Own Correspondent|South Africa lost a two-day-old baby to CORONAVIRUS on Thursday.
It is South Africa’s first neonatal Covid-19 fatality. This is as the death toll jumps to 339 with 27 new deaths, 18 003 ( 803 new) confirmed cases, out of 505,861 tests conducted (18,252 new) and 8950 recoveries (990 new).
The two-day-old baby was born prematurely and therefore had lung difficulties, which required ventilation support immediately after birth. The mother had tested positive for Covid-19 and the child subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 as well.
The department sent their condolences to the mother and those who cared for the baby. Mkhize then announced the death of a healthcare worker in the Western Cape, who left four nurses at Grey Hospital in King William’s Town suspended for Self-quarantine.
According to a nurse who works at the hospital, the suspended Healthcare workers had insufficient personal protective equipment and could not assist the patient. A general meeting took place later on Wednesday between hospital management and staff members in a bid to find a resolution to the issue.
The Western Cape is still the country’s epicentre, with 11,262 cases, followed by Gauteng with 2,400 and the Eastern Cape with 2,215. Western Cape accounts for 62.2% of the total number of cases in South Africa.
State Media|THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) through its Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has established that most mobile money agent accounts were being abused and used as a conduit for illegal transactions that distort the foreign currency market.
This comes as EcoCash, the country’s leading mobile payment platform, has already dragged the Apex Bank to the High Court over the recent suspension of some of its mobile money agents from conducting financial transactions. The Cassava Smartech’s subsidiary wants its affected agents to be fully restored to functionality. While direct payments and bill payments have not been affected, the suspension of a large number of agents has hit transactions involving cash-in and out.
The recent RBZ directive suspended and froze EcoCash accounts and NetOne One Money accounts of agents with a monthly transactional threshold of $100 000 after transactions totalling $75 million were recorded.
In a public notice yesterday the FIU said this was not an absolute ban but it wanted affected mobile money service providers to re-register, update and strengthen their “Know Your Customer” requirements for agents that transact large volumes, in line with the Anti Money Laundering and Combating Financing of Terrorism laws.
“FIU analysis shows that the majority of agent accounts are no longer being used for the purpose for which they were originally intended, such as cash-in, cash-out, sending money, airtime vending and facilitating payment of utility bills by clients,” said the unit.
“The FIU further established that the KYC information, which EcoCash has in respect of most of the agents is inadequate, inaccurate and out of date hence the need for a wholesale update to ensure that only bona fide entities are allowed to continue using the platform.”
It said EcoCash, for instance, like other financial service providers, was expected to know its customers well enough and satisfy itself at all times (through ongoing transaction monitoring) that they are all conducting legitimate business transactions.
The FIU said this was an obligation, which mobile payment service providers, unlike banks, have generally failed to implement.
“Since the issuance of our directive on May 4, the FIU’s expectation is that by now EcoCash should have commenced facilitation of the re-registration of the bona fide customers, among those affected. Instead EcoCash continues to refer its clients to the FIU,” it said.
“The FIU, therefore, wishes to advise affected customers to direct all queries to EcoCash.”
The FIU has said its interventions are prompted by the need to weed out illicit foreign currency dealers who are now the main drivers of high value or higher volume transactions on the EcoCash platform, in the process destabilising and distorting the foreign currency market.
In its chamber application filed at the High Court earlier, EcoCash, represented by Mtetwa and Nyambirai law firm, wanted an interdict prohibiting the enforcement of the RBZ’s directive. The chief executive officer of EcoCash’s parent, Cassava Smartech, Mr Eddie Chibi, argued in his affadavit that EcoCash has 11 million subscribers and benefits people from all parts of the country.
As such the RBZ action had the effect of limiting EcoCash customers from accessing its services through its agents as most of them have been suspended.
It was also Mr Chibi’s contention that the directive issued at a time of lockdown, will result in members of the public having to travel to transact services that they can easily access through the EcoCash platform. A majority of financial transactions in Zimbabwe are conducted on mobile platforms with EcoCash accounting for about 95 percent of the mobile volumes with the remainder handled by NetOne’s OneMoney.
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.
Newly appointed Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) president Ralph Watungwa has said the spike in the parallel market rate will result in the reduction of forex amount into the interbank foreign currency exchange platform as more traders prefer to trade at platforms where there are high premiums.
The development comes at a time when the Zimbabwe dollar has collapsed to 1:60 on the parallel market against the United States Dollars as confidence in the local currency hits rock bottom.
The depreciation comes as the official bank rate remained fixed at 1:25. “The spike of the rate on the parallel market will certainly affect the official market as fewer volumes will be transacted officially as more people will flock to where there are high premiums,” Watungwa told Business Times.
“However, the black market is illegal, prohibited and associated with risk, therefore, that menace is rewarded with high premiums. Something is lacking on the official platform and more needs to be corrected to attract companies to trade on the platform.”
On Monday morning, it took 52 Zimdollar to buy one US dollar hard currency note on Harare’s grey market exchanges and rates went further to 1:60 by Wednesday evening.
Two weeks ago after the closure of some agent lines, around 40 Zimdollars bought one US dollar note on the black market. However, the system backed parallel market forex dealers adapted and devised new methods to increase the rate.
The Zimdollar is also plummeting on the interbank foreign currency market, which values the local currency more favourably.
Some illegal foreign currency dealers believe the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe might be driving up the value of foreign currencies against the Zimdollar because the central bank needs foreign exchange to finance critical imports such as food and fuel.
The central bank has strongly denied it participates on the forex black market.
Economist John Robertson said the local currency collapse is being fuelled by supply imbalances resulting from the central bank requiring importers to keep high levels of foreign exchange in their accounts.
An economist who declined to be named said Zimbabwe’s currency is losing value because the central bank is growing the supply of Zimdollars in order to fund government programmes and to alleviate a shortage of notes caused by rampant inflation.
“The major causes of Zimbabwe dollar exchange losses are growth in money supply by RBZ to fund quasi-fiscal programmes such as Command Agriculture and loss of confidence in the economy,” he said.
State Media|TWO youths from Bulawayo allegedly stole a US$20 000 wristwatch from a house in Montrose suburb and sold it for $30 (about US50 cents on the streets).
The watch was part of the $1,5 million loot the duo allegedly stole during a four-month house-breaking spree in the eastern suburbs.
Cuthbert Munyandi (18) from Nketa suburb and Joseph Gamuchirai Nyasha (20) from Sizinda suburb allegedly prowled around suburbs that include Morningside, Hillside and Fourwinds between February and
May this year, targeting electronic gadgets.
They were arrested on Tuesday after allegedly selling some of the stolen property for a song.
Munyandi and Nyasha allegedly conducted daylight burglary, mostly between 8AM and 5PM when home owners were away.
The two are facing seven counts of unlawful entry and theft.
In one of the raids, they got away with a Cartier wristwatch worth US$20 000
The US$20 000 Cartier wristwatch
The luxury wristwatch range costs between US$3 000 and US$30 000 on sale on an online catalogue, where prices are down by up to 40 percent.
Police recovered the watch when the suspects led them on indications to people they had sold property to. The buyer from Sizinda suburb, was apparently also unaware of the true value of the watch.
Some of the stolen property includes bicycles, a gold ring, television sets, laptops, cellphones, car batteries, computers and professional cameras.
The police have placed the value of the stolen property at approximately $1,5 million, although the street value of the watch alone is above $1 million.
Detectives recovered items valued at $900 000 following the duo’s arrest.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday said the duo would monitor houses and strike once the owners left.
“Unlike most of the house break-in incidents that we are used to, the two suspects who are friends were raiding homes during the day. They would monitor houses and once occupants leave, they would break into the homes and steal mostly electric gadgets. Of interest, in one of the raids in Montrose suburb they got away with a Cartier wristwatch worth US$20 000 and sold it for $30 on the streets,” said Insp Ncube.
He said most of the stolen property was being sold in Western suburbs for a song.
ID Hillside Officer in Charge Detective Inspector Tendai Ndaveni shows some of the recovered stolen property
Insp Ncube warned criminals that cops are in full force and will deal with them.
He warned those with a penchant for buying second hand goods to desist from doing so as it often leads to them buying stolen property.
“Most of the recovered property had already been sold to residents in Western suburbs of Nketa and Sizinda where the duo lived. As police, we want to warn residents to avoid buying second hand property especially from dubious characters who cannot even offer a receipt for the property they would be selling. Those who continue to buy stolen property risk being arrested as accomplices to the theft crimes. It is not an excuse for the public to claim that they did not know that the property was stolen,” he said.
Insp Ncube said those who lost property during the said period should visit the Criminal Investigations Department at Hillside Police Station for possible identification of their goods.
He said the pair’s arrest is a result of a good working relationship between the police and members of the public.
State Media|A syndicate defrauding businesspeople purporting to have off-shore free-funds and could pay for imports has been busted.
Director of Sedcom (Pvt) Ltd Munyaradzi Paraiwa, who is believed to be part of the syndicate, was arrested and taken to court after he and his company allegedly swindled Groupview Technologies (Pvt) Lt of US$36 000, Flowshawn Investment of $114 000 and Sitaz Health Care and Light Flame Investment of $1 363 538 in fake payment scams.
Paraiwa appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court jointly charged with his company, Sedcom Marketing (Pvt) Ltd, on three counts of fraud.
The 41-year-old and his company were not asked to plead to the charges when they appeared before magistrate Richard Ramaboa who remanded Paraiwa to June 9 on $1 000 bail.
Detailing the charges, all arising from last year, the State said on February 7, 2019, Malvern Mick Mackenzie wanted to pay his South African suppliers for till rolls and bond paper.
Paraiwa, who got wind of the transaction, called Mackenzie and introduced himself as Munyaradzi Mpofu and said he could make payments in South Africa in return for a local currency payment into his Zimbabwean account.
The State alleges that Paraiwa forwarded a fake proof of payment to Mackenzie purporting to have paid money to the South African suppliers and asking for a deposit into his CABS account.
On the same day, Mackenzie deposited US$36 000 into Sedcom Marketing (Pvt) Ltd account, but on February 11 he was told by his suppliers that no payment was made.
The same month, Flowshawn Investments, which provides catering services, wanted to buy groceries from South Africa and was referred to Paraiwa who said he could pay the required sums in South Africa and be reimbursed in Zimbabwe.
They agreed that Paraiwa, who again passed himself as Munyaradzi Mpofu, would pay R518 181 and on February 19 Paraiwa gave the director of Flowshawn Investment details of Sedcom Marketing’s Cabs account.
The court heard that Flowshawn deposited $114 000 and then Paraiwa forwarded an allegedly fake proof of payment purporting that he had paid R276 577 to NGL Attorneys in South Africa.
Upon enquiry, NGL Attorneys denied ever receiving payment from Paraiwa and his company.
The next sting, on November 26 last year, allegedly had Paraiwa approaching Zvakataurwa Makoto saying he could purchase a JCB TLB tractor on his behalf from South Africa.
Makoto is the director of Sitaz Health CARE and Light Flame Investment.
The court heard that Paraiwa gave Makoto contacts of his South African friend George Lebese, who also said he could make a payment on his behalf.
On November 28, Makoto received a fake proof of payment from Lebese saying he had paid R953 925 and on the following day he received an email from JCB suppliers confirming that they had received R923 925.
The court heard that Makoto then transferred $1 363 538,61 into Dr Hammington and Associates’ local account, which had been given to him by Lebese.
On December 2, 2019 Makoto received a WhatsApp message from the tractor supplier saying the payment had been reversed since Lebese had deposited a fake cheque.
PICTURE CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWING BUNDLES OF NEW ZW$10 NOTES
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) has noted a picture circulating on social media showing a person holding bundles of ZW$10 notes, which banks started paying out to customers from the 19th of May, 2020.
After comparing the serial numbers shown in the social media picture against our cash disbursement records, we established that at least some of the cash shown in the picture was part of cash disbursed by the Bank to First Capital Bank Limited (First Capital Bank). First Capital Bank then paid out this cash to a customer.
Investigations have established that, in paying out the cash to its customers, First Capital Bank adhered to the ZW$1000 limit per customer.
It is, therefore, likely that the person shown in the picture holding the cash bundles, may have received the cash from different people, either as an illegal money changer or in the course of business.
Correspondent|THE number of confirmed Covid-19 infected people in the country has risen to 51 after three new cases were reported yesterday.
According to an update issued by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, two of the cases were of returnees from Botswana and the other was of a Harare resident with no history of travel.
“As of May 21, 2020, Zimbabwe had 51 confirmed cases, including 18 recoveries and four deaths. Three cases tested positive for Covid-19 today (Thursday).”
“Two cases are returnees from Botswana who both tested positive on the eighth day of quarantine and one is a Harare resident with no history of travel,” said the ministry.
As of yesterday, 1 379 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and 466 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests were conducted.
This brought the cumulative number of tests done to date to 34 707 of which 19 623 were RDTs with 15 084 being PCRs.
Harare Province has the highest number of recorded cases at 23, followed by Bulawayo Province with 12 cases. Mashonaland East has six cases, Mashonaland West (5), Midlands (3), Matabeleland North (1) and Masvingo (1).
The recent cases have largely been imported, especially from the United Kingdom and South Africa, through the returnees.
The country is on Level 2 lockdown for an indefinite period and authorities have been credited for putting in place effective measures to contain the deadly pandemic which has infected over five million people, killing 328 000 worldwide this year alone.
President Mnangagwa said the country would have regular two-week reviews of the situation.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu
State Media|While the Government continues working out how to reopen schools in phases, starting with public examination classes, as Zimsec finalises plans for the late June examinations, some teachers unions are concerned.
Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education Mrs Thumisang Thabela on Wednesday told Parliament that the mid-year Zimsec examinations would be written between June 29 and July 22. But teachers’ unions believe that safety measures might not be ready in time.
Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) chief executive officer Dr Sifiso Ndlovu said holding the examinations might not bring the intended outcome under the current circumstances.
“Scheduling examinations is not a panacea to Covid-19. This is a pandemic that has claimed many lives in the world and continues to do so. A declaration means nothing if the necessary health protocols recommended by the World Health Organisation are not followed,” Dr Ndlovu said.
“We are not ready for June examinations. Teachers are not willing. If the authorities go ahead with their plan, we are headed for industrial conflict. We cannot have pronouncements that ignore environmental dictates,” Dr Ndlovu said.
He urged Government to look at what other examination systems have done and compare their response.
“Government should consider what Cambridge, an international examinations body has done. They cancelled their June examinations and this is something we should consider. Our learners are not in the right psychological space to write examinations. They are fearing for their lives, so are our teachers. Writing an examination at this point may end up defeating the purpose behind examinations, unless we are doing them just to tick boxes,” Dr Ndlovu said.
Teachers are also suggesting that Government pays them a risk allowance.
Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) president, Mr Obert Masaraure, said the June examinations should be written when conditions are right.
“There is no rush really. We do not want to lose lives, we should not force premature reopening of schools. Learners, teachers and everyone involved in the processes should be tested before there is any activity at schools — be they exams or lessons,” said Mr Masaraure.
He said the idea that this June examination was the last sitting that would be allowed under the old curriculum was immaterial in picking a date.
“The papers that need to be written will just be written when it is safe. Nothing changes, the same paper these learners are supposed to write this June is what they will write when it is safe to do so,” he said.
In his report back to his constituency, Mr Manuel Nyawo of Zimbabwe National Teachers Union (Zinatu) said June was not the best month to reopen.
“People will need to travel from various parts of the country to the examination centres and given the conditions prevailing, most of those who registered for June exams will find it difficult to meet the examination timelines due to serious mobility challenges,” said Mr Nyawo.
There were also concerns that the months of June and July in which schools are expected to reopen carry a high probability for infections of ordinary flu.
Parents seem to be divided on the matter.
Mr Samson Makumbirike of Kuwadzana said it was better if we forfeited the whole academic year.
“Our children are not the most careful, we will have a crisis if they reopen. Children love playing and get in contact all the time. Sending them to school is sending them in harm’s way,” he said.
But another Harare resident, Mrs Charlotte Mverechena, backed moves by President Mnangagwa to start reopening schools.
“Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon. We need to accept that. There is no guarantee that next year Covid-19 will not be there. Let us ensure children go to school safely. If adults are going to work, then children can learn and write exams too. This is the new normal,” she said.
Teachers’ unions were told by Government to consolidate their opinions on reopening and submit a position paper. This will be fed into the calculations for setting opening dates.
Not guilty, former ZESA Holdings group chief executive Joshua Chifamba
State Media|The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is studying the judgment in which former ZESA Holdings group chief executive Joshua Chifamba was acquitted of criminal abuse of office without having to present his defence after the High Court overturned a decision by the lower court to put him on his defence.
Mr Chifamba was jointly charged with former Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma and Zesa Enterprise managing director Tererai Luis Mutasa for engaging a South Korean electricity company in a local project without Treasury and board approval.
