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?
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@MuzvareBettypic.twitter.com/YK017T3UUk
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.
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he believes China’s handling of the coronavirus is proof that Beijing “will do anything they can” to make him lose the upcoming elections in November. In an interview with Reuters, Trump criticised China and said the country should have been more “active” in letting the world know about the coronavirus much sooner.
“China will do anything they can to have me lose this race,” he said. Trump said he believes Beijing wants his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, to win the race to ease the pressure Trump has placed on China over trade and other issues. “They’re constantly using public relations to try to make it like they’re innocent parties,” he added.
Trump said he was looking at different options in terms of consequences for China over the virus. “I can do a lot,” he said.
Trump said the trade deal he had concluded with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at reducing chronic US trade deficits with China had been “upset very badly” by the economic fallout from the coronavirus.
The US president has been repeatedly accused of not doing enough or acting in time to prepare the United States for the outbreak. However, Trump said he did not expect the election to be a referendum on his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
He also expressed surprise that Biden was doing well in the opinion polls. “I don’t believe the polls,” Trump said. “I believe the people of this country are smart. And I don’t think that they will put a man in who’s incompetent.”
For weeks, Trump has blamed China for the global pandemic that has killed people nearly 61,000 people in the US according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and thrown the economy into a deep recession.
On Tuesday, he had said he wants to conduct “serious investigations” into China’s handling of the pandemic. “We’re doing very serious investigations … We are not happy with China,” Trump said. “There are a lot of ways you can hold them accountable.”
Trump had previously referred to Covid-19 as the “Chinese virus”, for which he has received severe backlash.
Meanwhile, Trump on Wednesday called the World Health Organization “literally a pipe organ for China” and said the United States will soon come out with its recommendations on the global body, followed by one on Beijing, PTI reported.
“They misled us,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office. “We will have a recommendation pretty soon but we are not happy with the World Health Organization.”
Trump recently launched an investigation into the WHO’s role in the spread of the coronavirus and have accused the organisation of siding with China. The investigation would look into the role of China and as to how coronavirus spread from its Wuhan city.
Covid-19 has infected 31.92 lakh people and caused 2.27 lakh deaths across 185 countries or regions, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker.
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@MuzvareBettypic.twitter.com/YK017T3UUk
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.
News of The South|Zimbabwe counts for over 30% of the total number of health workers who have died in the U.K. The minister of Health in the U.K. has said over a hundred health workers have died in the frontline in UK.
The risks taken daily by the armies of British doctors, nurses and healthcare workers treating coronavirus patients have been starkly illustrated by a growing number of deaths.
The rising tally comes amid mounting concerns over the testing crisis, with ministers under increasing pressure to explain when NHS workers are to be tested and why Britain lags behind other nations in testing. Zimbabwean nurses based in the United Kingdom (UK) have taken the toll position in the number of those who have died in the fight against the Corona virus. Nurses and other health care workers are particularly vulnerable to contracting the coronavirus as they work on the frontline in combating the disease. The number of Zimbabweans working in the health sector is over 60.000. This figure could be more considering that most Zimbabweans came to the United Kingdom on Malawian, South African and Botswana passports. So if they die they are counted as the nationals of the country’s they hold passports of. This large number is not counted. Being that as it may the number of Zimbabweans officially counted is thirty percent of the whole number of the dead workers in the United Kingdom. May God Bless their Souls and May they rest in peace.
The ZANU PF NPC, Victor Matemadanda describes these as double heroes who are heroes in the U.K. and heroes in their own country Zimbabwe. They deserve medals, they laid down their lives for the lives of others. Such unlimited love create heroes and indeed these are unsung heroes.
If someone lays down his life for another person, he died so that the other person can live. One can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. Such was the bravery shown by the Zimbabwean nurses in the UK. Nursing is a profession of care love and passion and bound by Nightingale’s pledge which says : “I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession, and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping, and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavour to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.
The Nightingale Pledge is a statement of the ethics and principles of the nursing profession. But when pushed to the point to chose between their lives or that of their patients they opt to die in the place of the sick. The Zimbabwean nurses have laid their lives down in the difficult situations without considerations to colour or nationality. The Corona virus situation proved that nurses are autonomous professionals on whom patients can rely. By laying their lives for others to live nurses have shown that they are modern science professionals who protect and advocate for patients and strive very hard to meet those challenges. The sacrifices made by these nurses brought about the care environment and assuring patients and the nation at large that nurses are there to fend for them.
But why Zimbabwean nurses are the ones who are taking the fall in the UK. Most Zimbabweans almost 75% of Zimbabweans in the UK are nurses or health care workers. Most Zimbabweans work in the NHS from Cleaners, kitchen assistants to Executive officers they grace the NHS with their services. Besides NHS some work in the care homes and some private hospitals. Some Zimbabweans work in a one on one basis staying at the home of the service user commonly known as leave In.
In that scenario Zimbabweans have flooded the health and care industry. This then justifies why are Zimbabweans are easy targets of the Corona’s evil bullet. The other problem with Zimbabwean nurses is that they work very hard. Zimbabwean nurses most of them work three jobs a day. This exhausts them and they then make mistakes in their last job of the day. They then will have their guards down and sometimes forget to use the Protective Equipment. They become victims in the process of their work. They are highly blinded by money and as a result they will contract the disease in the wake of their service. Another problem is that the nurses work to impress their bosses and want to be on the side of the manager. The reality is Zimbabweans sometimes become good boys do everything impression management actors. This then sees them being asked to Doris my jobs. In the quest to be good girls they come back with the virus. Because of our soft culture we stand today mourning our friends our mothers our children. Zimbabweans in most cases will only stand up for their rights when it’s too late. The amount of abuse our friends get used to is unbelievable. Many Zimbabwean nurses got the virus because they did not believe the virus was real. This was our most downfall. We have lost many brothers many countrymen because of impression management. Even though the UK government has pledged sixty thousand pounds to every family which lost a member this does not give a life back.
Most if not all these nurses went to work with the hope of coming back with money. They sadly come back home with a virus. Some have taken the whole family down with Corona. Our thoughts are with the families left behind and indeed the families still waiting for the sick in hospital who are supposed to come back home. They put their faith in God and hope that they will come back.
Please stay safe. This virus is real. We have lost enough relatives.
As the continent continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, the death toll due to it continues to rise across several countries.
South Africa and Egypt are still the top countries with the most positive cases in the continent, with Algeria and Morocco behind them. The current death toll in South Africa currently stands on 93, Egypt 359, Algeria 437 and Morocco’s is at 165. The only countries in the continent with no positive cases are Comoros and Lesotho.
The number of positive cases also continue to rise across states in the continent. Over the last 24 hours, data from the online resource worldometer shows that South Africa recorded 203 new positive cases, Egypt 260, Algeria 132, Morocco 121, Ghana 87, Sudan 43, Somalia 48 and 77 in Guinea.
The continent so far has 33,566 positive cases, 10, 152 recoveries and at least 1,469 deaths according to data from the Africa Centres for Disease Control.
Globally there are currently around 3.1 million positive cases with 928,000 recoveries and 217,000 deaths from the pandemic.
Highlanders and Caps United are reportedly set to lose NetOne as their sponsor after the end of this coming season.
The telecoms giant has been sponsoring the two team for some time now and in 2019 the deal was extended by three years.
According to the Herald, NetOne now wants to focus on fighting the coronavirus pandemic, and due to the impact of the epidemic on their operations, they are no longer in a position to continue with their football sponsorship programmes.
Both Bosso and Makepekepe will be given enough notice for the termination of their partnership. The company will also part ways with Black Rhinos and Chapungu.
Meanwhile, Dynamos who were sponsored by NetOne until 2018 recently renewed their contract with sponsor Gold Leaf Tobacco.
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.
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.
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.”
TWO notorious Guruve prisoners tried to escape from the prison while prison officers were playing draught with other inmates.
The matter came to light at Guruve magistrates courts where the duo Anymore Zitsva (27) and Simbarashe Nyambare (22) appeared before Guruve resident magistrate Shingirai Mutiro.
Mutiro sentenced them to 36 months and conditionally suspended six months.
Prosecutor Carson Kundiona told the court that on April 2 the convicts were in the prison yard serving 44 months and eight months respectively.
The duo took advantage of the absent minded prison officers who were playing draughts with other inmates and untired a security fence.
They made a hole in the fence and tried to escape Mockias Chirume another inmates rushed to the fence and saw Zitsva’s foot and got hold of it while shouting for help.
Zitsva was dragged back in the yard and implicated his accomplice.
The prosecutor told the court that the convicts have demonstrated an unwillingness to repent .Instead of using their jail term wisely , they resorted to staging a prison break hence a substantial prison term will meet the justice of the case.
Warriors defender Teenage Hadebe is expected in the country today from his Turkey base after being granted two weeks compassionate leave by his club Yeni Malatyaspor.
Teenage Hadebe
Hadebe, who stays about 470km away from Turkey’s coronavirus epicentre Istanbul, is likely to be quarantined for eight days upon touching down in Zimbabwe.
Turkey is among the world’s top 10 countries that have recorded high numbers of Covid-19 cases, with 115 000 cases. By midday yesterday, Turkey had 2 992 deaths.
Government slashed the recommended period returning residents from Covid-19 hotspots should be quarantined from 14 to eight days, meaning Hadebe will spend about five days with his family before flying back to Turkey.
The Warriors’ defender is excited to be coming home and is looking forward to holding his newborn twins.
His wife gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy, last month.
“I can’t wait to hold my children in my hands. I’m super excited to be coming home to see my family. The club has organised that I travel for two weeks,” said Hadebe.
The former Bantu Rovers, Highlanders, Chicken Inn and Kaizer Chiefs defender has been under strict lockdown at his base, spending his time indoors.
“Our city was lucky that it wasn’t hit by coronavirus. We were told to stay indoors and we did that. I only go out maybe once a week going to the clubhouse which is closer to my apartment to do some personal training,” said Hadebe.
The Makokoba-bred footie, keen to work his way back into the starting team when matches resume after the lockdown, said he will continue with his training programme at home.
The towering left-footed defender missed his team’s last three matches played before the global suspension of sporting activities because of the coronavirus.
Hadebe was red-carded on March 1 when Yeni Malatyaspor lost 0-2 to Denizlispor. He missed his team’s 1-1 draw against Konyaspor, 1-3 defeat to Trabzonspor and their last game, a 1-2 loss to Kayserispor on March 15.
