the streets of Rujeko Suburb.
According to residents of the city of Masvingo, the soldiers marched without wearing masks and they did not observe the recommended “social distancing.”
Below is a statement from the MDC Alliance :
Today Masvingo security personnel visited the houses of Masvingo urban MDC Alliance district chair Mr Murangamwa Chanyau and Masvingo urban district organ Mr Peacemaker Mapope.
Earlier today, the security personnel visited MDC Alliance national youth organizer Mr Godfrey Kuraone’s residence in Masvingo.
It has come to my attention that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are looking for me for an ‘interview’ in relation to the impending demonstration on the 31st of July 2030.
As far as I am concerned and from where I stand, I have never applied for any job at the ZRP I am employed by the government already as a passionate and dedicated teacher.
It is enough for me so I don’t need any interview with the police.
The government is emphasising the need for social distance due to the covid 19 pandemic. As a law abiding and responsible citizen, I will not ignore the government directive of social distance by availing myself to a reckless, ill- advised and unnecessary interview.
In that light, I advise the ZRP to contact me telephonically. They have my contact details already. We have visited one another several times over the years.
In case that the interview materialises telephonically, my answer is clear. I am not the cause of any demonstration.
Corruption, poverty and dictatorship are the causes. Not me. Let them address those issues and there will be no demonstration.
May the ancestors of the revolution guide us on the 31st of July as we make our position clear.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has dismissed the letter that was released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police blaming opposition members and human rights activists for “causing disharmony in the country.”
According to the MDC Alliance, the letter reflects the ZRP’s ineptitude.
See the MDC Alliance statement :
We have noted with grave concern a letter published to the public and subsequently a televised publication on the national broadcaster authored by yourself.
The publication unscrupulously purports that 14 activists, among them MDC Alliance youth leaders are WANTED for INTERVIEWS by your organisation’s law and Order Department.
For the avoidance of doubt the names attended to on the said publication are:
Obey Sithole- (MDC A Youth Commander)
Gift Ostallos Siziba – (MDC A Youth Secretary-General)
Godfrey Kurauone – (MDC A Youth Organising Secretary)
Stephen Chuma – (MDC A Youth Spokesperson)
Makomborero Haruziviishe – (MDC A Youth Secretary For Labour and Social Welfare)
Denford Ngadziore – (MDC A Youth Secretary- Harare Province)
We wish to state that we categorically object to your unwarranted behaviour in publishing or causing to be published the above-stated names on the national broadcaster and various social media platforms.
This is tantamount to bad policing which is not anticipated in a 21″ century, modern Police Service.
Our youth leaders together with the other stated activists are not criminals or terrorists who deserve to be paraded on national and international platforms as criminals.
All of our Leaders appearing on your list have attended to the Law and Order department on several occasions and your organisation has their contact details including those of their Defence Counsels.
Your organisation never personally contacted them or their legal representatives but still went on to issue a WANTED publication against them.
In no uncertain terms, we wish to state that this behaviour makes your police Force complicit to tyranny and un-constitutionalism which stubbornly seeks to uphold what the late National Hero Edson Zvobgo once called, a socio-legal order in which people live under constant fear of police victimisation and abuse.
Your Force’s behaviour in this regard is thus illegal, unconstitutional and abrogable.
In as far as it is illegal and unconstitutional, we wish to state that your invitation to our leaders to attend to your uncharacterised interviews is in the same manner as your future illegal directives hereby DEFIED.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has dismissed the letter that was released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police blaming opposition members and human rights activists for “causing disharmony in the country.”
According to the MDC Alliance, the letter reflects the ZRP’s ineptitude.
See the MDC Alliance statement :
We have noted with grave concern a letter published to the public and subsequently a televised publication on the national broadcaster authored by yourself.
The publication unscrupulously purports that 14 activists, among them MDC Alliance youth leaders are WANTED for INTERVIEWS by your organisation’s law and Order Department.
For the avoidance of doubt the names attended to on the said publication are:
Obey Sithole- (MDC A Youth Commander)
Gift Ostallos Siziba – (MDC A Youth Secretary-General)
Godfrey Kurauone – (MDC A Youth Organising Secretary)
Stephen Chuma – (MDC A Youth Spokesperson)
Makomborero Haruziviishe – (MDC A Youth Secretary For Labour and Social Welfare)
Denford Ngadziore – (MDC A Youth Secretary- Harare Province)
We wish to state that we categorically object to your unwarranted behaviour in publishing or causing to be published the above-stated names on the national broadcaster and various social media platforms.