Mr Chifamba, who was being represented by lawyer Admire Rubaya, was acquitted at the High Court after he sought a review of the trial court’s decision to dismiss his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
The State can still appeal to the Supreme Court if there are grounds to dispute the High Court decision.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Mr Nelson Mutsonziwa said the prosecution was studying the judgment to see if there are grounds for appeal.
“If we find good grounds, we will certainly appeal,” he said.
In his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case in the magistrates court Mr Chifamba, through his lawyer Rubaya argued that the State had failed to establish a prima facie against him.
Mr Chifamba also submitted that Zesa Enterprises was not a procurement entity and it was not a statutory corporation.
He argued that it was not a legal requirement to go to tender before the partnership agreement between Techpro and Zesa Enterprises was entered into.
Thus no one acted in a way that was contrary to or inconsistent with their duties by engaging the South Korean company without going to tender.
High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero ruled that the trial magistrate Mr Mapfumo erred when he rejected Mr Chifamba’s argument.
Zesa Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, said the judge, was not a procuring entity, was not listed in the schedule to the Procurement Regulations and the State could not produce evidence that it had been added to the list before 24 October 2011.
“The State’s view that Zesa Enterprises is a successor company is misplaced. It is therefore not a statutory board so at the signing of the agreement with Techpro ZENT was not a procurement entity to which the provisions of Procurement Act and Regulations apply,” he said.
Justice Chikowero in his ruling also said the procurement regulation can only be violated by a procuring entity and its employees who are officers. But since the company was not a procuring entity there was no way Chifamba, Mangoma and Mutasa could have violated the regulations.
THE number of confirmed Covid-19 infected people in the country has risen to 51 after three new cases were reported yesterday.
According to an update issued by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, two of the cases were of returnees from Botswana and the other was of a Harare resident with no history of travel.
“As of May 21, 2020, Zimbabwe had 51 confirmed cases, including 18 recoveries and four deaths.
Three cases tested positive for Covid-19 today (Thursday).”
“Two cases are returnees from Botswana who both tested positive on the eighth day of quarantine and one is a Harare resident with no history of travel,” said the ministry. As of yesterday, 1 379 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and 466 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests were conducted.
This brought the cumulative number of tests done to date to 34 707 of which 19 623 were RDTs with 15 084 being PCRs. Harare Province has the highest number of recorded cases at 23, followed by Bulawayo Province with 12 cases.
Mashonaland East has six cases, Mashonaland West (5), Midlands (3), Matabeleland North (1) and Masvingo (1).
The recent cases have largely been imported, especially from the United Kingdom and South Africa, through the returnees.-State media
Excellencies, my dear colleagues and friends, Last year, I had the honour of visiting several islands in the Pacific, including Fiji, Tahiti, Tuvalu and Tonga, where I was welcomed by a choir of nurses.
When we originally planned this year’s World Health Assembly, we invited that choir from Tonga – a choir of nurses and midwives – to perform, to mark the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. COVID-19 has deprived us of that privilege, but today I am wearing this shirt from Tonga, which I got actually from the Minister, as a gesture of thanks and solidarity with our friends from the Pacific.
Of course, our President is from the Bahamas, and I think because of the cultural similarities, my shirt also represents the Caribbean.
So I would like to dedicate my closing speech to the choir that we were expecting to join us from Tonga. And you might know, during my visit, I was even given a Tongan name. My Tongan name is Vaitoa’i moui Mapuavaea. This is a typical Tongan name, and I’m so honoured.
TO my Tongan friends and the rest of the Pacific, we hope you will be able to join us at next year’s Assembly, and do what we planned to do. Now, to the rest of my speech.
I offer my deep thanks to the many Member States who have expressed their support and solidarity at this Assembly, and throughout the pandemic. I have been impressed and inspired by the commitment of so many countries to fighting the virus and saving lives.
I also thank the Regional Directors for their messages, which were played last night, and for their continuing efforts to support countries.
I thank Member States for adopting the resolution, which calls for an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international response – including, but not limited to, WHO’s performance.
As I said yesterday, I will initiate such an evaluation at the earliest appropriate moment.
We welcome any initiative to strengthen global health security, and to strengthen WHO, and to be more safe. As always, WHO remains fully committed to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. We want accountability more than anyone.
I thank Dr Felicity Harvey and the members of the Independent Oversight Advisory Committee for their continuous work to review WHO’s work in health emergencies, and in particular for their report on the COVID-19 response published yesterday, that covers from the start of the pandemic until April. Checking and learning our lessons is in WHO’s DNA, and that’s what this report shows.
I hope the recommendations of the independent committee will be taken seriously by Member States. Some of the recommendations are to WHO, and we will take our share seriously. WHO’s focus now is fighting the pandemic with every tool at our disposal.
Our focus is on saving lives. At the end of the day, what matters is life. That should be at the centre of everything we do, and everything we say.
I’ve been heartened by the way countries have shared experiences best practices through our regular Member State briefings and at this Assembly.
We will continue providing strategic leadership to coordinate the global response, and support efforts by countries.
We will continue providing the world with epidemiological information and analysis.
We will continue to keep the world informed and give people and communities the information they need to keep themselves and each other safe.
We will continue shipping diagnostics, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies all over the world.
We will continue bringing together leading experts from around the world to develop technical advice, based on the best science.
We will continue driving research and development to develop evidence about vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
We will continue working with countries and all relevant partners to ensure equitable access to the tools to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19.
We will continue supporting countries to prepare and respond.
We will continue working with countries to sustain essential health services. We will continue to work day and night to support the most vulnerable countries and populations.
We will continue supporting countries to achieve the “triple billion” targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.
And we will continue supporting countries to build resilient health systems, based on primary health care, to progress towards our shared goal of universal health coverage.
My brothers and sisters, dear colleagues and friends, COVID-19 has robbed us of people we love; It has robbed us of lives and livelihoods; It has shaken the foundations of our world; It threatens to tear at the fabric of international cooperation. But it has also reminded us that for all our differences, we are one human race, and we are stronger together.
We may speak different languages, but we share the same DNA; We may adhere to different faiths, but we share the same aspirations for a peaceful and harmonious world; From east to west, north to south, everybody wants peace, development and health – nothing else, that’s what human beings want, that’s what humanity wants. We may have different cultures and traditions, but we share the same planet.
For everything COVID-19 has taken from us, it has also given us something: A reminder of what really matters; And the opportunity to forge a common future.
Dark and difficult days may lie ahead, but guided by science, together we will overcome.
Let hope be the antidote to fear. Let solidarity be the antidote to division. Let our shared humanity be the antidote to our shared threat. Now, more than ever. Thank you. Xie xie. Merci beaucoup. Spasiba. Muchas gracias.
And to our Muslim brothers and sisters who are fasting, shukran jazeelan, and we wish you Eid Mubarak.
Thank you so much. Together we will overcome this challenge. Nothing will be difficult to address when the human spirit wills it. I thank you.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom
Credit :WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
Farai Dziva| Norton MP Temba Mliswa has urged Emmerson Mnangagwa to fire Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana following the sacking of Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi.
Mliswa also castigated Mutodi’s remarks about MDC Alliance Youth Leaders.
“The order the firing should’ve taken was 1. M. Mutsvangwa, 2. N. Mangwana and 3. E. Mutodi but if bottom up is an indicator of the rest’s fate we patiently wait.
I don’t condone the reckless statements made by @energymutodi the most recent being an insult to women and unparliamentary. It was uncalled for, he crossed the line. Besides being fired, the tweet should be removed; it’s unacceptable, insanity being the only reasonable excuse,” said Mliswa.
MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka described Mutodi as a talkative person who should learn to calm down.
“You see mfana, hazvidi Energy yedzungu. When you rise by a mere cup captioned “I am the boss”, your fall and political irrelevance might be at the speed of the fall of same Komichi…,” said Tamborinyoka.
Two of the five Zimbabweans who were recently arrested for money laundering involving R142 300 and possession of unregistered medicine in South Africa were yesterday warned and cautioned by a Makhado Magistrate court in Limpopo Province.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the money and deportation of Mahua Mashitara (44) and Tinei Kateura (35).
The duo was arrested in a flat in Makhado town on May 12 after the police got a tip off that they were illegally dealing in cigarettes.
Their accomplices Stedmore Nhau (23), Robert Mutandwa (28) and Andy Nare (40) are still in custody and are expected to appear in court again today for formal bail application.
The trio has been charged for Contravention of Medicine and Related Substances Control Act, Possession of Unregistered Medicine and Money laundering. They were found with an unknown suspected cough mixture.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said in a statement that the suspects were arrested during a joint operation by various security arms.
“They were apprehended during an intelligence driven joint operation conducted by Detectives, First Responder Team and Crime prevention members from Makhado Cluster. Police investigations are still continuing,” he said. -Chronicle/statemedia
Farai Dziva| Norton MP Temba Mliswa has urged Emmerson Mnangagwa to fire Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana following the sacking of Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi.
Mliswa also castigated Mutodi’s remarks about MDC Alliance Youth Leaders.
“The order the firing should’ve taken was 1. M. Mutsvangwa, 2. N. Mangwana and 3. E. Mutodi but if bottom up is an indicator of the rest’s fate we patiently wait.
I don’t condone the reckless statements made by @energymutodi the most recent being an insult to women and unparliamentary. It was uncalled for, he crossed the line. Besides being fired, the tweet should be removed; it’s unacceptable, insanity being the only reasonable excuse,” said Mliswa.
MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka described Mutodi as a talkative person who should learn to calm down.
“You see mfana, hazvidi Energy yedzungu. When you rise by a mere cup captioned “I am the boss”, your fall and political irrelevance might be at the speed of the fall of same Komichi…,” said Tamborinyoka.
CHRONIC patients are defaulting on essential medication as most pharmacies are demanding payment in foreign currency while those paying in local currency are made to pay more than even the prevailing black market rate.
The most common chronic illnesses in Zimbabwe are hypertension, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and asthma.
People with chronic illnesses are supposed to regularly take certain medication for a life time to reduce their risk of succumbing to the diseases.
The situation has resulted in many Zimbabweans defaulting while some reduce their doses, without the doctors’ consent, in a bid to stretch their supplies for longer.
Some patients have resorted to sourcing medication from Botswana and South African pharmacies, which are significantly cheaper.
However, following the closure of borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic, patients have been pushed into desperation as options in seeking healthcare and purchasing drugs are now limited.
What has worsened the situation for the sick is that many pharmacies are either declining medical aid or shortfalls are charged exorbitantly in foreign currency.
In a survey, a Chronicle news crew established that general practitioners charge between US$10 and US$20 for consultation while specialists charge up to US$50.
Most patients cannot afford the charges that often come with an up to 50 percent shortfall if they are on medical aid but they need the consultations to get prescriptions or change a drug regimen.
They suffer a double blow if they fall sick due to defaulting because local hospitals which have since limited access to emergencies due to Covid-19 charge from $400 for admission per night.
Mpilo Central Hospital charges $160 per night and over $1 000 for its private ward which is temporarily closed.
The United Bulawayo Hospitals charges $800 per night and $4 000 for the private ward.
For the privately run Mater-Dei Hospital, admission charges per night are $2 715 in the general ward and $6 250 for the private ward.
Our news crew also discovered that pharmacies have different pricing for the medication in local currency which changes daily, though their pricing in USD is almost constant.
An elderly person on diabetes, hypertension and arthritis medication which is a common combination for the elderly, has to part with an average of US$30 per month or $1 650 as at yesterday’s pharmacy rates which ranged between 1:60 and 1:70.
The official rate is 1:25.
A medical doctor who preferred anonymity for professional reasons said defaulting on chronic medication was risky.
“It’s very bad and it’s dangerous. Someone who has been on hypertension medication for years should not abruptly stop taking medication. They can suffer a stroke or heart attack should their blood pressure shoot up. This can be fatal.
“Someone who is diabetic must not fall short of insulin. Blood sugar levels may go very high or may get very low and appropriate medication is required to regulate the levels of sugar in the blood. It happens that people default, it is a very unfortunate situation but a very dangerous one. It may cause sudden death or create resistance to medication, which may result in the patient needing stronger and more expensive drugs,” said the doctor.
One of the affected is a nurse from a local clinic who preferred anonymity but confirmed that she has defaulted her hypertension medication due to pricing.
“I work at a clinic and due to resource challenges, I struggle to buy my hypertension medication which has forced me to default a number of times. I often suffer from severe headaches and develop eye problems and of course I am at higher risk of having heart attack if I default on treatment,” she said.
“We get paid in the local currency and we cannot afford to buy tablets in forex as most pharmacies incentivise those with US dollars.”
For Mrs Amanda Khumalo from Paddonhurst suburb, the burden is quadrupled as four of her relatives need medication for hypertension, arthritis, diabetes and asthma. “This is a monthly headache and I have since realised I cannot just walk in and buy medication without first comparing at least six pharmacies. My parents, mother-law, and grandmother are all on hypertension medication which means costs are multiplied by four,” she said.
“Both my mother and grandmother are diabetic which means more medication monthly. I have since discovered that there is a cheaper pharmacy in Cowdray Park suburb but the distance and cost of fuel makes it difficult.”
Mrs Khumalo from Paddonhurst suburb wishes there was a way chronic patients could access medication from a Government run pharmacy where they will “not suffer for having local currency”.
Miles away from Bulawayo are many chronic patients who have to travel to the city to purchase the medication.
A pharmacy client who identified himself as Mr Yedwa Khumalo (74) from Gwanda said he was having a tough time as a result of the lockdown as he could no longer buy some of his drugs in South Africa and
Botswana due to the closure of borders. Mr Khumalo said buying medication outside the country was cheaper compared to the prices of his chronic medication in Zimbabwean pharmacies. -Chronicle/state media
Government is working on modalities to ensure a blended e-learning system that benefits all learners countrywide, with alternative quarantine centres being identified to pave way for the reopening of educational institutions.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said this while briefing journalists on the 16th Cabinet meeting decision matrix in Harare last night.
She said Cabinet resolved that facilities be identified to separately quarantine ex-convicts and violent persons.
“Cabinet further agreed that orders for the procurement of critical hospital equipment for the refurbished major health facilities be urgently placed with suppliers,” she said.
Cabinet noted with satisfaction the progress in mass testing evidenced by the increase in the number of Covid-19 tests to 31 589 as at May 17 up from the 23 096 as at May 10.
The country has to date registered 51 Covid-19 confirmed cases, 18 recoveries and four deaths.
The recent cases have largely been imported mainly from the UK and South Africa.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government had worked out a new schedule for nurses’ duty. “The new arrangement will minimise the period of continuous exposure to Covid-19 and at the same time ensuring continuity of service. The arrangement will see the introduction of three shifts as follows: 7am-1pm; 1pm-7pm; and 7pm-7am,” she said.
Under this arrangement, nurses will report for duty every week for three days followed by four days off. However, working arrangements for other health staff revert to normal.
“The successful implementation of this new strategy will be anchored on the provision of additional and consistent transport as well as adequate PPEs for all workers including nurses,” said Minister Mutsvangwa. – Chronicle/state media
Farai Dziva|Outspoken cleric, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has called on “those in power to repent” and stop the persecution of citizens.
Below is Bishop Magaya’s bold statement:
View and judge evil in the light of high principles :my reading of the spirit of Beatrice Mtetwas open letter to the president and his top aids.
An open letter to President Mnangagwa written by Beatrice Mtetwa , a respectable leading human rights lawyer is as piercing as it is as satiric lash not only to the head of state ,but also to his wife Amai Auxillia whose “philanthropic”work has been dramatized in all public media,Her loud silence on the recent abduction and torture of Harare west member of parliament Joana and her two friends Cecillia and Netsai if juxtaposed along her “philanthropic”work makes a parody of her acts of charity.
The letter also appeals to those man and women i.e the likes of Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri who by the way is also married to a Bishop and therefore can be called “mai Bishop”to speak out against the latest abductions.
The letter is a gentle reminder to some comrades of how at some point they suffered persecution under the former President Mugabe and how they received a lot of support and solidarity from the lawyers and also civic society whom they earlier on used to vilify and labelled puppets. Matemadanda, Mahiya and others remember quite well how they were persecuted.it is saddening now to hear again Cde Matemadanda ridiculing the same civil society organizations because he now enjoys the comfort and the security that the state in the second republic offer him.
I remember clearly when we held public prayer meetings in Africa unity square,the week that followed the anti Mugabe march in 2017 that Cdes Mutsvangwa ,Matemadanda and Mahiya came to speak in solidarity with the gathering masses and the church that had been coordinating the prayer meetings.I remember clearly hearing them saying ,”Your war veterans will protect you from now on wards. I remember clearly one of them hugging me and saying,well done and thank you Bishop”.I also remember making a public demand during that week that the freedoms we were experiencing then were not supposed to be short lived.