When matches resume, Yeni Malatyaspor, who are 15th on the log in the 18-team league with 25 points from 26 games, will face Fenerbache.
South Africa has been under lockdown for the past 34 days and it has reported its highest increase yet since the first case was reported.
A record total, 354 new Covid-19 cases have been recorded in South Africa as of Wednesday night taking the tally of infections to 5350 country wide.
According to the official anouncement , a further 10 people had succumbed to the virus causing the total number of casualties to surge pat the one hundred mark.
The current Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize said that “Regrettably, we report a further 10 deaths today from Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape”
Close to 200 000 people have been tested with a record 11 630 having been tested in the last 24 hours.
The authorities continue to fight against the virus and have pleaded with the majority to do their part by following the several regulations put in place for their safety.
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.
At least 100 illegal gold miners in South Africa are hiding underground, too scared to surface with police on patrol to enforce the coronavirus lockdown, according to industry sources. Many illegal miners, known as zama-zamas – a Zulu expression for “taking a chance” – were underground in abandoned or disused mines in Gauteng province when the lockdown began on March 27.
Lawyers, activists and illegal miners told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that zama-zamas had little choice but to continue working, worried about being arrested if they surfaced and knowing there was no other work.
“They are struggling to get to the surface (to buy food) as police are blocking the entrances and they fear arrest,” said Johannesburg gold miner Zach, whose name was changed to protect his identity. At least 100 (zama-zamas) that I know of are trying to earn some money during the lockdown,” said Zach, 29, adding he had been arrested many times since turning to mining six years ago.
Illegal gold mining has plagued South Africa’s mining companies for decades, robbing the industry and state coffers of billions of rand through smalltime pilfering as well as networks run by organised crime. The Minerals Council South Africa estimates seven tonnes of gold – from total national production of about 135 tonnes – is lost each year to illegal mining, which is driven by the joblessness and economic hardship that prevail across the country.
Thousands of zama-zamas are thought to be operating at any one time, many of them undocumented immigrants from neighbouring countries who provided migrant labour for South Africa’s mines in the past but were then laid off.
Zama-zamas are now a permanent fixture of the shanties that ring Johannesburg and its satellite towns along the gold reef, and are blamed for outbreaks of violence, including underground shoot-outs between rival gangs. Once the largest gold producer, South Africa now ranks about eighth globally with mining accounting for roughly seven-percent of GDP.
The sector braced for a heavy hit when the government last month ordered most underground mines and furnaces to be put into care and maintenance due to the coronavirus.
But after a lobbying campaign by miners, it said it would allow mines to operate at up to half capacity during the lockdown, recognising the chance of instability if deep-level mines closed for a long period.
Informal mining has continued nevertheless as it remains largely unrecognised by the government – just like many zama-zamas, who are unable to seek financial assistance, legal experts said. Edwin Makwati, a lawyer from the Legal Resources Centre in Johannesburg said that “artisanal miners depend on mining to feed their families but they are categorised as criminals”.
“Now they have to face the decision: do they die of hunger or risk arrest for violating the COVID-19 regulations?” he said in a phone interview.
Yvette, 32, a zama-zama from Soweto township whose name has also been changed, also believed there were still “at least 100 zama-zamas underground” in Gauteng province alone, sifting for gold in tunnels no longer maintained and at risk of collapse. There are (abandoned) shafts throughout the country where there could be more,” she said. A 2015 report by South Africa’s Human Rights Commission identified 221 open holes and disused shafts alone in Gauteng, which is the most populous of the country’s nine provinces.
Some had been covered by the government, but zama-zamas would likely find other entrances into the mines, some of which run up to four km (2.5 miles) deep, the report said.
Police spokesman Brigadier Vish Naidoo acknowledged it was likely that some zama-zamas were underground, adding that “they stay underground for months, even before lockdown”. A crime is a crime. There are no good zama-zamas,” he said in a phone interview. A spokesperson for the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said the ministry only kept records of mineworkers from legal operations.
“Illegal mining … is fueled by highly organized dangerous, well-financed and complex local and international crime syndicates,” he added in emailed comments.
Charmane Russell, spokeswoman for the Minerals Council South Africa, said that “illegal miners are not screened or protected in any way … and the gathering of people clearly does not comply with social distancing requirements. Scores of zama-zamas die each year in the labyrinth of tunnels that stretch beneath the streets of Johannesburg and beyond, although police and the government admit they have no idea of the precise toll.
But Sindile, a female zama-zama from Soweto township who helps process gold above ground, said the money that could be earned made it worth the risk for many.
Artisanal mining can fetch Zach and Sindile up to R5,000 a month – more than the national minimum wage of roughly R3,600. You know hunger?” said Sindile, a single mother of three, who also asked not to be identified. “It is not your friend. This is why we take chances.
The zama-zamas said that the lockdown and increased police presence have added additional challenges to their already dangerous work. Reported cases of the coronavirus were close to 5,000 in South Africa and about 93 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. But we are more afraid of the police than the virus,” said Yvette. David Van Wyk, lead researcher at Bench Marks Foundation, a church-linked group that monitors corporate responsibility, said it was working on setting up co-operatives with informal miners.
“The coronavirus pandemic is going to bring a lot more unemployment,” said Van Wyk, who predicted more South Africans desperate for work would take up illegal mining. We may even see informal mines collapse. This is a scary time for zama-zamas, especially those currently underground.
In other news – The Fergusons responds on Dineo Langa’s contract
Ferguson Films, which is owned by Shona and Connie Ferguson, have hit back at claims that Dineo Langa was fired from “The Queen. This comes after Sunday World reported that Dineo was fired when she asked for time off to shoot a film.
A TOTAL of 16 321 people have been arrested countrywide for violating Covid-19 orders since the beginning of the lockdown on March 30.
Statistics obtained from the Police General Headquarters show that Bulawayo still tops the numbers with 3 973 arrests followed by Manicaland Province at 3 285 arrests.
Harare comes third with 2 049 arrests while 1 702 people were arrested in the Midlands province. In Mashonaland West 1 466 people were arrested while 565 were arrested in Mashonaland Central.
Matabeleland South has 1 102 arrests while Matabeleland North province has 785. In Mashonaland East province 589 people were arrested and 698 were arrested in Masvingo.
The Support Unit separately arrested 107 people countrywide.
When the Chronicle went around the city yesterday, most people continued to operate in a ‘business as usual attitude’, with more violating the lockdown which is expected to end on May 3.
People in bank queues and remittance centres continued to disregard the social distancing .
In a telephone interview, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were trying to establish the reason behind Bulawayo and Manicaland provinces’ high arrests figures.
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.
Informal traders and residents’ associations have filed an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking an order to stop local and central Government from demolishing their vending stalls and tuckshops countrywide.
In an application filed on Sunday by Dr Tarisai Mutangi and Moses Nkomo of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, informal traders, residents and residents’ associations protested that the widespread demolition by local and central Government personnel of tuckshops, vending stalls and other property used by small and medium enterprises and informal traders was unlawful and should be stopped immediately.
The informal traders, residents and residents’ associations represented by Chitungwiza Residents’ Trust and Kushinga Epworth Residents’ Association want the High Court to interdict local authorities and central Government from demolishing any tuckshops and vending stalls.
Local authorities have been demolishing informal traders’ market stalls and tuckshops across the country after Minister of Local Government and Public Works July Moyo briefed local authorities about a recent Cabinet resolution and told them to “take advantage of the national lockdown to clean up and renovate small and medium enterprises and informal traders’ workspaces” and implored them “to make every effort to comply with the resolution”.
The local authorities then told owners and users of tuckshops and vending stalls to pull down their tuckshops and vending stalls, or face their demolition, and immediately started destroying properties.
The informal traders and residents argued that Minister Moyo’s circular was unlawful as it was not issued in terms of any law and that there was no law which required local authorities to execute Cabinet resolutions outside the provisions of the applicable laws.
Informal traders and residents argued that the demolition of tuckshops and vending stalls by local authorities amounted to compulsory deprivation of property in violation of the fundamental right to property enshrined in the Constitution since the affected owners and users of tuckshops and vending stalls paid fees and levies to local authorities and had not consented to the destruction.
Local authorities, the informal traders and residents said, have been indiscriminately demolishing tuckshops and vending stalls without any consultation with the affected citizens, including those who have been paying fees and levies to councils.
By demanding such fees and rates, local authorities acknowledged the legal existence of the affected vending stalls and tuckshops and could suddenly deem them illegal structures, the informal traders argued.
From right to left: Philton Makena and Smart Manda at the Harare Magistrates Court in the company of their lawyers
TWO Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) economists have appeared in court for leaking a confidential document on the de-dollarisation of the economy to unauthorised persons, resulting in it going viral on social media.
Smart Manda (44) and Philton Makena (40) were charged with contravening Section 60 (1) of the RBZ Act Chapter 22:15 which requires “preservation of secrecy by bank employees.”
The two appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro, who freed them on $2 000 bail each with the State’s consent.
As part of their bail conditions, the pair was ordered to report once a week to police, not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at their given addresses until the matter is finalised.
They will be back in court on June 3.
Manda is being represented by Mr Arshiel Mugiya, while Mr Gift Chihuta is appearing on behalf of Makena.
Prosecutor Mr George Manokore said sometime in March, RBZ governor Dr John Mangudya assigned John Mafararikwa (director economic policy and research) to work on a document titled “De-dollarisation roadmap”, which would assist the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in the de-dollarisation of the economy over a five-year period.
Mafararikwa, it is alleged, assigned Nebson Mupunga to head a team of chief economists comprising Samuel Tarinda, Getrude Machingura, Nicholas Masiyandima, Edmore Jaya, Douglas Mugwambi, Paul Mukoki, Tawanda Mubvuma, Manda and Tongai Tarubona to brainstorm and produce the document.
On April 15, Manda received the document from Mupunga via his central bank’s e-mail address that is linked to his Gmail account.
The court heard that on receipt, he converted it into a portable document format. It is alleged that Manda unlawfully sent the document via WhatsApp to Makena, who was not part of the team.
That same day, Makena forwarded the document to his cousin Bongani Zimuto via WhatsApp, who also forwarded it to his superior Wonder Madyambudzi, a business development executive at Zimnat Life Assurance and it went viral on various social media platforms.
It is alleged that the RBZ Information Technology department traced the movement of the document and screen shots of Manda’s e-mail will be produced as evidence.
The court heard that Manda’s cellphone is being held as an exhibit after it was sent to a cyber laboratory where examination revealed that he received the document and sent it to Makena.
