3Mob

Some good news for Zimbabweans which is not something you say often.

Zimbabwe among 11 countries to be allowed entry into Kenya from 1 August
The government of Kenya has announced Zimbabwe as one of 11 countries to be allowed entry into its borders when it reopens to the world form 1 August 2020.

Kenya becomes the first country to officially allow flights from Zimbabwe which is of course exciting news as the skies open up just a bit.

Other countries which will be allowed to operate flights are China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Rwanda, Uganda, Namibia, and Morocco.

According to Transport CS James Macharia, agreed protocol dictates that passengers who will arrive with a PCR-based COVID-19 negative certificate and body temperature not exceeding 37.5°C will be exempt from quarantine.

The list will be reviewed on an ongoing basis with more names added to the list as time moves on.

Just a few minutes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa cleared the air on the cause of the death of Agriculture Minister Perrance Shiri, more confusion has resurfaced.

President Mnangagwa earlier announced that Shiri had died of Covid-19 and was captured by all state media apparatus including the sole television broadcaster the ZBC which provided video evidence of the President speak.

Mnangagwa confirmed this while addressing mourners at the late minister’ s Borrowdale home in Harare Thursday afternoon.

“Now that it is confirmed that Minister Shiri died of Covid 19, we will follow World Health Organisation (WHO) regulations on how the funeral should proceed,” said.

However, the family of late Shiri appears to be knowing more and suspects that he succumbed to food poisoning, not Covid-19.

In earlier and subsequent statements the family said he died after severe vomiting and showed symptoms consistent with food poisoning.

“We have noted social media reports of Covid-19 suspicions. Although we cannot rule that out, what we know for now is that he started vomiting severely and was attended to by doctors who suspected food poisoning,” family spokesperson Benjamin Chikerema told the media.

“He started vomiting and was taken to the doctors who said they suspected he had eaten poisoned food. Around 3 am, he started having difficulties in breathing and died when he was being taken to a Chinese (medical) facility,” he said.

The state broadcaster has since uploaded the video from its site raising confusion and suspicion.

Two doctors and seven nurses at Gwanda Provincial Hospital have tested positive to Covid-19, it has been established.

According to sources at the hospital, a doctor and a nurse tested positive on Monday forcing the hospital authorities to test all the health workers at the hospital.

After the tests, another doctor and six nurses were confirmed to have contracted the virus.

“On Monday they tested all health workers who were duty. This exercise was conducted following two positive cases of one doctor and a nurse,” confirmed a nurse who declined to be named for professional reasons.

Another senior nurse at the hospital who spoke on condition of anonymity said there was panic among the hospital staff.

“It is now scary to go to work because you might never know who has Covid-19 after two of our doctors and seven staff members including nurses tested positive on Tuesday. Results came out yesterday evening and those positive cases are currently on isolation,” said the nurse.

Contacted for a comment, Gwanda Acting Medical Superintendent Dr Blessing Gwarimbo said he iwas on leave and directed this publication to the Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Dr Rudo Chikodzere.

Dr Chikodzere said she was in Plumtree and “cannot comment or confirm what is happening at Gwanda hospital.”

Ministry of Health and Child Care permanent secretary, Dr Gilbert Mhlanga declined to comment and referred the matter to acting Health Minister Amon Murwira who was not immediately available.

Daily Maverick

British MP and former anti-apartheid campaigner Peter Hain has urged the British government to extend sanctions against Zimbabwe because of “escalating human rights violations” in the country. 

Speaking in the British Parliament on Wednesday, Hain, a former Labour cabinet minister, called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to impose new sanctions on key Zimbabwean ministers and security chiefs. 

“In Zimbabwe, three women have recently been abducted and tortured: opposition MP and former Canon Collins Scholar Joanah Mamombe, together with Netsai Marowa and Cecilia Chepiri,” Hain said.

“On July 20, highly respected journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested and denied bail for supporting an anti-corruption protest and faces 10 years in jail. Opposition leader Jacob Ngarivhume was arrested and youth leader Takunda Madzana abducted and tortured by state security agents on July 26. 

“As well as rampant corruption, there is a pattern of ongoing human rights violations under cover of the Covid-19 crackdown. Can the government update its sanctions to cover more Zimbabwe ministers and security chiefs?” he asked. 

Hain grew up in South Africa but moved to Britain with his parents in 1966. He played a prominent role in mobilising British opposition to the apartheid government and later became a Labour Party MP and cabinet minister.

His call for stronger sanctions against Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Zanu-PF government comes amid rising tensions in that country ahead of a large anti-government protest planned for Friday 31 July. 

Ngarivhume and Chin’ono, whose arrests Hain cited as reasons for beefing up sanctions, were both involved in the organisation of the protest. Both have been charged with incitement to commit public violence and denied bail, which prevents them participating in the protest.

Ringisai Chikohomero, a Harare-based researcher for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria said he believed the arrests of Ngarivhume and Chin’ono last week had been a preemptive strike by the government against Friday’s protest.

The nighttime curfew which the government recently introduced, ostensibly to restrict social contact to curb the spread of the coronavirus, was also intended to stifle the July 31 demonstration, he said.

He said the Mnangagwa government was uncertain about its own security in the midst of the pandemic which is hitting Zimbabwe hard because the economy was already in freefall before Covid-19 arrived.

He said there were rumours of discontent in the security forces because of the heightened hardships caused by the pandemic.

This was aggravated by the recent allegations of corruption – which Chin’ono had also reported – involving Mnangagwa’s son Collins in a government contract to supply about R17-million of personal protective equipment to Covid-19.

And another scandal had erupted about suspicious Reserve Bank loans to people around the government but also including opposition leaders.

Many Zimbabweans believed General Philip Valerio Sibanda, commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), was referring to these allegations when he publicly complained that the levels of corruption being displayed by some of the country’s leaders were tantamount to selling out.

“It’s unfortunate that after independence some of us went wayward and started corruptly amassing wealth, but during the war we were taught to share. It’s a value some of us maintain up to today,” Sibanda stated. 

Chikohomero said many were seeing this as a warning shot being fired by the military across the bows of the country’s political leadership.

“So, the government is reluctant to have the security forces on the streets on July 31 because no one knows which way that could go,” Chikohomero said.

The government felt it would be better to lock down the country to pre-empt the protests, he said. 

DM

LOCAL Covid-19 transmission cases continue to rise in Zimbabwe, a situation that has worried health authorities in the country.

According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, on Wednesday the country recorded 62 confirmed cases of Covid-19 of which 50 were local transmissions bringing the number of cases contracted locally to 1837 as compared to 1 042 imported cases.

To date the country has recorded a total of 2 879 confirmed case of which 1 951 are active cases.

“62 cases tested positive for Covid-19 today (Wednesday). These include 50 local case and 12 returnees who are in isolation. New recoveries were reported by Bulawayo province (275) and Manicaland province (eight).

“(We regret to report one facility death from Manicaland Province. The death is of a female aged 32. Since the onset of the pandemic on 20 March 2020, the total number of cases is 2879, recovered 887, active cases 1951 and 41 deaths,” reads the update.

Harare and Bulawayo remain the epicentre of the pandemic with 932 and 786 cases recorded cases respectively.

Director-General of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organisation Isaac Moyo is reported to have attended a special ZANU PF Politburo meeting on Wednesday to expose a faction aligned to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga which is alleged to be plotting to oust President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Online publication ZimLive reported that Moyo turned up with posters allegedly printed ahead of planned anti-government protests on Friday. The posters denounced Mnangagwa while extolling his deputy.