What we have witnessed in the past two and a half years clearly points to the biblical truth that “the heart of man is deceitful above all things,it is desperately wicked.
and who can know it’? (Jeremiah 17 vs 9 ).It is tragic to speak it but true to say that the country has never moved in the positive from the Mugabe era.
Just to reiterate what my sister Beatrice wrote ,and taking it further ,persecution does not become wrong only when it happens to us ,or to people that we so much love,persecution does not only become real when it happens to you or to your beloved and become stage managed when you think you are safe because you and the persecutors will be one.Torture and abductions are real in Zimbabwe and they are evil ,and should be viewed as such.
When Linda Masarira was arrested and persecuted and imprisoned at Chikurubi in 2016 it was not stage managed.I remember going to see her and to pray with her.When Professor Madhuku was tortured and injured in March 2007,it was not stage managed,i went to pray with him when he was hospitalized at Avenues Clinic.I pray and hope that these two do not think sincerely that these tortures and abductions are stage managed.
I plead that we allow God to continually sensitize our conscience.It is dangerous to have your conscience seared with a hot iron.I am directing these to both those that abduct and torture as well as those that now sympathize with the torturers,God will not just judge those that commit acts of wickedness ,but those that approve of them(Rom 1 vs 32 ).
On the 28th of June 2016 at a press conference that we held as Zimbabwe Divine Destiny in commemoration of the UN International day against torture i warned not only those that authorized ,masterminded and executed torture,but also those that aided ,approved,sympathized with and found security in those who were at the helm of the system.
I remember clearly stating that Prof Jonathan Moyo,Kasukuwere,Chombo and even President Mugabe himself were not safe.We all know what happened .I firmly reiterate here on the basis of the integrity of the word of God and the Authority invested in the church,that not anyone among those at the helm of power now and their sympathizers are safe. Please repent
To the rest of the church and the masses of Zimbabwe ,God is building a movement of definers of historic transitions.Be part of it .Pray prophetically and most fervently.Speak against evil .
Push in labour pains the birthing of a new Zimbabwe.God save Zimbabwe.
By A Correspondent- Returnees quarantined at Harare Polytechnic College have revealed that there is no water at the quarantine centre lamenting that they are not being tested for COVID -19 despite being quarantined for two weeks.
In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, the returnees said it was not logical for government to quarantine citizens returning from different countries including Botswana, South Africa and Namibia but fail to test them.
The returnees requested for an official government statement regarding why they are not being tested for the past two weeks.
Said the returnees:
“We are told that there are no test kits and the other officials do not give us a satisfactory answer saying they are not in a position to comment.”
The returnees also said the sanitary facilities at the Harare Polytechnic College were deplorable.
He said:
“We have no water, no sanitisers and the bins are not collected. We are afraid of catching the virus from here.
The government has done well on food but we are worried that nothing is being done regards testing us.
We are just being mixed with new arrivals who are not tested and our fear is that we will contract the virus becuase there is no due diligence regards those that are coming here after us.”
Farai Dziva|Controversial Masvingo based clergyman, “Prophet” Isaac Makomichi has challenged sacked Deputy Information Energy Mutodi to apologize to the nation for posting outrageous remarks about MDC Alliance Youth leaders, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
Makomichi, who is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust, has also urged the former Deputy Minister to apologize to the concerned MDC Alliance officials’ families.
Mutodi shocked all and sundry when he posted on Twitter:
“Details emerge MDC youths Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova, and Cecilia Chimbiri went out for a romantic night to Bindura with their lovers who are artisanal miners. They parked their car at a police station for safety but tragedy struck when they demanded foreign currency for services.”
In a statement, Makomichi implored Emmerson Mnangagwa to get rid of bad elements that are tarnishing his image.
“I call on Energy Mutodi to apologize to the nation for the outrageous remarks about the MDC Alliance leaders.
I was shocked by the remarks and I therefore urge Mutodi to apologize to the concerned MDC Alliance members in his personal capacity.As a Christian Mutodi must apologize for the remarks he made, otherwise the anger of God will be upon him.If you do not repent you will go to hell.
There are some people who are tarnishing the President’s name and I hope he will uproot such elements.Their aim is to soil his image.
I personally appreciate the President’s efforts to revive the economy,” said Makomichi.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Masvingo based clergyman, “Prophet” Isaac Makomichi has challenged sacked Deputy Information Energy Mutodi to apologize to the nation for posting outrageous remarks about MDC Alliance Youth leaders, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
Makomichi, who is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust, has also urged the former Deputy Minister to apologize to the concerned MDC Alliance officials’ families.
Mutodi shocked all and sundry when he posted on Twitter:
“Details emerge MDC youths Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova, and Cecilia Chimbiri went out for a romantic night to Bindura with their lovers who are artisanal miners. They parked their car at a police station for safety but tragedy struck when they demanded foreign currency for services.”
In a statement, Makomichi implored Emmerson Mnangagwa to get rid of bad elements that are tarnishing his image.
“I call on Energy Mutodi to apologize to the nation for the outrageous remarks about the MDC Alliance leaders.
I was shocked by the remarks and I therefore urge Mutodi to apologize to the concerned MDC Alliance members in his personal capacity.As a Christian Mutodi must apologize for the remarks he made, otherwise the anger of God will be upon him.If you do not repent you will go to hell.
There are some people who are tarnishing the President’s name and I hope he will uproot such elements.Their aim is to soil his image.
I personally appreciate the President’s efforts to revive the economy,” said Makomichi.
Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo said that his ministry has requested for more deployments of security forces to tighten the lockdown in urban areas after an increasing number of citizens is disregarding the stay at home order.
Moyo told the Daily News that the country risks a second wave of coronavirus infections as more and more people have become visible on the streets coupled with some returning citizens testing positive for COVID-19.
Said Moyo: While we have been able to control local transmission, we are worried about the number of people who are getting into towns because there is a possibility of a second wave of transmissions. And as such, we have engaged the security forces to step in to enforce the lockdown, so that people stay at home and only essential service workers are allowed into towns.
We are also concerned that some returning citizens are bringing the disease, and we have thus upped security surveillance not only in towns but also along our borders because there is a danger of infected people getting into the country undetected.
According to the Health Ministry, as of 20 May 2020, the local number of confirmed cases was 48; recovered 18, active cases 26 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.-Daily News
Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo said that his ministry has requested for more deployments of security forces to tighten the lockdown in urban areas after an increasing number of citizens is disregarding the stay at home order.
Moyo told the Daily News that the country risks a second wave of coronavirus infections as more and more people have become visible on the streets coupled with some returning citizens testing positive for COVID-19.
Said Moyo: While we have been able to control local transmission, we are worried about the number of people who are getting into towns because there is a possibility of a second wave of transmissions. And as such, we have engaged the security forces to step in to enforce the lockdown, so that people stay at home and only essential service workers are allowed into towns.
We are also concerned that some returning citizens are bringing the disease, and we have thus upped security surveillance not only in towns but also along our borders because there is a danger of infected people getting into the country undetected.
According to the Health Ministry, as of 20 May 2020, the local number of confirmed cases was 48; recovered 18, active cases 26 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.-Daily News
Communique of the 2014 National Council held at Morgan Tsvangirai House on 21 May 2020
We the leaders and members who constituted both the National Council and the National Executive of the former MDC before the demise of President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai came together this day and reflected on the following
a) The context of the supreme court judgment b)Our interpretation of the supreme court judgement c) The way forward
CONTEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT
We are extremely concerned that the Supreme Court judgement as been deployed to destroy the people’s struggle and advance the capture of the opposition in Zimbabwe.
We also note that the whole judgment must be viewed in the context of the 2018 election dispute of which Mr Mnangagwa has never rested after being defeated from the poll. The Supreme Court judgement is so absurd for the following reasons.
a) It was handed nicodemously during lockdown
b) There are a few people who knew about the judgement, Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi in advance.
c) Mwonzora and Komichi gave an address purporting to represent the Party at Supreme Court and seemingly privy to the content of the judgement and the idea was to bring the verdict to the organs of the Party for determination.
d) What is even bizarre is the interest of state institutions, The Herald and ZBC. The Supreme Court was covered live showing a big hand of the State.
e) Parliament breached lockdown principles to reconvene and illegally recall MDC Alliance MPs on account of a letter written by MDC T. The State abused parliament by reconvening it for purposes of recalling MDC Alliance MPs.
f) We also note that the Supreme Court judgement has been deliberately misinterpreted and extended to mean what it doesn’t more particularly the misbegotten reference to 2014 which nowhere in the judgement.
INTERPRETATION OF THE JUDGEMENT
I. The Supreme Court judgement enjoyed the former MDC to convene an extraordinary congress within 3 months and further went on to give the former VP Khupe who at the point of Tsvangirai’s demise was no longer a member having ceased attending constitutional meetings in June 2018 to be a member of the Party.
II. The judgement further instructed Morgan Komichi the former vice-chairperson of the former MDC to convene the extraordinary congress in the event of the failure by the former VP. What is bizarre is that SC judgement elevates the former vice-chairperson to the position of Chairperson despite that the former Chairperson was Lovemore Moyo and had not told the court that he was unable to execute his duties.
III. We fundamentally disagree with the SC decision for the following reasons.
a) It is calling an extraordinary congress where the need for an extraordinary congress does not exist anymore. President Tsvangirai died on the 14th February 2018 and the acting leader was supposed to act for one year to February 2019 and the next congress was due in October 2019. As such no court can rewrite the rules of a voluntary association.
b) The terms of all office bearers’ and organs of the former MDC mandate expired in October 2019 and it cannot be revived without condonation and authority of the membership.
c) The judgement does not specify the structure that is going to implement the legacy and historical issues and the term of office of the so elected president at the extraordinary congress.
d) We have also seen that the former SG of the former MDC is now unilaterally, vindictively and against the rule of law abusing the SC judgement usurping the powers of the lawful organs now writing to parliament, minister of local government, for the avoidance of doubt all the recalls are not bound by lawfulness therefore null and void.
e) The former MDC congress should have 6000 delegates and for it to be legal its quorum should be two thirds and it is impossible to attain the same without the agreement and cooperation of the majority of members.
WAY FORWARD
I. We the leaders of the former national Council of the former MDC resolved in terms of the constitution to petition the former National Standing Committee members including Komichi and Mwonzora to facilitate a National Council Meeting within 14 days on the 6th of June to respond to the Supreme Court judgement at a venue that achieves compliance with COVID lockdown regulations.
II. Resolved to stop Mwonzora, Komichi and Khupe to act on behalf of the former MDC and its organs prior to the said meeting of 6th June.
III. Mwonzora has acted illegally by recalling MPs of another party, MDC Alliance without the authority or resolution of the lawful organs of the former MDC.
IV. The purported July 31 date of the extraordinary congress is illegal and invalid because it was done unilaterally and against the constitution of the former MDC.
The government has dismissed as false reports claiming that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was involved in a road accident in Kwekwe on Thursday.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana said the accident involved Zvishavane-Ngezi legislator, Honourable Dumizweni Mahwite and a minor.
Mangwana said the First Lady stopped to render assistance to the accident victim.
Said Mangwana:
The First Lady’s cavalcade was not involved in an accident in Kwekwe. In fact, Zvishavane-Ngezi MP, Hon D. Mahwite was involved in an accident involving a minor. The First Lady and her team stopped to render assistance to the accident victim.
Last month, a close protection officer died and at least three others were injured when a vehicle in the first lady’s convoy crashed near Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central.
Mnangagwa was travelling to the province to hand out food parcels and other gifts when a Toyota Hilux with her security aides veered off the road and rolled down a steep, rocky embankment before coming to a stop against a tree.
Forty-eight per cent of hand sanitizer and face masks produced locally have failed to meet the mandatory health standards, recent laboratory tests have shown.
The tests were conducted by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) and Bureau de Veritas after the gazetting of Statutory Instrument (SI) 92 of 2020.
SI 92 of 2020 sets the standards required for the manufacture, sale and disposal of apparel, materials and equipment intended to be worn or used as protection against any formidable infectious disease by different categories of persons in their interaction with the public.
It has been established that 24 out of 52 companies whose sanitiser samples were tested failed to meet the set standard.
Industry and Commerce Minister Sekai Nzenza confirmed that a number of companies failed the test and Government was now working with them to improve on quality.
She said:
A number of companies have not met the standards and quality. We are working with the companies that have failed tests and already we have recorded positive improvements from them.
SAZ is currently working with the companies whose products were non-compliant, which are at various stages of conducting corrective action to ensure that their products meet the prescribed standards after their PPE failed the initial laboratory tests.
Nzenza further revealed that a taskforce, comprising of representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Attorney General’s office, Police Anti-counterfeit & Anti-smuggling unit and SAZ, has been set up to monitor and ensure compliance with the set standards.-statemedia
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced that three (3) new positive COVID-19 cases this Thursday, 21 May 2020 after conducting 1 379 RDT screening tests and 466 PCR diagnostic tests.
In its daily coronavirus (COVID-19) update released on Thursday evening, the Ministry said 2 cases are returnees from Botswana who both tested positive on the day of quarantine and 1 is a Harare resident with no history of travel.
Yesterday, the Ministry announced that 2 female returnees, 1 from Botswana and 1 from South Africa both tested positive on the 8th day of the quarantine, taking the number to 48.
The number of confirmed cases is now 51.
Below are the highlights of today’s situation report: Three (3) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. Two (2) cases are returnees from Botswana who both tested positive on the day of quarantine and 1 is a Harare resident with no history of travel.
Today 1 379 RDT screening tests and 466 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to date is 34 707 (19 623 RDT and 15 084 POR).
To date the total number of confirmed cases is 51: recovered 18, active cases 29 and 4 deaths since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
The Ministry also urged members of the public to stay at home and avoid going to crowded places because where people come together in crowds, it is more difficult to maintain a physical distance of at least 1 metre.
Platinum Queens has learnt with sadness the news that newly promoted player Maxine Muvembi has passed on.
Muvembi is said to have lost her life in the early hours on Wednesday morning at a local hospital in Harare.
Muvembi who was also a former student at Pamushana High was promoted from the Platinum’s junior team for the 2020 season.
However she was yet to make her debut as the season was put on halt due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement on their social media page Platinum said:
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of a beautiful Queen Maxine Muvembi.
“The young queen was recently promoted into the the Senior Team but did not get the chance to shine.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the Muvembi family during this very dark time. May her beautiful young soul rest in peace. #pureplatinumplay.”
Own Correspondent|On Wednesday, Farai Chinobva, a staffer at the MDC headquarters, the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, sent an invitation to all the leaders and members who constituted both the National Council and the National Executive of the former MDC before the death of founding president Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018.
The invitations were extended to all party officials who were eligible to attend the meetings including Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi among others.
Mwonzora confirmed that he had received correspondence from the MDC Alliance’s Chinobva, but refused to attend saying, among other things, the convenors had no authority to do so.
In response to Chinobva, Mwonzora outlined a number of issues which had been overlooked by the Chamisa camp in convening the meetings. Mwonzora wrote:
“I refer to the invitations that you circulated to members including myself yesterday about the above meetings. As you know I did not convene those meetings. I have checked with the Acting President, Dr Khupe, National Chairman, Senator Komichi and National Organising Secretary Hon Bhebhe and they all profess ignorance of the meetings I have also checked with the deputy chief of staff Colen Gwiyo who is equally ignorant about these meetings.
“Please note that you have no right to convene these meetings without my authority. In view of the recent Supreme Court ruling, no other person serve for the persons mentioned above are allowed to convene these meetings.
“On top of that your invitation is on such short notice to the members. Given the numbers of people who are entitled to attend these meetings, your convening of the meetings is in contravention of the COVID 19 regulations.
“That means you are setting leadership up for arrests by the police. You are no doubt aware of the hefty fines that the members would be made to pay.
“You are also aware I hope that you expose the members to the possibility of being quarantined in the event that they are arrested I therefore direct you to cancel your invitations.
“By copy of this letter, I hereby advise all members that these meetings have been cancelled.”
Meanwhile, the meeting went ahead at the party’s headquarters and issued a communique thereafter.
In the communique, the faction instructed Komichi and Mwonzora “to facilitate a National Council Meeting within 14 days on the 6th of June to respond to the Supreme Court judgement at a venue that achieves compliance with COVID lockdown regulations”.
Over 20 Pick n Pay Supermarket employees were on Wednesday embarrassed by Zupco inspectors in a fallout over sugar.
The Pick n Pay staffers, who are understood to be stationed at the Arundel branch , were pushed to the back of a queue by an unnamed Zupco inspector.
Initially they were accused of using fake numbers but it later emerged they were being punished for not helping the Zupco inspector access more packets of sugar than what every other customer was getting.
When H-Metro arrived at the terminus, the workers were standing at the back after an inspector told them not enter the bus over allegations of failing to provide sugar for them.
