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:
Make hand hygiene a global priority
Inspire hand hygiene and behavior change
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:
After using the toilet 2.Before preparing or handling food 3.After changing diapers or nappies
If hands are visibly soiled Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
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:
Make hand hygiene a global priority
Inspire hand hygiene and behavior change
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:
After using the toilet 2.Before preparing or handling food 3.After changing diapers or nappies
If hands are visibly soiled Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IS NOT SHAKEN BY THE DESPERATE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL RECALL OF ITS MPS BY THE ZANUPF SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT.
As Mdc Alliance Namibia district, we are not perturbed by the desperate and unconstitutional recall of our Mdc Alliance Mps.
We are Social Democrats nurtured and groamed by the Icon of democracy Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as a result we resolutely remain behind our diligent Mps in the names of our Secretary General Charlton Hwende, Chairperson Thabitha Khumalo, Chief Whip Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Lillian Timveos.
We pledge to give our undoubted solidarity to our gallant Social Transformers who are being tortured and persecuted by the politically inept regime.
Mdc Alliance Namibia district would like to make it categorically clear that President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and his vibrant legislators,party leadership and membership are the panacea to Socio-economic transformation. Zanupf captured courts can not impose their allies as our leaders.
Thokozani Khupe fell off the rail of the National Democratic Revolution when she tried in vain to fight the Politics of the Big Tent, a brainchild of the late MdcT President Morgan Tsvangirai.
Furthermore, Thokozani Khupe fought the late President Morgan Tsvangirai till his death, they never reconciled until he died on the 14th of February 2018,May his soul rest in power. Being in the trenches for the past the past two decades fighting against Zanupf Thugocracy is not a minute struggle. We lost a lot of Heroes and Heroines,some butchered and others maimed by these Stomach politicians of rhetoric and self-aggrandisement.
Mwonzora and Komichi must remember that our pillar and source of inspiration is Morgan Richard Tsvangirai who left Advocate Nelson Chamisa with us to complete the National Democratic Revolution practising politics of the BIG TENT, individual glory and personal pursuits are not part of our core values as Social Democrats.
Khupe and her cronies are Zanupf puppets. Our leader is Wamba dia Wamba. Simple!
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance National Organising Secretary, Amos Chibaya has said the recall of party MPs is a desperate attempt by the “cornered Zanu PF regime to thwart the struggle for democracy.”
Below is Chibaya’s statement :
All MDC Leadership, Structures and Membership
The illegal recalling of our National Chairperson, Hon Thabitha Khumalo, Secretary General, Hon Chalton Hwende, DTG Sen Lilian Timiveos and Chief Whip Hon, Prosper Mutseyami from Parliament is a serious and systematic attempt to defeat the will of the people which nonetheless emboldens our resolve to fight the regime.
We stand in solidarity with our Members of Parliament and shall not be deterred.
It’s no longer business as usual, we shall stand up, fight and defend the struggle.
This is a political struggle that requires all of us to hold fort and remain resolute in defense of the movement and peope’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
I therefore urge all MDC leaders, members and supporters not to panic and be moved by such moves and be rest assured that we will continue to provide leadership and guidance amidst attempts to frustrate and destroy 20 years of resolute struggle against zanu pf’s stolen claim to state power.
The attempts to smuggle the Zanu pf cheerleaders and sponsored fanatics into the leadership of the MDC shall be resisted at all fronts and by all means necessary. We unequivocally reject and will never accept a leadership forced upon us by Zanu PF.
The political battlefield remains a people’s turf and we shall jealously guard the people’s wishes and will. Lets remain focused on the goal and objectives of our struggle and not be diverted, we shall be communicating the Party’s direction and way forward through the Provincial leadership and relevant structures.
To all our MPs, Councillors and public officials do not panic and be disturbed by this assault on the democratic foundations of our struggle, remain focused on the people’s mandate as their preferred representatives elected in the 2018 elections. We will ensure that the people”s will is respected and protected.
Together we shall complete the change and deliver hope and good governance under the people’s President Nelson Chamisa.
Hon Amos Chibaya National Organising and Party Building Secretary.
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
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.”
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…”
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.
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.”
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.”
MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende has been further remanded to the 28th of July in his treason case.
Posting on Twitter after appearing before Harare Magistrates Court today, Hwende said his arrest and subsequent appearance at the courts are normal political birth pains warning that they will defend themselves against Zanu PF and former allies in Dr Thokozani Khupe and Douglas Mwonzora.
“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,” said Hwende.
Hwende was arrested in 2019 January following violent protests that were instigated by fuel price increases.
By A Correspondent- A plane with Covid-19 fight consignment from UAE has landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport this morning.
The consignment was received by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Foreign Affairs minister Sibusiso Moyo, Health minister Obadiah Moyo and Local Government minister July Moyo among other dignitaries.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates
Following dramatic developments in which four MDC Alliance legislators were dismissed from parliament at the whims of Douglas Mwonzora and many other events happening in the opposition party, ZimEye digs deep into the source of the problem and what this could turn to.
MultiChoice Zimbabwe has announced price increases for its DStv packages as of June 1.
The DStv Lite package will increase from US$7 to US$8 while the Access package will increase from US$11 to US$13. Family package will increase from US$17 to US$19, Compact package from US$25 to US$29, Compact Plus from US$40 to US$45, Premium from US$65 to US$75, HD PVR Premium from US$76 to US$88, XtraView access fee from US$11 to US$13 and Indian package from US$32 to US$37.
This price adjustment comes at a time the broadcast satellite service is seemingly running out of content, evidenced by the repeats of its programming with some popular dramas being put on hold due to the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
In a statement, MultiChoice Zimbabwe said: “Effective 1 June, 2020, the prevailing 14,5 percent VAT charge in Zimbabwe will be incorporated in DStv subscriptions charges.
“Accordingly, DStv monthly subscription fees will be adjusted for the first time in four years.
They added that they value has been added as they have increased their channels and added latest movies to BoxOffice for their customer’s viewing.
“In appreciation of the tough times in Zimbabwe, the business is adding value to its customers at a time when they need it. DStv added more channels to its line-up, brought more of the latest movies to BoxOffice and acquired the best award-winning documentaries from around the globe through SuperSport.”
Meanwhile, more than 100 000 South Africans have signed an online petition demanding that DStv drops its prices as they do not have fresh content to offer as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. South Africans had their DStv prices hiked last month.
MDC-T President Thokozani Khupe has fought for her allies in parliament Priscillar Misihairambwi and Senator Mildred Reason Dube after writing to the Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda advising him to disregard correspondences from her Secretary General Nixon Nyikadzino.
Nyikadzino better known as Cde Mao recently wrote to Mudenda recalling Mushonga and Dube from parliament.
With Mudenda appearing to have taken sides with Khupe’s grouping after announcing the expulsion of Charlton Hwende, Tabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Lilian Timveos following a letter of recall from Douglas Mwonzora, it appears the Speaker will likely go with Khupe’s word bringing an end to Nyikadzino’s spirited fight for the control of the MDC-T.
In her letter to Mudenda Khupe said she assumed the leadership of the MDC-T following a Supreme Court ruling which nullified leadership changes in the two factions of the MDC that emerged following the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
“I refer to the judgement of the High Court by Justice Mushore in the Mashavira vs Movement for Democratic Change and others, Case No HH 302-19 and the subsequent judgement of the Supreme Court in the case of Movement for Democratic Change and others vs Elias Mashavira and others case number SC56/20. In terms of both judgements the original MDC leadership of the united MDC-T party, I was confirmed as the lawful Acting President of that party.
“Therefore the two Members of Parliament, Hon P Misihairambwi-Mushonga and Hon M Mangena are Members of Parliament of the united MDC-T party which is led by me.
“It follows therefore, that all correspondence regarding the two honorable members and any other member of the MDC-T party of the will done through the office of the MDC-T Secretary General Senator Douglas Mwonzora. Kindly therefore ignore any other correspondence from any other person regarding the above,” said Khupe.
By A Correspondent- Telecel while debunking social media reports circulating that it is about to shut down said it was opening more of its shops and franchises to serve its customers who need service during the lockdown.
In the statement below, The MNO said it is in the business for the long haul and it was already to serve its customers:
There has been a recycled and fabricated article from 2015 alleging Telecel Zimbabwe is closing down. Please be informed this is false and must be treated as fake news.
We are actually opening more of our shops and franchises following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions by the authorities. We will keep focused on our customers as we push to deliver our renowned value in these trying times.
Thank you for your continued support over the years
Meanwhile, a few weeks back Telecel slashed some of its employees’ salaries to ZWL$800.-Techunzipped
You can’t rob people forever. You robbed the 2018 vote. First you abused ZEC & robbed. Then abused the ConCourt& robbed. You abused the Supreme Court& robbed. You abused Parliament & robbed. You rob people’s lives daily. You rob a whole generation. Now we want everything back!
Zupco is bringing its 500 franchised kombis back into operation, while the Government is allowing operators of conventional buses with valid operating permits to ferry people to and from work.
Since all formal sector businesses were allowed to reopen on Monday and lockdown movement restrictions were as a consequence relaxed, Zupco has been battling to move commuters to and from work, with people having to wait, at times, for several hours while others breached safety and lockdown rules by grabbing rides in trucks.
Zupco acting chief executive officer Mr Evaristo Madangwa said the commuter omnibuses started operating on Monday in Harare and Bulawayo with full operation expected throughout this week in other towns and cities.
“We have noted that after the announcement of Level 2 of the national lockdown, the number of people increased as they wanted to go to work. We then reintroduced those commuter omnibuses that were using the Zupco franchising system.
“There are about 500 commuter omnibuses and about 507 buses operating countrywide,” he said.
While many operators of conventional buses already have vehicles in the franchised Zupco fleet, unfranchised buses can now be put on the road so long as the operator has a valid operating permit.
Clarifying on who qualifies to be a public transporter and will be allowed to transport people during the lockdown, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said anyone in the transport business with a valid permit was eligible to transport people to and from work.
President Mnangagwa last Friday announced Level 2 of the national lockdown where he said public buses would only be the mode of transport.
“Bus operators must ensure that their buses are disinfected twice daily, and that commuters wear masks, have their temperatures checked and hands sanitised before boarding buses. Social distancing must also be maintained within all buses,” he said.More in Home
But independent kombis and smaller taxis are not permitted to operate. Said Mr Mangwana: “The President has been very clear on the issue of buses. It is very clear that those in the transport business have not been stopped. They were not stopped from operating as long as they have operating licences.”
Mr Mangwana, however, said buses were not allowed to operate between cities. “Intercity movement is not allowed, meaning buses are not allowed to move from one city to the other,” he said.
After the outcry by many regarding Econet’s decision to hike pricing of data bundles yesterday, NetOne has followed suit after 24 hours;
Before flocking to NetOne for better deals, here’s what subscribers will now have to pay for the different types of data on offer at NetOne;
One-Fi
One-Fi is particularly interesting because a lot of the outrage generated by Econet was because of the review of their Private Wi-Fi bundle. For NetOne One-Fi remains priced similarly;
This means $400 will still get you 25GB whilst ZW$800 and ZW$1000 get you 50GB and 80GB respectively. All of the packages are valid for a month.
This came as a surprise because NetOne and Econet have followed each other closely when it comes to pricing.
This is a massive difference in pricing that might result in NetOne gaining a few thousand subscribers.
Bundled data
Other bundles i.e the hourly, daily, weekly and monthly bundles are as follows:
Price
Data allocation
Validity
Hourly
$15
1000MB
1 Hour
Daily
$5
30MB
24 hours
$10
80MB
24 hours
$20
200MB
24 hours
$30
480MB
24 hours
$50
960MB
24 hours
$60
1200MB
24 hours
Weekly
$5
28MB
1 Week
$10
60MB
1 Week
$25
160MB
1 Week
$50
350MB
1 Week
$95
700MB
1 Week
Monthly
$40
220MB
30 Days
$100
560MB
30 Days
$150
960MB
30 Days
$250
1760MB
30 Days
$400
3200MB
30 Days
Social media bundles
Platform
Price
Data Allocation
Validity
Facebook
$3
20MB
1 Day
$5
30MB
1 Day
$10
70MB
Weekly
$20
140MB
Weekly
$30
210MB
Monthly
$50
400MB
Monthly
WhatsApp
$3
20MB
1 Day
$5
30MB
1 Day
$10
70MB
Weekly
$20
140MB
Weekly
$30
210MB
Monthly
$50
400MB
Monthly
Instagram
$3
20MB
1 Day
$5
30MB
1 Day
$10
70MB
Weekly
$20
140MB
Weekly
$30
210MB
Monthly
$50
400MB
Monthly
Twitter
$3
20MB
1 Day
$5
30MB
1 Day
$10
70MB
Weekly
$20
140MB
Weekly
$30
210MB
Monthly
$50
400MB
Monthly
Subscribers interested in the night bundle will now pay $20 for 1GB
SMS Bundles
SMS bundles also got revised and are now structured as follows;
Doctor attending to a failing Coronavirus patient.
