Bosso Raise ZW $ 16 000 Towards Fight Against Covid -19

Highlanders handed over the proceeds of the Covid-19 crowd-funding initiative to Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo on Wednesday.

The club managed to raise ZW$ 16,757 which was used to buy hand sanitizers, surgical gloves, face masks, cotton wool, toilet rolls among other items.

The goods were handed over by Bosso executive chairman Rtd Colonel Kenneth Mhlophe. Also in attendance was Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Minister Judith Ncube who chairs the provincial Covid-19 task force.

In his speech, Mhlope thanked everyone who contributed to the fight against the virus.

“We would like to thank everyone for making this great sacrifice at a time when COVID-19 is bringing global economies down to their knees,” he said.

“I would also like to thank our players who have been heavily involved in this initiative from the beginning up to the last day.”- Soccer 24

Bruce Grobbelaar Singles Out Liverpool’s Alisson As The Best Goalkeeper In The World

Farai Dziva|Warriors and Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar has picked Alisson Becker as the current best goalkeeper in the world.

In an interview with Liverpool Echo, Grobbelaar conceded that the Brazilian keeper has played a vital role in helping the Reds to the top of domestic and European competitions.

“This chap Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the world today,” he said.

“He has an unbelievable record with his angles. He is the best for that. For me, I look at goalkeepers all the time and I can pick out where the faults are, but he is a fantastic No.1.

“Since myself and a few others like Pepe Reina, we haven’t had a goalkeeper who has commanded his area as well as Alisson.

“We’ve had a lapse with some keepers who stayed on their line and never came for crosses, but Alisson comes out, sweeps up at the back and he has shown he is superb at it.

“He is just all-round the best goalkeeper in the world.”

Alisson joined Liverpool from Roma in 2018 in a record-breaking £65 million ($81m) deal.

He has settled well at the club, winning the first-ever Yashin Trophy at 2019 Ballon d’Or awards.

Mzembi, Gandawa Abandon Own Party

Former cabinet minister Walter Mzembi, fresh from selling his Vainona house to fund his People’s Party’s activities, has resigned from the same, along with his deputy, Dr Godfrey Gandawa.

The two quit their positions as party president and deputy, respectively.

The resignations come a few days after Zanu PF’s Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena alleged that Walter Mzembi received US$1 million from a  local businessman.

The sensational allegation which generated a lot of spark on social media platform Twitter, has been the source of contradictions as party members were throwing insults at the party leadership.

In their resignation letter, which they jointly signed, Mzembi and Gandawa cite failure to resolve internal contradictions.

“Having failed to resolve internal contradictions that have recently bedevilled the People’s Party, we have reached a decision together with my deputy, Dr Godfrey Gandawa, to step down from our positions in the interest of the party.”

“The party was started with the sole objective of facilitating democratic change in Zimbabwe, and that sacrosanct goal remains bigger than any individual, including those occupying the Presidency.

In that vein, we have decided to hand over control of the party to Secretary-General Lloyd Msipa. We wish the party good success in its democratic endeavour,” the two added.

The decision to dump the financially crippled party also follows squabbles which sucked in the party’s treasurer-general Agrippa Bopela Masiyakurima who has been firing members on social media.

Lloyd Msipa who assumed leadership of the party was ostensibly fired by Masiyakurima on allegations of bringing the party into disrepute.

The People’s Party, freshly minted this year, has been struggling to stay bouyant in the political waters of Zimbabwe.

Both Mzembi and Gandawa are former cabinet ministers in the late deposed President Robert Mugabe’s administration.

-Online

Another Serie A Player Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Serie A club Torino has confirmed one of their players tested positive for the coronavirus in the first round of testing ahead of the club’s planned return to training on Friday.

Torino said the player who is showing no symptoms is now in quarantine and will be constantly monitored.

“During the first medical examinations carried out on the players of Torino FC, a positive result emerged for COVID-19,” the club said on its website on Wednesday.

“The player, currently asymptomatic, was immediately placed in quarantine and will be constantly monitored.”

Meanwhile, Juventus forward Paulo Dybala has fully recovered from coronavirus more than a month after he was first diagnosed.

The forward’s two latest tests came back negative and according to Juve, he “will no longer be subjected to the home isolation regime”.-Soccer 24

We Are The Party Of Choice -Obert Mpofu

Farai Dziva|Discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu has claimed the ruling party has nothing to do with the infighting in the Movement for Democratic Change.

Said Mpofu:
“That’s a recognition that we are the party in power.

We are the party of choice. The MDC is grappling with a decision by the Supreme Court and how Zanu-PF comes into it is something we fail to understand.

We are happy that the law has taken its course, not only to MDC, but in all court cases, as a law abiding party, as a law abiding Government.

So it’s not a question of being happy but respecting the rule of law which they have been talking about themselves and in any case it’s not Zanu-PF that went to court it’s themselves that went to court so the problem there is their own making and Zanu-PF can only say the law has taken its course.”

He added:”They think that by aligning with him Zanu-PF, their supporters will believe that he is Zanu-PF but he is not. But what would you expect from a frustrated and defeated leader?”

COVID-19: Important Hand Hygiene Tips

By Dr Ellane Simon

World Hand Hygiene Day – 5 May 2020
It is a day celebrated every year to mobilise people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene especially in health care facilities.

The theme for 2020 is: “SAVE LIVES: Clean your hands”.

The main goal of Global Hand Hygiene Day is to recognize that handwashing is one of the most effective action you can take to reduce spread of pathogens and prevent infections including COVID-19 virus.

In this era of COVID-19 hand washing has proven to be one of the most key prevention measure.

World Health Organization(WHO) aims is to:

  1. Make hand hygiene a global priority
  2. Inspire hand hygiene and behavior change
  3. Engage with health care workers in their role in clean care and prevention of infections

An alcohol based hand rub or washing hands with soap and water are the recommended ways to keep our hands clean.

Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene and should only be worn as a form of hand hygiene.

When using an alcohol hand rub, apply and rub hands for about 20-30seconds. If hands are visibly soiled use soap and water for 40-60seconds.

When to observe hand washing everyday at home:

  1. After using the toilet
    2.Before preparing or handling food
    3.After changing diapers or nappies
  2. If hands are visibly soiled Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:

Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

Email:[email protected]

Twitter:zimonlinehealthcentre

@zimonlinehealt1

YouTube :zimbabwe online health centre

Health Alert : Why You Need To Wash Hands Frequently

By Dr Ellane Simon

World Hand Hygiene Day – 5 May 2020
It is a day celebrated every year to mobilise people around the world to increase adherence to hand hygiene especially in health care facilities.

The theme for 2020 is: “SAVE LIVES: Clean your hands”.

The main goal of Global Hand Hygiene Day is to recognize that handwashing is one of the most effective action you can take to reduce spread of pathogens and prevent infections including COVID-19 virus.

In this era of COVID-19 hand washing has proven to be one of the most key prevention measure.

World Health Organization(WHO) aims is to:

  1. Make hand hygiene a global priority
  2. Inspire hand hygiene and behavior change
  3. Engage with health care workers in their role in clean care and prevention of infections

An alcohol based hand rub or washing hands with soap and water are the recommended ways to keep our hands clean.

Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene and should only be worn as a form of hand hygiene.

When using an alcohol hand rub, apply and rub hands for about 20-30seconds. If hands are visibly soiled use soap and water for 40-60seconds.

When to observe hand washing everyday at home:

  1. After using the toilet
    2.Before preparing or handling food
    3.After changing diapers or nappies
  2. If hands are visibly soiled Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:

Zimbabwe Online Health Centre

Email:[email protected]

Twitter:zimonlinehealthcentre

@zimonlinehealt1

YouTube :zimbabwe online health centre

No MDC Alliance Member Will Participate In “Mwonzora Congress”

Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance says it will not participate in the “so called extra ordinary congress organised by Douglas Mwonzora and others”

Speaking during a media briefing in Harare, MDC Alliance deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala said:

MDC Alliance MPs will suspend all Parliament activities as the party consults with all the organs on the way forward.

The party will not participate in the extra ordinary congress being organised by Mwonzora et al.

The party had expelled Mudzuri, Komichi and Mwonzora according to our Constitution which says anyone who joins or supports a rival party expels themselves from the party.

The party will activate an action plan that will be announced soon…”

MDC Alliance Ready To Take Battle For Freedom To Mnangagwa’s Doorstep

The events that have unraveled in our country over the past month have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that we are at war with ZANU-PF and that the war requires nothing short of our vigilance and clarity to confront the people’s enemy head on.

It has become more clearer that it is ZANUPF’s immediate plan to destroy the our party, the people’s party and consequently suffocating the democratic space in Zimbabwe and this has been further confirmed by the recent illegal recalling of four MDC Alliance MPs.

We would like to state it categorically, here and now that any plans to undermine the very stability of our party will not be taken lightly, we are up for the task to protect all the democratic space.

In that regard, we would like to assure the generality of the citizenry that we the young people, remain resolute in the execution of our democratic revolution for the restoration of hope and dignity to the citizens of this country.

The pregnancy of a cat does not bother a bull, we are MDC Alliance, we are unmoved by the happenings in other parties even those that aspire to be us, we remain solidly behind our visionary leader, the only legitimate foot forward, President Nelson Chamisa.

While others remain busy in planning to destroy us, I urge every young person of this country to get ready, stand up and be counted as we embark on a series of political action in defense of democracy which is under serious threat and the broad implementation of our #Agenda2020.

Zimbabwe has been robbed of almost everything else by the illegitimate Mnangagwa and his cabal, we would like to warn the regime and its enablers that we will defend what is left for us fearlessly by all means necessary.

Stay calm Zimbabwe, Wamba Dia Wamba is in charge and we are on guard.

Obey Sithole
“Cde Luther”
MDC Alliance Youth Chairperson

Zanu PF Plot To Destroy MDC Alliance Exposed

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance national youth leader Tererai Obey Sithole has declared that the vibrant wing is prepared to fight for real change in spite of desperate attempts by Zanu PF to destroy the people’s movement.

See full statement below :
The events that have unraveled in our country over the past month have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that we are at war with ZANU-PF and that the war requires nothing short of our vigilance and clarity to confront the people’s enemy head on.

It has become more clearer that it is ZANUPF’s immediate plan to destroy the our party, the people’s party and consequently suffocating the democratic space in Zimbabwe and this has been further confirmed by the recent illegal recalling of four MDC Alliance MPs.

We would like to state it categorically, here and now that any plans to undermine the very stability of our party will not be taken lightly, we are up for the task to protect all the democratic space.

In that regard, we would like to assure the generality of the citizenry that we the young people, remain resolute in the execution of our democratic revolution for the restoration of hope and dignity to the citizens of this country.

The pregnancy of a cat does not bother a bull, we are MDC Alliance, we are unmoved by the happenings in other parties even those that aspire to be us, we remain solidly behind our visionary leader, the only legitimate foot forward, President Nelson Chamisa.

While others remain busy in planning to destroy us, I urge every young person of this country to get ready, stand up and be counted as we embark on a series of political action in defense of democracy which is under serious threat and the broad implementation of our #Agenda2020.

Zimbabwe has been robbed of almost everything else by the illegitimate Mnangagwa and his cabal, we would like to warn the regime and its enablers that we will defend what is left for us fearlessly by all means necessary.

Stay calm Zimbabwe, Wamba Dia Wamba is in charge and we are on guard.

Obey Sithole
“Cde Luther”
MDC Alliance Youth Chairperson

Zanu PF Has Nothing To Do With MDC Infighting, Claims Obert Mpofu

Farai Dziva|Discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu has claimed the ruling party has nothing to do with the infighting in the Movement for Democratic Change.

Said Mpofu:
“That’s a recognition that we are the party in power.

We are the party of choice. The MDC is grappling with a decision by the Supreme Court and how Zanu-PF comes into it is something we fail to understand.

We are happy that the law has taken its course, not only to MDC, but in all court cases, as a law abiding party, as a law abiding Government.

So it’s not a question of being happy but respecting the rule of law which they have been talking about themselves and in any case it’s not Zanu-PF that went to court it’s themselves that went to court so the problem there is their own making and Zanu-PF can only say the law has taken its course.”

He added:”They think that by aligning with him Zanu-PF, their supporters will believe that he is Zanu-PF but he is not. But what would you expect from a frustrated and defeated leader?”

Mwonzora, Komichi, Mudzuri Expelled

By A Correspondent- The announcement was made by the party’s deputy national chairperson Job Sikhala Thursday.

Addressing the media, Sikhala said the decision was made by the party’s National Standing Committee at an emergency meeting held on Wednesday following the recall of three legislators by Mwonzora and his team.

Said Sikhala:

“Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora & Elias Mudzuri have expelled themselves from the party on account of their decision to work with ZANU PF. They are no longer members of the MDCA. Their replacements shall be announced in due course.”

Watch the live video loading below for a full text of this resolution……..

Self Repatriation For Zimbabweans In S.A

By A Correspondent- A total of 328 Zimbabweans based in SouthAfrica have been cleared for self-repatriation via Beitbridge Border Post with the first group expected to arriving from Cape Town in two buses today, ZimEye has been reliably informed.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates

Mwonzora Is Not Zanu PF – Obert Mpofu

Farai Dziva|Discredited Zanu PF heavyweight Obert Mpofu has claimed the ruling party has nothing to do with the infighting in the Movement for Democratic Change.

Said Mpofu:
“That’s a recognition that we are the party in power.

We are the party of choice. The MDC is grappling with a decision by the Supreme Court and how Zanu-PF comes into it is something we fail to understand.

We are happy that the law has taken its course, not only to MDC, but in all court cases, as a law abiding party, as a law abiding Government.

So it’s not a question of being happy but respecting the rule of law which they have been talking about themselves and in any case it’s not Zanu-PF that went to court it’s themselves that went to court so the problem there is their own making and Zanu-PF can only say the law has taken its course.”

He added:”They think that by aligning with him Zanu-PF, their supporters will believe that he is Zanu-PF but he is not. But what would you expect from a frustrated and defeated leader?”

MDC Alliance Suspends Participation In Parliamentary Processes

Farai Dziva|
The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus will forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures.

This was said by the party’s national vice chairperson Job Sikhala during a media briefing in Harare on Thursday.

See full statement below:

Communique from the
National Standing Committee read by MDC national vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala:

The National Standing Committee of the MDC -Alliance met in Harare and made the following resolutions:

  1. The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidious attempt by ZANUPF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by executing a coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the MDC Alliance under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgement of the Supreme Court which seeks to foist ZANUPF proxies as leaders of the MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution.
  2. The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus shall forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures and a final resolution of the National Council on the way forward given the ZANUPF insidious attempted coup against the elected and legitimate leadership of the MDC Alliance.
  3. The MDC Alliance shall forthwith disengage from all platforms in which the party has to interact with Zanu PF.

4.The Standing Committee noted that Zanu PF staged an illegal and unconstitutional coup against Robert Mugabe in November 2017 and yet another one on the 30th July 2018 against the people’s sovereign will by which the people had elected Nelson Chamisa as the President of the country.

  1. The Standing Committee further noted the in progress attempt to stage yet another coup, this time against the leadership of the MDC Alliance duly elected at the party’s Congress in Gweru in May 2019, a Congress which has not been set aside by any Court of law.
  2. The Standing Committee resolved to reject in toto and with utter contempt the ZANUPF and its proxies attempt to foist modern day Muzorewas as leaders of the MDC Alliance.

7.The Standing Committee maintains the truism that only the MDC Alliance has the power and authority to recall iMPs elected under its ticket.

8The Standing Committee resolved to urgently consult the structures of the party at Provincial and constituency levels through the National Executive Committee and the National Council on appropriate responses to the attempts to dismember the party by staging a coup against its elected leadership.

9.The MDC Alliance will not allow Zanu PF to hold a Congress under the name of the MDC. Zanu PF cannot write another political party’s constitution and hold a congress under its name.

10.The Standing Committee noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri expelled themselves from the MDC Alliance by joining another party and thereby automatically expelled themselves from the party which has accordingly resolved to relieve them of their positions in the party and to withdraw them from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party.

11.The Standing Committee resolved to demand all monies due to the MDC Alliance under the Political Parties Finance Act and to take all necessary steps and measures to lain claim to its money.

12.The Covid-19 Supreme Court judgement has engendered an illegality by seeking to extend the mandates of the 2014 structures which had since expired. The terms of office of all 2014 structures expired in October 2019 and the toxic judgement illegally seeks to give a Lazarus moment by seeking to resurrect the expired mandate of the 2014 MDC-T structures.

13
The meeting took note of the COVID19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority of Zimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector. The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoever to assist the despondent Zimbabweans.

They have instead destroyed the vending stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are eking a living through informal trading

Zanu PF Legislator Abandons Clinic Project Initiated By Former MDC MP

By Jane Mlambo| Chipinge’s Musikavanhu legislator Joshua Murire has refused to complete a clinic project initiated by former area parliamentarian Prosper Mutseyami saying it is not part of the programme he sold to the constituency in the run up to the 30 July 2018 polls.

In a chat leaked to ZimEye, Murire was asked by one resident to complete the clinic to save one of the Musikavanhu constituency’s Mbeure community from walking long distance to access health care at Rimbi Growth Point.

Mutseyami, from the MDC Alliance moved to Dangamvura constituency before completing the clinic project which is at roofing stage.

The Mbeure Clinic which Hon Murire has refused to complete despite the previous legislator using CDF funds

The clinic was constructed using Constituency Development Fund and the communities felt the current legislator could as well finish it off but Murire showed them that he does not want to associate himself with Mutseyami’s projects.

Below are the chats…

[18:22, 5/6/2020] Shingai Gapara: He is former mp for musikavanhu .
[21:57, 5/6/2020] General Batsi: Tokumbirawozve MP mutipedzisirewo clinic yepaMbeure yakatangwa ndi MP Mutseyami .
It is good for continuity and development purposes.
[22:01, 5/6/2020] Shingai Gapara: Munoti former
[22:10, 5/6/2020] General Batsi: Noted hwevr the point is on the clinic
[22:37, 5/6/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: I was not elected to finish mutseyami’s unfinished business. I sold my programme to the people of musikavanhu and they bought it so it is the one I will live up to.
[22:38, 5/6/2020] Shingai Gapara: Maida kuitwa Sara pavana kkkkkk
[22:38, 5/6/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: Kkkk
[22:40, 5/6/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: I wish to advise members that I am currently out of the constituency. I am in Harare attending to my brother who is critically ill. I hope to be back at work in the constituency by Friday.
[07:45, 5/7/2020] General Batsi: While I respect your opinion Honourable but is it not good and honourable enough to do what is good for the community. Is there anything wrong with completing the clinic. Imagine the distance between Kondo clinic and Rimbi clinic. The idea of having a clinic at Mbeure is a very noble one. Aisi nyaya yembiri yekuti zvakatangwa ndiyani, the issue is about a medical facility which will help vana, vabereki harahwa nechembere munharaunda. Vanhu vofa ere veitikida mumango Dhumisai to Kondo or from Mbeure to Rimbi and leaving a near complete structure to collapse. It is ant-progress in my opinion kukorera kuita continuity of projects that benefit the community. Tinokumbirawo Honourable Murire mutidetsere kuti clinic ipere vanhu vadetsereke
[08:12, 5/7/2020] Dr Joshua Murire: My friend I have a mandate to discharge and this is exactly what I am going to do not to forward mutseyami’s agenda. If the issue is about the community’ need for a clinic then that what I pursue. As to whether it was started by mutseyami let that remain a quotation in your hear and not to be shared with me for inclusion in my election agenda. I suppose you hear me loud and clear

Mwonzora, Mudzuri, Komichi Have Expelled Themselves From MDC Alliance: Full Text

Communique from the
National Standing Committee read by MDC national vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala

The National Standing Committee of the MDC -Alliance met in Harare and made the following resolutions:

  1. The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidious attempt by ZANUPF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by executing a coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the MDC Alliance under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgement of the Supreme Court which seeks to foist ZANUPF proxies as leaders of the MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution.
  2. The MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus shall forthwith suspend its participation in all Parliamentary processes, programmes and activities pending the party’s consultations with its structures and a final resolution of the National Council on the way forward given the ZANUPF insidious attempted coup against the elected and legitimate leadership of the MDC Alliance.
  3. The MDC Alliance shall forthwith disengage from all platforms in which the party has to interact with Zanu PF.