Makena’s phone was also taken to the laboratory and the examination showed that the same document was forwarded to Zimuto whose phone was also screened, revealing he had received the document.
The cyber forensic report will be produced in court as an exhibit.
According to the State, Manda and Makena knew that it was the mandate of the RBZ governor and the Ministry of Finance to publish any document to members of the public.
They had no lawful excuse to publish RBZ corporate secrets without authorisation, the court heard.
President Mnangagwa receives a 30-tonne truck of maize-meal from Gain Cash and Carry chief executive officer Mr Liberty Murimwa (third from left) and human resources executive Leonet Mavura (second from right) during a handover ceremony for Covid-19 donations at State House in Harare
Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rungsung Masakui, handed over medicines donated by his country.
India has shipped 103 tonnes of essential medicine worth US$400 000, which is part of the commitment it made of US$2 million, and the medicine has arrived in Zimbabwe.
“The balance of US$1,6 million would be delivered once this lockdown ended,” said Mr Masukui.
The medicines include chloroquine and hydroxycholoroquine, which have been used worldwide as a potential treatment of the disease.
He said 1 000 tonnes of rice were being shipped, while 25 medical personnel were taking part in an online training programme sponsored by his government on managing Covid 19.
African Sun donated linen valued at $1,2 million, while the Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) handed over linen worth $800 000. Cresta handed over linen valued at $450 000, while Gain Wholesalers donated various food items.
FAW donated a tractor and boom sprayer to decontaminate public spaces and 600 face masks for policemen manning road blocks.
Coverlink weighed in with hand sanitisers worth $20 000, while Cottco handed over 500 knapsack sprayers, 12 000 face masks and 1 000 litres of hydrogen peroxide disinfectant.
Doctors and nurses in various public hospitals have either gone on strike or returned to go on strike vowing not to return until the government gives them personal protective equipment so they can safely treat suspected coronavirus patients. Public health specialists warn that without action to resolve the matter, Zimbabwe could turn into another COVID-19 epicenter.
Doctors and nurses from government hospitals said their pleas to address their safety concerns had fallen on deaf ears.
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.
A Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation official has raised the red flag over resumption of any sporting activities in the country before August due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The official said rushing to allow sporting activities such as football to resume could reverse all gains made in containing the pandemic that has so far infected over three million people globally.
He concurred with Fifa chief medical officer Michel D’Hooghe, who warned that restarting the European football season in the coming weeks could cause a deadly second spike of the pandemic, adding that football should not resume until end of August or early September.
“It’s not a matter of money, it’s life or death,” D’Hooghe said earlier this week.
Already the Dutch Eridivisie and France’s Ligue 1 and 2 have been cancelled.
“My view is that the Fifa medical expert is right here. This is a global crisis which we are all not sure when it will end. Given that there is no cure or vaccine yet, the safety and health of athletes, officials and spectators must come first and this should never be compromised,” said the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation official.
“Human life is sacrosanct and we should never dice with it hence it becomes absolutely necessary to take all the necessary measures to combat this pandemic. While others may be persuaded to also think in terms of the huge losses that sport and other industries have had to endure, it must be understood that profit in any entity is as a result of human effort and if their safety is compromised, no profit will be realised.
Human life must always reign supreme because there is only one life that we all live.”-State media
A Harare businessman appeared in court on Tuesday after 18kg of mbanje with a street value of about $15 000 was found in the boot of his car, which he has suggested was planted by a rival.
According to the State, the mbanje was stashed in his vehicle’s boot and the police intercepted him in Budiriro following a tip-off.
Elliot Kariyana (45) appeared before magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboa charged with unlawful possession of mbanje.
He was released on $1 000 bail after his lawyer, Mr Knowledge Maeresera of Chizengeya, Maeresera and Chikumba Legal Practitioners, successfully applied for bail.
Mr Maeresera argued that his client was not a flight risk as he was a family man with two wives and 10 children and owned a trucking business.
“The mere fact that the dagga was found in his car boot does not mean he knew or intended to possess it. Police were informed by someone who is not mentioned and could have planted the dagga,” he said.
“Anyone can do anything to get my client out of business.”
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe had opposed bail on the basis that the State had a strong case against Kariyana, who was likely to go to jail if convicted.
“The accused person was caught red-handed, thus cutting away the presumption of innocence,” he said.
“He is also facing a serious offence and is likely to face a prison term if convicted, hence this will induce him to abscond. He is not a suitable candidate for bail.”-State media
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
The Government yesterday launched the Schools Covid-19 Response Programme, where schools will manufacture personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as masks and sanitisers to fight against Covid-19.
Already, some schools in the country are producing PPEs, while others are expected to start soon.
The venture is expected to ease the pressure of procuring protective material for 136 000 teachers and 4,5 million pupils countrywide.
It dovetails with the new curriculum that entails teaching children practical life skills alongside academic lessons.
Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Cain Mathema, during the launch of the Schools Covid-19 Response Programme at Chikangwe High School in Mashonaland West yesterday, said while the call had gone to all schools in the 10 provinces, Mashonaland West Province took the lead and started manufacturing at Chikangwe High School.
Minister Mathema said the fight against Covid-19 required everyone’s effort.
“The virus we are seeking to combat is a vicious one, and as we fight it, it requires all hands-on deck. It is not a fight that can be left to a few, we will not succeed. The fight against Covid-19 is everyone’s fight for survival.
“Today we witness some schools’ response in this fight. A number of our schools are producing sanitisers, masks and detergents, all of them approved by the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” said the Minister.
He commended the Ministry of Health and Childcare for partnering his ministry in the programme including the School Health Policy that was launched a few years.
“Through this partnership, education is serving its true purpose of meeting the needs of the communities,” said Minister Mathema. “Allow me to congratulate all schools nationally that have started on the manufacturing of protective equipment against the coronavirus, including Chikangwe High School which pioneered this affirmative Covid-19 Response Programme of producing masks and sanitisers.”
Turning to when schools are supposed to open for the second term, Minister Mathema said his office stands guided by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He urged Zimbabweans to disregard information on social media on the issue as it was false.
“Schools will open when the evidence indicates that it’s prudent to do so, and that announcement will be made only by the President, HE, Cde E.D. Mnangagwa. Appropriate measures will be put in place to make sure that there is no further infection that will take place. The Ministry is working flat out on mitigatory measures during the coronavirus period as well as on the preparations for back-to-school,” said Minister Mathema. State Media/Chronicle
Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday signed into law the deferment of payment of rentals and mortgages during lockdown to assist people that have lost income in honouring these obligations.
Statutory Instrument (SI) 96 of 2020 Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Deferral of Rent and Mortgage Payments During National Lockdown) Regulations, 2020 promulgated yesterday, comes a day after Cabinet’s recommendation to give relief to tenants and landlords during the lockdown.
“Whereas on account of the national lockdown many persons are on forced leave from employment and therefore unable to earn the income necessary to pay for, among other things, rental for residential accommodation and mortgage repayments; now, therefore His Excellency the President, in terms of Section 2 of the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act [Chapter 10:20], hereby makes the following regulations…” reads the decree.
The SI 96 of 2020 defers payment of rentals and mortgages without the risk of being evicted, disposed from land or sued from May until the end of the lockdown.
The new law allows tenants and those with mortgage debts to pay their landlords and creditors in a staggered manner.
Tenants and mortgagors are allowed to pay rentals, without interest staggered in equal instalments over three months for each month under lockdown. Due to the national lockdown, most residents have not generated income to enable them to pay May rentals that are due as from tomorrow.
The lockdown period began on March 30 and is set to end on Sunday.
Residents said the Cabinet’s resolution was realistic considering the economic impact caused by Covid-19 on the country and individuals.
Tenants who spoke to the news crew yesterday said unpaid rentals have become a source of conflict in their lodgings.
Mrs Sikhathazile Nyathi from Mzilikazi said if the moratorium is declared, it would protect her family from being tormented by a landlord.
“It is something that we hope could be implemented because already I’m facing challenges with my landlord. I live in one room with my husband and children. But because we had not cleared April rentals, the landlord in protest is now sleeping in our room, on our sofa. He is saying he will only vacate the room once we pay up the R300 rent but we don’t have the money. He is threatening us with evictions,” said Mrs Nyathi.
She said she was a vendor who operated at Renkini Bus Terminus but due to lockdown, she has been grounded struggling to even put food on the table.
Mrs Nyathi said she was even contemplating deserting city life after lockdown and relocate to rural areas where they are no demands for monthly rentals.
Another resident, Ms Sukoluhle Dube from Nkulumane suburb said the Cabinet’s decision was very noble as most people have not generated any income this month.
Ms Dube said moral suasion between landlords and tenants would be more effective than Government’s decrees.
“I had already come to an agreement with my landlord over payment of rentals. Due to the lockdown that saw me not working all along, my landlord said once the lockdown has ended, I can pay the rental in instalments. I think such decision largely depends on the existing relations between the landlords and their tenants. I have a very good relationship with my landlord. I have stayed in the house for seven years,” said Ms Dube.
Another tenant, Mr Celestine Mafuka, said delayed payments of rentals have both positive and negative impacts.
“Imagine we agree with the landlord that I will pay rentals when I get the money after lockdown. But I stay in a house of an elderly person largely depending on rentals payments for livelihood. In case I buy groceries do you think the landlord would be comfortable with me seemingly eating lavishly in their house when they won’t be having anything while I claim that I do not have money to pay rentals. We should aim to strike a balance,” said Mr Mafuka.
Landlords who spoke to the news crew said most of them depended on rental money for survival.
They argued that while Government proposes a moratorium on rental payments, local authorities still demand payment of rates. Others said while the idea is good, most tenants cannot be trusted.
Mr Bernard Sibanda from Nkulumane suburb said some tenants may decide to leave their rented homes to evade paying delayed rentals.
“What will happen then when the tenant decides to run away. But as a parent with a child who is also a tenant somewhere, I believe bringing relief to lodgers will be good but if they also commit to being honest. We live with them they have not being working so their realities are very clear to us. Government in coming up with the law, should create a legal framework that will make it punishable if a lodger escapes from lodgings,” said Mr Sibanda.
A landlord who only identified herself as Mrs Moyo said tenants should find ways of paying rentals even during lockdown.
“The same way council expects us to pay rates, is the same way we want our tenants to pay rent. Some of us have been depending on these monthly rental payments for over 20 years. That is how we feed our families,” said Mrs Moyo. State Media/ Chronicle
Zanu PF leader 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.
Mnangagwa 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.
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.
Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Rungsung Masakui, handed over medicines donated by his country.
