By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean journalist and filmmaker Hopewell Chin’ono said that he has been threatened with death and/or arrest after his crusade against corruption.
He posted on Twitter:
I am being threatened with death or arrest! At this point, I want to tell you all that I DON’T care what ZANU-PF and Mnangagwa do to me!
DEATH does not scare me at this point. Find something else.
We shall all die at some point! You will not stop me or other journalists with threats!
Over the past few weeks, Chin’ono has exposed how two “briefcase” companies, Drax International and Jaji have allegedly been awarded tenders to supply COVID-19 equipment by government officials corruptly.
The two companies are controlled by people who are allegedly close to Zimbabwe’s First Family.
Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance officials have been implicated in the COVID-gate scandal after awarding the contracts to the dodgy companies and undertaking to make payments without following due process.
Meanwhile, the government has cancelled all the procurement deals worth up to US$60 million signed with one of the companies, Drax International.
On 5 June the acting health ministry secretary Dr Gibson Mhlanga directed the state-owned National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to terminate “all” existing contracts with Drax following an outcry.
Zimbabwe: UN experts demand an immediate end to abductions and torture
GENEVA (10 June 2020) – UN human rights experts* today called on Zimbabwe to immediately end a reported pattern of disappearances and torture that appear aimed at suppressing protests and dissent.
The urgent call comes after three female opposition activists – member of parliament Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova – were stopped at a police checkpoint in Harare and subsequently abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted. The three women were going to participate in a peaceful protest organised on 13 May 2020 by the Alliance Youth Assembly of the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change.
After almost 48 hours, the three women were dumped in a marketplace. They were immediately hospitalised to be treated for the injuries they sustained while they were abducted. A few days later, they were charged with violating COVID-19 regulations on public gatherings and for purportedly intending to promote public violence and breach of peace.
“The charges against the three women should be dropped,” the experts said. “Targeting peaceful dissidents, including youth leaders, in direct retaliation for the exercise of their freedom of association, peaceful assembly and freedom of expression is a serious violation of human rights law.”
The experts called on the authorities of Zimbabwe to “urgently prosecute and punish the perpetrators of this outrageous crime, and to immediately enforce a policy of ‘zero tolerance’ for abductions and torture throughout the country” to ensure the effective protection of women against sexual violence, and to bring those responsible to account.
The experts expressed grave alarm over concerns this was not an isolated instance. In 2019 alone, 49 cases of abductions and torture were reported in Zimbabwe, without investigations leading to perpetrators being held to account. “Enforced disappearances of women often involve sexual violence, and even forced impregnation, with enormous harm inflicted not only on their physical health and integrity, but also in terms of the resulting psychological damage, social stigma and disruption of family structures,” the experts said.
“Under the absolute and non-derogable prohibition of torture and ill-treatment, which includes enforced disappearance and violence against women, Zimbabwe must take all measures in its power to prevent such abuse, to investigate suspected violations, and to bring any perpetrators to justice,” the experts said.
They also urged the government to allow official visits of UN human rights experts with a view to assessing the human rights situation in the country.
The Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. UN Human Rights, Country Page – Zimbabwe
By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance has posted a statement remembering the late MDC Alliance cadre and legislator Vimbai Tsvangirai Java.
Vimbai succumbed to injuries sustained in a horrific crash on her way from Bulawayo, where she had gone to attend party meetings.
The accident also claimed the lives of Paul Rukanda, the late MP’s campaign manager and councillor Tafadzwa Mhundwa, a brother to her late mother, Susan Tsvangirai.
Said the party:
Today, we fondly remember Vimbai Tsvangirai Java who was an MDC Alliance MP and religious leader. She was also the daughter of the late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. She passed away on June 10 2019. She had been involved in a car accident the previous month. May she rest in peace.”
Today, we fondly remember Vimbai Tsvangirai-Java who was an MDC Alliance MP & religious leader. She was also the daughter of the late MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. She passed away on 10 June 2019. She had been involved in a car accident the previous month. May she rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/3ZucbCMX07
— Citizens' Coalition for Change (@CCCZimbabwe) June 10, 2020
By A Correspondent- Former MDC T Vice President Elias Mudzuri has said contrary to what people are saying, he has not joined Dr Thokozani Khupe’s party but belongs t the late Morgan Richard Tsvangirai’s party.
Mudzuri said Khupe only became the interim president of the MDC T after the supreme court made her the leader, as she was always the rightful leader after she was elected at the party’s congress in 2014.
Mudzuri tweeted:
“It is a lie that the Supreme Court ruling gave us a leader and made us join Dr Khupe’s Byo Congress party. We are MDC whose founding president was Dr Tsvangirai. Dr Khupe’s legitimacy as Acting President is derived from the 2014 Congress which elected her VP.”
This comes amid a leadership wrangle between Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa that was escalated by the Supreme Court ruling that declared Chamisa an illegitimate MDC leader and restored the party’s 2014 structures.
Look, how interesting Zanu PF takes the people of Zimbabwe through selective application of the rule of law!
According to the Zanu PF and Government controlled newspaper,the Herald of 10 June 2020, a Zanu PF meeting held in Chinhoyi “provided all the members with exemption letters for use during the lockdown”.
Earlier, The Herald of 13 April 2020 quoted Minister of State Security Owen Ncube warning members of parliament and councilors against issuing travelling exemptions to people during Covid-19 induced lockdown, saying that this is tantamount to flouting the regulations.
According to the position outlined by the Government of Zimbabwe, exemption letters should only be issued by the Police and District Development Coordinators upon request by persons who have a serious need to travel, but because as Zanu PF officials always preach, they control the army, the police, the courts and everything else, so they can break whatever rules are in place and get away with it. Zanu PF can issue business to friends and relatives of the senior officials without following due process too.
Zanu PF officials can issue exemption letters for people travel as they wish during the lockdown, while MDC Alliance officials are arrested for going to work at their offices?
This selective application of law and regulations stinks, and is the reason why Zimbabwe finds itself in the situation that she does.
Do we have a government in Zimbabwe? To everyone who is Zanu PF, aren’t you ashamed to be in a party that willfully violates Government regulations, while you go out of your way to accept the illegal, unconstitutional recall of MDC Alliance parliamentarians?
By A Correspondent- It’s a one-man versus village case, after a 50-year-old man accused of killing his neighbour’s son fell out of favour with the village.
Onisimo Mazvi from Mtanga Village in Gokwe area was branded a wizard because tsikamutandas allegedly found him with a claypot smeared with fresh blood which they said was behind the death of Kind Mfupi’s son.
As such, villagers have turned their backs against him.
Now being accused by villagers, Mazvi is angry.
“Mfupi goes around telling people that I am a wizard and I killed his child. When I tried to reason with him he chased me from his homestead, told me to never cross his path because he would kill me,” said Mazvi.
He told B-Metro that concerning the issue his conscience was clear.
“I don’t want anything to do with those prophets. They have caused me so much pain. I hate them. How could they go around deceiving people?” said Mpofu.
However, he did not want to talk about the claypot incident.
“I have nothing to say about that,” he said adding that the tskimutandas knew the real story.
But the villagers are convinced Mazvi has a case to answer.
“The only reason Mfupi hasn’t killed him is because he fears the law. Whenever he sees Mazvi, his heart bleeds for his only son whom he killed,” said a source, adding that Mazvi intended to use the child as a goblin.
ILLEGAL fuel dealers have flooded Bulawayo’s city centre capitalising on the shortage of the commodity at service stations by charging in local currency.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday took to the streets of Bulawayo and observed several illegal fuel dealers conducting their unlawful business.
The fuel shortages come at a time when petrol prices were last week upwardly reviewed by $7,19 to $28,96 per litre although operators can still sell below the cap depending on their trading advantages. Diesel prices marginally went up to $24,93 from $21,52 per litre.
Illegal fuel dealers are selling the commodity in quantities of five litres for US$5 per 5 litres or R100, which translates to US$1 or R20 per litre. It appears the illegal fuel dealers are directly competing with services stations selling the commodity in foreign currency.
Petrol at service stations selling in forex is retailing between US$1,05 and US$1,25 while diesel goes for between US$1 and US$1,13.
Chronicle news crew observed that illegal fuel dealers have a rather homogenous way of sending a signal to potential clients as they operate mostly near service stations.
Whenever, they spot a motorist approaching from a distance, they flag them down using a funnel, particularly at night.
However, during the day, they have the temerity to boldly approach any car parked near a service station for the purposes of soliciting for clients.
A Chronicle news crew visited selected points in the CBD where fuel is sold on the blanket market and posing as clients, spoke to some dealers who revealed how they acquire those large volumes of the commodity.
One dealer who only identified himself as Teddy operating between 4th and 5th Avenues along Herbert Chitepo Street said he gets his supplies from a truck driver who plies the Zimbabwe-South Africa route.
“I have a truck driver that I deal with and he usually comes to Bulawayo on Wednesdays. He works for a cross-border transport company that delivers fuel from South Africa and each time he comes, we drain undetectable volumes of fuel from the tanker,” he said.
Teddy said the stolen fuel is then sold on the streets and the driver gets his share.
Another fuel dealer operating at corner JMN Nkomo Street/5th Avenue, who however, declined to be named claimed he was well connected to several petrol attendants in the city who help him get fuel without hassles.
“I buy the fuel from service stations here because I have a lot of connections in the city. Whenever, they receive supplies, I make sure I bribe these petrol attendants so that they facilitate the deals of getting fuel without any difficulties,” he said.
“We have no choice; the economy is biting which is why you are seeing me here in the streets selling fuel.”
Chronicle went to another selling point situated between Fife Street and 15th Avenue near a fuel station where the news crew noticed a motorist fueling his car from a stationary pick up, which was carrying three drums of fuel.
Soon after fueling the car, the fuel dealers got suspicious when they spotted the Chronicle news crew and drove away from their selling point.
It is alleged that unscrupulous fuel retailers are allegedly diverting large volumes of the commodity to the underground markets, causing shortages on the formal market.
According to the National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC), the country’s daily demand for both petrol and diesel currently stands at five million litres.
It is suspected that fuel retailers could be hoarding fuel for speculative purposes or diverting the commodity to either the black market or service stations that sell in foreign currency.
Speculation is rife that some fuel operators are selling less fuel to motorists on the open market, before channelling most of their stocks to the black market where it is sold in forex.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani said the trade of fuel outside registered service stations and other licensed businesses is illegal.
He said Zera will intensify surveillance with other Government agencies to curb the practice.
“Zera inspectors are on the ground checking on compliance and enforcing standards where possible, to ensure fuel is dispensed according to laid down procedures and practice. The black market is illegal. Anyone selling fuel on the black market is warned that the long arm of the law will catch up with them,” said Mr Mazambani.
“We have noticed that there is a mushrooming of illegal fuel dealers at several points in the CBD, notably at Fife Street and 15th Avenue, JMN Nkomo Street and 5th Avenue as well as Herbert Chitepo Street and 4th Avenue among other areas. We therefore would like to warn those people as they risk being arrested and we have deployed our officers and they have intensified the patrols,” he said.
“We also warn members of the public against buying fuel from the black market as it is not only an offence but a risk as it can damage their cars as these people have a habit of selling contaminated fuel.”
Zanu Pf's Christopher Mutsvagwa has said Nelson Chamisa rose to Presidency through a coup. Who between Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa do you think is a COUP PRESIDENT?
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has accused the private sector malcontents of fighting the local currency through effecting unwarranted price increases thereby resulting in its fall.
Addressing the politburo Tuesday morning, Mnangagwa said his administration was aware of the destructors’ shenanigans adding that government would soon deal with them.
Zanu PF National Spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo has disowned a Twitter Account running under his name.
The Twitter account was introduced in recent weeks and shot to prominence on Monday when it sent a Tweet hinting that government is investigating some high profile people on fraud involving covid-19 funds.
“Good evening Zimbabweans. Our covid-19 response efforts have been marred by allegations of fraud. Investigations are currently underway and at an advanced stage; all those responsible, will face the full might of the law. No one is above the law in this country,” read the Tweet.
Watch video downloading below. Please be patient as the video downloads.
The numbers of positive cases continue to rise…we are thankful that to date the number of the deceased has not increased and remain at 4 while the those recovered are now 46… says @edmnangagwahttps://t.co/0ryqP3GgGq
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa will lead a national day of fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention to deal with the country’s worsening health, hunger and economic crises.
Hopes that Mnangagwa, who replaced longtime leader, the late Robert Mugabe, toppled by his army chiefs in November 2017, could attract investment and improve the economy have faded while critics accuse him of deepening repression after the abductions and torture of MDC Alliance activists by security agents last month.
With 314 confirmed infections of the deadly coronavirus, the outbreak is seen wreaking more havoc on the economy, which is already struggling from the effects of a devastating drought and Cyclone Idai which occurred in 2019, high inflation and a currency crisis.
Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, in a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, said Mnangagwa would soon proclaim a day for national prayer and fasting.
“We wish to advise that His Excellency the President is set to officially announce a day of fasting and national prayer,” she said.
Mnangagwa’s call for a prayer and fasting day came weeks after Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)
governor John Mangudya told Parliament that the economy was under demonic attacks and needed prayers.
Annualised inflation has risen sharply since the turn of the year to 765,57% in April, while the Zimdollar continues to devalue on the parallel market to US$1:$80, forcing the central bank to abandon its artificial exchange rate of US$1:$25 early this week.
Mnangagwa is also under pressure from government workers who are demanding to be paid in US dollars due to the skyrocketing prices of commodities.
In recent times, government has also held a national day of prayer against sanctions.
Mutsvangwa said the prayer and fasting would likely to be done from the safety and comfort of people’s homes owing to COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
Cabinet also decided to move reopening of schools from June 29 to July 28, saying this would allow Treasury time to disburse resources to schools.
“In line with His Excellency the President’s decision that schools should start re-opening, Cabinet resolved that the re-opening of schools be moved from the proposed June 29, 2020 to July 28, 2020 to allow the Primary and Secondary Education ministry to engage Treasury and other stakeholders to mobilise for provision of adequate resources,” Mutsvangwa said.
The moving of schools re-opening dates does not affect the June examinations which will be written from June 29 to July 22.
In the wake of increased cases of COVID-19 in quarantine centres, Cabinet yesterday resolved to confiscate travel documents from returnees so that they will not escape from the centres.
“In order to curtail the prevalence of people absconding from quarantine centres, Cabinet agreed that identification/travel documents be collected from returnees on arrival and returned to them at the end of the quarantine period,” Mutsvangwa said.
Returnees have been fleeing from quarantine centres citing poor living conditions.
By A Correspondent- The Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T has appealed to the Supreme Court challenging a High Court order that barred them from replacing two MDC-Alliance legislators Lillian Timveos and Thabita Khumalo after they were recalled on April 3, this year.
Khupe wants the High Court order set aside arguing that the judge did not have any right at law to grant the interim order and that he had improperly exercised his discretion.
Khupe also said that the judge had erred in law in finding that the certificate of urgency was not fatally defective and that the matter was urgent.
BY: Patrick Guramatunhu SOURCE: zimbabwelight.blogspot.com Tendai Biti has reported written to the World Bank asking them to make sure any financial assistance they give to Zimbabwe benefit the people and not the ruling elite. “Even in these unprecedented times, any support from the World Bank Group must contribute towards our shared goal of better health and economic opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe. Any assistance must not be allowed to further enrich or entrench the very people who have destroyed our economy and democracy,” wrote Biti, according to The Herald. “We have painfully learned, time and again, that the Government will abuse public resources for their own goals rather than for the benefit of Zimbabweans. “The only way that we can advance our shared goals to respond to the current crisis is to include robust measures for transparency and accountability in any assistance package.” No man or woman would deny the criminal waste of the nation’s resources by the ruling elite to feed their insatiable hunger for power and wealth. Indeed, the WB itself knows only too well how gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have all but totally destroyed Zimbabwe’s once upon a time booming economy. The WB has given Zimbabwe US$7 million in financial assistance to help the country fight the corona virus pandemic. This is but a fraction of what other nation have received precisely because donors are fearful the money will looted! One American senator has written to the WB demanding that any bank assistance to Zimbabwe must “impose very strict benchmarks and transparency and accountability processes”! What is worth noting here is Tendai Biti’s duplicity. If he was really interested in the common goal of saving the ordinary people of Zimbabwe, the economy and democracy then why has he not implemented even one democratic reform in all the 20 years he and his MDC friends have been on the political stage? During the 2008 to 2013 GNU, MDC had the majority in parliament and in the cabinet in which he was the Minister of Finance. He was aware of the rampant corruption and complained “of a parallel government”; the Joint Operation Command, a junta comprising of the top brass in the security services headed by Mugabe and Mnangagwa; “complete with it own source of funding”. Other than complain about it on this one occasion, he did nothing to stamp out corruption. Worst of all, MDC failed to implement even one democratic reform in five years of the GNU and yet that was the primary task of the GNU! If Tendai Biti and his MDC friends cared about good governance then they should have not participated in the 2013 much less 2018 elections when it was clear, with no reforms in place, Zanu PF was going to blatantly rig the process. They participated out of greed; they knew Zanu PF would give away a few seats to entice the opposition and these were what they were after. Tendai Biti and company have sold-out the common cause of free, fair and credible elections for a few gravy-train seats! Ever since the rigged 2018 elections Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa have piled the pressure on (no doubt the letter to WB is part of it) Mnangagwa to share power. They are asking for the formation of National Transition Authority, a 2008 GNU in all but name, in which MDC leaders will be allocated cabinet positions. Biti has been itching to get his 2008 Minister of Finance post back. “Any assistance must not be allowed to further enrich or entrench the very people who have destroyed our economy and democracy!” Very true! But it is not just Zanu PF thugs who have destroyed Zimbabwe’s economy and democracy and are holding the nation to ransom; MDC sell-outs like Tendai Biti are in it too!
