Former Mbizo ward 5 councillor Alderman Reason Nyamadzawo has died.
This was announced by MDC Alliance legislator for Kwekwe Settlement Chikwinya through his Facebook page.
“Have learnt with sadness the passing on of former Mbizo Ward 5 Councillor, Alderman Reason Nyamadzawo. I join the family in mourning the death of this old man who has foot prints firmly posited in the history of Mbizo,”Chikwinya said.
“For good and bad it depends on how one would want to view him. Sadly the death comes hard on the heals of the loss of his granddaughter who passed on in SA recently in a murder case that hit the headlines.”
“I hope the Nyamadzawo family will find strength and courage to go through such difficult times.”
He said it remains his hope that Zanu PF will not politicise the funeral of Alderman Nyamadzawo, he had moved on and was now liberal, capable of interacting with members across the political divide.
“Allow the old man to rest in peace. Till we meet again mdhara, Fee thee well,” said Chikwinya
ZIMCODD notes with grave concern the arbitrary arrest of Hopewell Chin’ono, a member of the media and Jacob Ngarivhume, an activist and leader of Transform Zimbabwe.
Media freedoms remain a key component of a functional democracy and reforms needed for our economic engagement with regional and international partners for development.
ZIMCODD is also concerned by the public perception building up from government’s actions which speak to targeted arrests and intimidation of media personnel that are raising voices against rampant public sector corruption.
The actions are in contrast to recent statements by the President during the commemoration of African Anti-corruption day (11 July 2020).
In his speech, President Mnangagwa applauded journalists for exposing corruption. The criminalisation of whistleblower’s casts doubts on the government’s sincerity and public trust in the fight against corruption.
As read in the Constitution under Section 61, Zimbabwe upholds the freedom of speech and media liberty. As such, Hopewell, a journalist who is at the forefront of calling out corruption and recently exposed a graft ring that prejudiced the public of millions of dollars and access to meaningful health opportunities, should not be persecuted for doing his job. This is an affront to human rights and sabotage of the promised new dispensation.
While charges have been laid at law, it is concerning that the arrest was effected without presentation of a warrant and Hopewell’s house was broken into by eight state security agents that refused to identify themselves according to his lawyer).
Such reports should be incidents of the past but unfortunately, they are presently on the rise as various members of the opposition and civil society have expressed concern for their lives and others have reported being abducted.
A lack of respect for Human Rights is reminiscent of the past and has no place in this era. In this light, we call on the government to investigate the said allegations and ensure the protection of whistleblowers by enacting relevant legislation and adhering to it.
Furthermore, may our government show the requisite will to uphold principles of democracy and respect for human dignity and Constitutional Rights.
Doug Coltart, a lawyer with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has said armed riot police invaded the home of corruption whistle-blower Hopewell Chin’ono and seized his camera.
Coltart claims that he was also arrested during the raid and was later released without charge.
The invasion follows reports that the police was also at Chin’ono’s home on Tuesday afternoon looking for his documents and gadgets.
Posting on Twitter, Coltart said:
A group of at least 30 armed riot police unlawfully raided Hopewell’s home this evening & seized his camera. I was arrested & detained in a police van during the raid and was later released without charge. Hopewell is now at Central. He and Jacob are expected in court tomorrow.
Chin’ono, an award-winning journalist and filmmaker was arrested on Monday for inciting violence after he had urged the citizenry to participate in anti-government protests over rampant corruption allegedly by government officials.
He was arrested on the same day as Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of opposition Transform Zimbabwe, one of the organisers of the 31 July demonstrations.
By A Correspondent- An Ethiopian Airlines plane caught fire while loading cargo at a Chinese airport this Wednesday, the airliner said in a statement.
The aircraft was on a regular, scheduled cargo service from Shanghai to Sao Paulo-Santiago via Addis Ababa when the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, all ground staff and flying crew are safe.
The statement reads:
Ethiopian Airlines B777 freighter aircraft with registration number ET-ARH caught fire while loading cargo at Pudong Shanghai airport today, July 22, 2020.
The aircraft was on a regular scheduled cargo service from Shanghai to Sao Paulo-Santiago via Addis Ababa. All ground staff and flying crew are safe.
Ethiopian has collaborated with all concerned authorities and contained the fire.
The cause of the incident is under investigation by the appropriate authorities.
12: 55pm – Harare Magistrate Utahwashe says he will hand down his ruling on the bail application for arrested journalist Hopewell Chin’ono anytime this afternoon.
11:50 am – Court adjournes
Hopewell Chin’ono
11:30 am – To the chagrin and discomfort of the State the court directs that investigations into Hopewell Chin’ono’s complaints and human rights abuses must be completed and reported on Monday 27 July 2020
By Kennedy Kaitano- I was not surprised to read your letter to Congressman Michael McCaul purportedly representing “the entire population of Zimbabwe”.
I know this is part of your futile effort as Chairperson of the unconstitutional POLAD’s International Relations and Re-engagement Sub-Committee to persuade the international community to lobby for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Dr. Khupe, you cannot honestly say that you “speak as a voice for the Zimbabwean people who are suffering” when you have not consulted with the suffering people of Zimbabwe who know that the reason for the suffering is corruption.
Even by the election results announced by the Zimbabwe Elections Commission, the number of people who voted for all the parties represented in POLAD is nowhere near 60 per cent of the country’s population, so that is not “the entire population of Zimbabwe”.
As holder of a PhD, you know that you were not telling the truth in your letter because living in Zimbabwe as you do, you are expected to know very well that the majority of the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering know the cause of their sorrowful plight, which is mismanagement of the economy and corruption by both the Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa regimes.
The intended trip to the USA is another cause of the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe, because it was only an opportunity of those who were to make the trip to make money for themselves through the hefty allowances given for such trips.
The world knows even how Emmerson Mnangagwa took Zanu PF youths to the United Nations Convention, youths who had nothing at all to to with the deliberations at the United Nations General Assembly.
You are on record, Dr. Khupe, saying you are in politics to make money, hence the majority of Zimbabweans are bound to think that your foreign trips to lobby countries who are represented in Zimbabwe are just money making trips.
The United States Government is represented in Zimbabwe and all those issues you have about sanctions have been addressed by the United States of America Embassy in Zimbabwe and the Delegation of the European Union representative in Zimbabwe. These bodies together with representatives of other Governments have said the regime in Zimbabwe which you seem to have become part of as evidenced by this attempt to lobby foreign Governments to remove sanctions, should implement reforms before sanctions can be removed.
So do first things first, tell the Government that you have become part of through the assignments you are carrying out as Chairperson of POLAD’s International Relations and Re-engagement Committee to reform, and everything will fall into place.
Dr. Khupe, your Government has been told what it has to do in order to get targeted sanctions removed so many times, and you need to tell it harder to them, being part of them. You need to join the growing chorus of individuals and organisations that are denouncing Government for lack of reform.
What you have done through your letter to Congressman Michael McCaul has proved beyond any doubt that you have become part of the repressive regime led by Mnangagwa, proving your point when you said as reported by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation that you will continue to support Mnangagwa.
The cancer that has caused the suffering of Zimbabweans is being revealed on several occasions, the latest being the expose around the Farm Mechanisation Programme in which the President of the country alone benefited nearly half a million United States dollars.
Instead of spending energy and tax payers’ money on trips to the United States and other parts of the world, you, Dr. Khupe, are better off expending your energy fighting the corrupt system in Zimbabwe and the human rights abuses perpetrated by the regime.
Regardless of whoever benefited, the idea by a Government to let people, mostly Zanu PF officials, get away with so much money obviously affects the economy, and contributes to the suffering, not sanctions in the form of targeted restrictive measures. People who benefited, whoever they are, must pay back.
The Farm Mechanisation Programme was not to the only scheme that has milked the country’s resources, there are many other programmes, including Command Agriculture which have caused Zimbabwe’s economic woes.
I am sure you know some of such schemes Dr. Khupe, and that is what you must fight, not to spend the little resources the country has enjoying foreign trips for the sake of lining your pockets with filthy money.
I hope, Dr. Khupe, that you will reflect on the evidence that has been availed since your letter to Congressman Michael McCaul and admit you were misinformed at the time you wrote the letter, unless of cause if you have become permanently married to Zanu PF.
You, so sure, and all those following you are a Zanu PF project, as confirmed by your statement that you will “continue to support Mnangagwa”. Sadly, Zimbabweans see that you have become a Zanu PF project in the eyes of the suffering people of Zimbabwe.
You have taken the “if you can’t beat them, join them” stance, and congratulations in your new chosen romance with Zanu PF.
Hopewell Chin’ono now appearing in Court 14&Jacob Ngarivhume in Court 11. Jacob has already been detained longer than 48h meaning, in terms of s 50(3) of Constitution,he must be immediately released. Beatrice Mtetwa currently laying out complaints against the state – @DougColtarthttps://t.co/s9rpJhExTj
Hopewell Chin’ono now appearing in Court 14&Jacob Ngarivhume in Court 11. Jacob has already been detained longer than 48h meaning, in terms of s 50(3) of Constitution,he must be immediately released. Beatrice Mtetwa currently laying out complaints against the state – @DougColtarthttps://t.co/s9rpJhExTj
By A Correspondent- Residents of Zvishavane, a small town in the Midlands Province, have expressed anxiety over the high number of coronavirus infections detected recently.
The residents are fearful that the town has become a coronavirus hotspot and they have now called for the tightening of lockdown measures.
This comes after 25 healthcare workers from Zvishavane District Hospital and three employees from the district registrar’s office tested positive to coronavirus on Monday.
A concerned resident, Tanaka Chihora, said:
Zvishavane is no longer safe. We had 28 cases confirmed and the tracing of contacts could result in the number increasing. Surprisingly people continue to walk in crowded areas so we are no longer safe here.
Zvishavane Town Council secretary, Tinoda Mukutu, said the continued high human traffic in the town is worrisome.
Zvishavane District Development Co-ordinator, who is also the district’s COVID-19 taskforce chairperson, Darlington Chokera, said they have started tracing the contacts of the confirmed cases and conducting campaigns urging residents to avoid unnecessary movements.
By A Correspondent- Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube on Tuesday said that civil servants and Government pensioners should be able to use their foreign currency COVID-19 allowances very soon.
Ncube made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists during a post-cabinet media briefing held at Munhumutapa offices on Tuesday evening.
He said that banks have created accounts for government to deposit the tax-free allowances while retailers are now in a position to be able to receive payments for goods and services. Ncube said:
Yes, the modalities for accessing the money have now been put in place. Banks were supposed to come up with ways to open accounts; that has been done, that was the first step.
The second step was to make sure retailers are able to receive payments for goods and services, so that has been put in place.
Please note that there has been progress and that allowance is tax-free as previously announced and we will capture that in the Finance Bill.
The government offered civil servants US$75 monthly allowances and government pensioners US$30 as COVID-19 allowances.
This came soon after nurses at Parirenyatwa Hospital staged a demonstration against health authorities’ extravagance while they wallowed in poverty.
By A Correspondent|Harare Mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba was on Monday arrested on allegations of criminal abuse of office connected with the sale of stands.
Gomba was picked up by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and spent the night in the police cells.
He is likely to appear before Harare Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Gomba was reportedly involved in the illegal creation and sale of stands, with irregularities in the approval of plans and production of fraudulent layout plans prejudicing the Harare city council of thousands of dollars.
His subordinates in council who include Edgar Dzehonye, a senior officer in the housing department, have appeared in court, to answer to charges of criminal abuse of office.
Dzehonye was remanded in custody to August 17.