India has shipped 103 tonnes of essential medicine worth US$400 000, which is part of the commitment it made of US$2 million, and the medicine has arrived in Zimbabwe.
“The balance of US$1,6 million would be delivered once this lockdown ended,” said Mr Masukui.
The medicines include chloroquine and hydroxycholoroquine, which have been used worldwide as a potential treatment of the disease.
He said 1 000 tonnes of rice were being shipped, while 25 medical personnel were taking part in an online training programme sponsored by his government on managing Covid 19.
African Sun donated linen valued at $1,2 million, while the Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) handed over linen worth $800 000. Cresta handed over linen valued at $450 000, while Gain Wholesalers donated various food items.
FAW donated a tractor and boom sprayer to decontaminate public spaces and 600 face masks for policemen manning road blocks.
Coverlink weighed in with hand sanitisers worth $20 000, while Cottco handed over 500 knapsack sprayers, 12 000 face masks and 1 000 litres of hydrogen peroxide disinfectant. State Media/Herald
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 453 tests were done as shown in table 1 below giving a total of 7287 screening and diagnostic test done to date.
All the PCR tests done in Harare today were negative for COVID-19.
Results for the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were still pending at the time of print.
Mat South 99 Mat North 14 Bulawayo – 78 Harare – 261 Midlands – 1 Total – 453
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-two confirmed cases including five recoveries and four deaths.
Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 5 Mashonaland West – 3 Total – 32 Case #32 reported yesterday is a 52-year-old male resident of Murehwa, with no recent history of travel, who was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on the 24. of April 2020. He was receiving treatment under admission in a private ward for slide positive Malaria. He was tested for COVID-I 9 in line with the intensified surveillance and active case finding strategy that is being implemented nationally. Under this approach, all patients admitted in hospital are being tested for COVID-I 9. He had responded well to the treatment for Malaria and was due for discharge.
Following discharge, he will continue with his recovery under self-isolation at home. Contact tracing and appropriate infection prevention measures including decontamination at the hospital will be done in line with our national guidelines.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that, the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-I9 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 453 tests were done as shown below -giving a total of 7287 screening and diagnostic test done to date.
All the PCR tests done in Harare today were negative for COVID-19.
Results for the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were still pending at the time of print:
Mat South 99 Mat North 14 Bulawayo – 78 Harare – 261 Midlands – 1 Total – 453
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-two confirmed cases including five recoveries and four deaths.
Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 5 Mashonaland West – 3 Total – 32 Case #32 reported yesterday is a 52-year-old male resident of Murehwa, with no recent history of travel, who was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on the 24th of April 2020.
He was receiving treatment under admission in a private ward for slide positive Malaria. He was tested for COVID-I 9 in line with the intensified surveillance and active case finding strategy that is being implemented nationally. Under this approach, all patients admitted in hospital are being tested for COVID-I 9. He had responded well to the treatment for Malaria and was due for discharge.
Following discharge, he will continue with his recovery under self-isolation at home. Contact tracing and appropriate infection prevention measures including decontamination at the hospital will be done in line with our national guidelines.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that, the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-I9 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.
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 death at St Theresa. Her symptoms were: abdominal pains, fever, general weakness for over 3 weeks.
Meanwhile Ministry Of Health officials have since 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@MuzvareBettypic.twitter.com/YK017T3UUk
Farai Dziva|The leader of the MDC-T Parliamentary caucus, Mildred Dube, has dismissed the letter reportedly written by party Secretal General, Nickson Nyikadzino indicating that Thokozani Khupe was no longer in charge of the troubled formation.
The letter denotes that Nyikadzino is now in charge of the party.
Below is Dube’s statement:
We have noted with concern some misleading and disgusting statements attributed to the former MDC-T Secretary-General Mr Nickson ‘Mao’ Nyikadzino wherein he masquerades as the new MDC-T Acting President.
For the avoidance of doubt, we want to make it unequivocally clear to all and sundry that all MDC-T legislators remain loyal to the party as led by Dr Thokozani Khuphe and the leadership collective elected at the party’s 4th Congress.
Mr Nyikadzino makes baseless and unfounded allegations that the MDC-T had an inaugural congress in 2018.
This is wholly untrue, the fact of the matter is that a dispute within the party arose soon after the death of our founding father Dr Morgan Tsvangirai on the procedure to fill his vacancy. Informed by a legal opinion from Adv Matinenga, the party held an extraordinary congress at Stanley square in Bulawayo as provided for in the MDC constitution clause 9.21.1. This extraordinary congress was attended by more than 5000 eligible delegates drawn from our party structures and at no point did we invite non-members to that Extra-Ordinary Congress.
We want to further put it on record that we did not register as a new party with ZEC, it is on record that our party was already registered before the death of our late leader, what we only did was to remove the face of our late icon from the open palm & contested under the MDC-T brand.
We want to remind Mr Nyikadzino that the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe handed down a landmark judgment on the 30th of March 2020 that effectively put Dr Khuphe firmly in charge of the party that was left by Dr Tsvangirai and ordered her to convene an Extra-Ordinary Congress within 90days.
All decisions and actions done after the 14th February 2018 are thus null and void. The net effect of the Supreme Court ruling is that the two warring MDC-T formations i.e. the MDC-T component in an electoral pact called the MDC Alliance and the original MDCT led by Dr Khupe are now ONE thing.
Furthermore, the ruling is clear on what must be done to return the party to its founding values of internal democracy, constitutionalism and collective leadership.
We have no doubt whatsoever that the leadership collective as elected at the party’s 4th Congress in Harare led by our Acting President Dr Thokozani Khuphe is capable of convening the much-awaited Extra-Ordinary Congress to elect a successor to our late President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai.
As MDCT legislators we took an oath of office to uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the Republic and therefore we associate ourselves fully with the Supreme Court judgment.
We want to warn Mr Nyikadzino that his infantile and illogical statements are directly in contempt of court and if he continues with such actions we will not hesitate to seek legal recourse.
Farai Dziva|Overzealous police details severely bashed Masvingo based human rights activist, Tatenda Maposa on Tuesday night.
Maposa was assaulted by police officers in Mucheke Suburb – despite possessing an exemption letter.
There are growing concerns over gross violation of human rights by security forces during the lockdown.
Speaking to ZimEye.com, Maposa said:” I was coming from Gweru when I was stopped by a group of police officers.
I tried to produce my approval letter but they would have none of it. They did not even bother to look at it.I was severely assaulted and the officers erupted into laughter in the process.
I called officers at Chikato Police Station seeking assistance but nothing materialised.
To make matters worse, they did not even bother to explain why they attacked me.”
Maposa said police brutality should be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Farai Dziva|A Masvingo woman has sensationally claimed her ex-husband bought her a car after using the “anointed love portion herb.”
Controversial Masvingo preacher, Isaac Makomichi distributes the herb to women across the country.
“After hearing about the anointed herb, I reluctantly decided to use it.I called Prophet Makomichi and he gave me the anointed love portion herb.
I was surprised when my ex-husband called me saying he wanted to see me. He then bought a car for me as a way of asking for forgiveness . Everything happened in a dramatic way.I was a bitter woman but I am now relieved, everything is now in order,” the woman who identified herself as Jane wrote on social media.
Makomichi’ s followers claim the “anointed herb” has the supernatural power to restore and “heal” troubled marriages. Girls desperate to tie the knot are also reportedly visiting the clergyman for assistance.
“A woman from Chiredzi received a car from her ex-husband after using love portion. I can say the herb is doing wonders,” said a congregant.
Makomichi said :” Those who want to find out more about the love portion herb can contact me on 0777469342. In the book of Exodus 15:25 Moses was given a herb by God and he treated bitter water.”
Farai Dziva|A Masvingo woman has sensationally claimed her ex-husband bought her a car after using the “anointed love portion herb.”
Controversial Masvingo preacher, Isaac Makomichi distributes the herb to women across the country.
“After hearing about the anointed herb, I reluctantly decided to use it.I called Prophet Makomichi and he gave me the anointed love portion herb.
I was surprised when my ex-husband called me saying he wanted to see me. He then bought a car for me as a way of asking for forgiveness . Everything happened in a dramatic way.I was a bitter woman but I am now relieved, everything is now in order,” the woman who identified herself as Jane wrote on social media.
Makomichi’ s followers claim the “anointed herb” has the supernatural power to restore and “heal” troubled marriages. Girls desperate to tie the knot are also reportedly visiting the clergyman for assistance.
“A woman from Chiredzi received a car from her ex-husband after using love portion. I can say the herb is doing wonders,” said a congregant.
Makomichi said :” Those who want to find out more about the love portion herb can contact me on 0777469342. In the book of Exodus 15:25 Moses was given a herb by God and he treated bitter water.”
BULAWAYO continues to top the number of people arrested for lockdown defiance with a total of 3 775 people having been arrested in the city since the commencement of the lockdown period on March 30.
A total of 15 545 people had been arrested countrywide by late afternoon yesterday for violating Covid-19 stay-at-home regulations.
Statistics obtained from the Police General Headquarters show that Manicaland follows Bulawayo closely with 3 137 arrests followed by Harare with 1 973.
In Midlands 1 693 people have been arrested while in Mashonaland West Province 1 396 people were arrested. In Masvingo 649 people were arrested while 530 were arrested in Mashonaland Central.
Matabeleland South has recorded 1 057 arrests while Matabeleland North province has 733. In Mashonaland East Province 549 people have been arrested while the Support Unit separately arrested 107 people countrywide.-State media
By A Correspondent| Workers at a Chinese Gold mine in Sanyati are updating ZimEye following a police investigation over how they were subjected to dodgy Coronavirus tests that have left some of them totally blind.
The incidents investigated by ZimEye.com earlier in the month, also drew attention of Ministry of Health officials who traveled to the mine 2 weeks ago and ordered the practice to stop. While the act was initially reported to ZimEye as involving infra-red light machines, other workers the following week updated saying it was more than that, one of them endured bleeding fingers, saying he almost lost them.
Update comments from the police and the ministry of Health were awaited at the time of writing, but not forthcoming.
Others however are complaining about itching eyes, while others say they can no longer see. One of them narrates the matter in the below voice note:
“Chinese people are too clever gogo, the machine they brought to test Corona. It has now affected people, we are now asking them why their machine affects people, causing blindness.
CHINESE GOLD MINE SANYATI SUBJECTED US TO DODGY COVID TESTS THAT HAVE LEFT SOME OF US BLIND https://t.co/E8ISdubTMc
“We shall see how far this goes, right now I am waiting for the doctor.
