TREASURY is taking caution not to upset the market through increased money supply by delaying the introduction of the $20 note and other higher denominations.
Following the introduction of the $10 note at the end of May, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) had initially announced that the $20 note would be in circulation by the first week of June.
However, despite helping ease cash shortages and enhancing consumer convenience in the market, the move has been followed by a wild exchange rate spiral against the local dollar, which now trades at 1:60 and above against the US$1 on the parallel market at a time when the fixed exchange rate remains at 1:25. The trend has worsened pricing distortions and further weakened consumer spending.
This is happening at a time when earnings for workers have remained stagnant amid limited business activity with employers also feeling the pinch in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19.
In a recent interview, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said Government was cognisant of the prevailing manipulation of the market and the exchange rate, stating that concrete measures were being put in place to stem the tide and ease the burden on ordinary citizens. “At the moment we have allowed citizens to use free funds (forex), as a way to also manage growth of money supply.
“So, we said we will bring it ($20 note) but we need to ease pressure and we want to manage the introduction of whatever currency we have so that again we don’t balloon growth of money supply,” he said.
“We use the swapping mechanism where we are swapping RTGS balances for cash and we have kept that approach and that’s the right approach to do it,” said Prof Ncube.
He said Treasury through the Central Bank was determined to clamp down on currency speculation tendencies on the market, which have been blamed for parallel market distortions. “We said at the beginning of the year that one of our challenges is going to be exchange rate stabilisation and we are working on it. We are dealing with those in the speculation business in the parallel market,” said Prof Ncube.
He said the RBZ had taken measures to deal with deviants in terms of the law and in regulating the mobile platforms in transmitting money.
Prof Ncube said tackling the tide of speculation was critical in restoring currency stability and exchange rate challenge. He also said Treasury was keeping its focus in taming budgetary deficits, which have a huge bearing on currency stability.
“On the fiscal front, we are determined to make sure that we don’t run large budget deficits, which become a problem for currency stabilisation. But also on the monetary front, we make sure money supply growth stays within the limits to ensure it doesn’t add again to currency volatility,” said Prof Ncube.
A unique multi-faith prayer service at State House was the centre of the National Day of Prayer yesterday with the full spectrum of Christian groups — Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical and indigenous — plus representatives of the Islamic, Jewish and Hindu faiths converging to seek healing from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Day of National Prayer and Fasting was called by President Mnangagwa for Zimbabweans to commit themselves to repentance and deliverance in the face of the pandemic and the measures needed to confront it and beat it.
In his short address, the President said while he had declared June 15 as the National Day of Fasting and Prayer, the Bible implored people to observe God’s commandments by praying regularly.
“Today we come boldly before the heavenly throne of grace standing on the scripture, as I highlighted in the declaration of this day; found in 2nd Chronicles 7 v 13-15 which reads . . . ‘if I send pestilence among my people and people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open and my ears attend to the prayer that is made in this place’.
“We therefore gather in prayer, in the total belief and knowledge that the word of God is true for indeed ‘Heaven and earth will pass away but his word, shall not pass away’ (Matthew 24 v 35). We are also confident that God watches over his word, to perform it,” President Mnangagwa said.
More in Home Nation joins President in prayer, fasting Nation joins President in prayer, fasting Khupe fills senior positions Khupe fills senior positions Informal traders prepare return Informal traders prepare return Blood donors saluted Blood donors saluted Schools to get transport on reopening Schools to get transport on reopening The President said God’s word is clear that pestilences such as Covid-19 would come as a warning to people to leave their sinful ways. As such, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans had two choices to make in light of the pandemic; either to repent and seek God’s help or continue to live in defiance of his word.
“In Zimbabwe we have chosen to be part of the first category of those who humble themselves, acknowledging God and glorifying him as God,” he said.
So far the global pandemic has killed four people in Zimbabwe with 383 infections and 54 recoveries but statistics worldwide are grimmer with close to half a million fatalities and close to 10 million confirmed cases along with millions more that were never tested.
Although Zimbabwe has kept the disease at bay, largely due to a raft of measures that were rolled by the Government such as social distancing, wearing masks and limiting movements — the President said the country still has to pray to God for total deliverance.
“We have chosen to repent and to seek his mercy, help, healing and healing in the face of this deadly coronavirus pandemic. I as your President have no hesitation in leading and calling us all to this path of seeking divine help.”
President Mnangagwa then led the nation in prayer asking for God’s forgiveness for the country’s sins, idol worshipping and worshipping of false gods, immorality and injustice and corruption that have made the poor die.
After the President’s address, religious leaders took turns to offer prayers.
Those attending included the Catholic Bishops Conference represented by Father Philip Kembo; Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (Dr Ezekiel Guti); Zimbabwe Council of Churches (Ephraim Ngadziore); Zimbabwe Indigenous Council of Churches (Bishop Goronga); Zimbabwe Inter-denominational Council of Churches (Bishop Nehemiah Mutendi — patron); Faith of Nation Campaign (Bishop Abel Sande); National Elders Forum (Reverend Felix Mukonowengwe); Jewish Community (Arnold Joffe); and Islamic Faith (Moulana Mohammed Ismail).
The Master of Ceremonies, Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe, emphasised the importance of prayer as he appealed to the nation to observe a few moments of devotion to the Lord, so that all sins are forgiven, and new avenues are opened for the good of the nation. Declaring that God is the Lord, he asked for the nation’s protection against the ravaging coronavirus.
Patron of the indigenous churches Nehemiah Mutendi thanked President Mnangagwa for convening such a gathering. He described President Mnangagwa as a rare breed of God-fearing presidents he had met.
“I would like to thank the President for this service. Of all the presidents I have seen, he is the only one that has shown respect and acknowledged that there is a higher authority than him,” Bishop Mutendi said.
He added that because of the Day of Fasting and Prayer, Zimbabwe had overcome the Covid-19 pandemic.
“As the Bible says, any commitment made here on earth would be bound in heaven. This service is a proclamation of the defeat of the pandemic,” Bishop Mutendi added.
Mrs Egnes Sithole, who joined the session under the banner of the Zimbabwe Interdenominational Council of Churches, said she believed life could never be the same again as the nation joined in prayer against the pandemic, and all other ills bedevilling the Motherland.
On the other hand, Madzibaba Moses Gwasira of Johane Masowe WeChishanu in Highfield said it was important for Zimbabweans to know that God had all solutions to life’s challenges.
“As Zimbabweans we should know that God has the answers to the problems and challenges we face so I thank the President for dedicating this day to praying and seeking God’s healing.
“Going forward we should have a day like this where we dedicate our country to God and not to only think of him when we have problems,” he said.
In his remarks VP Mohadi thanked the President for leading from the front in the fight against the pandemic. He said: “Our guest of honour (President Mnangagwa) has led from the front in the fight against the pandemic and believes that our culture and religion are at the centre of people’s lives.”
VP Chiwenga said yesterday’s prayer session would deliver the nation from the effects of the pandemic: “There is also no known cure for this pandemic to date but we know there can be a cure from God if we pray and submit to him like we have done today.”
By Simba Chikanza | It’s about time MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa and his party rise up to save the nation from genocide.
Some politicians have alleged saying there is no evidence of genocide in Zimbabwe, and these use the argument of threshold, saying it has not been surpassed. But the figures are there, and they run into the tens of thousands.
The party is sending the wrong message to the public. As someone who has been to institutions such as the IPU, I can narrate that submissions about mere abduction of a single MP, are insufficient on touching the reality of the emergency at hand. The term MDC officers especially spokespersons should be using is “genocide.” Joana Mamombe and all MDC Alliance are surviving on a thread, having been threatened with genocide against them and their constituents, the latest of which began around the time before and after the 2018 elections.
These announcements of genocide have come in the form of words and actual execution, they are not empty threats. After an estimated 22,000 people killed to date since 1983, more people are set to go under.
The abduction of Joana Mamombe comes after more threats to commit acts of genocide were sounded since February 2019. The incumbent in the 2018 polls, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s said any dissenting voices will be met with sudden death, what he termed a shortening (or flattening) of their lives.
Mnangagwa in Mwenezi threatening to shorten the lives of demonstrators. "Hallelujah to those who choose peace and may their days be increased in the land ruled by black people. But those who chose to demonstrate their days will be shortened (shrunk)." @UNZimbabwe@IntlCrimCourtpic.twitter.com/zJple7WzQQ
As late as 3rd January 2020, Mnangagwa announced saying he will deploy the army against an MDC Alliance MP (Chalton Hwende) and his constituents once he finds them guilty of stopping the rain. The MP has since been illegally recalled from parliament, alongside three others, Thabitha Khumalo, Lilian Timveos, and Prosper Mutseyani.
In the last 2 years alone, at least 25 people have been killed in broad daylight and at least 51 women raped. Someone has to put a stop to this.
Mnangagwa: "But once we know it is the people of Kuwadzana who do not wish it to rain, we will deploy the army to surround them to beat them up" Video- ZBC pic.twitter.com/apQ05pc4jn
No other politician in human history has talked about people dying and corpses more than Emmerson Mnangagwa-The man who has over a period of over 37 years polluted the human space with immoral banter concerning human suffering going to the level of celebrating dead bodies and offering prizes for coffin-space, has said he urges “excellent levels of personal hygiene.”
It was on 4th April 1983 when Mnangagwa caused the Zimbabwean economy to crash as he described people as cockroaches who deserve to die for supporting protesters, who he labeled dissidents. He said anyone supporting dissidents would have their days on earth reduced. 22,000 from Midlands and Matebeleland areas were killed as a result.
” But woe unto those who will choose the path of collaboration with dissidents for we will certainly shorten their stay on Earth,” he said.
The economy nosedived.
He would after that deny that anyone was killed, and what he told the BBC in 1983, is the same he repeated to France24 36 years later, in February 2019.
And then on 15th May 2015, Mnangagwa said democracy is only found in the World of the Dead. He said election winners are just corpses. (VIDEO)
Fast forward to 1st August 2018, he deployed the army onto the streets of Harare and his most senior advisor announced in his presence this was in order to change election results so they match an outcome greater than the one ZANU PF obtained in 1980.
CHRISTOPHER MUTSVANGWA on 15 December 2017 at 1.32pm in MNANGAGWA'S PRESENCE in Harare pic.twitter.com/CvBQli2VxG
And then in February 2019, Mnangagwa celebrated the killing of 17 people and raping of 17 women saying he would do more, to the point of physically attacking doctors and lawyers attending the victims. VIDEO:
RETWEET! – Mnangagwa in Mwenezi clearly threatened brutality against doctors and lawyers also threatening to shorten the lives of people who make noise. pic.twitter.com/fJx5dOemL5
On the 3rd January 2020, he told people in Harare’s Kuwadzana surbub, still nursing their wounds from beatings by the Zimbabwe national army, that he would re-deploy the army on them once he discovers they are the ones who stopped the rain. This is not a reading from a horror movie or a novel this is real life in modern day Zimbabwe. (VIDEO).
Mnangagwa: "But once we know it is the people of Kuwadzana who do not wish it to rain, we will deploy the army to surround them to beat them up" Video- ZBC pic.twitter.com/apQ05pc4jn
The same Mnangagwa who for a whole 37 years celebrates people suffering and dead bodies rotting, has this time however taken to paradoxical levels announcing that he urges excellent levels of personal hygiene.
He said-
“I urge my fellow Zimbabweans to maintain excellent levels of personal hygiene.
“Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, cover your nose & mouth with a tissue when you cough, & avoid unnecessary travel abroad.
“We must keep our nation, safe, secure & healthy.”
BELOW WERE SOME REACTIONS TO HIS SPEECHES
ECONOMY CRASHING SINCE 1983.
Economy data shows how the country’s GDP crashed down following the operation, and effects were immediately felt from 1983 all the way to 1985.
Fast forward to the period 2004 – 2018 more evidence shows the correlation between economic performance and the rule of law, specifically human rights adherence.
Graph showing searches for economy Vs those for Human Rights record.
A UK based academic has investigated human rights violations and economic decline. In the graphs below revealed by ZimEye.com, it is displayed that for instance in the 14 years since 2004, investor interest has either risen or declined in a direct consequential correlation with Human Rights. Dr Admore Tshuma from Kent University was asked by SABC: What were you aiming to achieve?, and he answered as follows: “the study is a socio-economic perspective. The study explores how the future in South Africa may unfold if expropriation of land without compensation goes ahead. “The aim is not to take a side in this argument, but to unpack the perspective, of human rights and economic paradigms. This is the first time that such a question has been examined by social science using an objectively collected data. The main aim is not to diminish claims for redistribution of land, but to highlight the detriment of the expropriation of land without compensation. “In this study I am very mindful of the sensitivity of the issue of land and I am also aware that there is little consensus of what benefit expropriation of land will produce for South Africa.