This is tantamount to bad policing which is not anticipated in a 21″ century, modern Police Service.
Our youth leaders together with the other stated activists are not criminals or terrorists who deserve to be paraded on national and international platforms as criminals.
All of our Leaders appearing on your list have attended to the Law and Order department on several occasions and your organisation has their contact details including those of their Defence Counsels.
Your organisation never personally contacted them or their legal representatives but still went on to issue a WANTED publication against them.
In no uncertain terms, we wish to state that this behaviour makes your police Force complicit to tyranny and un-constitutionalism which stubbornly seeks to uphold what the late National Hero Edson Zvobgo once called, a socio-legal order in which people live under constant fear of police victimisation and abuse.
Your Force’s behaviour in this regard is thus illegal, unconstitutional and abrogable.
In as far as it is illegal and unconstitutional, we wish to state that your invitation to our leaders to attend to your uncharacterised interviews is in the same manner as your future illegal directives hereby DEFIED.
THE trial of Marry Mubaiwa on charges of assaulting her maid was yesterday deferred after she told the court that she cannot stand trial at the moment because of ill-health.
Mubaiwa, who is the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, made an application through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa for the trial to be moved to another date since she was still recovering and needed more time to recuperate.
During her application for deferment of the matter, Ms Mtetwa produced photographs of Mubaiwa, which she said were evidence enough to prove that her client was unwell.
Mubaiwa is facing assault charges after she allegedly attacked her former maid, Delight Munyoro.
She appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, who remanded her to September 7 to 9 on a continuous roll for trial.
The State led by Mr Charles Muchemwa and Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa consented to the application for deferment, saying they had taken Mubaiwa’s condition into account.
“Of note is that State’s witnesses had been continuously attending court without the trial kicking-off,” said Mr Muchemwa.
“We have taken note of her condition and we hope that by the next court appearance she will be in a position to stand trial.”
The incident which led to Mubaiwa’s arrest occurred at Hellenic School in Harare, at a time when she and the Vice President were fighting for the custody of their children- The Herald
THE trial of Marry Mubaiwa on charges of assaulting her maid was yesterday deferred after she told the court that she cannot stand trial at the moment because of ill-health.
Mubaiwa, who is the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, made an application through lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa for the trial to be moved to another date since she was still recovering and needed more time to recuperate.
During her application for deferment of the matter, Ms Mtetwa produced photographs of Mubaiwa, which she said were evidence enough to prove that her client was unwell.
Mubaiwa is facing assault charges after she allegedly attacked her former maid, Delight Munyoro.
She appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa, who remanded her to September 7 to 9 on a continuous roll for trial.
The State led by Mr Charles Muchemwa and Mrs Netsai Mushayabasa consented to the application for deferment, saying they had taken Mubaiwa’s condition into account.
“Of note is that State’s witnesses had been continuously attending court without the trial kicking-off,” said Mr Muchemwa.
“We have taken note of her condition and we hope that by the next court appearance she will be in a position to stand trial.”
The incident which led to Mubaiwa’s arrest occurred at Hellenic School in Harare, at a time when she and the Vice President were fighting for the custody of their children- The Herald
FOUR police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Homicide Section in Bulawayo who went on self-isolation after recently arresting a Luveve murder suspect who tested positive for Covid-19 after escaping from a quarantine centre in Beitbridge, are back at work.
The four detectives arrested Mandla Moyo (36), aka MaFifty, of Entumbane suburb for killing his former neighbour in Luveve on July 11.
Moyo is alleged to have killed his landlord in South Africa, crossed into Zimbabwe and later escaped from a quarantine centre in Beitbridge before heading to Bulawayo where he killed Nkosilathi Ndlovu (31) of Luveve suburb.
Moyo recently appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove facing a murder charge in connection with the death of Ndlovu. He was remanded in custody to tomorrow.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday said the four detectives who arrested Moyo were back at work after testing negative for Covid-19. He said they completed the mandatory self-isolation period.
“The detectives who arrested the Luveve murder suspect went on self-isolation after discovering that the suspect had tested positive for Covid-19. They went through all the necessary health guidelines requirements and tested for Covid-19 and the results came out negative,” he said.
