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Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has openly conceded he is finding it difficult to make a decision on the way forward as the lockdown ends on May 3.

Mnangagwa told members of the business community at State House on Wednesday saving people’s lives was a priority since the economy would be resuscitated at the appropriate time.

Cases of confirmed Coronavirus cases have risen to forty in Zimbabwe.

“I was thinking about what happens after this one (extended lockdown) ends.

I am still working on that, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.
I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to this. Some border on the line of carelessness, some border on the line of over-cautiousness.

So, we must find a way where, in my view, we err on the side of caution rather than err on the side of recklessness,”said Mnangagwa.

By A Correspondent- The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe says MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is a force to reckon with.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Chatunga said if anyone wants to bring trouble to themselves they must insult Chamisa or Zim dancehall music icon Winky D.

Said Bellamine:

“Wanzira Chamisa kana Winky D kana uchida kuona kuti upenyu hwako hwepa Sosho media hunounyana seshizha rabva pana mai varo,” Chatunga wrote in the Shona language.

https://twitter.com/bellagushaz/status/1254882165113917442?s=20

The tweet reached Chamisa who acknowledged it by retweeting  it with a caption, “Oh this one is another level!!”

Oh this one is another level!!!! https://t.co/QYcZE5Jgpe

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) April 30, 2020

MDC founding politician and councillor Kadoma Ward 13 Councillor Thembiso Gobo has died.

She was aged 50.

Gobo who was a personal aide to party president Nelson Chamisa died at Kadoma Hospital on Wednesday after a long battle with cervical cancer.

She is survived by four children, three boys and a girl. One of her children is Believe Guta a motivational author from Kadoma.

Announcing the death of his mother, Guta said, “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing away of my biological mother Councillor Thembiso Gobo. It is really a great loss, i have lost a mother, a mentor, a role model. You have fought a good fight mum and may you rest in power until we meet again.”

MDC Alliance in a statement mourning Guta said she was a victim of Zanu PF violence.

“Her commitment to democracy is beyond doubt. She survived Zanu PF violence in 2001 at Gokwe Town Office at the funeral of Vusimuzi Mukwela. She was arrested and detained several times in both the Midlands and Mashonaland West provinces,” said the opposition.

She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2019.

Africa Confidential|In an extended mea culpa on behalf of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has written to the international financial institutions (IFIs) in Washington saying it takes ‘responsibility for the recent policy missteps during late 2019’ which have led to inflation currently running at an annual rate of over 500% year.

Ncube then writes that the government and economy are near to collapse, with the coronavirus pandemic dealing the final blow. The letter, dated 2 April, came a few days after reports of a coup plot against Mnangagwa had been circulating. A security source said the authorities had delayed the lockdown in Harare for fear that dissident officers might exploit conditions to move against the president and his circle.

In the letter, a copy of which has been seen by Africa Confidential, the usually upbeat Ncube paints a relentlessly grim picture. ‘Zimbabwe’s economy could contract by 15-20% during 2020 – with very serious social consequences. Already 8.5 million Zimbabweans (half the population) are food insecure,’
he writes.

So bad is the situation, says Ncube, that it could cause an implosion of the state and threaten security in neighbouring states. ‘The global pandemic will take a heavy toll on the health sector, with many lives being lost and raise poverty to levels not seen in recent times, including worsening food security. A domestic collapse also would have potentially adverse regional effects, where spillovers are significant.’

Concerns in southern Africa about conditions in Zimbabwe are deepening. They might explain a call by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, at an African Union teleconference on 28 April, for Western states and the IFIs to lift sanctions against the Mnangagwa government.

Strive’s plan
On the previous day, Zimbabwean telecoms magnate Strive Masiyiwa called for urgent aid for his country to fight the pandemic. His Econet cellphone and money transfer companies have been a lifeline for many Zimbabweans.

Masiyiwa said the World Bank, the IMF and other multilateral institutions should create humanitarian trusts for Zimbabwe and Sudan, both under United States sanctions, to be managed by third parties to ensure a fair distribution of life-saving aid.

‘For the avoidance of doubt; this is not an appeal for the lifting of sanctions,’ said Masiyiwa. ‘I don’t want to get into the issues around how and why there are sanctions. Everyone knows I had to flee my country because of persecution 20 years ago.’

The state media in Harare covers every donation from business supporters of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) to the government’s coronavirus campaign but is more reticent about contributions from non-partisan donors such as Masiyiwa’s Higher Life Foundation. Earlier this year, Higher Life paid health workers’ salaries after the government said it had exhausted the budget.

Ncube’s letter is addressed to David Malpass, President of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, and Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. He asks them to support the rescheduling or cancellation of all Zimbabwe’s foreign bilateral debt arrears and help in clearing all its multilateral arrears (AC Vol 60 No 6, Ncube wins foreign fans).

The government also needs $200 million, says Ncube, for unplanned spending to fight the pandemic, referring to World Bank estimates that the country’s financing gap is nudging $1 billion for health, education, food security and social protection.

Without those funds, Ncube says, the government will have no choice but to revert to printing money, risking a return to hyperinflation and the crash of the local currency.

In exchange for the Bank and the IMF agreeing to an emergency debt rescheduling, the government promises a ‘time-bound programme’ of economic, political and governance reforms. Ncube, who has been at odds with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya, pledges the government will introduce a market-determined exchange rate and end what he calls the reserve bank’s ‘quasi-fiscal operations’ and its direct lending programme. It will also include all state subsidies in the budget documents presented to parliament and scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee, he adds.

This, according to finance officials in Washington, is code for saying conditions are so horrendous that Ncube has been the given the political cover to promise a crackdown on grand corruption at the heart of the government. They add that it is well-known among banks and business people as well as foreign diplomats that RBZ subsidies to gold-mining companies have directly benefited President Mnangagwa’s inner circle.

This group and senior army officers have also benefited from preferential access to foreign exchange and schemes that profit from arbitrage between the official and parallel rates of the Zimbabwe dollar, the officials add. Even if he wanted to, there is no way that Mangudya could have stood up to those factions.

Promises
Ncube’s letter also promises to ‘limit the fiscal costs of the financing of agriculture, ensure transparency, and resolve all the related governance issues’. This would deal with another big leakage of state funds: the financing with zero accountability of Mnangagwa’s favoured Command Agriculture scheme (AC Vol 60 No 18, Cash at the generals’ command).

Apart from failing to boost productivity substantially – due to poor distribution of seeds and fertiliser as much as the latest regional drought – the Command Agriculture Programme has become a formidable source of patronage for Mnangagwa’s ally Kudakwashe Tagwirei, owner of the Sakunda group of companies working with Swiss-based Trafigura to import fuel, and well as running its own agricultural projects (AC Vol 60 No 23, Cashing in on the crisis).

One of Zimbabwe’s canniest operators, Tagwirei, who financed ZANU-PF’s election campaign in 2018, has evaded any attempt to limit his sprawling empire, and maintains close ties to both Mnangagwa and Vice-President General Constantino Chiwenga even though they are bitter rivals (AC Vol 61 No 8, Rule by rivalry).

Against this, Ncube’s promise of an ‘ambitious anti-corruption strategy’ rings hollow to finance officials. Neither do they take seriously his promises of political reform, most of whose elements have been on the government’s agenda for the past five years. Ncube’s final pledge to continue with ‘engaging in National Dialogue’ elicited the response of ‘what dialogue?’ from an official in Washington.

We hear that neither the World Bank nor the IMF have responded formally to Ncube’s letter, nor do they intend to, despite him following up with phone calls over the past week. ‘Zimbabwe is in a political, not an economic policy, crisis …without credible change on that level, nothing else will move,’ concluded the official.

Failing that, the country’s best hope might be for an international organisation to work with Masiyiwa’s plan for an independent humanitarian trust to distribute food and medicine to the most threatened people.

Six people at Harare hospital have tested positive for COVID-19. The infections were discovered at the maternity hospital purely by chance during swab testing training where patients and workers were all routinely tested.

The breakdown is as follows: Two patients, one doctor and three nurses.

The development comes after a 7y old girl who the government says has Malaria (but tested COVID positive) dropped dead at Mapiravana Clinic over in Midlands. She has no travel history but had physical contact with a Malaria patient at St Theresa. Her symptoms were: abdominal pains, fever, general weakness for over 3 weeks.

Ministry Of Health officials have instructed practitioners to register the death as that of Malaria. 

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She was given the below prescription drugs: 

A 7y old girl who govt says has Malaria but tested COVID + has dropped dead at Mapiravana Clinic. She has no travel history but had physical contact with a Malaria death at St Theresa. Her symptoms: abdominal pains, fever, gen weakness for 3 wks. @WHO_Zimbabwe @MuzvareBetty pic.twitter.com/YK017T3UUk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 30, 2020

Efforts to obtain a comment from Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo were fruitless at the time of publishing as his phone was ringing without being answered.

The Harare Hospital update was posted by former SundayMail editor Edmund Kudzayi. ZimEye is following up on the development.