“Hence the basic aim is to suggest an alternative and progressive policy on what could constitute an economically sensible cause of action if South Africa is to pursue.
“In this case Zimbabwe remains an empirical case study, for such a social policy, a public policy. The primary focus in this study is to illustrate the interaction between human rights and the economy, also to highlight the model of retributive Justice in response to growing calls for the land question in South Africa as what happened in Zimbabwe.
“And some of my objectives basically are to raise awareness of the potential long term social economic harm that may result in the expropriation of land, it is also to show the interaction, the inter-twinement … the globalisation of the world, how world nation states have become smaller: how the international law has become supreme…part of what I am looking into, and basically the project in the end, it demonstrates the growing recognition that deep-rooted problems of Human Rights violation… are most likely to affect the economy, it is a very broad subject…”
The MDC-T led by Dr Thokozani Khupe yesterday held its inaugural national standing committee meeting at Morgan Tsvangirai House, days after reclaiming the headquarters from MDC-Alliance led by Mr Nelson Chamisa.
Many MDC-T veterans, including founding leader the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s brother Manasa, attended the meeting where some senior positions were filled through co-option.
Manasa was appointed as MDC-T secretary for elections.
Other members co-opted into the national standing committee were Mr Elias Mudzuri, as deputy national chairperson, Mr Gift Chimanikire ( deputy national organising secretary), Mr Abednico Bhebhe (national organising secretary) and Mr Shakespeare Mukoyi, interim youth assembly leader.
“The MDC-T you know is here today,” said Dr Khupe. “We are standing now on our toes. We are raring to go. Our desire is to make sure that we are an opposition which is ready to build the country.
We want to make sure that Zimbabweans have a better life.”-The Herald
UNITED States-based goalkeeper, Tatenda Mukuruva, has added his voice to the growing debate about the fans who provide the most hostile atmosphere in the domestic Premiership.
Responding to questions from his followers on social media, as part of his tribute to the late Dynamos fan Freddy Mugadza who died in America in April, Mukuruva said the atmosphere generated by Highlanders fans at Barbourfields, was unbearable.
Mukuruva now plies his trade for Michigan Stars in the third-tier League in America.
“All opposition fans always talk a lot of rubbish but you just have to ignore them but, sometimes, it’s hard because they will be cursing your mum, especially at Barbourfields,” said Mukuruva.
The 24-year-old joined the DeMbare camp as a junior in 2008 from Budiriro Gunners.
He graduated into the senior team in 2013 and remained there up to 2016 where he crossed the borders to join Benni McCarthy’s Cape Town City.
He moved to Zambia in 2018 where he joined Buildcon before flying out to the United States in 2019 to join Michigan Stars.
At national team level, he represented all the age-groups from the Under-17s-The Herald
Chimoio. — Mozambican police at the weekend detained a self-styled “prophet” who used his religious activities to front for his real career as a burglar.
The “prophet”, 35-year-old Crispine Baptista, is accused of a string of burglaries in Chimoio, capital of the central province of Manica, and in Machipanda, on the border with Zimbabwe. He would visit houses, supposedly to prophesy, but in reality he was reconnoitring the homes of victims, intending to return after nightfall to burgle them.
Baptista confessed his crimes, and said he turned to robbery as from 2018. He said this was “the devil’s work”, although he had sworn to serve God. “I stole in Machipanda and in Chimoio”, he said.
“I visited some of the places by day for my work of prophecy, but I would also reconnoitre. At night I would rob. Many victims are my patients” (as he described those who used his prophetic services).
“I don’t know what happened to me”, he added. “This can only be the work of the devil. I am a religious man and a prophet. I have sworn to serve God.”
“I stole to help my family”, he claimed. “After the thefts, I sold the goods in Chimoio.”
After Baptista’s arrest, the police recovered some of the stolen property.
The Manica provincial police spokesperson, Mateus Mindu, said the arrest of the “prophet” was thanks to denunciations by members of the public-The Herald
A BULILIMA man fatally stabbed his friend for refusing to pay him after he had won a $10 bet in a card game.
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the incident which occurred at Ntoli Business Centre on Thursday last week at around 5PM. He said the suspect Delani Ndlovu (28) stabbed Oscar Moyo (29) with an Okapi knife in the stomach and chest.
“I can confirm that we recorded a murder case which occurred at Ntoli Business Centre in Bulilima.
Delani Ndlovu and Oscar Moyo were playing a game of cards when they had a misunderstanding over an undisclosed issue. They started fighting and Ndlovu drew an okapi knife and stabbed Moyo in the chest and stomach.
“Moyo was rushed to a nearby clinic where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Ndlovu is still at large and we appeal to anyone with information that could lead to his arrest to contact the nearest police station.
As police we continue to urge people to desist from engaging in violence during disputes.
People should also desist from carrying dangerous weapons in public. These weapons have been the cause of a number of violent crimes of which some result in the loss of life,” he said.
Chief Insp Ndebele also urged members of the public to desist from engaging in illegal activities such as gambling.
A source close to the investigations who preferred anonymity said Ndlovu and Moyo were playing a game of cards and had each placed a $10 bet.
He said Ndlovu won and Moyo refused to pay up resulting in the altercation.
The source said when other villagers intervened, Ndlovu had already stabbed Moyo and fled from the scene-Chronicle
ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL FOREIGN CURRENCY TRADING ADVERTS
The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been monitoring social media platforms where foreign currency dealers have been advertising and promoting their illegal trade.
The FIU is aware of WhatsApp groups that have mushroomed in the country for the specific purpose of promoting and facilitating illegal foreign currency trade.
The FIU, in collaboration with the police, banks, mobile money / mobile phone service providers and relevant regulatory agencies, has embarked on an exercise to identify and take action against individuals who create, advertise on or participate (actively or passively) in WhatsApp groups or other platforms for illegal foreign currency trading.
The FIU and relevant institutions will take the following immediate actions:
• The mobile phone numbers used to join or advertise on the illegal groups will be shared with mobile phone operators and POTRAZ for barring; • Other mobile phone numbers registered in the names of such persons will also be identified and barred;
• Any mobile money wallets registered in the names of such persons will be frozen and the persons barred from accessing mobile money services with any operator; • Bank accounts owned by a person so identified will be frozen and the person will be blacklisted and barred from accessing banking services with any bank; and
• Identified persons will be investigated and prosecuted for illegally trading in or advertising illegal trading in foreign currency.
Members of the public are requested to report to the FIU any person, mobile phone number or bank account that continue to be used to engage in or advertise illegal foreign currency activities, using the following contact details:
FIU mobile and WhatsApp number: 0714039897 Financial Intelligence Unit 15 June 2020
Treasury is taking caution not to upset the market through increased money supply by delaying the introduction of the $20 note and other higher denominations.
Following the introduction of the $10 note at the end of May, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) had initially announced that the $20 note would be in circulation by the first week of June.
However, despite helping ease cash shortages and enhancing consumer convenience in the market, the move has been followed by a wild exchange rate spiral against the local dollar, which now trades at 1:60 and above against the US$1 on the parallel market at a time when the fixed exchange rate remains at 1:25. The trend has worsened pricing distortions and further weakened consumer spending.
This is happening at a time when earnings for workers have remained stagnant amid limited business activity with employers also feeling the pinch in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19.
In a recent interview, Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, said Government was cognisant of the prevailing manipulation of the market and the exchange rate, stating that concrete measures were being put in place to stem the tide and ease the burden on ordinary citizens. “At the moment we have allowed citizens to use free funds (forex), as a way to also manage growth of money supply.
“So, we said we will bring it ($20 note) but we need to ease pressure and we want to manage the introduction of whatever currency we have so that again we don’t balloon growth of money supply,” he said.
“We use the swapping mechanism where we are swapping RTGS balances for cash and we have kept that approach and that’s the right approach to do it,” said Prof Ncube.
He said Treasury through the Central Bank was determined to clamp down on currency speculation tendencies on the market, which have been blamed for parallel market distortions. “We said at the beginning of the year that one of our challenges is going to be exchange rate stabilisation and we are working on it. We are dealing with those in the speculation business in the parallel market,” said Prof Ncube.
He said the RBZ had taken measures to deal with deviants in terms of the law and in regulating the mobile platforms in transmitting money.
Prof Ncube said tackling the tide of speculation was critical in restoring currency stability and exchange rate challenge. He also said Treasury was keeping its focus in taming budgetary deficits, which have a huge bearing on currency stability.
“On the fiscal front, we are determined to make sure that we don’t run large budget deficits, which become a problem for currency stabilisation. But also on the monetary front, we make sure money supply growth stays within the limits to ensure it doesn’t add again to currency volatility,” said Prof Ncube. – Chronicle
A 42-year-old man who raped his 11-year-old daughter on numerous occasions since she was eight years, was yesterday sentenced to 18 years in prison by a Bindura magistrate.
The man from Mhasvi Village in Chiweshe under Chief Negomo kept his daughter isolated and silenced her by saying no one would look after her if she reported him to the police.
The man pleaded not guilty to rape charges when he appeared before regional magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna, but was convicted after a full trial.
He was initially sentenced to 20 years, but Mr Nduna suspended two years of the sentence. Mr Nduna said the man had committed, “a terrible, traumatising, dehumanising, humiliating and abominable crime”.
The court was told that the medical report showed that the minor had sustained hymnal tears that had since healed, an indication that the abuse started years back.
The sexual assault started in 2016 when the man was left in custody of the minor after he divorced the mother. The victim slept in the kitchen, while the father used the bedroom.
The court heard that on an unknown date in 2016, the father knocked at her door at night.
She opened the door for him and he raped her. The court heard that she cried for help, but no one heard her and he ordered her not to tell anyone about the offence before going back to his room. He raped her on numerous occasions and in her evidence in court the minor said she became afraid of her father.
On December 20, 2019, she was assaulted for allowing a neighbour to fetch water at their well and decided to leave the homestead.
She met Chaitezvi Mundandiswe, the sister-in-charge at Rosa Clinic, while looking for transport to Mt Darwin where she intended to look for her mother.
The girl narrated her ordeal to her and the matter was reported to the police, leading to the man’s arrest. In his defence, the man said he used to come home late and never sexually assaulted his daughter.
He told the court that relatives refused to take custody of the minor and the mother was also not forthcoming. -Herald
Real Madrid resumed their LaLiga title chase with a 3-1 victory over Eibar at the Alfredo Di Stefano on Sunday.
Zinedine Zidane’s men were back in action after the Covid-19 enforced football break and wasted no time in showing their intentions when midfielder Toni Kroos put them in front with a well-taken shot just three minutes into the clash.
Just after the half-hour mark, Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos doubled their advantage, tapping into an empty net after being set up by a selfless Eden Hazard following a brilliant counter attack move.
Marcelo made it 3-0 with a thunderbolt just before the break and took a knee and raised his fist in solidarity with the #blacklivesmatter campaign as Zidane’s men showed no signs of stopping.
3-0 at the break.
Madrid looked to have taken their foot off the table after the restart and allowed Eibar to pull one back on the hour mark through Pedro Bigas.
Zidane made some changes thereafter, with Eder Militao replacing Ramos while Gareth Bale came in for Rodrygo.
Eibar were clearly the better side in the second stanza but Madrid held on for an important win which sees them cut the intial five point gap on Barcelona before kick off, to two-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s magnitude of brutality as shocking.
See full statement below : 15-06-2020
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly is very disturbed by the regime’s move to deny our female youth leaders bail.
We maintain that our comrades were abducted, tortured and sexually abused and as such they are supposed to appear in any normal court as complainants and not as the accused.
The denial of bail of Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe by the Rotten Row Magistrates Courts is a clear confirmation of judiciary capture by the junta.
It is also clear that the continued persecution by prosecution of the trio is a deliberate attempt by the shameless regime to cover up for the abduction case.
As an Assembly we are going to take Emmerson Mnangagwa head on until justice for the trio is served.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s magnitude of brutality as shocking.
See full statement below : 15-06-2020
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly is very disturbed by the regime’s move to deny our female youth leaders bail.
We maintain that our comrades were abducted, tortured and sexually abused and as such they are supposed to appear in any normal court as complainants and not as the accused.
The denial of bail of Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe by the Rotten Row Magistrates Courts is a clear confirmation of judiciary capture by the junta.
It is also clear that the continued persecution by prosecution of the trio is a deliberate attempt by the shameless regime to cover up for the abduction case.