“It was styled like Jonathan Moyo’s ‘Blue Ocean’ presentation in July 2017, when the target then was Mnangagwa. It was quite theatrical but of lesser quality. Placards were presented, allegedly seized from all 10 provinces indicating support for Chiwenga. Moyo told the Politburo the placards were allegedly going to be paraded on July 31,” ZimLive quoted sources.

Zimbabweans are expected to stage mass nationwide protests on Friday the 31st of July.

-Byo24

Dear President E.D. Mnangagwa,

Alarmed by the unprecedented challenges to democracy, human rights and governance created by the pandemic, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) nurtured the idea for this open letter.

The aim is to stimulate a national dialogue around key principles safeguarding elections and democracy on the 2-year anniversary of the 2018 Harmonised Elections.

The ERC recognises that this is a very challenging time for the government and people of Zimbabwe, as the country deals with the threats posed by the COVID-19 virus. The government has already taken some important steps, and others may be necessary to protect those at risk. However, the pandemic has seemingly left in its wake the reform agenda that had pillared the “New Dispensation”.

It should be noted and applauded that commendable steps have been taken to repeal the repressive POSA and AIPPA laws which had posed a perpetual threat to the principles underpinning a democratic society and free and fair elections. Such positive steps are key to transforming the credibility of the overall electoral environment. However, the pace at which the reform agenda is taking place, could potentially negate the gains achieved by your administration.

From the advent of your ascension to Presidency in 2017, you gave the basis that would form your leadership, as you stated that your Presidency would be founded on a “New Dispensation”, of which reforms formed the foundation.

In your very first public speech upon your return from enforced exile in November 2017, you assured Zimbabweans that they were “witnessing the beginning of a new unfolding democracy”. Premised on this new democracy was the alignment of existing laws with the constitution and the changing of the electoral culture in Zimbabwe through advocating for the promotion of accountability, credibility and transparency among State Institutions.

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, echoed the same sentiments as he promised that all laws would be fully aligned with the constitution by the end of 2019. The government also made an undertaking to amend the Electoral Act by mid-2020, according to Foreign Affairs and International Trade minister Sibusiso Moyo who is the Deputy Chairperson of the Inter-ministerial Task Force on Political and Electoral Reforms. The Minister promised that electoral reforms “will be completed, at the very least, by June 2020, although we aim to complete electoral reforms well before that date”.

However, with two years since the 2018 Harmonised Elections, this promise of expedited reforms is seemingly beyond reach.

The post-2018 election environment has been dominated by non-implementation of key reforms, most of which have been repeatedly raised by election observer groups. A glaring example is that of the Motlanthe Commission where in a rare instance of transparency, the government allowed for an open inquest into the 1 August 2018 shootings of protesters in Harare. However, the Motlanthe Commission recommendations have largely been ignored as the role of the security sector in elections remains a grave cause of concern which impairs the fairness of the electoral environment.

It should be further noted that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has taken a piecemeal approach to the alignment of electoral laws, policies and practice with the Constitution and international best practice. The gradual implementation of reforms has culminated in the bare minimum of recommended reforms being adopted, such as in recent by-elections, the displaying of the voters’ rolls outside polling stations.

The government’s failure to significantly revise key laws or to address the partisan conduct of the state security, traditional leaders and the media undercuts free elections. The repressive nature of the application of COVID-19 regulations has in more recent times impaired the credibility of the electoral environment. The COVID-19 regulations have been used to arrest peaceful protesters and arrest critical media personnel. The lack of reform places a greater burden on state institutions to ensure that their conduct is constitutional outside of existing legislation.

The Zimbabwean government needs to fix all legislation affecting the electoral environment and bring it in line with both the Constitution and with Zimbabwe’s international commitments. The problems we face are precisely premised on the outstanding electoral reform issues that do not comply with either the Constitution or our international law obligations.

We therefore call upon your government to guarantee the full alignment of electoral laws with the constitution, and to further guarantee a practice and policy shift that guarantees accountability, credibility, integrity and transparency to ensure a free and fair electoral environment looking at the 2023 harmonised elections.

President Mnangagwa, there needs to be a shift beyond mere rhetoric and take genuine steps to level the electoral playing field. The following five points focus on tangible steps the Government can take to build on the work they are already doing to make the electoral experience more free, fair, transparent, accountable and inclusive.

1. Institutional reform of ZEC looking at the institutional and personnel levels as well as in organisational practices.

2. Reform of the legal framework for elections looking at the Electoral Act, all electoral regulations and procedures focusing on constitutionality and international best practice.
3. Reform of the conduct of the state media in electoral processes
4. Reform of the conduct of traditional leaders in political processes
5. Reform of the role of the military in civilian affairs

Sincerely

Election Resource Centre

The ZR Police Thursday issued a stern warning that those who will partake in a planned demonstration tomorrow will have themselves to blame as the government has deployed tight security forces across the country to monitor the situation.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) urges members of the public to conduct their day to day and normal activities in a peaceful atmosphere and cooperate with the police and other security service members who are maintaining law and order in the country.

“All security arms of government are on full alert and will deal decisively with any individuals or groups fomenting violence and sending threats or provocative messages through the social media or any group

“We reiterate that no demonstration will take place on 31 July 2020. Those who decide or disregard the law, particularly National COVID-19 regulations will have themselves to blame reads the statement.

The police said it had intercepted information that there is a group on social media which is encouraging the demonstration.

Read below the full statement by the police.

SECURITY FORCES ISSUES STERN WARNING ON ILLEGAL DEMONSTRATIONS

The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public to conduct their day to day and normal activities in a peaceful atmosphere and cooperate with police and other security service members who are maintaining law and order in the country.

All security arms of Government are on full alert and will deal decisively with any individuals or groups fomenting violence and sending threats or provocative messages through the social media or any other means.

We reiterate that no demonstrations will take place in Zimbabwe on 31st July 2020. Those who decide or disregard the law, particularly National COVID- 19 regulations will have themselves to blame.

Police are aware of various attempts to incite the public through the social media with one group calling itself “31 July Peaceful Demonstrations [3]” threatening to burn a service station in Mvuma on 31st July 2020, and barricade the Harare -Masvingo highway and all roads leading to police stations.

The group is led by a group administrator with the cell number +27653302446 and has 249 group members with some claiming to be in possession of firearms. These will be regarded as terrorists.

The security services are also aware of these groups that they are spreading fake news that the security services are in support of the 31st July 2020, illegal demonstrations.

These are blatant lies, meant to confuse the public, cause alarm and despondency in the security services.

The security services remain resolute in defence of the country’s security and the safety of all Zimbabweans.

The public is also urged to report any incidence of intimidation, incitements or threats to their nearest police station or members of the security forces who are conducting patrols in their local areas.

[NYATHI. P] Assistant Commissioner

Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and International Relations)

To the Commissioner-General of Police

Police General Headquarters

Former Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi has withdrawn the case in which four people were being charged for stealing valuables, including 30 pairs of designer suits from his Borrowdale residence in Harare.

Mutodi filled an affidavit before magistrate Mr Sheunesu Matowa indicating that he had decided to withdraw the matter due to personal circumstances.

Suspected thieves and brothers Denver and Cosmos Zvomuya, Fidelis Martin Mandaza and Pardon Magombo were arrested after being linked to the theft at Mutodi’s house.

The State, led by Mr Owen Safuli, had it that sometime in April this year, Zvomuya and Mandaza went to Mutodi’s place of residence when the caretaker was not at home.

The quartet allegedly broke the dining room window and gained entry into the house. They then stole various items, including Mutodi’s designer suits. Mutodi discovered that some of his suits were missing and went to the police to report the matter.