HIGH Court Judge Justice Jacob Manzunzu on Thursday 30 April 2020 ended the detention of Lovemore Zvokusekwa by granting him RTGS$1 000 bail after he was detained in prison for allegedly peddling falsehoods about President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s extension of the duration of the national lockdown period to May.

The 36 year-old Zvokusekwa of Chitungwiza petitioned the High Court after he was denied bail by a Harare Magistrate on Monday 20 April 2020, when he appeared in court facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Zvokusekwa, who was represented by Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and Thomas Machinga and Cecil Mutsvandiani, was arrested on Saturday 18 April 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police members, who accused him of peddling falsehoods when he reportedly circulated a false and unsigned press statement purportedly written and issued by President Mnangagwa titled “EXTENSION OF LOCKDOWN PERIOD BY 13 DAYS ONLY” advising people that he had extended the national lockdown period by 13 days from 20 April 2020 to 3 May 2020.

Zvokusekwa allegedly disseminated the false press statement on different WhatsApp groups using his Huawei mobile phone handset and yet President Mnangagwa had not written or signed the purported press statement.

Apart from ordering Zvokusekwa to pay RTGS$1 000 as bail money, Justice Manzunzu also ordered him to report once a week on Fridays at Chitungwiza Police Station and to continue residing at his given residential address.

Late President Robert Mugabe’s son Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe say MDC leader Nelson Chamisa is one of the most influential persons on social media.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Chatunga said if anyone wants to bring trouble to themselves they must insult Chamisa or music icon Winky D.

“Wanzira Chamisa kana Winky D kana uchida kuona kuti upenyu hwako hwepa Sosho media hunounyana seshizha rabva pana mai varo.” Chatunga wrote in Shona language.

The tweet reached Chamsia who acknowledged it by retweeting  itwith a caption, “Oh this one is another level!!”

On the eve on the 2018 elections, the late Mugabe said he could not vote for those who tormented him, implored Zimbabweans to vote for Chamisa to return the country to legality, democracy and constitutionality.

“I won’t vote for people who have tormented me. I’ll make my choice among the other 22,” said Mugabe. “Let them (Zimbabweans) decide. There should be a big no to guns. Never again experience a situation where the army is used to thrust one man (Mnangagwa) into power.”

Works Council Update

First Quarter Performance-

The company ran a loss of 61.2million. Throughput has fallen down to 20% from 68%.

Challenges leading to this poor performance were; -sub-economic tariffs-exhaustion of PSMAS, global limits, inadequate stocking and unbudgeted PPE for Covid 19

Salary Update

Company not in a position to adjust salary as promised as the cashflows are bad and the tariff adjustment and subscription review from expected subscribers including government to PSMAS has been stalled by the Covid 19 pandemic. The company won’t be able to pay the cushion allowance as throughput and cashflows have gone down.

In mitigating staff against these challenges the Company at group level will roll out a grocery basket  to replace the cushion allowance with the lowest grade B1-B4 getting the following items in their basket;

-10kg mealie meal

-4kg rice-4L

-cooking oil

-6kg sugar

-3tabs bath soap

-2bars washing soap

The grocery basket is calculated as equivalent of the cushion allowance and will differ by grade category. The grocery basket will be delivered through Gains Supermarket but where they can be able to deliver to your workstations you will collect it from there.

Rationalisation of Services

The following essential services will be operating;

-clinics in strategic locations

-pharmacies to complement clinics and cater for chronics

-hospitals

-emras

-diagnostics

-inpatient rehab

The following units will he shutdown;

-dental

– optometry

-outpatient rehab

– shared services operating at 50%

Closed units to provide backup service to open units so as to eliminate locums entirely.

Removal of transport and fuel allowances for those whose units are closed

All contracts to be terminated this month

Leave liability reduction with all those with days above 30 going on leave immediately

Units to operate with skeleton staff which is complimentary to their throughput

Risk Allowance

Currently cashflows do not allow the roll out of this gesture to all frontline staff. Nonetheless the company recognised the need for such and persues other cashflows such as PSMAS legacy debt to fund this allowance.

In the meantime the company relies on an indemnity insurance which is payable upon getting sick from Covid 19 or succumbing to the virus

Wayforward

Introduction of telemedicine facility at 186Fife avenue

Protection of the going concern of the company now and post Covid 19 through aggressive cost containment measures to ensure job protection for all permanent staff members.

It could however not be immediately established if the above published memo is indeed from PSMAS. Efforts to get a comment from the organisation were futile by the time of publishing.

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

The National Prosecuting Authority’s bid for High Court judge Justice Garainesu Mawadze’s son, Munyaradzi’s bail application be heard by a none sitting judge of the High Court has been rejected.

Munyaradzi is being jointly charged with Elvin Dongo Saungweme (22) and Dellon David Balani (22) on allegations of killing Million Ncube by slitting his throat with a knife after robbing him of three iPhone Promax 11 cellphones in March this year.

The prosecution had demanded that Munyaradzi’s bail application must not be heard by any sitting judge of the High Court, but rather by a retired judge who has no links with the suspect’s father.

But Justice Webster Chinamora ruled that the position advocated by the NPA was untenable.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is expected to ease further the Covid-19 lockdown measures as from Monday next week, senior government officials have revealed.

However, most of the restrictions will remain.This follows a cabinet resolution on Tuesday to re-open the economy following a five-week freeze.

Mnangagwa extended the initial three-week-long lockdown on April 19.

He is expected to unveil a detailed plan, that includes the country re-opening some sectors of the economy, before the expiry of the lockdown at midnight on Sunday.

Official sources said cabinet, at its Tuesday meeting, asked the National Covid-19 Taskforce chaired by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi to come up, by the end of today, with a detailed programme on the easing of the lockdown.

Mnangagwa, who is expected to address the nation on Workers’ Day on May 1, is said to have given in to demands by the military and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), which warned him against extending the stringent lockdown measures further given the state of the economy.

As the Zimbabwe Independent reported last week, Mnangagwa also buckled under pressure and disregarded the advice of health experts who had recommended a 21-day Covid-19 lockdown extension, preferring instead to listen to his Zanu PF and Cabinet colleagues who argued that a prolonged shutdown could spark civil unrest on account of the fragile economy and a restless population.

Government officials told the Independent that ministers unanimously agreed to significantly ease the lockdown beginning Monday with the main consideration being that the current arrangement was not economically sustainable. Fears of civil unrest were also raised in the meeting.

This is despite the fact that confirmed coronavirus cases had as of yesterday increased to 32 from the 25 total recorded when Mnangagwa announced the extension. The virus has also spread to rural parts of the country like Mhondoro and Murehwa during the same period.

Mohadi reportedly assured the meeting that the country is now better prepared to deal with an upsurge of cases because it has more admission facilities and has increased its testing capacity.

“The vice-president said his taskforce had evaluated the country’s state of preparedness and was satisfied by the progress made so far as most provinces and districts now have admission facilities while sufficient quarantine centres had been identified,” an official said.

“It was then unanimously agreed that the lockdown should be significantly eased to jumpstart the economy which is already in a very bad state. The taskforce was then asked to come up with a polished programme through which the easing will be conducted but what I can tell you is that the manufacturing, construction, and other industries where there is a low risk of contagion will be allowed to re-open from May 4,” the source said.

“Retailers will be allowed to re-open during the course of the coming week while restaurants and bars, which are considered high-risk areas, will remain closed and can only be allowed to open after a week or so under strict health measures. These were proposals given to the taskforce by Cabinet members during the discussions.

“It was also proposed that schools and tertiary institutions will stay closed until satisfactory levels of containment were achieved. It was also resolved that all schools and tertiary institutions have to be thoroughly disinfected before they open and this will certainly take a long time.”

Another official said Cabinet also decided that all of the country’s ports of entry will remain closed while Mnangagwa engages his counterparts in Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique, with which Zimbabwe shares borders, to agree on a common position regarding the re-opening of ports of entry.

The government, sources said, will maintain restrictions on public gatherings of people exceeding 50 while encouraging the continuation of other control measures such as social distancing, self-isolation of confirmed cases and quarantine of returning citizens.

“What this means is that the lockdown remains very much in place but with relaxed conditions. For instance, large gatherings will remain banned and social distancing will be observed while those coming from outside the country will be subjected to the mandatory 21-day quarantine period,” the official said. “It was also agreed in the meeting that as part of the measures to contain the virus, all security sector and health workers operating on the frontline will be compulsorily tested along with members of their families. This includes those in the army, the police, the intelligence and municipal police officers in addition to nurses, doctors and everyone working on the Covid-19 frontline.”

Addressing a gathering at State House, where he was receiving Covid-19 donations from various corporates yesterday, Mnangagwa ruled out the possibility of an outright lifting of the lockdown, saying he preferred a cautious approach whereby a delicate balance is struck between saving lives and opening the economy.

“We had the first lockdown, which I extended by 14 days. When you came, I was thinking about what happens after the lockdown ends. We had been with this challenge, what do we do? Balancing the need for economic growth or saving the lives of the people?” Mnangagwa said.