4.The Standing Committee noted that Zanu PF staged an illegal and unconstitutional coup against Robert Mugabe in November 2017 and yet another one on the 30th July 2018 against the people’s sovereign will by which the people had elected Nelson Chamisa as the President of the country.

  1. The Standing Committee further noted the in progress attempt to stage yet another coup, this time against the leadership of the MDC Alliance duly elected at the party’s Congress in Gweru in May 2019, a Congress which has not been set aside by any Court of law.
  2. The Standing Committee resolved to reject in toto and with utter contempt the ZANUPF and its proxies attempt to foist modern day Muzorewas as leaders of the MDC Alliance.

7.The Standing Committee maintains the truism that only the MDC Alliance has the power and authority to recall iMPs elected under its ticket.

8The Standing Committee resolved to urgently consult the structures of the party at Provincial and constituency levels through the National Executive Committee and the National Council on appropriate responses to the attempts to dismember the party by staging a coup against its elected leadership.

9.The MDC Alliance will not allow Zanu PF to hold a Congress under the name of the MDC. Zanu PF cannot write another political party’s constitution and hold a congress under its name.

10.The Standing Committee noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri expelled themselves from the MDC Alliance by joining another party and thereby automatically expelled themselves from the party which has accordingly resolved to relieve them of their positions in the party and to withdraw them from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party.

11.The Standing Committee resolved to demand all monies due to the MDC Alliance under the Political Parties Finance Act and to take all necessary steps and measures to lain claim to its money.

12.The Covid-19 Supreme Court judgement has engendered an illegality by seeking to extend the mandates of the 2014 structures which had since expired. The terms of office of all 2014 structures expired in October 2019 and the toxic judgement illegally seeks to give a Lazarus moment by seeking to resurrect the expired mandate of the 2014 MDC-T structures.

13
The meeting took note of the COVID19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority of Zimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector. The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoever to assist the despondent Zimbabweans.

They have instead destroyed the vending stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are eking a living through informal trading

Covid-19 :No New Cases In Zim In Seven Days, Says Health Ministry

The Ministry would like to report that all the PCR tests done in and Bulawayo on the 5S of May 2020 were negative for COVID-19.

Cumulatively a total of 8 244 rapid screening tests and 7 808 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date.

Today 564 rapid screening tests and 667 PCR tests were done.

In the public institutions all the PCR tests done today were negative for COVID-19.

Therefore to date
Zimbabwe has thirty -four confirmed cases, including five recoveries and four deaths.

The Ministry continues to implement a comprehensive approach in response to COVID-19- this includes prevention and intensified survailance to ensure early case detection timely testing, isolation and appropriate case management.

Seven days have passed since the last reported PCR confirmed case.

The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing. ..

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) disinter between yourself and others.

Always wear a face mask in public places.

Lockdown Worsens Vendors Welfare Situation

People working in the informal sector say that they are struggling to make ends meet during the lockdown period where modalities for them to begin operating again in safe environments have still not been crafted.

Government extended the lockdown, but eased some of the restrictions to allow people in formal employment to go back to work, keeping the informal sector on ice as a measures to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, Cosmas Sithole, a vendor who sells roasted maize in central Harare, said life has been tough for him and his family since the lockdown came into force on March 30.

“I used to operate from the Avenues area in the evenings — targeting workers that will be returning home after a long day of work and the sales were very good. I would make around $350 on a good day after selling about 50 roasted cobs at $7 each,” Sithole said.

“This enabled me to pay rent and buy food as well as send my two children to school.”
Sithole said while he made good money, his informal business depended on the availability of fresh maize. With the COVID-19 striking during the maize harvesting season, he says this will affect his trade.

Another vendor living with a disability, Marko Sibanda, who used to survive by selling snacks and cigarettes, said life will never be the same again.

“I am very vulnerable right now together with my family. I do not even know where I will get my next meal because I am grounded,” Sibanda said.

Although illegal vending is not allowed in Zimbabwe, most people in the country have turned to informal employment and the extended lockdown will subject them to abject poverty. Government promised to dish out $200 cushioning allowances to vulnerable people, but the money has not yet been disbursed six weeks into the lockdown.

A recent report by the International Monetary Fund states that Zimbabwe is only second to Bolivia in the world in terms of informal economies and is rated 62, 3% informal.

Legal think-tank Veritas said people in the informal sector were the most vulnerable during the lockdown as they no longer had means to survive.

“The informal worker is particularly the most vulnerable during the current COVID-19 shutdown period. Measures to assist informal workers are essential, and they should be thorough, implementable, practical and relevant to the people,” Veritas said in a statement.

Veritas said it was crucial for government to come up with measures pertaining to vendors as they constitute more than 60% of the economy and Zimbabwe’s economic recovery post-COVID 19 depends on them.

“The sector will be crucial to the post-COVID-19 recovery of the economy. Its workers should not be overlooked during this time.”

According to the International Labour Organisation, up to 300 million jobs are at risk worldwide due to the coronavirus pandemic.

-Newsday

Businessman Hauled To Court Over Cocaine

By A Correspondent- Police have recovered US$18 000 worth of crack cocaine, cutting utensils, a cutting agent and a scale from a vehicle and house of a local businessman following a tip off.

Tafungiswa Kennedy Jasi (52) of Borrowdale, appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro last Saturday charged with unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs and was remanded in custody to May 19. Jasi is the chief executive for Pringle Haulage Company and Pringle Technical Engineering.

This came after another businessman, Elliot Kariyana (45), who is also in the trucking business, appeared in court recently after being found in possession of 18kg of mbanje with a street value of about $15 000.

The dagga was found in the boot of his car. In denying Jasi bail, Mrs Muchuchuti-Guwuriro said the amount of cocaine found in his possession was big and that would make him a flight risk.

Prosecutor Mr George Manokore opposed bail on the basis that the State had a strong case against Jasi, who was likely to go to jail for a lengthy term if convicted.

“Your Worship, the accused person was caught red-handed, thus removing the presumption of innocence,” he said.

“He is also facing a serious offence and is likely to face a prison term if convicted, hence this will induce him to abscond. “The State has overwhelming evidence against him. Also, investigations are still ongoing and more people are likely to be arrested in connection with this offence, hence if released on bail, he is likely to interfere with the investigations.”

Jasi, through his lawyer Mr Knowledge Maeresera, maintained that he was innocent until proven guilty. He further said he was not a flight risk since he was a family man with business interests in Zimbabwe. After hearing submissions from both parties, the court ruled in favour of the State.

On April 30, detectives received information that Jasi was a cocaine dealer and proceeded to Borrowdale where they mounted an ambush. They were monitoring movements at the house when Jasi came driving a Ford Ranger. The detectives stopped him and searched his vehicle and found sachets of cocaine which were stashed under the steering wheel.

They further searched his house and found more granules of crack cocaine, cutting utensils, cutting agent and a scale in Jasi’s bedroom, which they seized. Jasi was arrested and taken to CID drugs and narcotics where field tests were conducted and the substance recovered was proven to be cocaine weighing 221 grammes.

In another matter, Constantine Tsuro (29), a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboa yesterday charged with unnecessary movement during the Covid-19 lockdown period, unlawful possession of dangerous drugs and selling liquor without a licence.

According to the State led by Mr Terence Mashaire, Tsuro had no exemption letter and neither did he have a licence to sell alcohol from his vehicle nor authority to possess mbanje. It is alleged he was selling the dangerous drug and liquor at Budiriro 3 shopping centre.

RBZ Hunts For Man Captured In A Video Showing Off New Bond Notes

By Jane Mlambo| The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has offered a reward to anyone who positively identifies a man sitting in a vehicle bragging and showing off packaged brand new Zimbabwe dollar notes.

In a press statement issued today, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said, “it is keen to interview the man to establish the circumstances under which he came into possession of the cash.”

“The bank is offering a financial reward to the first person who will provide information leading to the positive identification and location of the man in the video.”

Mangudya also encouraged the man in question to come forward and present himself to the Financial Intelligence Unit to assist with investigations.

“It’s A Ploy To Impose A Puppet Leadership”

By A Correspondent| MDC-A MPs have suspended participation in parliament, pending consultations with the electorate, with a view to their total withdrawal from the parliament.

This was announced by the party’s national vice chairperson Job Sikhala at a press briefing in Harare, Thursday morning.

Said Sikhala:

“….Zanu PF is trying to impose its own puppet leadership in the MDC that is malleable to Mnangagwa.”

Watch the live video loading below for this and more….

Said a whistle blower……

Dear Editor

Information received from intelligence sources is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Grand Plan to Anhilliate the MDC Alliance. They are waiting for the Thokozani Khupe’s MDCT Congress in 3 months.

After the congress they are going to form a Transitional Government and suspend elections for a longer period. So even by-elections may be suspended subject to ratification by their two thirds majority in parliament.

More details to follow

POLL: Should MDC Alliance MPs Boycott Parliament EnMasse

Participate in a ZimEye poll on the recent decision by the MDC Alliance to withdraw its legislators from parliament or Vice Chairperson Job Sikhala’s words, any processes involving Zanu PF.

Read the question below and cast your vote?

RG To Appear At Court Over Flouting Tender Procedures

By A Correspondent- Registrar General Clemence Masango has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on charges of flouting tender procedures when buying five vehicles for the Central Registry and taking seven other Government vehicles to his farm for personal use.

Masango spent last night at Mabelreign Police Station pending his initial court appearance today.

Giving details of the charges, ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said: “He faces two counts of criminal abuse of office. He is accused of procuring five vehicles without following laid down tender procedures. He also faces another count of taking seven Government vehicles, meant for the RG’s provincial offices, to do his personal errands at his farm,” said Comm Makamure. “He will appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.”

Last week Masango clashed with the chief accountant in his office, Mr Peter Bwanya, who accused him of abuse of office over vehicles. But Masango denied all wrongdoing, saying Mr Bwanya was putting up a smokescreen since he is fighting disciplinary action over alleged incompetence and misbehaviour.

Mr Bwanya made a swathe of allegations, mainly involving the purchase or non-purchse of vehicles, which Masango responded to point by point, while criticising Zacc for launching an investigation before seeking an audit report on the allegations and on his office’s purchases and use of its purchasing budget.

The only one of Mr Bwanya’s allegations that now forms part of the charges against Masango is the purchase of five vehicles when 11 were approved and budgeted for.

Masango responded to that allegation by saying that when the approval and budget were given, the exchange rate was 1-1 between the RTGS dollar and the US dollar. When the foreign currency was released there was a US dollar cost. The second charge, of the misuse and personal use of seven vehicles by Masango, was not part of Mr Bwanya’s allegations and arises out of Zacc’s own investigations.-StateMedia

Mudenda Fingered In MDC Alliance MPs Recall

By A Correspondent- Former Minister of Education David Coltart has claimed that Douglas Mwonzora and Thokozani Khupe breached the Constitution and recalled four MDC Members of Parliament with the assistance of Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda.

The recalled MPs are Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East),Thabitha Khumalo,proportional representation of Bulawayo province,Prosper Mutseyami (Chikanga-Dangamvura) and Midlands sentor Lillian Timveous.

“On reflection l think that we are concentrating too much on Mr Mwonzora and Madam Khupe this week. They would never have been able to breach the Constitution of #Zimbabwe in the brazen way they have without the connivance of ZANU PF Speaker, and my former client, Jacob Mudenda,” said Coltart via Twitter.

Meanwhile, ZANU-PF says it has no hand in the vicious infighting within the MDC-T that culminated in the opposition party recalling four of its legislators from Parliament on Tuesday, Politburo member Obert Mpofu has said.

Addressing a media conference in Harare after a Politburo meeting at the ruling party’s headquarters yesterday, Zanu-PF secretary for Administration Obert Mpofu said the chaos within the opposition party was a result of legal processes that were settled by the courts.

FULL TEXT- CHAMISA HITS BACK AT KHUPE

COMMUNIQUE OF THE MDC ALLIANCE NATIONAL STANDING
COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY,

7TH MAY 2020

REALIZING that the Lockdown has been abused to lock down only the
people and the MDC Alliance and to further ambush the people with the
Supreme Court judgement and recalling of People’s MPSS.

ACKNOWLEDGING the desperate attempts by the regime to destabilize,
weaken and destroy the people’s party, the MDC Alliance, a voluntary
association, by seeking to impose and force it to accept puppet leaders
imposed upon them by the system.

REJECTING the illegal act in parliament to illegally and unlawfully recall
MDC Alliance MPs at the instruction of imposters purporting to
represent that party.

FURTHER REJECTING Speaker of Parliament’s abuse of parliament to
fight MDC Alliance for insisting on Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
illegitimacy. This act has taken illegitimacy to parliamernt. Only an
illegitimate President will preside over this kind of a circus. State
institutions are being abused to destroy the opposition abusing
instruments of the state. Nobody who works with the regine sgainst the
people will ever succeed.

CONVINCED that what is being witnessed is a war by Mnangagwa and
ZANU PF through proxies against the MDC Alliance having net forgiven
the party for defeating him in the 2018 general elections. The ond game
is to totally annihilate the opposition and establish a one party state.

CONCERNED that the biggest ‘crime’ that MDC Alliar and its candidates committed was to garner over 2 million votes in the last presidential elections; which is a serious threat to the system and reason for this frantic efforts to destroy or eliminate the MDC Alliance.

AWARE that:

They wanted MDC Alliance to join POLAD.
They wanted MDC Alliance President to accept to be leader of
Opposition in Parliament.
They wanted MDC Alliance to accept the stolen election outcome.
They want to tell MDC Alliance who to partner and hew oppose.
They wanted MDC Alliance MPs to recognize Emmerson Mnangagwa as legitimate President of Zimbabwe after the stolen and disputed 2018 general election.

THEREFORE, in this context, the National Standing Committee of the
MDC Alliance met today in Harare and made the following resolutions:

1. The Standing Committee noted the perverse and insidiesattempt by
Zanu-PF and its proxies to dismember the MDC Alliance by cecuting a
coup against the legitimately elected leadership of the ME Alliance
under the guise of implementing the equally insidious judgenent of the
Supreme Court which seeks to foist Zanu PF proxies as leaders of the
MDC Alliance in brazen violation of the MDC Constitution, The Standing
Committee thus resolved to reject in toto and with utter contemp Zanu PF and its proxies’ attempt to foist it’s cousins and partners as leaders of the MDC Alliance.

2. All MDC Alliance MPs will forthwith suspend all contribution in
Parliament and disengage from all platforms in which the party has to
interact with Zanu PF pending consultations with their constituencies, the electorate and Zimbabweans at large on the decision for a total withdrawal from parliament. The party reiterates that only the MDC Alliance has the nower to lawfully recall or redeploy its MPs elected under its ticket. one else
has the mandate to do that except only the MDC Alliance.

The MDC Alliance in the meantime is engaging the NEC, National council, all party organs and the people of Zimbabwe on a robust program of action to resolve the legitimacy national question.

The MDC Alliance will roll out a programme of action togeher with civil society, professional bodies, churches, labour, be5s, war veterans, political parties, women and youth groups.

The MDC Alliance will not accept the holding of a Zanu PF organized
extra-ordinary congress in the MDC. Zanu PF cannot dictate another
political party’s constitution and hold a congress on its behalf and impose
a puppet leadership.

The MDC Alliance has noted that Morgen Komichi, Douglas Mwonzora
and the Elias Mudzuri have decided to cooperate with ZANU PF forging ter own alliance with the state. They therefore have expelled themselves from the party and are forthwith relieved of their positions and membership in the party. They are further withdrawn from all positions to which they had been deployed by the party. Replacements have been made and shall be announced in due course.

8. The party resolved to take all the necessary steps to recor all the
gains of the peoples’ democratic struggle.
9. The Supreme Court judgement has engendered an illegal team seeking
to extend the expired mandates of the 2014 structures which had since expired. The terms of office of all 2014 structures expired In October 2019 and the toxic judgement illegally seeks to give a Lazarus moment by seeking to resurrect the expired mandate of the MDC-T structures.

10. The National Standing Committee took note of the COVID-19 pandemic and the dislocated livelihoods of the vulnerable and the majority of Zimbabweans who are surviving in the informal sector, The illegitimate regime has provided no safety nets whatsoeve to despondent Zimbabweans. They have instead destroyed vending stalls where the majority of Zimbabweans are erking a living in informal trading.

Pursuant to our Agenda 2020 program of action, we put forwathe five
fights that we, the people of Zimbabwe must pursue this yThey are
as follows;

• The fight for a people’s government, reforms and return
• The fight for a better life, dignity and livelihoods.
• The fight against corruption.
• The fight for rights, freedoms, security of persons and ru’
• The fight in defence of the constitution and constitutionalism

We now call upon the people of Zimbabwe to build a broader sensus
and united front of all progressive citizens to address the national crisis.
Thank you
God Bless you


Lab Technician Dies While Transporting COVID-19 Samples

By A Correspondent- An investigation has been launched after a Zambian laboratory technician died in a bus accident while transporting Covid-19 samples, local media reported.

The technician, identified as Ian Mutambo, 24, reportedly used a public bus from Zambezi on Saturday and was killed when the vehicle became involved in an accident.

According to a report in the Rainbow newspaper, the bus driver lost control of the bus as he was crossing the Kabompo River, hit the side of the bridge and plunged down the river bank. 

The bus was carrying 19 passengers, of whom four died and 15 sustained serious injuries.

News website Zambia Watchdog reported that Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya justified the transport of Covid-19 samples from Zambezi on a public bus, claiming there was no threat to passengers and that it was normal practice for the health ministry to transport samples on public transport.

According to the publication, Chilufya claimed that there was no threat to the passengers on the bus because the samples were packaged in a triple layer and that the cooler box containing them was isolated.

He said it was decided that Mutambo should use public transport because all the vehicles for the hospital in Zambezi were being used for referrals.

However, he did not indicate whether the samples were recovered from the accident scene.

The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) reported that investigations have been launched, following a directive by President Edgar Lungu.

The broadcaster reported that Chilufya has urged the public to avoid speculating about the incident and wait for investigations to be concluded, as speculation would risk reversing the gains scored in the fight against Covid-19.