As an Assembly we are going to take Emmerson Mnangagwa head on until justice for the trio is served.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said a transitional mechanism is needed to “soft-land” the crisis in the country.
Chamisa, quoted by The Standard, described the crisis in Zimbabwe as unbearable and beyond imagination.
“We are in a disaster. There is no income, no foreign investments, no jobs, nothing and it is a tinderbox, it is an explosion, everything is going southward.
The centre can no longer hold. More than eight million people are facing starvation and this situation does not require a business-as-usual approach,” Chamisa told the weekly publication.
He added: “We need a transitional mechanism to soft-land the crisis.
We need nation-building and consensus to extricate ourselves out of this problem in the country.
With service delivery collapse, economic collapse, corruption flourishing, human rights abuses on the increase, victimisation of lawyers, attacks on human rights defenders, attacks on journalists, diplomats and non-governmental organisations, everyone seems to be under attack.
It’s a state that seems to be in a difficult position and they are seeing enemies everywhere.”
By A Correspondent- Apostle Talent Chiwenga has queried why Thokozani Khupe and her entourage were allowed to violate the Lockdown regulations and travel all the way to Buhera at a time when opposition MDC Alliance stalwarts are being arrested for violating the same Lockdown rules.
Chiwenga queried:
“Why is there a selective application of the law? Why are the MDC Alliance leaders arrested for violating Lockdown? There are some who have sold their souls for money who ended up in Buhera at a graveside. Who authorised their journey? Who gave them the blessings to violate the Lockdown and why were they not arrested?”
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) secretary-general Dr Norman Matara said most people are contracting the coronavirus in the quarantine centres because they are not being tested early and results are also delayed.
Dr Matara also bemoaned the mixing of people with unknown statuses saying this promotes the spread of the virus in the quarantine centres. He said:
We can say that most people at the quarantine centres are contracting the virus from there. Not all of them arrive with Covid-19.
People are just being mixed – old comers and newcomers. They are not being grouped accordingly and this may be one of the ways that the centres are always recording new positive cases daily.
Dr Matara urged the government to abandon Rapid tests for screening and diagnostics and to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for all inmates on the first 1st and 8th days to prevent infection within the centres.
He said:
“Another issue is the testing kits. We have been advocating for the PCR test on the first and eighth day as it is more sensitive but the government has ignored that.
The World Health Organisation has clearly stated that the Rapid test should not be used for screening and diagnostics but we are still using it.
To many doctors, the test does not make sense because its results are not conclusive. The government simply needs to apply the gold standard and do the PCR test.
Zimbabwe’s new coronavirus cases are predominantly recorded in quarantine centres, with 27 people – all returnees from South Africa – testing positive for the virus on Sunday.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance president, Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said a transitional mechanism is needed to “soft-land” the crisis in the country.
Chamisa, quoted by The Standard, described the crisis in Zimbabwe as unbearable and beyond imagination.
“We are in a disaster. There is no income, no foreign investments, no jobs, nothing and it is a tinderbox, it is an explosion, everything is going southward.
The centre can no longer hold. More than eight million people are facing starvation and this situation does not require a business-as-usual approach,” Chamisa told the weekly publication.
He added: “We need a transitional mechanism to soft-land the crisis.
We need nation-building and consensus to extricate ourselves out of this problem in the country.
With service delivery collapse, economic collapse, corruption flourishing, human rights abuses on the increase, victimisation of lawyers, attacks on human rights defenders, attacks on journalists, diplomats and non-governmental organisations, everyone seems to be under attack.
It’s a state that seems to be in a difficult position and they are seeing enemies everywhere.”
By A Correspondent- Two people are feared dead while several others were seriously injured when a Granvia long distance pirate taxi overturned at Lutumba Business centre 20 kilometres outside Beitbridge this evening.
Reported Newsday:
“Two people are lying seemingly lifeless. We are ferrying many injured who include children to Beitbridge hospital,” Biggie Ndlovu a village head at Lutumba said.
The Granvia was reported to have been speeding towards Beitbridge when the driver lost control avoiding animals resulting in the car veering off the road before rolling several times and throwing out its occupants.
Police had not yet arrived at the scene, Ndlovu said.
Despite the lockdown several passenger carrying vehicles have been breaking the lockdown regulations ferrying passengers to and from the border town.
It is believed most of the vehicles in that business which never respected the lockdown belonged to some law enforcement and security agents at Beitbridge.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates
By A Correspondent- The reinstated leader of the opposition MDC-T, Thokozani Khupe has said that she is currently the acting president of the party hence the leader of the party with 103 legislators.
Addressing the media, she said that it does not matter that she was not the party’s leader when 2018 elections were held adding that the situation is not unique to the MDC.
She speaks when some have accused her of being used by the ruling ZANU PF to take legislators from her nemesis Nelson Chamisa in an endeavour to destroy the main opposition party in the count.
“The first murderer was cursed. God does not want people that shed innocent blood….if you are a murderer, God will not accomodate you. We have people that were murdered in this country simply because they were Zimbabwean.
On 1 August 2018, 7 people were gunned down by soldiers…i want you to remember that the Mothlanthe Commission made an inquiry into who killed those people… the long arm of the law has not yet caught up with the people that killed those people…”
“Only religious pimps who are after food handouts and checks will attend the National Day of Prayer…. real men of God will not attend that function neither will they heed the National Day of Prayer even at their homes,” Pastor Talent Chiwenga has said.
“You are surrounded by clowns who clap hands for you when you do what is not right. Mr President Sir you are cursed, and its not only you but your entire government is cursed. You are carrying a curse and you have blood on your hands . You need cleansing and not prayers. It’s not only you that needs cleansing but your whole administration should be cleansed……”
By A Correspondent- Chitungwiza Hospital on Monday 15 June directed that all workers will not be served food in adherence to the national prayer and fasting decree by president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
In a memorandum addressed to all Heads of Departments and Ward Managers and All Employees the hospital management said the food was only to be served to patients.
Reads the memorandum:
SUBJECT: NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AND FASTING JUNE 15, 2020
Today, the Government has proclaimed that it be the day of National Prayer and Fasting. In accordance with the above proclamation, the Kitchen is hereby directed to serve food to patients only and not to staff members. Sterner measures will be taken against those taking advantage of patients’ food so please note. Please note that this directive should be religiously adhered to.
“You have shed innocent blood for far too long and you have no moral ground to talk about BlackLivesMatter. What are you smoking?” Pastor Talent Chiwenga has told Zanu Pf stalwarts
By A Correspondent- Exiled former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada is an undercover ZANU PF agent.
His remarks come when Mashakada has recently become critical of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and the party leadership which he accuses of being autocratic.
Responding to ZANU PF’s post which observed that Mashakada claimed that MDC Alliance members were not happy by Chamisa’s appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of party spokesperson even when she recently joined the party, Moyo said:
I wrote the 2000 ZanuPF election manifesto, ran the party’s campaign & deputised Nathan Shamuyarira, as a party spokesperson, before becoming a ZanuPF member. As for Mashakada, he’s one of a dozen or so MDC leaders who’ve been closet ZanuPF moles ever since!
A number of MDC officials including MDC Alliance Vice Presidents Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube have in the past been labelled ZANU PF moles.
They have all denied the allegations saying their adversaries were creating that narrative for them to lose support in the party.
Links with the ruling ZANU PF is one of the ways MDC officials have been losing the backing of the electorate and pasty supporters.
By A Correspondent- Preacher Talent Chiwenga has there is nothing wrong with prayer but it is something that should be declared by a president who has turned from his wicked ways and has humbled himself before the Lord.
Chiwenga said President Emmerson Mnangagwa should not have called for a National Day of Prayer as this lacks the proper ingredients, namely humility and repentance,
He said:
“…There are three questions that the president should have asked himself before pronouncing the National Day of Prayer… what is this place that he will conduct the prayer from? You have ursurped the powers of the church. Are you the right person to declare the National Day of Prayer?
Have you turned from your wicked ways? and if you have, there are a lot of things that you ought to do… there are a lot of things that as a humble man you are supposed to do. …the president has not humbled himslef neither has he turned from his wicked ways….”
Watch the live video below as Chiwenga speaks on the National Day of Prayer…..
The reinstated leadership of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Tsvangirai (MDC-T) met at the Morgan Tsvangirai House formerly known as Harvest House and made a number of resolutions including the ownership of the building.
Addressing the press after the MDC-T Standing Committee meeting Mwonzora said that Morgan Tsvangirai House belonged to MDC adding that at the right time, the party will prove that.
He said:
We reiterate that Harvest House belongs to the MDC as a party and we will do everything that is in our power to safeguard our property. So there are matters that are before the courts but we want to make it clear that the Harvest House or Morgan Tsvangirai House is not a private property owned by a company, it is a property that is owned by the party.
These remarks come when there has been a conflict between the MDC Alliance and MDC-T over the ownership of the building.
Khupe’s faction recently took control of the building with the support of the state security forces. Meanwhile, a duo, Timothy James Neill and Ian Mutero Makone, claiming to be the directors of the property, said the rightful occupants of the building was the MDC Alliance, not MDC-T.
United States of America Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols
The United States Embassy in Harare has issued a travel advisory to returning residents to Zimbabwe. We present the advisory in full below.
Information for returning residents to Zimbabwe who are able to pay to stay at a Minister of Health & Child Care approved lodge or hotel. You will be subject to the Zimbabwean Government’s mandatory quarantine of 8 days at a pre-arranged accommodation and a further 14 days self-isolation for the safety of your fellow Zimbabwean.
You will receive a pre-admission form to fill in. This will be sent to ZINCAT medical team and stored confidentially for reference by the clinical team only.
What to expect upon arrival to Zimbabwe?
You will be required to fill out a guest acknowledgement form confirming you understand you have to complete the mandatory quarantine period of 8 days and a further 14 days self-isolation at home.
You will collect your luggage and go through the normal border clearance processes (customs, immigration and Covid19 quarantine security ).
You will be met by MINISTER OF HEALTH representative and be cleared. They will make this waiting period as comfortable as possible. Your cooperation and patience are appreciated
MOH will organize the transfer from the airport to your pre-booked accommodation – accompanied by ZINCAT staff.
Arrangements for your 8 day’s quarantine period
Your accommodation has been approved by Minister of Health & Child Care.
All questions will be answered by the ZINCAT medical team on arrival at your lodge.
The accommodation will have the amenities and services you’ll need during your stay. Please be aware this will not necessarily be of normal lodge standards but it will be safe and hygienic; food, /water, tea/coffee and basic 3 meals a day will be provided.
All meals will be provided and served to your room. Should you require any special diet please advise prior to arrival.
Daily visit by ZINCAT medical team for monitoring.
Should you need a doctor for any other health concerns a Doctors call out fee of $20 may be needed.
Should you have health needs, for example prescriptions for regular medications, arrangements will be made to facilitate these requirements.
All rooms have DSTV and Wi-Fi.
Under the quarantine security you’ll have to remain in the allocated accommodation until you’re medically cleared to return home. Depending on the facility you are in there will be time for you to be in the garden.
A COVID19 test will be taken on the 8thday by the ZINCAT medical team and a negative test will allow to leave for self-isolation at home for a further 7 days. Your home address will be required by ZINCAT.
You have the option to get the PCR test from LANCET labs. This will be an out of pocket expense of $65 with a $5 fee for the doctor to administer and return it for results. This should allow you to get your result in 24hours and return home on the 9th
However, City of Harare COVID19 Rapid Response team can administer your test for no cost. We cannot guarantee that this will be turned around less than 48 hours due to the backlog of tests they have. Which would require you to remain in quarantine for the extra nights at your expense.
What can you expect if your test is positive:
ZINCAT Medical Team will walk you through the procedures
You will be moved to an ZINCAT Isolation Accommodation for Monitoring
ZINCAT will provide Psycho-Social Support during this time should you require it.
Should symptom’s increase from mild to moderate you will be admitted into Hospital.
Please be advised the ZINCAT quarantine lodges are running predominantly at a not for profit rate – your stay is helping them to keep their staff employed and their operating costs covered. It is also supporting clinical team of ZINCAT an NFP organisation supporting front line workers in the fight against COVID 19. But if you do not wish to pay, there are Government Quarantine facilities available, free of charge.
THE government says the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is putting in place measures to avail foreign currency for adequate fuel supplies while also coming up with a fuel pricing structure that prevents artificial shortages.
Long and meandering queues have now become the order of the day at most service stations before the economy has fully reopened from the Covid-19 lockdown.