The Zvomuya brothers and Mandaza were reportedly seen selling some of Mutodi’s suits in Domboshava.

Upon being interviewed, they admitted to stealing Mutodi’s clothes. Some of the clothes were found stashed under the carpet at Denver’s place of residence.

Denver led police to Magombo’s place in Mungate Village where some of the stolen items were recovered.

Zimbabwe will issue a long term debt in international capital markets to raise US$3.5bn as compensation to former commercial white farmers for the loss of land, 20 years after the government embarked on the fast track land reform programme to resettle locals.

The compensation is for value of improvements, biological assets and land clearing costs for the land which was compulsorily acquired for resettlement.

Government’s failure to compensate former commercial white farmers had been cited as a breach of property rights tearing into shreds President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s commitment to protect investments under his “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra.

According to an agreement signed yesterday at State House, half of the amount (US$1.75bn) as deposit is payable 12 months after signature of the agreement. The balance will be paid in four year installments of US$437,500,000.

“The full amount of the global compensation figure may, however, be paid within 12 months of signature of the agreement if sufficient funds for the purpose are mobilised within this period,” the document reads.

The parties to the agreement will set up a joint resource mobilisation committee to work together with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to raise funds for payment of the global compensation figure.

Yesterday’s agreement was signed by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube (representing Zimbabwe), Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe (CFU) representative John Pascoe, South African Commercial Farmers Alliance (SAFCA) representative Cedric Robert Wilde and Anthony Nield Purkis representing Valuation Consortium (Private) Limited (VALCON).

The CFU represents the interests of commercial farmers operating in Zimbabwe, SACFA the interests of commercial farmers in Matabeleland and Valcon the interests of all commercial farmers registered with them, some of whom are not members of either the CFU or the SACFA.

The compensation of the former commercial white farmers will see Zimbabwe issuing a long term debt instrument of 30 years’ maturity in international capital markets in compliance with the country’s debt management strategy and consistent with its key debt sustainability indicators, the document said.

The land dispute has haunted the government. In 2018, a World Bank-affiliated international appeals court – the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) -dismissed Zimbabwe’s application to annul an award granted to a former commercial white farmer. The ICSID had in July 2015 awarded the Bernhard von Pezold family the return of their property in Manicaland Province plus their full legal costs and interest, or alternatively the Zimbabwean government should pay the family US$195m in damages. In October 2015, Zimbabwe sought the annulment of the award but lost.

The compensation agreement could bring closure to the emotive issue which speaks to property rights. Resettled farmers have struggled to access financing from banks who continue to shun 99-year leases as not bankable, thereby affecting production on the farms.

Economists however said Zimbabwe, which is in arrears with international financial institutions, will struggle to compensate the farmers.

“The government can only compensate the former white commercial farmers if they can get it somewhere else because they are bankrupt,” said Harare-based economist John Robertson.

“Also the money will be subjected to abuse so the foreign government or bank is likely to directly pay the farmers not to pass it through the government as the money will never be seen again.”

Another economist Phineas Kadenge said the signing ceremony came as a surprise for many as the southern African nation battles to contain rising cases of Covid-19 and political tensions.

“I don’t have enough background for the signing ceremony but given the fighting (coronavirus) we are in the timing is a bit misplaced there. We just hope it’s not another signing ceremony which doesn’t bring any results,” Kadenge said.

MDCA SOUTH AFRICA PROVINCE

30 JULY 2020

Notice is hereby given to our MDCA members,the general public and citizens,and members of the media fraternity to the effect that; The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance South Africa Province will be holding demonstrations outside Zimbabwe embassies and consulates tomorrow 31 July 2020 in solidarity with the suffering Zimbabwean citizens under the Zanu PF and Mnangagwa rulership,in the following of our districts.

1. MDCA Western Cape district
2. MDCA Namibia district
3. MDCA Botswana district
4. MDCA Zambia district

For more information please contact the *MDCA SA Provincial Organising Secretary,Leader Tangai Marufu on *+27658140201* or the mentioned districts Organising/Communications Secretaries,names and contacts supplied below.

1.MDCA Western Cape district
Organ Godfrey Karuru- +27749388642
Organ Runyararo Mukuku- +27781485582
Infor Don Madziva- +27826810806

2.MDCA Namibia district
Organ Gotosa- +264812084418
Infor Robson Ruhanya- +264813192152

3.MDCA Botswana district
Organ Taurai Mavhoko- +26772171136
Infor Dumisani Dolobo- +26774364627

4.MDCA Zambia district
Organ Clint- +260978494945

MDCA SA Province we fully support the 31st July peaceful demonstration in Zimbabwe.We are very much aware that in some districts we were not given the permission to gather to demonstrate because of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Our members,who can not organise and attend demonstrations are therefore urged to gather in solidarity tonight for night vigils,observing covid-19 social distancing rules.

Inserted on behalf of MDCA South Africa Province,by

Innocent Nsingo
MDCA SA Spokesperson
[email protected]

Reports just received indicate that some of the children from the 46 who were literally abducted by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the social welfare team from a home in Mt Hampden to a yet to be identified location in Kadoma are living with HIV and are feared to have missed their Antiretroviral (ARVs) dosages.

Kiri Madamombe an activist with Mubatiranwa Trust made the revelation in the audio interview captured below:

The bail appeal hearings for journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume have yet again been pushed forward this time to Monday.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who are representing the duo, posted on Twitter:

Hopewell Chin’ono will spend the weekend “in jail after the High Court postponed the bail appeal hearing to Monday while Transform Zimbabwe leader Ngarivhume will (also) have to spend more time in jail after the hearing of his bail appeal was postponed to Monday to allow the state to file a response to his bail application.

In court, Hopewell’s lawyers insisted that the bail appeal hearing be heard on Friday as his liberty is fundamental but the state argued that it be postponed to Monday as it undertakes to file its response by close of business on Friday.

Chin’ono and Ngarivhume were arrested last week on allegations of inciting public violence.

State Media

Former Agribank chief executive, Somkhosi Malaba, has died.

He was 65.

Sources say he passed on peacefully at his home this morning due to kidney failure.

“A great tree has fallen. A great man, genuinely devoted to his country and his profession, Mr Malaba was a unique leader and and accomplished economist. As Agribank CEO, he led the bank’s turnaround initiatives, achieving profitability in 2016. Agribank will be poorer without him, the nation will be poorer without him,” said source close to him who spome on condition of anonymity since they had not been cleared by the family.

It is understood Malaba had valiantly fought kidney problems over 12 years. Acting Agribank CEO Mr Elfas Chimbera could not be immediately reached for comment.

But former Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president and United Refineries Limited CEO Mr Busisa Moyo turned to Twitter and wrote: “Hard to accept he is gone. A fellow president at the Bankers Association. Instrumental in the Lima Debt conversations in 2015-2017. Served with us on PAC (Presidential Advisory Council). Former AgriBank CEO. May the Lord strengthen the family at this time of loss. The memory of you lives!”

Malaba retired as Agribank CEO at the end January this year after 16 years at the helm of the financial institution. He was appointed CEO in May 2004 after serving as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for six years from August 1998 to April 2004.

His appointment as RBZ Deputy Governor came after 16 years of service at different senior levels within the central bank. Malaba is an economist who obtained a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree from the University of Zimbabwe. He furthered his studies in the United Kingdom where he acquired a Masters in Economics from the University of Manchester.