Zambia reported 13 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, bringing the total to 137 cases, with three deaths and 78 recoveries.-ANA

18 People Nabbed For Skipping The Border While Evading Quarantine

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe security nabbed 18 people who sneaked into the country from South Africa through crossing illegal entry points.The citizens are said to have committed the crime because they feared being subjected to mandatory quarantine days.

Confirming the matter Secretary for Information Nick Mangwana said, “Security in Masvingo intercepted 18 Zimbabweans who got in the country through udesignated crossing points with SA. There are 10 men, 6 women and 2 children. Social Welfare has organised a bus for them to be taken to Rupangwana Quarantine Centre in Chiredzi.”

Mnangagwa’s government recently reduced the mandatory quarantine period for possible coronavirus cases by one-half.

The government said it lacks the resources to take care of patients in isolation for the two-week period recommended by the World Health Organization.

Health Minister Obediah Moyo told journalists that Harare does not have the resources to continue following the two-week quarantine period for people entering the country.

Speaking at a news conference streamed on social media, Moyo said the Cabinet decided to reduce the quarantine period to seven days.

“And if they are found to be positive they will be sent to an isolation center. And if they are found to be negative they will be released. It decongests the facilities,” said Moyo.-StateMedia

“We Will Not Lose Sleep Over A Zanu Pf Organised MDC-T Congress”: Sikhala

Job Sikhala

By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Vice National Chairperson Job Sikhala has trashed the upcoming MDC T congress as a non event adding that true democratics will not take part in a sham, Zanu Pf organised event.

Addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Harare Thursday, Sikhala said:

“We will not lose sleep over the Zanu Pf organised MDC T congress which is set to take place…we have nothing to do with it and we will not participate in (Khupe, Mwonzora’s) Zanu Pf initiative…..it is their democratic right to hold the congress”, Job Sikhala

Watch the live video loading below….

“Chamisa Is Not Tsvangirai”: Mwonzora

By A Correspondent- Secretary General of the small MDC faction led by Dr Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora has accused MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa of undermining other opposition officials.

Mwonzora who was responding to a question on whether he has tried to engage Chamisa said:

“Yes, we did through Honourable Elias Mudzuri. He tried to set an appointment with Advocate Chamisa. He was not forthcoming and we sense that he did not have enough respect for us. Maybe he thought that we don’t matter.”

Mwonzora further accused MDC Vice Presidents Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti of undermining the rule of law and branding dissenting voices as sponsored by the ruling ZANU PF.

“But as I said before, our aim is never to divide the party, but to have a responsible leadership. If you can see; Adv Chamisa has not commented for one month. He has not commented on the Supreme Court decision and we think that he has commented via his deputy presidents and other party officials who were just dismissive.

“All they would say is that anybody speaking a different opinion was a ZANU PF agent. That’s their standard answer. Anybody who differs with them is ZANU PF and is supposed to have been bought. Sometimes they even volunteer figures. This is their trademark and its tragic. These are young people and they ought to do things in a modern way.” Mwonzora added.

History will show that this is too early for people to write off other people. Nelson Chamisa is certainly not Tsvangirai and the disputes are different. The worrying thing is that instead of listening to one another to say what exactly is the issue, people rush to say you have been bought by ZANU PF and that I am sponsored.

I can’t be sponsored by ZANU-PF. I have been a lawyer for almost 30 years and in those years I have attempted three times to write the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I failed on two occasions, but on the third occasion together with others, I succeeded. My passion is constitutionalism. It is order, it is against anarchy

WATCH LIVE- Nelson Chamisa’s Maps The Way Forward

ZimEye will be livestreaming a press conference by the MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa over the path to be taken by the party following the recall of its legislators by Dr Thokozani Khupe and her team from parliament.

Last night, Nelson Chamisa revealed that the die had been cast and his party had come up with key resolutions to be followed by the party.

The party yesterday held a crisis meeting chaired by Chamisa following the expulsion of the MPs by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda after Senator Douglas Mwonzora had written to him seeking their recall.

The affected legislators are; secretary-general and Kuwadzana East MP, Chalton Hwende; House of Assembly chief whip and Dangamvura/Chikanga MP, Prosper Mutseyami; party national chairperson, Tabitha Khumalo and Senate chief whip, Lilian Timveous.

Said Chamisa:

“Just been chairing a long MDC Alliance National Standing Committee Zoom meeting. We came up with key resolutions and action points to be released by the party’s deputy national chairperson Hon. Job Sikhala. Whatever the case, the die is cast! Victory and freedom to our motherland!,” Chamisa wrote on Twitter.”

Grandpa Nabbed For Stocktheft

By A Correspondent- A 78-year-old man and his grandson have been arrested for allegedly stealing nine head of cattle from a farm in Gwanda. Cetshwayo Nyathi, his grandson Ndumiso Nyathi (28) and Sibangilizwe Ncube (42) all from Gwanda were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a stocktheft charge.

 They were remanded in custody to May 28.

Representing the State, Miss Glenda Nare who opposed bail said the accused persons were facing a serious offence and could be a flight risk. She said there was overwhelming evidence pinning the trio to the offence as Ncube was intercepted while driving the cattle and he implicated his accomplices.

Miss Nare said the old man and his grandson hatched a plan to steal cattle from Doelfontein Farm in Gwanda and they engaged Ncube’s services to drive the animals to the old man’s homestead.

“On 25 April Cetshwayo and Ndumiso hatched a plan to steal nine cattle belonging to three people from Doelfontein Farm. They went to the farm with Ncube and showed him the nine beasts which they wanted him to drive. They further took him to Silikwe area where he was supposed to deliver the cattle at Cetshwayo’s homestead,” she said.

“On 29 April Ncube drove the cattle from Doelfontein Farm and when he was in Nkashe Village while on his way to Silikwe area he was spotted by some villagers. The villagers confronted him and demanded to see a clearance letter giving him authority to be in possession of the animals. Ncube failed to produce any documents and the villagers apprehended him and led him to the police base.”

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele commended villagers from Nkashe area for being on the alert and assisting police in apprehending the suspects. He urged members of the public to work with the police to ensure culprits are brought to book.

Chief Insp Ndebele said the province recorded an increase in stocktheft cases during this time of the year as most farmers drive their cattle to grazing areas and leave then unattended.-Statemedia

Nurses Mull Industrial Action Over Poor Remuneration, Working Conditions

By A Correspondent- Health Services Apex Council team leader Enock Dongo, who is also the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) president, said the nurses were mulling industrial action after government failed to come up with a reasonable offer at Tuesday’s meeting.

The meeting, which Health and Child Care secretary Agnes Mahomva attended, took place at the behest of the nurses.

Dongo revealed that the indaba ended in a deadlock after it emerged that Vice-President Kembo Mohadi, who heads the Cabinet taskforce on COVID-19, had directed that nurses be docked of flexible working hours and report for duty full-time.

Dongo said although a final position on the strike is yet to be taken, the nurses have been left with no choice, but to down tools if their concerns are not addressed.

“The nurses are now saying let us withdraw labour and collapse the health system altogether rather than go to work on empty stomachs and bear the risk of contracting the COVID-19, more so, because of lack of personal protective equipment,” Dongo said.

“Can you imagine a situation where all nurses contract the COVID-19 and put on 21 days isolation? What will be the situation like at our hospitals?

“Other civil servants are at home, but we are being forced to be at the frontline without solving our grievances. It is very unfair labour practice.”

Last year, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga fired hundreds of nurses after they had engaged in a strike over paltry salaries.

However, Dongo said the nurses are now prepared to go on the same path.

“The nurses are saying there is a risk of being fired for going on strike, but it is better to save their lives as well,” Dongo said.

“So the nurses are saying let us all go on strike and even if they fire us all, we will return later after issues have been solved because government will need us. We did not reach an agreement at the meeting and there was a deadlock.

“Firstly, what we were saying is that nurses need to work on flexible hours of two days a week instead of five to reduce their exposure to COVID-19 cases.

“Secondly, we were saying their salaries or remuneration is too inadequate to take them to work on all days after meeting living expenses since prices of basic goods and everything have gone up steeply and it has been rendered useless.”

“Before the COVID-19, we had declared incapacitation. It is shocking that they now want us to work all days when the situation is now even worse in terms of prices of basic commodities in shops and other costs if other basic needs.

“Our previous demands made in 2019 have not been met and nothing has changed, yet they want us to return to normal working days. That is big challenge and unrealistic.”

He said nurses were still earning measly salaries of $3 000 per month and will get a further $1 500 (US$25) as risk allowance, but Dongo said it was insignificant.

“A nurse earns about $3 000 and that money is now useless,” he said.

The nurses said they wanted United States dollars denominated salaries indexed at the interbank market rate while negotiations continue on demands of at least US$1 000 salaries.

Meanwhile, 16 811 healthcare workers will be receiving 20kg of roller meal each monthly after the Grain Millers of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) and Zina signed a memorandum of understanding last weekend.

GMAZ chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara and Dongo confirmed the development.

Musarara said GMAZ would supervise the deliveries by millers to designated public hospitals on the scheduled dates.-Newsday

South African Scientists Take Over Madagascar Coronavirus Herbal Medicine As AU Develops Interest In The Herb.

Correspondent|South Africa on Wednesday confirmed that Madagascar had requested assistance with scientific research on Artemisia – the herb used in the production of COVID-Organics.

Addressing the issue, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said South Africa had agreed that its scientists will only assist with analysis of the herb.

The now controversial herb has been donated by the Malagasy government to a number of African countries amongst them: Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo and Guinea-Bissau – the latter received a consignment meant for the ECOWAS region.

Meanwhile, the African Union, AU, have confirmed that they are in talks with Madagascar over COVID-Organics, the island nation’s purported herbal cure for COVID-19.

A May 4 statement by the AU said it was in contact with Antananarivo “through its embassy in Addis Ababa, with a view to obtain technical data regarding the safety and efficiency of a herbal remedy, recently announced by Madagascar for the reported prevention and treatment of COVID19.”

AU and Malagasy diplomats have held meetings in Addis Ababa with the view to getting necessary information regarding the remedy.

“Once furnished with the details, the Union, through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), will review the scientific data gathered so far on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 Organics.

“This review will be based on global technical and ethical norms to garner the necessary scientific evidence regarding the performance of the tonic,” an AU statement further disclosed.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, WHO; have reiterated its caution against people putting their faith in herbal remedies that have not been scientifically tested.

In a statement, WHO said despite supporting all efforts – including traditional medicines – in search for treatments, it was important that any purported treatments be thoroughly tested.

In his last address, President Rajoelina said Madagascar was building a factory to scale up production. He also said the cure was to undergo clinical trials and that aside the drinks, injection options were being pursued. Over half-dozen African countries have expressed interest in it.

Govt Backtracks On Mandatory Directive On COVID-19 Testing At The Workplace

By A Correspondent- Government has a made a quick U-turn on its order requiring companies to ensure all their workers are tested for coronavirus first before they can resume work, after facing some resistance.

On Tuesday, a Cabinet meeting resolved to allow workers to return to work without having to be tested for the novel coronavirus.

“It has since transpired that companies are experiencing difficulties in accessing the Rapid Results test kits for testing their employees.

“In order to facilitate companies in the commercial and industrial sectors opening in terms of the relaxation pronounced under SI 99 of 2020, government has decided that, pending companies acquiring the required test kits to test their employees, companies will be permitted to open subject to the following conditions being met in relation to their employees,” reads part of cabinet decision matrix.

Before the U-turn, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government introduced Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020, requiring  all companies in the commercial and industrial sectors opening for the first time following the  lockdown to have all their employees tested for COVID-19 using the Rapid Results test.

Instead, companies are now supposed to ensure that they conduct  “temperature tests upon entering work premises, issue hand sanitizers upon entry to sanitise their hands, that each employee wears a face mask in appropriate form and employees to practice social distancing in the workplace,” the Cabinet resolved.

Businesses, led by Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) president, Israel Murefu, had said the government had set an unrealistic task for business and they pushed for a rethink, triggering the U-turn.

“If you look at the capacity the national response has managed in more than 30 days to do just 9 000 tests, yet the government expects in just 14 days for companies to have tested over a million workers, it’s just not practical or feasible,” he said.

Murefu said they could also not meet the cost of the tests at private laboratories particularly since most companies have not been operating for the past two months.

“The cheapest quotation for tests is USD$25 and the most expensive is USD$100 now for most companies that have not been operating there would be no budget for this, while the idea is noble and business is sympathetic and would want to ensure employees and their families are safe, the cost is just beyond reach, unless government proposes to include the cost of testing in the $18 billion stimulus package they are proposing,” Murefu said.

So far the government has not covered itself in glory in accounting for testing, regularly producing questionable and wrong results.

The government set a target of 40,000 tests for April, but fell woefully short, as less than a quarter of that number of people were tested.

Following the U-turn, it is not clear if the government will once again lean on companies to carry out tests in the future.-Newsday

Ramaphosa In Coronavirus Infection Scare

The Union buildings in Pretoria

News24|President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza have narrowly escaped Coronavirus infection.

On Wednesday, the Presidency confirmed a positive Coronavirus case of one Union Buildings essential services employee. Steps have been taken to ensure that officials who have contact with the staff member are screened.

President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko took to social media to confirm the news and revealed that staff access to the Union Buildings is therefore limited to exceptional interactions.

Ramaphosa and Mabuza have been working remotely ever since the start of lockdown. That is how they managed to escape the Coronavirus infection in their work environment space. All of that said though, there is still a very strong possibility that some cabinet ministers who have been going to Union Buildings lately have also contracted the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, the Coronavirus has claimed the life of a senior South African parliamentary administrator, Amos Komeni who was working for Deputy Speaker, Lechesa Tsenoli.

Komeni’s untimely death news were officially confirmed on Thursday in a press statement. Deputy Speaker, Lechesa Tsenoli admitted Komeni came as big shock.

As of Wednesday, 7,572 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa as the death toll was at 148.

Concerned About Power Generation, Zambian President Visits Kariba Dam, Told Mass Waters From Vic Falls Will Take 9 Weeks To Reach Kariba.

Own Correspondent|Zambezi River Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Munyaradzi Munodawafa has told Zambian President Edgar Lungu that the High volume of water seen at the Victoria falls will take nine weeks to reach the Kariba dam.

Speaking when President Lungu made a tour of Kariba Dam to understand why it is still not operating at full capacity, Mr Munodawafa said that high water level recorded at the Victoria Falls have not yet reached the Kariba Dam.

Mr. Munodawafa said even when the water levels increase in Lake Kariba the Authority will not allow the two power utility firms from Zimbawe and Zambia to use more than the allocated cubic liters of water for this year.

Mr. Munodawafa said the idea is to reserve water for next year’s use in an event that the dam does not receive enough water due to the effects of climate change.

He also said even when the water reaches the Kariba Dam it will not be sufficient to generate the required electricity.

The ZRA Chief Exective Officer also informed the President that the high water levels which were recorded in Chavuma did not all reach Kariba because part of it was used to fill the flood plains along the way .

Speaking after listening to the presentation by Zambezi River Authority, President Lungu said the Zambian government is investing in other sources of energy in order to address the power challenges.

President Lungu said there is also need to look after the environment in order to avoid effects of climate change. The President said part of the reason why the rainfall pattern is disturbed is because of poor management of the environment. President Lungu said the investment made in the energy sector will soon start yielding results.

Zambian Energy Minister, Mathew Nkhuwa urged people to take interest and visit the Kariba Dam as soon as the lockdowns are cleared. He said it is not fair for politicians to mislead the public that the water levels have risen at Kariba when in fact not.

Mr Nkhuwa said it will take more than three rain seasons to have the required water in the dam. He said once the Kafue lower and Batoka power projects are worked on, they will help in reducing load shedding in Zambia.

Later, President Lungu toured the Kafue lower Gorge power station which is under construction. The power station is expected to start generating power before the end of this year.

President Lungu getting an Arial view of the Water draining into Kariba Dam
President Lungu getting an Arial view of the Water draining into Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam
President Lungu at the Kariba Dam

Source: Lusaka Times

“It’s Not Khupe, It’s Not Mwonzora, It’s Not Komichi, It’s ZANU PF,” Welshman Ncube Says On Attacks On The MDC.

Professor Welshman Ncube

Paul Nyathi |MDC Alliance deputy president Welshman Ncube says that the recent recall of party lawmakers is a ZANU PF execution using vulnerable former MDC members.

Speaking in separate interviews with the Voice Of America’s Studio Seven and Zimlive on Wednesday, Ncube said that the party will not take the move lying down.

Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda announced MDC Alliance MPs Charlton Hwende, Thabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Lilian Timveous were recalled through a letter by Douglas Mwonzora, who says he has reprised his role as secretary general of the party following a court ruling in late March.

The Supreme Court ruled that Nelson Chamisa had taken leadership of the MDC-T party in February 2018, before forming the MDC Alliance, in a “fundamentally flawed process.”

The court ordered that Thokozani Khupe, who participated in elections in July 2018 as leader of the MDC-T, should take over on an interim basis pending a congress within three months to elect a new leader.

“Everything is a choreographed from the courts to the Speaker of Parliament. We had no expectation of anything better. We said what the plan was before the court delivered its judgement. We said they will continue to play this game. They have their game plan, watch the space and see if we will play their game.”

“We won’t take it lying down. In the next few days, you will know what we will do and it will be a strong response. The organs of the party will make the decisions. People have seen what has happened.”

He said “What’s happening is not a legal matter but a political issue, and it must be understood as such. People must disabuse themselves of the notion that this is legal, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.

“The law is clear, and has always been clear that you are recalled by the party under which you were elected. The candidates were fielded by MDC-Alliance which was in competition with MDC-T. So no, this has nothing to do with the law.

“Which judgement gave anyone authority to recall MDC Alliance MPs? Which party is controlled by a single individual? Parties are controlled institutionally. Where in the world have three people (Khupe, Mwonzora, Komichi) controlled a party?

“So, it’s not a legal issue. Since the judgement, has the national council or the standing committee met? Thabitha Khumalo was deputy spokesperson under the structure that the other side wants to say is the court recognised leadership. I can tell you that Khumalo has not been invited to any meeting where a decision to recall our MPs was taken.”

“What you have is a political programme of Zanu PF to basically take control of the MDC Alliance. Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi have carefully selected our senior people in parliament. They have basically thrown the dice to say the rest of you who are junior to these people, we can get rid of you too if you don’t associate with our plans,” said Ncube.

Illegal Gold Panners Raid Mine, Disarm Security Guard

By A Correspondent- An illegal gold panner allegedly teamed up with three accomplices and raided a gold mine in Inyathi where they attacked a security guard before disarming him of his service pistol, which they later used to rob local shops.

Leeroy Ncube (24) of Mahatshula suburb and the three accomplices who are still at large allegedly went to Camstick Mine at Famona Business Centre in Inyathi armed with knives and stones.

Upon arrival, they allegedly struck Mr Nqobizitha Dube who was manning the premises with stones and he fell to the ground. They rushed to the scene and allegedly grabbed him by the neck as he lay on the ground.

The four robbers stabbed him on the leg with a knife before disarming him of a Taurus revolver which was loaded with five rounds of ammunition.

This emerged when Ncube, who is facing robbery charges approached the High Court seeking bail.

Ncube through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

In his bail statement, Ncube is denying the charges, arguing that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.

“I was with my friends watching movies on the day in question and I believe the complainants identification must be tested in light of his alibi,” he said.