“They were given a clean bill of health and returned to work and now they are on duty.”
Moyo’s relative recently told Chronicle that he escaped from a quarantine centre in Beitbridge after fleeing from South Africa where he allegedly killed his landlord and attempted to murder his girlfriend and her relative.
Moyo, who lived in Luveve suburb before going to South Africa, allegedly fatally stabbed his former neighbour Ndlovu on July 11 at around 7.30PM after the deceased caught him stealing a cellphone.
Ndlovu bled to death at his doorstep after Moyo attacked him and fled. Moyo is a fugitive in neighbouring South Africa after he allegedly killed his landlord. He also allegedly severely assaulted his girlfriend and her relative in the neighbouring country, leaving them for dead.
He allegedly told some Bulawayo residents that he was in Zimbabwe to kill his girlfriend’s child.
On Friday, 284 returnees escaped from different quarantine centres and 30 were arrested.
The latest development comes at a time when local transmissions, especially in Bulawayo and Harare are rising.
Meanwhile, Insp Ncube said police in Bulawayo have intensified patrols targeting violators of national lockdown regulations.
He also warned members of the public against disregarding the 6PM to 6AM curfew, saying those who violate the law face prosecution.
Insp Ncube said through their campaigns they have managed to conscientise the general populace on the need to comply with lockdown regulations and adherence to health guidelines.
“We continue to urge members of the public to cooperate with police We believe by now, people are in a better position to discern and understand the risks associated with failure to observe social distancing, hand sanitising and wearing of face masks,” said Insp Ncube
There will be no gatherings to mark both Heroes and Defence Forces holidays due to Covid-19, a Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.
Traditionally, the days are marked by huge gatherings at the National Heroes Acre and provincial shrines across the country while on Defence Forces day; members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces entertain crowds with coordinated mass displays.
The suspension of Heroes and Defence Forces festivities mirrors Independence celebrations in April which were low key due to the pandemic.
Addressing a post Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said commemorations to mark the two holidays would be held virtually.
“July Moyo, the minister of Local Government and Public Works,as the Acting Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions, briefed Cabinet on the suspension of gatherings.
“2020 Heroes Day Commemorations and the Defence Forces Day Celebrations. There will be no gatherings this year to mark both events. His Excellency, the President will address the nation using virtual platforms.
“The 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations will be held under the theme “REMEMBERING OUR HEROES” on 10th August, the Defence Forces Day Celebrations will be held on 11th August, 2020 under the theme “ZDF: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE,” she said.
Mutsvangwa added: “The Virtual celebrations will take place over a period of two (2) weeks and covered by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC)-TV, which will extensively feature the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s exploits, community assistance projects and the Defence Forces Medical Outreach Programme.”
To date, Zimbabwe has 2 704 confirmed COVID-19 cases, a 68 percent increase from 1 713 cases reported on 20 July, 2020.
The total number of COVID-19 fatalities has also increased to 36 from the 26 reported last week.
Due to the spike in locally transmitted Covid-19 cases which has increased by 112 percent from 791 to 1 675 during the past week, Mutsvangwa said government will hold some meetings virtually to limit spread of the disease among officials.
“In order to curb the further spread of the disease among Government officials, the holding of meetings by virtual means will be enhanced. At universities and colleges, face-to-face classes have been suspended and lessons will be carried out online.
“Those who had started writing examinations will be allowed to complete them, while those who had not started their examinations will have them deferred,” said Mutsvangwa.
The United States summoned Zimbabwe’s ambassador on Tuesday, a day after a Zanu PF spokesman accused the U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe of “coordinating violence” while calling him a “thug”, a “gangster” and an “Uncle Tom”.
Tibor Nagy, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State in charge of African Affairs, on Tuesday said the comments by acting Zanu PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa were “deeply offensive.”
Comments from #ZANUPF – while sadly not surprising – are deeply offensive. We have summoned the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to explain. https://t.co/dWjDEVqZqM
— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) July 28, 2020
Without providing evidence, Zanu PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa told reporters on Monday that Nichols was involved in subversive activities to topple Mnangagwa’s regime.
Chinamasa said Nichols was one of a “coterie of gangsters and mercenaries who are disguised as diplomats.”