Agents|An Italian doctor illustrated the sad final moments of the different patients he was with before they finally gave in to death.
He said he saw so many patients infected with Covid-19 say their final goodbyes to their loved ones and relatives before dying.
The Italian Doctor said “watching patients during their final moments alone, listening to their cry and plea to say their last goodbyes to their wives, husbands and love-ones breaks my heart”
“Looking at them, it just seems as though they’ve partly crossed to the other side but still waiting to see their loved ones one last time before letting go completely” he added.
“I see their tears as they cry like babies, so many of them struggling to live as the minutes count and I feel totally sad cause I can’t help beyond my abilities and it hurts me and the other doctors. Most times, we can’t hold the tears so we just cry along while consoling them” the doctor added.
He also spoke about the really sad moment where he tried everything humanly possible within his power to save one of the critically ill patients, the doctor said: ‘I had to take out my phone and called his wife on video so they say goodbye for the last time’.
Italy has been tormented hard by the virus, so many families have lost people they love. The Virus hit them at a time they weren’t prepared for it. My heart weeps for those who have been denied life by the virus.
By A Correspondent- The women who arrived in Zimbabwe on 7 April 2020 from Botswana are still quarantined at a Bulawayo facility where they are yet to get their coronavirus tests results.
In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, the women said they are now being treated like prisoners where they are not allowed to ask questions regarding their overstay.
Said one of the women:
“The social welfare officers do not even want to talk to us and when we ask about our test results, no- one is forthcoming with any answers.
We are being treated like prisoners where we are not allowed to ask any questions but we have overstayed because today marks 30 days in quarantine.”
The women said their life at the United College of Education in Bulawayo is not only a pain in the neck but they are now being subjected to soldiers and police brutality.
“We are chased away by soldiers and one of the ladies fell and hurt herself while fleeing from them. The soldiers are also not only rude but they converse in Ndebele and expect us to understand even when we tell them that we cannot speak or hear the language.”
One of the women at the centre also said that they were being denied medication for other ailments besides HIV.
“Only those who are on ART are being given drugs but some of us who suffer from other ailments such as BP, we are told to fend the medication for ourselves. Asking the social welfare officials to go and buy the medication for us is also a challenge because they refuse to go and buy the medication for us. We are suffering.”
Watch the live video loading below for a first hand account of the women’s challenges at the Bulawayo quarantine facility….
By A Correspondent- The European Union is set to blacklist Zimbabwe and other counties that pose a financial risk to the union because of money laundering and terrorism financing shortfalls.
According to a local publication, Reuters claims it has documents in its possession that show that Zimbabwe, Botswana and Ghana are the only 3 African countries on the European Union’s list of counties to be blacklisted tomorrow because they “pose significant threats to the financial system of the EU“:
Countries on the list “pose significant threats to the financial system of the EU,” the draft document, which is still subject to changes, says.
Under EU law, banks and other financial and tax firms are obliged to scrutinise more closely their clients who have dealings with countries on the list.
Reuters|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.
Under EU law, banks and other financial and tax firms are obliged to scrutinise more closely their clients who have dealings with countries on the list.
The World Bank will give Zimbabwe US$7 million to support the country’s response to Covid-19, despite the loan arrears. Of that amount, US$5m will come from the Global Financing Facility Trust Fund & the rest will be redirected from the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project.
North Korea is commonly known for its involvement in Nuclear weapons which has made many states to fear them in case of war outbreak. Also their leader Kim jong Un is among the leaders who has been criticized by US President Donald Trump for his involvement in making of Nuclear weapons but the North Korean leader is always stubborn and most of the times seems to be less concerned by the criticism.
Last week reports went online that the North Korean leader is dead. This is because he did not appear in public media for close to twenty days. This was escalated by China sending some medical experts to check on Kim jong Un. Many thought his health has detoriated on seeing China’s decision to help by sending medical experts.
The North Korean leader appeared in public recently bringing to an end speculations that he was seriously ill and that he is unable to walk. He appeared walking briskly at an event attended by hundreds of officials. He was seen cutting ribbons in inauguration of a fertilizer plant.
Some leaders and defectors in North Korea have been forced to apologize for what they said about Kim Jong Un. One defector, Thae Yong Ho, who was deputy ambassador to Britain was forced to apologize for what he said about Kim Jong Un. He said in statement, ” I feel the blame and responsibility, whatever the reason i apologize to everyone “.
Other defector, also a member of parliament, Ji sinng-Ho who also said he was confident Kim Jong Un is dead, was also forced to apologize and withdraw his comments.
By Own Correspondent| The Government of Japan today announced an additional US$14.8 million in funding to meet the essential food security needs of vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ).
Through this funding, WFP will be able to procure and deliver approximately 25,600 metric tonnes of maize by June 2020, which will be distributed to vulnerable people across Zimbabwe through the GoZ’s food assistance programme, the Food Deficit Mitigation Strategy (FDMS). It is expected that it will meet the essential food security needs of 512,000 households in rural areas for a period of six months.
Recurring droughts and the negative effects of economic conditions have resulted in Zimbabwe currently facing one of its most severe food security crises. A recent nationwide assessment, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), showed that the number of acutely food insecure Zimbabweans has risen to 4.3 million, from 3.8 million at the end of last year. The total number of food insecure people now stands at 7.7 million.
“We welcome this generous and timely contribution from the Government and people of Japan to support the food needs of Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable people, who are struggling to put food on the table. The maize procured to support the Government’s efforts will help to cushion Zimbabweans at the peak of the hunger season”, said Mr Eddie Rowe, WFP Country Representative and Director.
H.E. Mr Toshiyuki Iwado, the Ambassador of Japan to Zimbabwe, said “Japan has relied on the expertise of WFP to provide food assistance and build the resilience of drought-affected communities for many years. Given the extent and severity of the current food insecurity crisis in Zimbabwe, the Government of Japan decided to increase its funding even further. We expect this food assistance to support the immediate food needs of many of the most vulnerable households.”
Japan’s previous support to vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe through WFP provided food assistance while at the same time strengthening community resilience through the creation of productive assets, such as weir dams and nutrition gardens. It also provided much-needed nutritional support to expectant mothers at maternity waiting homes across the country.
Donor countries, including Japan, have contributed to WFP’s immediate response plan, but it still has a shortfall of US$130 million. With Zimbabwe’s already severe hunger crisis deepening and the current COVID-19 pandemic threatening to exacerbate this situation, additional funding is urgently needed. While supporting the country’s response to the pandemic, WFP has a critical role to play by sustaining its scaled-up food assistance programme, which must be delivered at full capacity.
In accepting the donation, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable J. Moyo stated that, ‘The donation by the Government of Japan has come at an opportune time when the Government is grappling to address food insecurity which has resulted from the 2019/2020 drought and the current economic reforms’. He added that, Zimbabwe’s appeal for humanitarian assistance now stands at USD2 billion and that the much needed assistance will leave visible footprints in the most vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe.
The Government of Zimbabwe commends the World Food Programme (WFP) for the tremendous role they continue to play in rendering assistance to the food insecure households in Zimbabwe.
South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni is not sounding like a man who is enjoying his office anymore.
The minister is now lamenting lack of freedom and political constraints being brought by his current post in government. He labelled serving in the government as an abusive job.
The minister in his own words does not seem to enjoy the limitations and obeying collective decisions being made.
The minister complained about the lack of gratitude leaders get and the remuneration which he views as too little.
Last night through his Twitter account, Tito Mboweni expressed his grief in two emotional messages.
The first one read:
Not so long ago, I was a free man, no political constraints. Then I agreed, voluntarily to join Government. Tjoooo! Free but not free!! You have to obey the majority/collective decisions! Sometimes it feels like swallowing a rock!?
I have often asked myself the question: What is the art of politics? The Path to Power and how to stay in Power! And lead your People correctly. Corruption free. Why do people want to be in Power, actually? Why? It’s a poorly paying, thankless and abusive job!!
Perhaps the sentiments by Mboweni could be a bitter lesson for our own Mthuli Ncube who certainly appears to be in the same predicament.
Mboweni, like Mthuli Ncube, has previously worked in private sector and public sector where they made good names for themselves.
Many are now worried that the finance minister will soon be announcing his resignation as contrary opinions don’t seem to be welcome in that cabal.
Unlike our Mthuli Ncube, who has tangled himself in ZANU PF politics to his determinant, with Mboweni’s leadership in finances there is nothing to criticize as he has always stayed true to his words.
Many are pleading with the minister to keep leading the finances as people need him more during this tough time, something that most Zimbabweans will not wish for Mthuli Ncube.
However some are saying the utterances of Mr Mboweni are those of a spoilt child.
In country where at least 60% of its citizens lived below poverty line before Covid-19, earning more than R2,4 million per annum excluding benefits, cannot be classified as being poorly paid as the minister is putting it.
It is therefore noble for Mr. Tito Mboweni to resign as it seems the government is offering him too little and his ideas are being thwarted.
Lesson for Mthuli Ncube from Mboweni, true leadership is not about sercuring a position or titles but rather about leaving a legacy and sercuring the next generation.
The government of Zimbabwe through the Minister of Finance and Economic Development has with immediate gazetted Statutory Instrument 80 of 2020 which enforces interoperability across all mobile network operators and money transmission, enforcing mobile money players to share switches, while it also takes over the sole role of authorizing tariffs.
This move simply means one can now send money from Telecash to Ecocash, One Money or vice versa, plus any other operator like sendmetoo, sendmoney etc, a very exciting move to the users but disruptive to the operators.
The reserve bank has also announced that all money transmission providers will only charge below their regulated fees, meaning they now determine ceiling costs with punitive measures against any violations.
The money transmission providers shall be monitored in real time and the reserve bank must be given such access to any licensed operator, though the only access level shall be limited to read only.
While the move will be greatly celebrated by subscribers, it seems it is more motivated by need to control black market foreign currency trading, which have heavily driven the foreign currency rates.
Zimbabwean billionaire Mr. Strive Masiyiwa Has been appointed to coordinate a private sector-led continental effort to produce critical personal protective equipment (PPE) and other essential supplies in the fight against covid 19 by the African Union chairman and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This was announced during a teleconference meeting of the bureau of the assembly to the AU Heads of state last week with chairpersons of the regional economic communities of the AU.
The African Leaders have agreed to work together in the fight of Covid 19 and acknowledged the efforts of African leader in their respective countries to contain the virus and adopt measures to mitigate against its socio-economic impact.
Strive Masiyiwa is the founder and executive chairman of the telecommunication, technology and renewable energy company Econet global. He is considered one Of Africa’s most generous humanitarians. Masiiwa also funds initiatives in public health by supporting a diverse range of Health issues including campaigns against HIV/AIDS, malnutrition and more recently Ebola. It’s no doubt why Ramaphosa has appointed him for the covid 19 pandemic.
In this dire time of need solidarity is the one thing that is going to help us fight this pandemic. This shows unity amongst business people and the African leaders to fight the pandemic.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) notes with concern the premature lifting of lockdown restrictions by the Government of Zimbabwe without meeting the six (6) conditions prescribed by the World Health Organization for lifting lockdown restrictions.
President Mnangagwa reviewed the lockdown restrictions through Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 on 01 May 2020 and effectively allowed the movement of citizens with wearing masks being mandatory. Zimbabwe has not conducted sufficient tests and contact tracing, to warrant an easing of restrictions, in fact the country the country has been dogged by limited test kits in public health facilities.
By transferring the burden of testing and public safety to corporates, Government, in our view has abdicated its social and responsibility and constitutional duty as required by section 76(1) of the Zimbabwe Constitution.
In our view, the premature lifting of the lockdown lacks a coherent strategy to deal with the spread and impact of COVID-19 and government has relegated its duty of containing the spread by requiring corporates to conduct testing and enforcing social distancing at the workplace. The World Health Organization set the following standard conditions for the lifting of restrictions:
a) Disease transmission is under control b) Health systems are able to “detect, test, isolate and treat every case and trace every contact” c) Hot spot risks are minimized in vulnerable places, such as nursing homes d) Schools, workplaces and other essential places have established preventive measures e) The risk of importing new cases “can be managed” f) Communities are fully educated, engaged and empowered to live under a new normal
We note with concern that Zimbabwe has not met the conditions set by WHO to allow the country to open up commerce and industry amid rising cases of local transmissions and posthumous COVID-19 confirmations. By easing the lockdown restrictions government has surrendered to fate at a time that the repurposing of health facilities is ongoing at a snail’s pace and minimum public education on the disease is available.