By A Correspondent- Addressing a Mashonaland West provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Chinhoyi, Christopher Mutsvangwa said the youthful MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to accept rules even in his own party.
Mutsvangwa said the move by the faction led by Thokozani Khupe to challenge Chamisa shows the nation is democratic.
Said Mutsvangwa at the said meeting:
MDC-A’s Chamisa does not want to play by the rules. He has not accepted the rulings of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), High Court and Supreme Court. He even rose to presidency within his own party through a coup.
However, the legitimate leaders in his party have since gathered the courage to challenge him and take charge of the party. The move by the MDC-T leadership in challenging Chamisa and following the court shows how democratic the nation is. We however, implore the party to follow its constitutional and democratic paths
During the same address, Mutsvangwa urged opposition parties to be patriotic and serve the interests of the country.
By A Correspondent- Illegal fuel dealers have reportedly flooded Bulawayo City’s central business district where they are said to be capitalising on the country’s fuel shortage, The Chronicle reports.
According to the publication, the fuel dears are selling 5 litres of fuel for $5 or R100, while the same fuel is retailing at service stations for US$1,05 and US$1,25 while diesel goes for between US$1 and US$1,13.
One of the dealers who spoke to the publication said they get their fuel from a trucker who plies the Zimbabwe – South Africa route:
I have a truck driver that I deal with and he usually comes to Bulawayo on Wednesdays. He works for a cross-border transport company that delivers fuel from South Africa and each time he comes, we drain undetectable volumes of fuel from the tanker
While others said they get their supplies from local service stations selling in local currency:I buy the fuel from service stations here because I have a lot of connections in the city. Whenever, they receive supplies, I make sure I bribe these petrol attendants so that they facilitate the deals of getting fuel without any difficulties.
We have no choice; the economy is biting which is why you are seeing me here in the streets selling fuel
Fuel has been in short supply since October 2018 and speculators always say suppliers are holding onto their stocks anticipating a fuel price increase by the government.
Zanu-PF Politburo member and secretary for Science, Technology and Development Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa says MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa’s failure to accept court rulings is evidence that he assumed power improperly within MDC.
Addressing the Mashonaland West provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Chinhoyi on Sunday, Ambassador Mutsvangwa said Chamisa had failed to accept all court rulings and democratic procedures within his own party.
“MDC-A’s Chamisa does not want to play by the rules. He has not accepted the rulings of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), High Court and Supreme Court. He even rose to presidency within his own party through a coup,” he said.
“However, the legitimate leaders in his party have since gathered the courage to challenge him and take charge of the party. The move by the MDC-T leadership in challenging Chamisa and following the court shows how democratic the nation is. We however, implore the party to follow its constitutional and democratic paths.”
Mutsvangwa challenged the opposition party to be patriotic and serve the interests of the country.
He challenged land reform beneficiaries to use the land for the benefit of the whole nation.
Mutsvangwa observed that President Mnangagwa’s approval of partnership farming should be embraced by farmers who were failing to use their farms to capacity.
While Mashonaland West is the major maize growing province, average yields have dipped to levels well below the expected 9 to 12 tonnes a hectare.
Mutsvangwa challenged the province to consider coming up with incentives to lure investors. As a province that has a lot of farming and mining activities, Mutsvangwa said there was need to empower the producers so that they do not continue to live in abject poverty.
In his remarks, the party’s provincial chairperson and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi called for the use of water bodies to boost production.
The meeting resolved to hold another debate on business and economic issues, work on the party’s structures and look at challenges being faced under the Covid-19 lockdown.
Party members also received face masks, sanitisers and liquid soap from Mike Chimombe, while the party provided all the members with exemption letters for use during the lockdown.
I am a senior official in Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party and the chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, but I am writing to you today as a private citizen and former Finance minister (2009-13).
All Africans are grateful for your work to galvanise a global response effort to assist sub-Saharan Africa during the COVID-19 crisis. The swift response by the Bank, as well as your advocacy for the suspension of debt payments, has resonated deeply with those of us who have begun to recognise the long-term health and economic consequences of the crisis. We also appreciate the efforts to provide emergency assistance to the people of Zimbabwe, who have been in a desperate situation even before the pandemic struck.
However, even in these unprecedented times, any support from the World Bank Group must contribute towards our shared goal of better health and economic opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe. Any assistance must not be allowed to further enrich or entrench the very people who have destroyed our economy and democracy. Indeed, the regime is already using the lockdown as a pretext for further theft and repression. Any support to Zimbabwe must help in creating sustainable recovery anchored on principles of sound good governance, democracy and the rule of law not patronage, capture or corruption.
The corruption levels in Zimbabwe are disturbing. Billions of dollars are being siphoned off through vulnerabilities that include the Command Agriculture scheme, manipulation of foreign exchange markets, fuel procurement, state subsidies, commodities (gold, platinum, chrome diamonds) and public procurement.
Despite the suffering of the people, the government continues to spend lavishly on itself, including regular leasing of luxury private jets for use by senior officials.
Claims of economic reforms ring hollow. Policy missteps and inconsistencies were most recently captured in the IMF Article IV report of 26 March 2020. As just one recent example, the government is still forcibly converting foreign currency into a pseudo-currency. I was the lead lawyer in a case seeking to block this illegal expropriation of private assets (Stone/Beattie vs CABS, RBZ) which is now going to the constitutional court.
Zimbabwe has a shocking and disturbing record of state violence and forced disappearances. On May 13, three of our party’s strongest women and youth advocates for health Joana Mamombe (MP for Harare West), Cecilia Chinembiri (MDC Alliance youth assembly vice chair) and Netsai Marova (deputy organising secretary for youth) were arrested by police and tortured by security forces, including brutal sexual assault.
Actors like the World Bank Group must urgently communicate that the COVID crisis cannot be used as a pretext to continue this egregious pattern of political violence and economic repression.
Similarly, we have painfully learned, time and again, that the government will abuse public resources for their own gains rather than for the benefit of Zimbabweans. The only way that we can advance our shared goals to respond to the current crisis is to include robust measures for transparency and accountability in any assistance package.
Even though the donor community accepts that funds cannot be channeled through the government itself, the integrity of any relief is still at risk because of close relationships between senior officials and certain private actors. The World Bank Group should therefore insist that any COVID relief include six simple, proven measures:
Transparency of intended expenditure: All assistance must be clear and public, with information shared so that the average citizen can understand how and where it will be spent. Transparency of procurement: All contracts must use open and competitive bidding, and must be published online. All successful bidders must be publicly disclosed, including the beneficial ownership of the firms and any subcontractors. Credible preventive oversight: Given Zimbabwe’s extreme governance challenges, you may want to preemptively invite the integrity Vice President to provide any oversight of any Bank funds.
Independent audits: All COVID-19 relief funding should be independently audited and transparently published.
Civil society and the media: Civil society must be encouraged to monitor COVID-19 assistance and be allowed to participate in public debate about the emergency response. The media must also be free to report on government initiatives without fear of reprisal.
Parliamentary oversight: All agreements, and all assistance, and any funding, must be laid before parliament with parliament given the opportunity to scrutinize.
These six features must be included in any assistance package and achieved without delay.
Finally, I understand that the government has pleaded with the Bank for more assistance and a way out of its current debt arrears the same concerns about retrenchment and repression apply. I would be happy to help facilitate a dialogue between the Bank and civil society on the arrears question as a way of ensuring that international support to Zimbabwe is consistent with economic and democratic reform and not a step backwards for our long-suffering people.h
RE: COMPLAINT AGAINST THE PROSECUTOR GENERAL, KUMBIRAI HODZI
My name is Joshua Chirambwe. I am a legal practitioner with Lawman Law Chambers and a Zimbabwean citizen. I address you in my personal capacity though fully aware of the fact that the issues I raise are of overarching public importance.
I wish to complain about the conduct of the Prosecutor General of Zimbabwe, Mr Kumbirai Hodzi. I take the firm but the respectful view that he has corruptly abused his power(s) for personal benefit.
It is my considered opinion that in doing so, he has committed the kind of criminal misconduct that the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) has jurisdiction over.
I set out the basis of my complaint.
Sometime in or around January 2019, I caused to be filed out of the Constitutional Court a constitutional application by which I challenged the appointment of Kumbirai Hodzi as the Prosecutor General of Zimbabwe.
I brought the challenge on many grounds the two main ones being that I believed that the provisions of the Constitution bearing on the matter of his appointment had not been studiously observed and that at any rate, he was not a fit and proper person to hold the office of the Prosecutor General.
The application was resisted inter alia by the Prosecutor General, Mr Kumbirai Hodzi. Heads of argument were filed, the matter debated and judgment reserved. The judgment remains awaited.
When the application was opposed, I picked whispers which seemed to suggest that Prosecutor General Hodzi had instructed the Police to arrest my counsel, Advocate Mpofu arising out of this and a related application. I took note of the whispers.
On or around the 1st of June 2020, I became aware that Advocate Mpofu had been arrested on account, inter alia of his representation of me in the court challenge. There was a suggestion that I was to be his co-accused.
Advocate Mpofu was placed on remand by the Prosecutor General through his representatives. I was of the view that the Prosecutor General was hopelessly conflicted in the matter and had not acted independently of his personal interests in breach of section 196(2) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I just could not fathom how such a process could proceed in his name.
On the 8th of June 2020, it having become clear that the police desired to interview me, I presented myself to the police at the Police Anti Corruption Unit (PACU).
I was promptly arrested and taken to court on a form 242, a copy of which I attach to this letter. You are free to have your own views about the charges that I am facing although I intend to fight them in court.
Once at court, I was remanded, at the application of a representative of the Prosecutor General, and released on bail. The bail terms were themself set by a representative of the Prosecutor General.
The current position, therefore, is that I am an accused person before the courts and I am being prosecuted not by a private party but by the Prosecutor General and under his authority.
The conduct of the Prosecutor General aggrieves me, these circumstances considered. I am of the view that the Prosecutor General has misconducted himself in a criminal manner by abusing public power for his own personal benefit.
I have suffered as a result of the abuse by the Prosecutor General of constitutional power, yielded to him as a public trust for the vindication of the public good and the protection of the legitimate interests of the subjects of the State of Zimbabwe.
I set out below the considerations that compel the charge that I make and commend those to your consideration:
1. I am a litigant in ongoing litigation in which I challenge the validity of the appointment of the Prosecutor General. The Prosecutor General has on account of that challenge decided to prosecute me. His prosecution of me is for his benefit in that it is meant to punish me for “daring” to question the validity of his appointment.
Whilst I must treat the Prosecutor General as a lawyer to whom some eminence must attach and who is consequently deserving of honour in virtue of his office, I am of the view that he has in my case abused his powers for his private benefit.
He does not stand in the place of a citizen who seeks justice through the criminal justice machinery. He is instead actively abusing his power(s) for private gain or satisfaction in breach of section 261(2)(a) and (d) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
2. My prosecution in the face of a reserved judgment is designed to and has the undoubted effect of threatening the Constitutional Court. It is also meant to unduly influence the court in that it tells the court that it must find that my application is invalid.
This is a point that the Prosecutor General has not taken in his opposition. My prosecution is consequently an attack on the independence of the Constitutional Court which must deal with my application without fear or favour. I take the view that a man to whom the constitution guarantees independence cannot himself act on the basis of self-interest and indeed in a manner which threatens the independence of the apex court seized with determining his fate. The logic fails!
3. The fact that my lawyer is being prosecuted on account inter alia of his representation of me, adds to the abuse. The Prosecutor General is in purporting to do his work effectively interfering with my lawyer’s ability to benefit me by his skill. This is meant to leave me without a lawyer. I’m muzzled.
4. The entire process is with sinister intent. The substance of the charges is that an application brought prior to mine was brought in the name of a none existent litigant.
I am aware that sometime in 2019, the Law and Order section of the CID conducted investigations into this matter and determined that Mr Zuze does indeed exist. That information I believe was placed before the Prosecutor General because I believe it was at his instance that the investigations were conducted. It is at any rate in the public domain. That am being prosecuted under such circumstances reeks of malice and ill-will.
The actions of the Prosecutor General above particularised are inconsistent with his duties. He has engaged in them for the purposes of reaping a personal benefit to my prejudice. Prima facie, provisions of section 174 of the Code have become engaged. The constitution has itself been breached. Public power may not be used for purposes of serving selfish interests.
The events of the past few days confirm the whispers that I began hearing when my application was lodged. Circumstantially, I see the Prosecutor General’s selfish footprints in my prosecution and I am of the view that further investigation will yield more. Even without those footprints, the fact of the matter is that I am being prosecuted in his name, at his instance and for his OWN benefit.
I despair of nothing but justice; simple as it must be, between man and man. It is not lost on me that the Prosecutor General is the ultimate prosecuting authority. He, however, does not enjoy any immunity and is constitutionally “prosecutable”.
I believe there is in my troubles, a case worthy of your attention. I am ready and prepared to assist in any manner that may vindicate the public good. I formally place my complaint before you.
Sincerely
Joshua Chirambwe
Cc. Minister of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Judicial Services Commission
Attorney General of Zimbabwe
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s, they do not reflect the views of Opera News.
Namibian Police have confirmed that suspects wanted for the murder of a Zimbabwean vendor have been arrested.
Jonathan Patrick Myburgh and Jannie Jansen van Vuuren are accused of assaulting a Zimbabwean vendor who subsequently succumbed.
The suspects accused the deceased of shoplifting a bottle of glue.
The Police thanked all members of the public who assisted and contributed to the apprehension of the suspects.
Five people have in total been arrested for the gruesome murder.
The deceased Zimbabwean vendor, who has been identified as Hlalisanani Zhou (43), was savagely beaten to death after being accused of stealing a bottle of glue. The assault occured in the city of Otjiwarongo last Wednesday.
Following the death of Zhou, two suspects, Jonathan Patrick Myburgh and Janie Jansen Van Vuuren are reported to have gone on the run. This resulted in the Namibia Police Force launching a manhunt for the pair.
The two were finally arrested together with three other suspects, including two of their employees for the murder of Zhou. The police did not reveal where or how Myburgh and Van Vuuren were arrested.
All five suspects appeared at the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning facing murder charges. The other three suspects are Roberto Katjinamunene (24), Kefas Kuutondokwa (27) and Hendrik Simapureni (26).
The court heard that Myburgh is the owner of a security company which is located in Otjiwarongo, while Jansen van Vuuren is employed at the company as a supervisor. Kuutondokwa and Simapureni are security guards employed at Myburgh’s company while Katjinamunene is an employee at a shop where Zhou was alleged to have stolen a bottle of glue.
The five are alleged to have brutally assaulted Zhou for this crime which resulted in his death.
All five suspects were remanded in custody and the case was postponed to August 17, to allow the police to carry out further investigations.
Former Central Bank Governor’s adviser and businessman Munyaradzi Kereke is in court again with a fresh appeal against the 10 year sentence he is serving for his rape charge.
According to documents which have leaked, the Zanu PF politician is said to have made a deal with Sakunda owner Kudakwashe Tagwirei who is the right handman of the president of Zimbabwe.