“Right now, one of them is Sepo and many others they are the ones who were affected. It was two weeks ago.
“They were affected for over 2 to 3 days, but others the problem has continued.
“Others we recovered.
“So this is the problem we have. This is the story, we will tell you later how it goes.”
“So right now I have come to the Chinese company we were working. How it all happened – they came with a machine saying they wanted to test Coronavirus, so the machine began affecting people.
“Others got affected, and the company was reported to the police, so today we have come to Kadoma, so we get assessed.”
BULAWAYO continues to top the number of people arrested for lockdown defiance with a total of 3 775 people having been arrested in the city since the commencement of the lockdown period on March 30.
A total of 15 545 people had been arrested countrywide by late afternoon yesterday for violating Covid-19 stay-at-home regulations.
Statistics obtained from the Police General Headquarters show that Manicaland follows Bulawayo closely with 3 137 arrests followed by Harare with 1 973.
In Midlands 1 693 people have been arrested while in Mashonaland West Province 1 396 people were arrested. In Masvingo 649 people were arrested while 530 were arrested in Mashonaland Central.
Matabeleland South has recorded 1 057 arrests while Matabeleland North province has 733. In Mashonaland East Province 549 people have been arrested while the Support Unit separately arrested 107 people countrywide.-State media
By A Correspondent- A 21 year old Shamva man was arraigned before a Bindura magistrate Moreblessing Makati today facing rape charges.
The suspect (name withhold) was remanded in custody to June 16.
The state led by Vincent Marunya alleged on April 7 around midday at Mudanda village,Shamva the complaint went to pick his niece on the pretext that she assists his wife to cut grass in the bush.
While on their way the suspect grabbed the complanaint’s hand, tackled her and raped her once.
The complaint shouted for help but no one heard her.
The matter came to light through tip off from social welfare leading to the arrest of the suspect.
By A Correspondent- South Africa now has 5 350 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 103 deaths, meaning the last 24 hours has seen 354 new cases and ten deaths, the biggest jump to date..
“This is the highest number of cases in a 24-hour cycle recorded to date and represents a 73% increase relative to the day before,” Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Wednesday night.
During an in-depth briefing on Tuesday, Mkhize said scientific modelling had shown that the national lockdown had the desired effect in terms of containing the spread of the virus and that the decision announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week to go into a phased alert level lockdown was based on sound scientific advice.
A total of 197 127 people have been tested for the coronavirus in both the private and public sectors to date, Mkhize said on Wednesday.
The Western Cape remains the province with the highest number of confirmed cases at 2 135 and at 38 deaths has also recorded the highest number of fatalities.
The three latest deaths, two men, aged 78 and 67, and a 79-year old woman, all had underlying illnesses, according to Premier Alan Winde.
BREAKDOWN OF CASES BY PROVINCE:
Western Cape – 2 135
Gauteng – 1 408
KwaZulu-Natal – 956
Eastern Cape – 630
Free State – 113
Limpopo – 31
North West – 29
Mpumalanga – 31
Northern Cape – 17
From May 1, the country will enter level 4 of the government’s phased lockdown easing plan, which will see some sectors resume operations. Further assessments would be made before moving to less stringent lockdown levels.
Ministers from the National Coronavirus Command Council are on Wednesday night briefing the public on the new regulations which will govern the four-phased lockdown plan.-IOL
By A Correspondent- ZRP has engaged International Police to try and locate Frank Buyanga and the son he reportedly kidnapped.
This was revealed by the police Chief Godwin Matanga in his deposition affidavit at the High court after Buyanga filed a Draft Order seeking a stay of execution of Justice Manzunzu’s April 16 ruling that he returns the kidnapped child immediately or be arrested for contempt of court.
Commisioner Matanga said:
The investigations are still continuing and are at an advanced stage, Interpol has been invoked to assist in locating both the Applicant and minor child outside this jurisdiction. It will be an affront for this Honorable court to entertain a fugitive from justice like the Applicant
Buyanga who has been embroiled in a nasty custody battle with his former lover Chantel Muteswa reportedly snatched the boy at a shopping centre in Waterfalls Harare
Two Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe principal economists who allegedly leaked the institution’s document outlining the dedollarisation roadmap, have appeared in court.
Smart Manda (44) and Philton Makena (40) appeared before magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro charged with communicating official documents to unauthorised persons or alternatively contravening section 60 (1) of the RBZ Act “Preservation of secrecy by bank employee”
They were released on $2 000 bail apiece coupled with some conditions among them reporting once a week to the police. They will be back in court on June 3.
Manda is being represented by Mr Arshiel Mugiya while Mr Gift Chihuta is appearing on behalf of Makena. Prosecuting Mr George Manokore alleged that Manda forwarded the document to Makena via whatsapp and inturn Makena sent it to his cousin Bongani Zimuto.
Zimuto, the court heard, forwarded the same document to his boss who works at Zimnat Life Assurance and therefore went viral on social media platforms
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday hinted strongly that he would extend the lockdown beyond this Sunday to contain the spread of the new coronavirus saying his priority was to save lives.
Zimbabwe has been in lockdown since March 30, with the present restrictions due to end on Sunday, but Mnangagwa intimated that he would rather “err on the side of caution than carelessness”.
“We had the first lockdown, which I extended by 14 days, when you came, I was thinking about what happens after the lockdown ends,” Mnangagwa said at State House where he was receiving donations towards the fight against COVID-19, adding that the “economy can always be addressed later”.
“We have been with this challenge, what do we do?
“Balancing the need for economic growth or saving the lives of the people?
“I came to the conclusion that if citizens die, if our people die, we cannot resuscitate them.
“The 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.”
The country has recorded 32 cases of coronavirus infections with four deaths from just over 6 000 tests, but medical personnel have said testing remained too low to get a clear picture of the situation in the country but acknowledge that an extended lockdown would hurt its already faltering economy.
According to the International Monetary Fund, Zimbabwe’s economy will shrink by 7,4% this year as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, after contracting by 7.5% last year.
Zimbabwe, which was already experiencing its worst economic crisis in more than a decade, has been struggling to respond to the crisis, with the government failing to buy personal protective equipment for its medical personnel at the frontline and to provide a stimulus package to industry and vulnerable groups.
Its struggle illustrates the problem faced by African governments on the need to balance their response to the worst public health crisis in over a century and keeping fragile economies alive.
West African nation Ghana lifted its lockdown in the capital Accra and the second biggest city of Kumasi but a week later last Sunday reported a record 271 new COVID-19 in the two cities in one day.
“The primary objective is to give priority to serving life. I have been studying the events worldwide, how governments handled the pandemic, some border on the lines of carelessness, some on over cautiousness,” Mnangagwa said.
“So, we must find a way, a way in my view, to err on the side of caution than ere on the side of carelessness.”
Mnangagwa is, however, expected to open more areas of the economy next week while gatherings could remain barred and borders closed.
ED facing tough lockdown decision. President Emmerson Mnangagwa faces the tough choice of balancing the health of the populace against the country’s economic interest when he reviews the current national lockdown this week.
Players in the health sector do not want the lockdown relaxed but economists have warned that the economic crisis would worsen if the President does not significantly relax the regulations.
Senior Hospital Doctors Association of Zimbabwe secretary-general Arron Musara said that because Government had not met the target of the number of people to test, an extension of the lockdown would be the only way to go.
Presidential aspirant and current District Chairman of Masimba Political District, Mr Goodman Tamuona Musariri has taken a bold decision to approach the courts to ‘oust’ President Emmerson E.D Mnangagwa from power.
”The forthcoming Legal Question lurking ahead on Section 38 of the ZANU P.F Constitution , its interpretation and application has been inspired by the Supreme Court Ruling of the MDC A Case. It is highly impersonal and does not attack anyone but raises the aforesaid legal questions through an application to the same Supreme Court for a Declaratory Order in tandem with what was ruled on the MDC Case.” said the forty year old former Reserve Bank Head of Treasury Operations.
He added:” I would really love that a ruling be made by the Courts as early as yesterday inorder to restore Constitutionalism and the Constitutionality of matters and Constitutionalists in the political fraternity.”
Musariri contents that the ruling party, Zanu PF abused its own constitution, especially s38 when it fired Robert Mugabe and catapulted Emmerson Mnangagwa during the Operation Restore Legacy(coup) of November 2017.
“The President and First Secretary of the Party or, in his absence, one of the Vice Presidents and Second Secretaries or the National Chairman shall preside over the meeting of the Central Committee and at such a meeting (1) decisions of the Central Committee shall be by simple majority ; and (2) by majority of the total membership shall form a quorum,”reads s38 of the Zanu PF constitution.
It is in the public domain that Robert Mugabe who was the President and First Secretary did not chair that meeting as required by this section. He was under house arrest and was barred from exercising his powers by the army.
The court should therefore ascertain who convened the meeting and chaired it and if such persons were delegated by the First Secretary to do that on his behalf.
The youthful Zanu PF leader said:” That particular Central Committee meeting of the 19th November 2017 is the legal misnomer and should be sought to be declared null and void by the High Court by way of statements, case law and constitutional law.”
“I think that the idea that Zanu PF members can challenge the legality of the affairs within their party on grounds akin to the MDC matter is an interesting one. It is a viable line of thought for them to persue,” said Advocate Phuzu.
As of April 25, 2020, the epidemic of COVID-19 had divide to six continents, and approximately 197,698 dwell in had died after contracting the respiratory virus. Around 25,969 of these deaths occurred in Italy.
Approximately 210 countries and territories worldwide hold been pretentious by the COVID-19. The danger of infection is sincere if you are in an neighborhood everywhere nearby are confirmedhere is therefore a large amount stress on the head of the United States precise at present as Coronavirus interrelated deaths in the country exceeded 50,000 at present just about double that of Italy.

This is expected open to be a battle advantage against him which the Democrats may exploit on to succeed the vocal president. about United States citizens assert been accusing the head of inaction, maxim he was more willingly extremely lengthy in implementing any explicit action against the proliferate of the virus. This is straight away a important statement soul second-hand by his frequent critics against him.
Pictures of the head looking consequently anxious and worn-out hold flooded the internet after the news bust out that the killing toll in the United States is at once 50,988. a few exhibit accused the head of personality sensible for the place of the virus in the country.
Trump was industrious blaming China for the virus as the virus itself kept back drinking low into the citizens of the United States. Trump level renamed the virus from Coronavirus to Chinese virus and later on once more as the Wuhan virus. He was accused of not captivating a far-reaching action against the butter of the virus in the face.