“I came to the conclusion that if citizens die, if our people die, we cannot resuscitate them. Economy can die, it can be resuscitated, now or in the future, as long as people are alive. There can always be conferences on how we can resuscitate our economy, but I have never seen a conference where people will be discussing how they could resuscitate the dead. So, our bias is towards preservation of life.

“I have been studying the events worldwide, how governments handled the pandemic, some border on the lines of carelessness, some on over-cautiousness. So, we must find a way, a way, in my view, to err on the side of caution than err on the side of carelessness,” he added.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been urging countries to carefully consider their lockdown, easing strategies to prevent the possibility of fresh outbreaks, as was the case with Ghana which, according to media reports, recorded a total of 271 new coronavirus infections just 24 hours after lifting the lockdown in the capital Accra and Kumasi on Tuesday.

In total, the West African country had as of Tuesday recorded 506 new cases in the week the lockdown was lifted.

Reports from China, where the virus originated, have also suggested that the country had become vulnerable to a second wave of coronavirus infections after significantly easing the lockdown measures.

UK Home Office efforts to deport an HIV-positive Zimbabwean man because of his lengthy criminal record have been blocked after the supreme court ruled removing him would breach his human rights.

Sending the 33-year-old man, identified only as AM, back to Zimbabwe would deny him access to life-saving treatment with the anti-retroviral medication Eviplera, the court unanimously accepted. The drug is not available there.

The case has been sent back to the lower courts for reconsideration.

AM was born in Zimbabwe in 1987 and came to the UK in 2000. He and his mother, who had already been living in Britain, were granted indefinite leave to remain in 2004.Advertisement

In the following years, he accumulated convictions for battery, assault, receiving stolen goods and twice for possession of a blade in public. In 2006, the Home Office first made an order to deport him. He has since married and had a son.

Three years later, he was convicted of further serious offences including possession of a firearm and heroin with intent to supply. He was jailed for nine years.

In 2012 his lawyers challenged the Home Office deportation order, submitting evidence that he had first been diagnosed with HIV in 2003 but that he had not become seriously ill until later.

The first anti-retroviral drug produced severe side effects. When he was switched to Eviplera his blood count increased and he recovered.

Opening the judgment, Lord Wilson said: “This appeal requires the court again to consider one of the most controversial questions which the law of human rights can generate.

“It relates to the ability of the UK to deport a foreign citizen who, while lawfully resident here, has committed a string of serious crimes. The reaction of many British citizens is likely to be: ‘We don’t want this man here.’ His response is: ‘But I need to remain here.’.”

AM originally appealed against removal on the grounds that it would breach article 8 of the European convention on human rights, which guarantees the right to private and family life.

A recent test case against Belgium at the European court of human Rights in Strasbourg established the principle that under article 3 of the convention, which outlaws torture and inhuman treatment, those with serious ill health cannot forcibly be removed to another country if they would suffer there a substantial reduction in life expectancy.

The appeal court was bound by legal precedent and could not permit the claim to switch from article 8 to article 3. The supreme court, however, can do so.

Delivering judgment, Wilson said: “This is not one of those highly exceptional situations in which we should decline to follow a decision of the Strasbourg court.

“We therefore allow the appeal and remit the appellant’s proposed claim under article 3 for consideration by an immigration tribunal, which will no doubt seek to conduct a full inquiry into (among other things) the adequacy of the medical treatment likely to be available to the appellant in Zimbabwe.”

Daily Mail

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Republic Police boss, Assistant Inspector Calisto Mutero who is stationed at Nyabira Police Station, 34km north-west of Harare, was shot in the back on Monday night after being found stealing maize cobs at Gwebi College of Agriculture.

Officer Mutero who is reportedly battling for life at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals was with his son and general worker, both juveniles when he was shot.

A security guard saw them and fired a warning shot that triggered the trio to run towards their getaway car.

The guard then shot towards the car in a bid to shoot the front wheel but he shot Mutero in the back.

Mutero and his accomplices, however, managed to flee from the scene. Detectives from Manyame district headquarters Criminal Investigations Department revisited the scene after Mutero’s car was found with a shattered driver’s window a kilometer from the scene.

The investigations led to the arrest of Mutero’s son who admitted to the theft and implicated his father.online

By A Correspondent- The insinuation by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube that he used a sophisticated algorithm system to determine who should benefit from funds to be disbursed to vulnerable households once again exposes government’s aversion to transparency and accountability.

Ncube claimed he had used a “sophisticated algorithm” to choose beneficiaries of the ZW$180 per household Covid-19 “pocket money”, making a total departure from his earlier commitment to disperse the funds through the department of social welfare.

The money, which government said will benefit at least one million of the most impoverished Zimbabwean families is part of the ZW$600 million kitty availed by the government to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Initially, Ncube said beneficiaries would be identified by the Social Welfare Department, before making the dramatic summersault.

According to the Cambridge English dictionary, algorithms refer to a set of mathematical instructions or rules that, especially if given to a computer, will help to calculate an answer to a problem.

When the fund was announced it was claimed that the Ministry of Social Welfare would prepare the database of recipients who would qualify for funding, but cracks started showing when it became apparent that government initially planned on distributing these funds through a single mobile money service provider, OneMoney —operated by government-owned mobile operator NetOne, further highlighting the penchant for obscurity in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.

Government, as usual, rushed to deny the claims.

Mthuli’s algorithms averments, thus, effectively, trashed statements by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister Lovemore Matuke, who in an interview with a local daily, on April 15, said disbursements would be under his ministry’s purview.

Given the government’s penchant for profligacy and the tendency to divert and abuse public funds especially for political expediency, concerns have been raised over whether the money would be used for its intended purposes once the confusion manifested.

Matuke claimed that 800 000 beneficiaries who will get support “were identified through the Econet platform”, while only 200 000 were identified by the Ministry of Social Welfare.

Public policy expert and University of Zimbabwe Political Science lecturer Tawanda Zinyama said such lack of coherence gives credence to suspicions that there could be no money at all and if there is, it was being distributed on partisan lines, with Zanu PF members being the foremost beneficiaries.

“Ncube’s claim that he used a complex algorithm to determine beneficiaries raises a stink. It points to chicanery in the corridors of power where so-called sophisticated mathematical concepts are used to obscure the controversial spending of public funds,” Zinyama said.

“This has raised doubts as to whether there is even a list of beneficiaries in the first place. Perhaps this is just a public relations exercise to create the impression that the government is doing something about people’s suffering. That is when you start seeing some people developing suspicions about the issue of impartiality.”

In addition to this, questions are also being raised about government’s lack of disaster preparedness and the ability to withstand socio-economic shocks brought about by either health emergencies — as is the case with the coronavirus — or some natural disasters — as was witnessed last year with Cyclone Idai.

At a time other governments around the world are offering their citizens adequate cover for social protection and job losses, the Zimbabwean government is seen scrapping the bottom of the barrel for meagre offerings.

Women’s University in Africa senior lecturer Albert Maipisi said where such mechanisms do not exist, transparency and accountability remains a pipedream as government would be fighting to save its face and cover up for its glaring deficiencies.

“From a disaster management perspective, the situation is likened to a time of uncertainty and plans made pre-disaster are usually implemented without challenges as opposed to those that are made during the disaster like in this case. So, criteria for selection of vulnerable groups should be pre-defined and, in our context, I am not sure if there is a national strategy for that in place to inform programming,” Maipisi said.

“Where that does not exist, the effects are like that and there is no mechanism for ensuring transparency and accountability. A comprehensive disaster management strategy should address those issues and it does not exist in the country as of now.”

To further highlight the lack of transparency in government, the registration of SMEs which were supposed to benefit from rescue packages to prevent them from collapsing, was shrouded in controversy after the inclusion of individuals who are not involved in the sector.

This came after the director of the Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation Samuel Wadzai said the list compiled included individuals who are not involved in SMEs sector.

“This was a hurried process and there was no clarity in terms of the requirements by the ministry. They bunched the social welfare element together with the informal sector facility. There is no clarity on who is doing the selection process and the vetting. We have been requested to update our databases, which we have done. We have submitted them, but we don’t know who is going to decide who gets money and who doesn’t,” Wadzai said.

By A Correspondent- Opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has reacted to a comment by the late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe who said he is a force to reckon with.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Chatunga said if anyone wants to bring trouble to themselves they must insult Chamisa or Zim dancehall music icon Winky D.

Said Bellamine:

“Wanzira Chamisa kana Winky D kana uchida kuona kuti upenyu hwako hwepa Sosho media hunounyana seshizha rabva pana mai varo,” Chatunga wrote in the Shona language.

https://twitter.com/bellagushaz/status/1254882165113917442?s=20

The tweet reached Chamisa who acknowledged it by retweeting  it with a caption, “Oh this one is another level!!”

Oh this one is another level!!!! https://t.co/QYcZE5Jgpe

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) April 30, 2020

City of Harare has announced the planned shutdown of Morton Jeffray Water Treatment plant from today until tomorrow to allow installation of a pump at Warren control station.