“He (Nichols) continues to engage in acts of undermining this republic and if he does so, if he continues engaging in acts of mobilising and funding disturbances, coordinating violence and training insurgents, our leadership will not hesitate to give him marching orders,” Chinamasa said.
“Diplomats should not behave like thugs, and Brian Nichols is a thug.”
The U.S. continues to be the strongest international partner of the Zimbabwean people, despite #Zimbabwe's governing party pursuing a policy of name-calling, deflection, and misinformation to justify their current economic and political crisis. Keep up the good work, Amb Nichols. https://t.co/l4sLjKwKZa
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) July 28, 2020
Parliament has adjourned business to August 25 to allow for disinfection of the premises after some members of Parliament and staff had tested positive to Covid-19.
Today 11 members attended the session where Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister who is also the leader of the House, Ziyambi Ziyambi moved a motion to adjourn the House.
“Earlier this week we have had some of the honourable Members as well as some staff members testing positive for Covid-19 and in view of that, after consulting both Parliament administration and His Excellency, we decided that we have to adjourn the House for the purposes of housekeeping, disinfection and also monitoring the trends in the pandemic to the 25th of August this year.
“So I move that we adjourn the House to the 25th of August, 2020,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tsitsi Gezi informed the house of the death of Kwekwe Central Member of Parliament, Mr Masango Matambanadzo.
The members observed a minute of silence in respect of the late legislator.
Today Lawyer Obey Shava of ZLHR won a case at High Court where he was fighting constitutionality of roadblocks where people are being asked to produce IDs and letters from employers before being allowed to pass. The court agreed with him that it is unconstitutional to demand letters and IDs on roadblocks. People must move freely.
The court also noted that the police had no power to make any laws or regulations, theirs is to enforce existing laws. The requirement to produce letters and IDs is not part of any existing laws and it’s repressive.
Cash-strapped Chitungwiza Municipality is losing millions of dollars in potential revenue amid indications that it has over 41 000 properties, many illegally created by land barons, that are not listed in its database with owners enjoying free services including refuse collection.
Some of the stands are illegal, in that they were built on wetlands, on top of drainage systems and below Zesa power lines. Most of these properties were created by land barons who would pocket the money prejudicing council.
In an interview today, Chitungwiza Acting Town Clerk Dr Tonderai Kasu said the 41 000 properties were not paying rates yet still relied on the council for services.
“This situation has arisen because in Chitungwiza there has been a phenomenon of the mushrooming of illegal settlements,” he said.
“Land barons have been illegally parcelling out land that does not belong to them to desperate home seekers and once these people are illegally settled, they require services from council, even though they are not contributing to council’s revenue base.”
Dr Kasu said there are also households from these illegal settlements that are illegally connecting themselves to the municipal water system and are therefore receiving treated water for free.
“Areas with illegal water connections to municipal water are: Units N, O, P, M and L Extensions, which have mixed council and unregularised properties and also include some properties at PaGomba in Zengeza 4,” he said.
The illegal connections were worsening the revenue problems faced by the council. Dr Kasu said a robust and comprehensive regularisation programme was needed, so that the large numbers of people that are outside the system can be brought into the system.
“This will also require the assistance and intervention of the Central Government since there are limitations and constraints in the available local material and technical resources, with respect to conducting a regularisation programme of the scope and size that is currently needed.”
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Ms Alice Kuveya said they were also pushing for the council to regularize places like Nyatsime but it was ignoring the advice and pressure.
“They are afraid of double allocations, which they have caused in the whole town. We urge the council to regularise them as soon as possible, so that we get revenue that will help in service delivery, which has deteriorated,” she said.
Acie Lumumba attracted a barrage of insults and criticism when he made a vague statement on the arrest of Journalist Hopewell Chinono.
He Twitted:
“Hopewell is getting a reality shock that online he has an army of supporters but not even closest friends will visit in prison. After many arrests under Mugabe regime I learnt never to be fooled by morari wepamasaisai, you sleep on cold cement wega and people move on. Unopfurirwa”
In the video below he tries to explain himself out.
Last month I was scammed R4000 and I have been too embarrassed to speak about it but f*** it. I was scammed coz I was absent minded and foolish. Here is how it happened: 1) I got a call from a old guy who claimed he was from the Zimbabwean Embassy in South Africa.