In fact the Ministry of Health and Child Care only began its community outreach targeting high-density suburbs on 02 May 2020 after announcing a partial lockdown.
Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions has not corresponded with the reality facing citizens. By ordering the mandatory wearing of masks without access for vulnerable groups, government has left already impoverished citizens at the mercy of unscrupulous businesses. In the absence of a comprehensive public education programme, masks may pose greater risks to citizens.
We urge the government to urgently review SI 99 of 2020 by extending a lockdown that is supported by extensive testing and contact tracing and immediate social safety nets that are commensurate with the new Poverty Datum Line of ZW$6,240.87. We reiterate that in the interest of public health and safety, Government should only consider relaxing the lockdown restrictions after satisfactorily meeting the six (6) preconditions set by WHO.
The following issues should form the gist of the national prevention and response plan:
a. The urgent and speedy repurposing of healthcare facilities to ensure that citizens have access to COVID-19 screening, testing and treatment facilities and general healthcare is available, accessible and affordable to every citizen who needs it. b. Restoring public confidence in the health care system by establishing more resilient health care systems, adequately equipping facilities and incentivizing health workforce. c. Government must immediately dispatch financial assistance to vulnerable groups targeting the 8,5 million citizens who face starvation and those in the informal sector whose livelihoods were destroyed. In the absence of a social cushioning facility, social or physical distancing in Zimbabwe will remain a pipe dream, as citizens will continue to crowd in search of basic commodities. d. Periodic and timely updates on progress, explaining each stage or phase to citizens, to insulate citizens against the spread of the virus
THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on workers to immediately stop reporting for work until government gets its house in order for a Coronavirus free workplace for workers.
In a statement, ZCTU secretary-general, Japhet Moyo said government has neglected the safety of the workers and thrown them to workplaces with inadequate preparations.
He said the neglect raised serious concerns as workers had been left exposed to higher risks of being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He urged the workers to boycott work until the conditions were met.
Read the full statement below:
We note with serious concern that when the government of Zimbabwe announced that the country was down grading its fight against COVID19 to stage 2, it was not yet ready and therefore exposing workers to much greater risks.
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) is disturbed that the government abrogated its role and suddenly parcelled out its responsibilities to the private sector employers and health institutions when it comes to testing, provision of face masks, and even sanitisation of the work places.
The new guidelines for Level 2 that were announced by government have created pandemonium and more confusion. It is clear that the government did not consult enough on level 2 and its implications on the ground.
The ZCTU is concerned that the government once again failed to consult the Tripartite Negotiating Forum(TNF) in this crucial decision hence even employers were not ready to accept workers back at the work stations as seen by the fact that workers travelled to work only to be returned back home.
I think we need to emphasize that there was no consultations at TNF and therefore the policy lacks the inputs of labour and employers.
We demand that an urgent TNF meeting be convened to deal with the challenges workers now face as a result of the ill informed decision.
The hard pressed workers are now scrounging for money to buy substandard face masks to go to work. In any case there is no guarantee that the testing kits are not contaminated with Corona virus.
Worse still there was inadequate transport arrangement for workers to go to work and most of them were left stranded as the public transport provider, ZUPCO failed to cope.
The ZCTU therefore urges workers to stop going to work under these circumstances that could potentially expose them to the Corona virus until they are satisfied that they are safe.
By Farai D Hove| The government of Zimbabwe has performed a u-turn on forcing employers to test their workers for COVID-19.
This new position was confirmed by the spokesman, Nick Mangwana who tweeting Wednesday morning said:
Shortage of testing kits has resulted in challenges for firms to have their employees tested. Govt has now given firms a temporary reprieve.They will still need to test their employees as soon as kits are available. In the meantime; -Temp check -Sanitise -Mask -Social Distance
Zanu PF UK Youth league chairman Farai Kudhlakwazinda known as @FaraiMuvuti speaks on 2 bottle donation to St Paul's Musami Hospital: He says 30000 litres of sanitizers donated yet only 130 litres accounted for, can this be proof of corruption?
Zanu PF UK Youth league chairman Farai Kudhlakwazinda known as @FaraiMuvuti speaks on 2 bottle donation to St Paul's Musami Hospital: He says 30000 litres of sanitizers donated yet only 130 litres accounted for, can this be proof of corruption @ZanuPFYLUK ? pic.twitter.com/OAACufK2NF
The Ministry of Health and Child Care reports that no new cases have emerged this far from tests done on Tuesday.
The country has entered its fifth day with no new cases besides an intensified testing programme. Almost 15 000 people have been tested so far and only 34 cases confirmed with four deaths.
State Media|The ban on second-hand clothes imports must be strictly enforced after Cabinet was briefed on smuggling rackets in south-eastern Zimbabwe that could see more Covid-19 cases as a result.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in her briefing after the meeting that “the apparent increase in the smuggling of second-hand clothes into the country through border posts such as Mt Selinda and Sango poses unprecedented danger of contracting COVID-19 by those who wear them. Government will henceforth upscale the enforcement of the law banning the importation of second-hand clothes”.
Turning to prices, she said: “Cabinet noted with concern the surging in prices of basic goods despite the recently agreed price moratorium by all the stakeholders,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
During the meeting, Ministers presented reports on the 100-day priority projects. Cabinet noted that some of the projects were hampered by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Matema informed Cabinet that 3 060 ICT gadgets comprising iPads, laptops, projectors and accessories had been distributed to 60 primary schools in Lupane district;
Minister Mutsvangwa said Minister Mathema updated Cabinet that upgrading and registering of satellite schools in Midlands, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West was 76,6 percent complete and that maintenance of teaching and learning infrastructure in the Midlands Province stood at 97,5 percent among other projects.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima told colleagues that sign language training for 100 social welfare officers was halfway complete and that training of 300 sub-national staff on the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) procedures and policies was at 36 percent complete, with 109 officers having been trained. BEAM is a programme to provide assistance to disadvantaged families to ensure their children can attend school.
Minister Mutsvangwa said her Local Government and Public Works counterpart July Moyo said the construction of block B under the ZRP Tomlinson Flats Project is 98 percent complete, with plumbing and electrical works almost complete.
Minister Moyo also gave an update on other various projects under his ministry dotted around the country including the construction of 10 housing units in the Tsholotsho Disaster Recovery Project which are now 60 percent complete.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi gave a progress report on the decentralisation of Legal Aid Directorate to Chiredzi, Beitbridge and Chivhu.
In his presentation Minister Ziyambi said under the Food Production Enhancement Project in the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, achievements include the planting of the 422 hectares of maize, 80 hectares of cow peas, and 18,3 hectares of sugar beans, which are now being harvested; four hectares of horticultural crops under drip irrigation; and seven hectares under overhead irrigation.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube presented a report on the Open Budget Survey of 2019, which covers 117 countries globally and Cabinet noted with satisfaction that Zimbabwe has moved up in the global and regional rankings to 3 in Africa and 52 in the world.
NewsDay|TOGARA Munemo (49), a civil servant is a dejected man.
As he stands at the gate, the family man is not certain about what will become of him during this COVID-19 lockdown after he was ejected from his rented house by the new property owner.
His tale is that of many families who have been subjected to evictions by property owners despite the current lockdown rules and ravaging effects of the coronavirus.
The civil servant and his family spent Friday night in the open after the new house owner, Mubaiwa Dzvuke allegedly chucked them out and moved in.
Dzvuke is the MDC Alliance councillor for Nyameni high-density suburb.
“We were given notice in February to leave the property and I complied,” Munemo said.
“I then found another house and paid the rentals anticipating to move in by the end of this month.
“However, the tenant living in the house I am to occupy did not relocate to Harare as planned due to the lockdown. The new house owner did not take any of that into account and threw us out. We slept in the open.”
When NewsDay visited the house, Munemo was still outside with his family and property.
“I have been staying here for the past two years, but I am worried how I am going to secure another accommodation given the current situation.
“My new landlord understood my issue and did let the outgoing tenant stay until this is over. I thought Dzvuke would understand the situation better as a policymaker, but that’s not it,” Munemo said.
Munemo is currently sleeping in the open with his eight family members, among them children despite the cold nights often experienced in Marondera.
Dzvuke yesterday confirmed being the new owner and said Munemo refused to sleep in the house.
“I bought the house in January and gave Munemo notice,” Dzvuke said.
“He was not my tenant and I did not even ask for rentals.
“He kept on saying he was set to occupy a house whose tenant is set to relocate to Harare. The deal was for them to move out on Workers Day.
“When I arrived at the house as per our agreement, Munemo’s wife started moving their property out. When her husband returned, he called an army official and told them their story. I even created two rooms for them to put their things and possibly sleep, but they refused,” Dzvuke said.
In a bid to protect tenants whose source of income was affected by the lockdown, President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week deferred payment of rentals, ordering landlords to accept payment of rental arrears in instalments after the COVID-19 lockdown period. Evictions were also outlawed.
Statutory Instrument 97 2020 reads: “Any person who causes or forces or attempts to cause or force the eviction of any protected tenant or protected mortgagor for asserting or exercising any of his or her rights under these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”
However, Munemo’s case is a different one as it is not about rentals. For now, he will continue sleeping in the open until he secures new lodgings.
Zupco is bringing its 500 franchised kombis back into operation, while the Government is allowing operators of conventional buses with valid operating permits to ferry people to and from work.
Since all formal sector businesses were allowed to reopen on Monday and lockdown movement restrictions were as a consequence relaxed, Zupco has been battling to move commuters to and from work, with people having to wait, at times, for several hours while others breached safety and lockdown rules by grabbing rides in trucks.
Zupco acting chief executive officer Mr Evaristo Madangwa said the commuter omnibuses started operating on Monday in Harare and Bulawayo with full operation expected throughout this week in other towns and cities.
“We have noted that after the announcement of Level 2 of the national lockdown, the number of people increased as they wanted to go to work. We then reintroduced those commuter omnibuses that were using the Zupco franchising system.
“There are about 500 commuter omnibuses and about 507 buses operating countrywide,” he said.
While many operators of conventional buses already have vehicles in the franchised Zupco fleet, unfranchised buses can now be put on the road so long as the operator has a valid operating permit.
Clarifying on who qualifies to be a public transporter and will be allowed to transport people during the lockdown, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said anyone in the transport business with a valid permit was eligible to transport people to and from work.
President Mnangagwa last Friday announced Level 2 of the national lockdown where he said public buses would only be the mode of transport.
“Bus operators must ensure that their buses are disinfected twice daily, and that commuters wear masks, have their temperatures checked and hands sanitised before boarding buses. Social distancing must also be maintained within all buses,” he said.
But independent kombis and smaller taxis are not permitted to operate. Said Mr Mangwana: “The President has been very clear on the issue of buses. It is very clear that those in the transport business have not been stopped. They were not stopped from operating as long as they have operating licences.”
Mr Mangwana, however, said buses were not allowed to operate between cities. “Intercity movement is not allowed, meaning buses are not allowed to move from one city to the other,” he said.
Dr Prosper Chonzi director Health Services at City of Harare
State Media|Government should consider standardising rapid test kits for mandatory testing of all employees to ensure quality results.
The call comes amid reports of some “fake” test kits on the market.
Public health expert Dr Prosper Chonzi who is also director Health Services at City of Harare said some test kits provide negative results when in actual fact the person would be positive.
“It is commendable that as people go back to work we want to know their status as far as Covid-19 is concerned. For me, rapid test would be a good starting point, but my concern is to do with quality of test kits to be used.
“If people are then asked to go and buy own test kits and bring them to the health worker for them to get tested without giving them specifics, it might compromise the whole exercise,” said Dr Chonzi.
He said to ensure that companies use validated test kits, Government should prescribe the actual type of test kits that are supposed to be used in the process or give testing institutions a provision to buy the kits and add an administration fee to the testing process in order to guarantee quality results.
“If people just procure rapid test kits from anywhere, without proper validation either by WHO, Ministry of Health or the Laboratory Scientist Council, then we run a risk of having people importing and selling fake rapid test kits in the country.
“We will then have false results, either false positives or false negatives.