Tagwirei in the deal was given the authority to turn Rock Foundation Medical Center into a covid-19 center following the death of Zororo Makamba to cater for top government officials in case they get infected by the coronavirus.
Analysts who are familiar with the Zimbabwean political trends are now fully aware of what to expect after such an open secret was done in the eyes of the public. It is very easy to predict what will be the outcome of the High Court appeal which Kereke has presented.
It is the second time that Kereke has pleaded against the 10 year sentence he received in 2016 for raping his 11 year old niece at his Vainona home in Harare.
He has always maintained the stance that he is innocent against the magistrate Noel Mupeiwa who convicted him citing he erred in finding out he was guilty.
Tagwirei is known to be getting rich off the corrupt deals he gets through his connections in Zanu PF and the deal with Kereke makes it as good as a win for Kereke’s appeal as the judiciary is known to be captured by the ruling party.
VIDEO: Chamisa has more political capital than Bill Gates, Strive Masiyiwa, Richard Branson, put together-what does Mnangagwa achieve by taking away a small building called Harvest House?
By Own Correspondent| Prominent traditional healer Sekuru Banda has hailed the government’s move to include traditional medicine in the fight against COVID-19.
Sekuru Banda was responding to remarks made by Health Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo while addressing a Chinese delegation of medical doctors.
Dr Moyo said government was looking at traditional medicine as a serious area in the fight against COVID-19.
“We can have a combined research effort; look at our plans that we have here and also use herbs that we can get locally and get the co-operation on how to process (the medicines). This is a serious area which we are looking at. There are a lot of herbs that we can get locally,” said Moyo.
Sekuru Banda said as traditional healers, they should have a role to play in any national response to pandemics.
We want to thank our government for seeing the importance of traditional medicine, we definitely believe that we can help our government because we may have answers and solutions to this disease that has crippled economies across the globe,” said Sekuru Banda.
The millionaire traditional healer said they are ready to come on board and assist government and is open to formal engagements on what role they can play as a sector.
“We are ready to meet with government and share the knowledge that we have, we are equally worried about this pandemic and would appreciate if the government moves beyond words to actually make this a reality,” added the philanthropic traditional healer.
Sekuru Banda is a globally recognised traditional healer with numerous awards and has attended international conferences on traditional medicine.
The unprecedented military invasion of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, the MDC Alliance headquarters by heavily armed military and police force is a deplorable fascist act meant to negate and frustrate the people’s struggle fronting a lost cause led by misguided Zanu Pf zealots.
The arrest of the Party’s Deputy Presidents and National leadership does not deter but further motivates us to brace for the battle ahead.
Whilst we remain in solidarity with our arrested leaders, we will not allow the enemy to succeed in its attempt to intimidate us.
The struggle is real and we are ready for it.
It remains our duty to protect the People’s President Adv Nelson Chamisa and the movement against this targeted attack and we shall not back down.
No amount of Zanu Pf interference will deter us and we shall never take or obey such orders.
We remain resolute and guided by the National Council resolutions of the 3rd of June 2020, we remain the MDC Alliance with a constitutionally elected leadership.
We are therefore encouraging all our Provincial Executive Committees, CCCs and all branch structures to gear up and start Party work in full force. Calendarised meetings, programs and mobilisation activities should go ahead as communicated before in observance of the COVID-19 regulations of social distancing and wearing of masks.
We will not be cowed or intimidated into submission to unjust laws, no leader can ever be imposed on us. We remain guided by the wishes and aspirations of the people. The goal remains to fight for a people’s government led by Adv Nelson Chamisa.
We are entering a phase that requires vigilance and unity. No backing down, forward we shall march until we liberate Zimbabwe.
The unfortunate events leading to the capture of our HQ shall be challenged accordingly, victory is certain.
Zimbabwe is not a Zanu Pf Pvt Ltd entity, it is for all Zimbabweans where every one has a right to political choice and unqualified freedoms.
Hon A Chibaya MDC Alliance National Organising Secretary
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) rejects the premature announcement of Public Hearings dates on proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No2 and call on the Parliament of Zimbabwe to suspend the hearings. The announcement comes at a time when the country is in lockdown level 2 due to the COVID19, a move which will unnecessarily expose citizens to the Covid-19 coronavirus unless necessary and sufficient measures are put in place.
This is to ensure that citizens are not exposed to COVID-19 and that citizens’ voices are heard and respected during the Public Hearings on the proposed but absolutely unnecessary Constitutional Amendment No. 2.
The Public Hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No2 were initially scheduled to take place from 29 March to 3 April but were suspended together with all parliamentary activities from 18 March to 5 May 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Parliament of Zimbabwe must ensure that Covid-19 preventative measures are in place before any public hearings commence. It is strange that the public hearings are resuming at a time when the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has suspended all electoral activities citing Covid-19 regulations.
Some of the key Covid-19 measures announced by the government which have a huge effect on citizens’ contributions to this process include maintaining social distance at all times, wearing face masks outdoors, limiting unnecessary travel and travel restrictions locally and between towns and cities, except for those providing essential services, and a ban on gatherings of more than 50 people.
The Coalition takes this opportunity to highlight that the civil society and other pro-democracy forces have said NO to Constitutional Amendment Bill No2 for what it is, a mockery to democracy, a recipe for disaster and a violation of the principle of separation of powers.
The Coalition notes that even after civil society and other pro-democracy forces have urged the government to stop the Constitutional Amendment Bill No2 and build consensus among the people of Zimbabwe, the government is hell-bent on using the COVID19 for autocratic overreach.
The Constitutional Amendment Bill No2 seeks to amend 28 provisions of which 20 of them are election-related. The next general election is in 2023, why is the government in such a hurry to amend the constitution to the extent of doing it under the cover of devastating pandemic?. The amendment does not in any way make our democracy better. Why are we in a race back to our past? This act by parliament is a recipe for disaster and a mockery to democracy even by Zimbabwe’s standards.
We, therefore, reiterate our call that no amendments should take place without implementing fully the 2013 Constitution. In light of the proposed Public Hearings and the objections by the CiZC and other pro-democracy forces and citizens, we urge Parliament to review the proposed public hearings dates until the following is addressed and or guaranteed:-
Ensure that citizens participation is guaranteed considering the current lockdown measures which limit movement especially those not providing essential services.
Clearly outline safety measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 during all outreach activities
Ensure that all key stakeholders including civil society organisations are considered providers of essential services to allow them to conduct outreach activities to educate citizens on the proposed constitutional amendments before the proposed public hearings
THE High Court has dismissed Victoria Falls councillor Richard Mguni’s bid to stop the nullification of his election as mayor by fellow MDC-Alliance councillors after Government reinstated Clr Somvelo Dhlamini to the top post in the resort town.
Clr Dlamini was expelled by the MDC-Alliance early this year on allegations of violating party rules leading to Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo declaring the seat vacant.
Victoria Falls councillors then sat as a full council and elected Clr Mguni as the new mayor to replace Clr Dhlamini despite the municipal management insisting that the election be deferred.
Last month, Minister Moyo reinstated Clr Dhlamini on the basis of a letter written by Mr Douglas Mwonzora who is secretary general of the MDC-T of 2014, as per the recent Supreme Court ruling which recognised Dr Thokozani Khupe as the party leader.
This led to a legal battle in the High Court as Clr Mguni sought to block Clr Dhlamini from reclaiming the mayoral position.
Following an urgent chamber application by Clr Mguni challenging Minister Moyo’s decision to reinstate Clr Dhlamini, Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Christopher Dube-Banda has ruled that he had failed to establish prima facie right to challenge Government’s decision to reinstate his rival.
Justice Dube-Banda said Clr Mguni failed to prove that there was a vacancy in the mayoral office at the time he claims he was elected.
“My view is that applicant (Clr Mguni) has failed to establish prima facie, though open to some doubt that he was elected mayor of Victoria Falls Municipality and assumed office as the mayor and set out to perform his duties,” he said.
“My finding is that applicant has not established prima facie right and therefore the requirement of a well-grounded apprehension of irreparable harm if the interim relief is not granted does arise in this case. The balance of inconvenience does not favour the granting of interim relief because applicant has not established prima facie right.”
Justice Dube-Banda said in the event that the court was to uphold Clr Mguni’s request, it was going to result in him taking over the mayoral office of Victoria Falls and dislodging Clr Dhlamini.
“On the facts of this case, I take the view that an interim interdict sought by the applicant must be refused. The applicant failed to discharge such onus and in the result, the interim relief sought by the applicant is dismissed with costs,” ruled the judge.
Clr Mguni through his lawyers Ncube Attorney, had filed an urgent chamber application at the Bulawayo High Court citing Minister Moyo, Clr Dhlamini and Victoria Falls Municipality as respondents.
In his founding affidavit, Clr Mguni said Minister Moyo’s directive to reinstate Clr Dhlamini was unlawful.
Clr Mguni argued that for Minister Moyo to reverse the recall decision by his party in terms of section 129 (k) as read with section 278 (1) of the Constitution or his election, the minister required a court order.
He said his constitutional rights to seek and hold public office were being violated.
In a letter dated May 5, 2020, written to Clr Dhlamini and Victoria Falls Municipality, Minister Moyo said the former mayor had been reinstated with immediate effect without loss of benefits.
He said Clr Dhlamini was reinstated as a councillor and there was no provision for an election of a new mayor. The Minister said Clr Dhlamini retains his mayoral post until the end of his term of office.
High Court Judge, Justice Joseph Martin Mafusire has expressed concerns over the numerous contradicting court judgements on the status of the opposition MDC Alliance as a political party.
Justice Mafusire expressed his disappointment on Monday when he passed a ruling that the MDC Alliance was a legally recognised political party.
The judge proposed that all matters involving rival MDC groups be consolidated into a single case to avoid the conflicting judgments.
Justice Mafusire took the view that MDC-A is a political party, which tallies with that taken by Justice Priscilla Manongwe in the dispute over party funds pitting Nelson Chamisa-led MDC-Alliance and the Khupe-led MDC-T.
He cited the fact that Parliament, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Executive had all recognised the party, as such.
Last week Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled in the High Court that while the MDC-A was recognised as a political party, it lacks the legal capacity to sue and being sued, being in effect an electoral coalition.
Justice Mafusire made it clear that he thought the MDC-A had a more independent existence, but noted he was not being asked to rule on the matter.
Justice Mafusire found it undesirable that there should be conflicting decisions by judges from the same court over the same issue.
“It brings uncertainty in the law, causes confusion and adversely affects the integrity of the courts,” he said.
“One way to minimise the incidence of conflicting decisions is, where possible, to have all matters dealing with the same point or similar issues consolidated and heard by one judge. If not, and the conflicting decisions have been made, it is left to the Supreme Court, on appeal, to lay down the law authoritatively.”
MDC-T has appealed to the Supreme Court challenging Monday’s High Court decision to block it from replacing four legislators it recently recalled until their court application contesting the party’s right to recall them has been determined.
Through its lawyer, Professor Lovemore Madhuku, the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T filed a notice of appeal at the Supreme Court the same day the injunction against the party was issued.
“We appealed yesterday (Monday),” said Prof Madhuku without giving details of his grounds of appeal. The effect of the appeal is that it suspends the High Court decision.
Granting the interim order stopping the replacements of the four legislators, Justice Joseph Martin Mafusire went further and proposed that all matters involving rival MDC groups be consolidated into a single case to avoid conflicting judgments.
Justice Mafusire took the view that MDC-A is a political party, which tallies with that taken by Justice Priscilla Manongwe in the dispute over party funds pitting Nelson Chamisa-led MDC-Alliance and the Khupe-led MDC-T.
He cited the fact that Parliament, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and the Executive had all recognised the party, as such. The four were elected on the MDC-Alliance ticket although they were originally nominated by the MDC-T. Legal rows revolve over whether the MDC-A, which has been recognised as a political party, is also a new legal entity superseding the parties that originally formed the alliance, a process that saw the members of the largest component, the MDC-T, splitting into two camps.
Last week Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled in the High Court that while the MDC-A was recognised as a political party, it lacks the legal capacity to sue and being sued, being in effect an electoral coalition.
Justice Mafusire made it clear that he thought the MDC-A had a more independent existence, but noted he was not being asked to rule on the matter.
MDC-A legislators secretary-general Chalton Hwende and MP for Kuwadzana East, Prosper Mutseyami (Dangamvura-Chikanga), Thabitha Khumalo (proportional representative for Bulawayo Province) and Senator Lillian Timveos (Midlands) had approached the court seeking to bar Dr Khupe from replacing them following their recall from Parliament until the legal status of this recall was finally resolved.
The four were recalled following the Supreme Court ruling, which nullified the assumption of the presidency of the MDC-T by Nelson Chamisa early this year.
However, Justice Mafusire upheld the quartet’s apprehension of an irreparable harm noting that the legislators had been MPs and suddenly, without notice to them, were ejected from the Parliament.
The judge noted that the tenure of seats in Parliament was limited, while the wrangling in the parties have been going for a long time. This, the court found, might result in the legislators being unable to serve the people who sent them to Parliament.
The court could not agree with Prof Madhuku’s argument that if the four eventually win their case, they can be reinstated.
Zimbabwe’s poverty datum line (PDL) jumped from $6 420 (PDL) in March to $7 425 in April representing a 15,7 percent increase, official figures show.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat), the PDL measures the basic needs for an average family of five.
Data released on Monday by the agency indicate that the Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for an average family of five stood at $7 425 in April compared to $6 420 in March.
The agency, however, said the PDL varies by province as prices vary from place to place.
In this light, the TCPL for an average household in April 2020 ranged from $6 296 in Mashonaland Central province to $8 939 in Matabeleland North province.
“The differences are explained by differences in average prices in the provinces,” said Zimstat.
According to the agency, the TCPL is a combination of food and non-food items that an average family requires for it not to be deemed poor.
The TCPL for Zimbabwe stood at $1 485 per person in April which means that an individual required that much to buy both food and non-food items per month.
ZANU PF is set to hold an ordinary session of the Politburo today at the party headquarters in Harare.
The ruling party’s supreme decision making body between congresses sits at a time that government has ordered the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to cancel all contracts for the supply and delivery of medicines and surgical sundries by Drax Consulting SAGL a company with links to the first family in clandestine financial deals involving government funds.
The party is also expected to discuss progress Government has made in fighting Covid-19 as the country’s cases hit over 300.
In a statement yesterday, Acting Secretary for Information and Publicity Patrick Chinamasa said: “The Secretary for Administration, Cde Dr OM Mpofu wishes to advise all members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday 10 June, 2020 at the party headquarters commencing 1000hrs. All members are expected to be seated by 0945hours.”
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Gibson Mhlanga
GOVERNMENT has ordered the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) to cancel all contracts for the supply and delivery of medicines and surgical sundries by Drax Consulting SAGL.
In a letter dated 5 June 2020, addressed to NatPharm managing director Mrs Flora Sifeku, acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Gibson Mhlanga advised that the cancellation must be done with immediate effect.
He said NatPharm must, by this Friday, be able to prove that the cancellation had been effected accordingly.
“You are being directed to cancel all contracts that you had with Drax SAGL with immediate effect. Please be advised that this process needs to be completed by latest Friday 12th June 2020 and all documentation showing cancellation of the same to be submitted in my office by then. Please treat this issue with the urgency that it requires,” wrote Dr Mhlanga.
Contacted for comment, Dr Mhlanga confirmed the latest position adding that he was following instructions from Treasury.
He could, however, not be drawn into providing more details.
Mrs Sifeku also confirmed having received the letter, but could not comment.
Represented by Mr Delish Nguwaya in Zimbabwe, Drax Sagl entered into an agreement with Government for the supply and delivery of medicines and consumables worth US$20 million.
The drugs started coming into the country at the beginning of the year in batches.
Sometime this year, Drax Sagl was also awarded a tender to provide Covid-19 medicines and was subsequently given preferential treatment for the release of its Covid-19 emergency medical supplies that were stuck at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
There was a public outcry after it emerged that the company was overpricing its Covid-19 supplies.
SUSPENDED Supreme Court judge Justice Francis Bere is today expected to appear before a tribunal to answer to the charges of misconduct after his last-minute bid to stop the hearing failed yesterday when the High Court foundthat the latest attempt to delay the hearing was not an urgent matter.
A three-member tribunal led by retired Justice Simbi Mubako will inquire into the judge’s fitness to hold office, after a lawyer accused him of interference in a civil case.