Ncube argued that there were no compelling reasons by the investigating officer for him to be denied bail.

“The investigating officer in this case has deposed of an affidavit opposing my bail application. He argued that I was of no fixed abode, was likely to interfere with investigations and that since the stolen firearm has not been recovered, I am likely to regroup with my accomplices who are still at large and commit more robberies if released on bail,” he said.

Ncube challenged the investigating officer’s assertions, saying his grounds for challenging his bail were speculative and baseless.

“It is submitted that the fact that no firearm was recovered from me points to my innocence rather than guilt. The commission of other offences is also purely speculative and not founded on any real fact,” he said.

Ncube said there was no basis by the investigating officer that if released on bail he would abscond.

 He offered to pay $500 bail and to report once a fortnight at Queen Park Police Station as part of the bail conditions.

Ncube also offered to continue residing at his given address until the matter is finalised.

The State is yet to respond.

According to court papers, it was stated that on April 5 this year, Dube was on duty at Camstick Mine in Inyathi when Ncube in the company of three accomplices spotted him from their spot under the cover of darkness.

They allegedly struck Dube with a stone on the right side of the ribs and he fell down before they rushed to the scene.

Ncube grabbed the security guard by the neck and sat on his chest before one of them pulled a knife and struck him on the left leg. Dube managed to positively identify Ncube’s face.

They used the same knife to cut off the buckle of a holster containing his pistol, which was loaded with five rounds of ammunition. They took the firearm and disappeared into the dark. They allegedly used the pistol to rob shops around the area.

On April 21, detectives who were on patrol received a tip off from Dube after he had spotted Ncube at Famona Business Centre in Inyathi leading to his arrest.-StateMedia

Mnangagwa, Khupe And Mwonzora Dubious Transitional Authority On The Cards More Details Unveiled.

Information supplied to ZimEye.com by intelligence sources on Wednesday indicates that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is harbouring a grand plan with some former members of the mainstream main opposition party, the MDC, to anhilliate the Nelson Chamisa led party.

The plan is supposedly being worked around the recent ambiguous Supreme Court ruling which declared MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe as the successor to late Morgan Tsvangirai in leading the main opposition party.

According to the plan, Mnangagwa will wait for Khupe to hold an extraordinary congress as directed by the Supreme Court after which she will be enticed into signing for a National Transitional Authority with Mnangagwa.

The Transitional Authority will suspend elections there by giving Mnangagwa an opportunity to continue leading the country beyond 2023 when elections are meant to be held.

Mnangagwa is on record indicating that he will be the President of the country until 2030 which may be the time that the dubious Transitional Authority may call for elections.

Alex Tawanda Magaisa, a law lecturer in the United Kingdom has further broken down the perceived plan meant to weaken the opposition parties.

Posting on Twitter, Magaisa said:

“What is the game plan?

  1. The regime wants a GNU with a weak and submissive opposition it can control. They can tell the world that they are now working with the MDC. The regime identified a weak seam in the opposition – a coterie of the disgruntled keen to join the gravy train
  2. They want to amend the law in order to get rid of by-elections. Having dubiously & scandalously awarded the MDC Alliance seats to Khupe & associates they can fill the seats left vacant by any recalls without any contest, eliminating the risk of losing.
  3. The GNU agreement will include a constitutional amendment to avoid elections for 7 years on the grounds of focusing on the economy. They will invite various “stakeholders” (make that stakeholders) including civil society & churches to make it look inclusive. A political fraud
  4. There will be a concurrent campaign to discredit Chamisa and his colleagues in the MDC Alliance, including Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube. Virtually anything. Current MPs are already being offered trinkets and receiving threats in a carrot and stick strategy.
  5. But none of this will confer legitimacy on the regime. The plan is to crush the head of the MDC Alliance with the help of opposition enablers. However, stealing opposition seats is one thing. Winning the hearts & minds of opposition supporters is a different proposition.
  6. Manipulating political institutions and rearranging the deck chairs of the struggling ship is one thing. Saving it requires a lot more than that. The international community, whose support the regime is desperate for can see through these hideous political machinations.
  7. None of the opposition characters that the regime has courted has the political capital to provide the respect & recognition that it’s desperate for in the international community. They know it but they will be very happy to join the feeding trough. So brace for a dubious GNU

Additional information from Alex Tawanda Magaisa Tweeter

MDC Seriously Considering To Pull Out Of Parliament, Sikhala To Give Press Statement Later Today.

Job Sikhala

THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance’s national standing committee yesterday reportedly resolved to order its Members of Parliament to resign from the august House en-masse in protest over the recall of its four legislators by the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T.

The decision was taken by the party’s national executive committees in a virtual meeting held yesterday, a source close to the development said, but warned that a campaign was underway to entice the MPs to dump Chamisa in return for positions in a likely government of national unity (GNU).

After the meeting, Chamisa tweeted: “Just been chairing a long MDC Alliance National S Committee Zoom meeting. We came up with key resolutions and action points to be released by the party’s deputy national chairperson Hon Job Sikhala. Whatever the case, the die is cast! Victory and freedom to our motherland!”

But Sikhala, contacted for comment, said the party would address a Press conference today to announce its response to the recall.

On Tuesday, Douglas Mwonzora, who recently defected to Khupe’s camp, ordered the recall of Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), chief whip Prosper Mutseyami (Chikanga-Dangamvura MP) and Midlands senator Lillian Timveous, the leader of the opposition party in the Senate.

Mwonzora said he was using his mandate as the secretary-general of the party after a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the party to go back to its structures of 2014, endorsing Khupe as the acting president.

Political analyst Ibbo Mandanza yesterday said Chamisa was under pressure to avoid challenging the expulsion of four of his Members of Parliament and instead recall all the remaining legislators and councillors so that he can face Zanu-PF head-on in a political fight.

Mandaza said it was time for Chamisa to face the beast in the eye and take on President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu-PF in a political duel, instead of continually accepting to being bullied.

“These are kicks of a dying regime and if Chamisa is serious, it is time to face off with the regime,” Mandaza said.

“Isn’t this opportunity in Zimbabwe to cease being complaint and obliging and thereby deal a deadly blow to the crumbling edifice?”

Eight Year Old Boy Dies After Being Intimidated By Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Soldiers

Auxillia Mnangagwa

Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Peace Project reports that an eight-year-old Mudzi boy in Mashonaland East collapsed and died in fear after being intimidated by First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa’s security details from the Zimbawe National Army presidential guard brigade.

The peace monitoring body made the revelation in its monthly violence monitoring report presented on Wednesday.

ZPP said the unnamed boy died on admission at Kotwa Hospital also in Mudzi.

“One of the cases is a very unfortunate incident where an eight-year boy panicked and collapsed after he and his friends were reportedly intimidated by some army officers who were providing security during the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s visit in Mudzi North in Mashonaland East province,” ZPP said in the report.

Auxillia Mnangagwa has been going around the country in the midst of the Coronavirus lockdown donating food aid including dried vegetables through her Angel of Hope Foundation.

Last month, one of her security details died in a dubious road accident while four others were hospitalised with one of them under police guard on possible accusations of deliberately executing the accident in an alleged attempt to bump the first lady’s vehicle.

The Zimbabwe Peace Project in its report claimed that incidents of intimidation by security details topped the violence during the month under review.

“Of the total number of violations recorded, harassment and intimidation topped the list with 130 incidents while 86 cases of assault were recorded.

“Harare recorded the highest number of violations at 104, followed by Midlands, which had 52 cases. Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Masvingo provinces each recorded 25% of food and other aid violations. Harare, Matabeleland North and Midlands all share 8.33%.”

July Moyo Reinstates Fired Vic Falls Mayor On Mwonzora’s Instructions

Somvelo Dlamini

Own Correspondent|Local Government Minister July Moyo has reinstated the opposition MDC Mayor for Victoria Falls Councillor Somvelo Dlamini, ZimEye.com can reveal.

Sources within the Municipality at Victoria Falls said that, Minister Moyo reinstated Dlamini on the bases of a letter written by Douglas Mwonzora who is the Secretary General of the MDC-T of 2014 which was recently established by the Supreme Court.

The court “reverted” the country’s main opposition party to its 2014 structures declaring Thokozani Khupe the Acting President of the party and Mwonzora assuming his Secretary General position.

The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa expelled the Mayor early this year on allegations of violating party rules and undermining protocol.

The party’s secretary-general Charlton Hwende wrote to Clr Dlamini in a letter dated February 24, advising him of the national council’s decision to terminate his membership and remove him as a councillor in Victoria Falls.

It was the third time that the Nelson Chamisa-led party had fired Clr Dlamini after expelling him from the party twice in 2018 for standing for election as Victoria Falls mayor to pave way for a candidate of their choice Clr Margaret Valley of Ward 1.

Clr Dlamini was reinstated on both the previous occasions he was fired.

The party alleged that Clr Dlamini defied the party directives when he stood as a candidate for mayor where he beat Clr Valley by eight votes to three.

Not Even The Coronavirus Scourge Could Deter Machete Thugs From Their Violent Robberies.

Mashurugwi machete
Mashurugwi machete

A SEVEN-MEMBER gang raided a gold mine in Maphisa, Matabeleland South province on Saturday, invoking memories of terror linked to the machete-wielding criminals.

The robbery happened at a time when the whole world including Zimbawe has gone on Coronavirus Lockdowns which the thugs care less about.

Police confirmed the incident that occurred at Goodcow Mine where the criminals armed with a fire-arm, machetes and axes made off with 12 by 50kg bags half filled with gold ore.

Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Philisani Ndebele confirmed the arrest of the gang members, adding that Maphisa was fast emerging as an armed robbery hotspot in the province.

“They have been arrested. Maphisa has been giving us a challenge as it is where we have been recording a number of robberies targeting mostly mines,” Ndebele said.

In January, a mine worker was shot dead while several others were injured when 10 robbers struck Antelope Stamp Mill Mine.

Police in November last year imposed a ban on the carrying of machetes following a crime wave linked to machete terror gangs.

It was extended in terms of section 14 (4) of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter (11:17).

Failure to comply with the ban attracts a fine, six-month sentence or both.

MDC Cuts Ties With Tsvangirai Spokesperson For Dining With Mnangagwa

Former Mabvuku Tafara Legislator Ambassador James Maridadi

Business Times|The opposition MDC Alliance has severed ties with its members that were posted to diplomatic missions and are refusing to leave their posts
as the party scales up its fight against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Among those disowned by the MDC Alliance are former MPs James Maridadi and Hilda Suka-Mafudze who took up diplomatic posts.

Maridadi was appointed ambassador to Senegal last year.

Suka-Mafudze has been a diplomat since 2010 and was last year appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Malawi.

Before the latest appointment, she was Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Sudan.
The MDC led by Nelson Chamisa has indicated that it was not going to allow
any of its senior party members to work in any capacity in President Mnangagwa’s administration.

The opposition party failed to recognise Mnangagwa saying he is a beneficiary of vote rigging despite
the Constitutional Court throwing out MDC’s challenge to the results
of 2018 Presidential elections.

The spokesperson of the Chamisa led party, Daniel Molokele, confirmed the party’s leadership had made a decision to cut its relationship with any senior member associating with the government.

“We had asked our senior members not to work for the government in any capacity and the senior party members Maridadi and Mafudze refused to cooperate with the party directive despite being asked not to take up their diplomatic posts,” Molokele said.

“We have a dispute with the Mnangagwa administration and we don’t recognise his legitimacy and we don’t expect any of our senior party
members to recognise him as the legitimate president.”

Maridadi and Mafudze are former legislators for Mabvuku and Mhondoro constituencies respectively.
Maridadi was also a former spokesperson for Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai. Mafudze has been a senior MDC Women
Assembly leader since 2000.

But David Musabayana, Foreign Affairs and International Trade
deputy minister said the two diplomats were working for the
government and not for any political party.

“Our ambassadors work for the country not for any political
party and are doing a good job in representing us in the foreign
countries where they are stationed,” Musabayana said.

During the inclusive government which ran from 2009 to 2013, the
two MDC formations were allowed to nominate candidates who would
represent Zimbabwe in diplomatic missions. Suka-Mafudze, alongside
the late Trudy Stevenson, Hebson Makuvise, Jacqueline Zwambila
and Mabel Ngulani were appointed Ambassadors for Sudan, Senegal,
Germany, Australia and Nigeria respectively.

Price Of Bread Set To Go Up To $40 Per Loaf.

The price of bread is set to go up anytime after the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) hiked wheat producers’ price to above ZWL$11 000 from around ZWL$8000 last year.

The development comes at a time when the local companies are grappling
with high cost of production, hyper inflationary environment, foreign
currency challenges and power outages.

National Bakers Association of Zimbabwe (NBAZ) president Denis Wala said that due to rising costs of raw materials in the whole value chain, the price of bread may go up.

“As you can see the Grain Marketing Board has hiked the wheat producer’s
price, this means the millers will get wheat at a high price and consequently
they have increased flour prices hence all the costs will affect us and this will definitely increase bread prices.

“As we speak, we are in negotiations with millers and the government as
to what price we may put in place.

Every time we increase the bread price, people think we are inconsiderate to the consumers but we are the last in the value chain,” Wala said.

He said at peak the country produced over one million loaves a day but the
numbers have since dropped to 800 000 loaves a day last year due to high cost of production.

This year, the numbers have further dropped to 400 000 loaves a day.
Bakers say, the agreed price which is likely to be announced soon is going to
be around US$0.90 of the parallel rate market which is at around US$1:45.
If that is going to be approved, a loaf of bread is likely going to cost at around ZWL$40.50 per loaf.

Analysts believe the imminent price increase of bread will push up price of
other basic commodities as bread has an effect to other commodities.
Zimbabwe requires between 350 000 tonnes and 400 000 tonnes of wheat
yearly for consumption.

Last year, the country managed to produce less than 100 000 tonnes of
wheat, leaving the monetary authorities to import over 250 000 tonnes of wheat.

“Gwanda District Does Not Have The Capacity To Handle Even One Covid-19 Patient,” District Coordinator Says.

THE Gwanda District taskforce on Covid-19 has appealed for resources to help in the fight against Covid-19.

Speaking yesterday during a district coordination meeting on Covid-19 mitigation interventions, Gwanda District Development Coordinator, Ms Kiliboni Ndou said the district had made significant progress in the fight against Covid-19 but there is need for more chemicals to continue disinfecting the town. She said there was also need to equip isolation centres and quarantine facilities to ensure they have Intensive Care Units.

Ms Ndou said at the moment the district does not have the capacity to handle a Covid-19 patient.

In an addition to all health centres in the district being identified as isolation centres, Gwanda has also identified two quarantine facilities that will house deportees returning to the district.

“There is still a number of resources that we need as a district to help in the fight against Covid-19. Transportation is a major challenge as this work requires us to travel to the rural areas for various programmes but we don’t have vehicles. Of late we have been receiving deportees that have been released from Plumtree and transporting them to their villages has been a challenge. These people also need to be fed before they are released into the community,” she said.

“The disinfection exercises have been going on well but we are running low on hydrogen peroxide and we need assistance. Our isolation and quarantine facilities need to be equipped with machinery and blankets. All health centres in the district have an isolation point and they need to be equipped. We also need protective clothing which is in short supply. “

Ms Ndou urged stakeholders including NGOs, the business community, mining companies among others to assist the district.

“We are grateful as PPC will help us equip an isolation centre at the Gwanda Provincial Hospital while How Mine will help with an isolation centre at Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic College while Blanket Mine will assist at Phakama Clinic. However more work has to be done in other isolation points. At the moment we don’t have the capacity to handle a Covid-19 patient as a district,” she said.

Speaking during the same meeting Gwanda Environmental Health Training Officer, Mr Clever Ncube said Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic and Guyu Vocational Training Centre have been identified as quarantine facilities where deportees will be housed before they rejoin the communities. He said the facilities will accommodate the deportees after they have been released from isolation centres in Plumtree, Beitbridge and Bulawayo.

Mr Ncube said the deportees were supposed to go through a health centre and be cleared at local level before they rejoin the community. He said the deportees had to be discouraged from rushing to rejoin the communities before they were cleared.

“We have disinfected the CBD, townships, churches, institutions and we are disinfecting closed places but we appeal for more chemicals to disinfect roads. The Gwanda District Hospital needs equipment as it doesn’t have an Intensive Care Unit. Every health facility in the district must have an isolation centre and equipment is required,”

It’s Too Early To Write Me Off, Nelson Chamisa Is Certainly Not Tsvangirai,” Mwonzora Vows To Overpower Chamisa. State Media Interview.

Douglas Mwonzora

Douglas Mwonzora has declared that he will emerge victorious against MDC leader Nelson Chamisa in the ongoing fracas within the opposition party as a result of a very vague Supreme Court judgement.

Mwonzora made the interview with State Media published on Thursday, after he recalled out of Parliament four MDC legislators.

The recall of Mr Charlton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Mr Prosper Mutseyami (Dangamvura-Chikanga), Senator Lillian Timveous (Midlands) and Ms Thabita Khumalo (proportional representative Bulawayo Province) followed a Supreme Court ruling which declared Ms Thokozani Khupe the legitimate leader of the main opposition party and ordered the holding of an extraordinary congress within three months.

We run the interview between Herald Deputy Editor Ranga Mataire (RM) and Mwonzora (DM) on the reasons behind the recall of the four legislators and the way forward on the opposition political party.

RM: Mr Mwonzora, I understand you are a signatory to a letter to the Speaker of Parliament requesting the recalling of four MDC-T legislators. What informed this decision?

DM: Basically, the four are senior members who ought to have acted responsibly in the discharge of their duties, particularly after the Supreme Court ruling, which directed that we revert to the 2014 structures.

RM: Have you tried yourself or as a group to engage Mr Chamisa after the Supreme Court ruling?

DM: Yes, we did through Honourable Elias Mudzuri. He tried to set an appointment with Advocate Chamisa. He was not forthcoming and we sense that he did not have enough respect for us. Maybe he thought that we don’t matter.

But as I said before, our aim is never to divide the party, but to have a responsible leadership. If you can see; Adv Chamisa has not commented for one month. He has not commented on the Supreme Court decision and we think that he has commented via his deputy presidents and other party officials who were just dismissive.

All they would say is that anybody speaking a different opinion was a ZANU PF agent. That’s their standard answer. Anybody who differs with them is ZANU PF and is supposed to have been bought. Sometimes they even volunteer figures. This is their trademark and its tragic. These are young people and they ought to do things in a modern way.

RM: When you say “us” and “them”, who are you referring to?

DM: The party, the majority is us. The people who are saying let’s follow the law; let’s follow values, let us be a party of discipline, let’s follow our own constitution and let us be a party of rules. It is critically important. I heard someone saying that why should we worry about the constitution and what does it help?

The world’s biggest economy is the United States economy and that country’s economy is predicated on its strong constitution and the respect for that constitution. If you have respect for constitution, you will then have respect for institutions and a country with strong and inclusive institutions has been shown by empirical evidence to develop faster.

Even in commerce, we must have rules otherwise we have corruption and clientelism setting in.

Constitutionalism is critically important. People who meet in a particular political party are not necessarily friends. They are united by certain values. A political party must be known for something. It must be known to represent something. Does it represent democracy? Does it represent nationalism? Does it represent anarchy? Where we were going was anarchy.