Ugandani President honourable Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has for the first time in a couple of years found himself reading same page of a political book and ideology with Kyadondo East Mp and vocal “reformist”, hon Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.
The Ugandan philanthropist is a reknown critique and staunch opposition leader in Uganda. As the world continues to battle against the deadly COVID-19, Ugandan parliament had gone to the extend of allocationg themselves a “20 million bribe” as earlier described by the activist.
This was a move that angered the CNN Newsmaker of COVID-19 in Uganda. Bobi Wine described the allocation as selfish and a “bribe”. However, in response the speaker of the parliament ordered that whoever is willing to return the said “bribe” through designated bank accounts.
The Kyadondo East Mp didn’t hesitate, he returned his money. Today, the Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni found himself supporting Bobi Wine’s move as he condemned the idea of the Mps alocating themselves “20 million” each. Especially during this difficult times of the corona virus pandemic.
“It is morally reprehensible for MPs to give themselves money for personal use when the country is in such a crisis; totally unacceptable to me and NRM. They have entered themselves into a trap and the only best way out is to donate the money to the districts they come from”, advises Museveni through his tweeter handle.
By Farai D Hove | The ThisFlag pastor Evan Mawarire’s father has died.
Mr Kinson Mawarire was reported dead Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Kinson Mawarire
Details on how he passed away were not available at the time of writing.
Mawarire posted a message saying:
The day I dreaded the most has come upon me. My friend, my mentor, my dad has gone home to the Lord. Kinson Mawarire you taught me to pray without ceasing, the courage to be different and to defend what I cherish. I’ll miss u terribly daddy. Fambai zvakanaka baba, so heartbroken?
THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has launched an internal investigation into possible corruption by some of its senior officials following a whistle-blower tip off on their alleged underhand dealings regarding the issuance of bureaux de change licences.
This came in the wake of the recent swoop on seven bureau de changes suspected to be involved in illicit foreign currency transactions.
RBZ governor John Mangudya last Thursday announced that the operating bureau de change licences of two private limited companies, Shons Finance Services and Superdeal Enterprises, which trades as Kwik Forex, had been suspended on allegations that they have not been declaring, or have been under-declaring, their foreign currency transactions in breach of the law.
They followed Cash Twenty-Four and Crediconnect, whose licences had been suspended earlier in the month.
The financial institutions had their bank accounts frozen on similar allegations a fortnight ago.
Cash Twenty Four, has since admitted to the offence and paid an administrative fine of ZW$2,5 million.
The central bank also swooped on three other bureau de change companies Stallion Financial Services, Forbes Financial Services and Juso Global who were operating without the required licences.
The RBZ’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is understood to be looking into the details of how the institutions’ licences were issued from February last year, when the government liberalised the exchange rate, to date after a whistleblower alerted them to possible corruption by responsible officials resulting in some doggy companies being licences.
RBZ and financial services sector sources said questions were also being raised about the lack of due diligence on the part of those charged with granting licences.
“There was an anonymous correspondence to the FIU early this month alleging that some RBZ officials could have had their palms greased in exchange for these bureau de change licenses, which explains why there is this mess.
“So in addition to investigating these companies’ operations, the FIU is also interrogating circumstances under which some of them obtained their operating licences.
“An informer has since raised suspicions about the possible involvement of some RBZ officials,” a source at the bank said.
“The other issue is that of negligence.
“It is most likely that no proper due diligence was taken in granting these licences, resulting in dodgy companies being granted operating licences.
“A proper due diligence exercise would have easily helped to screen these out.”
In written responses to the Zimbabwe Independent, Mangudya was unable to say who was being investigated.
He also said he had not been alerted to the whistleblower’s correspondence.
The central bank boss, however, said RBZ had sufficient mechanisms to deal with any corrupt officials.
“If there is anyone involved in corrupt activities, the bank takes very stern measures against such malpractice and the so-called informer should approach the bank with the necessary information,” Mangudya said.
He also dismissed allegations that the central bank does not carry out proper due diligence exercises when granting bureau de change operating licences, saying the RBZ sticks to stringent procedures laid down by the law.
He said the current cases were a result of market indiscipline.
“Bureaux de change are licenced in terms of the Exchange Control (Authorised Dealer with Limited Authority) Order published in the Statutory Instrument 104 of 2015 which is complemented by Operational Guidelines for Bureaux de Change.
“The Operational Guidelines for Bureaux de Change provide for specific requirements and incorporates operational improvements to the framework that is done through Exchange Control Directives and Circulars,” Mangudya said.
“The operational guidelines detail the licensing framework and include an application form which guides the applicant as to the information required to enable exchange control to assess the suitability of the applicant for a bureau de change licence.
“Any applicant, who meets the set minimum licensing criteria is eligible for a bureau de change licence.
“We should not confuse market indiscipline with the method of granting operating licences.
“The bank’s surveillance team is seized with the matter to ensure total compliance with rules and regulations and will not hesitate to deal with unscrupulous behaviour of some Bureau de Change,” he added.
The minimum criteria include a probity test, where the applicant is required to provide police clearance for directors and officers of the bureau de change, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) tax clearance certificate, anti-money laundering certificate and declarations by the shareholders or directors of the bureau de change that they have not received any criminal or regulatory penalty on matters relating any financial activity.
Corruption allegations related to foreign currency matters have stalked the RBZ a long time now.
In 2018, four central bank directors Mirirai Chiremba, Norman Mataruka, Gresham Muradzikwa and Azvinandawa Saburi were suspended on claims of illegally dealing in foreign currency. This followed accusations by controversial former Zanu PF youth empowerment activist, Acie Lumumba, but were all cleared of any wrongdoing. Zimbabwe Independent
The High Court on Wednesday ruled that the on-going demolition of structures used by informal traders in greater Harare is illegal.
Local authorities across the country have been demolishing vending stalls and tuck-shops following an instruction from Local Government minister July Moyo, who said it was meant to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Informal traders represented by the Chitungwiza Residents Trust and Kushinga Epworth Residents Association approached the Harare High Court to “interdict local authorities and central government from demolishing any tuck-shops and vending stalls.”
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which represented the groups in court, said they believed “this ban should serve as a warning to the rest of all councils that demolitions will have repercussions on them.”
Aggrieved informal traders and residents argued in court that Moyo’s circular instructing local authorities to carry out the demolitions was unlawful.
They said there was no law that required local authorities to execute Cabinet resolutions outside the provisions of the applicable laws.
Some of the affected informal traders have been paying fees and rates to local authorities for their tuck-shops and stalls and they argued this was an acknowledgement that their operations were lawful.
In 2005, the government carried out similar demolitions under the infamous Operation Murambatsvina, which also targeted residential areas.
The demolitions directly affected 700 000 people across the country led to international condemnation of former president Robert Mugabe’s government
Attention: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education cc: Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare Public Service Commission
ARTUZ POSITION ON SCHOOL OPENING ARTUZ welcomes the decision by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to push back schools second term opening day due to COVID 19 pandemic as we are worried with the health safety of our teachers and learners at critical moments as these. Being concerned with: The use of some learning Institutions as quarantine centres. A number of learning institutions are being used to quarantine citizens returning from abroad, this will expose our learners and educators upon school opening. Higher Teacher Pupil Ratio The current teacher pupil ratio which is 1: 80 which is far much higher than the standard ratio which should normally be from 30 to 35 leaners per one teacher. Learning Infrastructure State of rural school infrastructure is in worrisome and sorry state, with the bulk of leaners learning under the tree or in semi completed buildings without proper furniture. Limited Resources Our teachers and learners are operating with limited resources and resorting to sharing of the few textbooks, furniture and any other learning and teaching material that can be availed.
The lack of preparedness of the health sector The slowness in dealing with set targets on COVID19 issues. To date a total of 6834 screening and diagnostic test have been done, this number is far less initial expected 40 000 tests by end of April. Having also gathered views from our members, learners and parents we put the following recommendations;
Schools only to open when the virus is contained and when reputable heath bodies such as the World Health Organisation makes a declaration of safety.
Postponement of the June examinations until a time when the virus is contained.
Disinfecting all learning Institutions before opening of schools.
Testing of all leaners and teachers before reopening of schools.
Provision of Personal Protective Equipment to both leaners and teachers
Provision of risk allowance to cover for all contagious infections teachers always face when conducting their day to day duties.
Employment of additional teaching staff to easy the higher teacher pupil ratio
Introduction of educational equalisation fund to help improve the learning conditions in terms of infrastructure, learning and teaching material among a plethora of issues that can help in bridging the gap between rural and urban education.
Bikita Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 21 Councillor Alderman Muza Mudyiwa has died, TellZim News has learnt.
He was 64.
Alderman Mudyiwa died of stroke yesterday, April 28, at his home in the Gangare area, after serving in council for a solid 28 years.
The retired school teacher joined Bikita RDC in 1992 and served six terms as councillor including as vice chairperson between 2013 and 2018.
In his condolences messages, Bikita RDC Chief Executive Ofiicer (CEO) Peter Chibhi described Mudyiwa’s death as a loss to the local authority.
“For the 28 years he worked in council, he was a father figure who nurtured some council employees into what they are now. We will forever miss his great experience and we will always treasure his immense contribution ton council business over the years,” said Chibhi.
For the duration of his tenure at the local authority, the now late Mudyiwa served in three council committees namely Human Resources Development, Roads and Audit.
He was born on 28 February 1956 and was a firm member of the Johanne Marange Apostolic Church.
By A Correspondent- Bulawayo continues to top the number of people arrested for lockdown defiance with a total of 3 775 people having been arrested in the city since the commencement of the lockdown period on March 30.
A total of 15 545 people had been arrested countrywide by late afternoon yesterday for violating Covid-19 stay-at-home regulations.
Statistics obtained from the Police General Headquarters show that Manicaland follows Bulawayo closely with 3 137 arrests followed by Harare with 1 973.
In Midlands 1 693 people have been arrested while in Mashonaland West Province 1 396 people were arrested. In Masvingo 649 people were arrested while 530 were arrested in Mashonaland Central.
Matabeleland South has recorded 1 057 arrests while Matabeleland North province has 733. In Mashonaland East Province 549 people have been arrested while the Support Unit separately arrested 107 people countrywide.
A tour by a Chronicle news crew in Bulawayo yesterday showed that it was almost business as usual for most people.
People were not practising social distancing in bank and supermarket queues, while there was a lot of vehicular traffic in the central business district.