The workers got to the Mt Pleasant bus terminus along Rezende Street as early as 6am and got numbers which were signed by an alleged inspector.
Efforts to get a comment from Zupco officials were futile yesterday.
“We arrived here as early as 6am since we start work na7.30.
“So this inspector abva atinyorera matickets tarisa rangu iri ritori number 19 but hona kwatokandwa.
“All these people vari pamberi pedu came after us.
“So we are failing to understand where we went wrong,” said one of the employees.
Asked on why the inspectors specifically were against Pick n Pay workers, another worker said.
“One of the inspectors said, makatinyima sugar, mungatipe two two chete, saka endai kumashure.
“Dzokerai kumashure, ibvai pamberi.
“So tashaya kuti zvikufamba sei.”
Another employee said they were embarrassed in front of many other commuters.
“Tanyadziswa, we were supposed to be at work by 7 am, but izvezvi atori ma1.
“Vamwe vatosvika pakuramwa vakadzokera kumba because we have been delayed.
“Tashaya kuti mhosva yedu ndeyeyi, because these receipts ndivo vasaina.
“So there was confusion isingaite , and until now we are confused,” said another female employee.
When the bus arrived, they were denied access and pushed to the back of the queue for allegedly having fake tickets.
Correspondent|Thousands of Mozambican residents of Cabo Delgado have fled their home after the region was hit by Islamic terrorists who are engaged in a fierce war with contract killers led by former Zimbabwean army Commander Retired Colonel Lionel Dyke.
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent society delivered household items and shelter kits, helping 8000 people rebuild their livelihoods in new makeshift places where they fled to.
According to ICRC the attacks on Mozambicans have been recurrent in Cabo Delgado since 2017.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it is concerned about the impact of the armed violence on displaced Mozambicans and their host communities, should this pattern continue.
Increased armed violence has forced thousands to flee their homes in Cabo Delgado, #Mozambique. #COVID19 presents another challenge for displaced communities.
There was drama at the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture hearing into the US$27 million wheat facility after a heated exchange erupted between Committee Chairperson Justice Mayor Wadyajena and Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe Boss Tafadzwa Musarara after the later was denied Musarara a right to legal representation.
Musarara who was appearing in front of the Committee was in the company of his lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri after the clerk of parliament wrote a letter granting him the right to exercise his constitutional right to legal representation.
Justice Wadyajena, after consultation, then excused Musarara from the committee on the basis that there was a high court application on the matter before Parliament.
Wadyajena told the attendees that his committee would go on to finalise their report without oral evidence.
Nicholas Ncube a political analyst who is close to the happenings said Parliament should not be weaponised in settling personal political scores as it should uphold and defend constitutionalism at all costs.
Own Correspondent|The MDC-T 2014 National Council which was recently reinstated to lead the opposition party by the Supreme Court has challenged some of the determinations made by the court.
Of major note, the party leadership disputed the court’s decision to reinstate Morgen Komichi as Acting National Chairman ahead of Lovemore Moyo.
“What is bizarre is that SC judgement elevates the former vice chairperson to the position of Chairperson despite that the former Chairperson was Lovemore Moyo and had not told the court that he was unable to execute his duties,” the executive said in a press statement.
Below is the press statement as presented by the council.
We the leaders and members who constituted both the National Council and the National Executive of the former MDC before the demise of President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai came together this day and reflected on the following
a) The context of the supreme court judgment b) Our interpretation of the supreme court judgement c) The way forward
CONTEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT
We are extremely concerned that the Supreme Court judgement as been deployed to destroy the people’s struggle and advance the capture of the opposition in Zimbabwe.
We also note that the whole judgment must be viewed in the context of the 2018 election dispute of which Mr Mnangagwa has never rested after being defeated from the poll. The Supreme Court judgement is so absurd for the following reasons.
a) It was handed nicodemously during lockdown
b) There are a few people who knew about the judgement, Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi in advance.
c) Mwonzora and Komichi gave an address purporting to represent the Party at Supreme Court and seemingly privy to the content of the judgement and the ideal was to bring the verdict to the organs of the Party for determination.
d) What is even bizarre is the interest of state institutions, The Herald and ZBC. The Supreme Court was covered live showing a big hand of the State.
e) Parliament breached lockdown principles to reconvene and illegally recall MDC Alliance MPs on account of a letter written by MDC T. The State abused parliament by reconvening it for purposes of recalling MDC Alliance MPs.
f) We also note that the Supreme Court judgement has been deliberately misinterpreted and extended to mean what it doesn’t more particularly the misbegotten reference to 2014 which nowhere in the judgement.
INTERPRETATION OF THE JUDGEMENT
I.The Supreme Court judgement enjoyed the former MDC to convene an extra ordinary congress within 3 months and further went on to give the former VP Khupe who at the point of Tsvangirai’s demise was no longer a member having ceased attending constitutional meetings in June 2018 to be a member of the Party.
II. The judgement further instructed Morgan Komichi the former vice chairperson of the former MDC to convene the extra ordinary congress in the event of the failure by the former VP. What is bizarre is that SC judgement elevates the former vice chairperson to the position of Chairperson despite that the former Chairperson was Lovemore Moyo and had not told the court that he was unable to execute his duties.
III. We fundamentally disagree with the SC decision for the following reasons.
a) It is calling an extraordinary congress where the need for an extra ordinary congress does not exist anymore. President Tsvangirai died on the 14th February 2018 and the acting leader was supposed to act for one year to February 2019 and the next congress was due in October 2019. As such no court can rewrite the rules of a voluntary association.
b) The terms of all office bearers’ and organs of the former MDC mandate expired in October 2019 and it cannot be revived without condonation and authority of the membership.
c) The judgement does not specify the structure that is going to implement the legacy and historical issues and the term of office of the so elected president at the extra ordinary congress.
d) We have also seen that the former SG of the former MDC is now unilaterally,vindictively and against the rule of law abusing the SC judgement usurping the powers of the lawful organs now writing to parliament ,minister of local government, for the avoidance of doubt all the recalls are not bind by lawfulness therefore null and void.
e) The former MDC congress should have 6000 delegates and for it to be legal its quorum should be two thirds and it is impossible to attain the same without the agreement and cooperation of the majority of members.
WAY FORWARD
I. We the leaders of the former national Council of the former MDC resolved in terms of the constitution to petition the former National Standing Committee members including Komichi and Mwonzora to facilitate a National Council Meeting within 14 days on the 6th of June to respond to the Supreme Court judgement at a venue that achieves compliance with COVID lockdown regulations.
II. Resolved to stop Mwonzora, Komichi and Khupe to act on behalf of the former MDC and its organs prior to the said meeting of 6th June.
III. Mwonzora has acted illegally by recalling MPs of another party, MDC Alliance without the authority or resolution of the lawful organs of the former MDC.
IV. The purported July 31 date of the extraordinary congress is illegal and invalid because it was done unilaterally and against the constitution of the former MDC.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya yesterday likened parallel market dealers to the coronavirus which is causing havoc to the economy.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Dr John Mangudya
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance chaired by Felix Mhona (Zanu PF), Mangudya said parallel market foreign currency dealing was an “asymmetric economic warfare now introducing a shadow parallel banking system driven on speculative behaviour under what are basically ‘ponzi-like schemes”.
He declared an open war against money changers, describing them as demons that needed to be exorcised.
“There is some asymmetric economic warfare which cannot be touched or seen and it is more like the coronavirus warfare of the economy,” Mangudya said.
“Mobile banking platforms are largely used as industry by foreign currency dealers whereby they sell foreign currency on ponzi-like schemes and they are making money from money.
“When we freeze some accounts on mobile money platforms, it is not that we are hurting mobile money platforms, but we are trying to exorcise the demon because it is more of a Sodom and Gomorrah situation.”
Zimbabwe has seen a proliferation of parallel market dealers due to currency volatility, driving up inflation and a subsequent spike in prices of goods.
Mangudya said it was not money supply that was forcing the economy into a comatose, but “factors that are non-monetary”. Every country in the world, the RBZ boss said, has a parallel market, but in Zimbabwe, it triggers hikes in prices of goods with the speed of wind.
“Even if we put the official rate at 1:50 today, those guys will wake up tomorrow and put it at 1:60 because it is now an industry and we cannot catch it,” Mangudya added.
“We need to exorcise that industry and that is why we are serious as the Financial Intelligence Unit to look at the root cause. There is high unemployment, but Zimbabwean people are industrious and because it is a resilient economy they will find a shadow money market where they would work.”
He also said the RBZ had traced the serial numbers of the new $10 notes which were being displayed by an unidentified money changer and discovered that they had been dispensed by First Capital Bank.
Shurugwi South MP Edmond Mkaratigwa and Zvimba South MP Phillip Chiyangwa then suggested radical approach to dealing with the illegal money market by completely banning mobile banking and going back to basics and increase supply of bank notes.
“There is a thin line dividing businessmen and these people, so you need to deal with them,” Chiyangwa said.
Tatenda Mavetera (Zanu PF PR) said there was too much policy inconsistency which led to mistrust and hoarding, as well as preference to deal in the parallel market which offers higher rates than the formal money market.
But Mangudya said: “It is not about policy missteps, it is behavioural economics killing this country.”
On the COVID-19 response, Mangudya said failure by Zimbabwe to qualify for the International Monetary Fund loan would affect the country’s chances of taking off.
The IMF released US$21 billion to many African countries, with US$10 billion dished out to sub-Saharan Africa on concessionary terms of 0% interest rate and a grace period of more than five years.
Mangudya said the $18 billion COVID-19 package recently unveiled by President Emmerson Mnangagwa should be used to boost production.
Chitungwiza municipal Town Clerk, Dr Tonderai Kasu has defended his council’s decision to block operations of a feeding scheme saying it was genuine and legitimate.
Samantha Murozoki has been providing food for vulnerable residents among them children however, council ordered her to stop forthwith as the programme did not meet council requirements.
In a statement Dr. Kasu said while they appreciate during these trying times she has to comply with Council By-laws.
“As a local authority, we appreciate her efforts and her noble intentions during these trying and difficult times for the community. We would like to thank Ms. Samantha Murozoki for the love and care that she has displayed for the affected members of the community when the nation is currently under lockdown.” said Kasu
He said the order to cease operations were made out of reasonable concerns in respect of public health.
“However, the order to cease operations was made on the basis of some genuine and legitimate concerns with respect to public health and public safety. For a start her operations were not registered with the council in accordance with the Chitungwiza Urban Council By-laws 1981 part II section 6 and she did not have municipal license for the operations she was conducting.
“An inspection was done by our City Health Department which revealed that her premises were unsuitable and fell short of the standards with respect to the requirements of municipal licensing of premises where such work is carried out” he added
Kasu said volunteers working at the premises did not have food handlers’ certificates and were not tested for Covid-19.
He said council looks forward to working with Murozoki and assist her to meet the required standards as she re-commences her operations.
More than 100 residents including children had been benefiting from the relief kitchen which was providing breakfast and supper for the vulnerable.
The Zimbabwe case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa and 24 Others (supra) seems to suggest that as a general rule an election will not be annulled if a breach of the law did not affect the election result. We have doubts that this would be a good approach particularly where serious breach of the law is involved. What if the numbers themselves are a result of an inaccurate counting, intimidation, fraud or corruption?
THE Malawi Supreme Court has condemned Zimbabwe’s ruling on the 2018 election petition case, while unanimously upholding an earlier court ruling to annul President Peter Mutharika’s narrow election victory last year.
The Malawi Supreme Court made the remarks on Friday while presiding over an appeal by Mutharika over an earlier ruling nullifying his May 2018 presidential victory.
The judges said they doubted that the decision by the Zimbabwean court led by Chief Justice Luke Malaba in the Nelson Chamisa v Emmerson Mnangagwa and 24 others case was a good approach.
“The Zimbabwe case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa and 24 others (supra) seems to suggest that as a general rule, an election will not be annulled if a breach of the law did not affect the election result,” part of the Malawi ruling read.
“We have doubts that this would be a good approach, particularly where serious breach of the law is involved.”
Zimbabwe held its general elections on July 30, 2018, which announced the Zanu-PF leader Mnangagwa as the winner of the presidential vote.
MDC Alliance leader Chamisa contested the result, but the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), led by Chief Justice Malaba upheld Mnangagwa’s narrow and controversial victory.
The ConCourt judges said Chamisa had failed to prove that Mnangagwa connived with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to manipulate results in favour of the Zanu-PF leader.
The ruling added: “What if the numbers themselves are as a result of an inaccurate counting, intimidation, fraud or corruption? Surely, for an election to be truly free, fair and credible, it must be conducted in full compliance with the Constitution and applicable electoral laws.”
The Malawi Supreme Court said an “election can only be free, fair and credible if it fully complies with the dictates of the Constitution and applicable electoral laws as well as principles of transparency and accountability”.
“Overtime, the courts have progressively interpreted relevant provisions of the Constitution and electoral laws in a way that views elections not just as an event, but as a process. The integrity of the electoral process has been recognised to have an important bearing on what happens at the polls.
“This court is alive to the fact that it is rare that elections are set aside on light or trivial grounds, considering what goes on in the preparation for elections.
“Accordingly, this led the courts to develop a legal philosophy that even if there is non-compliance, as long as results are not affected, that result of the election will not be annulled. (See The Zimbabwe case of Chamisa v Mnangagwa and 24 others (CCZ 42/18) (2018) ZWCC (24 August 2018).
“That philosophy suggests that whatever level of non-compliance with the Constitution and electoral laws and howsoever serious electoral irregularities may have been committed, an election will be allowed to stand as long as the petitioners do not demonstrate that the non-compliance or irregularities affect the number of votes in the election.”
In the Malawi May 2018 election, Mutharika got 38,7%, Lazarus Chakwera of the opposition Malawi Congress Party had 34,1% and Saulos Chilima, leader of the opposition United Transformation Movement, got 20,2%.
A new election will now be held on July 2, for which three candidates, including Mutharika, filed their nomination papers this week.
The Supreme Court said various breaches in the Malawi election undermined the duties of the Malawi Electoral Commission and rights of voters.- Newsday
Own Correspondent|The government has dismissed as false reports claiming that First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa was involved in a road accident in Kwekwe on Thursday.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana said the accident involved Zvishavane-Ngezi legislator, Honourable Dumizweni Mahwite and a minor.
Mangwana said the First Lady stopped to render assistance to the accident victim. Said Mangwana:
Matter of Fact; The First Lady's cavalcade was not involved in an accident in Kwekwe. In fact, Zvishavane-Ngezi MP, Hon D. Mahwite was involved in an accident involving a minor. The First Lady and her team stopped to render assistance to the accident victim.
“The First Lady’s cavalcade was not involved in an accident in Kwekwe. In fact, Zvishavane-Ngezi MP, Hon D. Mahwite was involved in an accident involving a minor. The First Lady and her team stopped to render assistance to the accident victim.”
Last month, a close protection officer died and at least three others were injured when a vehicle in the first lady’s convoy crashed near Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that there are 1 136 new cases of COVID-19 in SA, with 30 more people having died.
Zweli Mkhize
Own Correspondent|South African Coronavirus figures should by now become a huge cause for concern to Zimbabwe As the figures shoot up worryingly everyday.
What should be more worrying to Zimbabwe is the simultaneously increasing number of illegal border crossing between the two countries as citizens scavenge for food and beverages between the countries.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Thursday that South Africa’s caseload of COVID-19 cases had increased by 1 136 since Wednesday to 19 137.
He said that a further 30 people had died from the virus, bringing the total number of fatalities since March to 369.
Mkhize said that 525 433 tests had been completed to date, with 18 572 completed in the last 24-hours.
No new data on recoveries was immediately available, with 8950 people having recovered on Wednesday.
“We wish to express our deepest condolences to the loved ones of the deceased and than the healthcare workers who cared for these patients,” he said.
Provincial breakdown
The following confirmed COVID-19 cases have been detected in each province as of Thursday 21 May:
Gauteng – 2 453 cases;
Western Cape – 12 153 cases;
KwaZulu-Natal – 1 693 cases;
Free State – 184 cases;
Eastern Cape – 2 324 cases;
Limpopo – 121 cases;
Mpumalanga – 95 cases;
North West – 77 cases;
Northern Cape – 37 cases; and
Unknown – 0 cases.
Western Cape reports 891 new cases
The Western Cape remains the country’s domestic epicentre for the virus, and a concerning increase of 891 cases since yesterday, making up the massive majority of new cases, will do little for the province’s bid to have lockdown measures relaxed to Level 3 along with the rest of the country at the end of May.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said on Wednesday 20 May that the Cape Winelands District is showing evidence of multiple clusters and fast spread, which started in Witzenberg three weeks ago, and has moved into Drakenstein, Stellenbosch and Breede Valley, in the past 2 weeks.
“Early clusters have emerged in Overberg (Theewaterskloof and Swellendam), and West Coast (Swartland), during this past week, while there are still many areas with no cases or sporadic cases only,” he said.