Speaking to ZBC News, Energy and Power Development Minister, Advocate Fortune Chasi attributed the issue to foreign currency shortages and a flawed fuel pricing structure which is causing artificial shortages, hence the need for a review.
“I have engaged the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to avail enough foreign currency because this is part of the challenge but at the root of it is that our fuel is too cheap compared to prices obtaining in the region. So, I am quite aware that there is a review of the price which is currently ongoing to make sure that we stem out these shortages caused by arbitrage opportunities.”
Analysts also say that the low prices are feeding into a thriving parallel market where fuel meant for registered service stations is being diverted to the black market.
Economists, Mr Kipson Gundani and Persistence Gwanyanya; concurred with Minister Chasi adding that attention should be on the fixed exchange rate.
“It is quite true that prices of fuel here are very low compared to the region and the demand may be driven by people wanting to procure fuel for speculation not for real economic purposes,” Mr Gundani said.
“The manner in which fuel prices are calculated give rise to the low prices because the major price component, the Free on Board price (landing price) is calculated by multiplying with the exchange rate of 25 which is not indicative of what is happening on the ground, so this creates artificial shortages,” said Mr Gwanyanya.
Last week the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe said in a statement it is reverting to a market-based exchange rate regime which once operational will help reduce distortions responsible for artificial shortages.
The United States Embassy in Harare has said Zimbabwe is doing the opposite of what United Nations experts recommended with regards to the handling of the case of three MDC Alliance officials – Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
The statement is issued when the court on Monday denied bail for the trio and remanded them in custody to 26 June.
Posting on Twitter, the US Embassy said:
UN experts said Zim's "Targeting peaceful dissidents…is a serious violation of human rights law” and recommended “The charges against the three women should be dropped.” Instead, 3 victims of abduction, torture, and sexual violence are jailed while their captors remain free. pic.twitter.com/ujX3lL8mL0
The trio was arrested on the 13th of May 2020 during a flash hunger protest in Warren Park. They allege that they were abducted from police custody and were tortured and sexually assaulted the whole night before being dumped in Bindura.
The state rearrested them and charged them with violating COVID-19 regulations which had banned social gatherings.
The trio was also charged with “lying” about that they had been abducted by suspected state security agents.
The state claims that the alleged abduction was staged merely to spoil the President Mnangagwa led administration, yet, there is no explanation as to how the trio ‘escaped’ from police custody to be found in Bindura.
By A Correspondent- The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CoMZ) president Ms Elizabeth Nerwande is prioritizing the upgrade of the Chamber’s resource centre so that information becomes available to its membership in real time.
Contacted for comment following her re-election on May 28, 2020, Ms Nerwande said as part of her agenda during her second and final term as president, her team is working towards the transformation of the Chamber into an institution that offers real, tangible benefits to its members and to broaden its revenue base.
She said in due course the Chamber must operate an up-to-date resource centre that eliminates the “black box” mentality where information becomes available after a crash, adding that members must be able to access information at the click of a button.
“While we continue to pursue our issues of lobbying and engaging on the ease of doing business, bearing in mind the industry’s state-objective of attaining a US$12 billion sector by 2023, top on my agenda in this second era is to place the Chamber as a leader of Information.
“Given this new normal occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic where we all must observe social distancing measures, 80 percent of our work is now running through use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs). Our role in relaying information as well as being a point of reference on mining matters has also become more urgent. We are therefore in the process of enhancing our capacity to have updated information. We are working on upgrading our resource centre,” said Ms Nerwande.
Indeed, there is increasing realisation across the globe that in a fast-paced, dynamic operating environment, the availability of information in real time makes decision-making much easier.
Focus in most advanced economies has thus been on ensuring the availability of quality information that is relevant to the needs of its users.
In that regard, the Chamber is taking a defining step in upgrading its resource centre to serve as the central information and data domain not only for its membership but also for other stakeholders who can access the facility within specified limitations.
Traditionally, a library has been seen as a central point for the storage of information in hard copy, where students, researchers, among other users, go to find relevant information in their respective subjects. But since the dawning of the digital age, the importance of a library has been transformed in its utility and role due to the Internet and Internet products accessible to staff.
In the case of the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, its leadership is desirous of ensuring that speed and efficiency come together as they get down to providing information on mining to their membership.
Asked to comment on government’s vision to attain a US$12 billion mining sector by 2023, Ms Nerwande said they remain co-ordinated and organised to ensure its attainment.
“Such a goal can only be realised when all stakeholders address the perennial constraints on ease of doing business with a unity of purpose,” she remarked.
“There is need to speedily conclude the development of a consolidated fiscal regime for the ease of doing business,” she added.
ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL FOREIGN CURRENCY TRADING ADVERTS
1. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has been monitoring social media platforms where foreign currency dealers have been advertising and promoting their illegal trade. The FIU is aware of WhatsApp groups that have mushroomed in the country for the spoofs purpose of promoting and facilitating illegal foreign currency trade. 2. The FIU, in collaboration with the police, banks, mobile money / mobile phone service providers and relevant regulatory agencies, has embarked on an exercise to identify and take action against individuals who create, advertise on or participate (actively or passively) in WhatsApp groups or other platforms for illegal foreign currency tmding. 3. The FIU and relevant institutions will take the following immediate actions: • The mobile phone numbers used to join or advertise on the illegal groups will be shared with mobile phone operators and POTRAZ for barring; • Other mobile phone numbers registered in the names of such persons will also be identified and barred; • Any mobile money wallets registered in the names of such persons will be frozen and the persons barred from accessing mobile money services with any operator; • Bank accounts owned by a person so identified will be frozen and the person will be blacklisted and barred from accessing banking servicos with any bank; and • Identified persons will be investigated and prosecuted for illegally trading in or advertising illegal trading in foreign currency. 4. Members of the public are requested to report to the FIU any person, mobile phone number or bank account that continue to be used to engage in or advertise illegal foreign currency activities, using the following contact details:
Four Kenyan State House officials have tested positive for coronavirus, marking the first publicly-acknowledged Covid-19 infections at the top national government office.
State House spokesperson Kanze Dena said the identities of the four will remain concealed as they seek treatment at the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital in Kiambu County.
They tested positive for Covid-19 following a screening conducted last week.
“During last week’s mass Covid-19 testing held on Thursday, 11th June 2020, four persons were found to have contracted the disease…Families and close contacts of the affected officers are also being attended to accordingly,” Ms Dena said in a statement issued today.
She also noted that President Uhuru Kenyatta and the first family are “safe and free from Covid-19”.
The Southern African Chief Justices’ Forum has issued a statement castigating the decision by Malawi President Peter Mutharika to send that country’s Chief Justice on forced leave pending retirement.
As leaders of the judiciaries in our respective countries and as members of the Southern African Chief Justices’ Forum (SACJF), we are deeply concerned about the recent developments in Malawi which appear to undermine the independence of the judiciary and individual Judges.
On Friday 12 June 2020, the Malawi Government’s Chief Secretary issued a notice purporting that Chief Justice Nyirenda had been placed on leave with immediate effect. The notice reads as follows:
`Government wishes to inform the general public that the Right Honourable Andrew K. C. Nyirenda, SC, Chief Justice of Malawi, will proceed on leave pending retirement with immediate effect. The Honourable Chief Justice has accumulated more leave days than the remainder of his working days to retirement date. In accordance with the Constitution, the most senior Justice of Appeal will act as Chief Justice until such time as His Excellency the President will appoint a successor.’
The SACJF has learnt that a similar notice has been issued in relation to Justice of Appeal, Mr. Edward Twea, SC. We are aware that Chief Justice Nyirenda’s constitutional tenure of office is supposed to come to an end in December, 2021, while the constitutional tenure of office for Justice Twea expires in April, 2021.
We note that the notices from Chief Secretary were not issued by the appropriate authorities, namely the Chief Justice himself, or the Judiciary. Instead, an official of the Executive arm of government issued the notices. The Government’s notices do not indicate whether or not the decisions to go on leave were made voluntarily by the Chief Justice and Justice Twea, respectively.
We have also become aware that as part of his State of the Nation address earlier this month, President Mutharika declared that Parliament was ‘more supreme’ than the courts. This is simply incorrect. The Constitution is Malawi’s supreme law, and it provides for three separate though mutually interdependent arms of government. Under the Constitution, the independence of the judiciary, to apply the law impartially, is expressly guaranteed.
Given the above facts and constitutional position, we are therefore concerned that the government’s notices and the purported placement of the Chief Justice and Justice Twea on leave pending retirement, is an attempt to interfere with the independence of the judiciary in Malawi. This is in violation of Malawi’s domestic and international obligation to respect the independence of the judiciary.
Section 103 (1) of the Constitution of Malawi clearly states that the judiciary must be allowed to function independently. Article 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights affirms that ‘States Parties to the present Charter have the duty to guarantee the independence of the courts.’
The United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, states that the independence of the judiciary ‘shall be guaranteed by the State’, and that `(I)t is the duty of all Government and other institutions to respect and observe the independence of the judiciary.’
The Executive efforts to place judges on involuntary leave pending their retirement is ultra vires the Executive powers, violates the constitution, the security of tenure of the judiciary and separation of powers.
We wish to remind the Government of Malawi that respecting judicial independence is not a cloistered virtue. It must be seen to be practiced in order to ensure the confidence of the people in the judiciary. Finally, we reiterate that the decision for a judge to go on leave pending retirement should be made voluntarily by the concerned judge, in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission. It is the Chief Justice and or the Judiciary who if they wish must communicate to the public such decision.
We, therefore, urge the Executive in Malawi to withdraw the offensive notices of placing Chief Justice Nyirenda and Justice Twea on forced leave and make an appropriate public announcement about such retraction.
The Southern African Chief Justices’ Forum is composed of Chief Justices and equivalent judicial leaders of the following Jurisdictions: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Dated this 15th day of June, 2020
Hon. Mrs. Justice Irene C. Mambilima CHIEF JUSTICE OF ZAMBIA & VICE CHAIRPERSON — SACJF
Hon. Mr. Justice Peter S. Shivute CHIEF JUSTICE OF NAMIBIA & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER- SACJF
Hon. Lady Justice Dr. Mathilda Twomey CHIEF JUSTICE OF SEYCHELLES & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER- SACJF
Hon. Mr. Justice Prof. Ibrahim H. Juma CHIEF JUSTICE OF TANZANIA & MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER- SACJF
Hon. Mr. Justice Evaristo Pengele COORDINATOR & SECRETARY – SACJF SOUTHERN AFRICAN CHIEF JUSTICES’ FORUM
Exiled former Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Professor Jonathan Moyo has claimed that MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research, Dr Tapiwa Mashakada is an undercover ZANU PF agent.
His remarks come when Mashakada has recently become critical of MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa and the party leadership which he accuses of being autocratic.
Responding to ZANU PF’s post which observed that Mashakada claimed that MDC Alliance members were not happy by Chamisa’s appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of party spokesperson even when she recently joined the party, Moyo said:
“I wrote the 2000 ZanuPF election manifesto, ran the party’s campaign & deputised Nathan Shamuyarira, as a party spokesperson, before becoming a ZanuPF member. As for Mashakada, he’s one of a dozen or so MDC leaders who’ve been closet ZanuPF moles ever since!”
A number of MDC officials including MDC Alliance Vice Presidents Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube have in the past been labelled ZANU PF moles.
They have all denied the allegations saying their adversaries were creating that narrative for them to lose support in the party.
Links with the ruling ZANU PF is one of the ways MDC officials have been losing the backing of the electorate and pasty supporters.
A PHOTOSHOPPED nude picture of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa shared on WhatsApp has landed a husband and wife in trouble.
Sarudzayi Ambiri Jani, 38, and Remember Simbarashe Ncube, 34, were arrested and charged on Friday with undermining the authority of or insulting the president in contravention of the Criminal Law Act.
Law enforcement agents who arrested the couple claimed that they made an abusive, indecent or obscene statement about Mnangagwa that may engender feelings of hostility towards him, with the knowledge that the statement is false.
The couple allegedly shared a nude picture of Mnangagwa wearing Zanu-PF regalia around his neck with a male organ adorned with a mask at its end on a WhatsApp group for residents in Ward 3 of Beitbridge.
Chief Inspector Kenneth Mushongahande of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, who is a member of the residents’ WhatsApp group, reported the couple to law enforcement agents, who arrested and detained them overnight at Beitbridge Urban Police Station.
Mushongahande said police officers “hunted” and arrested the couple, who had no right to publish the Photoshopped picture.
Takavingei Mahachi, the councillor for Ward 3 in Beitbridge, who created the residents’ WhatsApp group, will testify as a state witness when the trial of the couple commences on July 3.