He is denying the allegations made against him. Lawyer Mr Itai Ndudzo complained about the interference.
Yesterday, the High Court rejected as urgent his latest application in which he was seeking an order allowing him to file his papers within the time he wished, while at the same time staying the tribunal process.
Justice Jesta Charewa agreed that Justice Bere had the right to request an expedited hearing of his matter and to challenge the propriety of the process that led to setting up of the tribunal to investigate him,
But the question before her was whether he could come to court at the eleventh hour to assert rights as a matter of urgency that had accrued to him long before now.
She did not think so and removed the matter from the roll of urgent matters.
Having lost his two previous urgent applications, Justice Charewa said, the suspended judge was trying to achieve what he failed to obtain when he sought an interdict to stop lawful process in his previous urgent applications.
“What the applicant seeks to achieve is to have multiple bites of the cherry when he failed to harness all his claims on the day of reckoning,” she said.
Justice Bere was serving on both the Constitutional and Supreme Court benches when he was suspended in March this year, pending a probe into potential misconduct
Since his suspension Justice Bere has approached the High Court three times, including yesterday’s hearing, seeking as a matter of urgency an order staying the inquiry into his alleged misconduct.
The other two members of the tribunal to probe Justice Bere are Harare lawyer Mrs Rekayi Maphosa and Advocate Takawira Nzombe.
Last month, High Court judge Justice Alfas Chitakunye declined Justice Bere’s request for an urgent hearing of his application challenging the Judicial Service Commission’s the decision to refer his case to President Mnangagwa, recommending an inquiry into his alleged misconduct.
The finding of non-urgency paved the way for the tribunal to sit and make the inquiry into the judge’s misconduct allegations.
Justice Bere is accused of meddling in a civil case involving the Zimbabwe National Road Administration and his relatives. Justice Bere allegedly telephoned Mr Ndudzo, who was representing Zinara, asking him to consider settling a civil dispute pitting Zinara and Fremus Enterprises.
Complaints against him were raised before Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza during a court hearing and Mr Ndudzo was asked to make the complaint in writing.
Justice Bere denied the allegations. In a response to the JSC, the judge, said he only contacted Mr Ndudzo in the context of their personal relationship dating back to the days when they were both members of the Zimbabwe Football Association Ethics Committee. He described the complaint as a falsehood meant to taint his clean record.
In January last year, a panel of four judges appointed by Chief Justice Luke Malaba looked into Justice Bere’s conduct after Mr Moxon filed a complaint alleging conflict of interest in a case the judge had presided over.
The four-member Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee chaired by then Constitutional and Supreme Court judge Justice Rita Makarau cleared Justice Bere of any wrongdoing.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says it will restore the statutory 30-day foreign currency liquidation period from July.
This comes as the central bank has also indicated that the interbank market — which is currently pegged at 1:25 to the United States dollar — will again be left to operate according to market dynamics.
The 30-day foreign currency period was introduced by the central bank in February last year, through the Monetary Policy, after which the funds are offloaded or sold to importers on the interbank market at the prevailing exchange rate with sellers getting their dues in local currency.
However, the retention threshold had been suspended due to the emergence of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
In a statement yesterday, central bank governor Dr John Mangudya, said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had decided to reinstate the 30-day foreign currency liquidation requirement.
“The committee also resolved to reinstate, with effect from 1 July 2020, the 30-day limit of liquidating surplus foreign exchange receipts from exports in order to ensure that more foreign exchange was released onto the market,” said Dr Mangudya.
When the 30-day foreign currency liquidation period was introduced, the RBZ said it would allow exporters to keep part of their export proceeds before compulsory conversion to local currency for periods longer than the prescribed 30 days in exceptional circumstances where such need arises to avoid choking companies’ operations.
Manufactures could retain 80 percent of their export proceeds; gold producers (55 percent); other minerals (50 percent); tobacco and cotton merchants, for input schemes (80 percent); tobacco growers; 50 percent, cotton growers; 30 percent while horticulture, transport, and tourism would retain (80 percent).
The balance, which could not be retained at all, would be immediately converted to RTGS dollars at the prevailing exchange rate upon receipt to improve liquidity. Industry at the time, however, said it would be more ideal to have a window of 90 days to 180 days. The RBZ also moved to reduce the statutory reserve ratio from 4.5 percent to 2.5 percent to assist economic recovery.
“As part of efforts to assist in the re recoveryjcovery and growth of the productive sectors of the economy and to help with post Covid-19 recovery, it was resolved that there was need to release more financial resources for the productive sectors of the economy by banks. To assist that process, the committee resolved to reduce the statutory reserve ratio from the current 4.5 percent to 2.5 percent with effect from 8 June 2020.”
The MPC also expressed serious concern over the continued deterioration in the exchange rates that were widely being used by the private sector, but welcomed action taken by the RBZ to curb speculative trading in foreign exchange using electronic banking platforms.
“It was resolved that a formal market-based system of foreign exchange trading will be put in place. To ensure that foreign currency trades were monitored in real time, the committee urged the bank to expedite the implementation of the electronic foreign exchange trading system for compulsory use by bureaux de change,” said the governor.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a prayer session with his wife
President Mnangagwa is expected to announce soon a day of fasting and national prayer as the number of confirmed Covid-19 patients reaches 314.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, while presenting the 19th Cabinet Meeting Decision Matrix on Tuesday, said: “We wish to advise that His Excellency the President is set to officially announce a day of fasting and national prayer.”
Further details would be made available when the President makes the official announcement.
MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa’s failure to accept court rulings is evidence that he assumed power improperly within MDC, Zanu-PF Politburo member and secretary for Science, Technology and Development Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa has said.
Addressing the Mashonaland West provincial Coordinating Committee meeting in Chinhoyi on Sunday, Ambassador Mutsvangwa said Mr Chamisa had failed to accept all court rulings and democratic procedures within his own party.
“MDC-A’s Chamisa does not want to play by the rules. He has not accepted the rulings of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), High Court and Supreme Court. He even rose to presidency within his own party through a coup,” he said.
“However, the legitimate leaders in his party have since gathered the courage to challenge him and take charge of the party. The move by the MDC-T leadership in challenging Chamisa and following the court shows how democratic the nation is. We however, implore the party to follow its constitutional and democratic paths.”
Mutsvangwa challenged the opposition party to be patriotic and serve the interests of the country. He challenged land reform beneficiaries to use the land for the benefit of the whole nation.
Mutsvangwa observed that President Mnangagwa’s approval of partnership farming should be embraced by farmers who were failing to use their farms to capacity.
While Mashonaland West is the major maize growing province, average yields have dipped to levels well below the expected 9 to 12 tonnes a hectare.
Mutsvangwa challenged the province to consider coming up with incentives to lure investors. As a province that has a lot of farming and mining activities, Mutsvangwa said there was need to empower the producers so that they do not continue to live in abject poverty.
In his remarks, the party’s provincial chairperson and Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi called for the use of water bodies to boost production.
The meeting resolved to hold another debate on business and economic issues, work on the party’s structures and look at challenges being faced under the Covid-19 lockdown.
Party members also received face masks, sanitisers and liquid soap from Mike Chimombe, while the party provided all the members with exemption letters for use during the lockdown. Herald/state media
On 31 May 2020, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance’s external province, North America Province (NAP), launched its inaugural 2023 general election fundraising campaign in ways its chairperson hopes will be permanently etched in the party’s history. The event had record attendance from its members in Canada and the United States and raised in excess of US$11,000. A senior source close to the initiative stated that, “we felt humbled and honoured to know that our Advocate Nelson Chamisa supported this initiative and sent his best wishes.”
Tawanda Dzvokora, chairman of NAP spearheaded the endeavor along with the Provincial Executive Committee. By the meeting’s end, they had 29 donors all of which were Zimbabweans living in Canada and the United States.
The virtual, video fundraising launch was attended by senior, national office-bearers of the MDC Alliance, hundreds of members, and supporters within its overseas provinces. Among the National Executive Council attending the historic event were vice presidents Lynette Karenyi-Kore and Professor Welshman Ncube. In addition, David Coltart, senator and national treasurer, Lilian Timveos, senator and national deputy treasurer, and Amos Chibaya, national organizing secretary also attended the launch event. Representatives from MDC Alliance-UK and Ireland (chairman, Mr. Chamburuka and his executive team), MDC Alliance Germany (chairperson), and MDC Alliance South Africa (Treasurer General) were part of the participants in their groundbreaking event.
“The election engine needs oiling and service,” said Chibaya during the kick-off event.
Additionally, the members of the National Executive Council spoke in commendation of the campaign. Key themes of the speeches were of encouragement to its member base to stay true to their cause and not to forget the end goal of a democratic Zimbabwe.
Speaking at this event, Senator Coltart told attendees, “We will be accountable for all donations. Let’s fund ourselves and a website will be completed soon to raise more money for the party.”
Senator Coltart discussed the importance of funding for the party. Updating the members, Coltart shared some details about the party’s future website, whose design is now well underway, saying that it will enable them to obtain correct information and for supporters to make donations. Speaking extensively on accountability, he applauded the provincial executive leaders for putting systems in place that would ensure safeguarding of its party’s funds. Representatives from the other countries expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the NAP pledging to raise money for their cause through similar initiatives.
Karenyi-Kore’s speech focused on unity within the party. She emphasized that conflict and factionalism would never help in building the party. Her counterpart, Ncube said that Zimbabwe’s judiciary has further exposed their captured systems in its dealings with the MDC Alliance. He said, “We are not deterred by dubious court decisions.”
Members reaffirmed their values and emphasized the MDC Alliance is committed to fighting for the freedom of Zimbabweans under the leadership of the movement’s president, Nelson Chamisa. The external provinces strongly maintain they are a formidable opponent to their rival, the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU PF ), that has been in power since the country’s independence from colonial rule in 1980. In recent weeks, the MDC Alliance has been the recipient of a barrage of attacks from this political opponent.
WATCH — Zimbabwe: Onslaught on Opposition about the recent arrests of 6 senior MDC Alliance members after trying to gain access to the head office building in question.
Despite the country’s struggling economy compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic along with the National Lockdown measures that come with it, the NAP and other external assembly members say they refuse to give up on fighting for a better Zimbabwe and repeatedly stressed their commitment to achieving their party’s goals. Dzvokora, and the members of the North America Province which he leads, have vowed to continue their work of mobilising funds and staying focused on the road to the 2023 general elections. Along this journey, they plan to use some of the monies raised for their political rallies, party regalia and election-related costs.
Karenyi-Kore ended with a reminder to the fundraising launch initiative saying to the elated participants, “Dzoka uyamwe.” [Translation from Shona: you will return and nurse from your mother] as she alluded North America Province members kinship ties with the land of their birth.
Article co-authored by Pamela Mawoyo and Pearl Matibe (Twitter: @Pearl Matibe).
Farai Dziva|Veteran journalist Stanley Gama has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa to concentrate on feeding millions of hungry Zimbabweans, instead of fighting tooth and nail to destroy the MDC Alliance.
Gama argued: “Is it a coincidence that @nelsonchamisa lawyer, Thabani Mpofu is not appearing in court, suddenly pple are no longer being denied access to the city centre? Is the regime so scared of Chamisa? What has changed between those 2 days last week and today?
@edmnangagwa while your regime is concentrating on fighting @nelsonchamisa the situation for the pple has gone from bad to worse. Instead of wasting time, resources and energy on Chamisa, please focus on feeding the pple, the majority of whom can’t afford one meal a day.”
“Mr President, everyone is now a pauper, govt workers, soldiers, police, workers in the private sector, the informal sector. Pple are scavenging for food like baboons. When pple start saying Mugabe was far better, you shld take heed and concentrate on their needs not Chamisa.
@edmnangagwa have you sat down to think abt all those leaked documents around your family. It’s not Chamisa who is doing this. Its the pple around you. It is up to you Mr President to find out whats happening. And I repeat, the people are not happy, they are suffering.
@DMwonzora the way you are using Zanu PF and the state machinery to try and deliver the MDC’s over 2 million votes to Zanu PF will backfire. You have betrayed the pple all because you have been promised a Ministerial post in the so called unity govt they say you will be part of?
@DMwonzora are u not scared of riding a tiger? When in 2015, Tsvangirai told me that you had sold out to @edmnangagwa he was 100% correct. Now you go to his grave for rituals. You have sold him out and you know it. But pple are not fools and history will judge you!”
CAPS United descended into chaos yesterday, triggered by a sensational fallout over unpaid salaries, forcing police to come in and resolve the ugly stand-off.
Club vice-president, Nhamo Tutisani, came close to being manhandled by a group of players at his offices in Harare.
At one point, the players and the Harare businessman exchanged some harsh words, including insults, on a dark day for the Green Machine.
Before the arrival of the police, Tutisani sought refuge in his office in Eastlea, while the CAPS United players barricaded the exit point with their cars.
Some bouncers, led by a former member of the Dynamos security team, Abraham Kwenda, also arrived at the scene to try and resolve the impasse.
The bouncers did not use force, in their interactions with the players, but chose diplomacy in persuading them to leave the business premises and let the club’s leaders find ways to deal with their concerns.
The players, who claim they have not been paid their salaries for up to two months, pitched up at Tutisani’s offices demanding to be paid their outstanding dues.
The stand-off is centred on the $480 000 which CAPS received from NetOne, upon the termination of their sponsorship deal, which the players wanted to be used to settle their salaries. The money is enough to cover about two months of the salaries.
The players say they received advice from their colleagues from Bosso, a club which received a similar payment from NetOne, that they had been paid some of their dues-State media
Twenty-seven (27) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These are all returnees from South Africa and are all isolated.
Today 515 RDT screening tests and 352 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 54 535 (32 282 RDT and 22 253 PCR).
To date the total number of confirmed cases is 314; recovered 46, active cases 264 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
… A mask alone cannot protect you from COVID-19, you should always combine its use with these protective measures: –
Keep at least 1 metre distance from others. Avoid touching the mask or face. Clean hands frequently and thoroughly-Health Ministry
The government has postponed the reopening of schools from 29 June to 28 July to allow education and treasury authorities to mobilise for the provision of adequate resources.
This was said by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa while addressing the media during a post-Cabinet briefing this Tuesday in Harare.
Mutsvangwa said: In line with His Excellency, the President’s decision that schools should start re-opening, Cabinet resolved that the re-opening of schools be moved from the proposed 29 June to 28 July 2020 to allow the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to engage treasury and other stakeholders to mobilise for the provision of adequate resources.
However, the decision to re-open schools does not affect the June examinations which will run from 29 June to 22 July, as initially announced.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema said an average of 11 candidates will sit at each examination centre to enable social distancing to be observed-State media
Opposition MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job “Wiwa” Sikhala, has renewed his threat to lead rolling mass demonstrations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government.
This comes when tensions in the country have been on the rise recently mainly because of power dynamics in the MDC and the deteriorating state of affairs.
Sikhala told Daily News in an interview at the weekend that the MDC Alliance was preparing to embark on massive protests against the government he said:
The level of agitation among the people now has never been witnessed before in the history of this country … they are just waiting for leadership to end the game.
Our people have not surrendered to fate about their destiny. They are waiting for the call and the call is not very far. It is imminent.
Speaking on the approach to the protests, the Zengeza West legislator said they will not be coming in instalments but will be “incessant.”
He added that the opposition believes that the biggest problem for the country is president “Emmerson Mnangagwa and his thieving regime.”
He warned, however, that there would be persecution of those who are genuinely fighting for transformation adding that ev en those who fought to dislodge the unjust colonial system suffered years of incarceration-Daily News
As Zimbabwe starts to ease the lockdown sounds of car and bus horns hooting the lockdown silence away. This is the sound of thanks and start of victory in a long battle against coronavirus. Let us carry this determination and settle for a long fight The country must thank each person who is fighting against the novel coronavirus. People must not be complacent following the end of the strict lock down measures. Just because the lockdown is eased it does not mean that we will celebrate. Do not consider this a success. If we come together, we can beat this big challenge. Corona is real and it kills. England has eighty thousand people who died in two months. Yes eighty thousand people.