He has also served on secondment to Government as Secretary in the National Economic Planning Commission under the Office of the President and Cabinet from 1996 to 1997. A letter announcing Malaba’s retirement read: “We wish to advise that Somkhosi Mahamba Temba Malaba retired from the position of chief executive officer for the bank effective 31 January 2020.

“Elfas Chimbera, the executive director finance, will be acting as the CEO of Agribank effective February 1, 2020 pending the appointment of a substantive CEO.”

Malaba held many positions throughout his career. He was the vice chair of the Sadc/DFRC board of trustees from 2008 to 2009, Lupane State University council chair since 2007, Institute of Bankers (Zimbabwe) council chair from 2008 to 2014 and Fidelity Printers & Refiners Limited director from 1998 to 2004.

He also sat on the Deposit Protection Scheme board from 1998 to 2004, St Lucia Park board from 2000 to 2004, PTA Bank 1993 to 1995, Zimbabwe Development Bank board 1988 to 1993 and was the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe president from 2014 to 2016.

Watch the live video loading below….

Farai Dziva|ZimEye has exposed a plot by state security agents to abduct a member of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly in Kariba.

Members of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly were also threatened by men brandishing guns.

Watch video below :

Farai Dziva|
Masvingo based preacher, Isaac Makomichi was on Wednesday summoned by the Law and Order Department.

He was accused of “trying to overthrow Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.”

Makomichi was also accused of mobilizing congregants to participate in the July 31 protests.

Makomichi told the media that he was phoned by a man who threatened to send him to the mortuary.

“They once called me in the morning asking for my address.

I became afraid and I contacted my lawyer Advocate Martin Mureri who accompanied me to the Law and Order Department.

When we arrived at their offices they accused me of plotting to remove President Mnangagwa from office.

I was shocked because I have nothing to do with the 31 July protests.

I’m not fighting the government and I think they were misinformed.

Now I’m fearing for my life because the allegations are serious .

I just want the public to know that I have nothing against the government.

I don’t have the capacity to overthrow the government office,” said Makomichi.

According to the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), police are patrolling the city of Bulawayo ordering the closure of shops, warning people to be out of the city centre by 2 pm.

More to follow….

Zanu PF has accused some of its top leadership of sowing seeds of division between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy Constantino Chiwenga by propagating coup rumours.

Acting Zanu-PF party spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa said politburo member Claveria Chizema was suspended from the politburo yesterday.

“The security department of the party presented an elaborate report to the politburo, a plan on how outside forces were busy fomenting discord in the party, working with certain individuals in the party’s senior ranks to destabilise internal cohesion and unity of purpose in the party,” Chinamasa said.

He said the senior officials were burning mid-night candle to try and put a wedge between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga as succession wars begin to take a toll in the party.

“The same individuals have been burning mid-night candle, wishing to propagate disunity between President Mnangagwa and his Vice-Presidents Cde Chiwenga and VP Mohadi,” Chinamasa said.

Zanu-PF alleged Chizema was found with fliers in her home, which were left there in March, carrying a message purporting that there was an impending coup in the party.

“The posters had a message that there was a coup coming and had the names of the people who were behind the coup, but these posters had false information,” Chinamasa said.

“She failed in her duties as a senior member of the party when she did not report this to the party security or national security and, therefore, she has been suspended to pave way for investigations.”

Last month, the Joint Operations Command held a Press conference to dispel rumours of a coup.

Chinamasa said Zanu-PF security was aware of internal plots by Zanu-PF bigwigs against Mnangagwa, adding that they would be flushed out of the party.

“The culprits are trying to smear Vice-President Chiwenga at the same time trying to psyche our unsuspecting people into thinking that the party was divided,” he said.

“Those calling for demonstrations had been funded by hostile forces to print fliers bearing the name of senior leadership in the party as purportedly supporting demonstrations despite that such leaders have no knowledge of these culprits.”

The report read in the politburo suggested that there was information pointing to the fact that Chiwenga wanted to oust his boss.

“Among one of their futile imagination is that VP Chiwenga is planning a coup against his compatriot, President Cde ED Mnangagwa and that the two don’t see eye to eye,” Chinamasa said.

Mnangagwa is said to have warned those in the party supporting the July 31 demonstrations. He allegedly told the politburo members that there would be gnashing of teeth.

“However, those who have been colluding in spreading these machinations, projecting a wrong image of the party and working with hostile forces bent on dividing the party will be dealt with in line with the standing rules of the party’s supreme constitution,” he said.

Zanu-PF has been fretting over protests planned for tomorrow by opposition parties, churches and civic organisations.

newsday

WFP News Release

30 July 2020

ROME– With COVID-19 aggravating an already severe hunger crisis in Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today appealed for an additional US$250 million to support a rapidly expanding emergency operation for millions at-risk.

WFP projections indicate that by year’s end, the number of food insecure Zimbabweans will have surged by almost 50 percent to touch 8.6 million – a staggering 60 percent of the population – owing to the combined effects of drought, economic recession and the pandemic.

“Many Zimbabwean families are suffering the ravages of acute hunger, and their plight will get worse before it gets better”, said Lola Castro, WFP’s Regional Director for Southern Africa. “We need the international community to step up now to help us prevent a potential humanitarian catastrophe.”

A nationwide lockdown, reinforced last week, has precipitated massive joblessness in urban areas, while rural hunger is accelerating because now unemployed migrants are returning to their villages and the absence of the vital remittances they provided is more keenly felt.

Subsistence farming families who make up three-quarters of Zimbabwe’s population and produce most of its food are also hurting because of a third successive drought-hit harvest this year.

It yielded only 1.1 million MT of maize, the staple cereal, well down on last year’s already poor 2.4 million MT and less than half the national requirement. This, in turn, presages even more severe hunger in early 2021, the peak of the next “lean” season.

Hyperinflation is a feature of the country’s profound economic crisis and has pushed the prices of basics beyond the means of many Zimbabweans. Last month, maize prices more than doubled in Harare, the capital. Increasingly desperate families are eating less, selling off precious belongings and going into debt.

With maize set to be an increasingly untenable crop in many arid regions of the country as temperatures rise, WFP is promoting the cultivation of drought-resistant, nutritious and indigenous alternatives like sorghum and millet.

This is part of a broader campaign to help vulnerable communities build resilience to increasingly frequent and severe climate shocks.

Donations permitting, WFP intends to assist 4 million of the most vulnerable this year – those suffering “crisis” and “emergency” hunger – and scale up to 5 million in January-April next year, the peak of the lean season.

As the already dire situation worsens, more contributions are urgently needed. This month, for lack of funding, WFP will only reach 700,000 of 1.8 million intended recipients.   

By A Correspondent| Police and soldiers are moving around the Central Business District of Harare instructing shops to close with those walking around being asked to produce letters confirming they are part of the essential services.

ZimEye witnessed soldiers and police officers chasing away people who were queuing at one of the local banks along First Street.

Most of the shops did not open today with the few including pharmacies also instructed to close.

Easipark parking marshalls who had reported for duty have also been told to stop working and have already left the CBD.

Keep refreshing this page for more details

By A Correspondent| Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume will have to spend more time in jail after the hearing of his bail appeal was postponed to Monday to allow the State to file a response to his bail application.

The State told Justice Tawanda Chitapi that it undertakes to file its response by close of business on Friday.

Justice Chitapi even queried the reasons compelling the State to request for a postponement to which the stand in State representative said the request was made by Mr Reza.

More to follow….

ROME– With COVID-19 aggravating an already severe hunger crisis in Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today appealed for an additional US$250 million to support a rapidly expanding emergency operation for millions at-risk.