In residential areas, people moved about as normal and the numbers of people on the roads have increased. More vendors have gone back to their selling points while a lot of people are killing time drinking with friends at shopping centres.
In an interview, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said police were concerned with continued violation of lockdown orders and said the attitude from most people showed that they were more concerned about evading arrest than staying safe from Covid-19.
“People are more preoccupied about finding the feeder roads that help them to evade road blocks and find ways into the CBD and just move about the city.
This is worrying because people must be now worried about the virus and they must be staying at home,” said Assistant Commissioner Nyathi.
“We are also having problems with vehicles moving a lot at night, and pirate taxis also continue to operate, despite the arrests that are being made across the country.”-Statemedia
By A Correspondent- 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.
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.
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.
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 antiretroviral 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.”-Byo24
Tanzania has the highest number of corona virus patients in East Africa. Tanzania’s prime minister today announced that the number of infected individuals has reached four hundred and eighty. He said that sixteen people have lost their lives because of the pandemic and a total of sixty-seven people recovered.
However, some citizens and Tanzania’s opposition led by Freeman Mbowe who is the main opposition says that the Government of Tanzania is downplaying the seriousness of corona virus by not taking extensive measures to fight it, while at the same time hiding information over what has been happening from Tanzanians
Dar es Salaam, the former capital city of Tanzania has the highest number of infected individuals yet, the government of Tanzania has not restricted movements in and out of the city. This has attracted a lot of criticism from various people and politicians too.
“Our cases are shooting up at an alarming rate while many countries are now flattening the curve,” said Freeman Mbowe, of the opposition Chadema party, in a speech broadcast online. Tanzania had its first case of corona virus on March 16. Between then and now, the number has shot from 32 to 480, a scenario that has elicited angry reactions.
Opposition members have criticized the government for waiting for a whole week before announcing new cases. Also, the only places that have been closed in Tanzania are schools. , market places, towns, and business operations are still going on as usual. This has been compared to other East African countries that have imposed more strict measures including curfews, lock downs, and strict social distance measures.
Mbowe said that Magufuli is in a state of denial and has been staying in his home town of Chato in North-Western Tanzania and has been downplaying the seriousness of this pandemic.
By A Correspondent- Two Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe principal economists who allegedly leaked the institution’s document outlining the dedollarisation roadmap, have appeared in court.
Smart Manda (44) and Philton Makena (40) appeared before magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro charged with communicating official documents to unauthorised persons or alternatively contravening section 60 (1) of the RBZ Act “Preservation of secrecy by bank employee”
They were released on $2 000 bail apiece coupled with some conditions among them reporting once a week to the police. They will be back in court on June 3.
Manda is being represented by Mr Arshiel Mugiya while Mr Gift Chihuta is appearing on behalf of Makena.
Prosecuting, Mr George Manokore alleged that Manda forwarded the document to Makena via WhatsApp and in turn Makena sent it to his cousin Bongani Zimuto.
Zimuto, the court heard, forwarded the same document to his boss who works at Zimnat Life Assurance and therefore went viral on social media platforms.-Statemedia
The official website of the ruling ZANU PF party has crashed. An attempt to open the website gives the user a warning that there is an error to establish a database.
The error establishing a database connection error basically means that for some reason or another the PHP code was unable to connect to your MySQL database to retrieve the information it needs to fully build that page.
ZANU PF has one of the most interactive websites among political parties in Zimbabwe as it integrates a news section and weekly polls.
The website was revamped after one Knowledge Mushohwe wrote in 2014 that the party must mordenise its website.
“The time has come for the ruling party to give serious consideration to the millions of Zimbabweans that access the internet every day. Official party positions do not belong in The Herald or on ZBC.” Mushowe said. “Rather, the media may benefit greatly by accessing and disseminating relevant information off the party’s website. With a functioning, interactive official Zanu-PF website, the party, the people and even the media are sure to benefit.”
RBZ Governor Dr Mangudya presents mid-term Monetary Policy
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has released the new priority list for foreign currency payments with bias towards productive sectors as the country grapples with low foreign currency reserves.
The RBZ’s move is meant to allocate the little foreign currency available towards critical sectors of the economy ahead of non-essential payments.
The list has two categories with 70 percent of foreign currency to be channelled to category one and 30 percent allocated to category two.
“Accordingly, and consistent with Exchange Control Circular No.3 of 2020, Authorised Dealers and Bureaux de Change are advised that the attached Priority List for Foreign Currency Payments shall apply with immediate effect to ensure that foreign currency resources are substantially channeled to the productive sectors of the economy in light of the Covid-19 pandemic,” read the statement from the RBZ Exchange Control department.
Category one consists of importation of raw material , machinery and spare parts for local production, imports of basic foodstuffs and fuel, health and agro-chemicals, importation of packaging material, goods not locally available for tourism operations, medical consumables and fees, loan repayments, commercial vehicles and agricultural equipment, remittance of pension income for non-resident Zimbabweans who formally emigrated from the country, remittances of rental income from properties financed from offshore and university and college fees.
Category two consists of disinvestment proceeds and dividend remittances, capital remittances for cross border investments, capital remittances from disposal of local property, funding of offshore credit cards, payments for services not available in Zimbabwe and importation of other consumer goods not readily available in the country including non-commercial vehicles.
In the past the bank has lengthened the categories of the priority list resulting in delays in settlement of payments ranked the least in the pecking order.
Zimbabwe is facing serious foreign currency shortages that have seen most companies default payments to external suppliers.
Production in key sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing has drastically fell due to a host of reasons including anticated machinery and capital constraints.
This has in turn affected the country’s exports and foreign receipts.
By A Correspondent- Musician Tongai Greatman Gwaze has resorted to selling vegetables to make ends meet as music industry has virtually come to a standstill due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
The recently married musician is struggling to earn revenue as he is not able to perform due to the current lockdown.
Translated to, “Life is hard, it is better to die. Life is full of bad luck and confusion. I think you are seeing what is happening with the covid-19 pandemic which has taught us a lot of things. I have resorted to selling vegetables, tomatoes and potatoes. This is not ideal guys. It is difficult being a musician.”
Video of Zimbabweans crossing Limpopo river illegally smuggling beer from Beitbridge to SA. At first it started as rumours that People were smuggling beer from Zimbabwe to South Africa, but now with this video, it is quite clear that it is really happening, alcohol is being smuggled from Beitbridge to Limpopo.
By A Correspondent- A 52-year-old Murehwa man who tested positive for COVID-19 at Parirenyatwa where he was being treated for Malaria has recovered from malaria and has been discharged from the Hospital to self isolate at home where he will continue his COVID-19 recovery journey..
This was revealed today by the Ministry Of Health and Childcare in a statement which said:
He responded well to the treatment for malaria & he will continue with his (coronavirus) recovery under self-isolation at home.
The man who was admitted for Malaria tested positive for COVID-19 despite not having a travel history and having no contact with other COVID-19 cases:
He was tested for Covid-19 in line with intensified surveillance and active case finding strategy that is being implemented nationally. Under this approach, all patients admitted in hospital are being tested for Covid-19.
Zimbabwe has so far recorded 32 COVID-19 cases which include 4 deaths and 5 recoveries.
Farai Dziva| PSG are willing to play their remaining Champions League games abroad after all sporting events in France were banned for the next four months due to the coronavirus crisis.
The French champions qualified for the quarter-finals after a 3-2 win on aggregate against Borussia Dortmund.
But following the announcement by the European country’s prime minister Edouard Philippe that there will be no professional football before September, PSG have been left with no option of playing their remaining matches at home.
The club’s president Nasser Al-Khelaifi confirmed to L’Equipe that they will have to move their base to another country.
“We respect the decision of the French government,” said Al-Khelaifi.
“With the agreement of UEFA, we intend to take part in the final phase of the Champions League in the places and dates where it will be organised.
“If it isn’t possible to play in France, we will play our matches abroad and we will make sure of the best conditions of health security for our players and all our staff.”
France’s suspension of all sporting events has also seen the cancellation of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 seasons.
Legendary former Warriors captain Moses ‘Bambo’ Chunga is one adored man in the Belgian town of Aalst.
The 1986 Soccer Star of the Year was the first football player from an independent Zimbabwe to make it into Europe straight from the local league when he went and made the grade at Belgian second tier side Eendracht Aalst during a time when leagues in that continent opened very few doors for African players.
Chunga was honoured by the club in 2012 for the services he rendered during his time there from 1988 to 1992. During the “homecoming show” he emotionally cried as he received a standing ovation from the club’s fans in his first appearance at the stadium since his departure.
Bambo received five-star treatment during his 10-day stay in the city and was treated like a king there, with many pictures on the internet of fans jostling for the chance to take photos with him.
The same team, which he captained at some point, named him in their team of the century!
In sharp contrast, in Zimbabwe, Chunga was on several occasions denied free entrance into a stadium to watch a local game, to the point that he complained and made a conclusion that football legends are not respected in the country.-Soccer 24
By Own Correspondent| Two Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe employees who allegedly leaked the institution’s document outlining the dedollarisation roadmap, have appeared in court.
Smart Manda (44) and Philton Makena (40) appeared before magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro charged with communicating official documents to unauthorised persons or alternatively contravening section 60 (1) of the RBZ Act “Preservation of secrecy by bank employee”
They were released on $2 000 bail apiece coupled with some conditions among them reporting once a week to the police. They will be back in court on June 3.
Manda is being represented by Mr Arshiel Mugiya while Mr Gift Chihuta is appearing on behalf of Makena.
Prosecuting, Mr George Manokore alleged that Manda forwarded the document to Makena via WhatsApp and in turn Makena sent it to his cousin Bongani Zimuto.
Zimuto, the court heard, forwarded the same document to his boss who works at Zimnat Life Assurance and therefore went viral on social media platforms.
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba’s quest to become president of the Ivory Coast FA has hit a brick wall after he failed to get a single vote from former players.
The 42-year old former Elephants captain was regarded as the favorite to be the next man at the helm of the Ivorian FA but out of the 14 members, 11 opted to go for his rival and league chief Sory Diabate and three abstained.
Voting was was done through a video conference and the shocking outcome has generated a lot of debate on social media.
Drogba enjoyed an illustrious career as a player at Chelsea, helping them to win four league titles and was also instrumental in the Roman Abromovic-owned side’s only Champions League triump in 2012.-Soccer24
By Jane Mlambo| Politician and businessman Killer Zivhu has today donated mealie meal to musician Greatman who announced that he had turned to vending to survive the harsh economic situation in the country.