But on this fight Zimbabwe must never forget the man who commanded the armies in the fight against Corona virus. The whole country was the army. The president of Zimbabwe was the Commander in Chief but the General of the multitudes is none other than comrade doctor Obadiah Moyo the minister of Health and Child Care. Cde ObadiahMoyo was born in Gutu. He married Lucy Memory. They have four children together and still counting Lucy willing. Obadiah Moyo is very educated medical man. He is a Member of Academic Board for Advisors, GET ConsortiumDr Obadiah Moyo is a visionary and creative leader with a proven trackrecord in both medical and executive management. He is an experiencedmanager who adopts a professional “hands on” approach. He is skilled inproblem solving and obtaining achievements by using initiative and driveto gain results. Believes in loyalty and commitment to an organization,utilizing available facilities and resources to produce the best possibleresults.He won several international awards in recognition of his contribution tothe international society in Nephrology and Pathology. Through hisachievements, he is rated as an eminent strategist in the medical industryin Zimbabwe and the region.Dr Moyo is a registered Renal Specialist and Consultant ChemicalPathologist. In 2000, he was elected as Deputy President of the HealthProfessions Authority of Zimbabwe and the Acting President in 2004. He isalso a founder member of the World Council for Renal Care and is also a founder of the Zimbabwe Kidney Foundation Renal Services where he serves as the Chairman and Executive Director.He was educated in Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and theWest Indies, and has cumulative training and work experience of over a period of 39 yearsculminating in an expanded knowledge in Renal Medicine & Chemical Pathology.
He is a holder of a Master of Philosophy degree in Medicine (MPhil Med) from The University of Zimbabwe, earneda Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, St Lucia,West Indies, is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (FRCPath), (UK), and holds aPostgraduate Award in the Management Of Chronic Kidney Disease from Warwick UniversityMedical School (UK).Research Interest : Obadiah Moyo the minister of Health is a Zimbabwean politician and former hospital administrator. In 2018, he was appointed the country’s minister of Health and Child Care.Obadiah Moyo served as the Executive Director of The Zimbabwe Kidney Fund Association’s Renal Services and worked to bring more dialysis machines to hospitals. He has always respected the sanctity of life. He is a man so humble and a man who could if need be lay down his own life to save another. Of greater note minister Moyo was involved in providing dialysis care of cde Sally Mugabe, the former First Lady and the cde Robert Mugabe’s first wife, when she battled renal disease.Moyo showed great care and love for his work. In 2005, he was appointed as the chief executive officer of Chitungwiza Central Hospital where he transformed the hospital to be a Morden hospital.Dr Moyo held the position until 2019.Moyo was appointed as the Minister of Health and Child Care in September 2018 in the new dispensation of PresidentMnangagwa’s government. Cde Moyo replaced Nyathi Dr David Parirenyatwa Sekuru.
Obadiah Moyo never had his ministerial position an easy way. He faced huge obstacles and the nation have him to thank for the way he steered the nation out of major outbreaks. In his first year in the ministerial role, the country faced a cholera outbreak it took his wisdom and good leadership skills to pull the country out of the pandemic. Moyo had a problem the economy was not on his side and drugs shortages vilified his efforts but he never looked back. Just as Moyo declared victory over cholera nurses and doctors strike over hospital conditions,a shortage of drugs and wages. Mostly there was a political dark hand in these strikes and daggers were sharpened against Dr Moyo. He with the help of the minister of public service and some dedicated ministers knocked some sense into the heads of our nurses and doctors and a working point was established. As if this was not enough Dr Moyo was faced with a world wide pandemic the Corona Virus. Moyo had to call upon his guts wits and because of his hard work in March 2020, Moyo was appointed to lead the nation’s Coronavirus Task Force.
Dr Obadiah Moyo is a visionary and creative leader with a proven track record in both medical andexecutive management. He is an experienced manager who adopts a professional “hands on”approach. He is skilled in problem solving and obtaining achievements by using initiative and driveto gain results. Believes in loyalty and commitment to an organization, utilizing available facilitiesand resources to produce the best possible results. He won several international awards inrecognition of his contribution to the international society in Nephrology and Pathology. Through hisachievements, he is rated as an eminent strategist in the medical industry in Zimbabwe and theSouthern Africa region.The Ministry of Health under Dr Moyo with support from WHO and partners scale-up response to COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. As coronavirus disease (COVID-19 spreads rapidly across Africa, the Ministry of Health, and other partners have taken the necessary steps to mitigate the risk and interrupt the transmission of COVID-19. Zimbabwe has maintained its COVID-19 death on 4. Regardless our economy Dr Moyo has achieved what America failed to attain with their big economy. The country continues to face a huge burden of communicable disease outbreaks but against all odds the measures taken to curtail the virus in Zimbabwe seemed tough but proved to be effective.
Thanks to minister Obadiah Moyo. In response to this, WHO and other partners have been supporting the Ministry of Health to enhance emergency preparedness and response interventions in line with the International Health Regulations and WHO Incident Management System.As part of the support, the Chinese Renovated the Public Health Emergency centre at Wilkins and many hospitals. In addition, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with other partners launched a national wide preparedness and response plan for COVID-19 aimed to support coordination and planning with other actors, surveillance, rapid response teams and case investigation, case management, laboratory testing, risk communication, community engagement and social mobilization, and infection prevention and control. In response to the conformation of COVID-19 cases, the country is conducting full outbreak investigation including tracing of contacts, intensifying surveillance, expanding case management capacity as well as mapping and training additional health personnel.Nurses and midwives as front-line health workers are playing a crucial role in supporting the COVID-19 preparedness and response activities to ensure the rapid identification of cases to stop transmission and prevent the spread of the virus in order to save lives.At the community level, Dr Moyo and partners have also intensified awarenesscampaigns on good hygiene practices and social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. People exhibiting symptoms have been requested to isolate themselves at home and call the established helpline for immediate response.
With the help of the police those who escaped quarantine are being followed tracked down and imprisoned. “As we crossed 30 000 reported cases of COVID-19 in Africa we need to take a comprehensive blended strategy for controlling the epidemics”, The spread of this virus can be significantly slowed or even reversed through the implementation of robust containment and control activities”The Government of Zimbabwe is committed to do its best in the fight against COVID-19. A High-Level National Task Force led by the Vice President has been formed to oversee the preparedness and response to COVID-19.
Dr Obadiah Moyo has been screaming that“Stick to the rules on social distancing if you don’t want a ban on outdoor exercise.”On the issue of social distancing restrictions, Dr Moyo said No one would want to take such a measure if it could be avoided. It can beprevented if everyone continues to do the right thing.
That means staying athome, only going out if it’s necessary and keeping our distance if we do have to go out.“I am very encouraged by the extent to which people across Zimbabwe are following the guidance. The message for Zimbabwe is stick with the fightback against Covid-19. We must never let our guard down if we want to protect ourselves, protect our health service and save lives. Any hints of complacency and impatience must be strongly resisted.While the government is aware that“Further restrictions could also have consequences in terms of mental and physical well-being.“That’s another reason why we must stick with the fightback and all.
Covid is still taking hundreds of lives every day and so Zimbabwe must thank God for OBADIAH’s wisdom. Cde Obadiah Moyo said he was so grateful to see so many millions of people up and down the country following government advice this Covid time.
Every day the country spends locked down has an impact upon people’s mental health. They are becoming anxious about jobs and their economicfutures, and there is an increasing amount of loneliness especially amongst older people. So it is vital for the health of the nation that the lockdown does not last any longer than absolutely necessary and I know this will be weighing heavily on ministers’ minds now that we are looking forward to a review of our lockdown in Zimbabwe.
We have many people to thank in Zimbabwe. Our nurses and Along with delivery drivers, bus drivers and supermarket shelf-stackers, pharmacists are rarely the subject of Praise. Dr Obadiah Moyo has taken his hat off for them they have kept calm and carried on, putting themselves at grave risk every day to help keep us healthy. Our police and the army have risked contracting Covid but they trudged on. The pressure on Zimbabwe’s health system and its local pharmacies has been immense.
Our doctors in the fight against Covid remains a crucial part of the primary care health network, they are still seeing patients every day, face to face and often in small premises where social distancing is impossible. These are our heroes and they must be realised. Yet most have still not received enough personal protective equipment but Obadiah Moyo is trying his best to keep them and their colleagues safe, and report that the government’s PPE hotline considers them to be at high risk. We must ensure that those who are serving us and the people we care about are able to protect themselves. The nation must put their hands together for the man who kept our fight against Covid on. Who has stopped COVID19 In it’s tracks.
Obadiah Moyo the minister who had never seen peace in his ministry. Bombarded by pandemic after pandemic but he did not fail the nation. Zimbabwe is blessed to have Dr Moyo the man with a big heart.
Farai Dziva|Veteran journalist Stanley Gama has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa to concentrate on feeding millions of hungry Zimbabweans, instead of fighting tooth and nail to destroy the MDC Alliance.
Gama argued: “Is it a coincidence that @nelsonchamisa lawyer, Thabani Mpofu is not appearing in court, suddenly pple are no longer being denied access to the city centre? Is the regime so scared of Chamisa? What has changed between those 2 days last week and today?
@edmnangagwa while your regime is concentrating on fighting @nelsonchamisa the situation for the pple has gone from bad to worse. Instead of wasting time, resources and energy on Chamisa, please focus on feeding the pple, the majority of whom can’t afford one meal a day.”
“Mr President, everyone is now a pauper, govt workers, soldiers, police, workers in the private sector, the informal sector. Pple are scavenging for food like baboons. When pple start saying Mugabe was far better, you shld take heed and concentrate on their needs not Chamisa.
@edmnangagwa have you sat down to think abt all those leaked documents around your family. It’s not Chamisa who is doing this. Its the pple around you. It is up to you Mr President to find out whats happening. And I repeat, the people are not happy, they are suffering.
@DMwonzora the way you are using Zanu PF and the state machinery to try and deliver the MDC’s over 2 million votes to Zanu PF will backfire. You have betrayed the pple all because you have been promised a Ministerial post in the so called unity govt they say you will be part of?
@DMwonzora are u not scared of riding a tiger? When in 2015, Tsvangirai told me that you had sold out to @edmnangagwa he was 100% correct. Now you go to his grave for rituals. You have sold him out and you know it. But pple are not fools and history will judge you!”
War veterans secretary in Zanu PF politiburo Douglas Mahiya said the MDC red symbol is a sign of avenging spirits tormenting them for failing to respect their ancestors who died for the country during the liberation struggle.
Mahiya was speaking at a official launch of War veterans league in Muzarabani district on Saturday.
“MDC is being tormented by their ancestors who they are refusing to honour by opposing Zanu PF,”he said.
“Every Zimbabwean has ancestors who died during the liberation struggle so if you refuse to support the ruling party you are turning against your ancestors that is why you see MDC wearing those red colours that is a spirit tormenting them.”
Meanwhile, War veterans association chairpersons in all the provinces have accused Mahiya of highjacking party procedures by officiating the war veterans wing to co-exist with other party wings-credit: Bulawayo 24
War veterans secretary in Zanu PF politiburo Douglas Mahiya said the MDC red symbol is a sign of avenging spirits tormenting them for failing to respect their ancestors who died for the country during the liberation struggle.
Mahiya was speaking at a official launch of War veterans league in Muzarabani district on Saturday.
“MDC is being tormented by their ancestors who they are refusing to honour by opposing Zanu PF,”he said.
“Every Zimbabwean has ancestors who died during the liberation struggle so if you refuse to support the ruling party you are turning against your ancestors that is why you see MDC wearing those red colours that is a spirit tormenting them.”
Meanwhile, War veterans association chairpersons in all the provinces have accused Mahiya of highjacking party procedures by officiating the war veterans wing to co-exist with other party wings-credit: Bulawayo 24
Rhythm City actress Mbali Zakwe, who portrays “Sindiswa” and Eve Rasimeni, who portrays “Dikki” in the e.tv drama Z’bondiwe on Friday were arrested after they allegedly beat the caretaker of their complex.
The actresses allegedly got into an argument with the complex caretaker over loud music according to a report by Sunday World they were charged with assault and attempt to cause grievous bodily harm.
Rasimeni speaking to the publication said that on the day of the incident she was celebrating her birthday at her Sandridge apartment and the caretaker at around 12pm came to tell them to switch off the music as it was too loud.
The actress told Sunday World that she refused to switch off the music as asked by the caretaker, as the complex rules stipulated that tenants cannot play loud music from 10 pm. The caretaker then left the apartment and allegedly cut off the electricity supply.
“I then took a sjambok and went to his office, Mbali followed me. When we arrived in the office, the woman who works with the caretaker started filming Mbali. That’s when hell broke loose,” explained Rasimeni.
“Mbali tried to remove the camera from her face and the fight ensued between them. That’s when we started sjamboking them.
The caretaker punched me, grabbed the sjambok from me, and started beating me with it.”
Rasimeni and Zakwe are currently out on bail and have laid counter-charges.-Chronicle
By A Correspondent- The government has postponed the reopening of schools from 29 June to 28 July to allow education and treasury authorities to mobilise for the provision of adequate resources.
This was said by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa while addressing the media during a post-Cabinet briefing this Tuesday in Harare. Mutsvangwa said:
In line with His Excellency, the President’s decision that schools should start re-opening, Cabinet resolved that the re-opening of schools be moved from the proposed 29 June to 28 July 2020 to allow the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to engage treasury and other stakeholders to mobilise for the provision of adequate resources.
However, the decision to re-open schools does not affect the June examinations which will run from 29 June to 22 July, as initially announced.
Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema said an average of 11 candidates will sit at each examination centre to enable social distancing to be observed.
By Patrick Guramatunhu- Tendai Biti has reported written to the World Bank asking them to make sure any financial assistance they give to Zimbabwe benefit the people and not the ruling elite.
“Even in these unprecedented times, any support from the World Bank Group must contribute towards our shared goal of better health and economic opportunity for the people of Zimbabwe. Any assistance must not be allowed to further enrich or entrench the very people who have destroyed our economy and democracy,” wrote Biti, according to The Herald.
“We have painfully learned, time and again, that the Government will abuse public resources for their own goals rather than for the benefit of Zimbabweans.
“The only way that we can advance our shared goals to respond to the current crisis is to include robust measures for transparency and accountability in any assistance package.”
No man or woman would deny the criminal waste of the nation’s resources by the ruling elite to feed their insatiable hunger for power and wealth.
Indeed, the WB itself knows only too well how gross mismanagement and rampant corruption have all but totally destroyed Zimbabwe’s once upon a time booming economy. The WB has given Zimbabwe US$7 million in financial assistance to help the country fight the corona virus pandemic. This is but a fraction of what other nation have received precisely because donors are fearful the money will looted!
One American senator has written to the WB demanding that any bank assistance to Zimbabwe must “impose very strict benchmarks and transparency and accountability processes”!
What is worth noting here is Tendai Biti’s duplicity. If he was really interested in the common goal of saving the ordinary people of Zimbabwe, the economy and democracy then why has he not implemented even one democratic reform in all the 20 years he and his MDC friends have been on the political stage?
During the 2008 to 2013 GNU, MDC had the majority in parliament and in the cabinet in which he was the Minister of Finance. He was aware of the rampant corruption and complained “of a parallel government”; the Joint Operation Command, a junta comprising of the top brass in the security services headed by Mugabe and Mnangagwa; “complete with it own source of funding”. Other than complain about it on this one occasion, he did nothing to stamp out corruption.
Worst of all, MDC failed to implement even one democratic reform in five years of the GNU and yet that was the primary task of the GNU!
If Tendai Biti and his MDC friends cared about good governance then they should have not participated in the 2013 much less 2018 elections when it was clear, with no reforms in place, Zanu PF was going to blatantly rig the process. They participated out of greed; they knew Zanu PF would give away a few seats to entice the opposition and these were what they were after.
Tendai Biti and company have sold-out the common cause of free, fair and credible elections for a few gravy-train seats!
Ever since the rigged 2018 elections Tendai Biti and Nelson Chamisa have piled the pressure on (no doubt the letter to WB is part of it) Mnangagwa to share power. They are asking for the formation of National Transition Authority, a 2008 GNU in all but name, in which MDC leaders will be allocated cabinet positions. Biti has been itching to get his 2008 Minister of Finance post back.
“Any assistance must not be allowed to further enrich or entrench the very people who have destroyed our economy and democracy!” Very true! But it is not just Zanu PF thugs who have destroyed Zimbabwe’s economy and democracy and are holding the nation to ransom; MDC sell-outs like Tendai Biti are in it too!
Businessman Genius Kadungure’s company Piko Trading on Tuesday admitted to charges of tax evasion when he appeared at the Harare magistrates court.
Piko Trading, which was being represented by Kadungure, pleaded guilty to failing to pay Value Added Tax between February 2009 and May 2016 prejudicing ZIMRA of $2 512 149 in the process.