Earlier, co-accused Harare City Council’s director housing and community services Addmore Nhekairo and director human and capital resources Matthew Marara were on Monday denied bail.
Apart from the US$1 million stands scam, Marara and acting chief clerical officer Aaron Tayerera are facing another separate charge of fraudulently selling council land in Strathaven for US$20 900 to an unsuspecting land seeker and pocketing the money.
Nhekairo also allegedly allocated residential stands in Westlea to undeserving people who include police officers and a prosecutor, who have since been arrested and charged.
The officers are deputy director for the police CID commercial crimes unit Assistant Commissioner Obeylaw Moyo, chief public prosecutor Clement Chimbare, and two junior police officers who have been arrested and dragged before the court to answer bribery charges.
It is the State’s case that Moyo, Chimbare and the three junior police officers were allegedly paid off for not arresting or not charging suspected kingpins in the scam by being allocated stands in the new middle-income Harare suburb of Westlea using waiting list numbers already given to others.
Meanwhile, the alleged crime which prejudiced council of US$1 141 779 was committed between 2017 to 2019 and HCC in fact connected water to the stands in question under the belief that it was approved council land basing on fraudulently laid out plans and fictitious pay schemes created by the accused.
By A Correspondent- MDC-T acting secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said the ZANU PF government should desist from harassing and arresting corruption whistleblowers, but rather act against corruption.
Mwonzora made the remarks two days after the arrest of investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono by police at his Chisipite home on Monday morning.
The government must act against corruption and not harass and arrest those who speak or act against corruption.
However, some Zimbabweans on Twitter did not take kindly to Mwonzora’s comments, accusing him of hypocrisy. One Tawananyasha Jr said:
Empty tweet, devoid of WILL, POWER, EMOTIONS! Kungoti ndinziwo ndataura. Hakuna Constitutionalist anotaura zviri shallow soo! Takakuudzai, mari yeZanu inokuitai Miranda Dougie, same same na [Linda Masarira] and Obert Gutu.
Another Twimbo, Terry Madzeka, said, “With all due respect ba Bertha it’s very difficult for us to take you serious especially the fact that you were working with them using the same system to cripple the real opposition. Apa we honestly feel kuti you just want to be seen to be saying something”.
ESimbanegavi accused Mwonzora of corruption after he was helped by the military to seize control of Harvest House:
Corruption is when mwonzora occupies harvest house with the aid of military handei tione mkoma Doug ndopazvotangira apa ndangoti murangarirewo.
By Nomusa Garikai- I have listened to President Mnangagwa’s address to the nation three times and still failed to understand what understand the purpose. Yes, the number of corona virus cases have increased significantly these last two weeks but is he saying the lockdown conditions are gone shot back up to level 4 or are we still at level 2?
What is the purpose of the 6 pm to 6 am nationwide curfew?
“At least 21 Cimas Medical Aid Society staffers tested Covid-19 positive at the High Glen Clinic in Harare forcing the temporary closure of the health centre Sunday,” reported New Zimbabwe.
“In its Covid-19 update bulletin, Cimas chief executive (CEO) Vulindela Ndlovu confirmed the development and said a receptionist had tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday following a routine and random testing of staff.
“The CEO said contact tracing and testing subsequently revealed that other staff members had been exposed to the virus as they were in the same work area with the receptionist.”
The report underlines one of the greatest weaknesses in Zimbabwe’s handling of the corona virus – the failure to test, trace and track aggressively, especially at local community level. The very fact that so many individuals tested positive, especially from a health service institution shows the folly of not testing aggressively.
All the country’s major clinics and hospitals should be testing all covid-19 suspects as a matter of course. One had hoped the President was going to announce measures designed to ramp up the testing regime.
Without testing aggressively, the country will not have the data to address the corona virus. We are just shooting in the dark!
Zimbabwe’s health care service is poorly equipped, poorly staffed and poorly resourced; it provided a zero-star services, at best, before the corona virus outbreak. The service will be stretched beyond its limits with the admission of just a few covid-19 patients. It is therefore shocking that government has failed to resolve the dispute with the health care workers, including paying them a living wage and the provision of PPE, and thus depriving the nation of even the skeleton health care cover at the very time the virus cases are soaring!
How ironic that the country is ramping up its response to the soaring corona virus cases by deploying Police, Army and CIO to every corner of the country, armed to the teeth, to impose dusk to dawn curfew but has no health care worker or equipment to do something even as basic as check the covid-19 patient’s temperature!
For Pete’s sake, what we need is nurses and medicine, not soldiers and guns. Even now, at this the 59th minute of 11th hour, before the corona virus storm overwhelms us all; our leaders still to do have the common sense to do the obvious thing, the common sense thing!
File picture of Hundreds of commuters waiting for ZUPCO Buses into the night in Harare.
As part of his raft of measures to contain the spike in coronavirus cases, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has imposed a mandatory curfew that runs from 6PM everyday until 6AM the next morning. Only those providing essential services are said to be exempted from this curfew. However, just as with all measures the government imposed, the government never bothered to look at how they can facilitate and make these restrictions workable.
These urgent and necessary measures will entail curtailing the freedoms we have always enjoyed, and have grown accustomed to.
From now on, these freedoms stand suspended and deferred, in the interest of all of us; indeed, in the interest of our children and our nation which must survive, thrive and prosper beyond this pandemic.
No responsible Government places its citizens in harm’s way, hence my Government will do all it can to preserve and protect the right to life.
ZUPCO buses have dismally failed to meet demand when it comes to ferrying commuters to and from work.
Some people have to wake up early to join queues-much earlier than the 6 AM curfew with people waking up as early as 3 AM. Because ZUPCO buses are having a hard time ferrying customers from the CBD it is not at all unusual for some people to leave the CBD as late las 10 PM. These people will therefore inadvertently violate the curfew.
In order to be able to mitigate the overwhelming demand, ZUPCO buses have also sacrificed recommended social distancing guidelines. Kombis now carry 3 people per seat instead of the usual two and buses carry the same number per seat. Clearly ZUPCO is failing to meet demand. Wouldn’t it be prudent for the government to just allow private transporters to help?
The July 31 Protests may possibly kick start today, nine days ahead of schedule after pressure group, Tajamuka/Sesijikile urged Zimbabweans to throng the Harare Magistrates’ Court this Wednesday where whistle blowing journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume will be making an initial appearance.
Tajamuka on Tuesday held a night vigil in Harare, later posting a video which urged locals to throng courts besides the fact that President Emmerson Mnangagwa Tuesday night barred locals from travelling any far from their homes as he moved to tighten the country’s lockdown regulations.
Mnangagwa also imposed a night curfew for locals amid signs he could be using the lockdown excuse to stave off looming resistance against his faltering administration.
We regret to announce that some of our staff members tested positive to COVID-19 and are now quarantined. Strict measures around contact-tracing and testing have been taken on these cases as guided by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
There has been a spike in COVID-19 cases across the country in recent days and as an organisation, we place our priority in the safety of our staff, customers and the public at large.
We, therefore, wish to inform you that all Econet Shops will be temporarily closed, effective Wednesday, July 22, 2020 until further notice. In the interim, we will disinfect and sanitise all our shops to make them safe for our staff and customers upon re-opening at a date to be announced.
We urge our customers to use the following alternative digital channels to access our services during this period: • Toll-Free Number: 111 • WhatsApp: 0771222904 – 905 • Facebook: @econetzimbabwel @elevateyouthzw, @econetconnectedlifestyle • Twitter: @econet support, @econetzimabwe, @elevateyouthzw • Email: [email protected] or [email protected] • Skype: Econet Customer Care
As we continue the fight this pandemic, we encourage our customers, stakeholders and the nation to keep taking the necessary precautions in preventing the spread of the disease. These include washing hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, wearing a face mask, covering your mouth when coughing, maintaining social distance and self-isolation for those who suspect they are infected by the disease. We thank you for your continued support, cooperation and patience during these challenging and uncertain times. COVID-19 is real.
Please stay safe and #MaskUpZimbabwe! Econet Wireless Inspired to change your world
A ZANU PF created civic organisation, Zimbabwe Citizens Forum (ZCF) has accused organisers of the July 31 Protests against corruption of being corrupt themselves urging Zimbabweans to shun the protests.
The civic organisation said the protests were part of the destabilisation agenda to hamper the ongoing reengagement of the country on the international arena.
ZCF said information at hand pointed that the United States through its embassy in the country reportedly disbursed US$350 000 to Jacob Ngarivhume to co-ordinate the protests.
Addressing the media in Harare, ZCF national co-ordinator, Taurai Gakanje said it was high time the people of Zimbabwe learnt from their past against being used by people and nations seeking to score cheap political goals.
“Based on checks and balances the planned demonstrations as convened by Mr Jacob Ngarivhume and his colleagues are meant to settle their own cheap political matters. Let me ask the people to first know who the conveners are and before we are mobilised we need to know who the mobilisers are. Ngarivhume’s agenda is to look for money by whatsoever means. He is organising these protests under the banner of fighting corruption when in fact he on his own has many cases of corruption to answer and moreover he is not doing for himself but working under instruction from his handlers,” he said.
“We have information that they received $350 000 from the USA through its country embassy. The people should open their eyes and minds and see how many of them will be paid from the $350 000 or be allocated a single dollar.”
Mr Gakanje said the protests were also a plan to scale up the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic so that the country is on the international spotlight as the protest would violate the regulations set by the Government.
“This is a plan to scale up the spread of the virus, all information has been put in the public domain to say that this pandemic is serious, anyone who then disregards those regulations and exposes people to danger in that manner,” he said.
Mr Gakanje said the problems Zimbabwe was facing were local problems that required local solutions from local people.
THE Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) has urged Zimbabwean men to have sex at least 21 times per month to reduce chances of getting prostate cancer.
This is a type of cancer which affects the prostate gland. Prostate cancer cases are increasing in Zimbabwe. It contributed 23,1 percent of all new cancer cases among black males in 2019.
It also contributed 9 percent to the total cancer deaths recorded in 2019. Prostate cancer usually affects men 50 years and over. The prostate secretes a fluid that contributes 20-30 percent of the total volume of seminal fluid.
At a press conference by the National Aids Council (NAC) held in Chinhoyi, Priscilla Mangwiro, who is CAZ information officer, said according to scientific discovery, men who are not sexually active were more vulnerable to the disease.
“Prostate cancer is on the rise and besides encouraging men to eat healthy, we now encourage them to be sexually active and at least have 21 (climaxes) in a month as discovered by researchers.
“Twenty-one (climaxes) in a month can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 33 percent as it may flush toxins out of the system,” she said.
She however went on to say this was not a ticket for men to sleep around with many partners.
“This does not mean men should have multiple partners, but should stick to one,” she said.
Mangwiro also outlined some of the major causes of cancers such as drinking alcohol and continuous consumption of meat.
“Research has also made it clear that men should only drink three pints of beer in a week and women a glass of wine to reduce the risk of cancer.
“Continuous consumption of meat is another major cause of cancer and people should just eat meat which fills the palm of their hand in a week,” she said.
Mangwiro said more people were dying of cancer as compared to other diseases and infections such as tuberculosis and HIV.
“One in every six deaths is caused by cancer. More females are being affected as compared to men, but for children, its vice-versa as more boys are affected as compared to girls,” she said.
“People should therefore eat healthy and go for cancer screening regularly as we have realised many people die because of late diagnosis though cancer is not supposed to be killing anyone.”
A senior MDC Alliance Official who contested in the 2018 general elections has defected to Zanu PF saying the opposition outfit is being led by selfish individuals whose mindset is retrogressive.