He congratulated me for the “great productive work with Fresh in a Box” and the Fresh Farm as said they had nominated me to be given a Free Tractor! His number was +27781951497 said his name was Minister Simon Chisorochengwe sounded like an old guy who kept calling me “my dear”
The scammer had done his research, spoke to me about our BBC and DW features and asked if there was anything we needed in addition to this Free Tractor in connection with the Zim and SA farmer capacitation program. He went on to stoke my political leaning by saying stuff…
Like we need to support production in a non partisan way and “madhara auraya nyika” etc etc. He then says they had pushed for me to be given the tractor dispite other having reservations, and that my tractor was ready to be picked up courtesy of the South African , took my email
Email and said he would send me details later that day. I called my wife and told her that “guess what, we have been awarded a Tractor by the Embassy in SA!” She goes… bullshit. That’s impossible. So I shrugged it off an forgot about it. Then I got a call again from same
Number… “Hello my Dear,” this old scammers says on the phone from the same SA number! “Are you coming to get your tractor??!” I’m like, “seriously” he’s like “seriously!!” I’m like : it’s Covid time. How do we do that!? He goes: Don’t worry, we have a diplomatic transport
Coming to Zim from SA so just contribute to the diesel and you can pick up your tractor in Harare. I asked him how much and he’s like just send the driver money direct via eWallet R4000 and the tractor will be in zim in 24 hrs. Hmmm I thought. So I asked my bro in SA to send R4000 so that I wouldn’t miss the opportunity for the easier transportation of my tractor. NOW in hind sight… this guy had never emailed me details, I had not verified anything about the embassy and i had only done a Google search where the name sort of checked out
Needless to say by the time I tried to follow up the number was now dead. And there was no tractor. Looking at our chats via WhatsApp I now realise how stupid I was. There is NOTHING for NOTHING. I just sent laughing emojis. Lololol well played. I was played good.
While saying 31 July demonstrations are illegal, the Zimbabwe Republic Police has offloaded 6 teams of cops armed with a database of home addresses of all MDC Alliance members.
They obtained this data cache from Senator Douglas Mwonzora.
Speaking on Tuesday, the ZRP boss Godwin Matanga urged Zimbabweans to disregard anti-government protests saying they are illegal and not in line with COVID-19 regulations announced by ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“My advice on the so called demos is that people should stay safe at their homes and observe all COVID-19 measures, the police will be ready to deal with anyone found breaching the regulations,” Commissioner General Matanga said.
Turning to enforcing Covid-19 regulations, the ZRP chief assured the public that ZUPCO has been engaged to provide transport in line with the current dusk-to-dawn curfew.
“For people who will be leaving their workplace after 15:00 hours, and find it difficult to secure transport, we are engaging ZUPCO so that enough buses are availed to ferry people home on time to avoid being caught during curfew times,” he said
The state owned ZBC earlier on reported saying the call for the public to desist from engaging in illegal demonstrations comes at time some anti-government forces behind the protests have been arrested and appeared in court, while more have are on the police wanted list.
Two illegal gold panners died on the spot while another escaped with minor injuries after a shaft they were working in Kwekwe collapsed on Tuesday. Police confirmed the incident.
“Police are investigating the death of two gold panners who died after a shaft collapsed on Tuesday morning in Mbizo 15,” said Midlands police spokesman Assistant Inspector Joel Goko.
He said a third panner was rescued alive and rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital where he later disappeared.
“We are not yet sure of the motive behind him running away, we will share more information as investigations unfold,” he said.
This news crew visited the mining site in Mbizo and police were taking away the second body that had been retrieved by residents.
The shaft, located between Mbizo 15 and Mbizo 8 suburbs is within residential stands.
Sources said there might be another body trapped underground.
“We knew this crew from way back, they have always worked as a group of four. Only three have been accounted for. We strongly suspect there might be another body underground,” said a source on condition of anonymity.
Onlooker urged relevant authorities to consider digging deeper, in case another body was still trapped.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya appears not to ne winning at his weekly foreign currency auctions meant to ccontrol the local currency as it continues to plammet weekly.
The Zimbabwe dollar today fell by $4.61 to average $76.76 against the United States dollar but the gap between the lowest and the highest rate offered at today’s auction was only $12.
According to the results of today’s auction the lowest rate offered was $70 and the highest, $82, but the lowest rate accepted was $75.
When the auction started the gap between the lowest and the highest rate was $75.
Last week the gap was down to $27.