The company also admitted to failing to declare income tax to the Commissioner of Taxes prejudicing ZIMRA of $355 559. Piko Trading, however, denied smuggling 5 289kgs of gas into the country
PANIC has gripped the MDC in the Matabeleland region amid reports that the Nelson Chamisa camp has moved to beef up security at its regional offices here.
This comes after the Thokozani Khupe-led camp last Thursday took the ugly fight a notch up after she allegedly got the assistance of security forces to seize control of the hugely symbolic Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.
The development has, however, further thrown panic among Chamisa supporters who have immediately moved to deploy youths to guard party offices in the region.
So desperate have been the panic-stricken officials that they have launched a fundraising exercise reportedly to take care of the welfare of the youths who guard the premises round the clock.
According to an internal memo dated June 6 gleaned by this publication, the Bulawayo provincial office seeks to raise $10 000 as a matter of urgency.
“To Bulawayo province cadres who have the MDC Alliance party at heart. We have created a fund to which we are all being asked for contributions to cater for our urgent office welfare issues caused by adverse eventualities bedevilling our party of excellence at the moment.
“The money is sought for immediate use. With the number of committed cadres in Bulawayo we can raise the amount of $10 000,00 required at the moment,” read the memo in part by provincial party treasurer Sonny Phiri.
Phiri confirmed that the fundraising memo was indeed authentic but refused to discuss its contents saying it was strictly an internal issue.
“That’s an internal matter not for public discussion.”
However, the memo indicates that about 12 party officials who include senators, Members of Parliament and councillors had already made their contributions with over $3 000 having been already raised.
Similarly, MDC Matabeleland South provincial treasurer Sibongile Maphosa directly sought for “donation for feeding security personnel”, according to another memo gleaned by this publication.
MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said: “We are coming for the provincial offices very soon. Harvest House is now secured.”
Twenty-seven new COVID-19 cases were recorded today, Tuesday 9 June 2020, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has announced.
All the 27 people who tested positive are returnees from South Africa and this has taken the cumulative number of coronavirus cases to 314. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, MoHCC said:
Twenty-seven (27) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. These are all returnees from South Africa and are all isolated.
Today 515 RDT screening tests and 352 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 54 535 (32 282 RDT and 22 253 PCR).
To date the total number of confirmed cases is 314; recovered 46, active cases 264 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
… A mask alone cannot protect you from COVID-19, you should always combine its use with these protective measures: –
On January 3, a United States of America drone strike assassinated General Qassim Soleimani, the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Soleimani’s death led to increased tension in the middle east between the U.S. and Iran, with some people even going as far as to say a possible world war 3 may be on the horizon.
Tension began to die down When Iran attacked a U.S. military base in Iraq with missiles, with the missile attack resulting in the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian airline which led to the death of over 200 souls on board.
The latest news on the incident comes from a televised news conference on Tuesday, where it was revealed by an Iranian judiciary spokesman that the government will execute a CIA spy who provided information to Israel and U.S. intelligence services about the whereabouts of the slain commander Qassem Soleimani.
“Mahmoud Mousavi-Majd, one of the spies for the CIA and Mossad has been sentenced to death. He gave the whereabouts of martyr Soleimani to our enemies,” said Gholamhossein Esmaili in a televised news conference.
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) plans to revert back to the market-determined exchange rate as the local currency continues to devalue under the fixed exchange rate of US$1:ZWL$25.
Due to persistent foreign currency shortage on the formal market, most businesses are getting the hard currency from the informal market where rates are pegged at above 1:60 to and 1:70.
The gap between the formal and informal market rates has continued to broaden creating an ordinate abitrage window where inflationary pressures have continued to maintain a bullish trend.
In a statement, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said that following the Apex Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting held on May 22, the committee considered a wide range of issues including reverting back to the market determined exchange rate.
“The committee welcomed action taken
by the bank to curb speculative trading in foreign exchange using electronic banking platforms. It was resolved that a formal market-based system of foreign exchange trading will be put in place,” he said.
Dr Mangudya said the committee expressed serious concern over the continued deterioration in the exchange rates that were widely being used by the private sector. He added that to ensure that foreign currency trades were monitored in real time, the committee urged RBZ to expedite the implementation of the electronic foreign exchange trading system for compulsory use by bureaux de change operators.
The committee also urged more active application of the Open Market Operations (OMO) Bills to deal with any identified excess liquidity balances in the market.
As part of efforts to assist in the recovery and growth of the productive sectors of the economy and to help with post Covid-19 recovery, the RBZ Governor said it was resolved that there was need to release more financial resources for the productive sectors of the economy by banks.
“To assist that process, the committee resolved to reduce the statutory reserve ratio from the current 4,5 percent to 2,5 percent with effect from 8 June 2020,” he said.
“The committee also resolved to reinstate, with effect from 1 July 2020, the 30-day limit of liquidating surplus foreign exchange receipts from exports in order to ensure that more foreign exchange was released onto the market.”
The RBZ boss said the committee also welcomed the monetary authority’s decision to introduce higher-denominated banknotes to the market through normal banking channels that are money supply neutral but urged the bank to enhance the process of dealing with and replacing soiled and damaged notes in circulation.
“The committee noted and appreciated the new cash withdrawal limit of ZW$1000 per week and that approved cash withdrawals of above ZW$1000 by business entities would need to be
closely monitored to eliminate abuse,” said Dr Mangudya.
South Africa police arrest three suspected Zimbabweans and six South Africans after foiling an armed robbery in Atok, Limpopo province, last Friday
Three men believed to be Zimbabweans were arrested by South African police last Friday as they attempted to rob a post office in Atok, under Apel policing area, in Limpopo Province.
The three suspects were nabbed together with six South Africans.
They are suspected to be part of a syndicate targeting major post offices where most social grants payouts are processed every month end.
South African Police Services (SAPS) provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the nine had been charged for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
The gang has since appeared before the Sekhukhune Magistrate Court where they were remanded in custody to June 11 pending further police investigations.
Brig Mojapelo identified the suspects as Tatenda Ruzive (24), Zephania Gwadivenga (28) and Raphael Ngwenya (27), all Zimbabweans and South Africans Kgokong Mohlale Danny Tebeila (40), Tebogo Nchabeleng (28), Tsebisho Ntswane (25), Kabelo Pilusa (27), Tebogo Ramaila (33) and Isaac Tios (28).
“The suspects were arrested during a snap operation that was conducted by members of the Tactical Response Team and crime intelligence,” said Brig Mojapelo.
“We received information about a possible armed robbery at a Post Office in Atok under Apel policing area and reacted swiftly, leading to the arrest of the suspects.
“A suspicious vehicle, (a Ford Ranger) with three occupants was spotted along the D4180 road between Atok and Ga-Selepe. Soon after stopping, the driver suddenly got out and allegedly pointed the members with a firearm.”
The suspect was then shot and taken to hospital where he was admitted under police guard, while the firearm was taken.
Another vehicle, a Toyota Quantum with five occupants, was spotted along the D4190 in the Atok area and the driver was ordered to stop, and after the vehicle was searched, a firearm was found hidden inside and all five suspects were apprehended.
SAPS is also pursuing four unknown suspects who stormed into a post office in Seshego Zone 4 and robbed an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects were allegedly armed with firearms and entered the post office where social grants were being paid out, and demanded money from tellers.
Brig Mojapelo said the gang overpowered the security official on duty and wrestled away his service pistol, robbed the post office of cash and fled from the scene.- Herald
The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) has advised First-Year Applicants that it is yet to complete its selection for 2020 First-Year Students.
Below is the statement in full.
The University of Zimbabwe would like to advise all First-Year Applicants and the public that the University is yet to complete its selection for 2020 First-Year Students.
This is due to the ongoing programming process aimed at transforming the institution’s business model from the traditional Education 3.0 to the new Education 5.0. in line with the government thrust and national Vision 2030
The University expects to complete this process by the end of July 2020 and in time for the start of the new academic year.
The new applicants should, therefore, expect to receive feedback on the outcome of their applications before the end of July 2020.
All applicants will be given an opportunity to reconsider their choices in line with any of the new programmes they may prefer.
This is consistent with our earlier announcement in the original call for applications.
Our transformation process has, unfortunately, been delayed due to the unforeseen circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The University of Zimbabwe sincerely regrets any inconveniences caused during this process.
The transformation is a critical process as it is expected to offer more and better opportunities for our students and stakeholders.
The government has announced the reopening of schools in Zimbabwe will be on the 28th of July 2020. The dates have been moved from the 29th of June to the 28th of July 2020. The government also announced that June exams will still be held from the 29th of June to the 22nd of July 2020.
What’s your take? Should schools be opened as planned by government?
Yes it’s overdue
No not now
Am not really sure.
Make your call in the poll on the link below.
Govt is on a fast forward drive to reopen schools starting with examination classes. The move has been met with mixed reactions. What's your thought? Should the schools open now?
The government has announced the reopening of schools in Zimbabwe will be on the 28th of July 2020. The dates have been moved from the 29th of June to the 28th of July 2020. The government also announced that June exams will still be held from the 29th of June to the 22nd of July 2020.
The announcement was made during today’s cabinet briefing by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting services.
The reopening of schools has been received with mixed feelings by Zimbabweans who feel the dates are too early as the government has not made it possible for students to study in hygienic environments and to maintain social distancing.
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, aged 55, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government says.
He was admitted to hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell, his condition improved but on Monday he had a cardiac arrest and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, officials say.
After 15 years in power, Mr Nkurunziza was due to step down in August.
In 2015, the announcement that he would run for a third term plunged the country into chaos.
It sparked anger as some questioned the legality of a third-term bid.
There was a failed coup attempt, hundreds of people died in clashes and tens of thousands fled the country.
After a change in the constitution, he was able to run for a further term in last month’s election but he decided to retire and was to be known as the “supreme guide to patriotism”.
He was also due to receive a $540,000 (£440,000) retirement pay-out and a luxury villa.
Mr Nkurunziza came to power in 2005 two years after the end of a 10-year civil war which left 300,000 people dead.
The former rebel leader took pride in the fact that his administration brought peace to Burundi.
But his government was criticised for widespread human rights abuses.
These included “extrajudicial executions, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, extortion, beatings, and intimidation”, according to Human Rights Watch.
Political opponents have been targeted and journalists have been imprisoned.
What was his role in the civil war? Before the civil war, Mr Nkurunziza, who had graduated in sports education, was a teacher and assistant lecturer at the University of Burundi.
He survived the killings of 1993 when ethnic Hutus were targeted at the university and joined the Forces for the Defence of Democracy (FDD) rebel group.
He emerged as its leader and after the 2003 peace deal, Mr Nkurunziza was named minister of interior before parliament elected him president in August 2005. Outside of politics, he was well known for his love of football. At one time he was the coach of the army football team and as president had his own side – Hallelujah FC.
Since last week, Mr Nkurunziza’s wife, Denise Nkurunziza, has been receiving medical treatment in Kenya.
She was rumoured to have tested positive for coronavirus – a disease Mr Nkurunziza had appeared to downplay, holding an election in the midst of the outbreak, and even expelling World Health Organization representatives from the country.
The government has announced seven days of national mourning.
Former Ireland international and Manchester United skipper, Tony Dunne died at the age of 78.
During his 13 years stay at Old Trafford, Dunne was part of the squad that won the European Cup in 1968. He also won the FA cup in 1963 and the 1965 and 1967 English Football League First Division.
Tony Dunne was born on the 24th July 1941 and died on the 8th June 2020. The left back for the Red Devils made 535 appearances and scored 2 goals for the club.
Some other clubs the great player played for include; Shelbourne, Bolton Wanderers and Detroit Express.
He also played for the national team of Ireland and managed Steinkjer FK, a Norwegian football club base in Norway from 1982 to 1983.
The sudden demise of the former defender was announced on the official twitter account of Manchester United on Monday evening.
War veterans secretary in Zanu PF politiburo Douglas Mahiya said the MDC red symbol is a sign of avenging spirits tormenting them for failing to respect their ancestors who died for the country during the liberation struggle.
Mahiya was speaking at a official launch of War veterans league in Muzarabani district on Saturday.
“MDC is being tormented by their ancestors who they are refusing to honour by opposing Zanu PF,”he said.
“Every Zimbabwean has ancestors who died during the liberation struggle so if you refuse to support the ruling party you are turning against your ancestors that is why you see MDC wearing those red colours that is a spirit tormenting them.”
Meanwhile, War veterans association chairpersons in all the provinces have accused Mahiya of highjacking party procedures by officiating the war veterans wing to co-exist with other party wings-credit: Bulawayo 24
I am Devine Mafa, the son of Honourable Felix Mafa. I am behind you in this issue of returning to constitutionalism of The MDC PARTY because I, myself, have been advocating for constitutionalism in our movement for sometime and it seemed noone heard me.
I would like to urge you to look into the issue of imposition of candidates and the use of the militia to cow people by candidates who were imposed to represent MDC in parliament. These you must recall from parliament since they did not follow the due processes of primary elections. They were imposed on the people and some with their deep pockets. The grassroots were deprived of their constitutional right to choose leaders of their choice.
I applaud you for the staunch position that you took when you recalled Charlton Hwende and others from parliament. As for Hwende, he was never elected by the grassroots. He was imposed, and when the people wanted to resist him, they were met with violence like that which visited you at Save’s funeral. The imposition of candidates and the use of violence on percieved enemies defies democracy. It is because of such situations that people were now labelling us as vanhu veMDC, separating themselves from us because they had realised we had lost the plot on democracy.
It is your stance to constitutionalism as the founding mother of the movement that I admire most. You have stood your ground against the bullying by these not so learned lawyers. You fought like a lioness and now sanity is starting to prevail in our movement.
It is also my humble request that you shouldn’t let the party get hijacked again by the academia, lawyers and those with money at the expense of those from the grassroots.
From the beginning, Chamisa was not for the constitution. He used his militia, the vanguard, to disposes you and those who were like minded from the movement. Such a character who could not respect the constitution could not be left in charge of the people’s movement. He violated the constitution left , right and centre. Anyone who opposed him like you did was villified. Look at Mwonzora, Komichi and Mudzuri how they were also vilified and attacked. They were given names and abused. I commend you for taking the bold decision to fire Chamisa. He indeed has not added value to our democracy. Zimbabwe needs democrats and constitutionalists like you.
It is also my belief that you have a hard job ahead of you in the fight for restoring the founding democratic tendencies of our movement. You, as an elected office bearer of the party, should recall those that were imposed on the people. If you do exactly like that you will have my support in total. I totally understand that my father was responsible for calling Bulawayo for Chamisa and not for you, but he has never ceased to stand by the constitution.
I empathise with you for the abuse you suffered for democracy and protection of the constitution. I, therefore, urge you to remain attached to the grassroots who gave you the mandate to lead in 2014. You must make sure we have one MDC. I have decided to file a lawsuit to challenge use of the party name in any other form by anyone including Chamisa’s Alliance. In this regard, I am waiting for your decision and go ahead. It is my belief that we should have one MDC that was founded in 1999. By filing this lawsuit, I would have done my part to add to democracy and help to protect the poor and weak.
This is all possible. We have the chance to restart again and make our movement a real democracy that shuns corruption and imposition of candidates. It is true that failure to hold primary elections that causes confusion and fights by the people. This causes the party to have no peace. This has been the root of all the problems for political parties in Zimbabwe. Since there is no law gorverning political parties and how they are financed, we have seen gorvernment and politicians with money abusing our democracy. It is now your chance to stand up and shine mama Khupe and restore the democratic tenets of our movement that has gone to the dogs.
I know very well that we haven’t met . I would like to say that i support you in your endeavour to return constitutionalism to our party.
I salute you and promise to support you in your fight against those aimed at usurping the democracy we had been and are still fighting for.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance Deputy Spokesperson Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda has discarded and blocked his 50 year old son Divine from communicating with him after the young Mafa released a statement praising Thokozani Khuphe. In his statement released on 5 June 2020, the United States based Divine praised Ms Khuphe for being a constitutionalist and super star democrat. The statement sent tongues waging in the rival Chamisa camp where the senior Mafa was appointed deputy spokesperson early June.
On 7 May 2020, the senior Mafa released a scatching statement where he revealed that he had blocked his son from communicating with him due to his stance.