Zaka West national assembly candidate in the 2018 general elections, Dr William Zivenge and his campaign team have deserted the opposition outfit and joined Zanu PF.
Speaking at a Zanu PF inter-district meeting held in Zaka this Sunday, some of the new recruits said they joined the ruling party after realizing, “the opposition has nothing to offer the people, its all talk and no action in regards to uplifting the country an the livelihoods of citizens in general. This country is ours and it belongs to us, not Londoners,” said Dr Zivenge.
Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial Chairman, Ezra Chadzamira said the ruling party is committed to improving livelihoods through developmental programs.
“The prodigal son has returned home and we welcome him saying the people’s party Zanu PF is about the betterment of people’s lives and we work in result-oriented frameworks,” said honorable Chadzamira.
Speaking at the same occasion, Chief Nhema expressed gratitude to the government for spearheading various developmental programs which are benefiting ordinary people.
The inter-district meeting deliberated on disseminating information on Covid-19 amid increasing local transmissions countrywide.
Chinese company describes Mnangagwa's COVID management, saying it is going to be "disaster" -rous. This Interview was at the begining of the first lockdown pic.twitter.com/TgTgcgZ5KG
By Nomusa Garikai | I have listened to Emmerson Mnangagwa’s address to the nation three times and still failed to understand what understand the purpose. Yes, the number of corona virus cases have increased significantly these last two weeks but is he saying the lockdown conditions are gone shot back up to level 4 or are we still at level 2?
What is the purpose of the 6 pm to 6 am nationwide curfew?
“At least 21 Cimas Medical Aid Society staffers tested Covid-19 positive at the High Glen Clinic in Harare forcing the temporary closure of the health centre Sunday,” reported New Zimbabwe.
“In its Covid-19 update bulletin, Cimas chief executive (CEO) Vulindela Ndlovu confirmed the development and said a receptionist had tested positive for Covid-19 last Thursday following a routine and random testing of staff.
“The CEO said contact tracing and testing subsequently revealed that other staff members had been exposed to the virus as they were in the same work area with the receptionist.”
The report underlines one of the greatest weaknesses in Zimbabwe’s handling of the corona virus – the failure to test, trace and track aggressively, especially at local community level. The very fact that so many individuals tested positive, especially from a health service institution shows the folly of not testing aggressively.
All the country’s major clinics and hospitals should be testing all covid-19 suspects as a matter of course. One had hoped the President was going to announce measures designed to ramp up the testing regime.
Without testing aggressively, the country will not have the data to address the corona virus. We are just shooting in the dark!
Zimbabwe’s health care service is poorly equipped, poorly staffed and poorly resourced; it provided a zero-star services, at best, before the corona virus outbreak. The service will be stretched beyond its limits with the admission of just a few covid-19 patients. It is therefore shocking that government has failed to resolve the dispute with the health care workers, including paying them a living wage and the provision of PPE, and thus depriving the nation of even the skeleton health care cover at the very time the virus cases are soaring!
How ironic that the country is ramping up its response to the soaring corona virus cases by deploying Police, Army and CIO to every corner of the country, armed to the teeth, to impose dusk to dawn curfew but has no health care worker or equipment to do something even as basic as check the covid-19 patient’s temperature!
For Pete’s sake, what we need is nurses and medicine, not soldiers and guns. Even now, at this the 59th minute of 11th hour, before the corona virus storm overwhelms us all; our leaders still to do have the common sense to do the obvious thing, the common sense thing! – SOURCE: zsdemocrats.blogspot.com
BIRMINGHAM. — ASTON VILLA sneaked out of the relegation zone, for the first time since February, and gave themselves a chance to stay in the English Premiership when the season comes to an end on Sunday.
Dean Smith’s men shocked Arsenal 1-0 at Villa Park last night, with Egyptian forward Trezeguet scoring a wonder goal in the first half, to go ahead of Watford who slumped to a 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City yesterday.
It was the first league win for Villa over the Gunners since Dion Dublin scored late in 1998 and Arsenal were just lifeless they failed to get even a shot on target all night.
Substitute Chris Wilcox came closest for the visitors, with his headed effort coming off the post, but this was a victory Villa thoroughly deserved and, incredibly, they could even lose their final match against West Ham and still survive. Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba was introduced in the 72nd minute, as Villa looked to close shop, and he provided the energy they wanted at that time as the Gunners, who dominated possession in the second half, appeared to be gaining an advantage in midfield. The game should have been safe for Villa, without the need for the nervy finish, but substitute Keinan Davis dragged his effort wide of goal when through on goal.
Meanwhile, Watford failed to ease their relegation fears in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s surprise sacking as they were hammered 0-4 by a Raheem Sterling-inspired Manchester City last night.
Defeat means the Hornets’ battle to stay up will go to the final day of the season on Sunday, when they visit Arsenal.
Pearson became the Hornets’ third managerial casualty of the campaign on Monday, leaving Under-23 coach Hayden Mullins and his assistant Graham Stack in charge for their final two games. And they could hardly have had a tougher first assignment than against City, who completed the double over them with this win, at an aggregate score of 12-0 — a joint top-flight record for one team against another in a single season. Sterling took the game away from the home side before half-time, firing in a rising shot to open the scoring before doubling the advantage by following up his own saved penalty — awarded for a foul on him by Will Hughes.
Phil Foden added a third after Ben Foster had parried a Sterling shot before Aymeric Laporte nodded in from Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick.
City’s fourth straight league win could have been even more emphatic but Gabriel Jesus had an injury-time header ruled out for offside.
This could well be important to Watford, with goal difference potentially a crucial deciding factor going into the weekend.
The defeat leaves the Hornets 17th, three points above Aston Villa and Bournemouth — all three clubs have the same goal difference of -27. A Villa victory over Arsenal later on Tuesday will mean the Hornets start Sunday in the bottom three, with their fate no longer in their own hands.
Pearson’s sacking came out of the blue, as the former Leicester boss was still within sight of securing Premier League survival – the remit given to him on his appointment in December. Having taken over with the club seven points adrift at the bottom of the table, he won seven of 20 matches – results that not only lifted them out of the bottom three but also gave him the best win percentage of any Watford boss since they were promoted in 2015.
Pearson, though, is now the past and Mullins, his players and the rest of the club are left to consider a worrying present and potentially devastating future.
They were outclassed by City, barely allowed a kick in what amounted to an exercise in damage limitation from the moment the visitors broke the deadlock.
They were allowed just 23.7% possession and managed just two shots at goal, neither on target. The only time they threatened in any way was when substitute Danny Welbeck got in behind the City defence but saw a tame, poked effort saved by Ederson.
That goalkeeper Foster was the Watford player who attempted the most passes (29) tells a story in itself.
So too does the fact their team pass total was a paltry 232, against the visitors’ 750. City midfielder Rodri alone made 131.
All they can do now is hope that Villa fail to get a result against Arsenal and that they can then get something themselves against a Gunners side who beat City just a few days ago.
This was a wounded Manchester City, who at the weekend saw another road to a trophy blocked courtesy of that FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal.
They couldn’t have asked for better opponents to get things back on track.
Watford haven’t beaten City in 18 games in all competitions – a run stretching back to March 1989, and one that includes a 6-0 loss in last season’s FA Cup final and an 8-0 thrashing in September’s reverse league fixture.
City now have a 13th straight win against the Hornets, during which the aggregate score is 50-6, and they barely seemed to get out of second gear to achieve it.
RT- Reports from Borrowdale say @daddyhope & @jngarivhume will be denied Bail tomorrow. The State will send them to Remand & will only be released after #July31 . The matter is said to have been discussed by the highest authorities of the regime. More to follow… https://t.co/FJ5yZjLN9K
ANOTHER top council official allegedly involved in the stands allocation scam yesterday appeared in court to answer to charges of criminal abuse of office.
Edgar Dzehonye, a senior officer in the housing department, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Trynos Hutawashe. He was remanded in custody to August 17.
His co-accused director housing and community services Addmore Nhekairo, his predecessor and now director human and capital resources Matthew Marara were on Monday denied bail.
The court refused them bail citing significant risks that Marara and co-accused Aaron Tayerera would abscond and that Nhekairo would likely interfere with a crucial prosecution witness.
Dzehonye and Nhekairo are facing a charge of criminal abuse of office while Marara (49) is facing a fraud charge along with Tayerera (48), who is the acting chief clerical officer.
Marara and Tayerera are charged with fraudulently selling council land in Strathaven for US$20 900 to an unsuspecting land seeker and pocketing the money.
Marara already has a pending case before the same court, with other co-accused, involving the illegal creation and sale of 150 stands in Kuwadzana, with irregularities in the approval of plans and production of fraudulent layout plans prejudicing council of US$1 141 779.
Nhekairo allegedly and allocated residential stands in Westlea to undeserving people who include police officers and a prosecutor, who have since been arrested and charged.
In denying Marara and Tayerera bail, Harare magistrate Ms Bianca Makwande ruled that they were likely to abscond if granted bail considering that there are series of other cases being investigated involving stands in the same area.
In Nhekairo’s case, Ms Makwande strongly felt he was likely to interfere with State witnesses especially the key witness with whom he shares an office.
It is the State’s case that between 2018 and 2019, Marara and Tayerera hatched a plan to defraud Harare City of its land and they identified an open space in Strathaven.
They then demarcated the said piece of land and gave it a fictitious stand number and sold it to an unsuspecting land seeker Aaron Gomo through a real estate agent named Seeff Zimbabwe, allegedly for US$20 900, the court heard.
To cover up for the offence, the pair, it is alleged, created an offer letter and agreement of sale backdated to 2017, which they signed and handed to Gomo.
ZIMBABWE Land Commission senior staffer, Commissioner Edmore Augustine Mugwagwa Ndudzo (pictured) has died.
He was 65.
Commissioner Ndudzo died on Friday after a short illness and was buried at his rural home in Chihota on Saturday. In a statement yesterday, ZLC chairperson Commissioner Tendai Bare said it was sad that the organisation had lost a hard-working commissioner who was instrumental in the Land Audit.
“It is with sadness that the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Land Commission, Commissioner Tendai Bare, wishes to announce to the nation, the untimely passing on of Commissioner Edmore Augustine Mugwagwa Ndudzo on the July 17, 2020.
“Commissioner Ndudzo, a chartered accountant by profession, was very instrumental in the settlement of agricultural land disputes as well as in the conduct of the national comprehensive agricultural Land Audit, which are the major constitutional mandates of the Zimbabwe Land Commission,” Comm Bare said. The late Comm Ndudzo was appointed to the commission in 2016 and served until his death.
Born on February 28, 1955, he did his primary education at Saint James in Chihota. He attained secondary education at Roman Catholic Kutama College and at Fletcher High School in Gweru before attaining a Bachelor of Accountancy at the then University of Rhodesia in 1975.
In 1981, he joined the City Council of Harare and rose through the ranks to become the first black city treasurer in 1983. The late commissioner was the lead consultant in the formulation of the Public Finance Management Act of Zimbabwe, which was enacted in 2009.
The commissioner served on various boards and development projects in Zimbabwe, including the World Bank funded Budiriro Housing Development and the Kuwadzana housing schemes. “His astute services will be greatly missed in the Zimbabwe Land Commission,” said Comm Bare.
He is survived by his wife Rutendo Ndudzo, four daughters and three grandchildren.
1–All non-working sections of our population will be required to stay at home; except for purposes of securing food, water and health services.