RM: How do you respond to the accusation that what is happening has happened before and you are a divisive element sent by ZANU PF to destroy the MDC? Others are saying Mr Chamisa will remain the MDC-T leader in the court of public opinion despite the Supreme Court’s ruling.

DM: Well, what has happened has not happened before. Definitely not. This is very unique. This is a division caused by a court judgment. And the difference between all the court judgments in the past, for example, the court judgment versus President Mnangagwa. It was a court judgment versus an external person.

In this court case, it was an MDC’s Elias Mashavira who is the organising secretary in Gokwe versus the MDC president. So it was MDC versus MDC. It was an internal dispute that spilled onto the public arena.

Once you have an internal dispute between yourselves and is resolved by the highest court in the land, you have to obey it because if you don’t, when that dispute comes back home, it doesn’t go away. That’s why some of us were saying we must follow the ruling.

So the basis for the division is between anarchy and lawfulness. It is a moral issue. It is not always true that there was a problem of Biti and Tsvangirai and the former lost in the court of public opinion and there was a problem between Welshman and Tsvangirai and again Welshman lost in the court of public opinion.

Therefore, if there is a conflict between Chamisa and Komichi or Chamisa and Mwonzora then the court of public opinion will be in Chamisa’s favour.

History will show that this is too early for people to write off other people. Nelson Chamisa is certainly not Tsvangirai and the disputes are different. The worrying thing is that instead of listening to one another to say what exactly is the issue, people rush to say you have been bought by ZANU PF and that I am sponsored.

I can’t be sponsored by ZANU-PF. I have been a lawyer for almost 30 years and in those years I have attempted three times to write the Constitution of Zimbabwe. I failed on two occasions, but on the third occasion together with others, I succeeded. My passion is constitutionalism. It is order, it is against anarchy.

RM: Assuming that we have by-elections for the seats left vacant by the recalled MPs, how do you foresee the candidates in terms of their representations?

DM: These will be by-elections you have never seen before. I am sure you have seen the number of people in the provinces writing statements in support of the court judgments. There have been statements from youths in Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central, women in Mashonaland East, youths in Harare and I am told that the South African province has also issued a statement. This is unprecedented in the history of the movement and leaders must begin to listen.

RM: But Mr Mwonzora, I don’t remember any youths in Harare issuing a statement in support of the Supreme Court ruling.

DM: Yes, through Paul Gorekore, he issued a statement a few days ago and I can send you a copy.

RM: So Mr Mwonzora, you are saying we don’t anticipate to have more MPs recalled? The ones who were recalled were the ones who had acted irresponsibly as leaders.

DM: Not only that. They actually did something that was positively wrong. Besides being in authority, they actually acted in a manner that invited the recall. For example, Mr Hwende tweeted that he was no longer a member of the MDC that was once led by Tsvangirai.

That was a positive act and that is a statement we can never allow. First of all, it is factually incorrect and secondly, it is politically incorrect.

RM: Lastly, how far have you gone with preparations for the extraordinary congress?

DM: The preparations are going on very well. We have been reconstructing the structures because there was a lack of cooperation on the part of the immediate past administration.

They were refusing to give us information of the people. But we are now in communication with these people. We have, of course, been disturbed by the Covid-19 pandemic, which makes certain organisation methods not appropriate.

For example, we are going to have our national council meeting online on Friday. And then after that we will find ways of getting to the delegates without jeopardising their health and our technical team is looking at all this. On Friday, we will be announcing the date of the congress and unveiling the rules concerning the nomination of the candidates. Our hope is that if we get one candidate nominated unopposed, then there may not be need for a bigger gathering.

Once a candidate has been nominated unopposed, then they are automatically elected unopposed.

RM: Then how do you hope to resolve the issue of the party headquarters currently occupied by the faction aligned to Mr Chamisa?

DM: We have said to the people who were occupying the building that they should hand it over, but they have not done so.

In fact, they have been promising a bloodbath. I am told there are about 30 youths holed inside there with all manner of crude weapons to do harm to anybody who comes. Now, that is something we cannot accept. We are trying to use dialogue and persuasion for them to see sense and do what is right. The long and short of it is that we will have the building.

Arundel High School Demands $140k Fees For Online Learning

Education Minister, Cain Mathema

State Media|ARUNDEL School in Harare is demanding fees of up to US$2 500 (or alternatively $139 975) for online classes drawing the ire of parents.

The announcement came after Government last week warned private schools not to demand fees for the second term saying only President Mnangagwa would guide the nation on the reopening of schools.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said although it was not opposed to online learning, Government had not yet allowed any school to pursue that route.

Arundel School board chair, Mr Douglas Hoto on Tuesday confirmed the fees saying they arrived at the figure after considering various factors.

“The costs structure of an independent school is very different from that of a public school where the cost of employment is met by the Government. In our case, we meet all the staff costs from our resources which is the school fees.

“The cost of employment is about 65 to 70 percent of the cost of running the institution. This does not go away because of the lockdown so at the very least, each parent should expect to pay about 75 percent of what was being paid when there was no lockdown,” said Mr Hoto.

“Our teachers started full classes online today and they are doing all the lessons and giving and marking work as well as the co-curricular activities that can be conducted online. So in that regard, we will pay them their salaries. The rest of the school facilities still have to be maintained even in lockdown.”

He said the costs excluded food which would be served to pupils if they were physically present at the school, while other expenses like electricity and data would still have to be incurred.

“The boarding houses have a lower maintenance when the girls are away, but there is still minimum maintenance that has to be done. This lower maintenance resulted in the discount to the full and weekly boarding fees,” said Mr Hoto.

In a circular to parents dated April 30, 2020, the school board pegged fees at US$1 550 ($85 250) for day scholars, US$2 265 ($124,575) for weekly boarders and US$2 545 ($139 975) for full boarders.

Some parents reacted angrily to the announcement saying the fees were too high and unwarranted.

“I think they should charge reasonably considering that their running expenses are not that high.

“They already have the infrastructure for e-learning and it’s not like they are starting from scratch. They also have to consider the fact that parents are the ones meeting Wi-Fi costs,” said one parent.

Another parent said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has affected parents’ earnings negatively. Some people have lost their revenue sources completely and it is insensitive to charge at such a level.”

Several other private schools have started demanding increased fees for the second term while pursuing online learning.

However, many parents and guardians have lost their income or are receiving a fraction of their salaries because of the national lockdown and are likely to face challenges raising some of the huge amounts being demanded by private schools.

According to the 2020 calendar, schools were expected to open this week and for the first term, they were supposed to close on April 2, but owing to the threat of Covid-19, President Mnangagwa ordered their closure on March 24 to prevent the spread of the virus.

In Bulawayo, institutions such as Petra and Whitestone have told parents to make second term fees payments by the end of this week.

At Whitestone, parents and guardians have been told to pay fees deposit ranging from $16 000 to $27 000 by May 8.

Petra College pegged deposit at $21 000 for senior pupils and $13 780 for the juniors which is subject to adjustment when Government makes the announcement on schools’ opening.

The schools are also charging fees in foreign currency, but did not disclose the amounts in their newsletters, saying parents and guardians could call for forex fee structures and get discounts.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema recently said schools that increased fees without approval risked being de-registered for extortion.

Arrested Registrar General Caught With Seven Govt Vehicles Being Used At His Farm, To Appear In Court Today.

REGISTRAR-GENERAL Clemence Masango

REGISTRAR-GENERAL Clemence Masango has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on charges of flouting tender procedures when buying five vehicles for the Central Registry and taking seven other Government vehicles to his farm for personal use.

Masango spent last night at Mabelreign Police Station pending his initial court appearance today.

Giving details of the charges, ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said: “He faces two counts of criminal abuse of office. He is accused of procuring five vehicles without following laid down tender procedures. He also faces another count of taking seven Government vehicles, meant for the RG’s provincial offices, to do his personal errands at his farm,” said Comm Makamure. “He will appear at the Harare Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.”

Last week Masango clashed with the chief accountant in his office, Mr Peter Bwanya, who accused him of abuse of office over vehicles. But Masango denied all wrongdoing, saying Mr Bwanya was putting up a smokescreen since he is fighting disciplinary action over alleged incompetence and misbehaviour.

Mr Bwanya made a swathe of allegations, mainly involving the purchase or non-purchse of vehicles, which Masango responded to point by point, while criticising Zacc for launching an investigation before seeking an audit report on the allegations and on his office’s purchases and use of its purchasing budget.

The only one of Mr Bwanya’s allegations that now forms part of the charges against Masango is the purchase of five vehicles when 11 were approved and budgeted for. Masango responded to that allegation by saying that when the approval and budget were given, the exchange rate was 1-1 between the RTGS dollar and the US dollar. When the foreign currency was released there was a US dollar cost.

The second charge, of the misuse and personal use of seven vehicles by Masango, was not part of Mr Bwanya’s allegations and arises out of Zacc’s own investigations.

Govt Dicing With The Coronavirus, Employers Given A Further 14 Days To Test Employees For Covid-19 While They Continue At Work

State Media|All employers of reopened businesses have 14 days from today to have themselves and their staff screened and tested for Covid-19, in terms of an amendment to the lockdown regulations gazetted yesterday that implement Tuesday’s Government policy of allowing testing to be postponed.

The Health Ministry will arrange the times and places for testing if contacted by employers.

The testing was postponed after most employers reported at the beginning of the week that there were problems in finding test kits or arranging testing, hence the more central role the Government is now taking to help arrange tests.

The amendment, in Statutory Instrument 102, the seventh amendment to the original lockdown regulations, and issued by Minister of Health and Child Care Obidiah Moyo, states that the tests must use the rapid results diagnostic test or any other test approved by the minister.

The regulations assume that businesses open from today, although the 14-day clock starts from a later re-opening date if a business can prove to an enforcement officer that they did open after today.

Employers may arrange, said the amendment, with enforcement officers for the testing to take place at an agreed time at the workplace or at any other agreed place, and to make these arrangements they may contact the Ministry of Health Call Centre or the Ministry of Information Call Centre;

The Health Minister can also order retesting done at intervals of not less than 30 days.

In the meantime employers have to ensure that staff entering their premises have their hands sanitised and their temperature checked.

Evidence of tests has to be documented and produced on demand to enforcement officers. Businesses which fail to prove staff were tested within 14 days from today, or from the actual re-opening if this was later, can be closed and staff sent home within the hour. The business cannot then re-open until all staff deemed exempted from the lockdown have been tested and proof can be given.

Anyone hindering an enforcement officer, or any employer staying open after being ordered to close, is guilty of an offence and this can attract the standard lockdown breach penalties of a fine up to level 12, imprisonment up to a year, or both.

Govt Directs That Anyone Checked And Found With A Body Temperature Above 38 Degrees Will Be Subjected To Coronavirus Testing

Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva

Government has directed that anyone reporting for duty with body temperatures which show readings above 38 degrees Celsius during screening are considered abnormal and will necessitate testing for Coronavirus.

Cabinet agreed that companies opening under level two of the national lockdown must, among other things, ensure temperature screening for all employees on entry to workplaces.

Workers with temperatures above the range set by the Ministry of Health and Child Care would be required to undergo mandatory testing for Covid-19 at a ministry facility.

Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva said temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius were considered above normal and necessitated testing for the virus.

“What we are saying is that one’s temperature should be normal, if it is above normal, which is any reading from 38 degrees Celsius and above, that person would need to be further investigated for Covid-19,” said Dr Mahomva.

According to health experts, normal body temperature (normothermia, euthermia) is the typical temperature range found in humans which is typically stated as between 36,5 and 37,5°C.

However, human body temperatures vary depending on sex, age, time of day, exertion level, health status (such as illness and menstruation), state of consciousness and emotions.

EU Lists Mnangagwa Govt On Group Of Regimes Aiding Terrorism And Money Laundering…

The EU has listed the Zanu PF government led by Emmerson Mnangagwa on a group of countries involved with aiding terrorism and money laundering.


According to Reuters,Countries on the list “pose significant threats to the financial system of the Union.”

The European Commission is set to include Panama, the Bahamas, Mauritius and nine other countries to its list of states that pose a financial risks to the bloc because of anti-money laundering and terrorism financing shortfalls, a draft document shows.

The document, seen by Reuters and expected to be published on Thursday, also includes Barbados, Botswana, Cambodia, Ghana, Jamaica, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe to the EU listing.

Countries on the list “pose significant threats to the financial system of the Union,” the draft document, which is still subject to changes, says. -Reuters.

https://www.zimeye.com

“Rapid Test Kits Are Not Going To Be Used For Diagnosis Of Covid-19,” Health Ministry

Obadiah Moyo

State Media|NO ONE will be allowed to sell invalidated Covid-19 rapid diagnostic test kits, while temperatures which show readings above 38 degrees Celsius during screening are considered abnormal and will necessitate testing for the virus.

Responding to concerns on effectiveness of RDTs being used to screen for Covid-19 yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said the rapid test kits should only be used for surveillance only and not for diagnostics.

This comes as the Government is engaging with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to develop guidelines on recommended test kits and their use.

Dr Moyo said for diagnostics, the country will be using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which is the gold standard.

“The rapid test kits are not going to be used for diagnosis of Covid-19 because they have to be validated and they are not for patient management. They are strictly for the purposes of epidemiological survey and nothing else.

“For diagnosis purposes, we have the PCR platforms, which we have been using all along and all our results have been based on the PCR diagnostic platform,” said Dr Moyo.

He said those concerned about the use of rapid test kits must not worry because rapid testing was just for epidemiological survey.

“Furthermore, RDTs that we might have to use must be fully validated and no one should come and use any rapid test kits. We are talking with the WHO to give us those guidelines and also from China who have been using these rapid test kits,” said Dr Moyo.

He said there was a possibility that rapid test kits might have to be validated twice, from the country of origin as well as here in Zimbabwe.

Commenting on the latest trend, where there is no confirmation of new cases for Covid-19 in the last 7 days, Dr Moyo said the trend does not give Government an opportunity to relax, instead they will continue with more surveillance and testing.

“We have received a lot of questions as to why we have not been getting any positives in the last seven days or so. This is the picture which is coming up, but it does not necessarily mean that we are over the disease in Zimbabwe.

“It is possible that we might be able to get more positives so the issue is we are not going to be relaxing because we have been getting negatives. We have to be much more serious and we have to make sure that we continue applying the measures that will stop Covid-19,” said Dr Moyo.

WHO representative in Zimbabwe Dr Alex Gasasira said while his organisation does not recommend mandatory testing as a precondition for people to go back to work, many other countries have come up with different strategies beyond WHO’s recommendations.

“The Government of Zimbabwe is not the only government that is looking at other options beyond what WHO recommends, but I would say that it is important for everybody, not only those returning to work, but all members of the society — the risk of getting Covid-19 is not only for those going to work, but everybody — so it is important to emphasise on those prevention measures,” said Dr Gasasira.

Prevention measures include regular hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, keeping away from others when sick, social distancing, touching of nose, eyes and mouth.

“These are very proven interventions which everybody must follow. We are very pleased that there is increasing use of hand sanitisers and screening of customers at most companies, these are very critical for all of us. All of us must apply these measures,” said Dr Gasasira.

As of 5 May, the Government had tested 14 821 people and 34 tested positive to Covid-19.

Grandpa Arrested For Stocktheft

A 78-year-old man and his grandson have been arrested for allegedly stealing nine head of cattle from a farm in Gwanda.

Cetshwayo Nyathi, his grandson Ndumiso Nyathi (28) and Sibangilizwe Ncube (42) all from Gwanda were not asked to plead when they appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a stocktheft charge.
They were remanded in custody to May 28.

Representing the State, Miss Glenda Nare who opposed bail said the accused persons were facing a serious offence and could be a flight risk.

She said there was overwhelming evidence pinning the trio to the offence as Ncube was intercepted while driving the cattle and he implicated his accomplices.

Miss Nare said the old man and his grandson hatched a plan to steal cattle from Doelfontein Farm in Gwanda and they engaged Ncube’s services to drive the animals to the old man’s homestead.

“On 25 April Cetshwayo and Ndumiso hatched a plan to steal nine cattle belonging to three people from Doelfontein Farm.

They went to the farm with Ncube and showed him the nine beasts which they wanted him to drive. They further took him to Silikwe area where he was supposed to deliver the cattle at Cetshwayo’s homestead,” she said.

“On 29 April Ncube drove the cattle from Doelfontein Farm and when he was in Nkashe Village while on his way to Silikwe area he was spotted by some villagers.

The villagers confronted him and demanded to see a clearance letter giving him authority to be in possession of the animals.

Ncube failed to produce any documents and the villagers apprehended him and led him to the police base.”-State media

BREAKING: Mzembi Quits

The People’s Party president Walter Mzembi has announced he is quitting his post in his party. Mzembi made the sudden turn following what he described under the term “internal contradictions.” Below was the statement-

  • FULL TEXT-

Man Caught With 32 ID Cards

A Bulawayo man suspected to be part of a syndicate that is fraudulently selling people’s houses was found with 32 national identity cards which he is suspected to have been using to illegally process property sales.

Thulani Ncube is being charged with 70 counts of being found in possession of articles used to commit crime.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube in an interview yesterday, said Ncube was assisting police in the Commercial Crimes Division with investigations as he had over 70 pending High Court applications involving a number of properties in the city.

“A man purporting to be Thulani Ncube around 40 years of age was arrested by police when he was found in possession of over 32 national identity documents belonging to various people who are property owners. This man was making some applications for houses. He would either obtain illegal identity documents, forge signatures and particulars in respect of the houses that he would target for sale to unsuspecting home seekers,” said Inspector Ncube.

Ncube would allegedly approach the High Court for eviction orders so that he would make occupants vacate premises that he would have earmarked for sale.

He targeted properties whose owners are in the diaspora, especially where tenants do not know the owner of the house and rental payments are made to relatives or put in bank accounts.

“He would make applications to the High Court and pay fees of up to $50 so that he gets the application to evict the occupants of the houses. He has since been arrested and is assisting police with investigations. We are calling upon members of the public to come to CID Commercial Crimes Division to check on those IDs and if ever you see one that is yours, we work on the issues,” Inspector Ncube said.

“This also goes to property owners as there are a number of properties that have been listed as having been sold by fictitious people who do not even exist. They use stolen IDs to process the transactions.”

Inspector Ncube said the Commercial Crimes Division was looking into how Ncube may have been acquiring the IDs after noticing that most of them looked new.

“We are still investing how he actually got those IDs because some look fairly new, indicating that he may be writing some affidavits or obtaining in his own name some of the IDs, and is targeting only those who own properties that he envies. Investigations are in progress,” said Inspector Ncube.

An online search showed the suspect uses the name Thulani Ncube on Facebook. There was only one picture and very few posts. -State Media/Chronicle

Zuma Says: My Son Was Poisoned

Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma has for the first time claimed that his son Vusi died from poisoning – and that the plan was to “hurt” the former president.

Zuma made the startling revelation in a Zoom conversation with his other son, Duduzane, that was posted on YouTube on Tuesday. By 5pm on Wednesday the video had been viewed 20,500 times.

In his virtual conversation with Duduzane, Zuma tells him that Vusi died in 2018 of poisoning – even though at the time of his death, the Zuma family said the 25-year-old had died from lupus.