“If they are false negatives, it gives us a false sense of security, if they are false positives it then impacts on our resources for the national response,” said Dr Chonzi.
He said procuring test kits as a country could also result in cheaper kits owing to economies of scale.
Zimbabwe Medical Doctors Association (ZIMA) President, Dr Francis Chiwora added that while it is good for Government to test and treat everyone, use of RDT should not be an option because of its inaccuracies.
He said Government must instead expedite the use of GeneXpert machines in testing for Covid-19 arguing that it was cheaper while giving accurate results.
“This is what they are using in South Africa, it’s less expensive and effective,” said Dr Chiwora.
The gold standard of testing for Covid-19, which is the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is estimated to cost between US$45 and US$65 per test against about US$25 for RDT.
The Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians (ZCPHP) said using RDT will only be costly, but with little value.
“If any of the above is positive, the employees should have an antigen based (PCR) test,” reads part of a statement from the physicians.
It said Government must also ensure that companies must adhere to basic hygiene measures that include hand hygiene, cough etiquette, social distancing by reorganising work places, compulsory wearing of face masks and continued education on Covid-19.
“ZCPHP strongly recommends not conducting mandatory testing of all employees with RDTs since this is going to be costly and has little value.”
Yesterday, Ministry of Health and Child Care issued guidelines on how the mandatory testing would be rolled out.
Norest Marumha celebrates from with her mother after being released on parole.
State Media|Another 2 528 prisoners were released yesterday under the amended amnesty proclaimed by President Mnangagwa shortening their jail terms to time served.
They join 1 680 others who were freed in March.
Among those released yesterday were 172 women, with Norest Marumha possibly getting the largest remission since she was sentenced more than two years ago for 20 years over a human trafficking scandal that left several women stranded in Kuwait.
She was the local agent in a trafficking saga that saw Zimbabwean women lured to the Middle East on false promises of good jobs.
Six of those released yesterday were serving life terms, having completed at least 20 years behind bars to qualify for clemency, including murderer Jorum Siwela — a former Chapungu Football Club player — who killed his rival suitor in a love triangle 22 years ago.
The inmates going home yesterday came from prisons across the country. Harare prisons released 396, Mashonaland Central 259, Mashonaland West 283, Mashonaland East 242, Manicaland 321, Midlands 322, Masvingo 162, Bulawayo 280, Matabeleland North 98, and Matabeleland South 165.
In an interview, Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) Officer Commanding Harare province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Alvord Gapare said the Presidential clemency will ease pressure on the available resources.
“The release of inmates will go a long way in reducing pressure on available resources,” he said. “It decongests our prisons and we commend the President for pardoning these prisoners.
“Before releasing them, we carried a voluntary Covid-19 testing and we are happy that their results came out negative. We also educated them on the health measures they should observe to prevent the spread of the pandemic.
“We also assisted them with letters and bus fare to see them through to their destinations.” One of the pardoned life prisoners, James Dube, thanked Government for the freedom.
“I was arrested for murder in 1996 at the age of 22 in Gokwe,” he said. “I was sentenced to death in 1998. Later, I was removed from death to life sentence.
“I want to thank President Mnangagwa for this amnesty. I thought I would die in prison, but the President has pardoned me. I am now a free man. I have learnt a lot during these years and I urge the remaining inmates to behave well.”
Another life prisoner from Harare Central Remand Prison, Jacob Harineki, was freed after serving 22 years for murder. Harineki was jailed at 34 before being released yesterday at the age of 56.
“I came to jail at a young age,” he said. “I had nothing and now I am going back into the society with nothing. I appeal to anyone who can employ me so that I can start my life again.”
Another freed life inmate, Maxwell Sibanda (56), had nowhere to go after release, but Pastor Dickson Moyo of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church came to his rescue. Sibanda had served 26 years for murder before his life sentence was cut to the 26 years he had served.
Pastor Moyo, who is the church’s prison director, offered to take Sibanda to his home until he finds his relatives. “We must always be there for other people when they are in need,” he said. “This is not our first time as SDA to assist prisoners who do not have anywhere to go after their release.”
Norest Marumha, the Kuwait trafficking local agent, could not hide her joy on tasting freedom yesterday.
“On my first day in prison, I was depressed,” she said. “That was the same day thousands of pardoned inmates were leaving this place. That night I could not sleep. I was always in tears. However, I want to thank officers here who, through a series of counselling sessions, managed to calm me down until I accepted my situation.
“Today I got a new lease of life. I am going out there as a new creature, completely changed for the better. I want to thank my President for giving us another chance.”
Marumha’s mother, who preferred to be addressed as Madzimai Memory, was in tears of joy, hugging and kissing her daughter. “When my daughter was sentenced to 20 years in prison, I collapsed,” she said. “I could not believe it. Every weekend I would visit her here. I only stopped due to the lockdown. Everyday, I would kneel to pray for my daughter and today, my prayers have been answered.”
Zanu PF will today convene a Politburo meeting at its headquarters in Harare at a time when the Government is grappling with Covid-19 which has rattled the global economy.
The ruling party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Simon Khaya Moyo, confirmed the meeting in a statement yesterday.
It is understood that the Covid-19 virus issue and the Government’s financial rescue package will come up for discussion during the meeting.
“The Secretary for Administration Cde Obert Mpofu wishes to advise all the members that there shall be a Politburo meeting to be held on Wednesday, 6 May 2020 at the party headquarters commencing 1000 hours,” said Cde Khaya Moyo in a statement.
State Media|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has closed an unspecified number of mobile money agent lines suspected to have been fuelling exchange rate volatility.
A source within the central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) told The Herald that the suspension of the mobile money agent lines and accounts across all networks was meant to facilitate investigations into potential illegal foreign currency activities.
The majority of financial transactions in Zimbabwe are conducted on mobile platforms with EcoCash accounting for about 95 percent of the volumes and the remainder by NetOne’s OneMoney.
Preliminary indications from the FIU show that transactions valued at more than $75 million were being executed on the agent lines even though the nature of their businesses did not support such huge money movement.
What heightened suspicion was the fact that the value of transactions remained “excessively high” despite the country being under the Covid-19 enforced lockdown for the past five weeks.
“That is the law of the FIU,” said a source within the Reserve Bank who declined to be identified citing confidentiality. They want to ensure that people or businesses with the agent lines are bona fide entities and they have to prove the source of their funding. The FIU, which tracks financial transactions in this country, wants mobile operators to enhance their Know Your Customer framework after establishing that there is weak KYC enforcement given the amount of suspicious transactions.
“It is not only EcoCash, but it is a market wide matter whereby the FIU want operators to enforce KYC principles. Therefore they have frozen suspected agent lines so that each matter can be evaluated on a case by case basis.”
The source said the objective of the blitz was to curb illegal transactions that could be artificially driving the exchange rate volatility, thereby fuelling inflation.
Recently, the RBZ suspended some bureaux de change and micro finance institutions over suspected illegal forex activities causing exponential depreciation of the domestic currency.
This is widely believed to be the driving force behind a sustained rise in prices, which has seen inflation galloping to new record levels.
Companies opening under Level 2 of the Covid-19 national lockdown can now postpone testing until kits are accessible with employers, but must ensure staff undergo screening that involves temperature testing and hand sanitisation before they enter the workplace.
Cabinet made the adjustment yesterday to the conditions after realising that companies were facing difficulties in acquiring the rapid results test kits.
The testing requirement was only postponed, with companies still required to organise the rapid results tests as soon as this is reasonably possible.
After the Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said only workers with temperatures above the range set by the Ministry of Health of Health and Child Care would be required to undergo mandatory testing in a ministry facility.
“Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 requires companies in the commercial and industrial sectors which are opening for the first time during the period of lockdown to have all their employees tested for the Covid-19 virus using the rapid results test,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
“This is a condition precedent. It has since transpired that companies are experiencing difficulties in accessing the rapid results test kits for testing their employees.”
To allow commercial and industrial companies to re-open under the relaxation of the lockdown, “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:
“Temperature tests upon entering work premises, hand sanitisers upon entry to sanitise their hands, each employee to wear a face mask in appropriate form and employees to practise social distancing in the work place.
“In the event that an employee has a temperature which is above that which the Ministry of Health and Child Care considers requires further testing, then such employee shall not be admitted to the work place, but shall immediately be referred to a facility of the Ministry of Health and Child Care to enable a Rapid Result Test, to be administered on such employee.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said in the event that the employee tested positive for the rapid results test, then the employee shall be referred to a place of quarantine in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
Said the Minister: “For the avoidance of doubt, companies shall remain under an obligation to subject all their employees to the rapid results tests as soon as reasonably possible during the period of the declaration of the Covid-19 virus as a formidable epidemic disease by the Minister of Health and Child Care.”
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet agreed on the establishment of a local consortium of researchers drawn from IamBYO-Fighting Covid-19 initiative, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Zimbabwe (UZ).
State Media|The ban on second-hand clothes imports must be strictly enforced after Cabinet was briefed on smuggling rackets in south-eastern Zimbabwe that could see more Covid-19 cases as a result.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in her briefing after the meeting that “the apparent increase in the smuggling of second-hand clothes into the country through border posts such as Mt Selinda and Sango poses unprecedented danger of contracting COVID-19 by those who wear them. Government will henceforth upscale the enforcement of the law banning the importation of second-hand clothes”.
Turning to prices, she said: “Cabinet noted with concern the surging in prices of basic goods despite the recently agreed price moratorium by all the stakeholders,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
During the meeting, Ministers presented reports on the 100-day priority projects. Cabinet noted that some of the projects were hampered by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Matema informed Cabinet that 3 060 ICT gadgets comprising iPads, laptops, projectors and accessories had been distributed to 60 primary schools in Lupane district;
Minister Mutsvangwa said Minister Mathema updated Cabinet that upgrading and registering of satellite schools in Midlands, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West was 76,6 percent complete and that maintenance of teaching and learning infrastructure in the Midlands Province stood at 97,5 percent among other projects.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima told colleagues that sign language training for 100 social welfare officers was halfway complete and that training of 300 sub-national staff on the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) procedures and policies was at 36 percent complete, with 109 officers having been trained. BEAM is a programme to provide assistance to disadvantaged families to ensure their children can attend school.
Minister Mutsvangwa said her Local Government and Public Works counterpart July Moyo said the construction of block B under the ZRP Tomlinson Flats Project is 98 percent complete, with plumbing and electrical works almost complete.
Minister Moyo also gave an update on other various projects under his ministry dotted around the country including the construction of 10 housing units in the Tsholotsho Disaster Recovery Project which are now 60 percent complete.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi gave a progress report on the decentralisation of Legal Aid Directorate to Chiredzi, Beitbridge and Chivhu.
In his presentation Minister Ziyambi said under the Food Production Enhancement Project in the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, achievements include the planting of the 422 hectares of maize, 80 hectares of cow peas, and 18,3 hectares of sugar beans, which are now being harvested; four hectares of horticultural crops under drip irrigation; and seven hectares under overhead irrigation.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube presented a report on the Open Budget Survey of 2019, which covers 117 countries globally and Cabinet noted with satisfaction that Zimbabwe has moved up in the global and regional rankings to 3 in Africa and 52 in the world.
Gospel artiste Pastor Charles Charamba says challenges being faced by musicians due to the Covid-19-induced national lockdown should inspire deep understanding about the advantages of new information technology and investment.
Musicians largely depended on live shows, but the lockdown has turned the tables and brought in a new phase that calls for virtual interaction and dependence on other forms of investment as sources of income.
In an interview about the challenges and lessons he has faced and learnt under the current dark cloud engulfing the arts sector and many other facets globally, Pastor Charamba said the disadvantages at hand should bring out positive mindsets for betterment of careers.
He is among artistes that have embraced online live shows as a way of maintaining interactions with fans. In addition to the live performances, online music sales and advertisements have become common ways for musicians to reach out to their fans.
While other artistes have extended begging bowls in this challenging time, Pastor Charamba said he is privileged to be among musicians who have managed to use their talents as springboards to many avenues of investment and income.
The musician said he still manages to financially support members of his Fishers of Men group despite absence of live shows.
He said he manages to get income from his other investments to keep his basic expenses covered.
“This era has taught us a lot as musicians. We have traditionally depended on live shows as our cash cow and many of us have been badly caught up in this era of minimised movements and prohibited gatherings,” said Pastor Charamba.
“The use of technology for various non-personal interactions is now a need of great importance.
Musicians should embrace technology and realise that there are many other ways of operating in this era. Those who remain resistant to change may lose relevance.”