WFP projections indicate that by year’s end, the number of food insecure Zimbabweans will have surged by almost 50 percent to touch 8.6 million – a staggering 60 percent of the population – owing to the combined effects of drought, economic recession and the pandemic.

“Many Zimbabwean families are suffering the ravages of acute hunger, and their plight will get worse before it gets better”, said Lola Castro, WFP’s Regional Director for Southern Africa. “We need the international community to step up now to help us prevent a potential humanitarian catastrophe.”

A nationwide lockdown, reinforced last week, has precipitated massive joblessness in urban areas, while rural hunger is accelerating because now unemployed migrants are returning to their villages and the absence of the vital remittances they provided is more keenly felt.

Subsistence farming families who make up three-quarters of Zimbabwe’s population and produce most of its food are also hurting because of a third successive drought-hit harvest this year. It yielded only 1.1 million MT of maize, the staple cereal, well down on last year’s already poor 2.4 million MT and less than half the national requirement. This, in turn, presages even more severe hunger in early 2021, the peak of the next “lean” season.

Hyperinflation is a feature of the country’s profound economic crisis and has pushed the prices of basics beyond the means of many Zimbabweans. Last month, maize prices more than doubled in Harare, the capital. Increasingly desperate families are eating less, selling off precious belongings and going into debt.

With maize set to be an increasingly untenable crop in many arid regions of the country as temperatures rise, WFP is promoting the cultivation of drought-resistant, nutritious and indigenous alternatives like sorghum and millet. This is part of a broader campaign to help vulnerable communities build resilience to increasingly frequent and severe climate shocks.

Donations permitting, WFP intends to assist 4 million of the most vulnerable this year – those suffering “crisis” and “emergency” hunger – and scale up to 5 million in January-April next year, the peak of the lean season.

As the already dire situation worsens, more contributions are urgently needed. This month, for lack of funding, WFP will only reach 700,000 of 1.8 million intended recipients.   

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned the organisers of illegal  demonstrations being planned by the opposition and the country’s detractors that security services will be on high alert to respond to any mischief.

Speaking at the 342nd  ZANU Politburo session,  Mnangagwa said the planned insurrection of July 31 2020 is connected to the violence and destabilisation that opposition elements have fomented since 2018, including the August 2018 violence and the violent disturbances of January 2019 which led to the loss of lives.

He said Zanu PF as the people’s party, will never allow people to be put in harm’s way.

“It must never be in doubt that the objective of these rogue Zimbabweans acting as in cahoots with foreign appendages, supporters, and financiers to stage an insurrection to overthrow our democratically elected Government.

“We will equally defend our Independence and sovereignty to the letter and not betray the fallen heroes and heroines who paid the supreme sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today.

“I want to warn the organisers of this ill-fated demonstrations that our security services will be vigilant and on high alert  to appropriately respond to their shenanigans.”

-statemedia

By A Correspondent- Former opposition MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu has accused MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, of cowardice saying he hides from the struggle.

Although Chamisa has since the death of his mother early this month, been in his home town, Masvingo, his party has been rallying the citizenry to participate in the planned anti-government protests scheduled for this Friday.

Posting on Twitter, Gutu said:

‘Hiding’ in the bushes, somewhere in my ancestral land, the land of my forebearers, the land of the legendary Chaurura Wegona Chinemukutu, & ‘mobilizing’ people to fill up the streets on July 31. Cowardice REDEFINED… I have never, ever laughed this much all my life.

Gutu’s sentiments are shared by some social media users and MDC Alliance supporters who have often exhibited frustration in the MDC Alliance leadership over lack of enthusiasm to confront the ruling ZANU PF head-on.

Meanwhile, some say the toxic political culture in the country is forcing Chamisa to hide or take a retreating role adding that he and other opposition leaders would not have had to hide in a functional democracy.

The state has previously used sheer force on opposition protesters and has continued to crack down on dissent with the arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and Jacob Ngarivhume of opposition Transform Zimbabwe.

Simeon Jamanda, a close ally of the ex-Blackpool boss, told the state media that Chris Sambo died in Harare last night.

‘’Sad news, Chris Sambo is no more,’’ said Jamanda.

A close family relative, who did not want to be named, also confirmed the football administrator’s death.

‘’Yes, it’s true, Chris Sambo has passed on.’’

TWENTY SIXTH POST-CABINET PRESS BRIEFING
28TH JULY 2020

1. ZIMBABWE’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

The Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, as Deputy Chair of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID-19, presented the weekly Report on the National Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak, which was adopted by Cabinet.

Out of the one hundred and twenty-two thousand seven hundred and seventy (122 770) tests conducted throughout the country two thousand seven hundred and four (2 704) were confirmed COVID-19 positive, compared to the one thousand seven hundred and thirteen (1 713) cases reported on 20 July, 2020. This translates to a 68% increase in the number of confirmed cases. Cabinet announces, with regret, that the total number of COVID-19 fatalities has increased to thirty-six (36) from the twenty-six (26) reported last week. Of particular concern is that cumulative number of confirmed local COVID-19 cases has increased by 112% from seven hundred and ninety-one (791) to one thousand six hundred and seventy-five (1 675) during the past week. Most of the local cases are in Bulawayo (667), Harare (601) and Gweru (168). Cabinet, therefore, declared Gweru a hotspot of COVID-19, in addition to Harare and Bulawayo. Government is expediting efforts to put in place Rapid Result Test Teams to facilitate localized lockdowns in hotspot suburbs of the three cities.

The number of those who have recovered has increased from the previously reported four hundred and seventy-two (472) to five hundred and forty-two. This leaves the number of active cases at two thousand one hundred and twenty-six (2 126).

In order to curb the further spread of the disease among Government officials, the holding of meetings by virtual means will be enhanced. At universities and colleges, face-to-face classes have been suspended and lessons will be carried out online. Those who had started writing examinations will be allowed to complete them, while those who had not started their examinations will have them deferred.

In the business sector, it is highlighted that employers are required to issue new letters to their employees. The letters should contain the list of all the employees at the company, which list must be authenticated and stamped by the Officer in Charge of the nearest Police Station. Individual employees shall be required to carry such letters at all times, together with their national identity cards. The requirements pertaining to movement control have already been published in the public media. Members of the public are urged to comply with the regulations published under Statutory Instrument 174 of 2020 which will be strictly enforced.

Government reiterates that there should be strict adherence to cross-border burial guidelines throughout the country in order to curb the spread of the virus. Furthermore, the limit of fifty people at gatherings should be strictly followed, especially at funeral wakes and church services. Municipal police, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the local community leadership will work together to ensure that communities bury their loved ones within the strict confines of the law.

Cabinet notes, with concern, that the on-going strike in the health sector is negatively affecting the national COVID-19 response. More nurses will be urgently recruited from the available pool of qualified nurses, while processes to resolve those on industrial action continue. In addition, to strengthen the COVID-19 response, Government will recruit additional staff to run PCR tests, including unemployed graduates. Modalities are also being put in place to enable industrial and innovation hubs to produce Viral Transport Media (VTM), a critical ingredient in PCR tests currently in short supply.