In a notice to residents, CoH said it will also take advantage of the shutdown to repair leaking pipes at its Warren Control pump station.

Below is the CoH full notice;

There is going to be a partial shutdown of the Morton Jaffray water Treatment Plant today from (1600hrs) to tomorrow (Friday 1 May 2020) (1800hrs).

During the shutdown pumping to Lonchivar Water Reservoirs that supply water to the western suburbs will continue.

The shutdown is to allow for the installation of a pump at Warren Control Pump Station to match the improved water delivery capacity that is now averaging 300 million litres a day.

Other outstanding works will be carried out during the shutdown. These include repair of leaks at Warren Control Pumpstation, installation of main delivery valve on pump number 8 at Morton Jaffray.

Water users are urged to use available water sparingly.

Farai Dziva|Social media users are deeply sceptical of Zanu PF MP Killer Zivhu’ s recent donation to popular musician Greatman.

Social media users attacked Zivhu for using the donation to a person living with disability to score political marks.

Zivhu donated mealie-meal to Greatman and pledged to pay him RTGS $ 2000 per week.

Zivhu has pointed out that the donation is meant to ensure the musician is not exposed to COVID-19.Greatman is reportedly selling vegetables to eke out a living.

Commenting on Zivhu’s donation, Erick Zvirevo said :
It’s sad that Killer Zivhu a man heavily linked to the system that has brought misery to our nation can target a popular disabled person to gain mileage in his quest to rise on the party and political ladder, when there should be a system in the country for social care.

He should just go to all people selling tomatoes and offer them $ 2000. What will happen to those disabled or the rural poor who do not have a chance to appear on social media or who are not appealing to Killer’s ego?

Murikuuraya Nyika to make people destitutes …

Danisa Ngwenya argued:
While it is a worthwhile and refreshing cause and greatly appreciated, maybe it could also be noble if only a productive hands-on approach to a project he will manage for life is initiated .”

By A Correspondent- A Harare man had been living with his dead wife for a number of days. Circumstances leading to death could not be established. Percy Njikizani from Glen Norah A never reported the death of his wife, Elar Mundembe to the police.

He was also never seen coming out of their flat for the past two weeks. Neighbours called the police after a stench from the flat raised their suspicions. 

A neighbour said:

“This woman was not free to let anyone in her house or life. I stayed here for 11 years but I never got into her house, so she was that reserved that no one would get close to her. So when this unfortunate incident occurred, the best that we could do after that persistent bad smell was to call the Glen Norah police and to call their nephew called Edie who stays down there in Glen View 7 Extension. Edie is her nephew from her husband’s side.

“We had been suspecting this odour to be of a rotting rat for days. The neighbour said when the police arrived, they broke in and discovered the corpse on the sofa while the husband was in another room seated on the bed. It is not normal for one to stay in the same house with a dead person. It might be a sign that the husband maybe sick too,” the neighbour said.

Another neighbour, Byron Mujoko, said he was shocked that the woman had died.

“Momz vanga vari bho though vayisasasa na everyone, she was very reserved, she was my wife Memory Dhliwayo’ s good customer at her work at Ebony Hair Saloon at Machipisa. My wife did her hair in February, I knew Mai Njikizani since 1999 when I was working at Glen Norah Supermarket and she was working for Harare City Council. She was a very good neibhour to live with.

“There is a guy called Tanya from the back of this block who came to me saying Mai Njikizani asked him to pray for her because she was having continued challenges in breathing. She ordered people to pray for her from a distance, not inside her house,” said Mujoko. Mai Njikizani’ s friend Rudo Masomera said:

“Mai Njikizani was not a fancy woman but she is that kind of a reserved person who often wanted to live a lonely life. Imagine, she is the only person I would leave my children with whenever I was at work, so a person that you entrust your children with, that person will be a good person,” said Masomera. The late Njikizani is survived by a husband and 27-year-old child called Nyasha.-HMetro

By A Correspondent- The late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga Bellarmine Mugabe says MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is a force to reckon with.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Chatunga said if anyone wants to bring trouble to themselves they must insult Chamisa or Zim dancehall music icon Winky D.

Said Bellamine:

“Wanzira Chamisa kana Winky D kana uchida kuona kuti upenyu hwako hwepa Sosho media hunounyana seshizha rabva pana mai varo,” Chatunga wrote in the Shona language.

https://twitter.com/bellagushaz/status/1254882165113917442?s=20

The tweet reached Chamisa who acknowledged it by retweeting  it with a caption, “Oh this one is another level!!”

Oh this one is another level!!!! https://t.co/QYcZE5Jgpe

— nelson chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) April 30, 2020

This is Mvuti High School in Karoi where the government is quarantining people traveling from Zambia to Zimbabwe but the place is extremely dirty… People are now scared of contracting the same disease here.

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Farai Dziva|Social media users are deeply sceptical of Zanu PF MP Killer Zivhu’ s recent donation to popular musician Greatman.

Social media users attacked Zivhu for using the donation to a person living with disability to score political marks.

Zivhu donated mealie-meal to Greatman and pledged to pay him RTGS $ 2000 per week.

Zivhu has pointed out that the donation is meant to ensure the musician is not exposed to COVID-19.Greatman is reportedly selling vegetables to eke out a living.

Commenting on Zivhu’s donation, Erick Zvirevo said :
It’s sad that Killer Zivhu a man heavily linked to the system that has brought misery to our nation can target a popular disabled person to gain mileage in his quest to rise on the party and political ladder, when there should be a system in the country for social care.

He should just go to all people selling tomatoes and offer them $ 2000. What will happen to those disabled or the rural poor who do not have a chance to appear on social media or who are not appealing to Killer’s ego?

Murikuuraya Nyika to make people destitutes …

Danisa Ngwenya argued:
While it is a worthwhile and refreshing cause and greatly appreciated, maybe it could also be noble if only a productive hands-on approach to a project he will manage for life is initiated .”

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said it is important that government prioritises people’s lives ahead of the economy considering that the people are more important than the economy.

Said Mnangagwa according to the state media:

“I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to these things. Some border on the line of carelessness: some border on the line of over-cautiousness. So, we must find a way to err on the side of cautiousness rather than on the side of carelessness,

The economy can die and it can be resuscitated now or in future. It doesn’t matter, because as long as people are alive you can have conferences and discuss how do we resuscitate the economy’ but I have never seen a conference where people are discussing how to resuscitate the dead.

We as Government and as the President decided with this (Covid 19) challenge what do we do? Balancing the need for economic growth and the lives of people as well as saving lives, I came to the conclusion that if people die, we cannot resuscitate them,”

Watch the live video loading below……

By A Correspondent- Six people at Harare hospital have tested positive for COVID-19. The infections were discovered at the maternity hospital purely by chance during swab testing training where patients and workers were all routinely tested.

The breakdown is as follows: Two patients, one doctor and three nurses.

The above update was posted by former SundayMail editor Edmund Kudzayi. ZimEye is following up on the development.

By A Correspondent- Citizens here have been urged to hold their leadership accountable to their actions.

In a live broadcast on ZimEye, Chief Svosve said failure to hold the leadership accountable would see the nation plunge deeper into a worse economic and political abssy.

Watch the live video loading below

Farai Dziva|Harare West MP Joana Mamombe has accused government of ignoring the plight of suffering citizens.

In response, Mamombe has launched a platform to assist residents in her constituency.

See full statement below :

Dear Harare West Community

JoKuDe, an initiative referring to Harare West Constituency Representatives led by Hon MP Joana Mamombe, Kudzai Kadzombe Councillor Ward 41 and Denford Ngadziore Councillor Ward 16.

This platform is there to answer to various challenges bedevilling the people within our Constituency.

JoKuDe is a well wisher’s Community funded & public run Platform.

We are advising all residents and Stakeholders that Central Government through the Ministry of Social Welfare is yet to commit to the pledge of assisting the vulnerable families during the current Covid-19 National Lockdown.

As stated before, we submitted the compiled lists of all residents who sent their names & information for assistance.

Apparently, the money is meant to assist Citizens during Covid-19 lockdown BUT to date, we haven’t received any positive feedback from the Ministry.

We are getting towards the end of the second phase of National Lockdown & we would like to urge the Gvt to honour its promise to its struggling Citizens.

As JoKuDe we could not fold our hands and watch, we started a fundraising platform to assist the vulnerable families in our a Constituency.

This came after we visited various places around the Constituency majority of the people are living in compounds, plots, and they are the elderly, pensioners and infomal traders who are failing to get a decent meal a day since the National Lockdown started.

Today, We are glad to announce that so far we have received donations comprising of the following food items :
1) 5 tonnes of roller meal
2) 200 * 500ml lacto packets.

We are expecting about 2tonnes more of mealie meal as well as heads of cabbages from another well wisher by tomorrow Thursday 29 April 2020

We have a target of 30tonnes of mealie meal so that we donate to more families. On Friday we expect to assist a 1000 families and local City of Harare workers in essential departments in dire need of food aid.