Pastor Charamba said they are currently doing most of their online shows as a social responsibility gesture.-State media
HAUNTED murderer Jorum Siwela, who spent 22 years of sleepless nights in prison, was yesterday freed on amnesty and immediately embarked on a hunt for the victim’s family to apologise and compensate for the loss.
Siwela, a former Chapungu Football Club player, believes avenging spirits were tormenting him as his emissaries failed to locate his victim’s family members for over a decade. He killed his rival suitor 22 years ago.
Siwela claims violent nightmares, and images of the murder he committed back in 1998, flash in his sleep. “Most of the times I find it difficult to sleep,” he said.
“I always dream of the person I killed. The name of the victim was Ullistas Mukowachimwe.
Sometimes he appears in my dreams, talking to me. He will be asking me why I killed him.
“At times I am beaten up by people who I do not see. I feel someone is beating me up so hard despite the fact that I will be alone in a room.
The problem that I am facing now is to locate his relatives, my parents have been trying to find them, but without success.”
Sources said the victim’s father and sibling were murdered a few months after Siwela’s arrest, making it difficult for his emissaries to locate the relatives.
Another uncle to the deceased, who also lived in Gweru, reportedly vanished without a trace.
Siwela was sentenced to life, but he finally tested freedom yesterday, courtesy of the recently amended Clemency Order gazetted last week.-State media
MDC ALLIANCE ASSEMBLY OF WOMEN STATEMENT ON RECALL OF OUR MPs BY THOKOZANI KHUPE
The MDC Alliance Assembly of Women learnt with great shock the recalling of our MPs namely Hon C Hwende, the Secretary General, Hon T Khumalo, the National Chair and Leader of the House, Hon Mutseyami, the Chief Whip in the House of Assembly and lastly Hon Timvious, the Chief Whip in the Senate by Thokozani Khupe.
What astonished us is that Khupe has her own party MDC T which contested in the 2018 elections and got 1 PR MP and 1 Senator whilst on the other hand we went to the same elections as MDC Alliance and got our MPs and Senators as well, so she had no right to recall our MPs. We know that Zanu PF has its hand on all this as it tries very hard to destabilise our party and our President.
We therefore would want to categorically state that we are standing in solidarity with our MPs and our President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and no amount of threats will deter us from focusing on liberating this country as the backbone of the party. We will remain resolute and steadfast as we fight for our rights and freedoms.
We therefore urge all the women structures to stay on the alert as we await direction from the leadership on the wayforward. Nothing can stop the idea whose time has come. Aluta continua! Amandla!
The ban on second-hand clothes imports must be strictly enforced after Cabinet was briefed on smuggling rackets in south-eastern Zimbabwe that could see more Covid-19 cases as a result.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in her briefing after the meeting that “the apparent increase in the smuggling of second-hand clothes into the country through border posts such as Mt Selinda and Sango poses unprecedented danger of contracting COVID-19 by those who wear them.
Government will henceforth upscale the enforcement of the law banning the importation of second-hand clothes”.
Turning to prices, she said: “Cabinet noted with concern the surging in prices of basic goods despite the recently agreed price moratorium by all the stakeholders,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
During the meeting, Ministers presented reports on the 100-day priority projects.
Cabinet noted that some of the projects were hampered by the Covid-19 lockdown.-State media
Dear editor- On Monday I came face to face with the alarming level of incompetence and lack of professionalism within the police force.
I went to Masvingo Central Police Station to seek permission to travel to my rural home to see my sick brother – with the intention of taking him to hospital.
To my surprise the officers on duty tossed me from one office to another and I had to spend close to four hours at Masvingo Central Police Station.
While I eventually managed to have my application letter stamped, scores of people in the same predicament were denied permission to travel to their respective rural areas.
Some people literally wept as they were harassed by junior cops.As much as police officers are determined to enforce the lockdown restrictions, they must also be aware of the fact that people don’t just travel for fun.
I was pushed by the desire to save the life of our my sick brother- nothing else.
I would like to make a passionate appeal to the Police Commissioner and the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency.
I am willing to present my case to President Mnangagwa and the Police Commissioner General – that I will certainly do, mark my words- worried citizen
Farai Dziva| A Masvingo resident has said he is ready to present evidence of “gross police ineptitude” to Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ZRP Commissioner General.
See letter below:
Dear editor- On Monday I came face to face with the alarming level of incompetence and lack of professionalism within the police force.
I went to Masvingo Central Police Station to seek permission to travel to my rural home to see my sick brother – with the intention of taking him to hospital.
To my surprise the officers on duty tossed me from one office to another and I had to spend close to four hours at Masvingo Central Police Station.
While I eventually managed to have my application letter stamped, scores of people in the same predicament were denied permission to travel to their respective rural areas.
Some people literally wept as they were harassed by junior cops.As much as police officers are determined to enforce the lockdown restrictions, they must also be aware of the fact that people don’t just travel for fun.
I was pushed by the desire to save the life of our my sick brother- nothing else.
I would like to make a passionate appeal to the Police Commissioner and the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe to resolve the issue as a matter of urgency.
I am willing to present my case to President Mnangagwa and the Police Commissioner General – that I will certainly do, mark my words- worried citizen
Farai Dziva|Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda has just announced that Nelson Chamisa’s key MPs are no longer serving the august house following their recall in April 2020.
Said Mudenda, “on the 3rd of April 2020 Parliament was notified by the Movement Of Democratic Change Tsvangirai party, MDC-T that hon. C Hwende, member of parliament of Kuwadzana Constituency, Hon T Khumalo, Proportional Rep Of Bulawayo Province, Hon, T Mutseyami, MP of Chikanga Dangamvura Constituency have ceased to be members of the MDC-T party and therefore no longer represent the interest of the party and therefore Section 159 1a of the Constitution Of Zimbabwe provides that and I quote, ‘the seat of a member of parliament becomes vacant if the member has ceased to belong to the political party on which he or she was a member …
Commenting on Mudenda’ s announcement, political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya said:
Corona Parliament sitting to implement a corona lockdown judgement.
Agenda is to attempt to destroy MDC @nelsonchamisa while there are restrictions for political organization. But this will fail.
Khupe and Mwonzora recall MPs Hwende, Tabitha Khumalo and Mutseyami during Parliament sitting.
These are MDC Alliance MPs. Let the politics begin. The ZANU PF hand has clearly come out!
By A Correspondent | An outstanding black Zimbabwean male nurse has died. Mr Simon Nkomo was working at a hospital in the southern part of England.
Colleagues have described him as the friendliest person on earth.
Mr Nkomo who titled himself “A Defender Who Believeth In Social Justice,” will be remembered for complaining about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) at work.
He was well known for dedication to his profession, and working hard.
He was employed by the respected company, Cygnet and was a registered mental health nurse in Cambridgeshire.
Mr Nkomo had been ill for nearly 4 weeks. There had become a glimmer of hope last weekend when he began showing some signs of recovery; But sad news was later announced Tuesday morning.
An official family statement was awaited at the time of writing,
Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has said Douglas Mwonzora does not have MDC DNA.”
Ruhanya believes Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi “are hopeless political turncoats.”
“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,” argued Ruhanya.
“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.”
Farai Dziva|Respected political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya has said Douglas Mwonzora does not have MDC DNA.”
Ruhanya believes Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi “are hopeless political turncoats.”
“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,” argued Ruhanya.
“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.”
A 43-YEAR-OLD police officer has been arrested for allegedly raping his 17-year-old daughter on several occasions since she was 10-years-old.
The cop, a member of CID Gwanda who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a rape charge.
He was remanded out of custody to May 29 on $1 000 bail. The police officer is alleged to have abused his daughter when her stepmother was not home.
Representing the accused person, Mr Bukhosi Ncube from Malinga and Mpofu Legal Practitioners tendered a bail consent form from the chief public prosecutor.
“Considering that this matter falls under the third schedule I sought permission from the chief public prosecutor which was granted for the court to have jurisdiction over the matter.
According to the consent the national public prosecution isn’t opposed to bail. May the accused be granted bail on the conditions started in the consent form,” he said.
Mrs Sibanda granted the accused person bail on condition that he resides at his given address and does not interfere with State witnesses.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said the accused person allegedly started raping his 17-year-old daughter in 2012 while she was 10-years-old.
She said the accused person continued raping the complainant who will turn 18 years later this year until the matter came to light last week.
“Sometime in 2012 the complainant was asleep at home when she felt a heavy weight on top of her. She woke up and realised that it was her father. She tried to scream but he threatened to beat her up and went on to rape her,” she said.
“Sometime in 2014 while the complainant was staying with her father in Beitbridge he raped her several times while her step mother was not around and he warned her against reporting the matter.
Sometime in 2016 they relocated to Lupane where he raped her several times.”
Miss Nare said they later relocated to Gwanda where the accused person continued raping the complainant.
She said the last incident occurred on April 29 when the accused person called the complainant into his bedroom and raped her.-State media
A 43-YEAR-OLD police officer has been arrested for allegedly raping his 17-year-old daughter on several occasions since she was 10-years-old.
The cop, a member of CID Gwanda who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a rape charge.
He was remanded out of custody to May 29 on $1 000 bail. The police officer is alleged to have abused his daughter when her stepmother was not home.
Representing the accused person, Mr Bukhosi Ncube from Malinga and Mpofu Legal Practitioners tendered a bail consent form from the chief public prosecutor.
“Considering that this matter falls under the third schedule I sought permission from the chief public prosecutor which was granted for the court to have jurisdiction over the matter.
According to the consent the national public prosecution isn’t opposed to bail. May the accused be granted bail on the conditions started in the consent form,” he said.
Mrs Sibanda granted the accused person bail on condition that he resides at his given address and does not interfere with State witnesses.
Prosecuting, Miss Glenda Nare said the accused person allegedly started raping his 17-year-old daughter in 2012 while she was 10-years-old.
She said the accused person continued raping the complainant who will turn 18 years later this year until the matter came to light last week.
“Sometime in 2012 the complainant was asleep at home when she felt a heavy weight on top of her. She woke up and realised that it was her father. She tried to scream but he threatened to beat her up and went on to rape her,” she said.
“Sometime in 2014 while the complainant was staying with her father in Beitbridge he raped her several times while her step mother was not around and he warned her against reporting the matter.
Sometime in 2016 they relocated to Lupane where he raped her several times.”
Miss Nare said they later relocated to Gwanda where the accused person continued raping the complainant.
She said the last incident occurred on April 29 when the accused person called the complainant into his bedroom and raped her.-State media
SECRETARY OF COMMUNICATIONS MDC NAP??????
It is with baited breath and expectation of today’s events in the political landscape in Zimbabwe.The recall of our Members of Parliament is nothing surprising of an illegitimate junta.The vote and Constitution of Zimbabwe passed in 2013 will prevail and subdue all this witchcraft which is naked for all to see.We know that Adv President Nelson Chamisa is the People’s chosen candidate in 2018. 2.6 million votes spoke loudly.The massive failure of gvt led by an illegitimate President at Party level and at gvt level has now tried without success in trying to change the spotlight.Zimbabweans have been struggling,killed,totured and their basic rights stripped.However let it be very clear the Zimbabwean people will never be cowered into a corner and we will never surrender to tyranny. We have spoken and continue to speak Advocate President Nelson Chamisa is Zimbabwe’s President and the Leadership we voted for as MDC Alliance.What Justice Malaba and now Speaker Mudenda have done is not going to stop Zimbabweans from seeking the freedoms we deserve.We are resolutely behind our Leadership and we will not be moved.Aluta Continua
MDC NAP??????
Tim Muringai
Deputy Provincial Secretary
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IS NOT SHAKEN BY THE DESPERATE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL RECALL OF ITS MPS BY THE ZANUPF SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT.
As Mdc Alliance Namibia district, we are not perturbed by the desperate and unconstitutional recall of our Mdc Alliance Mps.
We are Social Democrats nurtured and groamed by the Icon of democracy Dr Morgan Richard Tsvangirai as a result we resolutely remain behind our diligent Mps in the names of our Secretary General Charlton Hwende, Chairperson Thabitha Khumalo, Chief Whip Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Lillian Timveos. We pledge to give our undoubted solidarity to our gallant Social Transformers who are being tortured and persecuted by the politically inept regime.
Mdc Alliance Namibia district would like to make it categorically clear that President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and his vibrant legislators,party leadership and membership are the panacea to Socio-economic transformation. Zanupf captured courts can not impose their allies as our leaders. Thokozani Khupe fell off the rail of the National Democratic Revolution when she tried in vain to fight the Politics of the Big Tent, a brainchild of the late MdcT President Morgan Tsvangirai.