Winde said that several interventions were being rolled out to stem the rapid spread of the virus in the province, with increased testing and screening, and the province’s ability to isolate and quarantine off-site set to be scaled up rapidly across the rural areas.
Acting MDC 2014 Secretary General Pauline Mupariwa reading the resolutions of the National Council.
Communique of the 2014 National Council held at Morgan Tsvangirai House on 21 May 2020
We the leaders and members who constituted both the National Council and the National Executive of the former MDC before the demise of President Morgan Richard Tsvangirai came together this day and reflected on the following
a) The context of the supreme court judgment
b)Our interpretation of the supreme court judgement
c) The way forward
CONTEXT OF THE SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT
We are extremely concerned that the Supreme Court judgement as been deployed to destroy the people’s struggle and advance the capture of the opposition in Zimbabwe.
We also note that the whole judgment must be viewed in the context of the 2018 election dispute of which Mr Mnangagwa has never rested after being defeated from the poll. The Supreme Court judgement is so absurd for the following reasons.
a) It was handed nicodemously during lockdown
b) There are a few people who knew about the judgement, Khupe, Mwonzora and Komichi in advance.
c) Mwonzora and Komichi gave an address purporting to represent the Party at Supreme Court and seemingly privy to the content of the judgement and the idea was to bring the verdict to the organs of the Party for determination.
d) What is even bizarre is the interest of state institutions, The Herald and ZBC. The Supreme Court was covered live showing a big hand of the State.
e) Parliament breached lockdown principles to reconvene and illegally recall MDC Alliance MPs on account of a letter written by MDC T. The State abused parliament by reconvening it for purposes of recalling MDC Alliance MPs.
f) We also note that the Supreme Court judgement has been deliberately misinterpreted and extended to mean what it doesn’t more particularly the misbegotten reference to 2014 which nowhere in the judgement.
INTERPRETATION OF THE JUDGEMENT
I. The Supreme Court judgement enjoyed the former MDC to convene an extraordinary congress within 3 months and further went on to give the former VP Khupe who at the point of Tsvangirai’s demise was no longer a member having ceased attending constitutional meetings in June 2018 to be a member of the Party.
II. The judgement further instructed Morgan Komichi the former vice-chairperson of the former MDC to convene the extraordinary congress in the event of the failure by the former VP. What is bizarre is that SC judgement elevates the former vice-chairperson to the position of Chairperson despite that the former Chairperson was Lovemore Moyo and had not told the court that he was unable to execute his duties.
III. We fundamentally disagree with the SC decision for the following reasons.
a) It is calling an extraordinary congress where the need for an extraordinary congress does not exist anymore. President Tsvangirai died on the 14th February 2018 and the acting leader was supposed to act for one year to February 2019 and the next congress was due in October 2019. As such no court can rewrite the rules of a voluntary association.
b) The terms of all office bearers’ and organs of the former MDC mandate expired in October 2019 and it cannot be revived without condonation and authority of the membership.
c) The judgement does not specify the structure that is going to implement the legacy and historical issues and the term of office of the so elected president at the extraordinary congress.
d) We have also seen that the former SG of the former MDC is now unilaterally, vindictively and against the rule of law abusing the SC judgement usurping the powers of the lawful organs now writing to parliament, minister of local government, for the avoidance of doubt all the recalls are not bound by lawfulness therefore null and void.
e) The former MDC congress should have 6000 delegates and for it to be legal its quorum should be two thirds and it is impossible to attain the same without the agreement and cooperation of the majority of members.
WAY FORWARD
I. We the leaders of the former national Council of the former MDC resolved in terms of the constitution to petition the former National Standing Committee members including Komichi and Mwonzora to facilitate a National Council Meeting within 14 days on the 6th of June to respond to the Supreme Court judgement at a venue that achieves compliance with COVID lockdown regulations.
II. Resolved to stop Mwonzora, Komichi and Khupe to act on behalf of the former MDC and its organs prior to the said meeting of 6th June.
III. Mwonzora has acted illegally by recalling MPs of another party, MDC Alliance without the authority or resolution of the lawful organs of the former MDC.
IV. The purported July 31 date of the extraordinary congress is illegal and invalid because it was done unilaterally and against the constitution of the former MDC.
Correspondent|Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima on Wednesday revealed that government is currently giving a $180 monthly cushioning allowance to vulnerable people.
Mavima said the government delayed to release the funds because the database of names of vulnerable people had to be cleaned first. He said:
As you know we had to delay a bit in making the cash transfers because we had to clean up the original database of vulnerable people and we now have a database with 201 000 people.
Therefore, the payments for this month started last week. People are receiving $180 per person.
This is because we thought we would marry two programmes, the one where we have always been giving $180 and the one for people who have become vulnerable as a result of the national lockdown, using the resources that have been released. We are sure that all the 201 000 will be paid $180 each this month.
Mavima further revealed that vulnerable people would be getting $300 starting from June and that this would continue until the end of the year, with more people being added to the database.
The people who have so far received the $180 included vendors and those from the informal sector whose sources of income have been affected by the national lockdown, Mavima said.
The Law Society of Zimbabwe statement on reports of arbitrary arrests, abductions and torture of citizens 20 May 2020
The Law Society of Zimbabwe has noted with grave concern the recent media reports of violence against citizens of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo and Harare by alleged members of the Police Force.
As a legal profession that is mandated and seeks to uphold the rule of law and justice in Zimbabwe, the Society finds such allegations appalling.
These constitute a reversal of our aspirations for a democratic country that respects the Constitution and the rule of law.
They are even more concerning in light of previous incidents of violence, torture and abductions that have not been effectively addressed by the State.
On the 16th of April 2020, Nokuthula Mpofu and Ntombizodwa Mpofu were allegedly assaulted by police officers purporting to enforce lockdown regulations in Bulawayo.
The assaults were, according to the reports, not only physical but were accompanied by verbal abuse of a tribal nature.
Such behaviour coming from a national police service has no place in a peaceful and democratic Zimbabwe.
Such elements in a professional police force should be investigated swiftly and transparently.
The assaults echo the general but worrisome manner of the conduct of some law enforcement officers in enforcing the lockdown regulations.
While the Law Society of Zimbabwe takes note of reports that the matter is being investigated and that some officers have been arrested, the Society calls upon the State to ensure that the matter is thoroughly, credibly and transparently investigated and prosecuted.
Furthermore, it is the State’s duty to ensure that sufficient safeguards for the protection of citizens are put in place.
Worryingly there are similar reports that on the 13th of May 2020 Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova after being arrested by alleged members of the police force, abducted and were later found dumped in rural Bindura having been severely tortured and sexually assaulted.
Prior to their discovery, efforts by their legal practitioners to locate them were fruitless.
These reports have to an extent been corroborated by a Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) report which undertook an independent investigation into the reports.
The Law Society is particularly worried that in the face of such grave allegations the response by the State has been disproportionate inadequate given the gravity of the situation.
The Society is concerned that allegations of the arbitrary use of violence and torture by security forces are becoming common-place in our country.
This poses a grave threat to our constitutional democracy. It undermines the fundamental values that are underpinned by our Constitution. More specifically:
(i) The right to personal security Which is provided for in Section 52 of the Constitution and includes freedom from all forms of violence.
(ii) Section 53 of the Constitution provides for freedom from torture or cruel, and inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, and
(iii) the Rights of accused persons provided for in Section 70 of the Constitution All these rights are also provided for under international human rights law.
We unreservedly condemn the reported acts of barbarism against fellow citizens by security forces or persons purporting to be such. These continue to stain our constitutional values and negate the rule of law.
Such grave infractions on the right to personal security and freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment have no place in our country.
In light of the above, we call on the State to discharge its constitutional duties and do the following:
1. Timeously, transparently and credibly investigate and prosecute all cases of
violence.
2. Without delay, establish an independent complaints mechanism against
members of the security services in terms of section 210 of the Constitution.
3. Ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
4. Ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
MDC-T acting Secretary General Paurina Mupariwa reading the resolutions of the National Council.
Own Correspondent|A huge majority of Members of the former MDC-T National Council and National Executive Committee as elected in the 2014 Congress met in Harare on Thursday and passed a number of resolutions that are bound to put party leaders Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi into a tight corner.
The committee met at the MDC-T headquarters and passed a major resolution forcing the leadership of Thokozani Khupe to call for an urgent National Council meeting to consider the Supreme Court ruling which imposed her as the interim leader of the MDC-T.
The move may see the end of Thokozani Khupe and her cartel as the Council has, according to the constitution, the power to recall the party leadership.
Watch the full MDC-T press conference in the video downloading below, please be patient as the video downloads.
Farai Dziva|Dynamos’ utility player Godknows Murwira is set to undergo surgery this week after he aggravated his knee injury during pre-season training earlier this year.
The utility player was supposed to take the operation some time ago but the coronavirus made it difficult. He had been ruled out for the first half of 2020 season before the campaign was put on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Dembare’s executive chairman Isaiah Mupfurutsa confirmed the issue to The Herald.
“All things being equal, Godknows (Murwira) will be operated on during the course of this week,’’ he said.
“He is already booked for the procedure.
“The issue is that this coronavirus pandemic has affected everything in life. Under normal circumstances, he (Murwira) should have been operated on a long time ago.
“But, understandably, the process has been delayed. It’s now up to the medical team to choose when they can have the procedure, otherwise, it’s booked already.”
Murwira will need six to eight weeks to fully heal from the operation.
Deputy Minister of Information Energy Mutodi, who once regarded the country’s senior men national soccer team, the Warriors, as the “Warriors of Shame”, has been relieved of his duties in government.
The musician cum politician blasted the Knowledge Musona-captained troops after they lost 0-4 to the Democratic Republic of Congo to crash out of Africa’s greatest football showpiece, AFCON, in Egypt last year, describing their performance as ‘shameful.’
“Warriors of shame: after courting President ED to fundraise for the team, we are shocked & displeased by their dismal performance. It’s clear the coach is a spent force. Players are weak & helpless. It’s time for new players, new coach…of all teams ndombolo hit us the hardest,” he tweeted.
Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana confirmed the authenticity of the press release highlighting the decision to sack Mutodi.-Soccer 24
A Harare based car dealership firm has donated food packs to CAPS United players in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
Pan Jap Motors, which specializes in the selling of top of the range vehicles, presented the packs to players of the Harare giants in the capital on Wednesday.
Notable players at the presentation were speedy winger Phineas Bamusi, diminutive attacker Ronald ‘Rooney’ Chitiyo and veteran defender Method Mwanjale.
The Covid-19 crisis has greately affected both clubs and players in Africa financially, a scenario which has resulted in the Botswana government even coming to the rescue by providing financial aid to top flight clubs and players in the neighboring country.-Soccer 24
1/2 The ZRP confirms that since the onset of the national lockdown on 30/03/2020, a total of 35 638 people have been arrested for violating national lockdown measures through C/S 4(1)(c) of SI 83/20, C/S 4(1)(a) of SI 83/20, C/S 5(1) of SI 83/20 failure to a wear mask,
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe) May 21, 2020
N’Golo Kante missed Chelsea’s training session on Wednesday due to fears of coronavirus.
The midfielder was allowed to skip the training by coach Frank Lampard after registering a negative coronavirus test and conducted his first socially distanced session on Tuesday.
Kante’s decision to stop attending the training lies in his medical history. He collapsed in the dressing room at Cobham in March 2018 in front of his team-mates but was cleared him of concerns about his heart.
The 29-year-old will now train at home and the club will continue their efforts to make their training ground safe for the rest of their squad.-Soccer 24
At the 73rd meeting of the World Health Assembly —its first-ever to be held virtually—delegates adopted a landmark resolution to bring the world together to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution, co-sponsored by more than 130 countries, was adopted by consensus.
It calls for the intensification of efforts to control the pandemic, and for equitable access to and fair distribution of all essential health technologies and products to combat the virus.
It also calls for an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the global response, including, but not limited to WHO’s performance.
As WHO convened ministers of health from almost every country in the world, the consistent message throughout the two-day meeting—including from the 14 heads of state participating in the opening and closing sessions —was that global unity is the most powerful tool to combat the outbreak. The resolution is a concrete manifestation of this call, and a roadmap for controlling the outbreak.
In his closing remarks, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “COVID-19 has robbed us of people we love.
It’s robbed us of lives and livelihoods; it’s shaken the foundations of our world; it threatens to tear at the fabric of international cooperation. But it’s also reminded us that for all our differences, we are one human race, and we are stronger together.”
The World Health Assembly will reconvene later in the year.
Credit :WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
Farai Dziva|Government is set to tighten lockdown restrictions as COVID -19 cases continue to rise.
See below the Health Ministry’s latest update:
Today 830 RDT screening tests and 443 PCR diagnostic tests were done.
The cumulative number of tests done to cate is 32 862 (18 244 RDT and 14 618 PCR).
To date the local number of confirmed cases is 48; recovered 18, active cases 26 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
The Ministry also urges members of the public to stay at home and avoid going to crowded places because where people come together in crowds, it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of at least 1 metre.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Masvingo based clergyman, “Prophet” Isaac Makomichi has challenged sacked Deputy Information Energy Mutodi to apologize to the nation for posting outrageous remarks about MDC Alliance Youth leaders, Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova.
Makomichi, who is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust, has also urged the former Deputy Minister to apologize to the concerned MDC Alliance officials’ families.
Mutodi shocked all and sundry when he posted on Twitter:
“Details emerge MDC youths Joana Mamombe, Netsai Marova, and Cecilia Chimbiri went out for a romantic night to Bindura with their lovers who are artisanal miners. They parked their car at a police station for safety but tragedy struck when they demanded foreign currency for services.”
In a statement, Makomichi implored Emmerson Mnangagwa to get rid of bad elements that are tarnishing his image.
“I call on Energy Mutodi to apologize to the nation for the outrageous remarks about the MDC Alliance leaders.
I was shocked by the remarks and I therefore urge Mutodi to apologize to the concerned MDC Alliance members in his personal capacity.As a Christian Mutodi must apologize for the remarks he made, otherwise the anger of God will be upon him.If you do not repent you will go to hell.
There are some people who are tarnishing the President’s name and I hope he will uproot such elements.Their aim is to soil his image.
I personally appreciate the President’s efforts to revive the economy,” said Makomichi.
The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly leadership notes with great concern of an ongoing blitzkrieg by some notorious law enforcement agents as a veneer to cover up for their grossly and dastardly nocturnal acts of abduction and torture that has so far been abundantly condemned by all sections of society.
Failed Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rogue regime must not atone for their embarrassment caused by failure to account for the abduction and torture of our 3 female youth leaders by making further indiscriminate illegal arrests of activists and youth leaders.
Since the exposure of the regime’s lies over abduction of Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova, the state security agents for the past week has been harassing activists and besieging our homes heavily armed in an operation to indiscriminately arrest every known MDC Alliance Youth leaders and activists.
Just yesterday, the paranoid regime besieged Harare Youth Chairman, Stanley Manyenga’s residence, arrested him and charged him with trumped up charges for participating in a demonstration in Warren Park.
Again yesterday, the panic stricken regime besieged female activist, Taurai Nyamanhindi’s Zengeza residence heavily armed with AK 47s on a mission yet to be established. Luckily, Nyamanhindi was not at her home.
By its very own admission, ZRP issued a ‘wanted dead or alive’ tag on MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Chairman, Obey Luther Sithole, SG Gift Siziba and several National Executive youth leaders.
As if the abduction and torture was not horrendous enough, the regime again intends to re-arrest Chimbiri, Mamombe and Marova on trumped up charges.
The heavy presence of both uniformed and plain clothed state security details at the trio’s hospital bedside is a sure confirmation of patients under arrest.
Clearly Emmerson Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship is already undertaking a fresh Night of Long Knives operation on activists and youth leaders as a way of thwarting looming danger to Mnangagwa’s presidency.
Mnangagwa knows the people are hungry and angry hence a hatched up plan to indiscriminately arrest all known activists and youth leaders.
Whilst we are raising alarm on our security situation, certainly it must not be misconstrued to be a sign of fear but alertness.
As MDC Alliance Youth Assembly, we will do whatever it takes to protect ourselves from a notorious, monstrous and bloody thirsty military regime of Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Enough is enough!
From the mountain top.
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCAllianceYouth Assembly NationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka has described sacked Deputy Information Energy Mutodi as a talkative person who should learn to calm down.
“You see mfana, hazvidi Energy yedzungu. When you rise by a mere cup captioned “I am the boss”, your fall and political irrelevance might be at the speed of the fall of same Komichi…,” said Tamborinyoka.
Norton MP Temba Mliswa also castigated Mutodi’s remarks about MDC Alliance Youth Leaders.
“The order the firing should’ve taken was 1. M. Mutsvangwa, 2. N. Mangwana and 3. E. Mutodi but if bottom up is an indicator of the rest’s fate we patiently wait.