In order to control the spike in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths, Cabinet further agreed on the immediate implementation of the following practical measures: (a) that COVID-19 hotspots shall be quickly analysed with a view to implementing stricter lockdown measures so as to ensure behavioural change towards the disease in the areas; (b) that holding of Virtual Meetings shall be enhanced and that all Ministry staff reporting for duty shall be tested before assuming duty, while the outgoing group of workers is tested before leaving and upon return; (c) that the Rapid Response Teams will be provided with the vehicles and allowances necessary to enable them to carry out their duties efficiently. Social workers and other categories of staff providing documented COVID-19 frontline services at quarantine centres, public institutions and other areas will receive the same allowances as those given to health workers; (d) that the initial Official Communication of COVID-19 results shall be made by the Secretary for Health and Child Care and appropriate action will be taken against those who violate this standing directive; and (e) to expedite the secondment and recruitment of additional staff such as nurses, laboratory scientists so as to strengthen health delivery system and national response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Cabinet also takes this opportunity to inform the public that the country’s health centres have reasonable stocks of PPE, with stocks of at least 3 weeks per centre. A case in point is the United Bulawayo Hospitals which has three months supply of PPE in place. Cabinet also continues to urge the public to remain vigilant as the COVID-19 is real and affecting many of our loved ones

2. PRINCIPLES OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS AMENDMENT BILL

Cabinet adopted the Principles for the Proposed Legal Practitioners Amendment Bill, which were presented by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The amendment addresses deficiencies identified in the current Act pertaining to the composition of the Council of Legal Education. The existing Legal Practitioners Act provides for the appointment of two members of the Legal Education Council from nominations made by only the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Law Board. This is not representative of all the key institutions offering legal education in Zimbabwe, since the country has other universities offering law degrees. The Bill will, therefore, amend section 36 of the Act to provide for two members of the Legal Education Council to be appointed from a list of nominees submitted Zimbabwean Universities with Law Faculties. This will enable the Council to make fully informed decisions on the training requirements of lawyers in Zimbabwe, among other matters.

3. PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2020 HEROES DAY COMMEMORATIONS AND DEFENCE FORCES DAY CELEBRATIONS

The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, as the Acting Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on State Occasions, briefed Cabinet on the 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations and the Defence Forces Day Celebrations. There will be no gatherings this year to mark both events. His Excellency, the President will address the nation using virtual platforms.

The 2020 Heroes Day Commemorations will be held under the theme “REMEMBERING OUR HEROES” on 10th August, the Defence Forces Day Celebrations will be held on 11th August, 2020 under the theme “ZDF: CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE”. The Virtual celebrations will take place over a period of two (2) weeks and covered by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Services (ZBC)-TV, which will extensively feature the Zimbabwe Defence Force’s exploits, community assistance projects and the Defence Forces Medical Outreach Programme.

On a related matter, Cabinet approved the national fabric for Virtual launching on 10 August, 2020. The Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development presented the fabric, which was arrived at through an extensive consultative process.

4. PRINCIPLES FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE TRADITIONAL LEADERS ACT [CHAPTER 29:17]

Cabinet received a presentation from the Minister of Local Government and Public Works on the proposed amendments to the Traditional Leaders Act [Chapter 29:17]. The Traditional Leaders Act is being amended to align it to the Constitution. The amendments will seek, among other provisions, to provide for the following matters: (a) recognition of the role of Traditional Leaders under Customary Law; (b) equal and fair treatment of all people by Traditional Leaders; (c) functions and remuneration of Traditional Leaders; (d) process of appointing, disciplining and removing Traditional Leaders; (e) establishment of the National Council and Provincial Assemblies of Chiefs and their functions; (f) creation, resuscitation, and abolishment of Traditional Leaderships, and (g) establishment of Integrity and Ethics Committee and its functions.

Cabinet approved the principles to amend the Traditional Leaders Act.

5. PRINCIPLES FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE DEPOSIT PROTECTION ACT [CHAPTER 24:29]

Cabinet considered and approved the Principles to amend the Deposit Protection Corporation Act [Chapter 24:29] as presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development. The amendments to the Act will provide a governing legal framework for banking institutions in the event of their closure. The Deposit Protection Corporation Act will be amended to establish a separate insolvency regime for banking institutions, align the Act to other local laws as well as comply with International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance Systems. The Deposit Protection Corporation will be the sole deposit insurer and liquidator of banking institutions in Zimbabwe.

The opposition MDC Alliance has said its operations are guided by principles of good governance including accountability and transparency.

In a statement by the party’ spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, the party denied the involvement of party officials in Harare City Council’s operations.

The statement is issued amid allegations that some officials including party leader Nelson Chamisa and Secretary-General Chalton Hwende participated in the local government’s land scam. We present the statement in full below.

As the MDC-Alliance, we wish to reiterate our commitment to the fight against corruption in light of the allegations being made within the Harare City Council. As a party that values integrity, we hold ourselves accountable to the ideals of good governance and the belief that all corrupt activities must be independently investigated. To date there has been no substantiated evidence that our officials have not conducted themselves in accordance with Council rules and by-laws.

As far as the operations of the Harare City Council are concerned, the Council has laws and processes that it adheres to. The party does not control how Council conducts its lawful, day-to-day operations. Accordingly, we note the desperate attempt to conflate issues of alleged corruption in the Harare City Council with the activities of the MDC-Alliance as a party.

We do not believe in immunity and impunity where a wrong has been committed.

We are also mindful of the temptation by the regime to weaponize the law for the purposes of retaliation in light of their recorded failure to pursue corruption cases over the past few months. We are aware of the selective application of the law as relates to COVID-19 tenders and other cases involving political elites. We remain opposed to the arbitrary arrests of people in order to investigate. We call on all allegations to be investigated in accordance with the law and in a transparent non-partisan manner.

Just in case all of you think we have it tough in Zimbabwe, here is a picture of me with a 16 lb tiger on the Zambezi last weekend. I was at Chiwore Camp with six friends and we had a splendid time around a fire at night, fishing on one of the greatest rivers in the world.

Comfortable bed at night with elephant grazing outside my lodge, superb meals cooked by a Chef and much laughter and sometimes deep conversation on current issues.

Behind me on the boat is the former Chairman of the Commercial Farmers Union – Nick Swanepoel. Helping take the picture was his wife Margaret and our mutual friends Terry and Diana Kelly who own the place some 50 kilometres down river from the Manna Pools Wildlife Park.

The fishing was superb even though it was the middle of winter here in Zimbabwe. After heavy rains in the northern catchment of the river it was running strongly. Game was a bit scarce as there is still a fair amount of water in the Pans and springs on the escarpment, but what was there was not nervous or gun shy – clearly the hunting has stopped and I hope this allows the wildlife population recover. The veld was looking great with the Mopani still in leaf and all the winter colours.

That is one thing I found so different to the open areas in Europe – here all seasons are rich in colours that you only see in Autumn in the north. The weather was cool with a bit of wind, but for the rest – eat your hearts out all of you who live elsewhere. This is a paradise. On the way home we called in at Lion’s Den and had the best steak rolls in Africa at a place run by a farming family.

Then it was back to Covid, restricted working times and Zoom – but four days away with no cell phone signal or emails! I was tanned and rested and will remember this breakaway for the rest of the year – thanks to the Kelly’s – it is not fair; they are in lockdown there.

The place has many memories for us – it was at Chiwore mouth that another great friend, Mike Edden and two colleagues were sleeping on a sand bank for shelter when an estimated 300 Zanla Guerrillas crossed the river during our Civil War and walked right past them. Mike is now gone to higher service but it is good to remember that what we are today was crafted by those who suffered and fought each other. Today we work together and strive to build a better life for all our people.

I was asked by a colleague the other day, why I stay in Zimbabwe when so many whites have left for other parts of the world seeking a better life and opportunity. It is simple really – this is home. To live like we do elsewhere in the world I would have to be very wealthy.

Then there is the fact that when we as a family went to God to ask what we should do during the war, when the future looked so bleak and without hope.