The couple also faces a charge of contravening the Censorship and Entertainments Act, which criminalises the production and publishing of certain material.
They face up to a year in prison.
Observers and government critics have expressed concern at the increase in the number of people who of late are being persecuted for dissent and expressing themselves on social media platforms.
Home affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe has accused opposition political party leaders, former ruling party members and some civil society organisations of plotting to topple the president, who seized power from Robert Mugabe through a coup in November 2017.
Zimbabwe’s exiled former Local Government Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere has distanced himself from widespread allegations of an imminent military coup in his home country.
“I make this statement in response to the allegations contained in a press statement released by the government of Zimbabwe, as read by Minister of Home Affairs, Kazembe Kazembe on Wednesday 10 June 2020. The allegations are that myself, along with other individuals are peddling rumours on an alleged coup plot,” said the former ZNAU-PF national political commissar, who held different ministerial posts under former president Robert Mugabe.
“This is laughable and I deny this unfounded allegation levelled against me and dismiss it with the contempt it deserves,” said Kasukuwere in a statement he posted to his Twitter account.
The tough-talking former Member of Parliament for Mount Darwin South said he was a firm believer in constitutionalism who did not have plans of seizing power from the Harare government.
“I am a firm believer in constitutionalism and would never attempt or conspire to carry out a coup of any sort,” said Kasukuwere, popularly referred to as “Tyson” by his followers.
“I, myself, am a victim of the November 2017 coup and retain the scars of this horrific event.”
Kasukuwere, who previously held the position of Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, said Zimbabwe was besieged by a multitude of challenges that needed all protagonists in the small southern African nation to rise beyond narrow interests.
“Our nation has greater challenges that behove us all to rise beyond narrow interests and place the collective security and survival of our people at the centre of governance. Threats and efforts to eliminate those viewed as adversaries to the powers that be are unfortunate and should have no place in a democratic Zimbabwe,” said Kasukuwere.
“The nation faces a plethora of difficulties that require a united front in order to secure the collective interests of the people of Zimbabwe. The challenges are not insurmountable and I am a Zimbabwean who desires to see the best for our nation and her people.”
The Standard – a private Zimbabwean weekly – reported that state security agents in Zimbabwe had interrogated Kasukuwere’s brother, on the day the government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa claimed there were people spreading rumours of an imminent coup last week.
According to the publication, Kasukuwere’s brother, Dickson Mafios, was arrested as he left Harare Polytechnic alongside Zimbabwean parliamentarian Wonder Mashange, where they were in Covid-19 quarantine after a recent trip to South Africa.
Suspended Bulawayo Deputy Mayor Tinashe Kambarami has won his court against Mthwakazi activists who wanted him kicked out of the council chambers.
Kambarami was removed as both a councillor and Deputy Mayor of the city after the 1893 Mthwakazi Restoration Movement Trust approached the courts and accused him of hiding that he had a conviction that should have barred him from standing for council elections.
Speaking after the court, his lawyer Maqhawe Mpofu of Samp Mlaudzi and Partners said, “We have received the judgment from the court and we are satisfied that our client has been granted the justice that was due to him. We applaud the court for delivering a fair and just order which increases the public confidence on the justice system of our land.”
The organization had argued that on August 1, 2017, Kambarami stole an electrical cord from a Mr Washington Chirikuudzi who had engaged him to do some work at his offices.
Kambarami asked the complainant to leave his tools at his offices inside a safe before knocking off. When the complainant returned on the following morning, he discovered that his extension cord was missing. Kambarami admitted that he took it and promised to return it.
However, Kambarami did not return the cable despite pleas from the complainant.
Mr Chirikuudzi reported the matter to the police leading to Kambarami’s arrest.
Kambarami was elected Deputy Mayor in September 2018 after beating his closest rival, Clr Mlandu Ncube of Ward One.
Kambarami has been at loggerheads with Mthwakazi activists after he refused to take his oath of office in English demanding to use Shona.
MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe says she never had an problems with the late party founding President Morgan Tsvangirai.
Khupe made the remarks during her first appearance at party headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House since the death of Tsvangirai in February 2018.
“I had a very good working relationship with my president. I had deputized him for 12 years. I worked with him for 26 years. Yes of course there was a problem that one problem when we were attacked in Bulawayo. The president whilst seated in this chair (at Harvest House) apologised about what happened in Bulawayo,” said Khupe.
Two weeks before the death of Tsvangirai, Khupe said she visited the late veteran leader at a South African hospital.
“Two weeks before his death I went to South Africa. I visited the president in hospital. He was very excited to see me, we chatted, and we spoke. The president for your own information for those who do not know phoned me two days before he passed on.
“It was very difficult for him to speak but those were his last words, he could not speak but I kept saying president you will be fine because I have gone through the same problem. I had cancer as well and I thought my president will be well because I was in the same situation. In a nutshell I had a good working relationship with him,” said Khupe.
The rival camp aligned to Nelson Chamisa has often accused Khupe of having deserted the party due to differences with Tsvangirai on the party’s stance to accommodate former rebels under the MDC Alliance coalition arrangement.
They argued that she missed the number of standing committee meetings to warrant automatic expulsion from the party.
Dear Emmerson Mnangagwa, I am told that you have declared today the 15th of June 2020 a day of fasting, prayer and supplication for Zimbabwe, the land I love with passion.
Mr Mnangagwa
It almost surprised me that you could ask hungry people impoverished by your ruthless, intentionally destructive and fatally directionless policies whose only consistent feature has been absurdity, to fast.
Then I remembered with you Trabablas all things senseless are to be expected. That the majority of the citizens will spend the better part of the day fasting is not in dispute. This however is not compliance but rather poverty that has reduced us to a single meal per day and that should, (were you sensible enough) have worried you as occupant of the highest office.
Zimbabweans are generally a prayerful people with the majority of our population Christian. We prayed yesterday, the before yesterday, we will pray today and the days to come. We will pray for a better and democratic Zimbabwe, free from the constant fear of repression and attack from its purported leadership.
Join us Emmerson, as we pray that God grants us a leadership that is not blasphemous, a leadership that will not get drunk in stolen power and gloat that their government is better than the heavenly host. A leadership that will not get excitable with the microphone and publicly wish they were God so that they would deprive opposition supporters of oxygen and life. Come let us pray for a leadership that does not regard fellow citizens, created in God’s image, as cockroaches threatening to “shorten their days on earth”.
Come Ruka let us pray for the victims of the ruthless hand of the state. Come let us pray for Itai Dzamara and all victims of enforced disappearances whose families never got to know where they were taken to. Let us pray for Netsai Marova, Joanna Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri, who are languishing in cold prison cells while trying to recover from the physical and psychological pain of the horrors of abduction, torture inhuman and degrading treatment. Let us pray that their tormentors never taste death until the Lord has avenged in double measure.
Let us pray that the soul of Paul Munakopa finds rest and that his killers never find peace in this life or the next. Come let us pray that those on whose orders fellow citizens were killed, tortured and abused in January 2019 and August 2018, live to see the day when they shall face justice and the wrath of the Lord who hates the spilling of blood. Let us pray for the hundreds of the victims of state sanctioned violence in the 2008 elections. Let us pray for the tens of thousands of Zimbabwean citizens who were brutally massacred during Gukurahundi whose families have not found closure until now. Let us pray that those who were proud to have them killed, face the wrath of the people and God.
It is true Trabablas, Zimbabwe needs prayers, we seriously need to pray for our economy, that the Lord rescues us from looters and plunderers of the resources the Lord himself graciously gave to this land. Zimbabwe truly deserves better leadership that shall steer its economy on the path of revival and recovery. A leadership and government that is honest and does not steal from its own people.
We deserve a leadership that makes sure resources God gave us are shared and used equitably and equally. May the Lord grant us a leadership that is astute and has a clue on delivering an economy that serves and feeds the nation. How about we pray Emmerson, that the Lord punishes by his hand and through his people, those who, like Philistine plundering kings, sent soldiers to their deaths in the Congo simply because they wanted to loot diamonds in that African country in the midst of a crisis.
Finally Emmerson I exhort you to read Isaiah 1 verses 14-16 and while at it tell Kazembe Kazembe to read Proverbs 28v1, there is a special message for him and yourself with regards to his press statement on coup rumours.
May the Lord protect us from the hands of the bloodthirsty whose vicious hands have spilled too much blood. May he protect us the poor masses from the exploitative hands of the rich plunderers of our resources.
May the Lord grant us enough courage and wisdom to fight and stand up to our oppressors whose days we are sure are surely numbered. May we have enough conviction to start a revolution!
Tapiwanashe Chiriga is the National Secretary General of the Zimbabwe National Students Union(ZINASU). He writes here in his personal capacity and can be contacted on [email protected] or +263778402734
Ezekiel Guti says Mnangagwa is God's servant, "Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for hearing when our president call upon you for us all. Thank you…I believe that you have heard the cry of our President and the wisdom which he has done to prepare us… -@ZTNnews pic.twitter.com/QPpgbvP5jw
Ladies and gentlemen, Honourables, Friends and the Nation at large, We, as UDM have noted the continued slide into oblivion of the nation of Zimbabwe mainly due to bad governance, corruption, politicking and the non respect of the rule of law.
The situation that Zimbabwe is in right now is a product of years of continued operation of the above listed vices. Without corrections to the above, the future of our people will surely be in tatters.
Zanu Pf has been the ruling party forming the government since 1980 and the sorry state we find ourselves in is a result of their poor governance and as UDM we are asking the government of this day to put people first and address the socio-economic decay in the country.
These are the challenges that our provinces, our districts and our villages are facing on a day to day basis which we are asking the government to address urgently
Hunger and starvation
It is not a secret that the haphazard fast track land reform programme ushered in the under utilisation of the land since the late 1990s. Since then Zimbabwe has perennially faced food shortage mainly the staple maize. Partnered with the Covid 19 that we are currently facing our people are in dire need of food aid.
The Government has failed to provide any food aid to the people. Only a few NGOs are assisting in this regard and we propose that government come up with a fund that is meant to feed both rural and urban households. We have also noted with concern the politicisation of food aid by Zanu pf where food is distributed along party lines.
This is grossly inhuman and should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. All food aid should be non partisan and politicians should not be part of the distribution committees.
Education
The education sector in Zimbabwe need to be restructured. The product we are putting on the job market is both not ready and practically dull. The education sector should be highly practical than theoretical.
During the last campaign Zanu Pf promised free primary education and today, now that they are the ruling party are silent about it. Education should be affordable to all. We have also noted with concern the poor remuneration of teachers and lectures in the education sector.
ZANUPF prioritises their campaigns more than education in Zimbabwe. This is really sad and should never happen in our country. Today schools are closed due to Covid 19 and the government lacks a plan of how learning should proceed in the country.
It has become a norm that the government is always caught unaware and without a plan. We propose that weeks of how education in the country should proceed. In this era of technology, surely the government should take the route of e-learning.
Covid 19 response
Whilst we should applaud the government of quickly putting the country on lockdown to fight the pandemic, we are deeply saddened by the lack of plan to take care of citizens under lockdown. Since the lockdown started citizens are starving and this has led to a number of citizens breaking Covid 19 regulation in search of food.
As UDM we have also noted that Zanu Pf as a party have hijacked some of the donations meant for the majority to fatten their own pockets. We urge our government to feed the citizens whilst still on lock down.
As of now, the cases of Covid 19 are rising sharply as the country receives citizens from hard hit countries like South Africa, Britain and the United States.
The government should therefore engage in quality testing and isolation for those positive and mandatory quarantine for all returnees. News of citizens absconding quarantine centres should be thoroughly investigated as there are reportedly underhand dealings between security manning these centres and citizens in quarantine centres.
Political Capture of the Justice System and State Apparatus
As UDM, we have noted the systematic capture of the judiciary system by ZANU.PF which has been going on for quite some time and more strongly during the lock down period where the ruling party has taken advantage of the ban on gatherings.
While this has been very specific that the party under attack is the MDC Alliance, as an opposition party, we are worried that this can happen to any of us also and therefore should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves.
We have noted that whilst other people with an alignment to ZANU PF can be allowed to move and congregate at the late Tsvangirai grave without practising social distancing or the wearing of masks, others are arrested for being close to the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.
The same judiciary system which noted that The MDC Alliance is a Party today now says it is not. The police and army have also been dragged in assisting the ruling party to strengthen political power by weakening the opposition.
This is against the constitution of Zimbabwe which clearly spells that the police and army should never be political players.