Where travel and social contact becomes essential and inevitable, every Zimbabwean should and must uphold the four requirements set out by the World Health Organization, W.H.O., which are: a–Wearing masks or equivalent protective materials:
b—Observing strict standards of hygiene, including the washing of hands or use of sanitizers:
c—Mandatory screening in all public places and buildings; d—Social distancing in all public places and at all times;
2–With effect from tomorrow Wednesday 22 July 2020, all business premises must operate from 0800HRS until 1500HRS, with the exception of providers of essential services.
3—As of tomorrow Wednesday 22 July 2020, all our Security Services must enforce a dusk-to-dawn curfew set to come into force daily between 1800HRS and 0600HRS. Only essential services are exempt from this curfew.
4–All business operations and premises are required to observe and enforce World Health organisation anti-COVID-19 standards which Include observing social distance at workplaces, wearing of masks at all times, regular screenings and strict hygienic standards at workplaces;
5–Only registered SMES which have been allocated workspaces will be allowed to operate, and must comply with the parameters and protocols set by the World Health Organisation.
6–Our food markets will remain open and operational, and must observe set measures, rules and requirements meant to uphold public health. Suppliers to markets should be facilitated to reach the markets, including by our Security Forces;
7—Inter-city/town public transport and inessential transport to all rural areas remain banned.
8–All approved buses and vehicles for public transport should ensure and enforce public health standards, including the screening of passengers before boarding, and the disinfecting of all public vehicles after each round trip;
9—Public gatherings for social, religious or political purposes remain banned. Funeral gatherings remain curtailed, In line with public health requirements.
10–Desertion from places of quarantine by returnees and infected persons, resulting in the exposure of innocent lives to the virus will be considered a criminal act and invite very robust response from our law- and public health-enforcement arms.
11—Anyone who knowingly exposes, aids, abets, or infects innocent persons, whether by breaching conditions of isolation or by encouraging actions which undermine public health measures which Government has announced or undertaken, will be liable, and severely punished accordingly.
This is one of the State Agents deployed to abduct @JobSikhala1's wife. His name is called Tobaiwa. He is drinking the beer called Eagle to summon courage to carry out the abduction. pic.twitter.com/SjNL5y4PW6
MISA ZIMBABWE STATEMENT TO THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS AGENDA ITEM NO.8 ON THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ZIMBABWE PRESENTED AT THE 66 ORDINARY SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS .
Chairperson, Honourable Commissioners, state delegates, ladies and gentlemen, the Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe Chapter (MISA Zimbabwe) presents this statement during the 66 Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).
The right to freedom of expression continues to be under attack in Zimbabwe. Of particular concern are the following violations:
Attacks on the media and safety of journalists: MISA Zimbabwe makes this submission as the country witnesses an upsurge in the number of journalists being attacked, harassed, intimidated, assaulted and detained.
As we speak Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono is in detention for daring to perform his journalistic duties. Since the beginning of the lockdown on 1 April 2020, to date, we have recorded 24 violations involving the police and uniformed forces.
Attempts to mutilate the Constitution: Instead of aligning the media and expression laws to the Constitution, the Harare administration is in the process of sponsoring a crusade of amendments through the Constitution Amendment No. 2 Bill, which proposes to amend the Constitution in 27 provisions. This will put the constitutional alignment process into disarray.
Façade of liberalisation of the airwaves: Zimbabwe has advertised for the application for private television; community radios and campus radio licences. The fees set for community radio broadcasting are steep ($2,000) in the context of statutory application procedures alone. The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill outlaws’ donations for the establishment of community radios and limits foreign direct investment to 20%.
Given the capital-intensive nature of the industry and the exorbitant licensing fees, the elite with their deep pockets will most likely continue dominating the industry.
It is MISA Zimbabwe’s well-considered view that it is literally impossible, in our current economic environment, to raise investment capital for broadcasting without stimulus support from the investment markets.
Presently, the broadcasting industry is owned and controlled by the ruling elite at national and provincial commercial levels.
It is therefore very likely that the very same voices already dominating the industry, are going to diversify into the television services industry while the rest of prospective broadcasters are crippled by the law from accessing foreign direct investment in addition to the exorbitant fees. Hence the justification and attempts by the government to license its own community radios.
Undemocratic governance of the internet: Zimbabwe is in the process of law-making for the regulation of cybersecurity and data protection which entrenches mass surveillance of citizens. It consolidates a securocratic approach towards internet governance as opposed to a pro-human rights approach in the regulation of the internet as provided for by the revised ACHPR Declaration of Freedom of Expression and Access to information. The Bill is a threat to the right to privacy as outlined under Section 57 of the Constitution.
Unfinished business of law reform: The enactment of the Freedom of Information Act, with its challenges and shortfalls, gives an impression that the archaic (Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA), has been repealed. There are still two outstanding bills that deal with regulation and privacy that are still to be concluded.
The Broadcasting Services Amendment Bill in its current state violates all the ACHPR instruments and protocols as set benchmarks.
A holistic approach towards law reforms: Outside the current target laws, there are a myriad of laws that are in violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which include, but are not limited to: Interception of Communications Act; Censorship and Entertainment Controls Act; Official Secrets Act; Criminal Law (Codification and Reforms) Act; and a horde of statutory instruments, among others.
MISA Zimbabwe remains open to constructive engagement with the Government. We, however, urge the ACHPR to encourage the Government of Zimbabwe to:
Take all measures necessary to guarantee the safety and security of journalists.
Take a stand on the quality of law reforms and liberalisation of broadcasting that are guided by regional best practices.
Ensure that the Cybersecurity regulation is informed by the revised principles of the ACHPR Declaration on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information which recognises the internet as a right.
Take a stand against the ongoing process by the ruling party of mutilating the Constitution, and that Zimbabwe should focus on aligning the repressive laws with the expansive Bill of Rights.
It is now observed that Covid-19 cases are escalating daily and this may put the lives of students and members of staff in our institutions at high risk.
In view of the foregoing, the Ministry is hereby directing that all tertiary education Institutions, with immediate effect, suspend face-to-face lectures on campus and continue with e-learning.
In this regard, all students should vacate halls of residence by Friday, 24 July 2020.
The Ministry is working flat out to ensure all institutions are adequately resourced with the necessary infrastructure to facilitate access to quality e-learning-Higher and Tertiary Education Ministry
By A Correspondent| In July 2017, the businessman turned politician, Nkosana Moyo appeared on ZimEye.com where he announced his argument that Emmmerson Mnangagwa, then deputy President of Zimbabwe must be given a chance.
Nkosana Moyo whose brainchild is the Econet brand, did not stop there, but went forward to say that if Mnangagwa takes over from Robert Mugabe, he would stabilise Zimbabwe. Exactly 3 years later, we carry out a review of his claims. The video is below:
The government has warned pro-democracy activists who are planning to hold street protests on July 31 that they will be treated like terrorists and likely end up being jailed.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the Daily News on Sunday that authorities will not fold their hands and allow malcontents to demonstrate in the middle of a pandemic and infect other people with coronavirus.
Said Ziyambi: Anyone who goes into the streets against that advice is equivalent to a terrorist … so that we can deal with them accordingly.
All information has been put in the public domain to say that this pandemic is serious …
Anyone who then disregards those regulations and exposes people to danger in that manner I don’t see any reason why we cannot find a law that we can use in terms of terrorism activity to deal with those individuals.
Police on Monday arrested the main organiser of the protests Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of a small opposition political party called Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) and charged him with contravening Section 187(1)(a) as read with section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act, Chapter 9:23, “incitement to participate in public violence’.
Unbridled corruption which has cost the country billions of dollars and the general socio-economic decay which has accelerated since the November 2017 military coup has generated despondency and hopelessness among Zimbabweans-Daily News
The government has warned pro-democracy activists who are planning to hold street protests on July 31 that they will be treated like terrorists and likely end up being jailed.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the Daily News on Sunday that authorities will not fold their hands and allow malcontents to demonstrate in the middle of a pandemic and infect other people with coronavirus.
Said Ziyambi: Anyone who goes into the streets against that advice is equivalent to a terrorist … so that we can deal with them accordingly.
All information has been put in the public domain to say that this pandemic is serious …
Anyone who then disregards those regulations and exposes people to danger in that manner I don’t see any reason why we cannot find a law that we can use in terms of terrorism activity to deal with those individuals.
Police on Monday arrested the main organiser of the protests Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of a small opposition political party called Transform Zimbabwe (TZ) and charged him with contravening Section 187(1)(a) as read with section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law [Codification and Reform] Act, Chapter 9:23, “incitement to participate in public violence’.
Unbridled corruption which has cost the country billions of dollars and the general socio-economic decay which has accelerated since the November 2017 military coup has generated despondency and hopelessness among Zimbabweans-Daily News
BIRMINGHAM. — ASTON VILLA sneaked out of the relegation zone, for the first time since February, and gave themselves a chance to stay in the English Premiership when the season comes to an end on Sunday.
Dean Smith’s men shocked Arsenal 1-0 at Villa Park last night, with Egyptian forward Trezeguet scoring a wonder goal in the first half, to go ahead of Watford who slumped to a 0-4 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City yesterday.
It was the first league win for Villa over the Gunners since Dion Dublin scored late in 1998 and Arsenal were just lifeless they failed to get even a shot on target all night.
Substitute Chris Wilcox came closest for the visitors, with his headed effort coming off the post, but this was a victory Villa thoroughly deserved and, incredibly, they could even lose their final match against West Ham and still survive.
Zimbabwean midfielder Marvelous Nakamba was introduced in the 72nd minute, as Villa looked to close shop, and he provided the energy they wanted at that time as the Gunners, who dominated possession in the second half, appeared to be gaining an advantage in midfield. The game should have been safe for Villa, without the need for the nervy finish, but substitute Keinan Davis dragged his effort wide of goal when through on goal.
Meanwhile, Watford failed to ease their relegation fears in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s surprise sacking as they were hammered 0-4 by a Raheem Sterling-inspired Manchester City last night.
Defeat means the Hornets’ battle to stay up will go to the final day of the season on Sunday, when they visit Arsenal.
Pearson became the Hornets’ third managerial casualty of the campaign on Monday, leaving Under-23 coach Hayden Mullins and his assistant Graham Stack in charge for their final two games.
And they could hardly have had a tougher first assignment than against City, who completed the double over them with this win, at an aggregate score of 12-0 — a joint top-flight record for one team against another in a single season.
Sterling took the game away from the home side before half-time, firing in a rising shot to open the scoring before doubling the advantage by following up his own saved penalty — awarded for a foul on him by Will Hughes.
Phil Foden added a third after Ben Foster had parried a Sterling shot before Aymeric Laporte nodded in from Kevin de Bruyne’s free-kick-The Herald
Harare mayor councillor Herbert Gomba has refuted claims that he is in hiding following the arrests of top managers fingered in a US$1 million land scam.
Mayor Gomba indicated that he would be going to have a kidney operation in South Africa.
The director of housing and community services Addmore Nhekairo, his predecessor and now acting director human and capital resources Matthew Marara are among top council officials arrested over alleged illicit land deals.
His deputy, councillor Enock Mupamawonde is the acting mayor. Quizzed over his whereabouts yesterday, Cllr Gomba said he was taking a short break.
He said depending on doctors’ advice he might be absent from office for about two or three months. – Herald
Farai Dziva|State security agents attempted to abduct MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official, Arnold Batirai Dube on in Bulawayo Monday night.
See full statement below :
20-07-2020
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Deputy National Local Governance Secretary, Clr Arnold Batirai Dube is fearing for his life after he escaped abduction by a whisker at his home’s gate last night.
Four men in a white Nissan cab tried to bundle Clr Dube inside the car at his gate but fortunately the Bulawayo MDC Alliance Youth leader managed to escape.