But with the highest rate dropping by only 17 cents, the local currency could fall again next week as the gap narrows.
A total of 228 bids were received but 55 were rejected.
The amount allotted was US$14.4 million against bids of US$19.3 million.
The highest allocation went to raw materials which got US$7.7 million, followed by machinery and equipment with US$3 million.
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has acknowledged that it has been experiencing issues which are affecting voice calls on its network.
In a statement, the biggest mobile operator in Zimbabwe said efforts were underway to resolve the issues. Reads the statement:
PUBLIC NOTICE
Dear Valued Customer
We regret to inform you that we are currently experiencing a technical challenge that has affected some voice calls. As a result, some of our customers are failing to initiate calls. However, services such as data, SMS and EcoCash are working well.
ServicesBuildingHomeGroceries DatingJobsCommercialHealth Our technical teams are working to resolve the issue and we will inform you once it has been resolved.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.
ZANU PF is set to hold an ordinary session of the Politburo tomorrow at the party headquarters in Harare in the wake of the pending July 31 Protests.
In a statement, the party Acting Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa said:
“The Secretary for Administration, Dr Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 29 July 2020 at the party headquarters commencing 1000hrs.”
All members are expected to be seated by 9.45am.
The agenda of the meeting could not be immediately established but following an outburst by Chinamasa on Monday against the July 31 protests, it is likely that this will be the highlight of the meeting.
Aston Villa’s Sporting Director Jesus Garcia Pitarch, known as Suso is reportedly in the firing line and could leave the role he has occupied since October 2018 after the club owners launched a review of their £150million (US$193m) spending last season.
Suso presided over the signings Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba and other eleven players at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, but the majority of the new arrivals didn’t make an impact as the team was left fighting against relegation.
Nakamba made a couple of starts in the initial stages of the season but lost his first-team place as Villa struggled to maintain consistency.
The same happened to Brazilian striker Wesley who got injured in December and Belgian stopper Bjorn Engels.
Wesley’s replacement Mbwana Samatta also failed to bring the spark, scoring one goal in 14 League games.
According to The Mirror, a UK newspaper, Villa owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens are now planning major changes this summer, and talks have already started to decide the direction of the club’s summer transfer policy.
They want to know their cash will be well-spent if they dig deep again as intended.
The publication adds that coach Dean Smith is set to continue in charge after his side’s brilliant late recovery to beat the drop in 17th place-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwean dollar continues to lose value with the latest update from today’s foreign currency auction showing a further decline from last week’s ZWL$72/USD1 to ZWL$76.7596 against the United States dollar.
According to RBZ. the highest rate from the auction was ZWL$82.0000 while the lowest was ZWL$70.0000 resulting in a weighed average of ZWL$76.7596
Mustafa Pateya warned the members of his religion that any one of them can get this so they need to take care.
In the video, recorded at his bedside, he said he has “fallen down with COVID, this is a reality, any muslim can also get this, so they must take heed…”
Mustafa Pateya
The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe, has since issued the below announcement saying:
Bismillahi rahmani raheem
Inna lillahi wa ina ilaihi raajiun
Zimbabwean Muslims woke up today to the sad news of the passing on of our brother and leader, Sheikh Mustapha Ajida John Pateya, popularly known as the Ambassador of Islam on Call.
He succumbed to the Coronavirus less than 24 hours after testing positive. True to his character as soon as he tested positive and while being taken to the Ambulance he issued a short video message to all Muslims telling them to take care. He warned that Covid is real. In his own words ‘a giant has fallen’. This is the truth.
We have lost a pioneer of black Muslim activism in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa. The landscape is not going to be the same again.
He was instrumental in the formations of major black Muslim organisations such as the Zimbabwe Muslim Youth Organization, the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe (of which he was a Secretary General), as well as the Islamic Voice of Zimbabwe among many others.
His legacy should spur us on to working harder for the marginalized and poor in our communities and to be a united people.
Liverpool have announced the departure of their senior player Dejan Lovren who will join Zenit St Petersburg of Russia for an undisclosed fee.
The Croatian defender moved to Anfield in 2014 after signing from Southampton.
He capped off his six year stay at the Reds with a league title won this month to add to his other medals which includes the Champions League and Fifa Club World Cup.
In a statement, Liverpool said: ” Liverpool Football Club can confirm Dejan Lovren has joined Zenit St. Petersburg in a permanent transfer.