Market and Pricing
We expected prices of goods and commodities to be fair and reasonable as the nation is under lockdown and what we have experienced is the total opposite.
The price madness currently taking place clearly shows the government has no solutions at hand to stop the unjust increases of goods and commodities. At one point, the government ordered suppliers and industry to go back the pricing of precovid 19 era of 21 March 2020 and all this fell on deaf ears.
Its testament to the saying that the market determines the economy not ZANU PF or any politics. ZANU-PF has failed in this regard and whilst they can rig the politics of the day, they can never rig market forces. Prices are now being quoted in USD yet salaries continue to be paid in RTGS. Is this Sustainable? Only Zanu Pf knows
CONCLUSION and RECOMMENDATIONS
As UDM we are pro-citizen and we are urging the government to have a human face. For Zimbabwe to move forward, polarised politics should be stopped with immediate effect.
There should be political engagement with all political players and the selection of who to engage with should be dismissed. It is very clear that MDC Alliance is a big political player and their absence from any talks of engagement will have a very big effect with any product of engagement that comes out.
It is therefore important that they should be one of the many political players that should take in political engagements. It is quite clear that as a nation we have reversed the gains made during the GNU era of 2009 to 2013.
The pact brought some sort of order in the country and if we are serious as a nation, we should take that route and engage for order in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is rich yet its citizens are poor.
The MDC Alliance Assembly of Women is greatly shocked by the decision by Magistrate Bianca Makwande to deny Cecilia, Joana and Netsai bail.
The trio are just innocent young female political leaders who are not even a danger to the society because the don’t have arms. So to deny them bail is injustice and cruelity to as they have already suffered a lot when they were abducted, torture, sexually assaulted, victimised, intimidated, denigrated by the state security.
As their mothers in the struggle, we are going to stand with our daughters come rain, come thunder. We will fight for our children’s rights until they are free. An injury to one is an injury to all. These are the last kicks of a dying horse. The regime is tired and clueless of rescucitating this ailing economy. Things are falling apart and the centre can not hold. Victory is certain. Aluta continua. Wathinthu’mama Wathintimbokodo
Barbara Tanyanyiwa Spokesperson MDC Alliance Assembly of Women MDC
Manasa Tsvangirai – young brother of the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been appointed into the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T National Executive Committee.
The younger Tsvangirai was on Monday announced as the party National Secretary for Elections at a news conference held at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai Headquarters in Harare.
The appointment was announced by MDC-T national secretary general Douglas Mwonzora.
He becomes the third member of the Tsvangirai family to pledge his support to the Khupe faction following Vincent and Millicent’s footsteps.
The party also announced the appointment of Elias Mudzuri as party deputy chairperson, with Shakespeare Mukoi coming in as deputy national chairperson for the youth assembly and Henry Mudzingwa as deputy secretary for elections.
Harare magistrate Bianca Makwande has denied bail to three MDC Alliance youth activists accused of staging their abduction saying that their claims of torture and sexual assault by suspected state security agents harmed the country’s economy which recently saw the Zim Dollar fall tremendously to the US Dollar.
The alleged abduction and torture of the three women had caused “negative publicity against the country”, and hurt the economy, the magistrate said, accepting prosecution arguments.
Makwande after listening to arguments by the prosecution and their lawyers, said bail was a right according to the constitution and can only be denied where there are compelling reasons.
“These include the likelihood for the accused to commit a similar offence or to abscond among other reasons,” Makwande said.
“In essence, it is alleged by the state that three staged a demonstration against the recalliñg of their colleagues from parliament and also abuse of Covid-19 funds.
“The state argued that the three committed a very serious offence and are likely to flee if granted bail. The police also said they are yet to establish the accused’s real addresses since they gave different addresses, adding further that investigations were to be completed in 14 days.
“The accused vehemently denied the allegations and feel they are good candidates for bail, and that the investigating officer’s evidence was too comical for a court to accept that. They asserted that the charges are nonsensical.
“The court is of the view that the state’s opposition of bail in respect of propensity to commit a similar offence is acceptable. It is highly likely that if convicted, they will be given a stiff custodial sentence which may induce them to skip bail.”
The magistrate also based his ruling on evidence to be provided by the state which including CCTV footage which allegedly shows the three women at Belgravia Shopping Centre at 4.54PM hours after the time they were abducted.
“If proven, the video evidence that the three were free citizens at a time they were alleging to have been abducted may force them to skip bail. Court will place confidence in the officers of the court. I will believe the submissions of the state if they have evidence they adduced,” Makwande said.
“The state says they faked their abduction, and that cannot be ignored. In that regard, bail is denied.”
Alec Muchadehama, the three women’s lawyer, gave notice to challenge placement of his clients on remand.
Tendayi Darikwa played his first game in a year over the weekend when his Nottingham Forest side played in a practice match ahead of the return of the campaign after a three-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Zimbabwe international had been out of action since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury on the eve of the new season.
He last played a match on June 30 in the Warriors’ 4-0 loss against DRC at the 2019 Afcon.
Now he’s back and was pictured playing in Forest’s in-house practice match played behind closed doors over the weekend.
Meanwhile, Darikwa could make his league season debut when Nottingham Forest resume their campaign in Round 38 against Sheffield Wednesday on June 20-Soccer 24
We would like to apologise to all our beloved stakeholders, including our fans for the mishap that rocked our camp this week.
We would like to bring to your attention that a consensus was reached after a successful dialogue between the club’s leadership and both the playing and the non-playing staff.
Several resolutions were arrived at, among them, the owed balances to be immediately cleared off in full.
The leadership has also agreed to top up the funds currently in the club’s account for the purposes of the players’ welfare.
The players have apologised for the confrontation and for the unfortunate behaviour they exhibited.
They also thanked the leadership for putting additional resources towards their welfare.
Ngezi Platinum Stars midfielder Devon Chafa has infuriated Rodwell Dhlakama so much that the gaffer has declared he will not play for the club again.
Chafa was part of the Premier Soccer League players who were involved in two ‘money games’ in the high density suburb of Budiriro, violating both government-enforced lockdown rules and PSL regulations in the process.
The former Dynamos midfielder was again according to reports, seen taking part in another game of that sort in Highfields over the weekend, something which has angered Dhlakama.
“What I can tell you is that I don’t want to talk about what the club will say about this, but at the level of coach and player, I think I have had enough of him. Just imagine, I had to seek permission to travel (to Harare) to look for him when I heard these reports. When I saw him, he denied involvement and I stressed to him that it was unacceptable and must stop forthwith,” he told NewsDay Sport.
“He has shown disrespect for me as coach. I can assure you he won’t play at Ngezi again.
He has to look for another team. He (Chafa) had not played for us since he joined as he went straight to the national team, but I don’t see him playing a part for us,” added Dhlakama- Soccer 24
Ezekiel Guti says Mnangagwa is God’s servant, “Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for hearing when our president call upon you for us all. Thank you…I believe that you have heard the cry of our President and the wisdom which he has done to prepare us…
Ezekiel Guti says Mnangagwa is God's servant, "Heavenly Father, we want to thank you for hearing when our president call upon you for us all. Thank you…I believe that you have heard the cry of our President and the wisdom which he has done to prepare us… -@ZTNnews pic.twitter.com/QPpgbvP5jw
Real Madrid resumed their LaLiga title chase with a 3-1 victory over Eibar at the Alfredo Di Stefano on Sunday.
Zinedine Zidane’s men were back in action after the Covid-19 enforced football break and wasted no time in showing their intentions when midfielder Toni Kroos put them in front with a well-taken shot just three minutes into the clash.
Just after the half-hour mark, Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos doubled their advantage, tapping into an empty net after being set up by a selfless Eden Hazard following a brilliant counter attack move.
Marcelo made it 3-0 with a thunderbolt just before the break and took a knee and raised his fist in solidarity with the #blacklivesmatter campaign as Zidane’s men showed no signs of stopping.
3-0 at the break.
Madrid looked to have taken their foot off the table after the restart and allowed Eibar to pull one back on the hour mark through Pedro Bigas.
Zidane made some changes thereafter, with Eder Militao replacing Ramos while Gareth Bale came in for Rodrygo.
Eibar were clearly the better side in the second stanza but Madrid held on for an important win which sees them cut the intial five point gap on Barcelona before kick off, to two-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent| The renowned Gospel singer, Charles Charamba has confirmed he is attending ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Prayer and fasting gig set for tonight.
The fishers-of-men artiste said he will attend it because “it is a prayer.”
His decision comes as millions of Zimbabweans condemned Mnanagwa’s call for fasting and prayer while killing Zimbabweans.
It also comes a few days after United Nations experts condemned the man for a string of forced disappearances leading to that of the three MDC Alliance leaders Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, and Netsai Marova.
Speaking late afternoon Monday, Pastor Charamba told ZimEye’s Simba Chikanza:
“You will bear with me for a delayed response sir. Yes I am Mr Chikanza, it being a prayer for the country in the wake of the pandemic .
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in.
Since the 20 th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
Yesterday I had the enormous honour of re-starting the Jet d’Eau, as a symbol of the city reopening now that the number of cases has declined.
I’m deeply grateful to the city and canton of Geneva for their hospitality and support for WHO, and for illuminating the Jet d’Eau in blue in honour of WHO and the United Nations.
But although new cases here in Geneva are now in the single digits, we are continuing to see an escalating pandemic globally.
As the pandemic accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, WHO is especially concerned about its impact on people who already struggle to access health services – often women, children and adolescents.
The indirect effects of COVID-19 on these groups may be greater than the number of deaths due to the virus itself.
Because the pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many places, women may have a heightened risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO has developed guidance for health facilities and community activities on maintaining essential services, including for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
This includes ensuring women and children can use services with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and respectful maternal and newborn care.
WHO has also carefully investigated the risks of women transmitting COVID-19 to their babies during breastfeeding.
We know that children are at relatively low-risk of COVID-19, but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.
Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell. WHO has detailed information in our clinical guidance about how to breastfeed safely.
WHO is also concerned about the impact of the pandemic on adolescents and young people.
Early evidence suggests people in their teens and 20s are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, online harassment, physical and sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, while their ability to seek the services they need is reduced.
School and university closures can also have a dramatic impact on the ability of adolescents to access preventive services.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance Women’s Assembly has described Dr Tapiwa Mashakada’s remarks about party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere as derogatory and unacceptable.
The MDC Alliance Women’s Assembly also described Mashakada as a misogynist.
See statement below :
Statement from MDC Alliance Mashonaland West Women’s assembly
We condemn the sexist attack on our national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere by Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada in his interview with SlyMedia Productions on 14 June 2020.
He singled out and attacked Fadzayi Mahere because she is a woman.
We feel Tapiwa Mashakada does not appreciate the ascendancy of women to powerful positions of power in politics.
Women are the torchbearers of our struggle and we applaud and support the recent appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of MDC Alliance Spokesperson by our able president Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
President Chamisa is indeed our top change agent as he is changing the dynamic of self-promotional politics to team-oriented, service style leadership in order to achieve the change that delivers.
We are proud of president Chamisa for promoting gender inclusiveness at all levels of our structures with young women like Fadzayi Mahere getting top positions. To Fadzi, in heels yes you can.
Own Correspondent | Controversial preacher Isaac Makomichi has shocked all and sundry after introducing what he calls the “Anointed S*x Potion.
The outspoken preacher claims that the anointed s*x potion helps men to satisfy ladies.
In an opinion piece, Makomichi wrote:
“After days and nights of praying and fasting about marriages,the spirit revealed to me a way to help men.One should come to me and take the Anointed S*x Potion.
After drinking just one drop one will be fine.
Even if your wife is too talkative she will calm down.
I have more than 10 000 bottles of Anointed S*x Potion and I’m distributing it for free.
So far I have only managed to distribute 4000 to Masvingo.
Those who want it they can contact me on my Watts App number 0777469342 or on Twitter at Famous Isaac Makomichi. “
The controversial preacher also distributes what he calls the anointed love potion herb to women and girls across the country.
WHO is a global organization, but we are also proud and active members of the cities and communities we live in.
Since the 20 th of March, Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau fountain has been switched off while the city was in lockdown.
Yesterday I had the enormous honour of re-starting the Jet d’Eau, as a symbol of the city reopening now that the number of cases has declined.
I’m deeply grateful to the city and canton of Geneva for their hospitality and support for WHO, and for illuminating the Jet d’Eau in blue in honour of WHO and the United Nations.
But although new cases here in Geneva are now in the single digits, we are continuing to see an escalating pandemic globally.
As the pandemic accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, WHO is especially concerned about its impact on people who already struggle to access health services – often women, children and adolescents.