We are still appealing to all Stakeholders, churches, businesses, individuals and the cooperate world to assist our community with what ever you have in your disposal. The donations can come in the form of money, food, mealie meal, vegetables, clothes, blankets or any other donations that can be beneficial to these communities in need.

Those who want to drop in donations can do so at the Salvation Army Church in Haig Park, Mabelreign along Clevering road. Or get in touch with Colen Mawere on 0777648080 who is helping us to pick some donations

This program is being run by JoKuDe in partnership with the Harare West Pastors Fraternity (HAWEPAF)

Covid19 virus is real:::

-Wash your hands Regularly
-Always maintain the required social distance
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
-Practice respiratory hygiene
-Use of approved face masks where possible

Joana Mamombe MP Harare West 0773519914

Kudzai Kadzombe Councillor ward 41 0772764138

Denford Ngadziore Councillor ward 16 0712738904, 0773010371

By A Correspondent- Six farmers from Uzumba in Murewa were yesterday rushed to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals after they were involved in a road traffic accident along Enterprise Road in Highlands.

The truck veered off the road and landed on its side and had io farmers onboard plus a minor who escaped unhurt.

The truck driver, Temptation Zunzanyika, and three other farmers turned the accident scene into a market as motorists took turns to buy the damaged vegetables at a lower price.

“I failed to negotiate the curve and the truck was heavily loaded and the load forced the trudc off the road leading to the accident,” said Zunzanyika.

“We were coming to horn Uzumba in Murewa and the accident happened around 3 am.

“Police attended the scene and the vehicle was taken to Vehicle Inspection Department (VID)) and we are trying to sell these vegetables to help the injured farmers as well as get money since the vehicle was taken: said Zunzanyika enjoying a cucumber at the accident scene.

Motorists stopped to purchase low priced vegetables.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Members of the general populace have been urged to adhere to the lockdown regulations to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law.

This was revealed by Mashonaland West Provincial Police’s Assistant Com-missioner Francis Maswere, who is responsible for administration during a provincial Covid-19 Taskforce feedback meeting that was held at townhouse park.

Ass Comm Maswere said that out of a total 1302 arrests, the cumulative revenue as at April 27, stood at $473750.00

“Your Honourable, the province as at April 27, has so far arrested 1302 offend-ers for contravention of Statutory Instrument ( SI) 83 of 2020, From the total arrests cumulative revenue of $473 750.00 has been realized,” he said.

He added:

“Chegutu and Kadoma districts recorded the highest figures with a total of $196 650.00 and $164 400.00 respectively,” “The other districts have realized an average of $20 000 with the exception of Makonde that had a total of 5142 400.00,” Ass Comm Maswere said that the police had deployed 1406 police officers throughout the province to enforce the lockdown and adherence.

“Your Honourable, we have deployed about 1406 police officers and we have about 3o roadblocks which are being manned by four police officers and four from the military to ensure compliance.

“We have also deployed foot and motorized patrols, including our intelligence agencies for surveillance,” he said. He added, “We also deployed some police officers to our two main ports of entry that is Kariba and Chirundu, however, we are facing some challenges because some of these areas are porous and people can use them to evade the police,”

“However, we will put all necessary measures to stop them from taking advantage of the porous areas,” he said.

Ass Comm Maswere said that the huge traffic movement of people was being necessitated by some business communities in Chinhoyi who were refusing to accept EcoCash and swipe.

“However, this huge traffic movement of the people is being necessitated by some business owners in Chinhoyi who are refusing to accept EcoCash and swipe payments,” “Another challenge we are facing is emanating from the shebeens which have sprouted in town like mushrooms.

“We are now playing hide and seek with those drinking at shebeens and also with the traders whom we have been having a cat and mouse game to ensure compliance,” he said.

Minister Mliswa urged the police to enforce compliance with all those who were refusing EcoCash and swipe payments.

“Here in Zimbabwe we use all forms of payments and if there are some businesses that are refusing to accept such kind of payments, it is better for them to close shop and stay at home.

“Kana vasingatambire mari yose ngavagare havo kumba voita lock-down. “Ass Comm you need to ensure that these businesses comply with my directive,” said Mliswa-Chikoka.

ED has hinted at a possible Lockdown extension. Should Zimbabwe's Lockdown be extended?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 30, 2020

GOVERNMENT has issued a warning to private schools that are demanding fees for the second term while stressing that only President Mnangagwa will guide the nation on the reopening of schools.

Also, although it is not opposed to online learning, Government has not yet allowed any school to pursue that route.

The pronouncement comes at a time some private schools have started demanding increased fees for the second term while pursuing online learning, should schools not open as previously scheduled next week.

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

According to the 2020 calendar, schools were expected to open on Tuesday next week.

For the first term, schools were supposed to close on April 2 but due to the threat of Covid-19, President Mnangagwa ordered that they close on March 24 to prevent the spread of the virus.

The President subsequently placed the country on a three-week national lockdown on March 30 which was extended to May 3, after which Government will decide on the way forward.

Some private schools have since started demanding fees for the second term even giving timelines when parents and guardians should make the payments.

In Bulawayo, institutions such as Petra and Whitestone high schools have told parents to make second term fees payments in the next two weeks.

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

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

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

In a newsletter to parents, Petra College said the deposit will enable the school to continue providing a “service and meeting normal obligations.”

“Please pay by the 15th May. Once we have official information from Ministry of Education regarding the re-opening of the schools, we will be able to calculate the budget required and agree any additional fee requirements for the term,” read the communication.

The school said it was highly unlikely that normal schools opening will take place next week and they were exploring e-learning platforms.

“Closed schools mean that we will be delivering learning remotely and via Google classroom predominantly. In readiness for this eventuality you will soon be receiving an email with details of how to access our online classrooms. The plan for each age group will vary but will commence on 5th May: From Grade 4 to Upper 6 each pupil will have their own Petra email address to sign into their class, this email is only for access to the classroom with the teacher,” reads the letter.

Whitestone School told parents that the Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe (CHISZ) took a decision to resume the school’s calendar next week.

“All CHISZ schools have decided to start educating children as per the normal calendar so as to not fall too far behind. Online teaching is the only option to stay Covid-19 free, yet give the children the best education under the circumstances,” reads the school’s communication.

Yesterday, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema said schools that increase fees without approval risk being deregistered for extortion.

Speaking during the launch of the Schools’ Covid-19 Response programme at Chikangwe High School in Mashonaland West, Minister Mathema said errant schools will be dealt with.

“We are now having some schools which are deviating from their mandate and charging fees that are unapproved and are akin to extortion. All schools, without exception, must follow the procedures for seeking the approval for fee increases,” said the Minister.

“No increase will be permitted that is effected outside the laid down procedures which require the written approval of the Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education. Schools that continue to flout the regulations stand warned; the Ministry will not hesitate to deregister schools that purport to be educational institutions and yet indulge in unlawful activities.”

Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Patrick Zumbo said Government has not made any decision as to when schools should open and learning institutions should wait until a pronouncement is made.

Mr Zumbo said Government supports online learning but nothing has been approved yet for schools.

“Schools should not be demanding fees now. Leaners are at home, what are they demanding the fees for? They can’t be talking about fees as authorities are saying schools may not open soon.

“There hasn’t been any date that has been approved for schools opening. We can only talk about schools when its safe as guided by the health officials. We have not received any request for schools opening even for online lessons. Any school that intends to do so should apply through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary (Mrs Tumisang Thabela),” said Mr Zumbo.

He said the Ministry was not against online teaching of learners, but this should only be done in within confines of the law.

Primary and Secondary Education Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Chairperson Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said since schools were closed through a Presidential declaration, it is only the President who can make a call on when schools will reopen.

She, however, said opening of schools should be guided by science so as to save lives.

Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga said her committee is concerned that the actions by private schools seem to be driven by the need to make profit.

“We are worried by actions of the private players in this field who seem to be driven by profit only. Every school in this country is under the supervision of a ministry hence no institution should be issuing anything son chool fees or otherwise until the President through the ministry has given direction. We therefore will be asking the ministry to play its supervisory role and ensure sanity prevails,” she said.

A parent with children at one of the mentioned schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the learning institutions were making outrageous demands while the country is on lockdown.

“We are on lockdown where do some of us get the money? And asking that much for online teaching is just too much. It’s not like the school gives me an I-pad or buys data for me,” said one of the parents.

The National Association of Secondary School Heads said the opening of schools must be influenced by health experts.

“Even if the experts were to give the greenlight, still the opening of schools should be gradual or done in phases starting with senior learners who can take care of themselves and who are also due to write examinations,” the association said.

-State Media

By A Correspondent. Masvingo Provincial Covid-19 taskforce has launched a fumigation programme targeting hotspots in the province.

The fumigation programme, which at major supermarkets and service stations was commenced in Masvingo’s central business district.

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

By A Correspondent- Chaos broke out at Rainbow COVID-19 quarantine centre in Beitbridge when one inmate escaped, leaving 15 more facing a clampdown from the police.