Furthermore, Thokozani Khupe fought the late President Morgan Tsvangirai till his death, they never reconciled until he died on the 14th of February 2018,May his soul rest in power. Being in the trenches for the past the past two decades fighting against Zanupf Thugocracy is not a minute struggle. We lost a lot of Heroes and Heroines,some butchered and others maimed by these Stomach politicians of rhetoric and self-aggrandisement.
Mwonzora and Komichi must remember that our pillar and source of inspiration is Morgan Richard Tsvangirai who left Advocate Nelson Chamisa with us to complete the National Democratic Revolution practising politics of the BIG TENT, individual glory and personal pursuits are not part of our core values as Social Democrats. Khupe and her cronies are Zanupf puppets. Our leader is Wamba dia Wamba. Simple!
10 litres of sanitiser from UK? Lol this is disrespectful
— uDube wase Tsholotsho ? (@michaelhoneyD) May 4, 2020
Why didn't they just put it on Zupco and have the windi/conductor take a video on his phone and read out loud message from the MP whilst handing the 10lts could have saved a lot
Tomorrow I will be appearing before the Magistrates Court in Harare facing Treason Charges. I remain resolute & unshaken. A few hours ago I was expelled from Parliament by Zanupf working in cohorts with a Party called MDC-T that I left in 2018 when I joined the MDC Alliance
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) May 5, 2020
By A Correspondent- Mutoko District is facing a double tragedy as the 2020 Malaria season has coincided with the period where Zimbabwe as the rest of the World is grappling with the fight of Covid-19 pandemic.
In a meeting with the Mutoko District Health Executive (DHE), it was revealed that respraying of hotspots was set to be rolled out this week.
Acting District Medical Officer (A/DMO) Dr Prince Mangwiro said volunteers were on the ground mobilizing to start respraying in the areas that had presented as Malaria hotspots for the District.
He said:
“We are embarking on this exercise as a mitigatory measure in light of the increase in cases this Malaria Season. This season has seen a sharp rise to 14806 from 4756 in 2018 and 5817 in 2019 respectively.
People have been doing a lot of outdoor activities such as market gardening as a source of livelihood. 12 deaths have also been recorded this 2020 hence the fight to recline the sharp curve.
Some of these deaths come from religious objectors who refuse treatment as well as obstruct treatment for their church members.
District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO) Chapata Madakudya, reported the district to have set out for the Malaria season with mobilisations and sensitization of the community for the Indoor Residual Spray (IRS).
As per IRS culture, there is a chemical rotation for each malaria season to ensure that the Anopheles does not grow resistant to the chemical hence the use of Fludora Fusion and OPs last season and DDT and OPs for the respraying, he said.
In light of the current increase in Malaria infections, the District has also conducted investigations to assess if the chemical on the walls is still effective.
Said Madakudya:
Results obtained this week showed that the chemical sprayed during IRS is still on the walls and has 100 % mortality. Further to this, we are currently conducting a susceptibility test to investigate if the mosquito has not grown to be resistant to the sprayed chemical of which results are to be expected in two weeks time.
In preparation of the respraying, Madakudya said they will be strict observance of COVID-19 prevention guidelines for the teams right from transportation to the camps to ensure physical distance is maintained.
Nineteen wards surrounding health facilities like Katsukunya, Kapondoro, Mushimbo, Kushinga and Nyamuzuwe among others are set to be sprayed.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Health and Child Care has warned members of the public of unscrupulous individuals who are collecting used face masks, washing, and then selling them.
The practice is dangerous as it undermines efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus.
Posting on their Twitter account, the Ministry of Health and Child Care called on people to cut up their masks whenever they wish to dispose of them.
The Ministry said:
There are some people who are collecting used face masks, washing them and selling them to unsuspecting people. To avoid this, members of the public are being urged to cut up their used face masks before proper disposal.
Burning is another option that you can use.
According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guidelines used gloves and face mask should be washed with water and soap for 20 seconds, and then be cut into small parts to prevent re-use.
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona has reportedly been put on the transfer-list by Anderlecht manager Vincent Kompany.
Musona, 29, has only made one reserve team appearance for the Belgian giants this season before being offloaded on loan this January to KAS Eupen.
The striker netted two goals in six matches for his new club before the Belgian top-flight league was forced to a sudden halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic and saw Club Brugge being declared 2019/20 league champions.
Kompany’s homecoming did not go according to script, with a mid-table finish and the Manchester City legend is said to have confirmed a list of players who are surplus to requirements
Belgian news outlet Voetbal24 stated that after consultation with the technical staff the Zimbabwean captain, Kenny Saief, Antonio Milic, Kristal Abazaj, Aristote Nakaka, Adrien Trebel and Ognjen Vranjes have been told their services will not be needed and should find new clubs.
It marks another frustrating year for the ‘smiling assassin’ who was one of the leading performer in the Belgian top-flight during his stint at Oostende between 2015 and 2018.
Musona predominantly featured as an inside-forward and winger scoring 41 goals and registering 18 assists in 112 games. In contrast, his last two seasons have only yielded just four goals in 17 matches across all competitions.
Today, 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 Nelson Chamisa. There’s no struggle without scars. We will not rest until Zimbabwe is free
My involvement in the politics of my country has never been or was never motivated by what I would benefit out of it as it has no benefits at all. It is a calling motivated by my genuine belief that my country needs a new generation of leaders to pluck our country from the poverty it has endured for so long and the democratic deficit we have as a nation.
Being a Member of Parliament is one of those responsibilities that came along the way as a task demanded by people from me. I have never had much appetite to be one because I know it confines oneself in the corner of serving self interest and delusion of grandeur and forget the broader objective of the struggle.
Our people have for a long time endured intolerable rule anchored on tyranny and dictatorship. Along the way we became enemies of ourselves by concentrating more on issues against ourselves. The elephant in the room is the ZANU PF system that has destroyed our nation into a Stone Age society. The enemy is ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa who have taken upon themselves to do what they want with our lives. The future of one generation after the other has been destroyed by these heartless evil men and women who are presiding over our destruction. We forget all that and wondered what interests do we serve if we master all our energy in destroying one another.
My simple advice to the people of Zimbabwe is that lets focus on dealing with the Mnangagwa regime decisively. They have created a problem to de focus some of us’ resolve to deal with their penury and crimes against our civilization. Our nation is crying for the leadership that is determined to bring to an the madness that has been brought upon us in our country by the persecutors of our peace, future and happiness.
There is no way Mnangagwa and ZANU PF can fool themselves that they have derailed the people’s struggle by their innocuous antics before us today. Let me reassure you, the struggle we are in belongs to the people and it is for the people to see their freedom in their life time. This they shall achieve. There is no way some of us will relent to achieve the cause of our people by regressing from coming for you. This is a calling we are committed to accomplish. Let those who are in the hunt for positions continue to do so. The value of an individual in a struggle is not determined by how powerful the position one holds in an organization but by the character of that individual. Commitment to the struggle is not seen by the number of words one utter, but by action you take to correct the wrong. The true struggle of our people is now being correctly shaped. Freedom is not won by the buildings one occupy or by the position someone hold. Fight for positions and control while we are fighting for the liberation of our people. Position seekers in politics have the history of destroying the aspirations of the people. This time it wont work and it will not work. Let me conclude by very important message and words by one of our pioneers of of our liberation struggle Ndabaning Sithole. He had this to say on May 24 1964 in Gwelo at Mkoba Hall:
” Those who believe that the United Nations
Will bring us independence are greatly mistaken.
No one can liberate another.
Independence is not ours unless we liberate ourselves.
There is no such thing as being liberated by others .
Others can only help us to liberate ourselves.
We are our own Liberators .
What method then is our strategy we are going to use in liberating this country?
This is the only true solution to the present problem.
We have power in our hands.
You will be detained.
You will be torn away from your families.
In some cases , some of us may be shot dead.
But this is the price all human beings must pay to be free.” President Ndabaningi Sithole
[ 24 May 1964]
We are our own Liberators.
The nonsense of Parliament this or that will not bring us true independence and freedom. No freedom was ever obtained by occupying a Parliamentary position in the history of mankind. In revolutions Parliament is rather seen as the centre of counter revolutionary. It gives individuals a false sense of importance in communities they live. Some think its a profession or some form of employment opportunity. Let me be recalled tomorrow as what has happened to my friends and colleagues and be freed to pursue the goal of liberation. Be warned I am no coward. Rather I am very dangerous and prepared to demonstrate how dangerous I am.
I am ready.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
By Discent Bajila |ANALYSIS | What must be understood is that Khumalo, Hwende and Mutseyami weren’t randomly picked. It was a careful decision which will be followed up by more actions over the next 7 to 14 days.
Thabitha Khumalo is Proportional Representative for Bulawayo and Leader Of Opposition in the National Assembly. Mwonzora is aware of the depth of internal debate around her continued occupation of that position in the National Assembly. The assumption is that there are party members who will be happy to see her removed.
Over the next few days, MDC MPs will be approached with lots of money and offered the “vacant” leader of the Opposition Post. It will be interesting to hear who will be approached and what offers will be made.
However, this will all be in vain because the Grand ED Plan is to replace Khumalo with Khuphe. Once Khuphe is leader of opposition, inclusive government talks will be instituted.
Mutseyami is MDC Chief Whip. Over the next few days several MDC MPs will be offered this position with heavy perks on the side. Again, we will know the amounts and forms of perks on offer for an MP who accepts this position.
There’s a very high likelihood that those who decline this offer will be threatened with a recall. Unless a classic court action is launched, more recalls are coming and as long Mudenda remains Speaker of Parliament, no letter from anyone other than Mwonzora will be considered in the House.
Hwende is being targeted, first to humiliate him for the humiliation of Mwonzora at the May 2019 Congress, secondly for keeping Haràre province as a part of the battlefronts together with Bulawayo and Manicaland. Thirdly, all this is happening because ED wants to talk to Nelson Chamisa. It is anticipated that an under pressure Hwende will influence Chamisa into talking.
ZIMBABWEAN authorities on Sunday 3 May 2020 arrested two men in Rushinga in Mashonaland Central province and charged them with undermining authority of or insulting President Emmerson Mnangagwa after they allegedly shared and made remarks on a video clip in which the ZANU PF party leader brags about the strength of bond notes, the country’s surrogate currency.
43 year-old Robert Zakeyo and 34 year-old Admire Mupemhi on Monday 4 May 2020 appeared before Bindura Magistrate Mary Msika after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police members and charged with undermining authority of or undermining President Mnangagwa in contravention of section 33(2)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors accused Zakeyo and Mupemhi, who were represented by Gift Mtisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, of sharing a video clip onto a Rushinga Residents WhatsApp group on Friday 1 May 2020 showing President Mnangagwa claiming that the country’s currency is the strongest in the southern African region.
In the video clip, President Mnangagwa is quoted remarking that; “In this region, in SADC, the RTG, our RTG, the current currency is the strongest currency in the region,” while Mupemhi reportedly wrote the word “frog” in response to the shared video clip.
The video clip, prosecutors claimed, also features Gogo Tsvangirai, mother to the late former Prime Minister and opposition MDC party leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mupemhi was set free after Mtisi filed an application for refusal of remand arguing that the charges preferred against his client do not disclose the commission of an offence to which Magistrate Msika agreed with the human rights lawyer.
Zakeyo was released on $300 bail and was ordered to report at his local police once in a fortnight and to continue residing at his given residential address. He returns to court on 18 May 2020, where his trial is scheduled to commence.
The Catholic Priest at the focal point of a homicide examination including a wedded female Church part has stood up saying he feels unjustifiably treated by the Church.
Police in Lusaka says they have initiated an investigation into the passing of a 42-year-elderly person of Garden House, who purportedly kicked the bucket in the Parish Priest’s House at Kaunda Square Catholic Church.
Fr. Abel Mwelwa said in an explanation that the way where Lusaka Diocese Archbishop Alec Banda has taken care of the issue is uncalled for.
“I might want to guarantee you that everything is great. My spirit is very still. Realizing that the equity of God is my ally. I have no harshness against the way where this was taken care of. I permit God to manage the issue,” Dr. Mwelwa said.
He additionally guaranteed that Monica Mulenga passed on in the medical clinic of Acute Pneumonia as the posthumous outcomes showed.
“God has his ways. Much obliged to you for your fellowship and backing. Leave it alone realized that the individual kicked the bucket just about a month prior,” he said.