Felix Mafa is an old rival of Ms Khuphe’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora since the days they contested each other for National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Deputy Chairmaship in the early 2000s. It is alleged that Mr Mwonzora connived with a pregnant woman to storm an NCA Public Meeting and claim that Mr Mafa impregnated her and eloped. Thus Mr Mafa, did not take lightly his son’s public liaison with a faction whose key players include his nemesis Mwonzora.
Below is Felix Mafa’s Full statement about his son.
Dear Colleagues
Re: Scandalous and treacherous articles by the purported by Dr Divine,my biological son.
I’m reading some most outrageous and treacherous articles purported by Dr Divine Magalela Mafa Sibanda my biological son based in the USA .
He is bitter against myself to have refused to be abused by Mwonzora and his cabal.
I’m not sure whether he is the real author of all articles anti president Chamisa and indirectly myself.
I have formally discussed his attacks on our body politics,the MDC A with the National Organiser, Hon Chibaya and currently after my appointment as the deputy secretary for communication with the National chairman,Hon T Khumalo.
I have since blocked all his communication with him ,which is very unfortunate for me and the entire Magalela Mafa-family.
He is a Mwonzora fanatic whereby , as a Democrat myself , I don’t mind or care for he is an adult, 50+ years old.
I hope by this information herein,all shall appreciate my predicament and laugh it off.
Sincerely yours
Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda.
( Deputy Secretary for Communication, NEC and NC Member of the you MDC A)
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has bowed down to public pressure regarding the tender scam in the awarding of a dodgy UAE based company Draz International a deal to supply Coronavirus equipment.
A letter written by Ministry of Health Acting Secretary Dr. Mhlanga to National Pharmaceutical Company Managing Director Mrs Flora Sifeku instructed her to cancels all dealings with the company by the 12th of June.
The move comes after the ZANU PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo declared on Twitter that high profile persons will soon be arrested for looting the funds.
Good morning Zimbabweans Update on corruption: @ZACConline are at an advanced stage in their investigations on some very high profile individuals who have been alleged – by the public – to be corrupt. Your reports to @ZACConline are taken seriously so keep sending them.
— Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (@OppaMuchinguri) June 9, 2020
ALEC Mudimu says he wanted to hit the ground running at his new team before football was put on hold due to Covid-19 outbreak.
The Sherriff Triaspol defender’s team began training last week and he reckons life without football has been difficult.
“It’s great to be back at training and great to see that this is a starting progression as well around other parts of the world.
“The suspension of football was very difficult for me as I was hoping to hit the ground running and help my new team mates to a lot of success for the upcoming season.
“Nevertheless I’m grateful for everything and the suspension has given me a lot of time to start learning Russian the native language here and also working on my personal game so I’m more than ready when the games resume.
“Life without football has been difficult, I’m grateful to God for my family and friends.
“I’ve been able to spend a lot of time getting closer to God and also to spend time talking with closed loved ones too, and also reach out to have more time for my personal aspirations after my football career too.
“But please don’t get me wrong it’s also being very difficult for now because football is my life and without it has been a struggle,” he said.
The Warriors vice-captain says it has been amazing training with his team mates again after such a long time.
“As you would expect with individual training it’s a great opportunity to work of your personal game and become better in some key areas.
“But it’s very different from training with the rest of the team, as well as a togetherness, it’s difficult to build tactical awareness with the rest of the team and work on different things that you would normally do so for the season, so to build that again is difficult but rest assured good and much needed.
“Training with the team was amazing. You feel such a sense of togetherness and joy just being around team mates with everyone working extremely hard for our end goal,” he said.
He added that he feels ready to play and can’t wait for the season to resume.
“Of course I feel ready to play we’ve been working extremely hard for these scenarios just in case the league does resume and I feel we will be ready if that’s to happen.
“Training isn’t easy but we know when the league resumes it’ll be worth the efforts in wanting to win the championship amongst other things.
“So regardless the hard work I have strong feelings that we are all enjoying our time working,” he said- H-Metro
By Own Correspondent| MDC-T leaders Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora and Morgan Komichi are currently inside Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House following their state assisted seizure of the property.
According to an eye witness, the three leaders who were all expelled from the MDC Alliance entered the building, taking advantage of the presence of police who are camped outside to provide security.
We saw Mwonzora, Khupe and Komichi going inside MRT House, their youths who are currently inside opened doors for them, we don’t know what they are doing inside,” said the eye witness.
Yesterday pictures of youths aligned to the Khupe group fumigating the building made rounds on social media with Mwonzora saying it was part of their take over process.
The Nelson Chamisa led MDC Alliance has insisted that the property is owned by a trust which leased it to the movement.
The trust is believed to be currently working to evict the Khupe group from the property.
Macauley Bonne has made his verdict on the friendly game against Arsenal over the weekend as his club Charlton Athletic prepares for the season restart on June 20.
The Addicks travelled to Emirates on Saturday and lost 6-0 in a match that was played behind closed doors.
The Zimbabwean striker featured for forty-five minutes of the encounter, and he believes his side is on the right course in their preparations for the season restart.
He posted on Twitter: “Good to get 45 in the tank! We’ll be ready.”-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent- Army spokesperson Colonel Overson Mugwisi has maintained that there were no soldiers involved during the June 5 2020 Harvest House takeover.
In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, Colonel Mugwisi said there was no video evidence showing the involvement of the army, accusing the media of crafting falsehoods regards the presence of the army at Harvest House on the day in question.
He said:
“I have seen it (the video footage at Harvest House), there are no soldiers, It’s just somebody alleging that there are soldiers inside. …It’s not correct. I am not going to talk about the police officers.”
Colonel Mugwisi however refused to respond to the allegations made by the police officer in the video clip saying:
“We are interpreting the video differently… what have the soldiers said there in that video clip. I don’t want to talk about the police. I have other things to do and will not talk to you. We did not deploy any soldiers to Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House. We end it here. Thank you very much. Have a good day.”
On 23 May 2020, Paul Munakopa of Bulawayo died in circumstances that could have well been avoided.
The 34-year-old was a victim of the police’s heavy-handedness.
He was shot during a car chase, and the police who shot him were using an unmarked vehicle in an operation that they are yet to reveal.
This is just one of the cases that speak to the continued rise in cases of human rights abuses perpetrated by state security agents.
For the second time in the year, the police and army topped the list of perpetrators of human rights violations.
Overall, the police contributed to 41.21 percent of the human rights violations, while the army contributed to 22.26 percent of the violations.
The state security agents have been on the frontline of enforcing the lockdown imposed since March 30th.
It is in the same period, starting April, that the country grappled with the economic and social effects of the COVID19 pandemic.
It has become apparent that COVID19 is not just a health matter, but touches on economic, political, social and human rights aspects of people.
This explains why by the end of May, police had arrested over 40,000 people for defying lockdown regulations; mostly in an effort to conduct economic activities to earn an income.
ZPP recorded cases of arrested citizens not being taken through the formal arrest procedure, but enduring harassment, intimidation and assault at the hands of law enforcement.
Victims told horror stories of their experiences at the hands of law enforcement agents. This makes arrests in Zimbabwe a human rights issue.
ZPP recorded 110 cases of harassment and intimidation, (the majority of which are attributed to the state security agents), 13 cases of unlawful detention, 40 cases of assault and sadly, two extra judicial killings. One of the major cases is that of an illegal miner who was shot in the head by a security guard in Shamva on 15 May 2020.
During the month of May, Harare recorded 100 cases of violations, the highest in the country, followed by Mashonaland East with 41 cases. Attention was drawn to the efforts of two Bulawayo sisters, Nokuthula and Ntombizodwa Mpofu, to get justice after being arbitrarily arrested and assaulted by police.
Police released the women following the intervention of civil society organisations and the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission. The six offending officers were subsequently arrested and have appeared in court.
A Bulawayo resident, Levison Ncube died as a result of injuries sustained after he was brutally assaulted by police officers for violating lockdown regulations on the first day of the lockdown.
Ncube’s family, with the assistance of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, has indicated that they intend to sue the state for the death of Levison. The family of Munakopa mentioned earlier has written to the police requesting an independent inquiry into the shooting that led to Paul’s death.
It must be noted that pressure from victims, citizens and civil society organizations is essential in the promotion and protection of human rights as well as the seeking of justice.
The report focuses on how the State continues to perpetrate human rights violations during the COVID-19 crisis.
The COVID-19 induced national lockdown has exacerbated the pre-existing food insecurity.
Although the Zimbabwean economy is highly informal, the sector has been excluded from essential services thereby increasing the vulnerability of citizens.
The distribution of aid continued to be largely partisan and discriminatory, with Mashonaland East recording the highest food and other aid violations at 42.57 percent followed by Manicaland at 28.86 percent.
This report highlights some of the cases of discrimination on food aid and provides an insight into the government aid that was either grossly insufficient or did not reach the deserving beneficiaries.
It also looks at the discrepancies in government responses to COVID-19 and how these impact on human rights in Zimbabwe.
This month was also marked by an increased number of Zimbabweans returning from other countries.
Government’s unpreparedness to handle the returnees was exposed as some of them escaped quarantine centres. The deplorable state of quarantine centres, and inadequate testing kits came under the spotlight.
Nacho Fernandez is likely to miss Real Madrid’s return to La Liga against Eibar on Sunday after sustaining a thigh injury.
The defender was hoping to increase his game time after missing a chunk of the season through another injury and
The club released a statement confirming the development: “After tests carried out on our player Nacho Fernandez by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the right thigh.”
Nacho, meanwhile, is the first Madrid player to suffer an injury since the club returned to full training at the start of the month.-Soccer 24
Orlando Pirates have confirmed that Ben Motshwari has recovered from coronavirus after he tested positive in May.
The midfielder was the first known victim of the virus in the South African Premier Soccer League.
Pirates posted the update on Twitter, attached with a video of the player appreciating the support he received.
The midfielder said: “I just want to thank every one of you guys who has been texting and calling me and wishing me well during this difficult time that I was facing.
“To my medical team, the staff at Orlando Pirates, I just want to thank you-Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|The only way to save Zimbabwe from further economic demise is the immediate resignation of Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti has said.
See Biti’s argument below :
“Today the parallel market rate has traded between 80 and 85. In mid-May 2020 it was 40.
An increase of 100% in 3 weeks reflects the black market implosion. The restrictive measures by the Central Bank are corroding the ZWL$ & therefore self-defeating. They have run out of ideas.
Meanwhile, as the economy tanks, Mnangagwa has turned his energy to our Movement, journalists and lawyers. The attack on lawyers and journalists is crude and unprecedented.
But no amount of attacks can hide the fact that Emmerson is illegitimate and a failure.
You can’t rig the people’s will We restate once more that the only way to save Zim is the immediate peaceful and constitutional departure of Emmerson. That departure will give Zim a chance to rebuild. Departure should allow convergence on the way Foward.
An opportunity for a new disruptive consensus.A new beginning.
Farai Dziva|Popular musician Mukudzei Mukombe, popularly known as Jah Prayzah has dissolved the Military Touch Movement.
Jah Prayzah will now pursue a solo career.
Below is his statement : “When I started MTM, my dream was to have a movement that is driven solely by the ambition of the artists and producers involved in it.
It has been three years since we began the journey and I can say it has been fruitful. We have shared so many joys as a team and joys I will continue to cherish and celebrate.
Like any other organisation we also did share our lows and again we went through these together.
Today we celebrate superstars who have been housed in MTM and that was part of the mission, for us all to grow together and celebrate our achievements together.
I feel everyone who was involved in MTM is now in a position where they can now also take part in grooming and raising more talent out there.
I appreciate the trust that was given to me by these artists who are now brands and also for the privilege of working with legends like ExQ who have been in the game for so many years even before the start of my musical career.
It is not an easy process to be able to trust putting your brand under someone else’s umbrella.
I would want to let the whole of Zimbabwe and other global music lovers who have been following our journey that it is now time I let these superstars go out there to conquer the world in music and I have so much confidence in their ability to do so.
I have done my part in putting in the little resources I had at that time but do feel the artists have outgrown the label and though it is painful, I feel it is the right time to release them and also terminate all contracts that were in place.
What is important is the growth of talent as opposed to any return on money put in, again I repeat this was a movement put in place to encourage growth and not for profit.
Under the same light I would like to categorically put it on record that until now and going forward, I do not have any amount of money that I collected from any of the artists who were involved in MTM.
Farai Dziva|Battered MDC Alliance Youth Assembly deputy spokesperson, Womberaiishe Nhende, says he is recovering from injuries he sustained when he was brutally assaulted by overzealous police details.
Nhende was arrested and brutally assaulted by ZRP cops in Harare last week.
“In turmoil and in tenacity, I would like to thank everyone who prayed for me to breathe again , I’m recovering.
My court hearing took place at the hospital today(Monday) ,the courts remanded me out of custody to the 22nd of July. Still in pain and #steel for the struggle. Forward we march,” said Nhende in a brief statement.
MDC Alliance has condemned the arrest and persecution of Nhende.
See statement below:
MDC Youth Assembly Deputy National Spokesperson Womberaiishe Nhende was today (Monday) remanded out of custody to 22 July 2020 on free bail after his defence lawyer presented a dossier of complaints against the police.
Nhende is facing false charges of criminal nuisance after having been grievously beaten and arrested at #MRTHouse by some overzelous members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police-MDC Alliance
IF your face mask does not have more than one layer of fabric it may expose you to Covid-19 infection, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on home made masks.
Also, anyone who wears a single mask for more than three hours increases chances of infection. Unlike medical masks which are produced for hospitals, handmade masks yield higher infection rates caused by droplets and airborne micro-organisms. Studies have shown that multi layered masks offer more protection and single layer cloths masks are riskier.
Cloth masks, become magnets for the virus when they get wet, even due to vapour from breathing in and out.
WHO points out that homemade masks become less effective if they are not used in conjunction with other Covid-19 prevention measures like social distancing and hygiene.
Masks, the organisation advises, should be washed using hot water in a basin with laundry detergent and if hot water is not available, cold water with 0.05 percent chlorine should be used.
They should be soaked for 30 minutes and then be rinsed with water and laundry detergent. Low resource countries will have to rely on the handmade cloth masks to contain Covid-19 which has so far infected 292 people in Zimbabwe and killed four.
Globally, more than 7 million have been infected and deaths top 400 000.
Local manufacturers and tailors have ventured into mask making after Government made it mandatory for everyone to wear a mask in public spaces. A majority use just any cloth in single layers.
Police have been arresting people spotted without face masks after the law was enacted, effective May 4.
WHO says cloth masks should not replace respirators and should never be used by healthcare workers in health institutions.
“Homemade cloth masks may offer marginal protection from droplet and airborne infections from asymptomatic persons by reducing the number of respiratory droplets from them to others,” read the statement from WHO.
“Homemade cloth masks can be assembled from many different materials readily available within the community.
Yet, preliminary data shows that masks made up of two or more cloth layers are more effective at keeping particle penetration lower than single-layered masks.”
The guidelines also recommended that in providing routine care to a Covid-19 patient, health care workers should wear surgical masks.
“Make sure to keep the homemade cloth mask dry at all times. Even moisture from exhaling could potentially make the fabric more prone to transmitting infection,” said WHO.
“Homemade cloth masks may be worn up to three hours without an increase in particle penetration and they must be cleaned daily.”
WHO also emphasised the need for physical distancing of at least 1-metre and adopting sound hand hygiene practices in addition to wearing masks.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Opposition MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job “Wiwa” Sikhala, has renewed his threat to lead rolling mass demonstrations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government.
This comes when tensions in the country have been on the rise recently mainly because of power dynamics in the MDC and the deteriorating state of affairs.
Sikhala told Daily News in an interview at the weekend that the MDC Alliance was preparing to embark on massive protests against the government he said:
The level of agitation among the people now has never been witnessed before in the history of this country … they are just waiting for leadership to end the game.
Our people have not surrendered to fate about their destiny. They are waiting for the call and the call is not very far. It is imminent.
Speaking on the approach to the protests, the Zengeza West legislator said they will not be coming in instalments but will be “incessant.”
He added that the opposition believes that the biggest problem for the country is president “Emmerson Mnangagwa and his thieving regime.”
He warned, however, that there would be persecution of those who are genuinely fighting for transformation adding that ev en those who fought to dislodge the unjust colonial system suffered years of incarceration-Daily News
By A Correspondent- Barbara Mabuyaye, widow to the late Fanuel “System” Tazvida, says the wound is still fresh 21 years after her husband’s death, adding that she also has to fend off men who pester her for s_ex.
System died on February 4, 1999, and ever since his death, a series of commemorations have been held.