At the time of Vusi’s death, a statement from the Zuma family said: “Nhlakanipho Vusi Zuma departed on July 1 2018 from complications of systematic lupus erythematosus‚ simply known as lupus.”

But in the Zoom conversation with Duduzane, Zuma claims that his son was in fact poisoned – and that the people who poisoned Vusi did so to inflict pain on him.

“Here was a young man growing very bright, really with a big future, but he had to die,” said Zuma.

“He had an ailment that you can control until you are very old, but he passed away very suddenly. Now that I know what took him is what pains me even more. I now know that it was people who were trying to kill me … who then took a decision to create something that would pain me, and I now know.

“It was a failure to take your life that they went to the young man in a manner that is very cruel because they interfered with his treatment in order to poison him. Now I know, so the pain has not just doubled but has tripled in me – because here I lose, for the first time, my child who had many years to live and it was in the place of me [that he was poisoned].”
In the conversation, Zuma also claims that he was poisoned and is still amazed that he is alive. For this survival he thanks “my ancestors and my God”, while Duduzane keeps adding how the poison had weakened his father at the time.

Duduzane recalled his father telling him that he could not finish a presentation at an ANC national executive committee meeting because of the effects of the poisoning.

Furthermore, Duduzane – who is doing most of the talking in the conversation – alleges that Zuma was once advised by his presidential staff and doctors to postpone his presidential inauguration, but he refused and went ahead with it despite his illness.

It was after this that Duduzane claimed to have flown to Russia with his father to get medical treatment.

Zuma expressed gratitude to “my friend” from Russia – understood to be the country’s leader Vladimir Putin.

“I knew that once I went there [Russia], this would be defeated – and it was defeated, and they finally found out that it was poison,” said Zuma. – Sowetan

Covid-19: Bata Shoe Company To Retrench Staff ?

GWERU-based shoe manufacturer Bata Shoe Company has said that its ability to maintain a huge workforce is being crippled by the devastating impact of Covid -19, which puts job security on the line.

Bata is one of the Midlands companies that opened at the start of Level 2 lockdown with skeleton staff in line with Covid-19 rules and regulations.

The giant company has a staff of over 1 500 but is currently having 150 workers on duty so as to maintain social distance to mitigate against the spread of the virus
Bata Zimbabwe managing director, Mr Simon Mutisya, said they were considering trimming staff, a decision that will depend on how hard the knock from the pandemic will be on operations. He said the company resumed operations under the on-going lockdown period with about 15 percent of its full workforce.

In an interview on the sidelines of the handover of personal protective equipment to Midlands Provincial Covid-19 taskforce, Mr Mutisya said the company’s raw material supply from South Africa has been affected.

“We need to protect the human resource as much as possible because Covid-19 is threatening people. But this Covid-19 has affected the business side worse. The lock lockdown has resulted in us not producing as much as we should do,” he said.

“Because of Covid-19 we might be forced to retrench our human resources because we are operating far below expectations.”-State media

ZIFA Presidency: Let’s Support Bunjira- Chawanda

ZIMBABWE football legend, Ephraim Chawanda, believes the path to the ZIFA presidency is littered with brutal obstacles and, until the electoral field is level, he won’t vie for the post.

The former Warriors captain, whose Dream Team captured the imagination of the nation, said local football was a minefield.

Throwing his name to try and lead the country’s national sport, said Chawanda, was a different ball game to leading the Warriors in the World Cup or AFCON qualifiers.

Until the landmines which litter the game’s boardroom, making it difficult for people like him to even dream of contesting posts on the ZIFA board, were removed, Chawanda said he would just watch from a distance.

Known as the Rock of Gibraltar, Chawanda, who was crowned Soccer Star of the Year in 1988, is one of the most influential, and respected, personalities in Zimbabwe football.

A tough-as-teak defender, who led his country with both passion and pride during the hey days of the Dream Team, Chawanda said there were too many landmines in domestic football politics.

The situation has created a system where people like him, who have never been part of the administration of local football, are considered outsiders, despite what they did in service for their country.

Those who have been part of the ruling class, including many who have been there for decades, now consider it as a closed shop where newboys are not allowed to be part of the family.

“Look, I don’t know the system but all I can say is that it’s not as beautiful as the game should be,’’ he said.

“It’s a dirty place to be, for now, and only when, and if, the playing field is levelled may I decide to run for office.
“I was a defender remember, I had a good timing of the ball.

“When it’s appropriate, I might decide to run but now, our youngman Alois Bunjira, has made a bold move, let’s support him.’’-State media

Capture of Judiciary And Parliament In Zimbabwe

Pursuant to the illegal and unilateral removal from parliament of Party Chairman, Thabitha Khumalo, SG Hwende, Senator Timvous and Manicaland Provincial Chairman, Hon Mutseyami, we the North America Province would want to unequivocally and unreservedly condemn such shameless abuse of state institutions by the illegitimate government of Emmerson Mnagagwa. We want at the same time to declare our unfaltering support for President Nelson Chamisa and also vouch our unwavering support and solidarity for our four recalled leaders.

As a Province we are now clear that negotiations with the Zanu Pf government will never bring the freedom and justice that the people of Zimbabwe want and deserve. Zanu Pf has literally declared war on the people of Zimbabwe. It is not far from the truth that we are now in a state of war in Zimbabwe. As a province we stand ready to fight alongside our fellow comrades in the trenches. As a province we are ready to defend that which we voted for and he whom we voted for. The patience of Zimbabweans has been stretched and now it’s broken. The continued ill treatment and harassment of our leadership and members has reached unparalleled levels and as a province we cannot take it anymore. Enough is enough!

This statement therefore serves to give notice to Zanu Pf that here in North America we shall lobby all organizations and governments and anyone who care to listen about how President Chamisa extended a hand that was never taken and how the MDC Alliance advocated a peaceful settlement to the deteriorating Socio-political and economic situation in Zimbabwe. We also want to assure our MDC Alliance leadership that we are ready to support them in whatever decision they make going forward. We will do everything possible within the confines of international law to ensure that the will and aspirations of Zimbabweans are realized.

Having said that I would want to urge all NAP members and indeed all Zimbabweans to remain calm, strong and resolute. This is a time for unity and unquestioned loyalty to the goals of our struggle. I pray for an unparalleled spirit of oneness and togetherness as we get ready to confront the enemy. Let’s get ready for a few turbulences but I want to assure you that, at the end of the short journey our proven and battle hardened captain Advocate Nelson Chamisa will land us safely in the new Zimbabwe that is beckoning.

Together we are stronger, together we shall overcome!

Amandla!

Tawanda S Dzvokora
NAP Chairperson

Daring Armed Robbers Raid ZIMRA Depot, Steal “Bronco”

DARING armed robbers raided a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) container depot in Bulawayo and went away with a consignment of 148 boxes of Broncleer, a cough mixture which was banned over abuse as a euphoric drug.

The total value of the contraband, which includes four cases of gin, is about US$20 000.

The stolen goods believed to have been smuggled from South Africa were confiscated by Zimra on Tuesday and the gang struck at the depot on the same day at around 7.30PM.

The suspects were armed with an FN rifle and they threatened to shoot the security guards who were manning the premises in the event that they raised alarm before tying their hands using a rope.

The suspects whose exact number could not ascertained used bolt cutters to destroy the locks at the main gate to access the premises.

They found four security guards and ordered them to lie down at gunpoint before they tied them and offloaded the impounded goods from the truck.

The contraband, which was concealed under a consignment of groceries, was being transported to Bulawayo in a haulage truck when it was intercepted by police in Esigodini.

The truck was seized and taken to the Zimra container depot at Raylton Industrial Area in Bulawayo.-State media

“Zanu PF Desperate To Destroy Opposition Using Captured State Institutions”

Farai Dziva|A showdown is looming between the country’s two main political parties, Zanu PF and MDC, following the recall of the latter’s MPs from Parliament.

In a statement MDC Alliance accused Zanu PF of trying to destroy the voice of democracy through captured state institutions.

Read full statement below :

Today(Tuesday ) the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, purported to recall Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende, Chikanga-Dangamvura MP Prosper Mutseyami, Bulawayo East MP Thabitha Khumalo and Senator Lilian Timveos from Parliament under the unlawful instruction of Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora.

We stand in full solidarity with our Members of Parliament following this unlawful, corrupt act by the Speaker.

We remain a united, unshaken entity under the able leadership of President Nelson Chamisa who was elected constitutionally at the last MDC Alliance congress.

We are aware that the purported recall is the latest of a series of desperate, predatory acts by Emmerson Mnangagwa to attempt to whitewash his legitimacy crisis following the flawed 2018 election. We reiterate that Mnangagwa is illegitimate.

It is a matter of regret that the authoritarian regime of ED Mnangagwa continues to capture state institutions including Parliament and the Judiciary to pursue his agenda of trying to destroy the MDC Alliance.

The People’s Project can’t be destroyed. The people will defend it.

The regime has declared war on us. We gave dialogue a chance but Mnangagwa refused to take the olive branch.

We will constitutionally exercise our right to safeguard our Movement and President Nelson Chamisa.

There’s no struggle without scars. We will not rest until Zimbabwe is free

We Shall Finish Off What We Started In 1999- Biti

Farai Dziva|MDC deputy president Tendai Biti has described the recall of opposition MPs from Parliament as a futile attempt by Emmerson Mnangagwa to destroy the popular movement.

Said Biti: “The illegal recall of our MDC Alliance MPS , @hwendec,
Prosper Mutseyami, Lilian Timveous and Chair Thabita Khumalo from Parliament is reflective of how paranoid and desperate Emmerson is in using the State to destroy our movement led by Advocate
@nelsonchamisa
.We are MDC Alliance nothing else.”

“Throughout history authoritarian regimes and their enablers have tried to hijack and crush people’s cause.

We saw this in the fight against decolonization. Emmerson is not the first . The thing is the struggle for freedom and emancipation can never be smoldered by force or chicanery.

We have never been cowards . We have never yielded on matters of principle . We have been in the trenches for decades . We shall finish off what we started in 1999. So Mr Mnangagwa, nothing you will do will make us retreat or surrender . Not your guns , not your Parliament…”

MDC Students Council Statement On Recall Of MPs

Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House
No. 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue

Wednesday, May 6th 2020

Press Statement on the illegal recalling of our MPs from parliament.

The MDC Students Council is utterly dismayed by the brazen, shameless and desperate attempt to destroy the people’s party by illegally recalling four MDC Alliance MPs namely honourables Charlton Hwende, Thabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Lilian Timveous.

The illegal recall which was engineered by Mwonzora and political lightweight Morgan Komichi working in cahoots with ZANU PF to destroy the people’s party is a contemptuous, disrespectful and cynical move which must be treated with the contempt it deserves.

The four were not elected under the MDC-T ticket, they were elected on the MDC Alliance ticket.

The MDC-T contested as a separate political party and dismally performed in the elections. It is therefore utter undiluted hogwash for Mwonzora to recall the four MPs.

It is Mwonzora and his political lightweight partner, Komichi who must be recalled from parliament because they have ceased to represent the interests of the MDC Alliance by going to bed with a rival political which is led by Thokozani Khupe.

It is clear as daylight that this is a desperate move by the Mwonzora cabal which has failed to win the support of party structures following the duplicitous corona judgement by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. The cabal has been surreptitiously travelling across the country during this lockdown with the brazen assistance of the security forces trying to buy the support of party structures using money.

They have failed and have now resorted to intimidation tactics using the recall procedure to intimidate MPs who are strongly behind President Nelson Chamisa so as to win their support.
Mwonzora and Komichi will not succeed.

They will harvest nothing. Theirs will be a bitter harvest, a harvest of thorns! As the MDC Students Council we would like to remind Mwonzora and cabal that they can never win the support of party structures through intimidation.

They can never impose themselves as leaders of the party. In fact the party structures have rejected and jettisoned them as witnessed by the outcome of the Gweru congress.

We are firmly and solidly behind the structures elected in May 2019 at the Gweru congress under the able leadership of President Nelson Chamisa.

The party cannot be allowed to die and will not die. We will save it.
Prince Gora
Chairperson

+263771135194

Spokesperson

Tamuka Gurure
+263 774109269

MDC

Health Ministry Update On Covid-19

The Ministry would like to report that all the tests done in Harare and Bulawayo on the 4th of May 2020 were negative for COV1D- 19.

Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has 34 confirmed cases including 5 recoveries and 4 deaths.

Today a total of 1 492 tests were done, giving a total of 14 821 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.
Results to follow tomorrow.

The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-I9 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing Additionally, the Ministry would like to remind es cry one that the wearing of masks outside the home is now mandatory for all Zimbabwean citizens and residents.

DOs
Wash your hand. frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Avoid close contact with people who have a fever are coughing or sneezing…

Maintain at least 1 metre (13 feet) distance between yourself and others.

Wear a face mask to cover your nose and mouth
Avoid unnecessary travel.

This Is The Time To Repossess What Was Stolen- Chamisa

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has accused his political rival Emmerson Mnangagwa of using state institutions to “suppress the will of people.”

Chamisa warned Mnangagwa people were ready to repossess what was stolen from them by the regime.

“You can’t rob people forever.
You robbed the 2018 vote.

First you abused ZEC and robbed.
Then abused the ConCourt and robbed.

Then abused the Supreme Court and robbed.
Then abused Parliament and robbed.

Then rob people’s lives daily.
Then rob a whole generation and entire nation.

Now we want everything back!
We shall pursue and recover all!
Zimbabwe this is our call to duty,” said Chamisa.

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka also said:

Zanu PF has declared total war on the people’s democratic movement.

The time for a bold decision is now. This is not even the time to bite the bullet. This is the time to bite the gun.”

“The Zanu PF Regime Has Declared War On Us”

Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has accused his political rival Emmerson Mnangagwa of using state institutions to “suppress the will of people.”

Chamisa warned Mnangagwa people were ready to repossess what was stolen from them by the regime.

“You can’t rob people forever.
You robbed the 2018 vote.

First you abused ZEC and robbed.
Then abused the ConCourt and robbed.

Then abused the Supreme Court and robbed.
Then abused Parliament and robbed.

Then rob people’s lives daily.
Then rob a whole generation and entire nation.

Now we want everything back!
We shall pursue and recover all!
Zimbabwe this is our call to duty,” said Chamisa.

MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka also said:

Zanu PF has declared total war on the people’s democratic movement.

The time for a bold decision is now. This is not even the time to bite the bullet. This is the time to bite the gun.”

Anointed Love Potion Herb-Myth Or Reality?

Farai Dziva| A Masvingo woman has sensationally claimed she became intimate with her husband for the first time in 10 years after administering “Prophet” Isaac Makomichi’ s ” anointed love potion herb.”

Makomichi claims God revealed to him the “miracle working herb”-which he distributes to women and girls across the country. Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and
the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust.

In a statement posted on social media, the woman who identified herself as Mai Two claimed:

“My husband had s*x with me for the first time since 2010.

I had deep marital problems and I therefore decided to use the anointed love portion herb.

After using the herb, I had s*x with my husband for the first time in 10 years.

He used to spend weeks without coming home and when he came he would just face the wall and fall asleep.

I was shunned and despised by my husband for 10 years.

I used the anointed herb for less than a week and everything changed in a miraculous way.”

However church leaders in Masvingo are deeply sceptical of Makomichi’ s “anointed love potion herb” arguing it is against Christian principles.

Asked to prove the authenticity of the herb Makomichi said:

I cannot say much about the anointed love potion herb at the moment.Those who have questions can contact me on :0777469342.”

“Anointed Herb Saved My Marriage”

Farai Dziva| A Masvingo woman has sensationally claimed she became intimate with her husband for the first time in 10 years after administering “Prophet” Isaac Makomichi’ s ” anointed love potion herb.”

Makomichi claims God revealed to him the “miracle working herb”-which he distributes to women and girls across the country. Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and
the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust.

In a statement posted on social media, the woman who identified herself as Mai Two claimed:

“My husband had s*x with me for the first time since 2010.

I had deep marital problems and I therefore decided to use the anointed love portion herb.

After using the herb, I had s*x with my husband for the first time in 10 years.

He used to spend weeks without coming home and when he came he would just face the wall and fall asleep.

I was shunned and despised by my husband for 10 years.

I used the anointed herb for less than a week and everything changed in a miraculous way.”

However church leaders in Masvingo are deeply sceptical of Makomichi’ s “anointed love potion herb” arguing it is against Christian principles.

Asked to prove the authenticity of the herb Makomichi said:

I cannot say much about the anointed love potion herb at the moment.Those who have questions can contact me on :0777469342.”

Why Mwonzora Cannot Lead MDC

Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has said Douglas Mwonzora does not have MDC DNA.”
Beyond the news media headlines that are fizzling away daily, get this right: Mwonzora, Komichi have no capacity to take control of MDC especially Mwonzora.

Political parties have values, history and foundations. Mwonzora does not have MDC DNA!!

Mwonzora’s rag tag group failed to capture MDC Mash East provincial offices last night. MDC youths resisted the attempt and held on to their property. They have now camped at their offices and say all their offices nationally are under control.

Douglas Mwonzora
Douglas Mwonzora

Mwonzora Fails To “Capture” Mash East Party Office

Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has said Douglas Mwonzora does not have MDC DNA.”
Beyond the news media headlines that are fizzling away daily, get this right: Mwonzora, Komichi have no capacity to take control of MDC especially Mwonzora.

Political parties have values, history and foundations. Mwonzora does not have MDC DNA!!

Mwonzora’s rag tag group failed to capture MDC Mash East provincial offices last night. MDC youths resisted the attempt and held on to their property. They have now camped at their offices and say all their offices nationally are under control.

Chamisa Hits Back

By A Correspondent- MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has vowed to fight back against the ruling Zanu PF who are reportedly behind the recent recalling of three MDC Members of Parliament by former MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora.

In an emotionally charged up Twitter post on Wednesday Chamisa said:

“You can’t rob people forever. You robbed the 2018 vote. First you abused ZEC and robbed. Then abused the ConCourt and  robbed. You abused the Supreme Courtand robbed. You abused Parliament and robbed. You rob people’s lives daily. You rob a whole generation. Now we want everything back!

This STATE and the apartheid regime in SA tried to ban the ANC, ZAPU and ZANU. It never worked, in fact, they were strengthened. We are stronger today than yesterday. President Chamisa @nelsonchamisa has built an unstoppable movement and it cannot be stopped by anyone.!

MDC Deputy Spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka said the ruling ZANU PF party had declared war against MDC.

“ZANU PF has declared total war on the people’s democratic movement. The time for a bold decision is now. This is not even the time to bite the bullet. This is the time to bite the gun.” Fumed Tamborinyoka

MDC Resolves To Boycott All Parliament Business In Solidarity With Dismissed MPs.

Reports just received indicate that the MDC Alliance has decided that its MPs will no longer participate in any parliamentary business following the recall of four of its legislators on Tuesday by “reinstated” MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora.

Alliance deputy national spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka made the revelations following a hastily arranged crisis meeting by the Nelson Chamisa led opposition outfit in Harare Wednesday.

“All MDC Alliance MPs will not participate in Parliament and all it’s business. The known legal position is that only the MDC Alliance that can recall or withdraw its own MPs from Parliament. Now another parent is withdrawing someone else’s child from school,” he said.

The crisis meeting chaired by Chamisa follows the expulsion of the MPs by Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda after Mwonzora had written to him seeking their recall.