I don’t condone the reckless statements made by @energymutodi the most recent being an insult to women and unparliamentary. It was uncalled for, he crossed the line. Besides being fired, the tweet should be removed; it’s unacceptable, insanity being the only reasonable excuse,” said Mliswa.
Own Correspondent|ZimEye.com readers have reacted to excitable Supreme Court ruling imposed MDC-T National Chairman Morgen Komichi’s move to block MDC President Nelson Chamisa meeting with the party’s 2014 structures.
Komichi had issued a statement claiming that Chamisa risked getting himself arrested if he would go ahead and hold the meeting with the structures which was set for Thursday morning.
In response a ZimEye.com reader blasted Komichi as follows:
“Anyone can meet anyone as they wish. You don’t need court order to meet. You go ahead with organising EOC as stipulated by the court,”
“All other activities including going to watch football as a grp of 2014 executive is on ones choice. Komichi wavakufarisa,” wrote the ZimEye.com reader.
Komichi had issued the statement below:
“The call of the MDC 2014 structures by Mr Nelson Chamisa through Farai Chinobva to meet in Harare is illegal and in contempt of the Supreme Court ruling of the 31March 2020 that declared Mr Chamisa an illegitimate President of the party (MDC).
“According to the mentioned SC judgement, Mr Nelson Chamisa is not the President of the party and therefore has no right whatsoever to call for any meeting of MDC Structures.
“The only MDC leadership that is by law allowed to assemble MDC Structures is Dr. Khupe (Acting President), Sen. Douglas Mwonzora ( Secretary General) and myself (Chairman of the party).
“Mr Chamisa must be warned and reminded that he risks breaking the laws of the land!,”
Farai Dziva| Norton MP Temba Mliswa has urged Emmerson Mnangagwa to fire Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and Permanent Secretary Nick Mangwana following the sacking of Deputy Minister Energy Mutodi.
Mliswa also castigated Mutodi’s remarks about MDC Alliance Youth Leaders.
“The order the firing should’ve taken was 1. M. Mutsvangwa, 2. N. Mangwana and 3. E. Mutodi but if bottom up is an indicator of the rest’s fate we patiently wait.
I don’t condone the reckless statements made by @energymutodi the most recent being an insult to women and unparliamentary. It was uncalled for, he crossed the line. Besides being fired, the tweet should be removed; it’s unacceptable, insanity being the only reasonable excuse,” said Mliswa.
MDC Alliance deputy spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka described Mutodi as a talkative person who should learn to calm down.
“You see mfana, hazvidi Energy yedzungu. When you rise by a mere cup captioned “I am the boss”, your fall and political irrelevance might be at the speed of the fall of same Komichi…,” said Tamborinyoka.
Farai Dziva|Outspoken cleric, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya has called on “those in power to repent” and stop the persecution of citizens.
Below is Bishop Magaya’s bold statement:
View and judge evil in the light of high principles :my reading of the spirit of Beatrice Mtetwas open letter to the president and his top aids.
An open letter to President Mnangagwa written by Beatrice Mtetwa , a respectable leading human rights lawyer is as piercing as it is as satiric lash not only to the head of state ,but also to his wife Amai Auxillia whose “philanthropic”work has been dramatized in all public media,Her loud silence on the recent abduction and torture of Harare west member of parliament Joana and her two friends Cecillia and Netsai if juxtaposed along her “philanthropic”work makes a parody of her acts of charity.
The letter also appeals to those man and women i.e the likes of Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri who by the way is also married to a Bishop and therefore can be called “mai Bishop”to speak out against the latest abductions.
The letter is a gentle reminder to some comrades of how at some point they suffered persecution under the former President Mugabe and how they received a lot of support and solidarity from the lawyers and also civic society whom they earlier on used to vilify and labelled puppets. Matemadanda, Mahiya and others remember quite well how they were persecuted.it is saddening now to hear again Cde Matemadanda ridiculing the same civil society organizations because he now enjoys the comfort and the security that the state in the second republic offer him.
I remember clearly when we held public prayer meetings in Africa unity square,the week that followed the anti Mugabe march in 2017 that Cdes Mutsvangwa ,Matemadanda and Mahiya came to speak in solidarity with the gathering masses and the church that had been coordinating the prayer meetings.I remember clearly hearing them saying ,”Your war veterans will protect you from now on wards. I remember clearly one of them hugging me and saying,well done and thank you Bishop”.I also remember making a public demand during that week that the freedoms we were experiencing then were not supposed to be short lived.
What we have witnessed in the past two and a half years clearly points to the biblical truth that “the heart of man is deceitful above all things,it is desperately wicked.
and who can know it’? (Jeremiah 17 vs 9 ).It is tragic to speak it but true to say that the country has never moved in the positive from the Mugabe era.
Just to reiterate what my sister Beatrice wrote ,and taking it further ,persecution does not become wrong only when it happens to us ,or to people that we so much love,persecution does not only become real when it happens to you or to your beloved and become stage managed when you think you are safe because you and the persecutors will be one.Torture and abductions are real in Zimbabwe and they are evil ,and should be viewed as such.
When Linda Masarira was arrested and persecuted and imprisoned at Chikurubi in 2016 it was not stage managed.I remember going to see her and to pray with her.When Professor Madhuku was tortured and injured in March 2007,it was not stage managed,i went to pray with him when he was hospitalized at Avenues Clinic.I pray and hope that these two do not think sincerely that these tortures and abductions are stage managed.
I plead that we allow God to continually sensitize our conscience.It is dangerous to have your conscience seared with a hot iron.I am directing these to both those that abduct and torture as well as those that now sympathize with the torturers,God will not just judge those that commit acts of wickedness ,but those that approve of them(Rom 1 vs 32 ).
On the 28th of June 2016 at a press conference that we held as Zimbabwe Divine Destiny in commemoration of the UN International day against torture i warned not only those that authorized ,masterminded and executed torture,but also those that aided ,approved,sympathized with and found security in those who were at the helm of the system.
I remember clearly stating that Prof Jonathan Moyo,Kasukuwere,Chombo and even President Mugabe himself were not safe.We all know what happened .I firmly reiterate here on the basis of the integrity of the word of God and the Authority invested in the church,that not anyone among those at the helm of power now and their sympathizers are safe. Please repent
To the rest of the church and the masses of Zimbabwe ,God is building a movement of definers of historic transitions.Be part of it .Pray prophetically and most fervently.Speak against evil .
Push in labour pains the birthing of a new Zimbabwe.God save Zimbabwe.
I hear you wanted to tender in your resignation from PAC a few days ago but you were called for a meeting with Idhii and his lawyer cousin who was instrumental in your PAC appointment to be convinced otherwise. Money said to have changed hands, true or false? https://t.co/XP4PRmStmR
— mawarire mbizvo jealousy (@mawarirej) May 21, 2020
By Knowledge Hakata- Sir you have become a Twitter President of which most of the people who are following you are in the diaspora the ones who did not vote for you.
We now need you to call for a Massive but PEACEFUL civil disobedience.
The 2.6 million ordinary Zimbabweans voted in order for you to lead them but you have failed dismally and you continue to fail every passing day.
Your party members continue to be brutalized, tortured and raped each day but you only reply to the pubic via twitter.
Zimbabweans needs a visionary leader who can take the bull with its horns, the typical of the late iconic leader Morgan Tsvangirai in his early days as the President of MDC.
You have the brains Mr. President but your procrastination to take on Zanu Pf is frustrating millions of Zimbabweans.
Zimbabweans still love you but they are now losing their patience on you because you are failing to take action.
I don’t mean to destroy or destabilize your party but your leadership qualities sucks big time, Zimbabweans have been waiting for a signal and millions of ordinary Zimbabweans are dying of hunger every day.
You have told your MPs to stay at home but what about the voters who voted for them, the ones that are languishing in poverty and hunger.
We cannot wait for the 2023 presidential elections knowing that Zanu Pf will trounce you again via rigging, please sir can you show us the way, the position you are occupying doesn’t need a Twitter President at all cost.
Zimbabweans are working like donkeys especially in South Africa and majority of them they are backing you to give them a signal.
The economy is burning, people are dying everything in Zimbabwe is not just working at all and everyone’s hope is totally pinned on you Mr. President.
Mr. 2.6 million votes sir, you are becoming clear that you lack leadership qualities and the more you fail to take the lead the more the main opposition continues to die a natural death.
Look what is happening in your own house you are leading, they are untold divisions, while you should be focusing on removing idiots in Zanu Pf from power rather your own house is on fire.
Please Nelson Chamisa you need to show us the way, Zimbabweans are tired of the everyday life they are facing.
Mawhindi, kombi drivers, unemployed youths, the working class, those in the diaspora, those in rural areas and even me, we are all waiting for you to lead us into the streets of our motherland Zimbabwe
You cannot fight Mnangagwa with a Bible sir, those guys in Zanu Pf understands violence and let’s take them head-on
40 years later No electricity-No Clean Water-Women are being raped- People are being tortured
Youths are unemployed-No Pensions-No currency-NO EVERYTHING
Nelson Chamisa ITS NOW OR NEVER
Knowledgehakata is the founder of Demos Cratos a Human Rights Organisation and can be contacted on waterlessprings@gmail.com
A raging fire ravaged Banket Hospital pharmacy and store room, last night.
Medicines and other supplies worth thousands of dollars were destroyed, the state media reports.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained at the time of writing. It was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault of an explosion of alcohol based sanitisers inside the warehouse.
Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Ian Kohwera said investigations are still underway.
Zvimba South Legislature, Dr Philip Chiyangwa who visited the hospital this morning in the company of Zvimba West Member of Parliament and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi said the thousand of drugs and infrastructure were destroyed.
“The fire has destroyed thousand of drugs, medical supplies and infrastructure worth thousands of dollars,” he said.
Dr Chiyangwa implored well-wishers to chip in to resupply the health institution.
In a separate interview, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Mashonaland West, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka said the incident was a huge blow to the entire provincial health system and the fight against COVID-19.
Patients who were admitted at the hospital have since been transferred to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital while the department of public works attended the scene to ascertain the impact of the damage.-
Former Herald Editor Tichaona Zindonga claims that Presidential Spokesperson George Charamba and ousted Deputy Government Spokesperson Energy Mutodi plotted to remove President Emmerson Mnangagwa working on behalf of the military.
Zindoga made the remarks in a Twitter thread commenting on the firing of Mutodi by Mnangagwa on Wednesday.
Zindoga claimed that Charamba and Mutodi wanted to replace the president with an unnamed individual.
Read the full statement below:
No, I’m not rejoicing. This time last year the ex junior Minister Mutodi forced me to write a report on why I had been pictured, on different ocassions, with opposition leader @nelsonchamisa and youth leader Bvondo.
His superiors in the ministry laughed the order off because he had no real authority to do so. However, I did it for strategic reasons not least because the allegations formed part of dossiers alleging that I was an @mdczimbabwe plant and that I had met @nelsonchamisa in Moza.
These dossiers were laid before President Mnangagwa on at least two occassions between January and September. Mutodi was not working alone. He worked with @Jamwanda2 and rogue elements of military intelligence in an effort to win turf war at Ministry of Info.
They were part of a grander factional plan to weaken Mnangagwa and prop up a certain individual to succeed him, short or long term. And Mutodi has been part of this scheme and once at Holiday Inn loudly vowed to defend certain preferred journos to the last drop of his blood
The mastermind of this factional scheming is none other than George Charamba aka @Jamwanda2 who has an inordinate sense of entitlement towards State media as his fiefdom, and is deluded to the extent of thinking he can be a kingmaker of Zimbabwe’s politics…
Energy and @Jamwanda2 erratic behaviour, publicly shown on Twitter lately, display increasing frustration and lack of fortitude in the face of failure of their factional agenda to torpedo President Mnangagwa.
But I said I’m not rejoicing. Never held anything against Mutodi. As my MP in Goromonzi West actually sought a good working relationship for the sake of our community. Recently, I actually sent him a message availing my services for possible Covid-19 messaging campaign.
Lastly, I wish him well in his future endeavours and expect him to commit more energies serving our people – the villagers he complained were disrupting his sleep – in Goromonzi West. As always, I will be all too happy to assist in whatever way. Including succeeding him!
By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says it has noted a picture circulating on social media showing a person holding bundles of ZW$10 notes which were released into circulation on Tuesday this week.
In a statement, the Central Bank said it has established that, based on the serial numbers on the notes, the $10 bills were paid out to a customer by First Capital Bank.
Here is the statement in full:
PICTURE CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWING BUNDLES OF NEW ZW$10 NOTES
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (the Bank) has noted a picture circulating on social media showing a person holding bundles of ZW$10 notes, which banks started paying out to customers from the 19th of May, 2020.
After comparing the serial numbers shown in the social media picture against our cash disbursement records, we established that at least some of the cash shown in the picture was part of cash disbursed by the Bank to First Capital Bank Limited (First Capital Bank). First Capital Bank then paid out this cash to a customer.
Investigations have established that, in paying out the cash to its customers, First Capital Bank adhered to the ZW$1000 limit per customer.
It is, therefore, likely that the person shown in the picture holding the cash bundles, may have received the cash from different people, either as an illegal money changer or in the course of business.
A Kwekwe Polytechnic Mechanical Engineering Lecturer, Paul Charadza, was found dead in his apartment in Msasa Park in Kwekwe on Monday.
The lecturer’s body was discovered by fellow tenants after he had been missing for about 24 hours.
Kwekwe Polytechnic Principal Evans Musara said the now deceased was last seen on Friday when he reported for duty and he had no signs of being unwell.
Charadza’s uncle, Joram Matina said the body was found with traces of blood on the mouth, nose, and eyes and the family was awaiting a post mortem to understand what happened. He said:Although we are not saying there was foul play, we cannot rule out that factor totally. We await the results of the post-mortem.
We are still in shock as he did not have a history of any sickness. He was fit and was doing his daily work, as usual, we were shocked to hear he had passed on.
Charadza’s body was found on Monday after he had gone missing on Sunday morning.
His body was taken to Bulawayo for post-mortem and the results are expected on Thursday.
NO private school has been granted permission to charge fees for online lessons as virtual learning does not translate to the start of the second term, an education official has said.
Government is making plans for schools to open for examination classes and says no school has been authorised to charge fees yet, even for online lessons in terms of the Education Act.
Some private schools are charging deposits of between $14 000 and $30 000 insisting that they will be teaching pupils online.
The schools are threatening parents that if they do not pay, the fees will be adjusted according to the foreign exchange fluctuations based on the parallel market.
The schools are also excluding pupils whose parents or guardians have not paid fees from online learning.
Some parents have expressed concern that while they are made to pay exorbitant amounts for online lessons, they have to buy gadgets and data to enable their children to access the online content, putting the cost of education beyond their reach.
Bulawayo Provincial Education Director (PED) Mrs Olicah Kaira said some private schools had applied to conduct online lessons but pledged to do so freely.
“All the schools are telling me that online lessons are for free, especially Google-Classroom. Everyone is saying it is for free. Christian Brothers College (CBC), Girls College, Petra schools say no child pays for Google-Classroom. That is what we have been made to understand,” she said.
“Those who want to conduct online lessons and demand fees payments, they all know that they must be given permission by the Permanent Secretary. That is the position that I know. No child should be denied education services due to the fact that their parents or guardians have not paid fees. We must engage with parents.”
She said Government will descend heavily on those institutions found on the wrong side of the law.
“We don’t want to hear anything to do with payment of fees. We are still on lockdown, schools are closed. Those demanding fees are demanding fees for which term? If you want to charge for anything you want to do in registered schools be it Government or private schools, they operate using the Education Act. It is the principal Act of the Ministry. It is very clear people should seek authorisation,” said Mrs Kaira.
She promised to engage schools that were violating the education policy stating that Government will descend heavily on those institutions found on the wrong side of the law.
By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo said that his ministry has requested for more deployments of security forces to tighten the lockdown in urban areas after an increasing number of citizens are disregarding the stay at home order.
Moyo told the Daily News that the country risks a second wave of coronavirus infections as more and more people have become visible on the streets coupled with some returning citizens testing positive for COVID-19. Said Moyo:
While we have been able to control local transmission, we are worried about the number of people who are getting into towns because there is a possibility of a second wave of transmissions.
And as such, we have engaged the security forces to step in to enforce the lockdown, so that people stay at home and only essential service workers are allowed into towns.
We are also concerned that some returning citizens are bringing the disease, and we have thus upped security surveillance not only in towns but also along our borders because there is a danger of infected people getting into the country undetected.
According to the Health Ministry, as of 20 May 2020, the local number of confirmed cases was 48; recovered 18, active cases 26 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
MDC Alliance members are free to contest at the upcoming court-sanctioned MDC -T Congress slated for July 2020.
This was revealed by Morgen Komichi who said this while speaking to the Business Times recently.