Clr Batirai is currently seeking refuge at a friend’s place.
This is not the first time Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimate regime has used uncouth means in face of public outburst.
Just as they have done ahead of January 2019 demonstrations, the panic stricken regime is at it again ahead of 31 July impending protests.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Civil servants are still access their allowances which were celebrated by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.
Mthuli’s ministry struck a “deal” with banks and shops on how civil servants can use their US$75 monthly allowances and Government pensioners their US$30 tax-free Covid-19 relief allowances, and the money has been transferred to banks.
Mthuli Ncube said the arrangements for bank accounts to be created and shops to be able to receive payments were now in place, and that allowed the start of the payment of the allowances.
Prof Ncube told the briefing after the Cabinet meeting that the Government had since transferred the money to banks and civil servants and Government pensioners should be able to use the money very soon.
“Yes the modalities for accessing the money have now been put in place. Banks were supposed to come up with ways to open accounts; that has been done, that was the first step.
“The second step was to make sure retailers are able to receive payments for goods and services, so that has been put in place. Please note that there has been progress and that allowance is tax-free as previously announced and we will capture that in the Finance Bill,” said Prof Ncube.
There has been anxiety among civil servants after some of them received messages from the banks notifying them about the US dollar deposits but could not access the money because the modalities had not yet been spelt out to both the banks and shops.
This was after the Government had indicated that the money would not be withdrawn in physical notes, but through electronic cards that would be used in shops.
Earlier on, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said Cabinet received principles to tighten the Copper Control Act owing to the upsurge in cases of vandalism and theft of cables resulting in destruction of infrastructure at Zesa, TelOne and National Railways Zimbabwe.
It was noted the vandalism not only led to loss of lives due to accidents, but took a toll on the economy.
“The amendments seek to institute stiffer penalties in order to curb the theft of copper and related products and thereby safeguard the critical infrastructure.”
The minister said the amendment Bill will seek, among other provisions, to criminalise: vandalism of equipment and theft of power transmission cables; dealing in stolen copper; and all dealership without possession of certificate of origin for all the copper they deal in. Penalties will rise with the mandatory sentence for those found dealing illegally in copper being 30 years.
She said Cabinet approved the Devolution and Decentralisation Policy, as part of the formulation process for the National Development Strategy for 2020-2025.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the policy establishes the necessary conditions for provincial and rural district councils as well as other lower-tier governance and administrative structures to exercise devolved powers.
“The empowered sub-national entities will be supervised through policies and Acts of Parliament which are consistent with the Constitution. Consequently, some sections of the Constitution will be amended and the enabling legislation aligned to the Constitution,” said Minister Mutsvangwa. –Herald
A cop at a roadblock in Masvingo today threatened to shoot a TellZim journalist. The police officer had demanded that Upenyu Chaota go back home as 'nobody' was allowed to get into town. The journalist was then detained for an hour & forced to sit on the ground. @misazimbabwe
Brandishing an assault rifle, the officer refused to accept Chaota's presscard saying he was illiterate and could not read. Under the Covid-19 national lockdown regulations, the media are considered an essential service provider. The lockdown is very tight in Masvingo today.
I was not surprised to read your letter to Congressman Michael McCaul purportedly representing “the entire population of Zimbabwe” is your futile effort as Chairperson of the unconstitutional POLAD’s International Relations and Re-engagement Sub-Committee to persuade the international community to lobby for the removal of sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Dr. Khupe, you cannot honestly say that you “speak as a voice for the Zimbabwean people who are suffering” when you have not consulted with the suffering people of Zimbabwe who know that the reason for the suffering is corruption. Even by the election results announced by the Zimbabwe Elections Commission, the number of people who voted for all the parties represented in POLAD is nowhere near 60 per cent of the country’s population, so that is not “the entire population of Zimbabwe”. As holder of a PhD, you know that you were not telling the truth in your letter because living in Zimbabwe as you do, you are expected to know very well that the majority of the people of Zimbabwe who are suffering know the cause of their sorrowful plight, which is mismanagement of the economy and corruption by both the Mugabe and Emmerson Mnangagwa regimes.
The intended trip to the USA is another cause of the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe, because it was only an opportunity of those who were to make the trip to make money for themselves through the hefty allowances given for such trips. The world knows even how Emmerson Mnangagwa took Zanu PF youths to the United Nations Convention, youths who had nothing at all to to with the deliberations at the United Nations General Assembly. You are on record, Dr. Khupe, saying you are in politics to make money, hence the majority of Zimbabweans are bound to think that your foreign trips to lobby countries who are represented in Zimbabwe are just money making trips.
The United States Government is represented in Zimbabwe and all those issues you have about sanctions have been addressed by the United States of America Embassy in Zimbabwe and the Delegation of the European Union representative in Zimbabwe, who, together with representatives of other Governments have said the regime in Zimbabwe which you seem to have become part of as evidenced by this attempt to lobby foreign Governments to remove sanctions, have reiterated the need for internal reforms before sanctions can be removed. So do first things first, tell the Government that you have become part of through the assignments you are carrying out as Chairperson of POLAD’s International Relations and Re-engagement Committee to reform, and everything will fall into place.
Dr. Khupe, your Government has been told what it has to do in order to get targeted sanctions removed so many times, and you need to tell it harder to them, being part of them. You need to join the growing chorus of individuals and organisations that are denouncing Government for lack of reform. What you have done through your letter to Congressman Michael McCaul has proved beyond any doubt that you have become part of the repressive regime led by Comrade Mnangagwa, proving your point when you said as reported by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation that you will continue to support President Mnangagwa.
The cancer that has caused the suffering of Zimbabweans is being revealed on several occasions, the latest being the expose around the Farm Mechanisation Programme in which the President of the country alone benefited nearly half a million United States dollars. Instead of spending energy and tax payers’ money on trips to the United States and other parts of the world, you, Dr. Khupe, are better off expending your energy fighting the corrupt system in Zimbabwe and the human rights abuses perpetrated by the regime. Regardless of whoever benefited, the idea by a Government to let people, mostly Zanu PF officials, get away with so much money obviously affects the economy, and contributes to the suffering, not sanctions in the form of targeted restrictive measures. People who benefited, whoever they are, must pay back.
The Farm Mechanisation Programme was not to the only scheme that has milked the country’s resources, there are many other programmes, including Command Agriculture which have caused Zimbabwe’s economic woes. I am sure you know some of such schemes Dr. Khupe, and that is what you must fight, not to spend the little resources the country has enjoying foreign trips for the sake of lining your pockets with filthy got money.
I hope, Dr. Khupe, that you will reflect on the evidence that has been availed since your letter to Congressman Michael McCaul and admit you were misinformed at the time you wrote the letter, unless of cause if you have become permanently married to Zanu PF. You, so sure, and all those following you are a Zanu PF project, as confirmed by your statement that you will “continue to President Mnangagwa”, have become a Zanu PF project in the eyes of the suffering people of Zimbabwe. You have taken the “if you can’t beat them, join them” stance, and congratulations in your new chosen romance with Zanu PF.
The cat and mouse game and the harassment of our family members as evidenced by the illegal chase of Vice National Chairman Hon Job Sikhala’s wife can never be tolerated.
We can never ever accept a society whereby citizens live in constant fear of the very same people who stole their ballot through the gun.
31 July will never be stopped by senseless illegal arrests and harassment of innocent citizens.
What Emmerson Mnangagwa is doing is akin to fueling public wrath.
Our patience has been outstretched to the limit and as normal citizens we are forced to act in the most fashionable acts understood by dictators!
No to illegal arrests!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouth Assembly NationalSpokesperson
The event will be exploring the deals that are set to shape up the post-Covid-19 German-African economic and business relations…
BERLIN, Germany, July 21, 2020/ — While Covid-19 has hit world markets very hard, African economies are showing more resilience than others. Out of the 37 countries escaping recession this year, 22 are Africans according to the IMF’s latest forecasts. Post Covid-19, Africa will remain the fastest growing region in the world, and one where a new world also means new deals. German companies have increasingly made successful business in Africa over the recent past, and opportunities for German businesses and public sector companies will only grow as Africa builds sustainability and cleaner energy mixes in a post Covid-19 world.
To explore the opportunities offered to German companies in a post Covid-19 Africa, the Germany-Africa Business Forum (GABF) will be organizing an exclusive webinar in cooperation with Africa Oil & Power on Aug. 6, 2020 at 4 p.m. South Africa Standard Time. The event will be exploring the deals that are set to shape up the post-Covid-19 German-African economic and business relations. Key confirmed participants include, among others, NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman at the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group; Sebastian Wagner, Co-Founder of the GABF and Executive Director at DMWA Resources; and Tim Gengnagel, Deal Accelerator at Rwanda Development Boar.
“Covid-19 has shown us how quickly the world can be brought to a standstill and how fragile the current global economy is. In such times of crisis, it is especially important to show solidarity and fight the virus together,” said Sebastian Wagner, Co-Founder of the GABF. “Nevertheless, the crisis should not be seen in a purely negative light. Instead, we should use the time of deceleration to reflect on the mistakes of the past and thus build the foundations for a more stable network between Germany and Africa,” he added.
The webinar will put a specific focus on digitalization and energy transition, two major pillars on which the economic and investment cooperation between Germany and Africa is expected to grow in the future.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to “arrest the entire nation.”
Sithole condemned the persecution of Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume and prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
“If the state is so determined to arrest then they must be ready to arrest the entire nation.
The fight for democracy is unstoppable, no amount of intimidation will stop an idea whose time has come. The voices of change are stronger than handcuffs,”wrote Sithole on Facebook.
Arrest The Entire Nation, MDC Alliance Tells Mnangagwa
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leader Tererai Obey Sithole has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to “arrest the entire nation.”
Sithole condemned the persecution of Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume and prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
Said Sithole:
“If the state is so determined to arrest then they must be ready to arrest the entire nation.
The fight for democracy is unstoppable, no amount of intimidation will stop an idea whose time has come. The voices of change are stronger than handcuffs.”
Own Correspondent|Masvingo based cleric, Isaac Makomichi has urged fellow preachers to pray for Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
The two were arrested on Monday for allegedly inciting violence.
Makomichi described the call as a spiritual move rather than a political one:
"Prophet" Makomichi Calls For Day Of Prayer For Hopewell Chin'ono, Jacob Ngarivhume. ..https://t.co/VMoEoDE9Tq
MDC national chairperson Morgen Komichi has questioned the rationale of the protests at a time when the country is grappling with a global pandemic and its devastating impact on lives and livelihoods.
“I don’t know the rationale of this, but this does not smell good.
Why put people’s lives at risk for money, why the protests now? As the MDC we will not be part to the charade,” said Komichi.
In a letter to its members, the Zimbabwe People Party said it will not participate in the planned demonstrations because Jacob Ngarivhume did not inform other opposition parties of the safety measures that will be taken to protect the marchers and that he has not sought clearance from the police as is required under the country’s laws.
“The ZPP guidelines values the safety of members and Zimbabweans at large and in the absence of Covid-19 safety precautions and guidelines from Mr Ngarivhume, it is hence very difficult for ZPP members to take part because their safety is not guaranteed-State media
MDC national chairperson Morgen Komichi has questioned the rationale of the protests at a time when the country is grappling with a global pandemic and its devastating impact on lives and livelihoods.
“I don’t know the rationale of this, but this does not smell good.
Why put people’s lives at risk for money, why the protests now? As the MDC we will not be part to the charade,” said Komichi.
In a letter to its members, the Zimbabwe People Party said it will not participate in the planned demonstrations because Jacob Ngarivhume did not inform other opposition parties of the safety measures that will be taken to protect the marchers and that he has not sought clearance from the police as is required under the country’s laws.