The remaining inmates now protested against being treated like convicts. They are demanding their immediate release

Beitbridge district medical officer Linos Samhere confirmed that the 15 were due to leave after testing negative.

“On the medical side, we are done and these (15) have been tested and are negative. Our part is done,” said Samhere.

The 15 have overstayed now by three days and Beitbridge district development co-ordinator Sikhangezile Mafu said the hiccup was caused by transport problems.

“We have been held back by transport logistics. We are taking care of that,” Mafu said yesterday.

Public transport throughout the country, save for Zimbabwe United Passenger Company buses, has been banned and other arrangements were being made by the Department of Social Welfare, she said.

Maximum quarantine days have been reduced to eight and all the 15 had been found negative of the coronavirus on tests done for their release purposes.

Mutandwa, who spent another 21 days in South Africa quarantine, said he was “home-sick” and growing impatient.

Those released are expected to self-isolate at their homes.

Yesterday, the inmates clashed with police after the latter tried to make a roll call following the escape of one inmate who had just been admitted to the centre.

“We came here willingly because we are complying, but they cannot treat us like prisoners because one escaped their lax security,” one inmate said.

There are many entrances to the quarantine centre and Beitbridge residents earlier disputed having the quarantine in the town citing police neglect could expose the entire town in case one of them was infected.

Meanwhile, a Murewa man was hospitalised at Parirenyatwa Hospital suffering from malaria, before testing positive for coronavirus, has been allowed to go home.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust (CHITREST) has reported that health workers in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza have downed tools demanding personal protective equipment, salaries and COVID-19 allowances.

Below is the CHITREST alert:

We have learnt with sadness that the health workers at Chitungwiza Municipal clinics are on a job action.

The workers are demanding PPE, their salaries and covid 19 allowances.

This is very disappointing particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is our clarion call to Council to urgently address this anomaly.

THE Joshua Nkomo National Foundation (JNNF) says it plans to celebrate the late Father Zimbabwe Joshua Nkomo’s birthday with a rare political party leaders’ get-together bringing among others President Emmerson Mnangagwa and opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa to share a meal of cow hooves.

Nkomo, born on June 19, 1917 passed away on July 1, 1999 at the age of 82.

The JNNF, a trust formed to celebrate the life of the late Vice-President, has been holding annual events in June and July in remembrance of the former liberation war giant.

A fortnight ago, the JNNF held a virtual memorial lecture that was delivered by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (Osisa) executive director Siphosami Malunga.

The lecture was held under the theme Celebrating 40 Years of Independence – Back to the Future.
JNNF director-general Tapela Mmillili said the get-together had nothing to do with trying to lay the groundwork for political dialogue between Chamisa and Mnangagwa following the disputed 2018 polls.

“Traditionally, leaders will come together and share a meal of amangqina (cow hooves) while having a conversation about many different issues not necessarily politics. We want to bring the elders of Zipra, Zanla and most importantly those of Zapu and Zanu PF and other political party leaders in that context,” he said.

“For us, it is also a birthday, but in the context of having the elders coming together to have a conversation and should anything come out of it, good for the country but for us it’s just about offering a platform for dialogue.”

Mnangagwa and Chamisa — while noting the need for dialogue to move Zimbabwe forward — have adopted diametrically different and rigid positions, frustrating any prospects for the holding of talks in the foreseeable future.

Mnangagwa is currently having talks with fringe opposition parties under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) forum, a platform Chamisa dismisses as a Zanu PF choir.

“I am sure you are aware of the formation of the Polad and in general the views of the people in society are that this must be inclusive. We know Chamisa has his own reasons for not attending Polad and wanting a different platform; and the same goes for other leaders,” Mmillili added.

“However, the Joshua Nkomo Museum and Centre for Dialogue hosts a number of dialogue sessions, offering a platform for dialogue, be they political or economical and in this case it is about bringing our leaders to have a conversation in that traditional sense.”

Analysts and the clergy emphasise the need for dialogue to find a lasting solution to the country’s socio-economic crisis.

“Political and policy consensus must be reached, leading to a national settlement that will transform purely competitive and mutually exclusive visions to a shared national vision in which everyone feels included,” Zimbabwe Council of Churches general-secretary Kenneth Mtata said yesterday.

-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Two Guruve inmates were on Wednesday sentenced to 36 months in prison with six months conditionally suspended after they attempted to break out of prison.

The duo, Anymore Zitsva (27) and Simbarashe Nyambare (22) reportedly tried to escape from prison on the 2nd of April this year.

The court heard that the two hatched a plan to escape when correctional officers were playing checkers with other inmates.

Prosecutor Carson Kundiona told the court that on April 2, the inmates who were initially serving 44 months and eight months, respectively, noticed that prison officers were not paying attention to them as they concentrated on the game and the inmates cut a hole through the security fence and tried to escape.

The court further heard that Mockias Chirume, another inmate, realised that the two were trying to escape and rushed to the fence and grabbed Zitsva’s foot while shouting for help.

Zitsva was dragged back into the yard and implicated his accomplice.

Last year, some inmates also helped authorities to bring back the other inmates who twere rying to escape.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Staffers at the National Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) in Bulawayo have reportedly gone into panic mode after a positive case of Coronavirus was recorded at their offices.

Said a source privy to developments:

“ZIMRA offices have been shut and fumigated while over 10 employees are now in self quarantine after one of the staff members tested COVID-19 positive. The office will remain locked unti May 4.”

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

By Jane Mlambo| With Zimbabwe recording eight COVID-19 cases in one day for the first time, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has hinted at a possible lockdown extension as the country is not yet out of the woods.

In a story carried in the state owned Herald, Mnangagwa announced that his government will prioritize lives ahead of the economy, adding that he will balance the needs for economic growth and lives of the people.

“We as government and as the president, decided that with this challenge, what do we do, balancing the needs for economic growth and the lives of the people, as well as saving lives.

“I came to the conclusion that if citizens die, we cannot resuscitate them but the economy can die and can be resuscitated. Now or in the future, it doesn’t matter as long as people are alive, we can always have conferences where we say let’s resuscitate the economy but I have never seen conferences where people are discussing how to resuscitate the dead, so our bias is towards the preservation of life,” said Mnangagwa.

Zimbabwe’s second lockdown is expected to end on Sunday with various stakeholders complaining of distress owing to partial operation of the economy.

Farai Dziva|Emmerson Mnangagwa has openly conceded he is finding it difficult to make a decision on the way forward as the lockdown ends on May 3.

Mnangagwa told members of the business community at State House on Wednesday saving people’s lives was a priority since the economy would be resuscitated at the appropriate time.

Cases of confirmed Coronavirus cases have risen to forty in Zimbabwe.

“I was thinking about what happens after this one (extended lockdown) ends.

I am still working on that, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.
I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to this. Some border on the line of carelessness, some border on the line of over-cautiousness.

So, we must find a way where, in my view, we err on the side of caution rather than err on the side of recklessness,”said Mnangagwa.

By Own Correspondent| Harare City Council Environmental Management Committee Chairperson, Councilor Kudzai Kadzombe says council will not hesitate to demolish structures being built on wetlands as a way of protecting the water sources.

Councilor Kadzombe confirmed that cases of invasion of wetlands continue to increase despite repeated calls to protect the water sources.

She urged residents seeking land in Harare to go through the formal processes.

“There are processes that people need to go through to be able to own land. We are fully aware that some individuals are taking advantage of the current lockdown to invade wetlands and construct without approval from council.

“We are going to be vigilant against these developments and demolish and penalize these people,” said Kadzombe.

Harare Mayor, Herbert Gomba echoed the same sentiments and urged residents to desist from buying land on wetlands.

“I am aware that our development control unit has dealt with cases of this nature. Some people have tried to take advantage of the lockdown and allocate themselves land illegally and in most cases, on wetlands.

“Let me say that we will not allow that to happen. It is unacceptable,” said Gomba.

The Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) has already raised alarm over the continued invasion of Harare. The Trust has filed several public litigation cases with the High Court in a bid to protect Harare’s water sources from further destruction.

A cross section of Harare residents however blame councilors and council officials for the continued invasion and destruction of the wetlands.

The Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers Association (ZICORRA) has called for an investigation to unearth the culprits behind the invasion of wetlands in Harare.

Said a council source, “The problem is that the councilors have double standards. Most of the land barons invading these wetlands have close links with the councilors and in some cases, the land barons will actually be fronting for these councilors.

“That is the big challenge and unless the issue of corruption within council is addressed, we will continue to witness these land invasions.”

Wetlands degradation in Harare has come with devastating effects that have worsened the water crisis in the capital.

Harare’s main water source, Lake Chivero is also silting as a result of urban agriculture being practiced on wetlands.

Mozambique will extend the state of emergency for another 30 days until May 30 to contain the spreading of coronavirus, said President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday.

In his televised speech to the nation, President Nyusi said that during the first 30 days of the state of emergency, Mozambican people have played active roles in the prevention of and fight against the pandemic.