The indirect effects of COVID-19 on these groups may be greater than the number of deaths due to the virus itself.
Because the pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many places, women may have a heightened risk of dying from complications of pregnancy and childbirth.
WHO has developed guidance for health facilities and community activities on maintaining essential services, including for women, newborns, children and adolescents.
This includes ensuring women and children can use services with appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and respectful maternal and newborn care.
WHO has also carefully investigated the risks of women transmitting COVID-19 to their babies during breastfeeding.
We know that children are at relatively low-risk of COVID-19, but are at high risk of numerous other diseases and conditions that breastfeeding prevents.
Based on the available evidence, WHO’s advice is that the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any potential risks of transmission of COVID-19.
Mothers with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should be encouraged to initiate and continue breastfeeding and not be separated from their infants, unless the mother is too unwell.
WHO has detailed information in our clinical guidance about how to breastfeed safely.
WHO is also concerned about the impact of the pandemic on adolescents and young people.
Early evidence suggests people in their teens and 20s are at greater risk of depression and anxiety, online harassment, physical and sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, while their ability to seek the services they need is reduced.
School and university closures can also have a dramatic impact on the ability of adolescents to access preventive services.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
By Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDC Alliance Youth Assembly is very disturbed by the regime’s move to deny our female youth leaders bail.
We maintain that our comrades were abducted, tortured and sexually abused and as such they are supposed to appear in any normal court as complainants and not as the accused.
The denial of bail of Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe by the Rotten Row Magistrates Courts is a clear confirmation of judiciary capture by the junta.
It is also clear that the continued persecution by prosecution of the trio is a deliberate attempt by the shameless regime to cover up for the abduction case.
As an Assembly we are going to take Emmerson Mnangagwa head on until justice for the trio is served.
Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly has described Emmerson Mnangagwa’s magnitude of brutality as shocking.
See full statement below : 15-06-2020
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly is very disturbed by the regime’s move to deny our female youth leaders bail.
We maintain that our comrades were abducted, tortured and sexually abused and as such they are supposed to appear in any normal court as complainants and not as the accused.
The denial of bail of Cecilia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova and Joanna Mamombe by the Rotten Row Magistrates Courts is a clear confirmation of judiciary capture by the junta.
It is also clear that the continued persecution by prosecution of the trio is a deliberate attempt by the shameless regime to cover up for the abduction case.
As an Assembly we are going to take Emmerson Mnangagwa head on until justice for the trio is served.
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has said the recent move by the state to deny bail for the abducted and tortured MDC Alliance trio is a travesty of justice.
Speaking to ZimEye shortly after magistrate Bianca Makwande ruled that the girls be remanded in custody to June 26, Mahere revealed that the MDC Alliance trio have been denied food since their arrest on Friday.
She said:
“….no woman should be victimised simply for reporting injustices pepetrated at the hands of the state… the women are being victimised for speaking out… the police are supposed to protect its citizens not vice versa.. We will obviously appeal..
It is however disheartening that the girls have not been allowed access to food since Friday and they have not eaten anything… it is obvious that they are being victimised…”
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has said the recent move by the state to deny bail for the abducted and tortured MDC Alliance trio is a travesty of justice.
Speaking to ZimEye shortly after magistrate Bianca Makwande ruled that the girls be remanded in custody to June 26, Mahere revealed that the MDC Alliance trio have been denied food since their arrest on Friday.
She said:
“….no woman should be victimised simply for reporting injustices pepetrated at the hands of the state… the women are being victimised for speaking out… the police are supposed to protect its citizens not vice versa.. We will obviously appeal..
It is however disheartening that the girls have not been allowed access to food since Friday and they have not eaten anything… it si obvious that they are being victimised…”
By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance trio Jona Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova have been denied bail and remanded in custody to June 26.
In opposing bail, Magistrate Bianca Makwande said she felt satisfied that the state had claimed that it had evidence confirming that the three girls faked their abduction.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY – REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR MORE
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The state claims would therefore lead to a jail sentence hence the state feared that if granted bail, the trio had chances of escaping justice.
ZimEye will be livestreaming a statement shortly by party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere regarding the development.
A form Six pupil at Hwange High School has been sentenced to an effective six months in jail after she gave birth at home and dumped the baby near a stream.
Barbara Munenge (20), who stays with her mother in Lwendulu Village in Hwange appeared in court for concealing the birth of a child, two years after she was sentenced to a wholly suspended eight months jail term for terminating a pregnancy.
The previous jail term was suspended on condition that she does not commit a similar case within five years. This time around, she was lucky not to have the suspended eight months brought into effect because the current charge was technically different from the first one as she was charged with concealing the birth of a child.
In the latest case, Munenge gave birth at night while at home on Saturday last week.
She wrapped the baby with a cloth and put it in a satchel before dumping it near a sewer stream in a bush near the suburb.
It is not clear if the baby was alive but police only found the head when they attended the scene and it is suspected that the body was eaten by dogs or crocodiles.
Police arrested Munenge following a tip-off through an anonymous letter. She pleaded guilty to concealing the birth of a child when she appeared before Hwange magistrate Ms Rangarirai Gakanje who slapped her with an effective six months in jail.
In mitigation, Munenge said she dumped the baby because the person responsible for the pregnancy had denied responsibility.
“The person who made me pregnant had promised to marry me. He used that to convince me into unprotected sex and then he denied responsibility so I had no option because I stay with my mother who is not employed and cannot take care of my baby,” said Munenge.
Prosecuting, Mr John Chisango Mutyakaviri said the head was taken to the mortuary waiting for postmortem.
He said police received an anonymous letter on June 6 that the 20-year-old had committed a crime leading to her arrest after investigations. She led police to the site where she had dumped the baby and the head was found.
By Court Correspondent | The MDC female activists who include MP Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova have been denied bail.
Ruling on Monday, the magistrate Bianca Makwande said the state has compelling evidence that they faked abduction.
She added saying, she feels that the evidence that state claims to have will lead to jail sentence hence they have chances of escaping justice.
(Readers note- ZimEye has a boulder of evidence to prove this was clearly an abduction and the bundle contains leads to two state security agents.- Documentary will be broadcast shortly)
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By A Corresppondent- The MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe is having its Standing Committee meeting as well as a press conference today at the Harvest House in Harare, just a week after evicting the rival MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa from the building associated with Zimbabwe’s fight against Zanu-PF rule.
In a statement inviting the media, the party said security would be tight. The heightened security measures are in light of fears that youths aligned to the dislodged MDC Alliance camp might seek to launch a strike back said a source affiliated to the Mwonzora camp.
When youths aligned to the Khupe camp seized control of the Harvest House on the 4th of this month, MDC-T Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora advised that all future meetings would be held at the building which is the citadel of opposition politics in Zimbabwe.
Said Mwonzora in the short notice addressed to the party’s National Council on 4th June:
“The party wishes to advise that following communication sent by the acting President Dr. T Khupe to Advocate Nelson Chamisa, the latter has today (last night) through party officials allowed for a peaceful handover takeover of control of the Morgan Tsvangirai House (Harvest House).”
By A Correspondent- Soldiers in Harare are instructing citizens to vacate the central business district and go back home to pray and fast.
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week announced that June 15 was a National Prayer Day calling on citizens to fast and pray for COVID-19.
Citizens here however respondend to the development and said:
Because Zimbabweans allowed them to do so, Thats why @nelsonchamisa said, zimbabweans are not yet ready to liberate theirselves. Twitting wont solve our problems, action is what is needed.
— Undocumented illegal immigrant ? (@NelsonWabantu) June 15, 2020
I sense the #Army wants to frustrate people so that they revolt. They're looking for ways to remove this guy in the midst of chaos!
11:20 am: Waiting for rulingon bail application for MDC Alliance trio
The @mdczimbabwe trio was arrested Wednesday & charged with communicating/publishing falsehoods for allegedly lying that they were abducted on 13 May & held incommunicado for two days.
10:57 am: Netsai Marova arrives for the court case
Netsai Marova arrives
10:55 am: Two of the three MDC Alliance yuth leaders arrive at court
Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri
10:30 am- The magistrate is yet to arrive for the court case where the MDC Alliance trio Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are appearing before a Harare magistrate following their arrest last week.
Below are pictures of MDC Alliance stalwarts who are in solidarity with the three youth leaders.
Solidarity for MDC Alliance trioMDC Alliance solidarity
By A Correspondent- Exiled former ZANU PF political commissar Saviour “Tyson” Kasukuwere has denied claims by the Government of Zimbabwe that he is behind “rumours” of an imminent military coup.
In his statement issued on June 15th, Kasukuwere said as a victim of the November 2017 coup himself, he would never attempt or conspire to carry out a coup of any sort.
Below is Kasukuwere’s statement in full:
FROM THE DESK OF SAVIOUR KASUKUWERE
15 June 2020
STATEMENT ON COUP PLOT RUMOUR
I make this statement in response to the allegations contained in a press statement released by the Government of Zimbabwe, as read by Minister of Home Affairs, R. Kazembe Kazembe on Wednesday 10 June 2020.
The allegations are that myself, along with other individuals are peddling rumours on an alleged coup plot.
This is laughable and I deny this unfounded allegation levelled against me and dismiss it with the contempt it deserves.
I am a firm believer in constitutionalism and would never attempt or conspire to carry out a coup of any sort.
I myself, am a victim of the November 2017 coup and retain the scars of this horrific event.
Our nation has greater challenges that behove us all to rise beyond narrow interests and place the collective security and survival of our people at the centre of governance.
Threats and efforts to eliminate those viewed as adversaries to the powers that be are unfortunate and should have no place in a democratic Zimbabwe.
The nation faces a plethora of difficulties that require a united front in order to secure the collective interests of the people of Zimbabwe.
The challenges are not insurmountable and I am a Zimbabwean who desires to see the best for our nation and her people.
By A Correspondent- Top Zanu-PF officials and legislators from the Midlands province on Friday reportedly snubbed a field day at Lozani Farm, Kwekwe, where Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga was guest of honour as factionalism in the ruling party intensifies.
While it is tradition for top officials including party legislators or Cabinet ministers to grace State events officiated by a member of the Presidium, there was a record low number of heavyweights at the Friday event.
Zanu-PF has 22 MPs in the province.
Highly-placed sources said reports of fissures in the ruling party which forced Home affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe to denounce plans for a coup to topple President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week were some of the reasons why several officials stayed away from the event.
“People are gripped with uncertainty especially these days where reports of factionalism that created fissures during the (late former President Robert) Mugabe era begin to emerge. In Midlands, people in the party want to show extreme loyalty to number 1 (Mnangagwa), so the majority snubbed the event in order to send that message,” the source said.
Notable top party officials who attended the event include provincial spokesperson Cornelia Mpereri, and Chirumanzu-Zibagwe MP Prosper Machando.
But party provincial chairperson Daniel Mackenzie Ncube, his deputy Robson Nyathi among other provincial leaders and senior party deployees in government were conspicuous by their absence.
From Harare, Chiwenga was accompanied by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Agriculture deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos, while Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri who had been expected to attend was absent.
Kwekwe has several Zanu PF cadres in top echelons of government including State security minister Owen Ncube and Local Government minister July Moyo who were also not in attendance.
Early this year, Chiwenga failed to attend a field day at Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm in Kwekwe where he was supposed to be guest of honour and Defence minister and party chairperson Oppah Muchinguri stood in his stead.
Contacted for comment, Zanu PF Midlands deputy chairperson Nyathi said it was not deliberate that the majority of party officials in the province did not show up at Chiwenga’s event.
“As for me I did not attend because I had other commitments. But the MP of that area was there as well as his councillor. Due to the COVID-19 there was also need for the gathering to be kept small.
“It’s not true that there are any party officials who snubbed the event officiated by Vice-President Chiwenga,” Nyathi, who is also MP for Shurugwi North, said.
Speaking at the event, Chiwenga told farmers that wheat production was essential for development of the country.
“The agricultural sector is a key economic enabler which propels and generates growth in all sectors of the economy.
“The sector also provides the much-needed household nutrition and national food security. The production of winter wheat is, therefore, essential for the country, as it provides the raw material for the bread and confectionery industry,” Chiwenga said.
“In this regard, there is need for increased investment by the private sector and individual farmers to augment government efforts in revamping the sector.”
By A Correspondent- Award-winning young motorcross rider, Tanyaradzwa Adel Muzinda has spoken against rampant corruption in Zimbabwean society.
Muzinda asserted that corruption has shattered a lot of young people’s dreams and society now rewards corruption while honesty has become a kind of self-sacrifice. She tweeted:
When you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming self-sacrifice, one realizes that your society is Doomed.