“The ZPP guidelines values the safety of members and Zimbabweans at large and in the absence of Covid-19 safety precautions and guidelines from Mr Ngarivhume, it is hence very difficult for ZPP members to take part because their safety is not guaranteed-State media
Seventy-six prisoners and 25 correctional officers at Bulawayo prison have reportedly tested positive for coronavirus.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube said she was advised yesterday that Grey Prison had recorded some COVID-19 cases, adding that she had verified with Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials and they were at loss over the development.
“I have just verified with them, they are also at loss,” Ncube said.
“I will be having a meeting with relevant offices tomorrow (today).”
She, however, could not be drawn into revealing the number of cases recorded. But sources told Southern Eye that 76 inmates and 25 correctional officers tested positive for COVID-19.
ZPCS spokesperson Superintendent Meya Khanyezi said she was still gathering the statistics and would call back before the end of the day, but had not done so at the time of going to print.
I am a politician, but I am not writing this letter to you in that capacity. I am writing to you as a young woman, as a citizen and as part of a generation to whom a debt is due.
When we were little, we were told we were “born-free” but for reasons caused by this government, we go everywhere in chains. We are demanding our freedom because this great nation feels like prison. We were told that a war of liberation was fought on our behalf, and that a world of opportunity had been opened. However, with each passing day, it is becoming evident that the oppressor only changed name, face and colour but his methods, laws and operations have remained exactly the same.
The social contract between the state and the people has been broken and replaced by threats of arrest, persecution and underhand punishment for those who dare challenge the torn fabric of a once promising dream.
Why must build a nation with all the ingredients for success be a graveyard for aspiration?
Why must the rich fly in private jets while the poor get stuffed like sardines in rickety buses?
Why must the many toil and sweat but starve so that the few can live like royalty?
Why is it a crime to want a better society?
Why is a crime to want funding for public health and schools?
Why is it a crime to demand jobs or modern infrastructure?
Why is it a crime to seek accountability for the money that we pay in taxes?
Why is it a crime to protest against hunger?
Why are the police who are meant to protect and secure the lives of citizens mimicking the behaviour of the Special Branch by breaking into the homes of journalists who speak out against corruption?
Why do those who are innocent get treated like criminals, yet criminals go scot-free?
Imagine if all the young people who are arrested on spurious charges of subversion were included in the economy, and spending all those wasted court hours contributing towards the economy through innovation and productivity? Imagine if all the lawyers who waste time arguing bail applications for the pro-democracy activists that are continuously arrested on bogus charges spent their time working on mergers and acquisitions that would grow and develop the economy? Imagine if the property rights framework of the nation enabled more of that to happen? Imagine if people were so inspired by the national vision that they were not planning endless strikes and protests but they were knuckling down to work and they were rewarded in a meaningful currency for their hard work?
Zimbabweans deserve better and more. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired. There is a generation that is ready to pick up the broken pieces and re-write the contract that you repeatedly breach through violations of the Constitution and fundamental freedoms.
People deserve hope. People deserve an ecosystem that allows them to work hard and reap the rewards of their hard work. People deserve to be free and secure in their homes. People deserve a government that they can trust. We will never stop believing in the beauty of this nation, regardless of the madness. But the madness must stop.
When people unite and find their collective voice to fight injustice, a nation is reborn.
ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu has gone into quarantine after he recently returned from Tanzania, CITE can reveal.
Quarantine is for returnees from high-risk countries and such a measure is crucial to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Zimbabwe has a 21-day mandatory quarantine for returning residents and visitors, with testing supposed to be done on Day One, Day Eight and Day 21.
But the country faces challenges in testing, which results in some returnees staying more than the required days, as they can only be released and cleared after being issued a Covid-19 certificate.
In an interview with CITE, Mpofu, 69, said he had been in quarantine since last week.
“I am in quarantine as we speak. I recently came back from Tanzania and will be in quarantine until the eighth day (for the second round of tests),” he said.
Mpofu noted that on the way to Tanzania he went through a rigorous process to be cleared and endured the same procedure when he came back to Zimbabwe.
“After the rigorous screening I am now actually waiting for Day Eight, after which I will be re tested,” said the Zanu-PF official.
Mpofu noted he was following the prescribed guidelines carefully, highlighting that due his age, he could be vulnerable to Covid-19.
“Covid-19 is unfriendly to us senior people, that is why I have to be careful,” he said.
His last portfolio in government was in September 2018, when Mpofu served as Minister of Home Affairs from 2017.
Previously he was Minister of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion; Minister of Industry and International Trade; Minister of Mines and Mining Development; and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
When the Cabinet was dissolved on November 27, 2017, he was reappointed as Minister of Home Affairs in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s first cabinet on 30 November 2017.
Mpofu was later removed from the Zimbabwe cabinet in September 2018 to serve as Zanu-PF’s Secretary for Administration.
A courier truck ferrying test samples for the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) was hijacked in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane has confirmed.
Mabuyane used his weekly media briefing on Tuesday to condemn criminal activity he said happened on Monday afternoon.
“Yesterday we received reports that a courier vehicle transporting Covid-19 specimens for the NHLS was hijacked in Port Elizabeth and criminals who did this took a white container with the specimens,” he said. “We condemn this act of criminality, which puts the lives of people at risk.”
He said anyone who sees a white cooler box must report to the police.
This is not the first time that there has been a mishap with Covid-19 test kits. Last month hundreds of kits — all marked as urgent — were found dumped on the side of a national road in the Eastern Cape.
At the time of writing, police had not been able to confirm the latest incident.
This is one of the State Agents deployed to abduct @JobSikhala1's wife. His name is called Tobaiwa. He is drinking the beer called Eagle to summon courage to carry out the abduction. pic.twitter.com/SjNL5y4PW6
Exiled Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi has sensationally claimed that the Military Intelligence Directorate was plotting to abduct the wife of firebrand MDC leader Job Sikhala in a bid to force him to surrender himself.
Said Mzembi, “Sympathetic Reports from the System suggesting an MID unit in Chitungwiza is trying to abduct Mrs @JobSikhala1 and blackmail husband to surrender. I have all your location details, registration numbers of cars, leave his family out of it! (sic)”
On Monday Sikhala posted on Twitter that his wife was being chased by 3 cars without registration numbers displayed.
Sympathetic Reports from the System suggesting an MID unit in Chitungwiza is trying to abduct Mrs @JobSikhala1 and blackmail husband to surrender . I have all your location details , registration numbers of cars , leave his family out of it !
Khartoum – Sudan is on Tuesday set to begin a trial against ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir for leading a military coup that brought him to power 31 years ago.
Al-Bashir is scheduled to appear in court in the capital, Khartoum, at 0800 GMT to face charges of undermining the constitution, violating the Armed Forces Act and rebellion, Al-Moez Hadra, one of a group of lawyers who filed the criminal lawsuit, told dpa.
The 76-year-old will stand trial with 16 co-accused, among them two of al-Bashir’s former vice presidents as well as former ministers and governors.
If convicted, al-Bashir, who is already imprisoned for corruption, could face the death sentence.
Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 after he lead a military coup against democratically elected Prime Minister Sadek al-Mahdi.
He was ousted in April 2019 after months of pro-democracy street protests and mass sit-ins.
Al-Bashir was convicted in late 2019 on corruption charges, but was never tried for alleged crimes against humanity committed under his 30-year iron fist rule.
The volatile nation in the Horn of Africa is currently run by a transitional government made up of military and civilian personnel. dpa
By A Correspondent- Four people including a 3-months-old baby died on the spot after a commuter omnibus they were travelling in dislodged a rear tyre and veered off the road.
The accident happened in the wee hours of Tuesday morning along Kwekwe-Gokwe Highway.
National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the commuter omnibus, a Nissan Caravan was travelling towards Gokwe when disaster struck.
He identified the deceased as Precious Ndlovu, Mariah Ndlovu whose ages were not given and Progress Chapiringana (3) as well as Mellisa Jeke (3months).
“I can confirm that four people died on the spot after the vehicle they were travelling dislodged a rear right tyre. Upon approaching the 9-kilometer peg near Tiger Reef, the vehicle dislodged its rear right tyre and the driver lost control of the vehicle at around 2:45 AM on Tuesday morning,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.
The vehicle, which had seven passengers on board, swerved a number of times before overturning and landing on its right side.
Four people died on the spot while the injured were rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital where they are said to be in a stable condition.
Ass Comm Nyathi warned the public against travelling at night.
“We caution the public against travelling at night especially during this time of covid-19. We warn motorists also to check the condition of their vehicles before embarking on journeys,” he said.
Khartoum, Sudan – The trial of deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir started in Khartoum on Tuesday over his role in the 1989 coup d’etat that propelled him to power. He faces a maximum sentence of death.
Amid tight security measures, Bashir, 76, appeared wearing a face mask in the procedural session which was broadcast live on state-run Sudan TV.
Tuesday’s proceedings were adjourned to August 11 by presiding Judge Essam El-dein Mohamad Ibrahim.
Twenty-seven other prominent Islamic, civilian and military leaders from Bashir’s regime are also facing charges of “a coup against a constitutional system.”
Only 16 defendants were present on Tuesday, according to Sudan TV, including Bashir, and his two former deputies, Ali Othman Mohammad Taha and Bakri Hassan Saleh.Sudan will have deposed president Omar al-Bashir appear before the ICC to face war crimes charges
Bashir is already serving a two-year sentence at a correctional facility on convictions of corruption and illegal possession of foreign currency. He was jailed last year following months of protests and a pro-democracy uprising that brought his repressive three-decade rule to an end.
During Tuesday’s session, defense lawyers asked to adjourn to a later date as the conditions set by the World Health Organization for coronavirus social distancing were not in place inside the court.
One lawyer asked the court to take into consideration social distancing for the defendants and the attendees in the courtroom, which the judge accepted for future dates.
Separately, Bashir faces five counts of crimes against humanity and two counts of war crimes at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague over Sudan’s military campaign in Darfur between 2003 and 2008, in which an estimated 300,000 people were killed, according to the UN. In February, the Sudanese government said Bashir would appear before the ICC to face those charges.
Police in Harare on 21 July 2020 searched the home of arrested journalist Hopewell Chin’ono for documents and other articles he used in allegedly committing the offence of inciting public violence for which he is being charged with.
On 20 July 2020, Chin’ono was charged with contravening Section 187 (1) (a) as read with Section 37 (1) (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, or alternatively for contravening Section 187 (1) (a) as read with Section 36(1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
The charges relate to incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry or alternatively incitement to commit public violence.
Following his arrest, the police went to his home with the intention of searching for evidence, but could not do so, as they failed to produce a warrant of search.
However, Harare magistrate, Judith Taruvinga, subsequently granted the police the search and seizure warrant. The police then returned to “conduct a search at the house for any documents and other articles used by the accused to commit the offence”.
In the execution of the warrant, police clashed with Chin’ono’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, as they sought to confiscate the journalist’s camera. Mtetwa argued that the alleged offence was said to have been committed through a tweet, which does not include the use of a camera.
In addition, the warrant did not include the seizure of a camera and was only limited to documents, she argued.
MISA Zimbabwe is yet to ascertain what documents were collected as part of the investigations by the police officers.
Chin’ono remains detained at Harare Central Police Station, where he spent the night in police cells on Monday night. He is yet to appear before the courts.