He said:
We are going ahead with the planning of holding of the elective congress as ordered by the Supreme Court ruling and we have decided to invite Chamisa and his team of MDC Alliance leadership to contest in the elections.
As you are aware most of the top leadership of the MDC Alliance were also leaders in 2014 party structures. Everyone who is a member of the MDC party is free to come and contest in the congress and many of the senior members that are now associated with Chamisa have told us that there will be at the congress.
Komichi also said he received word that Chamisa is not interested in participating in the 31 July 2020 Congress, he, however, said he has heard that MDC Alliance file members and rank are willing to participate in the elections. Hwende, the MDC Alliance Secretary-General dismissed Komichi and said they do not recognise Khupe as their leader since they already elected their leader.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has ordered police officers to stop issuing information to members of the media saying such engagements are causing unnecessary alarm among the members of the public.
In a memo signed by the CG OPS and directed to all stations dated May 20 2020 , all police details were warned against leaking information.
“Officers and Members are once again reminded to adhere to police standing rules governing communication with the media. Some officers have shown a tendency of giving information to the press that has caused a lot of anxiety and dischord.
“This behavior should stop forthwith. This tendency of giving out information that pertains to police operations must be left to the relevant authorities and in any event with clearance from Police General Headquaters. Stern measures will be taken against police officers who choose to disregard this message,” said the memo in part.
The development comes at a time when the ZRP has tightened its grip on information forcing members of the press to find alternative ways to source for information within the officers’ ranks.
This has resulted in very sensitive information finding its way into the public domain especially on social media.
However, ZRP officers , like any other public servants are bound by strict regulations under the Official Secrets Act which directs them not to leak any information encountered during the discharge of duties.
By A Correspondent- Schools will likely open in 4 weeks time, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Ms Thumisang Thabela has revealed.
She said this while presenting the School Reopening Strategy to the Parliament Committee on Primary and Secondary Education.
Ms Thabela said schools will reopen in phases:
Schools will be opened in phases. First phase will see exam classes going to school. This phase needs about four weeks to put in place.
Phase two will see those writing next year going to school these are learners in Grade six, form three and Lower Six.
Phase three will see Grade three, four and five returning to school. Forms one and two will also do the same.
Ms Thabela also said they will try to maintain social distancing even in schools and some learners will have to learn in tents when learning starts:
As we get to phase three we are very sure at that time classrooms will be used up. We will be using tents, mobile classrooms one day classes. There is a lot of infrastructure that might be called up. The infrastructure and human resource will be stretched at this point
Meanwhile, ZIMSEC June exams are expected to start on 22 June 2020.
By A Correspondent- An education official has said the government has not yet approved online school fees for private schools and the onset of virtual leaning at most private schools does not signify or translate to the beginning of the second term.
This was revealed by Bulawayo Provincial Education Director (PED) Mrs Olicah Kaira who said those that want to charge fees for virtual learning were supposed to get permission from the ministry or offer the service for free:
We don’t want to hear anything to do with payment of fees. We are still on lockdown, schools are closed. Those demanding fees are demanding fees for which term? If you want to charge for anything you want to do in registered schools be it Government or private schools, they operate using the Education Act. It is the principal Act of the Ministry. It is very clear people should seek authorisation
Mrs Kaira said other schools like Girls College and Petra were using Google Classrooms and have communicated that no one is supposed to pay for the service, a development she felt must universally apply in all schools that are conducting online classes. Schools are reportedly threatening parents that if they don’t pay the designated online school fees they will have to pay more or their children will be excluded from learning.-statemedia
B A Correspondent- Cecilia Chimbiri has said she will sue Zimbabwe Republic Police following the leaking of her half-naked photos on social media after her abduction, Open Parly reports.
Chimbiri’s lawyer Rose Hanzi has written to the Police Chief Godwin Matanga asking that the police fully investigate to determine how and under whose instruction “photographs of our client have been disseminated”
Chimbiri’s lawyers wrote:
We are extremely concerned that the dissemination of the said photographs is in direct violation of the guidelines provided in the 2012 Protocol on Multi-Sectoral Management of Sexual Abuse and Violence in Zimbabwe. The ZRP is a signatory to this protocol and all its officers are bound by its provisions,
Further be advised that we will be taking legal action against all those responsible in their official and individual capacities for damages. Accordingly, this letter serves as due notice in terms of Section 6 of the State Liabilities Act.
We further advise that we will not hesitate to invoke all constitutional and legal remedies available to our client, including suing all police officers, as well as the command structure involved in the present obtaining violation of our clients’ rights. Further, be advised that we will be taking legal action against all those responsible in their official and individual capacities for damages
According to Hanzi, the leaked photos were taken by a female police officer identified as Chief Superintendent Philip as evidence gathering for the purpose of the investigation, and it was brought to her attention that photos of her client taken by Chief Superintendent Philip were circulating on different social media platforms.
State Media|Two Malawian border jumpers who tested positive to Covid-19 during profiling and screening at the Beitbridge Quarantine and Isolation Centre located at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel escaped yesterday.
One of the escapees was intercepted by security agents as he sought transport to Malawi at the closed Dulivadzimu long-distance bus terminus.
His accomplice was by last night still unaccounted for with police descending on all trucks leaving and entering Beitbridge. The development came barely 24 hours after 19 people escaped on Monday night. To date, 29 people have escaped since the centre opened for operations.
The two are part of 41 Malawians who were intercepted by security agents on patrol after skipping the border from South Africa. The group was intercepted while seeking transport to Malawi at a local truck stop.
After interception they were taken for profiling and screening where seven men and one woman tested positive and were put into isolation. The woman has a minor child who tested negative and the immigrants were put into isolation pending further PCR tests, while 32 were transferred to Harare pending repatriation to Malawi.
Police officer commanding Beitbridge District (Dispol), Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said they had beefed up security at the isolation centre and around the main quarantine centre.
“We have beefed security in all aspects and we are not taking lightly to those seeking to compromise public health,” he said. “Indications are that most of those who e cape from quarantine use long-distance trucks to travel to their destinations.
“Starting from tonight (last night), we are clamping down on all truckers who carry people without movement permits. We are going to be having a number of roadblocks to enforce compliance on all north or southbound trucks.
Said Chief Supt Nyongo: “We have put security at the isolation centre and on the parameter of the main quarantine centre and are being assisted by the Zimbabwe National Army, the Support Unit and the Duty Uniform Branch (DUB)”.
The Director of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Totamirepi Tirivavi said they were working with the Malawian Embassy to repatriate the 32 migrants who have been moved from Beitbridge.
In a related development, over 2 000 Zimbabweans have passed through the Beitbridge quarantine centre in the last two weeks, most of whom have been moved to quarantine centres closer to their final destinations.
The Beitbridge centre can carry 280 people on quarantine and 70 on isolation but the Government has set the maximum at 150. By last night, the place had 60 people housed in one wing of the hotel to tighten security.
Own Correspondent|Highly placed ZimEye.com sources have indicated that police officers will today pounce on MDC officials set to hold an executive meeting at the party offices in Harare.
The sources indicated that the police already have a warrant of arrest with a list of names of members of the MDC to be arrested.
“Police will arrest some members attending NEC and NC meeting at harverst house tomorrow (today) the 21st of May 2020 amid allegations that the organisers of the Warren park illegal demonstrations will be in attendance,” said the sources.
“Some names that are on the list are Chamisa, Biti, Bhasikiti, Bhebhe, Sikhala, Hwende, and the entire youth wing,” said the sources.
The sources further claimed that the police law and order section at Harare Central Police Station have intercepted information from mobile phones to the effect that the abduction of senior party youth league members last week was fake.
“Police has intercepted chats and calls to the effect that it is now clear that the abducation was fake and all culprits will be brought to book to face the full wrath of law including organisers of the illegal demonstration,” says the tip off.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MDCT CHAIRMAN
Re: In contempt of Court
Att: MDC 2014 STRUCTURES
The call of the MDC 2014 structures by Mr Nelson Chamisa through Farai Chinobva to meet in Harare is illegal and in contempt of the Supreme Court ruling of the 31March 2020 that declared Mr Chamisa an illegitimate President of the party (MDC).
According to the mentioned SC judgement, Mr Nelson Chamisa is not the President of the party and therefore has no right whatsoever to call for any meeting of MDC Structures.
The only MDC leadership that is by law allowed to assemble MDC Structures is Dr. Khupe (Acting President), Sen. Douglas Mwonzora ( Secretary General) and myself (Chairman of the party).
Mr Chamisa must be warned and reminded that he risks breaking the laws of the land!
Own Correspondent| Information just received indicates that MDC President Nelson Chamisa has invited all members of the MDC-T 2014 congress structure for an urgent meeting at the party headquarters in Harare today.
The agenda of the meeting was not clear at the time of this article. The meeting may be a sign that Chamisa could be planning to contest in the Supreme Court ordered congress according to analysts.
Own Correspondent|Uganda has revised downwards its tally of positive coronavirus cases to 145 from 264 after deducting the number of all foreign truck drivers who had tested positive.
The number released on Wednesday includes the 10 new cases with the Ministry of Health saying President Museveni advised the revision.
“Today, 20 May 2020, 10 new COVID-19 cases confirmed. 9 new cases are truck drivers while 1 case is a contact case. Following a Presidential Directive of deducting all foreign truck drivers from Uganda’s total confirmed case count, the confirmed COVID-19 cases now stand at 145,” Uganda’s Health Minister said on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday, Uganda had sent 124 truck drivers back to their respective countries after they tested positive.
So far, Uganda has not reported any death related to the new coronavirus and plans to start easing strict lockdown measures from June 2.
There are also plans to reopen schools targetting the learners set to do their national examinations this year.
In the East African region, Kenya’s coronavirus cases rose by 66 to 1,029 cases. The new cases include 64 Kenyans, one Rwandan and one Somali national. The number of recovered patients rose to 366 after another 8 patients recovered and got discharged from the hospital.
Rwanda’s cases have risen to 314 after 6 new cases were registered from the 982 samples tested on Wednesday. The country also registered 7 more recoveries (total 216).
No updates have come from Tanzania whose confirmed cases still stand at 509 and 21 deaths. The active cases stand 183 but the government of President John Pombe Magufuli has been accused of concealing the true extent of coronavirus impact in the country.
Burundi which went to polls on Wednesday, still has its cases at 42 while South Sudan’s cases stand at 290 with 4 recoveries. Africa’s most infected country, South Africa recorded 27 new deaths (339 total) on Wednesday and 803 new cases. In Egypt, there were 21 new deaths and 745 new cases. Algeria registered 7 new deaths and 165 new cases. Madagascar registered 45 new cases.
Globally, 5,057,280 people have been infected as of May 20 while 328,194 have died and 2,008,283 have recovered from the disease.
Former ZESA Holdings group chief executive officer Joshua Chifamba has been acquitted of criminal abuse of office charges, in which he was jointly charged with former Energy Minister Elton Mangoma and Zesa Enterprise managing director, Tererai Luis Mutasa for engaging a South Korean electricity company in a local project without the Treasury and board’s approval.
ZESA Holdings Chief Executive Joshua Chifamba (centre), Zimbabwe Power Company Acting Managing Director Joshua Chirikuutsi (right) and ZETDC managing director Julian Chinembiri before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy ZESA Holdings Chief Executive Joshua Chifamba (centre), Zimbabwe Power Company Acting Managing Director Joshua Chirikuutsi (right) and ZETDC managing director Julian Chinembiri before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy Chifamba, who was being represented by lawyer Admire Rubaya, was acquitted at the High Court after he sought a reveal on the dismissal of his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case by Harare magistrates Francis Mapfumo.
In his application for discharge at the close of the State’s case Chifamba, through lawyer Rubaya argued that the State had failed to establish a prima facie against him.
Chifamba also submitted that Zesa Enterprises was not a procurement entity and it was not a statutory corporation.
He argued that it was not a legal requirement to go to tender before the partnership agreement was entered into between Techpro and Zesa Enterprises.
He said, with that in mind, they did not act contrary to or inconsistent with their duties by engaging the South Korean company without going to tender.
High Court judge Justice Benjamin Chikowero ruled that the trial magistrate Mr Mapfumo erred when he accepted Chifamba’s argument.
EIGHT people have been arrested in Beitbridge for smuggling groceries, blankets and electrical equipment from South Africa.
Police are still to assess the value of the smuggled goods.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the goods were handed over to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
“Police in Beitbridge have arrested eight people for smuggling and intercepted a Nissan Caravan and a Nissan PG720 truck loaded with various groceries, electrical equipment and blankets.
“Investigations established that the goods were smuggled through an illegal crossing point known as Pande 2 Gate 7. All the recovered goods were handed over to Zimra,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
The eight suspects are Last Moyo (34), Edward Zemba (38), Aledi Moyo (26), Talent Moyo (29), Maryline Ndlovu (29), Ntombizodwa Shoko (35) Sikhangele Ndlovu (34) and Memory Ncube (38).
Asst Comm Nyathi urged travellers to declare all their items to avoid arrest and unnecessary embarrassment.
“Police implore individuals, groups and even institutions to follow laid down customs and excise formalities to avoid being arrested.
“Operations to curb smuggling will be intensified by the police and other security services,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
Recently a truck driver and two passengers were arrested in Beitbridge for allegedly smuggling groceries from South Africa.
Police manning a security check point along Beitbridge-Bulawayo Road discovered that the truck that was ferrying maize-meal had some grocery items that had not been declared.
The three were then arrested for smuggling.
Earlier this month, police in Beitbridge intercepted groceries worth R83 446 and arrested two people for smuggling.
Knowledge Hakata|Sir you have become a Twitter President of which most of the people who are following you are in the diaspora the ones who did not vote for you.
We now need you to call for a Massive Civil Disobedience.
The 2.6 million ordinary Zimbabweans voted in order for you to lead them but you have failed dismally and you continue to fail every passing day.
Your party members continue to be brutalized, tortured and raped each day but you only reply to the pubic via twitter.
Zimbabweans needs a visionary leader who can take the bull with its horns, the typical of the late iconic leader Morgan Tsvangirai in his early days as the President of MDC.
You have the brains Mr. President but your procrastination to take on Zanu-PF is frustrating millions of Zimbabweans.
Zimbabweans still love you but they are now losing their patience on you because you are failing to take action.
I don’t mean to destroy or destabilize your party but your leadership qualities sucks big time, Zimbabweans have been waiting for a signal and millions of ordinary Zimbabweans are dying of hunger every day.
You have told your MPs to stay at home but what about the voters who voted for them, the ones that are languishing in poverty and hunger.
We cannot wait for the 2023 presidential elections knowing that Zanu-PF will trounce you again via rigging, please sir can you show us some iron balls, the position you are occupying doesn’t need a Twitter President at all cost.
Zimbabweans are working like donkeys especially in South Africa and majority of them they are backing you to give them a signal.
The economy is burning, people are dying everything in Zimbabwe is not just working at all and everyone’s hope is totally pinned on you Mr. President.
Mr. 2.6 million votes sir, you are becoming clear that you lack leadership qualities and the more you fail to take the lead the more the main opposition continues to die a natural death.
Look what is happening in your own house you are leading, they are untold divisions, while you should be focusing on removing idiots in Zanu-PF from power rather your own house is on fire.
Please Nelson Chamisa you need to show us the way, Zimbabweans are tired of the everyday life they are facing.
Mawhindi, kombi drivers, unemployed youths, the working class, those in the diaspora, those in rural areas and even me, we are all waiting for you to lead us into the streets of our motherland Zimbabwe
You cannot fight Mnangagwa with a Bible sir, those guys in Zanu-PF understands violence and let’s take them head-on
40 years later No electricity-No Clean Water-Women are being raped- People are being tortured
Youths are unemployed-No Pensions-No currency-NO EVERYTHING
Knowledge Hakata is the founder of Demos Cratos a Human Rights Organisation
The family of a truck driver from Lower Gweru, who has been self-isolating at home, has been subjected to abuse at the hands of ignorant villagers who believe they will spread Covid-19 in the area.
The truck driver’s teenage son was on Sunday allegedly assaulted by villagers who demanded the relocation of the family.
Sources in Makepesi Village said the driver arrived for self-isolation on Friday following advice from health officials.
It is normal for people who have been outside the country to self-isolate first before going into public spaces.
Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister, who is also provincial Covid-19 taskforce chairperson Larry Mavima yesterday said the driver has since tested negative.
“The man tested negative and you can get details from Dr (Reginald) Mhene (Midlands Provincial Medical Director and provincial Covid-19 taskforce epidemiology and technical services chairperson),” said the Minister.
Said Dr Mhene: “I don’t have details as yet. Am looking for the details.”
Chief Chisadza under whose jurisdiction Makepesi falls, confirmed the arrival of the driver at his home.