We received very clear guidance that we were to stay. Has it been a sacrifice? Judge for yourself, we have two great children and five grandchildren – all doing well and all are well rounded and good human beings. We are all here and each one makes their own contribution to our little country.

To be in the Diaspora is no sinecure – my son has just concluded a sermon series on the Book of Ezra in the Old Testament. This is all about the Jewish diaspora in the Middle East at the time and their experience when they made the return to their homeland and rebuilt the Temple.

It took courage and effort – the journey took five months in country riddled with bandits and hostile tribes. Ask any Jew if that effort was worth it, they will reply that the question does not need an answer. They left behind security and property, many had known no other home, yet somehow, Jerusalem called and they responded.

We have a very powerful Diaspora population – of nearly a third of our population. They are spread across the world – 5 million adults plus children. I have walked the slums of South Africa where Shona is the dominant language.

I have sat in Board Rooms in New York with young Zimbabweans who have reached the very pinnacles of business and banking. All of them hanker after home. My own prayer is that one day we can issue them a call to come home and like those Jews in Ezra’s day, help us rebuild our country.

Yesterday I was invited to a home in the suburbs to meet two couples who simply wanted to know – is there any hope of better times, what is happening right now. We had a cup of coffee and talked for just over an hour.

People say I am the eternal optimist. That is true, because there is no other way to be, anywhere. How did our forefathers survive – my own Great Grandfather, fighting in the Boer War in South Africa, at the end of which the Boers looked like they had survived a German concentration camp.

Then my own father – two World Wars, the Spanish Flu, the collapse of the Federation and then 15 years of civil war with no holds barred.

Life is not easy for any of us – it is what we make of what we are given, that makes the difference.

Here we have launched a weekly auction of foreign currency and this has had an immediate impact, exchange rates have stabilised, the rate for the local currency has strengthened by about 20 per cent and we have been able to fund essential imports at lower exchange rates.

Now we need to get more foreign exchange onto the market and to implement essential reforms to the gold and fuel marketing systems. If we can get that done, this will be a new country.

The other major step forward this past week has been the news that the farmers affected by the land reform program have at last reached agreement on compensation.

This has been many years in the making and is another confirmation that this Government is different to the Mugabe regime. The President promised he would do this and now it is done, in the face of fierce opposition from the hard liners in the Administration.

We have again allowed the free use of foreign currencies in the local economy and this has also resulted in increased economic activity as it has brought currency that was previously locked down in Bank accounts, back into the productive sector.

This does not mean we are dollarising – that is behind us and 90 percent of transactions are still in the local currency. The weakness of that currency has restored our competitiveness in regional markets and exports are now growing and local production improving.

Small steps – but that is what it takes and eventually we will make this country a good place to live and work in again. The fishing – that is the best!!

Eddie Cross, Harare, 25th July 2020

Former opposition MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu has mocked at MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, describing him as a coward hiding away from the struggle.

Chamisa is on official leave since the death of his mother early this month. He is at his family home in Gutu, Masvingo.

Wrote Gutu

State Media

Zupco is spacing out passengers in its buses increasing social distancing, while the mandatory temperature testing, sanitisation, wearing of masks by passengers and disinfection of buses after every trip will continue.

Last night, Zupco acting chief executive Mr Evaristo Madangwa said the Ministry of Health and Child Care screened staff at the Willowvale depot on Wednesday and nine of the company employees were found positive.

It was not clear if these were rapid screening tests or the diagnostic PCR tests.

“We shall continue to spray, disinfect each bus and omnibus daily,” said Mr Madangwa.

“Zupco shall continue to ensure temperature checks, hand sanitisation and wearing of face masks by both passengers and crews.

“Efforts are underway to ensure continuity of service by Zupco. As we fight this pandemic we once again encourage our passengers, stakeholders and the nation at large to take all necessary precautions to curb the spread of Covid-19.”

Meanwhile, in a statement the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (Zimsec) advised of the temporary closure of its Head Office and Harare Region Office from yesterday to August 3 to allow for disinfection after 11 of its workers tested positive.

“This closure is to facilitate thorough disinfection of our offices as a precautionary measure to mitigate the spread of Covid-19,” said Zimsec in a statement.

FORMER Premier Soccer League chief executive, Chris Sambo, has died.

Simeon Jamanda, a close ally of the ex-Blackpool boss, told The Herald that Sambo died in Harare last night.

‘’Sad news, Chris Sambo is no more,’’ said Jamanda.

A close family relative, who did not want to be named, also confirmed the football administrator’s death.

‘’Yes, it’s true, Chris Sambo has passed on.’’

It was not immediately clear what led to his death.

Sambo has, of late, been a member of the Lifelong Footballers’ Trust which has been heavily critical of the way domestic football is being administered.

The Country’s goverment employeed senior doctors have announced that they are immediately withdrawing their services.

In a letter to their employer, the doctors who have been holding on their own following a strike by junior doctors and nurses said that they can no longer report for duty after government arrogantly declined to attend to their list of grievances.

Below is the letter by the doctors.

Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has dragged Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga into a press conference to declare that the planned July 31 demonstration is illegal.

Minister Kazembe blamed the MDC Alliance which the opposition party has had no hand in its formulation and planning.

Kazembe said history is replete with sad tales of how opposition-orchestrated demonstrations degenerate into chaos.

“Government wishes to let the people of Zimbabwe know that the intended reckless ‘demonstrations’ of July 31, 2020 are banned and that the people should continue to enjoy their peace and security on the day.

“Anyone who disregards this warning and proceeds to join the planned insurrection to steal power will be met by the full wrath of the law,” Min Kazembe said.

Watch video downloading below.

VIOLATIONS OF COVID-19 NATIONAL LOCKDOWN MEASURES.

In light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Zimbabwe Republic Police urges members of the public not to defy national lockdown measures for the safety, health and security of all.

It is disturbing to note that since the 30th March 2020, a total of 120 023 people have been arrested for various offences related to violations of the national lockdown regulations.

Provinces currently topping the arrests are Harare, Manicaland and Bulawayo.

Meanwhile, it has come to the attention of the police that some unscrupulous individuals and groups are inciting and urging members of the public to engage in acts of violence.

Police will, therefore, take decisive action against such unruly elements.

Members of the public are advised to report such acts of violence or incitement, meant to destabilize the current peaceful environment in the country on the following Police phone numbers which are manned 24/7 throughout the country:

• HARARE – (0242) 748836/753783

• BULAWAYO – (0292) 73547/885479
• MIDLANDS – (054) 2222477
• MATEBELELAND NORTH – (02821) 30333/30259
• MATEBELELAND SOUTH – (0284) 22323
• MANICALAND – (02020) 63231/63813
• MASVINGO – (03920 262627
• MASHONALAND WEST – (067) 2129049
• MASHONALAND EAST – (06523) 20581
• MASHONALAND CENTRAL – (066210) 6894/7047

Let us be law-abiding citizens and stay safe from COVID-19.

[NYATHI. P] Assistant Commissioner Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and International Relations)

To the Commissioner-General of Police

Police General Headquarters

A video pushing the use of an unproven COVID-19 treatment has received widespread attention, including on Twitter by President Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr., whose account was temporarily suspended for directly sharing the video.

Twitter, YouTube and Facebook have been removing the video since it started circulating on July 27 and amassing millions of views. The video spreads the debunked claim that COVID-19 can be cured with hydroxychloroquine — the drug that has been continuously touted by the U.S. President.

The clip features a Houston-area doctor named Stella Immanuel wearing a white coat in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building as she proclaims that a cocktail of hydroxychloroquine, zinc and the antibiotic azithromycin has cured COVID-19 patients.