The president acknowledged that there are still many people who make unessential trips outside and children are still seen on street, adding that Mozambicans “need to do much more” and should observe the measures with more efforts.

It is necessary to reinforce the implementation of the current preventive measures to avoid a much more restrictive level of “lockdown,” which could have serious impact on the society and national economy, said Nyusi.

The country continues to record 76 positive cases, of which 68 cases are of local transmission and 8 imported, according to the daily briefing by health authorities on Wednesday. Enditem

By A Correspondent- The government has announced that tobacco farmers will be paid half of their proceeds from selling the golden leaf in foreign currency.

This was announced yesterday by the Tobacco Industry Marketing Board (TIMB) chairperson Mr Patrick Devenish as the 2020 tobacco marketing season was officially launched.

The country is expecting less tobacco this year after the number of registered growers fell to 148 084 this year compared to 178 721 last year.

The reduction in the number of tobacco growers, according to the TIMB can be attributed to uncertainty around foreign currency retentions and unfavourable weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the government has enacted Statutory Instrument 94 of 2020 which encourages the decentralised selling of tobacco due to the coronavirus pandemic that has since claimed four lives in the country.

The marketing season was delayed by over a month due to coronavirus.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- This comes after 6 Harare residents who were tested on Wednesday and two Bulawayo residents who were tested on Tuesday tested positive for coronavirus.

Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced that Zimbabwe’s number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to 40 including 5 recoveries and 4 deaths.

Globally, 3 220 187 cases, 228 218 deaths and 1 000 336 recoveries have been confirmed as of April 30, 2020, 02:50 GMT.

Meanwhile, no vaccine has been approved yet although scientists have begun tests of their vaccines on people to see how effective they are.

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made remarks which suggest that the national lockdown that is due to expire on the 3rd of May may actually be extended.

He was addressing a group of business leaders and donors at State House on Wednesday where he said that he puts value on public health over the economy.

The president said:

I was thinking about what happens after this one (extended lockdown) ends. I am still working on that, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.

I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to this. Some border on the line of carelessness, some border on the line of over-cautiousness. So, we must find a way where, in my view, we err on the side of caution rather than err on the side of recklessness.

His remarks come when the nation is divided over the matter with some advocating the extension of the lockdown while some say the lockdown has worsened the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country hence the need to remove it or at least relax regulations.

This is happening when the country’s confirmed coronavirus cases have spiked to 40 after 8 people tested positive between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Govt confirmed over 130 deaths from malaria recently. A 7yr old girl died from malaria at Mapiravana clinic yesterday but sources alleged that she was COVID-19 positive. Zimbabwe is "eradicating" COVID-19 by simply calling it malaria,True or False?

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 30, 2020

By Investigative Editor | A 7 year old girl reportedly collapsed and died at Mapiravana clinic.

Government however said the girl died of Malaria. Sources privy to developments alleged that the deceased girl tested COVID positive. She had no travel history but had physical contact with a Malaria death at St Theresa. Her symptoms were: abdominal pains, fever, general weakness for over 3 weeks.

Meanwhile Ministry Of Health officials have instructed practitioners to register the death as that of Malaria. 

VIDEO LOADING BELOW ….

She was given the below prescription drugs: 

A 7y old girl who govt says has Malaria but tested COVID + has dropped dead at Mapiravana Clinic. She has no travel history but had physical contact with a Malaria death at St Theresa. Her symptoms: abdominal pains, fever, gen weakness for 3 wks. @WHO_Zimbabwe @MuzvareBetty pic.twitter.com/YK017T3UUk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 30, 2020

Efforts to obtain a comment from Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo were fruitless at the time of publishing as his phone was ringing without being answered.

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

By Investigative Editor | A 7y old girl who the government says has Malaria (but tested COVID positive) has dropped dead at Mapiravana Clinic. She has no travel history but had physical contact with a Malaria patient at St Theresa. Her symptoms were: abdominal pains, fever, general weakness for over 3 weeks.

Meanwhile Ministry Of Health officials have instructed practitioners to register the death as that of Malaria. 

VIDEO LOADING BELOW ….

She was given the below prescription drugs: 

A 7y old girl who govt says has Malaria but tested COVID + has dropped dead at Mapiravana Clinic. She has no travel history but had physical contact with a Malaria death at St Theresa. Her symptoms: abdominal pains, fever, gen weakness for 3 wks. @WHO_Zimbabwe @MuzvareBetty pic.twitter.com/YK017T3UUk

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) April 30, 2020

Efforts to obtain a comment from Health Minister, Obadiah Moyo were fruitless at the time of publishing as his phone was ringing without being answered.

ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) Commissioner General Faith Mazani Wednesday announced one of the customs staff officers has tested positive for Covid-19 in Bulawayo.

In circular dated 29 April, Mazani said the staff member, now Covid-19 patient, and two others had been under home isolation for a month after they “interacted with an external individual who later tested positive for Covid19.”

After a month in isolation, the three staff members resumed work on 26 April upon which a follow up testing was conducted with one found positive.

“This is to advise that one of our staff members based in Bulawayo has tested positive for coronavirus, according to test results released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care today, April 29, 2020,” Mazani told the staff members.

The Zimra boss added that the Covid-19 infected staff member who is showing no symptoms, had come into contact with 15 other employees of the tax collector after resuming work and all have been sent into isolation while waiting for their results.

Mazani said Bulawayo offices have since been closed until 4 May to allow full disinfection.

See Zimra circular: 

The Ministry of Health and Child Care, has announced that the number of people in Zimbabwe with confirmed Covid-19 infections is now 40.

This sudden upward surge follows after 8 more people tested positive for Coronavirus, 6 from Harare and 2 from Bulawayo.

Below is the statement from the Ministry of Health

The Ministry would like to report that two of the PCR tests done in Bulawayo on the 28th of April 2020 were positive for COVID-19. Today, a total of 355 tests were done as shown in table 1 below, giving a total of 7 642 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.

All the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19. Of the PCR tests done in Harare today, six were positive for COVID-19. More details on these cases will be given in tomorrow’s update.

Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has forty confirmed cases including five recoveries and four deaths.

Case #33 is a 70-year-old male resident of Bulawayo, who returned from the United Kingdom on 18 March 2020. He was tested for COVID-19 as a contact to Case #14. Currently, he is stable, with mild disease.

Case #34 is a 27-year-old male resident of Bulawayo, with no recent history of travel. He was tested for COVID-19 as a contact to Case 33. Currently, he is also stable, with mild disease.

Both cases arc recovering under self-isolation at home.

The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to be guided by the COVID-I9 containment strategy which is based on intensified active surveillance, timely use detection, testing, isolation and management of all COVID-19 cases.

Further, the the Ministry would like to remind the nation, that the most effective wats to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.

State Media|GOVERNMENT has issued a warning to private schools that are demanding fees for the second term while stressing that only President Mnangagwa will guide the nation on the reopening of schools.

Also, although it is not opposed to online learning, Government has not yet allowed any school to pursue that route.

The pronouncement comes at a time some private schools have started demanding increased fees for the second term while pursuing online learning, should schools not open as previously scheduled next week.

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

According to the 2020 calendar, schools were expected to open on Tuesday next week.

For the first term, schools were supposed to close on April 2 but due to the threat of Covid-19, President Mnangagwa ordered that they close on March 24 to prevent the spread of the virus.

The President subsequently placed the country on a three-week national lockdown on March 30 which was extended to May 3, after which Government will decide on the way forward.

Some private schools have since started demanding fees for the second term even giving timelines when parents and guardians should make the payments.

In Bulawayo, institutions such as Petra and Whitestone high schools have told parents to make second term fees payments in the next two weeks.

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

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

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

In a newsletter to parents, Petra College said the deposit will enable the school to continue providing a “service and meeting normal obligations.”

“Please pay by the 15th May. Once we have official information from Ministry of Education regarding the re-opening of the schools, we will be able to calculate the budget required and agree any additional fee requirements for the term,” read the communication.

The school said it was highly unlikely that normal schools opening will take place next week and they were exploring e-learning platforms.

“Closed schools mean that we will be delivering learning remotely and via Google classroom predominantly. In readiness for this eventuality you will soon be receiving an email with details of how to access our online classrooms. The plan for each age group will vary but will commence on 5th May: From Grade 4 to Upper 6 each pupil will have their own Petra email address to sign into their class, this email is only for access to the classroom with the teacher,” reads the letter.

Whitestone School told parents that the Conference of Heads of Independent Schools in Zimbabwe (CHISZ) took a decision to resume the school’s calendar next week.

“All CHISZ schools have decided to start educating children as per the normal calendar so as to not fall too far behind. Online teaching is the only option to stay Covid-19 free, yet give the children the best education under the circumstances,” reads the school’s communication.

Yesterday, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema said schools that increase fees without approval risk being deregistered for extortion.

Speaking during the launch of the Schools’ Covid-19 Response programme at Chikangwe High School in Mashonaland West, Minister Mathema said errant schools will be dealt with.