The affected legislators are; secretary-general and Kuwadzana East MP, Chalton Hwende; House of Assembly chief whip and Dangamvura/Chikanga MP, Prosper Mutseyami; party national chairperson, Tabitha Khumalo and Senate chief whip, Lilian Timveous.

Commenting after the meeting, Chamisa said the party had come up with key resolutions and action points that will be released by Job Sikhala, the party’s deputy national chairperson.

“Coronavirus Aid Will Be Misused To Perpetuate The Lavish Lifestyles Of The Zanu Pf Elite”

By Nomazulu Thata- It sounds irrational and unpatriotic to have such wishes: never give Corona stimulus to Zimbabwean government for whatever reason.

Mthuli Ncube admitted for the first time that Zimbabwe is heading for domestic collapse that can affect the region of southern Africa.

Why write such a letter right in the middle of a pandemic, this country has been at the verge of a collapse for decades. His letter sounded like an ultimatum, a blackmail:

“if you do not give us the fiscal package, then you will face the music.” Somehow the government of Zimbabwe want to make the international money lenders believe that the citizens of Zimbabwe are the responsibility of IMF, World Bank, and the United Kingdom.

We cannot be given more debt when we have domestic and foreign debt running to about 20 billion US dollars: exactly 17 billion US dollars.

What happened to billions of dollars given to us as aid previously? It is not possible to establish what developmental infrastructure upgrade was done as evidence of responsible use of billions of debt accumulation. Was money given through credit facilities used as government recurrent expenditures?

International lenders know how irresponsible some of our African governments’ expenditures are, coupled with unfettered corrupt abuse of offices from the presidents right down to the civil servants.

Corruption has now become part of the culture of some African countries excluding Rwanda of course.

Coming to Zimbabwe and the collapsing economy: Mthuli Ncube is abusing our poverty and our uttermost destitution to justify his begging to feed Mnangagwa’s trough.

It will facilitate unreasonable spending sprees for his boss and those in the government and party. Mnangagwa travels in private jets rented from Swiss companies.

In retrospect, Chancellor Angela Merkel can never do it; she would have left office long back is she travelled on government trip using private jets. Chancellor Merkel uses Luftwaffe like all other government officials for her official journeys.

The last rented private jet for Mnangagwa is supposed to have left Zimbabwe for Switzerland weeks ago because of the corona pandemic; it has considerably grounded Mnangagwa from foreign trips that drain the treasury revenues badly needed for school and hospital, roads, the list is long.

This private jet rentals cost thousands of US dollars per hour, calculating a single foreign journey to about 10 million US dollars on the private jets’ rentals alone.

How many trips has Mnangagwa made ever since he took power from his mentor in 2017? These travelling costs may reach about a billion US dollars, costs incurred by globe-trotting alone.

There is not even one cent brought home from these trips. No intelligent investor can put his/her money in an unstable economy like Zimbabwe.

At best, our political leaders should be termed criminals and thugs to say the least. They have lost connection with the masses evidenced by the way they handled coronavirus pandemic.

Reports of massive corruption of officers assigned to deal with corona pandemic is a classic example of their insensitivity towards the general masses they purport to serve.

Is it inconceivable to imagine the thought processes of an officer embezzling funds meant for relief for vulnerable citizens affected by lockdown pandemic? How low can one stoop: but in Zimbabwe everything is possible.

IMF and World Bank should not give Zimbabwe any kind of assistance because its giving it to the Zanu government: this aid will not reach the people who deserve corona relief package the most.

For ordinary people it makes no difference if the government got the stimulus package or not. Zanu PF’s Mnangagwa government is very irresponsible and inward-looking when it comes to government spending.

It is not as if Zimbabwe does not have resources and money, it is mismanagement of fiscal cash flows that we have not mastered fully as emerging countries.

We need to remember not long ago how Zimbabwe’s government funding was allocated to command agriculture, a sum of 3 billion US dollars was looted without shame by the people intricately connected to Mnangagwa and Chiwenga.

These connections make billions of profits taking advantage of the chaos of a collapsing government: a government that has no clue whatsoever about how to run the nation.

It is interesting how this Zanu PF government has insulted western countries for racism but will go back to beg assistance from them again.

If there is a country that has been insulted for racism and neo-colonialism by Zimbabwean politicians is the UK. We have about under a million citizens in the UK that left Zimbabwe fleeing the collapsing economy: they would rather give their services to foreign governments that will remunerate them according to the services they offer. However, the UK government is looking after Zimbabweans by giving them jobs – a win-win situation.

It is interesting too, despite that Zanu Pf croonies are on record hauling insults to western countries, those western countries will continue to open their purses, send food relief to vulnerable communities through non-governmental organisations, African citizens suffering from chronic food insecurities, have been neglected by their own African  governments.

The western governments know that if they do not given aid to African vulnerable communities especially in rural areas, the rural populations who experience food insecurity will die of hunger.

Our Zanu PF government does not care much about the loss of life. They will not lose sleep because people are dying from hunger.

Without shame, African governments accept relief from western governments and organisations despite insults they shower at every turn.

Our government of Zimbabwe is not even ashamed of running down state institutions to the level we witness today: hospitals, schools, railways, airway system, treasury and road infrastructure are in a state unimaginable rot.

We never thought we could grind Ian Douglas Smith’s economy to the point of declaring ourselves to the international monetary institutions bankrupt and collapsing, a collapse that can threaten the region of southern Africa, Mthuli said.

Smith left Zimbabwe and the nation was dubbed the pearl of Africa, a breadbasket of Africa when he left office as Prime Minister in 1980. Mthuli Ncube is right the collapse of Zimbabwe economy destabilizes the region, the argument not to give the stimulus to Zimbabwe remains the same: the money will not reach out to the poor and the destitute. Better it is not given to us, so that there is no reviving unnecessary expensive jet travelling wherever.  

Where is accountability: a whole cabinet minister openly pockets, loots 93 million US dollars of Zimbabwe pension funds and symphonies the looted cash to Dubai to buy mansions for her private use: That is Prisca Mupfumira? How many billion of diamonds cash was looted by Mugabe and his bane wife to buy mansions in Singapore and Hong Kong? How many billions of dollars did Chiwenga send to China to his private bank account, we citizens shall never see that looted money back, come hail or sunshine.

The African elite do not realize that expropriating money to foreign banks has long term and serious repercussions to the domestic cash-flows.

It is rumoured that Mnangagwa has a villa too in Dubai just in case there is a coup in Zimbabwe, he has somewhere to run away to.

Mnangagwa must maintain the 42 children he sired; this fact, was told us by Jonathan Moyo, his compatriot. How many top of the range cars do the Mnangagwa sons have: these are cars they boast with in dilapidated roads of Harare and Masvingo? These are sons showing off to the hungry citizens that Daddy is in power – Baba vari panyanga.

The IMF and World Bank are supposed to further support this lifestyle of spoiled brats. Please, please we beg you, IMF, and WB, no money for Zimbabwe.

Such corona stimulus only perpetuates lavish lifestyles of the elite. Mthuli Ncube has the audacity to beg money using our destitution, poverty, and hunger.

The International Monetary donors are supposed to open their purses wide and give funding to a government that loots daylight without shame.

We should ask what moral obligation did Mthuli Ncube have to pen such an insulting request to donor banks using our poverty and destitution as the begging card? Mthuli Ncube was advised long back to resign because he is making mistakes at every turn.

He will tarnish his academics if he thinks he can turn Zimbabwe’s economy around not without ending up being part of the looting machine. History books will judge him harshly and hold him accountable for all misdemeanours of the Zanu government of thugs. He is guilty by association.

Finance Minister Ncube is not that he has failed as an economist but the task that he is assigned to do is impossible. How does he allow himself to be fronted by Mnangagwa to beg corona packages wholly meant for further looting? It is shocking that the Zanu Pf croonies surely imagine these financial institutions do not think?

For four decades Zimbabwe has enjoyed free lunch. The UK governments have been giving millions of pounds to the Zanu PF government to cleanse themselves from colonial guilt until Tony Blair put his foot down. When he did, he was labelled a racist.

Ms Clare Short shot the continuous outpouring of billions of pounds sterling to an unthankful Mugabe and Zanu PF.

Until about the turning of the new Millennium, Zimbabwe had healthy cash flow treasuries but because Mugabe and his overrated estimation of himself, he overplayed the gesture of the British government.

His overrated estimation made him think he was president of a world power country like America, UK, and Japan. He sent his army to the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight the Tutsis, a war that has no significance with the national security of Zimbabwe.

As if it was not enough stupidity and craziness; he paid millions of US dollars to war veterans from state coffers, money unbudgeted by state treasury whose revenues were beefed by UK and International Money lenders. How stupid could a learned President called Mugabe still be. Mugabe was supposed to hold a degree in economics, his academic knowledge was found wanting at a time his government needed it most.

It will be good if the International bodies shun us from those corona packages because that money will not reach out to the people who need it most. Instead Mnangagwa’s private jet will fly back because he has money once more for his spending sprees.

Mnangagwa will start useless and stupid journeys that do not bring food on the tables for millions of starving citizens of Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa is emulating his mentor Mugabe who in the last decade of his rule, spent much of his time in the air than in his office.

He must enjoy flying just like him, a Mugabe mark two. Our future generations will be forced to pay all the debts which these criminals are looting today.

We have the danger of leaving unrepayable debt to the coming generations, Africa’s resources are depleting every year. Billions worth of resources leave the continent because our presidents are selling our resources cheaply and some of the contracts do not understand them fully.

African countries have been cheated by China; they think China is a better devil: Far from it. We shall comprehend 50 years later what it means to get aid from China. We can lose the continent easily to China if Africa does not wake up and smell the coffee.

We will be dead then when our children will be confronted with Chinese debts unimaginable by common sense. China will want debts paid in kind. It is all coming when African countries will have to give up their land as debt payment to China.

Just yesterday the president of Ruanda: Paul Kagame sadly for the first time, commented on financial aid Africa is getting from China. He warned other African countries about aid from China. He said, Chinese clandestinely will give African faulty contracts, will never advise the fault lines in the big contracts. Rude awakening on African countries is coming, they treat us like children because we behave like them towards China and the western world.

This is true for Zimbabwe’s Chiwenga who was given a second life by China. He was raised from the dead by Chinese health services that do not exist in Zimbabwe. We hope that Chiwenga paid his health bill with looted cash from Marange diamonds mines.

It is sad enough to have Zimbabwe ruled by semi-literates like Constantine Chiwenga as if Zimbabwe does not have competent people to run it. I suppose this is a story for another day.

MDC Standing Committee Comes Up With Key Resolutions On Way Forward After Recall Of MPs

The MDC has just held a crucial standing Committee Meeting following the dismissal of four of its legislators from parliament by ousted former Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora.

Party leader Nelson Chamisa revealed that the party came up with crucial decisions to take the party forward.

“Just finished chairing a very long and productive MDC Alliance National Standing Committee Zoom meeting. We came up with key resolutions and action points to be released by the Party’s Deputy National Chairperson Hon Job Sikhala. Whatever the case, the die is cast! Victory and freedom to our motherland!Power to the people!,” said Chamisa after the meeting.

More details to follow…..

Daring Illegal Gold Panners Disarm Security Guard, Go On A Robbery Spree

By A Correspondent- An illegal gold panner allegedly teamed up with three accomplices and raided a gold mine in Inyathi where they attacked a security guard before disarming him of his service pistol, which they later used to rob local shops.

Leeroy Ncube (24) of Mahatshula suburb and the three accomplices who are still at large allegedly went to Camstick Mine at Famona Business Centre in Inyathi armed with knives and stones.

Upon arrival, they allegedly struck Mr Nqobizitha Dube who was manning the premises with stones and he fell to the ground. They rushed to the scene and allegedly grabbed him by the neck as he lay on the ground.

The four robbers stabbed him on the leg with a knife before disarming him of a Taurus revolver which was loaded with five rounds of ammunition.

This emerged when Ncube, who is facing robbery charges approached the High Court seeking bail.

Ncube through his lawyers Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers filed an application for bail pending trial at the Bulawayo High Court citing the State as a respondent.

In his bail statement, Ncube is denying the charges, arguing that there was no evidence linking him to the offence.

“I was with my friends watching movies on the day in question and I believe the complainants identification must be tested in light of his alibi,” he said.

Ncube argued that there were no compelling reasons by the investigating officer for him to be denied bail.

“The investigating officer in this case has deposed of an affidavit opposing my bail application. He argued that I was of no fixed abode, was likely to interfere with investigations and that since the stolen firearm has not been recovered, I am likely to regroup with my accomplices who are still at large and commit more robberies if released on bail,” he said.

Ncube challenged the investigating officer’s assertions, saying his grounds for challenging his bail were speculative and baseless.

“It is submitted that the fact that no firearm was recovered from me points to my innocence rather than guilt. The commission of other offences is also purely speculative and not founded on any real fact,” he said.

Ncube said there was no basis by the investigating officer that if released on bail he would abscond.

 He offered to pay $500 bail and to report once a fortnight at Queen Park Police Station as part of the bail conditions.

Ncube also offered to continue residing at his given address until the matter is finalised.

The State is yet to respond.

According to court papers, it was stated that on April 5 this year, Dube was on duty at Camstick Mine in Inyathi when Ncube in the company of three accomplices spotted him from their spot under the cover of darkness.

They allegedly struck Dube with a stone on the right side of the ribs and he fell down before they rushed to the scene.

Ncube grabbed the security guard by the neck and sat on his chest before one of them pulled a knife and struck him on the left leg. Dube managed to positively identify Ncube’s face.

They used the same knife to cut off the buckle of a holster containing his pistol, which was loaded with five rounds of ammunition. They took the firearm and disappeared into the dark. They allegedly used the pistol to rob shops around the area.

On April 21, detectives who were on patrol received a tip off from Dube after he had spotted Ncube at Famona Business Centre in Inyathi leading to his arrest.-StateMedia

BREAKING- Registrar General Arrested For Criminal Abuse Of Office

By A Correspondent- Registrar General Mr Clemence Masango has been arrested for criminal abuse of office and flouting tender procedures in purchase of five service vehicles.

He is now in police custody pending court appearance tomorrow.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) two weeks ago impounded two vehicles for the Central Registry suspected to have been purchased irregularly.

Mr Bwanya wrote a letter to Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary, Mr Aaron Nhepera, alleging that only six vehicles, Isuzu KB250 single cabs were delivered against 11 that the department had procured.

In response, Mr Masango vehemently denied any wrongdoing, saying they bought six vehicles after Treasury revoked the 1:1 parity of the Zimbabwean dollar to the United States dollar.

Mr Nhepera said he had liaised with the Public Service Commission and agreed that there be a forensic audit in the department.

It also emerged that Mr Masango had written to Mr Nhepera to have Mr Bwanya transferred from the department arguing that relations were no longer tenable and that could have an adverse effect on the smooth running of the Central Registry given his strategic position.

“When I received both reports from the RG (Registrar-General) and the chief accountant, I wrote to the PSC for guidance on the way forward, but also giving my proposal view that there be a forensic audit.

“My view to have an audit arose from the fact that I could not make a meaningful decision from the reports I got from the two. The PSC then allowed me to take that route to have a forensic audit by the Auditor-General,” said Mr Nhepera.

He said it was also agreed that ZACC pursues its investigation while the forensic audit was being carried out.

In his meeting with ZACC investigators, Mr Nhepera said it was premature for him to be a complainant in the case in the absence of something tangible like an audit report.

“We held a meeting with ZACC investigators and they wanted to know a number of issues which include procurement procedures. I could obviously not be a complainant in the case when I have not had a clear picture on what transpired.

“But if there is a report which implicates any official, as the accounting officer I am duty bound to be the complainant,” he said.

Mr Nhepera confirmed that he had received a letter from Mr Masango requesting that Mr Bwanya be moved from the department and had sought the views of the chief accountant.

Mr Bwanya said he had written the letter against Mr Masango raising several allegations, insisting that the allegations were well-grounded.

On the other hand, Mr Masango argued that he had not done anything wrong adding that he was ready to have an audit done on all transactions.

In his letter to Mr Nhepera, he criticised four officials from ZACC who impounded two vehicles from the department saying they were colluding with Mr Bwanya, who he said was facing several allegations, some of which could not be disputed.

ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure yesterday said investigations were at an advanced stage and further information would be communicated to the media at the appropriate time.-StateMedia

Thirty Seven Foreigners Escape From Notorious Lindela Semi Prison Repatriation Centre.

South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi

News24|South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has confirmed that 37 illegal foreigners escaped from the Lindela Repatriation Centre on Sunday, after allegedly being aided by security guards contracted by a private company.

Motsoaledi was briefing the media outside the centre in Krugersdorp on Wednesday morning, where he blamed a “war” between security guards and their employer for the escape.

“This escape is an inside job. I can assure you it’s an inside job,” Motsoaledi said.

According to the minister, security guards at the repatriation centre have had issues with their employer, a private company that has been contracted to run Lindela.

The squabble between the employees and employer led to security guards knocking off from work at 14:00 instead of 17:00.

“They (the escapees) were tipped off by guards that they would be leaving early and that they could do what they want.”

‘We are collateral damage’

The escapees then allegedly climbed through the ceilings, before scaling the walls. Motsoaledi said the security guards present were overpowered because other guards had left early.

“So, it’s an inside job. No one could have escaped without being aided by the people inside here. They aided them by telling them they are knocking off earlier.”

Motsoaledi said the guards who left early had since been suspended by the company and that the Department of Home Affairs would deal with the contracted company.

The minister further distanced the department from being held responsible for the escape, pinning it on the private company.

“There is a war between them (security guards) and their employer, we are collateral damage,” Motsoaledi said.

Speaking on issues of Covid-19, the minister said all the people currently detained at the centre had been screened and that two people with high temperatures had been tested. The results had come back negative for the virus.

New Twist To Lesotho Former First Lady’s Murder, She Agreed To Divorce On Day She Was Murdered.

Lesotho’s former first lady, Lipolelo Thabane,

Hours before she was shot dead on the outskirts of the capital, Lesotho’s former first lady, Lipolelo Thabane, made a surprising decision.

According to both a close friend and a well-connected businessman, she agreed to divorce her husband, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, after years of refusing to make way for her rival.

With the blessing of that rival —Thabane’s current wife and first lady — the entrepreneur, Teboho Mojapela, met with Lipolelo on the day of her death to mediate.

“She said: ‘ … I am ready to free him’,” Mojapela told Reuters.

“‘I just want to be looked after.’”

The exchange was confirmed by her friend and confidante Thato Sibolla, who was present at the meeting.

Lipolelo’s change of heart, which has not previously been reported, adds a new twist to a scandal that has attracted rare international attention to Lesotho.

Gunmen ambushed Lipolelo, 58, in her car as she made her way home on the outskirts of the capital Maseru on June 14, 2017. Sibolla was with her in the vehicle.

Two days after the killing, Thabane, now 80, was sworn in for a second term.

Two months later, he married Lipolelo’s successor and one-time rival Maesaiah Liabiloe Ramoholi, now Maesaiah Thabane.

Police charged Maesaiah with Lipolelo’s murder in February and named Thabane as a suspect, though he has yet to be formally charged in court. They both deny any involvement.

In Thabane’s case, the high court must first decide whether he can be prosecuted while in office.