Watch SABC News report on the issue.

The MDC-T secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora, has laughed off the planned July 31 protest against the deteriorating economy saying it will be a big flop as no person in their right mind will waste their time going into the streets, a strategy which he says has proven to be a failure over the years.

Mwonzora said his party will not be participating in the protests as they have bigger issues to attend to among them, their congress.

He said he was willing to bet his last cent that no protest will be done on July 31.

“I can bet you my last cent that no one will attend the demonstrations. It will be a huge flop. The MDC-T will not be a part of the protests because we are busy preparing for our congress.

“On the day of the protests, is when we are supposed to have our congress. Those who want to go for the protests they are free to do so because this is a democracy,” said Mwonzora.

His statement comes at a time when the government is accusing the Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance of planning to use violence to topple a constitutionally elected government despite the fact that the protest was not called for by Chamisa.

Tell Zim

There are disturbing reports that police have whisked away about 46 children at Mount Hampden near Harare.

Watch video downloading below.

By A Correspondent | The MP for Chirumanzu and a self confessed state house staffer descended onto Muvonde Hospital to demand that nurses inside must with immediate effect treat Auxilliah Mnangagwa’s cousin sister, a patient with fake bleeding symptoms.

The female patient arrived at the clinic claiming that she is losing a lot of blood, and this continuously.

The fake-bleeder, whose name was not disclosed, is also related to the local MP being the wife of his brother.

The fake-bleeder had been told by Mvuma Hospital staff to go and rest at home till the following day. But she did not take heed, and rushed to travel 29 km away to Muvonde Hospital where she began harassing the nurses there.

They told her you do not have any bleeding symptoms, the only thing that could be done on her at present is a scanning, and this can only be done tomorrow when the doctors have returned to work. They then told her to return home so that she can come back the following day.

She was unflinching and suddenly chose to spend the night inside their car.

As a precaution they were told to go out of the hospital premises due to the ongoing Covid requirements.

One lady who presented credentials saying she is a state house employee was extremely rough with the hospital staff.

In a short time, several officials had arrived on site – who include the District Administrator, the MP, another official from the President’s office, the local DMO, and another individual whose identity couldn’t not be obtained.

Arriving at the property, they refused to follow health and safety procedures. The “state house” delegation that came started demanding saying that they should not be screened at the entrance.

They then went on to vex the staff making several abrupt decisions.

An in-house hospital meeting had to be convened at 2pm as hospital staff members ended up debating if it is still safe to come to work seeing that their profession is now being commandeered by non health staff.

One staffer notified ZimEye, they are considering leaving work.

Highly placed sources within ZANU PF have indicated that after Wednesday’s highly emotive ZANU PF Politburo meeting, President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered State Security Minister Owen Ncube to push for internet suspension in the country ahead of the July 31 anti goverment protests.

This will be the second time that goverment will be shutting down the internet as citizens protest against poor governance in the country.

The move will be executed against a January 2019 court directive that goverment can not shut down the internet as it is against the country’s constitution.

In 2019, High Court Judge Owen Tagu ruled that the Zimbabwe’s government exceeded its mandate in ordering an internet blackout during civilian protests .

In his interim ruling, Justice Tagu told mobile operators to immediately and unconditionally resume full services.

The sporadic blackouts began following the protests against a rise in fuel prices that turned violent.

Exiled former ZANU PF bigwig Professor Jonathan Moyo has also since confirmed the purported move by goverment.

Moyo Twitted:

CITE

A 53-year-old man from Bulawayo collapsed and died in a ZUPCO bus on Wednesday morning.

The man was identified as Mr Tinos Mhlanga who was an employee of St Columbus High School.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident and said the deceased was said to be diabetic.

“In the early hours of today around 06:00, a Zupco bus was transporting passengers when a man aged 53 who was in the bus collapsed,” he told CITE.

Inspector Ncube added that the bus driver drove to Tshabalala Police Station to report the case and an ambulance was summoned.

“The bus drove to Tshabalala police station and an ambulance was summoned and upon arrival, the man was declared dead,” said Inspector Ncube.

“The relatives were informed and we established that he was a diabetic patient and the body was taken to United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) for post mortem.”

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced 62 new coronavirus cases this Wednesday, 29 July 2020, taking the cumulative total of officially confirmed cases to 2 819.

283 new recoveries were also recorded across the country, with one death of a female aged 32. Cumulative deaths are now 41. The Ministry said in a statement:

Sixty-two (62) cases tested positive for COVID-19. These include 50 local cases and 12 returnees from South Africa who are isolated.

New recoveries were reported in Bulawayo in Bulawayo Province (275) and Manicaland Province (8).

Today we regret to report one (one) facility death from Manicaland Province. The death is of a female aged 32.

Today 723 RDT screening tests and 1 971 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 126 708 (68 916 RDT and 57 792 PCR)

Since the onset of the COVID019 outbreak on 20 March 2020, the total number of confirmed cases is 2 819, recovered 887, active cases 1 951 and 41 deaths.

Embattled President Emmerson Mnangagwa engaged the Central Intelligence Organisation to investigate his own party officials who are pushing for his removal from power and be replaced by his sickly deputy Constantino Chiwenga.

Mnangagwa confronted his opponents within the party by bringing in CIO boss Isaac Moyo to present an intelligence report at the ZANU PF Politburo meeting on Wednesday.

Mnangagwa and his intelligence wing accused some Zanu PF officials of plotting against him by conspiring with the opposition to promote Vice President Chiwenga to take over.

The report concluded that the plot was being spearheaded by Politburo member Claveria Chizema (secretary for health, child care and the elderly) and former Mbare MP and businessman Tendai Savanhu.

“Moyo accused Chizema and Savanhu of organising and funding the planned anti-government protests on Friday,” a source briefed on the proceedings said.

Chiwenga sat silently listening to the presentation.

Zanu PF spokesman Patrick Chinamasa told journalists after the meeting that Chizema had been suspended for “dereliction of duty”, he charged for failing to report to the Zanu PF security department or the CIO that anti-Mnangagwa posters had been delivered to her home.

Chinamasa said that the party has since called for a thoroughly intelligence investigation on the issue.

…Local political figures have called for a potentially large protest against the Zimbabwean government and corruption on July 31 while others have called for counter-protests.

There is a real possibility for clashes between the opposing groups of protesters and security forces.

Past demonstrations have been met with aggressive tactics by police to suppress protests.

Crackdowns by security forces in high-density areas leading up to and immediately following civil disturbances and internet/social media interruptions are possible.

STATEMENT BY ZUPCO ON COVID-19 SITUATION AT THE ZUPCO WILLOWVALE DEPOT AND BELVEDERE HEAD OFFICE

1. The Ministry of Health and Child Care conducted a screening exercise at Willowvale Depot on 29th July 2020.
2. Nine (9) ZUPCO employees, most of them from Cash Office were unfortunately found to be COVID-19 positive. One (1) other employee at Belvedere Head Office has also tested positive.
3. The usual procedures by the Ministry of Health and Child Care have been taken. Testing will continue to cover other staff.
4. It is worthwhile to note that ZUPCO continues to spray/disinfect each bus/omnibus daily.
5. We shall ensure temperature checks, hand sanitization and the wearing of face masks by both passengers and crews are enforced.
6. All efforts are underway to ensure continuity of service by ZUPCO.

As we fight this pandemic we once again encourage our passengers, stakeholders and nation at large to take all necessary precautions to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Thank you for your continued support.

E.T. Madangwa
Acting Chief Executive Officer