“The centre-back’s six-year spell with the Reds has come to a close after he signed a deal with the Russian Premier League side.”
Lovren departs Anfield after making 185 appearances, scoring eight goals- Soccer 24
By A Correspondent| As the so called #NyuchiRevolution grips the nation, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has been involved in another car accident after her motorcade was involved in an accident along the Harare-Bindura highway today.
The accident comes barely 2 months after another which killed a toddler in Kwekwe. Back then her convoy critically injured a 7-year-old boy (name withheld) near Simunye Gardens, in Kwekwe.
Auxillia is freely traveling around as she breaches lockdown regulations.
The accident was confirmed by Presidential spokesperson George Charamba in an interview with ZimLive.
“I can confirm the first lady was involved in an accident on the road to Mazowe. It would appear a motorist driving towards Harare panicked on meeting the convoy and rammed into the first lady’s vehicle on the driver’s side. Her vehicle overturned but she’s fine, and so is her driver.”
According to eye witnesses, vehicles were blocked either side at least 500 meters from the accident scene.
“The convoy overtook me just before the toll gate and the guy who was driving a cream Toyota Fortuner in the front shouted to me to park on the side of the road, and they went ahead of us.
“About 10 minutes or so later we arrived at the scene and the Land Cruiser had overturned. One of the Raiders had also rammed into a Toyota Prado that was coming from Bindura.
“Moments later, we saw people at the accident scene in something of a rush changing cars. We then heard something that sounded like gun shots, and four vehicles made a U-turn and went back to Harare, leaving behind those that were involved in the accident,” said the eye witness in an interview with ZimLive.
By A Correspondent| First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has been involved in another car accident after her motorcade was involved in an accident along the Harare-Bindura highway today.
The accident was confirmed by Presidential spokesperson George Charamba in an interview with ZimLive.
“I can confirm the first lady was involved in an accident on the road to Mazowe. It would appear a motorist driving towards Harare panicked on meeting the convoy and rammed into the first lady’s vehicle on the driver’s side. Her vehicle overturned but she’s fine, and so is her driver.”
According to eye witnesses, vehicles were blocked either side at least 500 meters from the accident scene.
“The convoy overtook me just before the toll gate and the guy who was driving a cream Toyota Fortuner in the front shouted to me to park on the side of the road, and they went ahead of us.
“About 10 minutes or so later we arrived at the scene and the Land Cruiser had overturned. One of the Raiders had also rammed into a Toyota Prado that was coming from Bindura.
“Moments later, we saw people at the accident scene in something of a rush changing cars. We then heard something that sounded like gun shots, and four vehicles made a U-turn and went back to Harare, leaving behind those that were involved in the accident,” said the eye witness in an interview with ZimLive.
Zimbabwean born former Springbok star Tendai ‘The Beast’ Mtawarira has congratulated Warriors midfielder Marvelous Nakamba and Aston Villa after their final day escape from relegation.
The Claret and Blue drew 1-1 wiith West Ham at the London Stadium on the final day to guarantee their Premier League status for the 2020/21 season despite being 7 points adrift of safety three weeks back.
“Congrats wangu @Nakamba_11 and the whole squad on a spectacular finish #homeboy” wrote the 2019 Rugby World Cup winner on Twitter.
This was Nakamba’s debut Premier League season after joining the Birmingham side from Belgian giants Club Brugge last year and he was also congratulated by Chevrons star Sikandar Raza.
“Many congratulations to @AVFCOfficial and to our own “Always Smiling” @Nakamba_11 on their performance on the finals day and ensuring their @premierleague for next season. No doubt they will be come harder and stronger,” posted the cricket star- Soccer 24
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks.
The situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why?Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Farai Dziva|Suspected state security agents are trailing MDC Alliance members in the ancient city of Masvingo as political tension rises before July 31 protests.
Soldiers are also intimidating residents of the ancient city.On Monday troops from 41 brigade marched along the streets of Mucheke Suburb in a move meant to intimidate residents- according to political observers.
On Tuesday morning soldiers marched along the streets of Rujeko Suburb.
According to residents of the city of Masvingo, the soldiers marched without wearing masks and they did not observe the recommended “social distancing.”