** All non-working sections of our population will be required to stay at home; except for food water and health services
** With effect from tomorrow 22 July 2020, all business premises must operate from 0800 – 1500hours, with exception of providers of Essential Services. Only Essential Services are exempt from this curfew
Watch video downloading below. Please be patient while the video downloads.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has tightened lockdown measures again on the back of a spike in new COVID-19 cases.
Under the new measures, only essential services will be allowed in the Central business district while non-working population has been ordered to stay at home.
Key highlights from the address includes;
-6pm to 6am curfew with effect from tomorrow. The curfew will be enforced by security forces
-Only essential services allowed to work
-Businesses to operate from 8am to 3pm
-Intercity travel banned
Security forces to enforce compliance to WHO guidelines
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned that the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country are calling upon for stringent control measures. Watch video downloading below as he addresses the nation. Please be patient as the video downloads.
This Marriages Bill, 2019, repeals and replaces the current Customary Marriages Act [Chapter 5:07] and the Marriage Act [Chapter 5:11]. There will be one Act of Parliament governing marriages in Zimbabwe and the new Act will also update the law in line with the Constitution.
Watch video downloading below. Please be patient as the video downloads.
File picture of police officers waiting for instructions to pounce on striking citizens.
In something that has probably never been heard of before, Zimbabwe’s security services leaders have published a statement claiming that it’s members are being enticed to rebel against commands by members of the public.
In a media statement presented by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the Security Services claim that social media messages are being circulated to its officers engaging them to rebel against authorities.
It is not imaginable how under normal circumstances the trained officers could rebel against their authorities on the basis of social media statements.
Critics claim that the panic message from the police could be warning signs that things are not well within the Security Services ahead of the July 31 Protests.
History As Undocumented Zimbabwean Gambler “Mablango” Is Mourned In Luton Park UK
Luton, England. (News of The South) History was made in the UK on Saturday night on July 18 when popular Zimbabwean Tendayi Masosomere aka “Mablango” was mourned at Riverley Park in Luton. “Mablango” died in Luton early this week.
Mablango lived in the UK for 20 years, having left his wife and two children in Zimbabwe. He’d not been back to Zimbabwe due to lack of documentation. He passed away in the UK early last week.
Most of the Zimbabweans who attended the bbq wake work in healthcare but from images and videos it clearly shows they failed to observe UK government guidelines on Coronavirus. People who were doing the bbq were touching the meat with bare hands, no handwashing, passing the meat to eat to others using bare hands, no masks and no social distancing was observed. One of the sisters who lives in Oxford and runs a healthcare agency was also present and made no attempt to keep everyone safe. As it stands one man who attended is complaining of a sore throat and reality has just struck that it might be coronavirus.

Zimbabwean community in Luton teamed up and gathered at Riverley Park just two minutes from Tendayi’s house where they had a bbq and were drinking the night away while blasting music in the park. Luton police dispersed the crowd at 2am after receiving complaints from surrounding neighbours.
This is the first time a Zimbabwean was mourned in a UK park, people travelled to Luton from all over the UK.
According to the people who gathered in the park ” Mablango” had many girlfriends including one named Florence who was known to be a high spender spending his money when his business was booming. They were surprised as to why she didnt come to the park to mourn him. Florence was known to frequent Mablango’s house where she stayed for three days per week.
One Zimbabwean man volunteered and bought lots of meat for the bbq. Another lady cooked sadza at her house and brought for people to eat at the park. During the BBQ one man spoke about how Mablango used to frequent the Whitehouse pub in Luton, he was always there buying drinks and beer for people. He became respected and popular because of that and earned himself the name ‘ Mablango”. Mablango was also known for helping fellow Zimbabweans with money and paid rent for people but when he was in time of need not many people were helping him. He would beg for money at the Asda car park in Luton where he would meet Zimbabweans where he told them he needed money for basics but most he had helped in the past would ignore him. A few good samaritans would buy basic commodities for him. Mablango’s fellow Zimbabweans in Luton failed him by failing to signpost him to organisations who could have assisted him in his time of need.
So far £4000 has been raised for ‘Mablango so he can be repatriated back to Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans value their culture and respect that one should be buried back home when they die. Friends are planning to visit the Zimbabwean Embassy in London and process repatriation papers. Max, one of Mablango’s friends is collecting the donations.
One of Mablango’s friends who attended the funeral wake at Riverley park said: ” I wonder why people sre now contributing for his repatriation but when he was alive and needing help they were reluctant to assist. Despite knowing he had financial problems fue to being unable to work, his close friends ignored him. More could have been done for him”
A whatsapp group created specifically for Mablango has about 200 people and they are all chipping in with funds.
“Mablango’” lived in Brooks Street in Luton where his Asian landlord allowed him to stay for free because he understood his problem of not working.
During his hey days when the freight business was booming “Mablango” was a party animal and was seen at almost every party in the UK. He was also a heavy gambler and frequented places like Coral betting shop and many more in Luton as well as Bingo places and casinos. At the Whitehouse bar they appreciated his custom such that they gave him a VIP spot and his table was always swarmed by Zimbabweans wanting a free drink and meal. “Mablango” was well known for filling up people’s car tanks when he sent them to Luton train station to pick up his girlfriend Florence and bring her to Whitehouse.
At one time he had a Zimbabwean girlfriend who was also a Nurse living in watford she was in the picture before Florence. The girlfriend once went to Zimbabwe where she went to find Mablango’s wife and officially introduced herself to the wife showing off that she was now the number woman in Mablango’s life.

“Mablango” was born and bred in Mabvuku. Most people who grew up in Mabvuku are based in luton and they are all coming together in community spirit to support ‘
A close of “Mablango” narrated how he has two sisters living in the UK and that they didn’t get along so didn’t keep in touch that often. The friend sais at least one of the sisters attended the funeral wake in the park.
Many Zimbabweans and other immigrants are struggling in the UK where life is getting tougher everyday. Others are fortunate to get assistance in times of need but others fail to get any support and end up with serious problems. There is a rapid increase in mental health cases and some are caused by hardships when one is so far away from home.
Giant mobile phone service provider ECONET Wireless has announced that it will be closing all its shops after members of staff tested positive of Covid-19.
The company sent a message to its subscribers informing them of the closure late on Tuesday afternoon.
The message reads as follows:
“All Econet Shops will be temporarily closed from 22 July as some staff members tested positive to COVID-19. For Econet, queries call 111 or WhatsApp 0777222904/5
FOUR people including a 3-months-old baby died on the spot after a commuter omnibus they were travelling in dislodged a rear tyre and veered off the road.
The accident happened in the wee hours of Tuesday morning along Kwekwe-Gokwe Highway.
National Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the commuter omnibus, a Nissan Caravan was travelling towards Gokwe when disaster struck.
He identified the deceased as Precious Ndlovu, Mariah Ndlovu whose ages were not given and Progress Chapiringana (3) as well as Mellisa Jeke (3months).
“I can confirm that four people died on the spot after the vehicle they were travelling dislodged a rear right tyre. Upon approaching the 9-kilometer peg near Tiger Reef, the vehicle dislodged its rear right tyre and the driver lost control of the vehicle at around 2:45 AM on Tuesday morning,” said Ass Comm Nyathi.
The vehicle, which had seven passengers on board, swerved a number of times before overturning and landing on its right side.
Four people died on the spot while the injured were rushed to Kwekwe General Hospital where they are said to be in a stable condition.
Ass Comm Nyathi warned the public against travelling at night.
“We caution the public against travelling at night especially during this time of covid-19. We warn motorists also to check the condition of their vehicles before embarking on journeys,” he said.
Fellow Zimbabweans
We wish to commend you on the courage and resilience that you have collectively demonstrated since the arrest of the two leaders about 24 hours ago. We want to assure you that together, in unity and peace we can do this.
We have learnt that Journalist Hopewell Chin`ono and Transform Zimbabwe President Jacob Ngarivhume will be taken to court tomorrow, Wednesday the 22nd of July 2020. As per our statement immediately after their arrest, we believe that their arrest was unfair, unlawful and uncalled for. They therefore should not have been arrested in the first place, not least in the barbaric manner that they were arrested.
It is therefore our strongly held belief and conviction that the courts must release the two as soon as they arrive at court tomorrow. In this regard, we urge all Zimbabwean citizens to pour out in their millions to peacefully express their solidarity with Hopewell and Jacob and to register their disgust against the abuse of the law and state institutions by ZANU PF to silence human rights activists and anti-corruption whistle blowers.
Thus, tomorrow, People in Harare are urged to converge at the Rottenrow Magistrate`s courts at 0900AM and come prepared to sleep there if need be. Those who are outside of Harare must peacefully assembly at the biggest court near them.
While all this must be done peacefully and non-violently, citizens are encouraged to stand strong and resist any attempts to disperse them before the two are unconditionally released.
We expect our national law enforcement agencies to act in accordance with the country`s laws and constitution and abide by well-established professional best practices of the institutions that they represent.
Let us continue to vigilantly guard against trappings of violence, which is the state`s domain Let’s forge ahead in peace and unity until victory, which is certain.
For further information, please send all your correspondence through whatsaap on the following numbers: +971564951039, +227785324637, www.tajamuka.co.zw
The Zimbabwe dollar continued to lose value against the United States dollar after trading at an average of 72.1470 at this week’s auction, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reports.
Top lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu famous for representing opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has challenged his continuous placement on remand on charges of corruptly concealing a transaction from a principal and two counts of defeating or obstructing the course of justice with alternative charges of fraud and perjury.
Through his lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, Mpofu made an application for revocation of his placement on remand on the basis that the facts relied upon by the State did not constitute a reasonable suspicion that the alleged offences were committed.
In response, prosecutor Michael Reza, with the assistance of Lovet Masuku, opposed the application for lack of merit adding that the issues raised by Mpofu were triable.
He said it was improper for Mpofu to prejudge the State’s case by calling it an “unjustified” prosecution before hearing the full facts.
The magistrate, Munamato Mutevedzi remanded the case to July 23 for ruling.
Farai Dziva|State security agents attempted to abduct MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official, Arnold Batirai Dube on in Bulawayo Monday night.
See full statement below :
20-07-2020
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Deputy National Local Governance Secretary, Clr Arnold Batirai Dube is fearing for his life after he escaped abduction by a whisker at his home’s gate last night.
Four men in a white Nissan cab tried to bundle Clr Dube inside the car at his gate but fortunately the Bulawayo MDC Alliance Youth leader managed to escape.
Clr Batirai is currently seeking refuge at a friend’s place.
This is not the first time Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimate regime has used uncouth means in face of public outburst.
Just as they have done ahead of January 2019 demonstrations, the panic stricken regime is at it again ahead of 31 July impending protests.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Zifa has released the budget for the COVID-19 funds that have been received from Fifa.
The association received US$ 1,8m from Fifa to help on the restart of football in the country.
The men’s football is set to receive $500 000 as well as their women counterparts. $300,000 has been set aside for the coming qualifiers of CAF tournaments while the remaining $500,000 will be used in the Fifa games that are scheduled for next year.
The amount meant for men’s football will see the PSL getting $100,000 to be shared equally among the eighteen clubs. The Division 1 (four leagues) and the Division 2 (ten provincial leagues) will also get the same amount as the PSL.
The rest will be shared among other boards such as the NASH, FUTSAL, Beach, the national Chan team.
Meanwhile, Zifa has been engaging its affiliates on whether to disburse the money in local currency or in the US dollar-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Gareth Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett says the Welshman is not leaving the Real Madrid even though he has not been featuring regularly for the La Liga champions in recent weeks.