“We are now having some schools which are deviating from their mandate and charging fees that are unapproved and are akin to extortion. All schools, without exception, must follow the procedures for seeking the approval for fee increases,” said the Minister.

“No increase will be permitted that is effected outside the laid down procedures which require the written approval of the Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education. Schools that continue to flout the regulations stand warned; the Ministry will not hesitate to deregister schools that purport to be educational institutions and yet indulge in unlawful activities.”

Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Patrick Zumbo said Government has not made any decision as to when schools should open and learning institutions should wait until a pronouncement is made.

Mr Zumbo said Government supports online learning but nothing has been approved yet for schools.

“Schools should not be demanding fees now. Leaners are at home, what are they demanding the fees for? They can’t be talking about fees as authorities are saying schools may not open soon.

“There hasn’t been any date that has been approved for schools opening. We can only talk about schools when its safe as guided by the health officials. We have not received any request for schools opening even for online lessons. Any school that intends to do so should apply through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary (Mrs Tumisang Thabela),” said Mr Zumbo.

He said the Ministry was not against online teaching of learners, but this should only be done in within confines of the law.

Primary and Secondary Education Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Chairperson Ms Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga said since schools were closed through a Presidential declaration, it is only the President who can make a call on when schools will reopen.

She, however, said opening of schools should be guided by science so as to save lives.

Ms Misihairabwi-Mushonga said her committee is concerned that the actions by private schools seem to be driven by the need to make profit.

“We are worried by actions of the private players in this field who seem to be driven by profit only. Every school in this country is under the supervision of a ministry hence no institution should be issuing anything son chool fees or otherwise until the President through the ministry has given direction. We therefore will be asking the ministry to play its supervisory role and ensure sanity prevails,” she said.

A parent with children at one of the mentioned schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the learning institutions were making outrageous demands while the country is on lockdown.

“We are on lockdown where do some of us get the money? And asking that much for online teaching is just too much. It’s not like the school gives me an I-pad or buys data for me,” said one of the parents.

The National Association of Secondary School Heads said the opening of schools must be influenced by health experts.

“Even if the experts were to give the greenlight, still the opening of schools should be gradual or done in phases starting with senior learners who can take care of themselves and who are also due to write examinations,” the association said.

President Mnangagwa is still considering the next steps to be taken when the extended lockdown ends on Sunday, but stresses the decision will be informed by the need to save lives.

Speaking at State House in Harare while receiving donations from various organisations yesterday, including gifts from the Indian embassy, he said: “We as Government and as the President decided with this (Covid 19) challenge what do we do? Balancing the need for economic growth and the lives of people as well as saving lives, I came to the conclusion that if people die, we cannot resuscitate them,” he said.

“The economy can die and it can be resuscitated now or in future. It doesn’t matter, because as long as people are alive you can have conferences and discuss ‘how do we resuscitate the economy’ but I have never seen a conference where people are discussing how to resuscitate the dead.”

He said the Government’s bias has always been towards preservation of life, adding that the organisations that were at State House to donate had proved their understanding that the priority was to save lives.

The President said Zimbabwe had the first lockdown, which he extended by another 14 days, and focus was now on what course of action to take after Sunday.

“When she (Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri) came to disturb me, I was thinking what happens after this one ends. I am still working on that, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.

“I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to these things. Some border on the line of carelessness: some border on the line of over-cautiousness.

“So, we must find a way to err on the side of cautiousness rather than on the side of carelessness,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said he was impressed by the responses Zimbabwe was getting from industrialists and others.

He has engaged captains of industry, churches, and chiefs and in the conversations, they agreed to be cautious as opposed to being reckless.

President Mnangagwa has invoked his temporary powers to allow rent payments for residential property and mortgage payments to be deferred during the lockdown because many people are not earning income during the period.

The populistic move by Mnangagwa is likely to create huge fallout between tenants and their landlords especially within the high density residential areas where landlords make a living out of their properties.

Deferred rent for residential property or deferred mortgage payments have to be made when the lockdown ends, but in three equal monthly payments for each month of lockdown.

So, if the lockdown lasts two months, the tenant has six months to make the back payments of the unpaid rent, and if it lasts three months, the tenant has nine equal monthly payments to pay the backdated rent.

These payments become due in the month immediately following the month during which, or at the end of which, the lockdown ends, but legal proceedings can only start 14 days after the due date.

Statutory Instrument 96, Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Deferral of Rent and Mortgage Payments During National Lockdown) Regulations, 2020, was gazetted yesterday following a Cabinet recommendation on Tuesday that the President uses his temporary powers.

The regulations made it clear that any non-payment of rent or mortgage obligations during the lockdown is because of the lockdown, so there is no legal argument over the reason for non-payment.

But they also make it clear that tenants and property owners with mortgages can make payments during the lockdown, in whole or in part, in which case the regulations only apply to the unpaid portion.

Protected tenants, those who have not paid their rent during the lockdown, cannot be evicted during the lockdown, or afterwards, so long as they are making the back payments on time.

The regulations go into detail that the tenant cannot be subjected to legal proceedings, and courts cannot make any order, for eviction, for the recovery of possession or for damages of trespass.

Evictions are also banned for other reasons, not just non-payment of rent, and rent cannot be increased for any reason, even if there is an escalation clause in the lease.

And it does not matter whether the residential accommodation is rented in terms of a statute law or a contract.

But tenants who do not pay their monthly instalments of back rent after the lockdown within 14 days of that payment becoming due can be subjected to legal proceedings, including those deferred by the moratorium.

So legal action can be taken to evict tenants not making the back payments within the stipulated times.

Similar rules apply to property owners with mortgages.

They also get the three months for each month of lockdown to make the necessary back payments, they have that 14 day grace period, and they are also then subject to legal proceedings.

The preamble to the regulations carefully sets out the legal requirements for the President to invoke the temporary powers by noting that a state of national disaster was declared on 23 March, that a lockdown was declared under public health laws, and that the President can issue temporary regulations for reasons of public safety and public health when urgent action is needed that cannot wait for Parliament to pass the required legislation.

President Mnangagwa is still considering the next steps to be taken when the extended lockdown ends on Sunday, but stresses the decision will be informed by the need to save lives.

Speaking at State House in Harare while receiving donations from various organisations yesterday, including gifts from the Indian embassy, he said: “We as Government and as the President decided with this (Covid 19) challenge what do we do? Balancing the need for economic growth and the lives of people as well as saving lives, I came to the conclusion that if people die, we cannot resuscitate them,” he said.

“The economy can die and it can be resuscitated now or in future.

It doesn’t matter, because as long as people are alive you can have conferences and discuss ‘how do we resuscitate the economy’ but I have never seen a conference where people are discussing how to resuscitate the dead.”

He said the Government’s bias has always been towards preservation of life, adding that the organisations that were at State House to donate had proved their understanding that the priority was to save lives.

The President said Zimbabwe had the first lockdown, which he extended by another 14 days, and focus was now on what course of action to take after Sunday.

“When she (Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri) came to disturb me, I was thinking what happens after this one ends. I am still working on that, but the primary objective is to give priority to saving lives.

“I have been studying events worldwide, how governments are reacting to these things.

Some border on the line of carelessness: some border on the line of over-cautiousness.

“So, we must find a way to err on the side of cautiousness rather than on the side of carelessness,” he said.-State media

THE President will announce dates for the reopening of schools, but will do so when the conditions are safe for learners and teachers to prevent exposure to coronavirus, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema has said.

He was speaking at the launch of the Schools Covid-19 Response Programme at Chikangwe High School in Karoi yesterday.
“The safety of our learners always comes prior to any action regarding Covid-19 disease.

The President will only proclaim the dates when schools open and he will only do so after evidence that shows it is prudent to do so has been availed,” said Minister Mathema.

The scourge, he said, required everyone’s participation and applauded schools in Mashonaland West Province for making personal protective equipment (PPEs) and sanitisers.

“I have toured eight schools that exhibited here and have the capacity to produce as factories.

The efforts by these schools producing PPEs is an indication that the national health and education goals in the Vision 2030 are going to be met,” the Minister said.

He said the production of sanitisers and PPEs by many institutions would result in low prices after some firms started charging exorbitant prices, taking advantage of huge demand.-State media

Farai Dziva|A Zimbabwean political observer, Nickson Museyamwa has warned political activists to desist from “killing people to please politicians.”

Below is his argument :
We always tell young people that, never beat or kill people in the name of a political party.

Never kill people on behalf of a politician or political party.

When misfortune come they befall on you alone and your family.

The guy(Tawanda Tswatswa) terrorised MDC supporters during the 2008 Presidential runoff.

He was the leader of short sleeve and long sleeve brutal campaign in which hundreds of MDC lost their limbs.

He committed acts of violence on behalf of ZANU PF.

ZANU PF Councillor for Makoni West Tawanda Tswatswa died a miserable death afflicted due to a rare skin disease

.Doctors failed to treat him,sangomas failed to treat and he went as far as Nigeria seeking devine treatment to no avail.

Those who assigned him to beat up people couldn’t save him.

Let’s learn to coexist despite our political differences.