He included, “Everything hushed up until my Bishop chose to train a few ministers to flow a dispatch of my suspension to all clerics and strict. The dispatch is likewise routed to the lay dedicated. What a method for managing matters.”
Fr. Mwelwa charged that Bishop Banda misinterpreted in the manner he managed the issue.
“The consequence of such a misjudged choice is the thing that has brought this media free for all. Has there been a period in the Catholic Church when the suspension of a cleric is material for everybody? If not, the inquiry is the reason has this been taken care of along these lines? Perhaps we will have replies in Heaven,’ he said.
“I figured I should impart to you what has occurred. God’s Justice May take long, however it definitely comes.”
My involvement in the politics of my country has never been or was never motivated by what I would benefit out of it as it has no benefits at all. It is a calling motivated by my genuine belief that my country needs a new generation of leaders to pluck our country from the poverty it has endured for so long and the democratic deficit we have as a nation.
Being a Member of Parliament is one of those responsibilities that came along the way as a task demanded by people from me. I have never had much appetite to be one because I know it confines oneself in the corner of serving self interest and delusion of grandeur and forget the broader objective of the struggle.
Our people have for a long time endured intolerable rule anchored on tyranny and dictatorship. Along the way we became enemies of ourselves by concentrating more on issues against ourselves. The elephant in the room is the ZANU PF system that has destroyed our nation into a Stone Age society. The enemy is ZANU PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa who have taken upon themselves to do what they want with our lives. The future of one generation after the other has been destroyed by these heartless evil men and women who are presiding over our destruction. We forget all that and wondered what interests do we serve if we master all our energy in destroying one another.
My simple advice to the people of Zimbabwe is that lets focus on dealing with the Mnangagwa regime decisively. They have created a problem to de focus some of us’ resolve to deal with their penury and crimes against our civilization. Our nation is crying for the leadership that is determined to bring to an the madness that has been brought upon us in our country by the persecutors of our peace, future and happiness.
There is no way Mnangagwa and ZANU PF can fool themselves that they have derailed the people’s struggle by their innocuous antics before us today. Let me reassure you, the struggle we are in belongs to the people and it is for the people to see their freedom in their life time. This they shall achieve. There is no way some of us will relent to achieve the cause of our people by regressing from coming for you. This is a calling we are committed to accomplish. Let those who are in the hunt for positions continue to do so. The value of an individual in a struggle is not determined by how powerful the position one holds in an organization but by the character of that individual. Commitment to the struggle is not seen by the number of words one utter, but by action you take to correct the wrong. The true struggle of our people is now being correctly shaped. Freedom is not won by the buildings one occupy or by the position someone hold. Fight for positions and control while we are fighting for the liberation of our people. Position seekers in politics have the history of destroying the aspirations of the people. This time it wont work and it will not work. Let me conclude by very important message and words by one of our pioneers of of our liberation struggle Ndabaning Sithole. He had this to say on May 24 1964 in Gwelo at Mkoba Hall:
” Those who believe that the United Nations
Will bring us independence are greatly mistaken.
No one can liberate another.
Independence is not ours unless we liberate ourselves.
There is no such thing as being liberated by others .
Others can only help us to liberate ourselves.
We are our own Liberators .
What method then is our strategy we are going to use in liberating this country?
This is the only true solution to the present problem.
We have power in our hands.
You will be detained.
You will be torn away from your families.
In some cases , some of us may be shot dead.
But this is the price all human beings must pay to be free.” President Ndabaningi Sithole
[ 24 May 1964]
We are our own Liberators.
The nonsense of Parliament this or that will not bring us true independence and freedom. No freedom was ever obtained by occupying a Parliamentary position in the history of mankind. In revolutions Parliament is rather seen as the centre of counter revolutionary. It gives individuals a false sense of importance in communities they live. Some think its a profession or some form of employment opportunity. Let me be recalled tomorrow as what has happened to my friends and colleagues and be freed to pursue the goal of liberation. Be warned I am no coward. Rather I am very dangerous and prepared to demonstrate how dangerous I am.
I am ready.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
By Discent Bajila |ANALYSIS | What must be understood is that Khumalo, Hwende and Mutseyami weren’t randomly picked. It was a careful decision which will be followed up by more actions over the next 7 to 14 days.
Thabitha Khumalo is Proportional Representative for Bulawayo and Leader Of Opposition in the National Assembly. Mwonzora is aware of the depth of internal debate around her continued occupation of that position in the National Assembly. The assumption is that there are party members who will be happy to see her removed.
Over the next few days, MDC MPs will be approached with lots of money and offered the “vacant” leader of the Opposition Post. It will be interesting to hear who will be approached and what offers will be made.
However, this will all be in vain because the Grand ED Plan is to replace Khumalo with Khuphe. Once Khuphe is leader of opposition, inclusive government talks will be instituted.
Mutseyami is MDC Chief Whip. Over the next few days several MDC MPs will be offered this position with heavy perks on the side. Again, we will know the amounts and forms of perks on offer for an MP who accepts this position.
There’s a very high likelihood that those who decline this offer will be threatened with a recall. Unless a classic court action is launched, more recalls are coming and as long Mudenda remains Speaker of Parliament, no letter from anyone other than Mwonzora will be considered in the House.
Hwende is being targeted, first to humiliate him for the humiliation of Mwonzora at the May 2019 Congress, secondly for keeping Haràre province as a part of the battlefronts together with Bulawayo and Manicaland. Thirdly, all this is happening because ED wants to talk to Nelson Chamisa. It is anticipated that an under pressure Hwende will influence Chamisa into talking.
By Discent Bajila |ANALYSIS | What must be understood is that Khumalo, Hwende and Mutseyami weren’t randomly picked. It was a careful decision which will be followed up by more actions over the next 7 to 14 days.
Thabitha Khumalo is Proportional Representative for Bulawayo and Leader Of Opposition in the National Assembly. Mwonzora is aware of the depth of internal debate around her continued occupation of that position in the National Assembly. The assumption is that there are party members who will be happy to see her removed.
Over the next few days, MDC MPs will be approached with lots of money and offered the “vacant” leader of the Opposition Post. It will be interesting to hear who will be approached and what offers will be made.
However, this will all be in vain because the Grand ED Plan is to replace Khumalo with Khuphe. Once Khuphe is leader of opposition, inclusive government talks will be instituted.
Mutseyami is MDC Chief Whip. Over the next few days several MDC MPs will be offered this position with heavy perks on the side. Again, we will know the amounts and forms of perks on offer for an MP who accepts this position.
There’s a very high likelihood that those who decline this offer will be threatened with a recall. Unless a classic court action is launched, more recalls are coming and as long Mudenda remains Speaker of Parliament, no letter from anyone other than Mwonzora will be considered in the House.
Hwende is being targeted, first to humiliate him for the humiliation of Mwonzora at the May 2019 Congress, secondly for keeping Haràre province as a part of the battlefronts together with Bulawayo and Manicaland. Thirdly, all this is happening because ED wants to talk to Nelson Chamisa. It is anticipated that an under pressure Hwende will influence Chamisa into talking.
THE Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (Zinatha) has sensationally claimed that it has herbs that can treat coronavirus (Covid-19) , calling on the government to include its members in rapid response teams.
This comes amid reports that a concoction known as Covid Organics (CVO), a form of herbal tea, is curing Covid-19 patients in Madagascar.
Zinatha secretary for education Prince Sibanda told the Daily News that Madagascar’s herbal tea is evidence that there is need to develop indigenous knowledge of medicine rather than rely on Western ideas all the time.
“In Zimbabwe we do have herbs such as Murumanyama or Muremberembe (Shona) and isihaqa (Ndebele) that can be effective in treating coronavirus.
“We are rich with over 5 000 herbs in Zimbabwe. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has proved that 80 percent of Africa relies on herbal medicine. Why not promote the 80 percent rather than wait for the West to have a say?” Sibanda asked.
He said traditional medicine needs support to develop as it is being sidelined in the country.
“Let’s integrate the two systems of health delivery so that we are safe rather than concentrate on one side. Zinatha should be incorporated into rapid response and research teams to have an impact in containing this coronavirus pandemic.
“We have to work together in a strong, effective, united and coordinated response. To this end, our efforts to accelerate the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and prevent its re-emergence needs the use of indigenous medicines that have been in existence for a long time,” he added.
Meanwhile, WHO has dismissed Madagascar president Andry Rajoelina’s claims that the herbal tea produced in his country can cure patients of Covid-19.
In a recent statement, the international health body warned against any self-medication and said it has not yet recommended any medicine as a cure for Covid-19.
Despite WHO’s warning, scores of people have reportedly embraced the herbal tea in Madagascar and some African countries such as Tanzania, Guinea Bissau and the Democratic Republic of Congo have shown interest in the concoction.
A redenomination of the currency won’t make Tehran’s economic woes go away.
Besieged by runaway prices and food shortages, primarily as a result of the sanctions imposed by the United States, Iranian lawmakers have decided to give the Islamic republic’s currency a new lease of life – or so it seems.
The Iranian parliament has agreed to cross four zeros out from the banknotes, making it easier for people to transact without wasting time calculating the price of eggs or chicken, which can run into tens of thousands of rials.
Over the next two to five years, Iranian rials will be taken out of circulation and replaced with the toman – one toman will be equal to 10,000 rials.
“It will have more of a psychological impact as instead of paying 250,000 rials for a packet of eggs, you’ll pay just 25 tomans,” an Iran-based journalist told TRT World.
A cosmetic change?
High inflation, a years-long headache for Iranians, has eroded the value of the rial. It costs more than 150,000 rials to buy one US dollar in the open market while the official exchange rate is pegged at 42,000 rials to one US dollar.
Iranians have long abandoned calculating prices in rials in their everyday affairs. Instead, a customer or trader might use the rial as a currency but quote prices in tomans with one toman equal to 10 rials at the moment.
Although confusing to an outsider, the system helps locals to avoid calculations in the millions and billions.
“In any case, people generally use debit cards or what we call traveller’s cheques to make payments in most cases,” the journalist said.
The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has further discouraged the use of cash as people avoid handling banknotes.
The Iranian government had been considering replacing currency notes, something known as a redenomination, since 2016.
The replacement of the currency notes won’t have a significant impact on Iran’s inflation rate of 40 percent, which is the result of US-led economic isolation and a sharp drop in the price of oil. Iran derives most of its export revenue from oil and gas sales.
A currency’s value depends on a host of factors including the monetary policy, balance of trade and investor perception.
With the Islamic republic embroiled in regional conflicts that stretch from Yemen to Syria, and the European Union (EU) struggling to make good on its promise to circumvent US sanctions on trade, Tehran is likely to continue wading through economic troubles in the near term.
Knocking off zeros from the currency is especially cosmetic in the face of high employment and difficulties that businesses and households face in finding imported goods like medicines.
For governments, it can be a matter of image – let’s face it, a banknote with many so many zeros doesn’t reflect well on the value of the currency and consequently on the country.
Not the first time
In the last few decades, a number of countries have reverted to redenomination to fight runaway inflation without any significant impact on the overall economic situation – except for a few exceptions.
Zimbabwe is a classic case of what happens when the government lops off zeroes from banknotes without addressing underlying economic issues.
In 2009, the country struck off 12 zeros from the Zimbabwean dollar after a bout of hyperinflation that hit 79 billion percent with prices doubling every 24 hours. The highest denomination note was 100 trillion Zimbabwean dollars – and that wasn’t enough to buy a loaf of bread.
Harare’s economic woes persist as the inflation rate remains higher than 670 percent.
Argentina, Brazil and Nigeria are among others who have resorted to redenomination largely in the wake of runaway inflation.
After years of struggling with high inflation, Turkey removed zeros from the lira notes in 2005 but that move followed aggressive economic and social reforms.
After facing a financial crisis in the early 2000s, Ankara liberalised the market, privatised loss-making state-run companies, and removed capital controls, making it easier for foreign investment to come in.
It fixed the banking system and improved ties with its European neighbours and brought inflation down to a 30-year low.
All of this made it easier for then prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to strike off zeros from banknotes.
“We are very happy to have rid Turkey of such a shame, of multi-zeroed banknotes,” Erdogan said at the time. “We are happy to reinstate the dignity of the Turkish lira.”
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has said the Financial Intelligence Unit is investigating a video clip circulating on social media showing a man bragging whilst displaying sealed packs of $5 notes.
The video clip surfaced on social media platforms on Monday, with the man, believed to be a money changer, waving wads of crisp banknotes.