The case has been postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, though Lesotho remains one of a small number of nations yet to register an infection.

Thabane’s own government is trying to force him from office before the end of July, when he said he was willing to step down. It is unclear if he will bow to their demands.

Thabane and his wife declined to be interviewed or respond to written questions while the case is pending, and their lawyers said they had been instructed not to speak to the press.

“He’s waiting for the police to lodge a complaint to court so that he can clear his name,” Thabane’s private secretary, Thabo Thakalekoala, said by telephone.

First lady Maesaiah also “wants to present her side of the story,” her adviser, Manama Letsie, said.

“But she has already been found guilty in the public [opinion] court.”

The high-profile murder case has destabilised a country already in turmoil.

Lesotho has seen four military coups since independence from Britain in 1966.

Thabane was an up-and-coming politician in the All Basotho Convention party when he divorced his first wife, Yayi, and married Lipolelo in 1987.

By the time he became prime minister in 2012, he had filed for another divorce so he could marry Maesaiah.

Maesaiah had gone to court in 2015 to claim the right to be first lady on the basis of a 2012 customary marriage.

She lost the case in 2015, on the grounds that Lipolelo was still married to Thabane.

“There was this perpetual animosity between them,” Lesotho’s deputy police commissioner Paseka Mokete, in charge of the murder investigation, said.

Three days before the killing, a Sunday, Lipolelo asked Sibolla to call Mojapela, a politically connected businessman who had funded the ruling party’s election campaign.

Lipolelo seemed jumpy, was sleeping at friends’ houses and said she feared her life was in danger, Sibolla and a neighbour recalled.

Mojapela, a wealthy money-lender known to friends as JP, was a friend of Thabane and Maesaiah, Sibolla said, and Lipolelo hoped he could mediate a truce between them.

Before meeting with Lipolelo, Mojapela says he sought the blessing of Thabane and Maesaiah.

Maesaiah told him “by all means” mediate, he said, but do not expect the two women to meet face-to-face.

On Wednesday, Sibolla and Lipolelo set off in Lipolelo’s grey Chevrolet minivan to meet Mojapela at his lavish house, decked with Italian-style curtains and gilded furniture, in the SA border town of Ladybrand.

He told them Maesaiah wanted more than anything to be first lady. Lipolelo gave her assent.

After Lipolelo and Sibolla left, Mojapela headed back to Maseru, where he says he met Thabane and Maesaiah at the Fu Li Chinese restaurant at about 6pm and relayed Lipolelo’s message.

“Maesaiah asked me to be more specific about what she wants,” Mojapela said.

Reuters could not confirm the meeting. When a reporter visited the restaurant, it was under new management.

Thabane’s private secretary, Thakalekoala, said he was not aware of a mediation attempt.

Neither was Maesaiah’s close friend, Motlatsi Kompi. The first lady’s aide, Letsie, declined to comment.

Shortly afterwards, Lipolelo was dead.

“I saw the blood running down,” said Sibolla, who was shot twice in the side in the attack. “She was quite light in complexion, so you could really see it.”

Police found 9mm pistol shells at the scene, Mokete, the deputy commissioner, said.

He alleged the killing was carried out by one of several gangs of traditional musicians, who are engaged in a deadly turf war.

— Reuters

Mwonzora, Mnangagwa And Khupe Plan To Set Up A Transitional Authority That Will Keep Mnangagwa In Power For Long….

Dear Editor

Information received from intelligence sources is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Grand Plan to Anhilliate the MDC Alliance. They are waiting for the Thokozani Khupe’s MDCT Congress in 3 months.

After the congress they are going to form a Transitional Government and suspend elections for a longer period. So even by-elections may be suspended subject to ratification by their two thirds majority in parliament.

More details to follow

“It’s Not Zanu PF That Went To Court, Its Them That Went To Court.” Obert Mpofu Says ZANU PF Has No Hand In The MDC Issues.

Obert Mpofu

The ruling Zanu PF party said on Wednesday it was not involved in the unfolding leadership crisis in the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) which early this week resulted in a recall of some of the party’s parliamentarians from the legislature.

Three of the party’s legislators were recalled from the lower house, and one from the upper house on Tuesday in the latest fracas imposed into the party by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled that Nelson Chamisa had illegally grabbed the MDC-T’s presidency after the death of its leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2017.

The ruling handed the party’s leadership to Thokozani Khupe, Tsvangirai’s deputy elected at the MDC-T’s congress in 2014.

After the recall, critics pointed an accusing figure at ZANU PF and government for allegedly stirring up the intra-party troubles.

But Zanu PF secretary for administration, Obert Mpofu on Wednesday scoffed off the accusations, saying the party had no hand in the fracas in the MDC, nor was it interested in it.

He was addressing the media after a Politburo meeting.

“The meeting took cognisance of the disarray in the MDC opposition party, and this exemplified why Zanu PF will forever be the party of the people,” he said.

“That’s (accusations) recognition that we are the party in power, that we are the party of choice. The MDC is grappling with a decision by the Supreme Court – how Zanu PF comes into it is something that we fail to understand,” Mpofu added.

“Why should we enjoy their issues? In any case it’s not Zanu PF that went to court, its them that went to court.”

Charlton Hwende Further Remanded On Treason Charges

Charlton Hwende

The persecuted MDC Alliance Secretary general Chalton Hwende was further remanded out of custody to July 28 for a treason charge at Harare magistrate court today.

Hwende who was yesterday recalled from parliament together with  three other former Parliamentarians from his party shared his remand date on Twitter.

“I have appeared before the Magistrate Court in Harare facing Charges of Treason. I have been remanded to the 28th of July.These are normal political birth pains. The people struggle and Party will be defended and Zanupf and sellouts defeated.” he said.

He was arrested last year following violent protests on fuel price hikes.

Hurungwe Man Trampled To Death By A Herd Of Elephants

A 68-year-old Hurungwe man was trampled to death when a herd of elephants invaded his field on Monday last week.

Kenneth Machengo from Laughing Hills Farm in ward 18, was attacked by one of the seven elephants while harvesting his maize crop.

His body was discovered by villagers with signs of severe injuries sustained during the attack.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, confirmed the incident.

It is sad that one elderly man from Hurungwe lost his life after he was attacked by elephants on Monday (last week), he said. We are, however, doing all we can to drive away the animals as they now have ability further cause damage to crops and loss of human lives.

Due to overpopulation of the elephants, human-animal conflicts are now a major challenge in low lying communities that share boundaries with game reserves.

World bodies have continued to restrict Zimbabwe from killing elephants and selling ivory, resulting in overpopulation.

The Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources programme, which was initiated to financially support people affected by wild animal challenges, is being revived.

Recently, villagers in Mhangura Constituency pleaded with Zimparks to resolve the issue of stray elephants and a pride of lions that were threatening crops, livestock and humans.

Nurses Demanding To Work Two Hours A Week Even During Coronavirus Scourge Meet With Govt. Read Their Full Statement After The Meeting.

Correspondent|The Health Apex Council has met with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Agnes Mahomwa, over the removal of flexible hours.

Last year the government and workers agreed that nurses would report for work twice a week since the economic deterioration in the country had incapacitated them to go to work on a daily basis.

The Health Apex issued a statement after the meeting reporting on what transpired during the meeting.

Read the full statement below:

Health Apex Meeting with the Secretary for Health and Child Care

The major issue that prompted the meeting was the removal of flexible working hours. The Secretary for Health highlighted some points.

1. The decision was directed by the chairman of the COVID-19 taskforce Hon VP Mohadi to inform (tell) the health workers and not negotiate that the flexible working hours have been suspended by the declaration of State of Disaster by the President

2. This move was necessitated by the fact that the health service is preparing a proper response with enough manpower when the COVID-19 cases start to rise towards the peak.

3. The apatite meeting which discussed that directive, unfortunately, ifs minutes are not yet out to look at the deliberations that happened and the proposals given by the Heath Apex.

4. The MoHCC guidelines which were issued and stamped are silent on that pertinent issue pending the availing of the bipartite minutes.

5. The Secretary of Health highlighted that all she wants is a health service ready to deal with cases and that means all health workers on board working full time.

7. That all health workers should come on board to work towards planning and implementation of COVID-19 case management under the proposed pillars.

The Health Apex highlighted that health workers need to:

a) be provided with adequate PPE

b) be provided with enough time away from the exposure of COVID-19

c) be given better remuneration since they are the Frontline of fighting this pandemic.

d) that working hours should be removed by addressing all the raised remuneration is supposed to be pegged at the interbank rate. Both parties agreed to work together and engage more for a better COVID-19 response.

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WorldRemit Expands Cash Pick Up As Zimbabwe Extends Lockdown

By A Correspondent | Zimbabwe has extended its national lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus until the middle of May. President Emmerson Mnangagwa instructed that everyone must wear a mask in public places should they need to go outside, whilst companies can resume operations from 8am to 3pm.

Money transfer company, WorldRemit reports that it has worked closely with authorities to secure cash pick up as an essential service and is pleased to announce a new payout partnership with ContiCash FX offering WorldRemit customers extended coverage now with more cash pick up locations. This wider footprint is vital in this season of Covid-19 as it helps to reduce queuing and environments that compromise the health of customers.

WorldRemit’s banking and non banking partners are also extending opening hours for cash pick up; Monday to Friday 8am – 3pm and Saturday 8am -11.30am. This extension guarantees cash pick up 6 days a week. We urge customers to continue to check the website www.worldremit.com for cash pick-up locations.

Pardon Mujakachi, Head of Sub Saharan Africa, Country Director for Zimbabwe at WorldRemit says “WorldRemit continues to support the government directive on remittances and serve the needs of our customers, especially at this time.”

WorldRemit offers the lowest fees to Zimbabwe from over 50+ send countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. WorldRemit offers a value for money proposition which is supported by a cash guaranteed service through our partners such as BancABC, Steward Bank, ZB Bank and CBZ. “We have seen customers flocking to our platform because of the ultra-low fees and the widest network of cash pick up partners. Our customers in the diaspora can transact at their convenience, 24/7 using our world-class WorldRemit app or by visiting the website”.

Mr Mujakachi continued saying “ with the lockdown in South Africa also extended by another two weeks, we have started to see hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans in South Africa downloading our App. Most of our customers are taking advantage of the 3FREE transactions and low fees to join the WorldRemit network. We are humbled that so many people choose our service to help them send money to their loved ones.”

Don’t forget, there are other great ways to send money which include to bank accounts, mobile money and airtime in Zimbabwe.

With EcoCash your recipient can receive their money in USD directly to their mobile wallets and choose to convert to local currency by dialing *150# and selecting Option
1 for Bureau de Change. For those who want to cash out, they can visit selected Econet shops where cash is guaranteed.

MDC MPs Can’t Quit Parly “Some Of Us Spent Hours In Line To Vote.”

Paul Nyathi|Chipo Dendere, an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College, United States, has advised the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) not to relinquish their “hard-earned” Parliamentary seats as a way to protest recalls of their MPs from Parly.

Dendere tweeted:

“I was chatting with a friend about the MP recalls. They suck but maybe this is the only way to free the opposition from the entitlement of Mwonzora, Khupe & crew. Like ZANU they think we owe them for whatever sacrifice they made. We need a fresh start and the 20-year mark is fine

“They should recall the MPs. This is the time for everyone who supports the opposition to show our support with $ donations for new elections. For as long as Khupe thinks we owe her for joining the party in 1999 we can’t progress. Let them burn their legacies for cheap silver

“I disagree with the suggestions that MDC MPs should march out of parliament. DO NOT GIVE up seats. Some of us spent hours in line to vote. Voters voted for you. ZANU must not have a 2/3 majority because the constitution matters. Quitting parliament would be shortsighted.

“If Mwonzora recalls MPs – people will vote again in by-elections. What this shows is that Mwonzora doesn’t care about the people. He is a power-hungry person. No majority will vote for him or Khupe for president. They just don’t have the fuel needed to move the country forward

“We had a general election in 2018. Neither Khupe or Mwonzora had the votes. They are so petty they would rather burn the entire house down than admit that maybe it’s time to accept different roles in the movement. They don’t care at all about the efforts of ordinary men & women.

“It actually quite upsetting if you think deeply about it. What’s their reasoning for recalling MPs beyond selfish motives? Like seriously – in what world does Mwonzora think he would be chosen as a party front runner. No offence but seriously? Even Khupe – come on!!! “

Chipo Dendere, an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College

“I Am Still To Own A House But My Daughter Was Arrested Over Human Trafficking,” Mother Of Released Million Dollar Human Trafficking Network Speaks

A 34-YEAR-OLD woman convicted of human trafficking caused a stir upon her release at Chikurubi female prison yesterday.

Norest Maruma put on her dancing shoes to meet her mother Memory Maruma, 52, celebrating her release that distracted prison officers and inmates who remained caged.

The two shortly turned female prison entrance to a stage where they showcased their dancing antics rejoicing for Norest’s pardoning.

She waved her hands saying goodbye to the remaining inmates and went on to lead her mother into thanking prison officers for the rehabilitation she went through while serving her sentence which was initially put at 20 years.

Norest was among the 55 female inmates pardoned by the Amended General Amnesty granted by President Mnangagwa through Clemency Order 1 of 2020.

Mnangagwa releases Woman jailed 50 years for human trafficking from prison

In an interview, Norest said prison life has taught her the importance of freedom saying life without any cent is best than losing freedom.

“I thank President Mnangagwa and Amai Mnangagwa for giving me another chance to taste freedom I never thought would enjoy,” said Norest.

“My life in Kuwait as a maid was so enjoyable that I thought of linking my fellow Zimbabweans unaware that I was committing an offense.

“Ignorance is not a defense before the courts of law.

“Today I feel rejuvenated, God has answered my prayers and that of my mother who wept and collapsed the day I was convicted.

“I have every reason to celebrate my freedom for it is more important than having money and losing such liberty.
“The day I arrived at Robert International Airport from Kuwait, I was shocked to meet armed police officers and was dragged and freedom disappeared faster than dew.

“It was like the end of my life and I never dreamt of having another chance, surely crime does not pay and with that I thank Amai Mnangagwa’s visit here and assured us hope and wiped my tears in prison,” said Norest.

Gogo Maruma, popularly known as Madzimai Memory of Johanne Masowe yeChishanu, showed H-Metro her swollen leg she claimed was fractured on the day Norest was convicted.

“My prayers have been heard. Kudenga kuna Mwari handina kana mari yandakadya pamhosva yemwana wangu hapana,” she said in tears.

“Today I will celebrate freedom of my only daughter and God blessed me with two children.

“I am still to own a house but my daughter was arrested over human trafficking I want to believe involves a lot of money but hey Mwari vandinyaradza and even my leg is to heal faster,” said Madzimai Memory.

H Metro

Mnangagwa Lockdown Transport Arrangements Completely Isolating Rural Communities

Citizens in some rural communities are stranded and unable to travel to attend any emergencies as a result of the government ban on public transport operations. Commuter omnibuses remain prohibited from operating under lockdown regulations stipulated in S.I. 99 of 2020.

The impact of travel restrictions has been felt deeply in communities where locals are dependent on commuter omnibuses to travel from one point to another. At the beginning of the initial lockdown, the government banned all public transport operations and allowed ZUPCO to be the only mode of transportation.

The transport situation has been worsened by the absence of ZUPCO buses in rural as operators shun the routes due to the deplorable state of roads.

Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Teams in various parts of Matabeleland have reported that community members have been facing serious challenges accessing transport to attend to emergencies such as funerals and medication for chronic ailments. The Action Teams have also called on the government to consider their challenges by introducing mandatory measures to ensure that public transport ply their routes.

Umzingwane Ward 5 villagers reportedly walk to a hiking spot along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway. The same is happening in Insiza Ward 2 where villagers walk to the high way to catch buses from Masvingo. Villagers from Matobo South are also stranded as they have no means to get to Maphisa to catch a bus to Bulawayo. In Bulilima Ward 10 and Nkayi Ward 5, villagers are reportedly bemoaning the increasing prices of basic commodities as local retailers take advantage of unavailability of transport for people to access cheaper commodities elsewhere.

The prevailing transport situation has left families who rushed to their rural homes under the notion that the lockdown was only three weeks stranded.

The situation in urban areas has seen an acute shortage of ZUPCO buses, forcing citizens to endure long winding queues waiting for transport. Social distancing is totally disregarded in these queues.

Habakkuk Trust urges the government to provide ZUPCO buses to ply rural routes to facilitate essential movement in rural communities.

Source: Habakkuk Trust

Registrar General Arrested By ZACC Over Six Missing Brand New Ford Ranger Vehicles

Clement Masango

Paul Nyathi|Reports just received indicate that Registrar General Clement Masango has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission over irregularities in the purchase of Ford Ranger Vehicles for the Department.

According to the reports, Masango was picked by police and is currently detained at Mabelreign Police Station.

Masango is at the centre of a forensic audit commissioned by Government to look into allegations that he could have procured vehicles for the Central Registry’s office without following stipulated requirements.

Auditor-General Ms Mildred Chiri has been roped in to investigate the case that was raised by the chief accountant in the Registrar-General’s Department, Mr Peter Bwanya.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) two weeks ago impounded two vehicles for the Central Registry suspected to have been purchased irregularly.

Mr Bwanya wrote a letter to Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Permanent Secretary, Mr Aaron Nhepera, alleging that only six vehicles, Isuzu KB250 single cabs were delivered against 11 that the department had procured.

In response, Mr Masango vehemently denied any wrongdoing, saying they bought six vehicles after Treasury revoked the 1:1 parity of the Zimbabwean dollar to the United States dollar.

More To Follow…

MDC Students Council Statement On Econet, NetOne Data Price Increase

Tuesday, 5th May 2020

Press Statement on the recent Data Price Reviews by Econet and NetOne

The MDC Students Council notes with utter dismay the decision to review data tarrifs upwards by mobile operators econet and netone. This comes at a time where most institutions of higher learning across the country are conducting online lectures for some programmes since 30 March 2020 when the national lockdown started rendering physical college attendance impossible.

While we are supportive of the move to conduct online lectures, we are worried that many disadvantaged students will not be able to access education.

Only a handful of students (about 15%) can afford to buy data or have access to WiFi in the country. Most of us are incapacitated and depend heavily on our hard pressed parents and guardians for support.

This hike in data tarrifs is going to make the situation worse than it already is. It disenfranchises the majority of the students in the country especially given the fact that students have already paid fees for the semester (which was also burdensome) and was covering the internet itself. We now need more money to pay for a service that we have already paid for.

When the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Professer Amon Murwira urged universities to go digital, he stopped short of urging network operators to reduce data tariffs or provide assistance to students who will need to access e-learning platforms. We are appealing to him to make that call now.

We appeal to network service providers to help learners with free internet access as the cost of internet data which was already beyond the reach of many students has once again risen. If need be, they should offer us a special “e-learning” bundle which is affordable and allows students to access e-learning platforms. We are reaching out for help to our network service providers to assist us in this time of need.

Following a wave of fees hikes that was effected by all universities earlier this year forcing hundreds of students to defer their studies, we feel that our education system is slowly turning out to be for the rich only. We need to stop that from happening and allowing free access to e-learning platforms is one way of doing so.

Prince Gora
Chairperson
Hither Rujeko Mpambwa
Secretary General