Corruption has buried a lot of Girl’s and Boy’s dreams, How many more dreams should be buried before it STOPS!
I urge our Leaders to restrain each other and think about the Young Generation. Kids are the future and they should have a better example to follow to have a chance to Lead a nicer society.
When you see Corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice , one realizes that your society is Doomed. Corruption has buried a lot of Girl's and Boy's dreams , How many more dreams should be buried before it STOPS! pic.twitter.com/BWTT1DmGQs
Over the past few days, a lot has been written about how shadowy companies, Drax International and Jaji Investments, have received government contracts worth tens of millions of US dollars without following due process.
Further, the millions have been siphoned out of the country under the guise of fighting the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Reports have indicated that prices of COVID-19 equipment have been inflated under the watch of high authorities, with the country losing millions as a result.
By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance Women’s Assembly for Mashonaland West province has defended the opposition party’s national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere after her promotion by Nelson Chamisa came under criticism from want-away Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada on Sunday.
Speaking in an interview with Sly Media TV on Sunday, Mashakada queried why Mahere, a latecomer to the Alliance was given such a powerful post ahead of party members who have been in the movement since its formation in 1999.
Mashakada said:
“There is a big debate within the party, about how people like Fadzayi Mahere became the mouthpiece of the party before she had five years in the party. That is wrong. That has to be corrected.”
The MDC Alliance Mashonaland West Women’s Assembly has since thrown its weight fully behind Mahere after her appointment was publicly condemned by Mashakada.
“We condemn the sexist attack on our national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere by Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada in his interview with SlyMedia Productions on 14 June 2020.
“He singled out and attacked Fadzayi Mahere because she is a woman.”
Yesterday, Mashakada said he had misgivings about the rise of Mahere not because she was a woman, but because the party constitution had not been followed as new members can only ascend to national leadership after having been in the party for at least five years.
He clause was placed in the MDC constitution to avert possible infiltration by Zanu-PF sympathizers. Mahere contested the 2018 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate for Mt. Pleasant in Harare, and came a distant third behind MDC Alliance and Zanu-PF candidates.
Mashakada added that if the Chamisa camp felt that the constitution was not serving the party any good, the right thing to do was to amend the weak clauses to suit the party’s requirements, instead of violating the clauses willy-nilly.
However, the MDC Alliance Women’s Assembly was adamant that Mashakada targeted Mahere because she was a woman.
“We feel Tapiwa Mashakada does not appreciate the ascendance of women to powerful positions of power in politics.
“Women are the torchbearers of our struggle and we applaud and support the recent appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of MDC Alliance Spokesperson by our able president Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
“President Chamisa is indeed our top change agent as he is changing the dynamic of self-promotional politics to team-oriented, service style leadership in order to achieve the change that delivers,” the women’s assembly said in a statement.
“We are proud of president Chamisa for promoting gender inclusiveness at all levels of our structures with young women like Fadzayi Mahere getting top positions.
“To Fadzi, in heels yes you can,” added the statement.
Meanwhile, MDC Alliance Secretary-General Chalton Hwende has dismissed the statement by Mashakada that both Mashakada and Paurina Gwanyanya-Mpariwa had been expelled from the Chamisa faction.
“The MDC Alliance has not expelled Hon Mashakada and Hon Mupariwa contrary to media reports and insinuations by Hon Mashakada in his interview today. No MP has also tendered any resignation from the MDC Alliance,” Hwende said.
On this day of "national prayer" we will be sharing our liberation prayers under #MyLiberationPrayer as we pray for liberation from man made Poverty. Share your liberation prayers with us
— Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe,ARTUZ (@ARTUZ_teachers) June 15, 2020
By A Correspondent- Soldiers in Harare are instructing citizens to vacate the central business district and go back home to pray and fast.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
https://youtu.be/Xv0BFhxFo9s
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week announced that June 15 was a National Prayer Day calling on citizens to fast and pray for COVID-19.
Citizens here however respondend to the development and said:
Because Zimbabweans allowed them to do so, Thats why @nelsonchamisa said, zimbabweans are not yet ready to liberate theirselves. Twitting wont solve our problems, action is what is needed.
— Undocumented illegal immigrant ? (@NelsonWabantu) June 15, 2020
I sense the #Army wants to frustrate people so that they revolt. They're looking for ways to remove this guy in the midst of chaos!
By A Correspondent- Arrested MDC Alliance trio Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova are set to appear at Harare Magistrates Court after spending the weekend behind bars.
The trio were arrested last week on charges of reporting a fake abduction.
The MDC Alliance has however maintained that the three youth leaders are innocent calling on the state to stop victimising the victims.
Watch the video below as Gladys Hlatywayo speaks….
RADIO lessons for primary school pupils are set to start today, with Government challenging parents and guardians to assist children during home schooling in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The rolling out of the radio lessons programme shows Government’s commitment to provide education even during the Covid-19 induced schools closure.
Schools prematurely closed on March 24 for the First Term of the year as Government implemented measures to mitigate against the spread of the virus.
Schools are set to reopen on July 28 in a phased manner, starting with 2020 examination classes.
Preparations for the re-opening of schools are ongoing with learning institutions coming up with measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Radio lessons are part of several measures being put in place to ensure that pupils continue learning.
Apart from radio lessons, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is also in the process of developing emergency learning modules, television lessons and e-learning material for learners to use for a period of six months.
The materials will be uploaded on educational platforms and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education website.
Some schools have adopted e-learning.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education released a radio lessons programme timetable for primary schools.
The lessons would be broadcast on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) stations.
In a statement yesterday, the Education Ministry said the radio lessons are part Government’s effort to provide alternative teaching ways during the Covid-19 era and challenged parents and guardians to assist learners.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in conjunction with ZBC will be rolling out radio lessons as part of alternative learning platform. the first schedule which are for the Primary School level will be aired from 15 June 2020 to 26 June 2020. Thereafter another schedule will be provided. Parents and guardians are advised to familiarise themselves with the schedule so that they assist their children as much as possible,” reads the statement.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) lessons will be broadcast on National FM while Grade 3 and Grade 7 pupils will get their radio lessons on Power FM, Classic 263, Radio Zimbabwe and Khulumani FM.
Grade 4 to Grade 6 pupils are not covered in the first schedule.
However, the radio lessons schedule runs up to next week on Friday before another timetable is announced.
The lessons run for between 15 minutes to one hour.
According to the schedule, from 9AM to 9:15AM today ECD learners will learn English and Maths and Science from 11AM to 11:15AM while between 10AM to 10.15AM Grade 1 pupils will learn Maths and Science. Grade 2 pupils will learn Maths and Science between 9.30AM and 10AM.
Grade 3 pupils will learn Mathematics from 9.30AM and 10AM and Grade 7 pupils learning English from 11am to 11.30AM and Mathematics at 11.30AM to12PM.
Tomorrow at 11am to 11.15am ECD pupils will learn Family and Heritage Studies, on the same day Grade 1 not have lessons while Grade 2 will learn family and Heritage Studies from 2PM to 2.15PM.
Tanzania this weekend became the first African country to resume a national league suspended during March because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Elderly, children barred from ground
Tanzania suspended the 20-club national championship in mid-March as the Covid-19 outbreak began to wreak havoc throughout Africa.
Spectators were permitted as the league resumed in the east African state, but the elderly, who are generally most vulnerable to the virus, and children were barred.
Before being allowed into a stadium, fans must wear a face mask, wash hands with soap or use a hand sanitiser, and have their temperature checked.
Once inside, spectators must practice social distancing by sitting or standing several metres apart.
Footballers, referees, coaches and support staff are subject to equally strict measures to combat the virus, and change rooms are fumigated before and after matches.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa announcing lockdown reviews
Zimbabweans generally believe that the country will regret President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s somewhat rushed opening up of the country from Covid-19 lockdown.
In a poll conducted on ZimEye.com on Friday, a slight majority of 40% of the respondents believed that Mnangagwa’s move was a bit rushed and we will regret it.
36% applauded Mnangagwa’s decision while 24% remained not sure of the consequences of the decision.
Zimbabwe is gradually returning to almost full economic activity with Mnangagwa announcing last week the reopening of the informal economy, where three quarters of the economically active population earn their living.
By last night, the number of confirmed Covid-19 positive cases had reached 384, with another 27 cases announced at the weekend all among returning residents and citizens in formal quarantine.
Below is the result of the poll.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has got Zimbabwe returning to almost full economic activity with the reopening of the informal economy. Covid-19 cases have meantime been going up.
The MDC Alliance Mashonaland West Women’s Assembly has thrown its weight fully behind newly-appointed national party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere after her appointment was publicly condemned by Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada.
Speaking in an interview with SlyMedia Productions on Sunday, Mashakada queried why Mahere, a latecomer to the Alliance was given such a powerful post ahead of party members who have been in the movement for a long time.
The Mash West Women’s Assembly, however, condemned Mashakada’s “sexist” remarks and his alleged failure to appreciate the rise of women in politics.
Below is a statement issued the Mash West MDCA Women’s Assembly in support of Mahere:
Statement from MDC Alliance Mashonaland West Women’s assembly
ServicesBuildingHomeGroceries DatingJobsCommercialHealth We condemn the sexist attack on our national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere by Hatfield MP Tapiwa Mashakada in his interview with SlyMedia Productions on 14 June 2020.
He singled out and attacked Fadzayi Mahere because she is a woman.
We feel Tapiwa Mashakada does not appreciate the ascendance of women to powerful positions of power in politics.
Women are the torchbearers of our struggle and we applaud and support the recent appointment of Fadzayi Mahere to the post of MDC Alliance Spokesperson by our able president Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
President Chamisa is indeed our top change agent as he is changing the dynamic of self-promotional politics to team-oriented, service style leadership in order to achieve the change that delivers.
We are proud of president Chamisa for promoting gender inclusiveness at all levels of our structures with young women like Fadzayi Mahere getting top positions.
Pardon Mujakachi, Country Director & Head of Business Development, Africa…
By A Correspondent | WorldRemit, the global online money transfer service has announced a partnership with Mukuru, one of Africa’s largest remittance providers to broaden options for cash pick up in Zimbabwe. The partnership will be instrumental in bringing world-class financial services to Zimbabweans and generating new synergies for African financial inclusion.
Pardon Mujakachi, Head of Sub Saharan Africa and Country Director for Zimbabwe at WorldRemit says “We have witnessed an increasing demand as more Zimbabweans are using our digital app to send money to their loved ones. Through this partnership we are able to drive our service further and wider, providing access to remittances even in small towns and growth points across the country. We want to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to our service which offers a fast and convenient user experience, affordability and easy access to cash.”
Andy Jury, CEO, Mukuru says “We are excited to be able to extend Mukuru’s valuable pay-out footprint to more customers, and to harness this opportunity with WorldRemit’s global reach to expand our fast-growing global presence – while simultaneously creating new opportunities for customer-led innovation on the continent. These types of synergies bring immediate value to our customers, and alleviates their day to day challenges with user-friendly solutions.”
With many families in dire need of financial resources during the coronavirus pandemic, the partnership enables WorldRemit customers in over 50 countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe to send money to their loved ones far and wide in Zimbabwe. Recipients are now able to collect their WorldRemit remittance at any of Mukuru’s 120 orange booths and branches, which are located across the country in both rural and peri-urban areas. The money transfer service is operational for six days a week and offers cash in US dollars. Customers will not have to endure long queues, and can collect their cash quickly and safely.
“Worldremit is 25% more affordable than the traditional players and banks. Our extensive cash collection network, flexible cash collection hours and lower fees, offer value for money to our customers. This proves us to be the most affordable means of sending money to Zimbabwe.” says Mujakachi.
Global solutions, local expertise The pioneering deal with WorldRemit, a leading global player in money transfers, was made possible by a strong synergy between the two companies and a shared mission to support Zimbabwe’s large diaspora in their quest to send critical financial resources to families back home. The WorldRemit platform is 100% digital pay in for customers across the diaspora in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom and Europe in particular, while Mukuru is an established remittance provider in Zimbabwe. The relationship between WorldRemit and Mukuru is particularly significant in that both players are simply leveraging their existing capabilities and resources – and neither company has to invest or generate new resources to make it work.
“Having recognised the challenges that so many Zimbabwean families are facing, both of our leadership teams were able to cut to the chase and find a solution very quickly – whilst still meeting all the financial and regulatory requirements of the partnership,” added Jury.
“We are delighted that both Mukuru and WorldRemit can come together to be part of the solution for so many of our Zimbabwean customers.”