Sadly, most of them have never lived to expectations befitting the late singer.
The celebrations have over the years being rocked by the bickering in the family and greed among some of the most vocal Tazvida family members.
As we reflect on Tazvida’s music legacy, his widow Barbara who has endured a lot after the late Chazezesa Challengers leader’s death, opened up on a number of issues.
These ranges from her being love sick, pressure to handle sex predators, life as a ‘hustler’ to the need to work hard and the pledge of loyalty she made to the departed Tazvida.
“The wound is still fresh and it feels like yesterday as we remember my late husband,” said Barbara.
“During this time of year, I used to start receiving gifts from my husband who didn’t want to see me struggling.
“However, his music still comforts me and I can also relate well with widows of other late musicians in my situation.”
LOYALTY
Asked how she finally accepted the reality that Tazvida is gone, she said:
“I still keep the promise I made to him – loyalty. I still stay at the same house we used to share in Unit N.
“I get all the strength I need when my spirits are down by staying in the same house we used to share together.
“I still have some of the good photos we had together and some of the presents System gave to me.”
KIDS
Sadly, when Tazvida joined the great band in the sky, he didn’t leave any children.
“We stayed together for 10 years but we were yet to be blessed with children.
“It’s not easy for any woman in the world to be in my situation but these are some of the life situations we have learn to accept,” she said.
Barbara said despite living and looking after a big extended family, she never heard reports of System’s secret love children.
“I have never received such reports because my husband was straight.
“If he had any shenanigans, these kids might have surfaced in the past 21 years he died.
“Anyway, I wouldn’t want to dwell much on that since we have other serious issues at hand.”
S3X PREDATORS
Barbara who still looks as fresh as ever at 48 said he was not spared by perverts.
She, however, said he has a way to kill off their hopes.
“What I admit happens to me regularly is that there are men who love me for s_x because of my looks and everything,
“However, I make sure that I don’t give in to them easily because I still value myself.
“Kunyenga ndinonyengwawo, ndinenge ndichinyepa kana ndikasadaro,” she said.
INHERITANCE WIFE FIGHT?
Barbara who was reportedly married to a close relative to her late husband yesterday cleared the air.
“Like I said before, I was never married to anyone and that story of King Tazvida being my cultural husband (murume wenhaka in vernacular) were all wrong.
“I don’t even know what was their motive with one of your reporters when he wrote that story.
“Maybe he wanted to hype his album which he was launching but I never got married to anyone and I don’t think.”
When further quizzed on whether the family once proposed that she gets a cultural husband, she became evasive.
“Well, there are some issues which I am not comfortable to say because I have stayed with some of my relatives for over 20 decades.
“It would be unfair to expose some of the family secrets and I will take them to the grave to safeguard my life.
“I think every family has its own secrets and exposing them would be a great unfair to those who told you so.
“But what I can tell you is that I was never married and didn’t attempt to get married.”
TAZVIDA PERSONALITY
Despite spending the great part of his life entertaining perverts in the back of beyond, Tazvida had a different personality altogether.
“My husband was different person from the one who sang those not and blunt lyrics.
“Of course some might think that he did some of the things he sang in most of his tracks but System was a different person altogether.
“He was a cool guy, humble and loving. He would not argue with anyone at hoe but he wanted things done in a proper manner.
“During his spare time, he would hang around with soccer player in his team called Chazezesa Pirates.
“However, the team disbanded and I hear some of them joined Buymore FC (now defunct) among other premier sides and lower leagues.
“In his spare time, played social soccer for fun and not as a professional.
“That’s all I can say about his personality.
FALLBACK
Despite being pampered with everything she wanted by the late System, Barbara is a hard worker.
“System taught me to work hard and I used to be a cross border even before his death.
“I sell cosmetics that I supply to my clients in town; I don’t want to be always begging.
“Of course there are royalties I used to receive but our economy is performing badly,” she said.
As they remember Tazvida, all was not rosy for Barbara who could not raise money to lay wreaths and flowers on Tazvida’s grave in Unit L.
“I last laid flowers last year but this year I am really struggling; life has not been for me,” she said.
Farai Dziva|Veteran journalist Stanley Gama has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa to concentrate on feeding millions of hungry Zimbabweans, instead of fighting tooth and nail to destroy the MDC Alliance.
Gama argued: “Is it a coincidence that @nelsonchamisa lawyer, Thabani Mpofu is not appearing in court, suddenly pple are no longer being denied access to the city centre? Is the regime so scared of Chamisa? What has changed between those 2 days last week and today?
@edmnangagwa while your regime is concentrating on fighting @nelsonchamisa the situation for the pple has gone from bad to worse. Instead of wasting time, resources and energy on Chamisa, please focus on feeding the pple, the majority of whom can’t afford one meal a day.”
“Mr President, everyone is now a pauper, govt workers, soldiers, police, workers in the private sector, the informal sector. Pple are scavenging for food like baboons. When pple start saying Mugabe was far better, you shld take heed and concentrate on their needs not Chamisa.
@edmnangagwa have you sat down to think abt all those leaked documents around your family. It’s not Chamisa who is doing this. Its the pple around you. It is up to you Mr President to find out whats happening. And I repeat, the people are not happy, they are suffering.
@DMwonzora the way you are using Zanu PF and the state machinery to try and deliver the MDC’s over 2 million votes to Zanu PF will backfire. You have betrayed the pple all because you have been promised a Ministerial post in the so called unity govt they say you will be part of?
@DMwonzora are u not scared of riding a tiger? When in 2015, Tsvangirai told me that you had sold out to @edmnangagwa he was 100% correct. Now you go to his grave for rituals. You have sold him out and you know it. But pple are not fools and history will judge you!”
IF your face mask does not have more than one layer of fabric it may expose you to Covid-19 infection, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on home made masks.
Also, anyone who wears a single mask for more than three hours increases chances of infection. Unlike medical masks which are produced for hospitals, handmade masks yield higher infection rates caused by droplets and airborne micro-organisms. Studies have shown that multi layered masks offer more protection and single layer cloths masks are riskier.
Cloth masks, become magnets for the virus when they get wet, even due to vapour from breathing in and out.
WHO points out that homemade masks become less effective if they are not used in conjunction with other Covid-19 prevention measures like social distancing and hygiene.
Masks, the organisation advises, should be washed using hot water in a basin with laundry detergent and if hot water is not available, cold water with 0.05 percent chlorine should be used.
They should be soaked for 30 minutes and then be rinsed with water and laundry detergent. Low resource countries will have to rely on the handmade cloth masks to contain Covid-19 which has so far infected 292 people in Zimbabwe and killed four.
Globally, more than 7 million have been infected and deaths top 400 000.
Local manufacturers and tailors have ventured into mask making after Government made it mandatory for everyone to wear a mask in public spaces. A majority use just any cloth in single layers.
Police have been arresting people spotted without face masks after the law was enacted, effective May 4.
WHO says cloth masks should not replace respirators and should never be used by healthcare workers in health institutions.
“Homemade cloth masks may offer marginal protection from droplet and airborne infections from asymptomatic persons by reducing the number of respiratory droplets from them to others,” read the statement from WHO.
“Homemade cloth masks can be assembled from many different materials readily available within the community.
Yet, preliminary data shows that masks made up of two or more cloth layers are more effective at keeping particle penetration lower than single-layered masks.”
The guidelines also recommended that in providing routine care to a Covid-19 patient, health care workers should wear surgical masks.
“Make sure to keep the homemade cloth mask dry at all times. Even moisture from exhaling could potentially make the fabric more prone to transmitting infection,” said WHO.
“Homemade cloth masks may be worn up to three hours without an increase in particle penetration and they must be cleaned daily.”
WHO also emphasised the need for physical distancing of at least 1-metre and adopting sound hand hygiene practices in addition to wearing masks.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
War veterans secretary in Zanu PF politiburo Douglas Mahiya said the MDC red symbol is a sign of avenging spirits tormenting them for failing to respect their ancestors who died for the country during the liberation struggle.
Mahiya was speaking at a official launch of War veterans league in Muzarabani district on Saturday.
“MDC is being tormented by their ancestors who they are refusing to honour by opposing Zanu PF,”he said.
“Every Zimbabwean has ancestors who died during the liberation struggle so if you refuse to support the ruling party you are turning against your ancestors that is why you see MDC wearing those red colours that is a spirit tormenting them.”
Meanwhile, War veterans association chairpersons in all the provinces have accused Mahiya of highjacking party procedures by officiating the war veterans wing to co-exist with other party wings-credit: Bulawayo 24
By A Correspondent- Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba has been accused of misrepresenting the facts by alleging that the United States of America Ambassador Brian Nichols recently held a meeting with opposition aligned civic society members at Harare’s Bronte hotel to form a shadowy mass movement to challenge President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Charamba had posted on Twitter using his moniker Jamwanda that, “Increasingly, the US Ambassador to Zimbabwe is meddling more and more into the domestics politics of Zimbabwe, including organizing MDC-A-affiliated NGOs at Bronte Hotel last week. The outcome was the formation of the US-funded People’s Assembly Against Poverty.”
However, in a sudden turn of events, the Bronte hotel managing director Mr Graham Dickens refuted allegations by Charamba that the said political meeting took place.
In an email conversation with a local publication Dickens said:
“I wish to advise that Bronte Hotel has been closed to the general public since the commencement of lockdown at the end of March. We re-opened on 23rd May as a Government registered Quarantine Centre specifically for paying Returning Residents.
“Access to the Hotel is strictly limited to returning residents with a prior booking and to our reduced staff team servicing these. This is controlled by a strong security team which includes a ZRP presence. I can categorically say that no meetings of any sort have been held at Bronte Hotel since the end of March. “
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has bowed down to public pressure cancelling the tender deal involving a UAE based company Drax International.
The deal involved the supply of Coronavirus equipment.
A letter written by Ministry of Health Acting Secretary Dr. Mhlanga to National Pharmaceutical Company Managing Director Mrs Flora Sifeku instructed her to cancels all dealings with the company by the 12th of June.
By A Correspondent- The family of a 20-year-old Silobela man, who was shot and killed by a police officer on March 15, have filed a notice of intention to sue the officer, Police Commissioner-General and the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage over the matter.
Through Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) member Jabulani Mhlanga, the late Bhekani Moyo’s family filed the notice addressed to Police Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga.
“We advise that we have been instructed by the family of the deceased Bhekani to represent them in this matter. Our clients advised that on March 15 while they were sleeping at their residence at Moffat Moyo’s homestead, Bambanani village ward 21, Chief Malisa, Silobela, at around 4am, about six men, two of them wearing police uniforms and brandishing guns, raided their homestead,” ZLHR wrote.
“The police were looking for their son, … Bhekani … The police did not identify themselves or inform the family of the reasons why they were looking for the now-deceased, but went on harassing them, ransacking the homestead, entering all the rooms searching for the now-deceased.”
The men found Bhekani sleeping in one of the rooms, dragged him out before one of them, in police uniform, fatally shot him on the left side of the chest in the family’s presence, that is, his mother, father, siblings and young children, without just cause, ZLHR stated.
“After realising what they had done, they did not render any form of assistance or explanation to the family on why they had murdered their son in cold blood, but instead, ran away from the scene only to return two hours later in the company of other police officers using a marked police vehicle,” the notice read.
“Our client advises that the police officers took the now-deceased’s body using their vehicle on the strength that the body was being taken for a post-mortem, only to be returned the same day by officers from Silobela Police Station with promise that the circumstances leading to the demise of the son will be investigated.”
The human rights lawyers said the family stated that they buried their son with their meagre resources and their community’s help.
No assistance came from the police. The police have allegedly reneged on the pledge to probe the matter, the family said, and have denied the family a copy of the deceased’s postmortem report.
“Our client holds the position that the deceased died as a result of the injuries sustained after being shot by the police officer, who at the material time was acting within the scope and course of his employment as a police officer employed by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the command of the Commissioner-General of the Police Service.
“In the premise, we hold strict instruction to demand compensation to be quantified in due course as we, hereby, do, payment for harassment, emotional pain, trauma and suffering, payment for contumelia, funeral expenses, the payment as special damages and ancillary delictual damages suffered as a result of untimely death of Bhekani Moyo after he was shot by the police,” ZLHR wrote.
“We are under instruction from our client to institute legal proceedings against the individual concerned police officer, your office, the Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage for the unlawful conduct as explained.”
By A Correspondent- A woman from Limpopo has been arrested by the police after she allegedly stabbed her husband to death.
The 42-year-old is alleged to have committed the gruesome crime after she caught her husband red-handed with another woman.
The gruesome incident occured on Monday night at a village outside Tzaneen in Bolobedu after the woman arrived home much earlier than expected only to find her husband entertaining a female visitor.
The furious wife then confronted the other woman and this resulted in a very heated argument. When the husband tried to intervene in the confrontation, his wife stabbed him with a sharp object.
Speaking on the incident, Limpopo Police Spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo told the Sunday World,
“It is alleged that the mother of his two children arrived home unexpectedly and found her husband with another woman. An argument ensued between the two women and apparently the deceased tried to intervene when the suspect allegedly stabbed him with a sharp object,”
The husband was rushed to the local clinic but unfortunately, he was declared dead on arrival.
The woman, who cannot be named yet is expected to appear at the Bolobedu Magistrate court tomorrow on a charge of murder.
SOME universities resumed lectures yesterday, adhering to Covid-19 prevention regulations while the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) rescheduled its reopening to Monday next week.
Nust was expected to open yesterday but postponed commencement of lectures last week.
Universities just like schools, prematurely closed in March as Government implemented Covid-19 prevention measures.
Government last month instructed universities to reopen starting on June 1 and complete the second semester of the 2019/2020 academic year by August 31.
In reopening, the universities are to open according to their ability and capacity.
Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira said universities are required to do four things to prevent the spread of the virus: to ensure that there is social distancing, sanitising, wearing face masks and checking temperatures.
He said those whose temperature is above the normal threshold will be referred for Covid-19 testing.
Prof Murwira said universities are following blended learning which will ensure that they will remain decongested as they reopen.
Blended learning refers to online lectures and traditional in-class tutorials.
He said while campus learning resumed for final year students in some universities, institutions will continue teaching students using virtual platforms.
The minister said the University of Zimbabwe had reopened under the same circumstances.
“Because of blended learning we are not going to have so many people on campus, some students will be going to be home.
“When we finish with final years online, the next level is going to come and then after that the next level is going to come until it’s the first years. So, we are not going to congest campuses and everything must be done between now and August 30,” he said.
Prof Murwira said if things do not go to plan, Government will reverse decisions on reopening, as there is no need to be rigid.
“If there is a problem, we will reconsider our decisions,” said Prof Murwira.
Lupane State University (LSU) and Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) resumed lectures yesterday observing Government’s Covid-19 prevention measures.
LSU marketing and communication director Mr Zwelithini Dlamini said lectures started with final year students learning from the university’s Bulawayo campus.
“The Faculty of Commerce that is situated in Bulawayo resumed lectures today.
“For the other groups the Faculty of Agricultural and Faculty of Humanities we are set to open on 15 June which is next week Monday.
“We are advised that the returnees have started to move out of our campus in Lupane and the fumigation programme will start tomorrow,” said Mr Dlamini.
He said the university is strictly abiding by Covid-19 prevention measures including checking of temperature at entrance, sanitisation of hands, social distancing and wearing of masks.
Mr Dlamini said students are expected to buy their face masks.
He said the university engaged Zupco to provide transport for students returning to Bulawayo as well as those who would be travelling to the main campus in Lupane.
GZU information and public relations director Mr Anderson Chipatiso said the university screened temperatures for all returning students while recording their travelling history on Sunday.
Mr Chipatiso said the university was not leaving anything to chance in terms of making the learning environment safe for students.
“We are following the Covid-19 prevention protocols. We have reconfigured our lecture rooms to ensure social distancing, we are doing screening and temperature checks, sanitisation.
“The students were told new rules for instance no visitors would be allowed on campus, whatever the circumstances.
“Students will not be allowed to converge and have group discussions and if they want to discuss they should do so using available online facilities like WhatsApp,” said Mr Chipatiso.
He said lecture rooms were fumigated and will continue being disinfected during the course of the semester.
In a statement, Nust acting registrar Mr Emmanuel Phiri said the university has staggered its reopening into five groups.
The university will be opened from Monday next week before closing on August 7.
Mr Phiri said chairpersons of departments are going to write letters authorising students travelling and they should submit their Bulawayo physical address to admissions@nust.ac.zw.