“Yes, we had a meeting with health officials with regards to the driver. He is at his home but the challenge is stigmatisation. But what I know is that health officers came and assessed his home before they brought him which on its own should mean that he is not a danger to the community. The villagers lack knowledge because they think that being Covid-19 positive is a death sentence,” he said.
Asked if the driver’s family had faced abuse from fellow villagers, Chief Chisadza said: “I didn’t see the discrimination or abuse but I heard that one of the family members was beaten at the shops. Now for fear of abuse or discrimination they are staying indoors and can’t even go to the shops or to fetch water or firewood. I appeal for this family to be assisted.
“Education is needed because you can be Covid-19 positive and recover we have more recoveries than deaths. But it’s a matter of taking the education to the people. I call upon Government departments to reach out to the people and also support this family so that they have food and other basic commodities because they are being discriminated against.”
A Chronicle crew visited the driver’s home but could not talk to members of the family as there was no one outside the yard and the gate was locked.
Gweru Provincial Hospital medical superintendent Dr Fabian Mashingaidze said people can self- isolate without any problems.
“Self-isolation can happen to a case that doesn’t have symptoms. This is when you remain in your home or accommodation and avoid contact with other people. Most people who need to self-isolate will probably be advised to do so for 14 days. You don’t go to public places where you might have contact with other people, such as work, school, childcare, church, university or public gatherings,” he said.
Correspondent|About 44 illegal immigrants that cut across some African countries including Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe were arrested by the South African Police Service for violating Lockdown order at Bethlehem in the Free State.
According to reports, the culprits were arrested based on a tip of by the members of the neighborhood.
Upon arrival, they found about 55 men of which 44 are discovered to be living the country without valid papers.
Police image maker, Motantsi Makhele disclosed to news men that only 11 people are legally permitted to reside in South Africa among the crowd that gathered to watch the match.
As at the time of this report, plans are underway for the deportation of the culprits back to their countries.
South Africa now has zero tolerance for undocumented foreigners in South Africa.
Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have accused the Zambian government of attempting to annex part of the territory belonging to DRC. Tensions brewed between Zambia and the DRC following skirmishes between the armed forces of the two countries at a border last week.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) disclosed the armies’ clashes on the border had resulted in further displacements, particularly in the Moba territory.
The incident is the first sign of cross-border tension between the DRC and Zambia since the meeting in October last year between the authorities of Tanganyika in DRC and Zambia to normalize the situation at the border.
Gilbert Kankonde, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior said tensions exist between Zambia and the DRC towards Mpweto where Zambians are showing signs of wanting to annex part of DRC territory.
This is according to Africa News Correspondent Gaël Mpoyo who reported that Congolese authorities suspect Zambia of wanting to annex a part of the territory belonging to DRC. He said these sentiments were shared during a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Félix Tshisekedi on Friday.
And National Deputy Jean Manda confirmed the presence of Zambian forces in Mulilo in Moba territory after his stay in the region.
“Tensions persist on the border from March 13th when Zambian forces occupied several villagers along Lake Tanganyika in Moba territory, this is the case of Villages of Kibanga, Libondwe and Kalibamba in the Molilo area located about 300 Kilometers east of the city of Moba. The Congolese military are entrenched in the Molilo Centre with Headquarters based in Moba Centre to control this part of the south eastern part of Moba,” Mpoya said.
He said Zambian forces are occupying villages in Mulilo from Moba territory on the border since the October meeting.
“Zambian soldiers are now occupying territories that they did not even occupy before like Kapingo, now they have come back in force and they have positioned war machines there.”
He said during the diplomatic sessions, authorities of the two countries have agreed to resolve this border dispute peacefully.
“It should be recalled that similar incidents have occurred in 1996, 2006 and December 2016 around a Congolese town easily accessible from Zambia while on the Congolese side the swamp makes it difficult to access. The tension is still very high,” he said.
Mpoya said the Congolese military is in position just waiting for orders.
“Moreover repeated invasions by Zambian forces have been reported in Old Tanganyika, two Congolese provinces bordering Zambia since the beginning of the year, after clashes between the naval forces of the two counties after fishermen using illegal nets. The situation is astonishing given that the two counties have normal diplomatic relations,” he said.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced that 2 positive COVID-19 cases were recorded on Wednesday 20 May 2020 from 830 RDT screening tests and 443 PCR diagnostic tests done.
In its daily coronavirus (COVID-19) update released on Wednesday evening, the Ministry said the cases are female returnees, 1 from Botswana and 1 from South Africa who both tested positive on the 8th day of quarantine.
The two new cases take the number of confirmed cases to 48.
Below are the highlights of the situation report:
TWO (2) cases tested positive for COVID-19 today. The cases are female returnees, 1 from Botswana and 1 from South Africa who both tested positive on the 8th day of quarantine.
Today 830 RDT screening tests and 443 PCR diagnostic tests were done. The cumulative number of tests done to cate is 32 862 (18 244 RDT and 14 618 PCR).
To date the local number of confirmed cases is 48; recovered 18, active cases 26 and 4 deaths, since the onset of the outbreak on 20 March 2020.
The Ministry also urged members of the public to stay at home and avoid going to crowded places because where people come together in crowds, it is more difficult to maintain physical distance of at least 1 metre.
A KWEKWE Polytechnic Mechanical Engineering Lecturer was found dead in his apartment in Msasa Park in Kwekwe on Monday.
Fellow tenants discovered Paul Charadza’s body after he had been missing for about 24 hours.
Kwekwe Polytechnic Principal Mr Evans Musara confirmed the incident.
He said Mr Charadza was last seen when he reported for work on Friday.
“We are still in a state of shock. I personally last saw him on Friday when he came to the campus. He was fit and he had no signs of being unwell,” said Mr Musara, before referring further questions to the family.
Charadza’s uncle, Mr Joram Matina said the family was awaiting a post mortem to understand what happened.
”Although we are not saying there was foul play, we cannot rule out that factor totally. We await the results of post-mortem,” he said.
“We are still in shock as he did not have a history of any sickness. He was fit and was doing his daily work as usual, we were shocked to hear he had passed on.”
Charadza was found dead on Monday after he had gone missing on Sunday morning.
Police took Charadza’s body to Bulawayo for post-mortem and the results are expected tomorrow.
Mr Matina said the body was found with traces of blood on the mouth, nose, and eyes.
“There is nothing we can say for now and we have to wait for post-mortem results. But we have lost a figure in the family who was there for everyone. He was ready to assist anyone,” said Mr Matina.
Charadza is expected to be buried in Chivi on Friday.
Pindula|National Association of Vendors Unions of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) chairman Sten Zvorwadza says Zimbabwe will not go anywhere because cabinet ministers appointed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa have empty heads and have no capacity to run the country.
Zworwadza said he initially gave Mnangagwa a chance but has now realised the country is burning and people are suffering because of his appointees’ ineptitude. Said Zworwadza:
I’m very objective and run away from misleading the people of Zimbabwe. I want to share with you today the reason why our government failed.
The first reason is that the composition of the Ministers running the affairs of our country is a great joke. Most Ministers are empty heads, without any ability to even manage their own salaries and allowances.
They blow their salaries and allowances recklessly and resort to corruption for survival. How do we get better as a country under such economic brutal circumstances?
Zvorwadza had no kind words for the opposition MDC Alliance, saying the party’s leaders are very myopic and believe in spoiling as a strategy to win hearts of the electorate.
He added that the “Kudira Jecha” strategy is not a solution to the country’s problems as it only makes people suffer more.
State Media|The business sector has said it is still looking into the implications of the recent High Court ruling, which declared unconstitutional a Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) exchange control directive ‘mutating’ money held in foreign currency accounts into Zimbabwe dollar-denominated accounts.
The decision ordering CABS to pay an architectural company Stone/Beatie Studio, holder of an account with the financial concern, US$142 000 within seven days, was delivered recently by Justice Happias Zhou.
The Treasury hinted at the weekend that it will approach the Supreme Court this week to contest the High Court decision, which is in conflict with that of the Supreme Court early this year.
The ruling also brings under spotlight the recent Supreme Court ruling on the similar issue, ordering all debts to be settled in local currency in line with the RBZ regulations in a case involving Zambezi Gas Private Ltd and NR Barber.
In an interview, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries immediate past president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe, said they were still trying to unpack the ruling on the implications it has on businesses.
“We are studying the ruling, as well as to full implications on our members,” he said.
Tiles for Africa managing director, Mr Spencer Madziya, felt the lower court judgment sets the pace on how the Constitutional Court might deal with the interpretation of Statutory Instrument 11/2019, which the Supreme Court dealt with in the Zambezi Gas Zimbabwe case.
“The issue needs to be addressed conclusively because it does not make sense that an obligation expressed in the United States currency should mutate into RTGS simply because an instrument has said so,” said Mr Madziya.
“To me, it matters not whether that result has been done via a central bank directive or an instrument. The net effect is to erode an individual’s proprietary rights.”
Economist Mr Eddie Cross said the ruling came at a time when resources for many businesses and individuals had been eroded to meet their obligations, hence the decision would be appealed.
“The decision will be appealed as no one has the resources to meet the obligations created by the decision,” he said.
Justice Zhou held that the RBZ or the State could not enact laws which apply retrospectively and breaks up foremost principles of the Constitution, in particular the rule of law and right to property.
The ruling followed a lawsuit by business partners — Ms Penelope Douglas Stone and Mr Richard Harold Stuart Beatie, represented by Mr Tendai Biti — claiming US$142 000, which their company had deposited in its business account held at CABS.
They also sued RBZ and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Justice Zhou granted the application and ordered CABS, the duo’s bankers, to pay The Stone/Beattie Studio US$142 000, which is the amount that they held in their account in 2016 or transfer it into a “nostro” account nominated by the applicants within seven days of the judgment.
He found that the contract between a bank and its client was in United States dollar denomination and the central bank could not unilaterally mutate it into the RTGS currency.
The legal fight between the business partners and their bank spilled into the High Court following RBZ exchange control directive RT120/2018 issued on October 4, 2018.
The directive separated the RTGS Foreign Currency Account from a Nostro Foreign Currency Account based on the source of funds.
Money from the pair’s business could only be paid in bond notes and coins, but not in the United States dollar, which was the currency in which it was denominated.
State Media|The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) says the country has adequate capacity to meet its monthly foreign currency requirements.
According to central bank figures, Zimbabwe requires US$100 million a month for industry and critical imports such as fuel.
Addressing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Budget and Finance yesterday, RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya, said Diaspora remittances and free funds available in the country alone can meet the country’s forex needs.
And that is without factoring in some export receipts.
“Our Diaspora remittances and free funds reach at least US$100 million a month; the economy needs US$100 million a month. If we harness this money, even without factoring in some exports, we will have sufficient forex for the economy,” he said.
Last year, Zimbabwe received US$635 million in remittances, representing a 2,6 percent increase from US$619,25 million in 2018.
‘Free funds’ – foreign currency received by individuals, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and embassies — were relaxed as to be allowed wider use by the general public in March.
And in a move aimed at oiling the market with forex, the RBZ said corporates receiving free funds from domestic transactions were allowed to use the funds for their own use either for foreign or for domestic payments.
This came on the back of the promulgation of Statutory Instrument 85 of 2020, which legalised the use of foreign currency for domestic transactions at a fixed exchange rate of 25 local dollars for every United States dollar.
Observers have, however, warned that due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Diaspora remittances might wane this year.
The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), in a recent paper titled “Zimbabwe Covid-19 Response Mechanism: The Resource Factor”, projected a drop in remittances by Zimbabweans in the Diaspora due to a broader economic downturn attributable to Covid-19.
“With South Africa being the biggest host nation to Zimbabwe’s Diaspora population and accounting for over 56 percent of remittances, the restrictions in terms of movement of goods and the disruption to business will have negative effects to the majority of ordinary Zimbabweans,” said ZIMCODD in the paper.
“Consequently, the expected decline in Diaspora remittances has a net effect on the country’s current acute foreign currency challenges.
“A decline in individual cash remittances is also going to affect small-to-medium-scale businesses in retail, hardware as the remittances form a primary source market for these back of the value chain businesses.”
Meanwhile, the RBZ governor told the Parliamentary Committee that there is no rationality in the jump in the parallel market rate, which is estimated to be around 60 to the US dollar, saying the black market continues to persist because people are jobless.
“There is need for the country to boost production and therefore job creation. The black market is now an industry as people are jobless. A few transactions on the black market can easily push the parallel market rate. The official rate remains at 25,” said Dr Mangudya.
“The parallel market rate is going up because forex dealers have been active during the lockdown, especially through mobile money transactions, which is one of the reason why we moved to block suspicious mobile agent lines. We have nothing against the mobile money operators.”
The RBZ and Econet Wireless — one of the mobile telecommunications operators — are currently in a legal dispute over the move by the former to freeze agent lines.
Some observers say some businesses offering services to Government during this lockdown period also needed to be kept on check because some of them were also emptying their local dollar payments onto the black market.
State Media|The High Court will rule on Friday next week on preliminary issues raised by lawyers representing MDC-Alliance and MDC-T in a suit brought by MDC-A seeking a ban on the MDC-T recalling from Parliament more legislators elected on the MDC-A ticket.
The main preliminary issue is whether the court has the power to interdict a parliamentary process and whether MDC-A has the legal standing to bring the suit.
In the urgent hearing, MDC-A along with two legislators Happymore Chidziva and Wellington Mariga, approached the High Court seeking an interdict against further recall and expulsion from Parliament of any more MPs elected into Parliament on the party’s ticket.
This followed the recent recall from Parliament of four MDC Alliance MPs — Charlton Hwende, Thabitha Khumalo, Prosper Mutseyami and Lilian Timveous — by reinstated MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora.
The MDC-A legal team was led by Mr Tendai Biti, while MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe was represented by Professor Lovemore Madhuku. Because the court was first looking at preliminary issues raised by the MDC-T, Prof Madhuku addressed the court first.
Prof Madhuku’s main argument was that the court could not hear the case for two reasons, that a political party had no inherent constitutional right to sue on behalf of Members of Parliament and that the MDC-A was not a legal person, being just an umbrella body for a group of political parties.
Mr Biti’s main argument was that the MDC Alliance was the actual party that had sponsored the legislators in the election and that therefore the MDC-T, whatever its legal status, could not recall legislators since the MDC-A was now in fact, a party in its own right.
He argued that the matter was urgent because the MDC-T was threatening to recall more legislators if they continued to identify themselves with the MDC Alliance. Thus the MDC-A wanted the relief of an interdict, pending the finalisation of the matter.
Going into detail, Prof Madhuku said: “Under our Constitution, a political party does not own Members of Parliament.” He submitted that the court should throw out the application on the basis that it was incurably defective at law, citing a number of procedural irregularities characterising the urgent application.
Prof Madhuku also argued the application, though disguised as an urgent chamber application, was targeted on Parliament and was essentially an allegation that Parliament will fail to fulfil its Constitutional obligations to protect the tenure of seats. Only the Constitutional Court had jurisdiction to deal with such a matter, he said.
“The relief sought is unconstitutional on the basis that the court cannot interdict parliamentary process on an urgent basis in view of the doctrine of separation of powers,” said Prof Madhuku.
He also argued that the MDC-A had no legal standing to bring such an application because it was not a legal person. Even if the party was held to be a legal person, the MDC-A still had no legal basis to represent Members of Parliament. This disqualified Chidziva and Mariga to be independently before the court if the MDC-A was held to be improperly before it.
Prof Madhuku also accused MDC-A lawyers led by Mr Biti of hiding the Supreme Court judgment that gave rise to the recalling of the MPs.
When Mr Biti rose to counter-argue the matter, he was shown the Alliance Agreement by Justice Tawanda Chitapi. It was signed by the late Morgan Tsvangirai, which showed that the parties to the electoral pact would remain independent and separate, which the MDC-T argues means it has the power to recall MPs who were sponsored in the Allaince line-up by the MDC-T. The alliance allocated blocks of right of nomination to the parties forming the Alliance.
But Mr Biti argued that the alliance agreement had died a natural death because the MDC-A was now a party.
Mr Biti was also shown two letters, one written by Mr Hwende on March 2 this year, giving Mr Douglas Mwonzora final warning. The letter was written on MDC letterhead not on MDC-A letterhead. When asked to explain, the lawyer could not offer an explanation.
He was also at pain to explain why the letter recalling Victoria Falls mayor signed by Mr Hwende on February 24, was on the MDC letterhead.
He argued that the judge should “ignore the alliance agreement”.
Justice Chitapi reserved ruling to May 29, to study the submissions made by the parties’ lawyers on the preliminary issues, before going into the merits of the case.
In its application MDC-A wants the court to stop Mr Mwonzora, Dr Khupe, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda, Senate President Mabel Chinomona and Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo from recalling legislators and local government councillors elected under the MDC-A ticket.
The MDC-A also wants Adv Mudenda, Senator Chinomona and Minister Moyo barred from accepting instructions from the Dr Khupe-led party to expel its members.