Below is a statement from the MDC Alliance :
Today Masvingo security personnel visited the houses of Masvingo urban MDC Alliance district chair Mr Murangamwa Chanyau and Masvingo urban district organ Mr Peacemaker Mapope.
Earlier today, the security personnel visited MDC Alliance national youth organizer Mr Godfrey Kuraone’s residence in Masvingo.
Today in the morning, I received a message from lawyers from our law firm saying with the money I am accruing in my practice why should I bother myself living in the bush during this cold winter organising people to take action.
Some pointed out that you are driving good cars and you have got everything you need which is the dream to others.
Let it be known dear Zimbabweans, that money is not everything we live for. Money in your own pocket means nothing when the whole society you live in can’t afford a meal.
On a daily basis I receive not less than 50 requests for either financial aid, food or other needs from different people.
Can we call this life? There are other things more than money in life. Happiness, freedom good governance, a society of choice, rapid economic development, good living wage for everyone, Healthcare for all, education for all, jobs galore for everyone and many more. Are these things available dear Zimbabweans?
Herbert Chitepo was a successful barrister as the first black Advocate at Law in colonial Rhodesia. He was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions by the independent Tanzanian government. He was able to take care of himself.
He left everything to die in the bush fighting for the equality of everyone. Joshua Nkomo was doing well in various employment fields but could not be satisfied with the way how the majority of his kins were living. Only selfish people care about themselves.
Everything is all about them not anyone. They don’t care about the way other people live. They enjoy their own prosperity. To hell with that spirit of selfishness. Happiness for all is a calling to those who understand that a just society is a must for all. Equal opportunities for all is a cardinal principle of life.
Yes there are many living in the leaf suburbs of the North who don’t care a hoot about the suffering masses. I rejected the life of flamboyance and remained in Chitungwiza as the definition of what Zimbabweans are. I see poverty on a daily basis. I am asked for a dollar by everyone I meet.
I am always asked kuti mudhara matiregerera. I explain to them that I am trying my best to fight for you, please assist me as well. I hope we will all stand up on the 31st of July 2020, to put our things correct.
Zimbabweans are suffering. Just imagine someone living in the USA, UK, Canada, South Africa will be demonstrating at the Zimbabwe Embassy, the majority of them who are pillars of support to family and friends back home. It is because they feel for us the oppressed.
They have tested democracy and happiness but we allow fear to reign upon us. I cast out the demon of fear among us Zimbabweans.
Out the demon of fear. Lets all speak on the 31st of July. No one should be stopped from expressing our feelings on the State of affairs in our country.
Stop corruption Stop the looting Speak out Zimbabwe Speak Out.
Stay aware of the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak, available on the WHO website and through your national and local public health authority. Many countries around the world have seen cases of COVID-19 and several have seen outbreaks.
The situation is unpredictable so check regularly for the latest news.
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions:
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why?Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 hotspots (cities or local areas where COVID-19 is spreading widely). If possible, avoid traveling to places – especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.
Why? You have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 in one of these areas.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
It has come to my attention that the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are looking for me for an ‘interview’ in relation to the impending demonstration on the 31st of July 2030.
As far as I am concerned and from where I stand, I have never applied for any job at the ZRP I am employed by the government already as a passionate and dedicated teacher.
It is enough for me so I don’t need any interview with the police.
The government is emphasising the need for social distance due to the covid 19 pandemic. As a law abiding and responsible citizen, I will not ignore the government directive of social distance by availing myself to a reckless, ill- advised and unnecessary interview.
In that light, I advise the ZRP to contact me telephonically. They have my contact details already. We have visited one another several times over the years.
In case that the interview materialises telephonically, my answer is clear. I am not the cause of any demonstration.
Corruption, poverty and dictatorship are the causes. Not me. Let them address those issues and there will be no demonstration.
May the ancestors of the revolution guide us on the 31st of July as we make our position clear.
Three Harare South MDC Alliance youths were abducted last night from their homes.
The three, Emmanuel Mukwemu, Petronella Mapaire and Trynos Hove were last night illegally abducted by suspected state agents only to be dumped at Harare Central Police Station this morning.
The state is preferring capricious charge in which they allege the three were mobilizing for 31 July demo.
As an Assembly, we would like to make it clear that arrests or no arrests 31 July is going ahead.
We cannot continue to allow the illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa and his family to devour the national cake while we are starving.
There is no going back on the fight against corruption!
Enough is enough!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