The Welshman’s future at the Bernabeu has remained in uncertainty since the return of Zinedine Zidane as the head coach at the club. And just over a week ago, he infuriated the Real fans as he joked about falling asleep with a protective face mask over his eyes while watching the team’s 2-0 win over Alaves in Madrid from the stands.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Barnett said: “Gareth is fine. He has two years left on his contract.
“He likes living in Madrid, and he is going nowhere.
“He is still as good as anyone else in the team. It’s up to [Real Madrid manager] Zinedine Zidane.
“Of course there’s been interest, but there’s hardly a club in the world which can afford him.
“It’s a great loss that he’s not in the Real Madrid team at the moment, but he will not leave.”
Bale has scored more than 100 goals and won four Champions League titles at Real Madrid, but his future has been under intense scrutiny lately, owing much to his fractious relationship with Zidane.
Aston Villa coach Dean Smith says they want to silence the critics by surviving the relegation in their final games.
Villa are placed in the 18th place with 31 points, three away from the safety zone with two matches to play. They host Arsenal in their next game on Tuesday before rounding up the campaign with a trip to West Ham on Saturday.
Smith told reporters ahead of the Tuesday’s clash: “I think there’s been pressure on us ever since we came back for Project Restart. I think everybody has had us relegated since March.
“Our job is to go and prove people wrong. These players have played under pressure, and they seem to thrive on it. I feel that our performance levels have been good since the restart, but we haven’t got the points we deserve.
“I feel that players are coming to the fore now at the top end of the pitch and starting to perform a lot better than they were. I’ve given them a few quotes from pundits. The lads can go and use that as a positive.”-Soccer 24
According to Masvingo based TellZim, a cop at a roadblock threatened to shoot a journalist after he had denied him access to Masvingo CBD
A cop at a roadblock in Masvingo today threatened to shoot a TellZim journalist. The police officer had demanded that Upenyu Chaota go back home as 'nobody' was allowed to get into town. The journalist was then detained for an hour & forced to sit on the ground. @misazimbabwe
Brandishing an assault rifle, the officer refused to accept Chaota's presscard saying he was illiterate and could not read. Under the Covid-19 national lockdown regulations, the media are considered an essential service provider. The lockdown is very tight in Masvingo today.
Mamelodi Sundowns are on the verge of completing another signing for the new season.
The Pretoria-based side who snapped up 20-year old Luvuyo Phewa from Real Kings last week is now set to bring also former Black Leopards midfielder Lesedi Kapinga, according to several reports in South Africa.
Kapinda, 25, was released by Leopards on Monday despite the club initially announcing he would be staying until the end of the season. This means he will join Sundowns as a free agent.
The player will undergo medicals soon and put pen to paper before joining the rest of his new teammates in a training camp in Rustenburg-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|Opposition party Transform Zimbabwe has called for the immediate and unconditional release of its leader Jacob Ngarivhume and prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
The two were arrested on Monday for allegedly “inciting public violence.”
See full statement below:
TRANSFORM ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT, JACOB NGARIVHUME ABDUCTED AT GUNPOINT BY POLICE DETAILS
Transform Zimbabwe party is greatly incensed by the abduction of President Jacob Ngarivhume from Waterfalls this morning. Five individuals in full riot combat attire forcefully dragged Ngarivhume into a white Toyota Quantum which did not have any police insignia while two individuals where pointing guns at him threatening to shoot should he resist being chained.
Ngarivhume was walking in his neighbourhood with an aid at the time of the abduction which was around 1110hrs. The abduction occurred in full view of terrified neighbours.
The individuals who abducted Ngarivhume had no warrant of arrest, did not inform him at the time of the abduction why they were abducting him and used excessive force including pointing guns at him. Ngarivhume was allowed to communicate his whereabouts after an hour, to which it was then discovered that he was detained at the central police station.
The police detained Ngarivhume for more than five hours without any charge. His lawyers were only allowed access a few hours into the detention.
Police ultimately charged Ngarivhume with inciting public violence emanating from a presser which was held on 16 July 2020 at the media Centre where Ngarivhume echoed a clarion call for the masses to demonstrate against corruption and grand looting on the 31st of July.
Ngarivhume is the convener of the 31st July demonstration against corruption and looting while also calling for United States dollar salaries for all civil servants.
The desperate Mnangagwa government has resorted to arresting law abiding citizens while established criminals perched in high offices are left walking scot-free. The struggle for a free and progressive Zimbabwe will not be stopped by any fear mongering tactics of the regime.
Transform Zimbabwe believes that the arrest of Jacob Ngarivhume has become fuel for the 31st July demonstration.
Transform Zimbabwe would also like to express utmost disgust at the abduction of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono from his house today.
The attack on Hopewell, a journalist, shows the regime will not stop at anything in its quest to muzzle prodemocracy voices. The people will ultimately prevail.
Transform Zimbabwe demands the immediate release of Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin`ono from illegal detention. Transform Zimbabwe Communications Communications Secretary
As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, people in all countries are being encouraged to take precautions to prevent transmission, including in many countries by staying at home and physical distancing. But a pandemic does not erase other diseases and their impact. While many services, including some health services, are being scaled back, the risk of further outbreaks of infectious diseases grows.
The healthcare disruptions caused by COVID-19 could have a devastating impact on child mortality.
In 2020 80 million children under one year of age, live in a country that has reported some kind of disturbance to the immunization programme largely due to limited access to health centres, low availability of PPE for healthcare workers and fear of contracting COVID-19.
WHO is helping countries as they balance the threat of COVID-19 with the threat of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks and deaths that could result.
With global and regional guidance, as well as by facilitating the delivery of essential health supplies, WHO is providing knowledge and assistance to immunization programmes worldwide, throughout a rapidly evolving situation.
Here are some examples of how countries are working to achieve or maintain high vaccination coverage in the midst of the global pandemic.
Italy , one of the countries hardest hit by COVID-19 was forced to repurpose much of its health-care personnel as COVID-19 cases mounted starting in late February 2020, However, wherever possible, the country’s regions and provinces maintained childhood immunization as part of the essential health services, prioritizing primary vaccine doses, while ensuring strict infection prevention and control measures, such as time slots and physical distancing in waiting rooms.
The authorities also emphasized the importance of registering the children who had missed their routine doses and prioritizing them as soon as services were available again.
In Syria , WHO and UNICEF supported a 5-day national immunization campaign in June to close vaccination gaps among children.
During the campaign, with infection, prevention and control measures in place, health workers vaccinated more than 210 100 children and reviewed the vaccination status of 900 000 children to determine the vaccines they still needed Burkina Faso also conducted mass vaccinations in July, with a 4-day polio immunization campaign.
Across two districts in the country’s Centre-East region, 174 304 were vaccinated against polio, in line with WHO guidelines and maintaining infection prevention and control measures.
Across 39 countries and territories in the Americas, with lockdown restrictions easing, vaccination services that had been suspended in some countries are resuming.
Vaccination services increased from 57% normal functionality to 79% in the same period. This was facilitated by using innovative approaches like mobile vaccination centres, drive through vaccinations, and vaccinating at schools and directly in homes.
The risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases continues as the pandemic grows in many areas around the world.
In January 2020, as Cambodia confirmed its first COVID-19 case, it also confirmed 84 cases of measles . 341 measles cases were recorded in Cambodia in the first four months of 2020.
As COVID-19 has taken hold, it has been vital that immunization efforts against measles continue. As a result, mobile outreach teams have visited communities, giving catch-up vaccinations to children least likely to visit health centres and hospitals.
In high-risk communities, health workers have gone door to door and boat to boat in order to administer lifesaving vaccines to the most vulnerable.
Due to the ongoing work of the outreach immunization programme, communities are familiar with health workers and have developed trust in them.
This has led to the same health workers providing COVID-19 guidance directly to communities that may not understand the complexities of the virus and what is needed to stay safe.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information follow /like our Facebook page :Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
Farai Dziva|State security agents ransacked Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume’s residence on Tuesday afternoon and it is feared they could plant explosives or weapons as part of a calculated move to nail him.
Transform Zimbabwe has called for the immediate and unconditional release Ngarivhume and prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono.
The two were arrested on Monday for allegedly “inciting public violence.”
See full statement below:
TRANSFORM ZIMBABWE PRESIDENT, JACOB NGARIVHUME ABDUCTED AT GUNPOINT BY POLICE DETAILS
Transform Zimbabwe party is greatly incensed by the abduction of President Jacob Ngarivhume from Waterfalls this morning. Five individuals in full riot combat attire forcefully dragged Ngarivhume into a white Toyota Quantum which did not have any police insignia while two individuals where pointing guns at him threatening to shoot should he resist being chained.
Ngarivhume was walking in his neighbourhood with an aid at the time of the abduction which was around 1110hrs. The abduction occurred in full view of terrified neighbours.
The individuals who abducted Ngarivhume had no warrant of arrest, did not inform him at the time of the abduction why they were abducting him and used excessive force including pointing guns at him. Ngarivhume was allowed to communicate his whereabouts after an hour, to which it was then discovered that he was detained at the central police station.
The police detained Ngarivhume for more than five hours without any charge. His lawyers were only allowed access a few hours into the detention.
Police ultimately charged Ngarivhume with inciting public violence emanating from a presser which was held on 16 July 2020 at the media Centre where Ngarivhume echoed a clarion call for the masses to demonstrate against corruption and grand looting on the 31st of July.
Ngarivhume is the convener of the 31st July demonstration against corruption and looting while also calling for United States dollar salaries for all civil servants.
The desperate Mnangagwa government has resorted to arresting law abiding citizens while established criminals perched in high offices are left walking scot-free. The struggle for a free and progressive Zimbabwe will not be stopped by any fear mongering tactics of the regime.
Transform Zimbabwe believes that the arrest of Jacob Ngarivhume has become fuel for the 31st July demonstration.
Transform Zimbabwe would also like to express utmost disgust at the abduction of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono from his house today.
The attack on Hopewell, a journalist, shows the regime will not stop at anything in its quest to muzzle prodemocracy voices. The people will ultimately prevail.
Transform Zimbabwe demands the immediate release of Jacob Ngarivhume and Hopewell Chin`ono from illegal detention. Transform Zimbabwe Communications Communications Secretary
Exposure of stinking corruption of Emmerson Mnangagwa’s clansmen like Obadiah Moyo who looted Covid-19 funds by investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono must never be regarded as an incitement of public violence.
Neither is amplifying the voice of citizens against corruption as was done by our Vice National Chairman, Hon Job Sikhala and Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume be regarded as an incitement of anarchy.
The worst anarchists and drivers of incitement of public violence are those that harbour corrupt government officials!
What Sikhala, Ngarivhume and Chin’ono have done or said is exactly what the ordinary citizens in streets are saying.
Emmerson Mnangagwa and his clansmen disguised as government officials have bled our country dry due to corruption!
31 July is not about individuals but every suffering Zimbabwean due to corruption.
Corruption is ravaging our lives, hence its drivers must fall!
Freedom and a corrupt-free society belongs to all who fight for it!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva|State security agents attempted to abduct MDC Alliance Youth Assembly official, Arnold Batirai Dube on in Bulawayo Monday night.
See full statement below :
20-07-2020
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Deputy National Local Governance Secretary, Clr Arnold Batirai Dube is fearing for his life after he escaped abduction by a whisker at his home’s gate last night.
Four men in a white Nissan cab tried to bundle Clr Dube inside the car at his gate but fortunately the Bulawayo MDC Alliance Youth leader managed to escape.
Clr Batirai is currently seeking refuge at a friend’s place.
This is not the first time Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimate regime has used uncouth means in face of public outburst.
Just as they have done ahead of January 2019 demonstrations, the panic stricken regime is at it again ahead of 31 July impending protests.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