Mangudya’s full statement reads as follows:
PRESS STATEMENT
PRESS STATEMENT ON A VIDEO CLIP SHOWING A MAN DISPLAYING BUNDLES OF BANK NOTES CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) has noticed with great concern a video clip circulating on social media showing a man bragging whilst displaying sealed packs of $5 notes.
The Bank has referred the matter to the Financial Intelligence Unit for investigation.
Dear Editor|”Management at Meikles Hotel have just told recalled MDC MPS to go and look for accomodation elsewhere. Apparently, parliament wrote a letter to all hotels in Harare notifying that they will no longer pay accomodation and food bills for the recalled MPS. They have upto 7 tonight to vacate hotels unless they can pay on their own.” From a reader.
Husband to the late Zambian Roman Catholic Church Senior woman who died while in an act with a church Priest has emotionally spoken out.
The husband Owen Mulenga identified his late wife as Monicah Mutale Mulenga has died at the age of 42, having being born on February 2, 1978.
According to Mulenga, he knew of his wife’s affair with Father Abel Mwelwa of St Maurice Catholic Church in Lusaka as they have been seeing each other for more than a year.
“My late wife has been going out with Fr. Mwelwa for more than year and I just discovered on 19th November 2019 when I found disturbing WhatsApp messages in her phone from the named Priest,” said Mulenga.
In his remarks the husband continued that he tried asking her of the alleged affair with the priest at first she admitted to have been seeing the Man of God but later change her statement after she forcefully grabbed her phone from her husband and threw it in a pot of boiling water.
“The phone was damaged beyond repair,” Complained Mulenga.
He added: “We nearly divorced but we were counseled and reconciled. From that time she stopped communicating with the Priest but after a month, their relationship was rekindled.”
When Mulenga learnt that his wife is continuing seeing the priest he tried to advise her but she could not listen as a result she had less respect to her husband.
“She would lie to me of going for church meetings yet she would be in some lodges or at the parish with the Priest. I tried to advise her, but she couldn’t change and kept on saying that I was just accusing her because I didn’t want her to attend church activities,” added Mulenga.
Mulenga openly said that he resorted of taking the matter to court and seek for a divorce “but before I could do that I had to inform all the necessary church authorities as it is difficult to divorce in Catholic.
On the day Monicah met her fate, she had excused herself from her husband that she was going out with other women for a church Women League meeting.
According to Mulenga his wife had a record of terrible pneumonia in which he believes she died from it when she was doing ‘it’ with the Priest.
Mulenga confesses; “It’s like the Priest kept doing the work despite her telling him to stop when she was under attack, take note, this also used to happen to me as I made love to her but since I loved and understood her, I could control myself and stop, But it’s like the Priest was doing it in hurry so he didn’t mind her plea leading to her untimely death.”
After Monicah died, the Priest called some women, Mulenga and the police who took the wife to the hospital and was confirmed dead due to terrible Acute Pneumonia she suffered as the priest was on top of her making love.
“At first the priest accepted responsibility and paid K50,000 for her funeral. He told us he would pay us K150, 000 compensation but we refused and reported the matter to the high church authorities who investigated the matter and found him guilty hence his recent suspension,” said Mulenga.
Mulenga also alleged that by the time the Priest was being suspended from church activities he (Priest) had already bribed police officers who collected the body of his wife.
“But brothers and sisters, the truth is that the priest may in his earthly knowledge and wisdom win the case in court of law but he will definitely not win the Heavenly justice. I rest my case. Until we meet again, Rest In Peace My Lovely and Only Wife Monica,” cries Mulenga.
If there is any truth in the story that you have ordered MDC Alliance members of Parliament out of Parliament at the request of the MDC-T Party, that is very unfortunate. Your argument as announced that you did so because the MDC-T party wrote to you to notify you that hon. C Hwende, member of parliament of Kuwadzana Constituency, Hon T Khumalo, Proportional Rep Of Bulawayo Province, Hon, T Mutseyami, MP of Chikanga Dangamvura Constituency have ceased to be members of the MDC-T party and therefore no longer represent the interest of the party is irrelevant as these parliamentarians are in Parliament on the MDC Alliance ticket.
You are but helping tarnish the image of Zimbabwe through such biased decisions. Your Parliament registers show that there are parliamentarians from Zanu PF, MDC Alliance and MDC-T, but you chose to accept a withdrawal letter for MDC Alliance members of Parliament and announce that you are withdrawing MDC-T parliamentarians – shame on you.
Reports just received indicate that Secretary-general of the opposition MDC-T Nixon “General Mao” Nyikadzino has recalled the party’s MP, Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga (Proportional Representation) from the National Assembly.
In a letter dated 4 May 2020 and addressed to the National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda, Nyikadzino said:
As the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change-T (MDC-T), the one that contested elections in July 2018, hereby formally notify you as the Speaker of Parliament that under the powers vested in me, I am recalling Hon. Priscilla Misihairambwi Mushonga from representing the MDC-T as the proportional representative Member of Parliament under our party list of Bulawayo Province.
We shall, as per our party constitution and party list submitted to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), formally inform your honourable office of the replacement after our consultative process.
Nyikadzino has also recalled the MDC-T Senator for Bulawayo, Mildred Reason Dube from the Senate.
In a letter dated 5 May 2020 and addressed to Senate Speaker Mabel Chinomona, Nyikadzino wrote:
As the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change-T(MDC-T), the one that contested elections in July 2018, hereby formally notify you as the Speaker of Parliament that under the powers vested in me, I am recalling Senator Mildred Reason Dube from representing the MDC-T as a Senator for Bulawayo Province.
We shall, as per our party constitution and party list submitted to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), formally inform your honourable office of the replacement after our consultative process.
By A Correspondent| Parliament this afternoon defied the Lockdown rules set by Emmerson Mnangagwa to sit for less than 5 minutes in order to effect another blow to Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa.
Speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda announced that 4 MDC Alliance legislators had been recalled from parliament by Dr Thokozani Khupe and her team.
Biti however accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of being the invisible hand oiling Khupe, Senators Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi to destroy the MDC led by Chamisa using the Supreme Court ruling that nullified the latter’s presidency.
The ruling that proclaimed the acting presidency role of Khupe in the MDC T was also announced during the Lockdown.
The Supreme Court which had been sitting on the judgement indefinitely made a surprise announcement that the ruling would be delivered despite that the courts were closed and not functioning following ED’s Lockdown directive.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has finally freed one Joram Siwela, a former Chaplin High School student and professional football player, who was jailed for murder 22 years ago.
Siwela is part of the lot that tasted freedom on Tuesday after Mnangagwa used the Presidential emergency powers to decongest prisons.
Siwela story tells that he killed his friend after he got into a fight over a girl, resulting in him brutally stabbing and killing his schoolmate.
In 2019, he told journalists that almost every night for the past 21 years, he has had to be woken up by his cellmates who say he throws punches, screams, and argues with unseen forces in his sleep.
“When my father visited me sometime in 1999, I tried to raise the issue with him but he said you are still too young, you will not understand this. I had just turned 20 then,” Siwela said.
Reporters also said according to Siwela’s father Sahluko, that door has since been closed. This is because another tragedy hit the family of Siwela’s victim a few months after his incarceration.
“Barely three months after Joram’s incident, a lot happened in the victim’s family, thereby complicating everything. The victim’s father and sibling were also murdered. Another uncle, whom they lived with, vanished without a trace. Since then, we have failed to locate any other relatives. “I feel that knowing all this will be too much of a burden for Joram, which is why I have never been able to tell him,” said Sahluko.
“It was a Wednesday afternoon. I felt dizzy and asked the judge to allow me to sit down as my sentence was being read. I feared a death penalty.I was sweating profusely, my knees shaking and as they announced my sentence, I felt the world crumbling around me.”
Today, ZBC posted a picture of the man uniting with his family…ready to find his feet in a world that has evolved from the one he knew when the gates of freedom were shut on his face 22 years ago.
To: The Minister of Health and Child Care Cc: Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Cc: Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Cc: Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation Cc: Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Bcc: National Covid19 Taskforce Bcc: Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission
04 May 2020
Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) recognizes the various efforts made by the Government of Zimbabwe in responding to the Covid19 threat in the country and especially designating special places as quarantine centers.
As an organization which exists to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights for vulnerable people and communities, MIHR writes this open appeal calling for the immediate enactment of strict sexual exploitation and abuse protection mechanisms and reporting protocols in all the quarantine centers nationwide. Our concerns which leads to us making this passionate please are the increasing number of diaspora returnees set to arrive in the country from various countries (including the nearly 3000 from South Africa, among others) and that: a) These returnees will include women, children and youths and will be in quarantine centers for 14 days and therefore it is incumbent for the state to protect them from sexual exploitation and abuse. Critically for children, the state is mandated by Section 19 and 81 of the Constitution to ensure that ‘when removed from their family environment, they are protected from maltreatment, neglect or any form of abuse’; b) These returnees some of them have been out of employment and income for the past 6-8 weeks and they will be coming back without all their belongings and thus they may find themselves desperate for a plethora of human needs and this exposes them to sexual exploitation and abuse; c) Due to the harsh economic environment facing the country and the inadequate services and commodities, the returnees find themselves exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse in order to receive better services and supplies from aid workers;
Our plea to the government therefore, is that in line with human rights principles and international humanitarian standards as espoused by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN): I. The government set up sexual exploitation and abuse measures and reporting protocols in all Covid19 quarantine centers, and these be handed as written text to every person admitted in the quarantine center and also be posted in the rooms in the center. II. These measures and protocols should not only cover the citizens admitted at quarantine centers but also be there to protect volunteers and aid workers working as frontline workers in the centers as they also find themselves open to sexual exploitation and abuse from their senior supervisors. III. The Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Protection mechanisms and protocols adopted be issued publicly as a Statutory Instrument for everyone to know of them. IV. The government forge partnerships with counselling nongovernmental organizations who will enable the enforcement and monitoring of these measures and protocols.
Our plea is not motivated by any specific case of sexual exploitation and abuse noted or reported in any quarantine center but: i. Is guided by the need to protect rights violations from happening because we note that where human beings are and where power relations and resources sharing is involved, human rights violations (especially of sexual abuse and exploitation nature) are always rampant; ii. Is motivated by the international best practices and standards regarding humanitarian aid and specifically the “Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse During Covid19 Response” Interim Technical Note released by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee endorsed by international organizations such as WHO, UNPFA, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, IOM, OCHA, among others. iii. Is inspired by the words of President Emmerson Mnangagwa while addressing the Nation on 01 May 2020 and spelling out Covid19 management measures and specifically reiterating that “we better err on the side of caution than recklessness” and we thus plead that let’s err on the side of caution by enacting these measures and protocols that protect sexual exploitation and abuse in quarantine centers.
Looking forward to your favorable response as we seek to contain the Covid19 pandemic in Zimbabwe.
MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti has come out guns blazing against Dr Thokozani Khupe and her team over the recalling of 4 legislators from parliament.
Biti who addressed an urgent presser hours after the speaker of parliament Jacib Mudenda made the announcement Tuesday afternoon said the move by Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi was being orchestrated by Zanu Pf leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.
However, Biti said there is no battle for democracy without scars hence the MDC cadres would soldier on under the leadership of ousted leader Nelson Chamisa.
The recently amended Presidential clemency order has benefited 2 528 more prisoners, who were today released from different prisons countrywide.
Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) assisted the released prisoners with passes and busfare to those who stay outside Harare.
Six of the released prisoners were on life sentences. One of the pardoned inmates James Dube, who was on life sentence thanked Government for the gesture.
“I was arrested for murder in Gokwe and was given a death sentence. Later, I was removed from death to life sentence.
“I was not even expecting to be released any time soon. This came as a surprise to me. I had served 24 years in prison. I am thankful to our President Mnangagwa for this.” Herald
Zifa has announced that the upcoming Premier Soccer League is likely to start in September due to the cornavirus.
The country has been under lockdown since mid-March and the restrictions were partially relaxed over the weekend but any chance of seeing the commencement of the campaign remains bleak for now.
In a statement Zifa said: “It has come to ZIFA’s attention that there is confusion within the football family emanating from relaxation of lock-down conditions by the government to level 2.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) would like to advise all football stakeholders that football activities remain suspended until further notice…
“In its meeting on the 3 May 2020, the ZIFA Emergency Committee also noted that other football associations were planning to resume football operations around August/September 2020 and has tentatively set this date as to when our leagues will commence should our government announce the complete end of the lock-down any day before the envisaged dates. The resumption of football activities will also be done in consultation with CAF and FIFA.
” For ZIFA, should the season begin in September, that will see us also aligning our football calendar with the rest of the world.”-Soccer 24