Greatman wrote on Facebook that he had turned to vending selling vegetables.
“Raramo yandikona nano kufa,izere nejambwa nekudzungaira !! Ndofunga mukungoonawo zvikuitika,this covid 19 yatidzidzisa zvakawanda.bdafunga kuronga musika wamirivo namatomatosi,namapotato,zvinobuda ere guys…zvemusic zvakuoma izvviiiii which can be roughly translated to
(Life is hard and full of misery and I have given up. We can all see what’s happening, this Covid-19 pandemic has taught us a lot. I’m going to try out vending vegetables, including, potatoes, tomatoes. Will this work out guys? The music gig is becoming difficult at the moment),” said Greatman.
WATCH VIDEO OF ZIVHU HANDING OVER MEALIE MEAL TO GREATMAN
The department of basic education has presented a covid-19 plan for its sector, which tables the reopening of schools from next week.
The department presented its Covid-19 plan for schooling to parliament’s portfolio committee.
Grades 7 and 12 are expected to be back at school on Wednesday May 6. The department’s director-general Mathanzima Mweli said screening of pupils and educators will be done at the re-opening of schools.
He said the school term will start on Monday May 4 with the return of teachers.
Grades 11 and 6 will return on May 20;
Grades 10 and 5 will return on June 3;
Grades 9 and 4 will return on June 17;
Grades 8 and 3 will return on July 1;
Grades 2 and 1 will return on July 8; and
Grade R will return on July 15.
“A basic and essential hygiene and sanitation package has been developed and provinces are procuring items. The department has developed guidelines for schools on maintaining hygiene during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
Mweli said the provinces have identified schools with critical water supplies and classrooms are to be sanitised prior to start of the school day.
“Teachers and pupils will have to sanitise hands before entering the classroom. The movement of learners in classes will be limited and there will be no clustering of desks in the classroom. The physical distance in the classroom will include not more than two learners sharing desks. Both teachers and learners are expected to wear masks at all times,” Mweli said.
In a supporting document, the department protocols advise that schools must ensure:
No hugging, handshaking and direct contact must be avoided.
Cloth masks to be worn by learners and teachers at all times.
No mass public events.
Sports matches, choral practices and festivals, Eisteddfods are not permitted.
Extra classes should be arranged in small groups that maintain social distancing.
Esrom Nyandoro was supposed to hold an auction of his football items on Monday night but the event did not happen.
The former midfielder had offered to sell his national team shirt he wore in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia as well as the boots he put on when the Warriors took on Ghana in the 2006 Afcon finals in Egypt.
The purpose of the auction was to raise funds for the fight against the coronavirus in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
But the public sell did not take place because a bidder, who chose to remain anonymous, underwrote the auction for an undisclosed amount after being touched by the sentimental value the Warriors’ legend attached to items meant to go under the hammer.
“An individual undertook to underwrite the auction for an undisclosed fee,” Vimbai Musvaburi, one of the organisers of the auction, told the Chronicle.
“Details will be availed to the public at a date to be advised. The underwriter believes the items are too sentimental and would rather win the auction and gift the memorabilia back to Esrom.”-Soccer24
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses.
Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.
This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Is it safe to receive a package from any area where COVID-19 has been reported?
Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.
Credit :WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses.
Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days.
This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Is it safe to receive a package from any area where COVID-19 has been reported?
Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.
Credit :WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
By A Correspondent- Leader of the MDC-T Parliamentary caucus Mildred Dube has thrown her weight behind “ousted” president Dr Thokozani Khupe adding that the party’s two legislators (Including Priscilla Misihairabwi) were firmly behind the leadership of Thokozani Khupe.
The development follows revelations by the party’s Secretary general Nixon Nyikadzino aka Cde Mao that by virtue of accepting the Supreme Court ruling which also ousted Nelson Chamisa as the MDC T president, Dr Khupe had automatically expelled herself from the party that she was leading and which contested the 2018 elections.
We present Dube’s statement in full below
We have noted with concern some misleading and disgusting statements attributed to the former MDC-T Secretary-General Mr Nickson ‘Mao’ Nyikadzino wherein he masquerades as the new MDC-T Acting President.
For the avoidance of doubt, we want to make it unequivocally clear to all and sundry that all MDC-T legislators remain loyal to the party as led by Dr Thokozani Khuphe and the leadership collective elected at the party’s 4th Congress.
Mr Nyikadzino makes baseless and unfounded allegations that the MDC-T had an inaugural congress in 2018. This is wholly untrue, the fact of the matter is that a dispute within the party arose soon after the death of our founding father Dr Morgan Tsvangirai on the procedure to fill his vacancy.
Informed by a legal opinion from Adv Matinenga, the party held an extraordinary congress at Stanley square in Bulawayo as provided for in the MDC constitution clause 9.21.1.
This extraordinary congress was attended by more than 5000 eligible delegates drawn from our party structures and at no point did we invite non-members to that Extra-Ordinary Congress.
We want to further put it on record that we did not register as a new party with ZEC, it is on record that our party was already registered before the death of our late leader, what we only did was to remove the face of our late icon from the open palm & contested under the MDC-T brand.
We want to remind Mr Nyikadzino that the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe handed down a landmark judgment on the 30th of March 2020 that effectively put Dr Khuphe firmly in charge of the party that was left by Dr Tsvangirai and ordered her to convene an Extra-Ordinary Congress within 90days.
All decisions and actions done after the 14th February 2018 are thus null and void. The net effect of the Supreme Court ruling is that the two warring MDC-T formations i.e. the MDC-T component in an electoral pact called the MDC Alliance and the original MDCT led by Dr Khupe are now ONE thing.
Furthermore, the ruling is clear on what must be done to return the party to its founding values of internal democracy, constitutionalism and collective leadership.
We have no doubt whatsoever that the leadership collective as elected at the party’s 4th Congress in Harare led by our Acting President Dr Thokozani Khuphe is capable of convening the much-awaited Extra-Ordinary Congress to elect a successor to our late President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai.
As MDCT legislators we took an oath of office to uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the Republic and therefore we associate ourselves fully with the Supreme Court judgment.
We want to warn Mr Nyikadzino that his infantile and illogical statements are directly in contempt of court and if he continues with such actions we will not hesitate to seek legal recourse.
Last night, ZimEye contacted Nyikadzino who confirmed penning a letter to the speaker of parliament Jacob Mudenda and the ZEC Chairperson Priscillar Chigumba notifying them that the courts had no mandate to run the affairs of political parties.
Watch the live loading below for Cde Mao’s response to the Supreme court ruling and the party’s latest position on the expulsion of Dr Khupe…
Farai Dziva|A Masvingo woman has sensationally claimed her ex-husband bought her a car after using the “anointed love portion herb.”
Controversial Masvingo preacher, Isaac Makomichi distributes the herb to women across the country.
“After hearing about the anointed herb, I reluctantly decided to use it.I called Prophet Makomichi and he gave me the anointed love portion herb.
I was surprised when my ex-husband called me saying he wanted to see me. He then bought a car for me as a way of asking for forgiveness . Everything happened in a dramatic way.I was a bitter woman but I am now relieved, everything is now in order,” the woman who identified herself as Jane wrote on social media.
Makomichi’ s followers claim the “anointed herb” has the supernatural power to restore and “heal” troubled marriages. Girls desperate to tie the knot are also reportedly visiting the clergyman for assistance.
“A woman from Chiredzi received a car from her ex-husband after using love portion. I can say the herb is doing wonders,” said a congregant.
Makomichi said :” Those who want to find out more about the love portion herb can contact me on 0777469342. In the book of Exodus 15:25 Moses was given a herb by God and he treated bitter water.”
By A Correspondent| Workers at a Chinese Gold mine in Sanyati are updating ZimEye following a police investigation over how they were subjected to dodgy Coronavirus tests that have left some of them totally blind.
The incidents investigated by ZimEye.com earlier in the month, also drew attention of Ministry of Health officials who traveled to the mine 2 weeks ago and ordered the practice to stop. While the act was initially reported to ZimEye as involving infra-red light machines, other workers the following week updated saying it was more than that, one of them endured bleeding fingers, saying he almost lost them.
Update comments from the police and the ministry of Health were awaited at the time of writing, but not forthcoming.
Others however are complaining about itching eyes, while others say they can no longer see. One of them narrates the matter in the below voice note:
“Chinese people are too clever gogo, the machine they brought to test Corona. It has now affected people, we are now asking them why their machine affects people, causing blindness.
CHINESE GOLD MINE SANYATI SUBJECTED US TO DODGY COVID TESTS THAT HAVE LEFT SOME OF US BLIND https://t.co/E8ISdubTMc
“We shall see how far this goes, right now I am waiting for the doctor.
“Right now, one of them is Sepo and many others they are the ones who were affected. It was two weeks ago.
“They were affected for over 2 to 3 days, but others the problem has continued.
“Others we recovered.
“So this is the problem we have. This is the story, we will tell you later how it goes.”
“So right now I have come to the Chinese company we were working. How it all happened – they came with a machine saying they wanted to test Coronavirus, so the machine began affecting people.
“Others got affected, and the company was reported to the police, so today we have come to Kadoma, so we get assessed.”
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 453 tests were done as shown in table 1 below giving a total of 7287 screening and diagnostic test done to date.
All the PCR tests done in Harare today were negative for COVID-19.
Results for the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were still pending at the time of print.
Mat South 99 Mat North 14 Bulawayo – 78 Harare – 261 Midlands – 1 Total – 453
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-two confirmed cases including five recoveries and four deaths.
Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 5 Mashonaland West – 3 Total – 32 Case #32 reported yesterday is a 52-year-old male resident of Murehwa, with no recent history of travel, who was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on the 24. of April 2020. He was receiving treatment under admission in a private ward for slide positive Malaria. He was tested for COVID-I 9 in line with the intensified surveillance and active case finding strategy that is being implemented nationally. Under this approach, all patients admitted in hospital are being tested for COVID-I 9. He had responded well to the treatment for Malaria and was due for discharge.
Following discharge, he will continue with his recovery under self-isolation at home. Contact tracing and appropriate infection prevention measures including decontamination at the hospital will be done in line with our national guidelines.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that, the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-I9 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 453 tests were done as shown below -giving a total of 7287 screening and diagnostic test done to date.
All the PCR tests done in Harare today were negative for COVID-19.
Results for the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were still pending at the time of print:
Mat South 99 Mat North 14 Bulawayo – 78 Harare – 261 Midlands – 1 Total – 453
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-two confirmed cases including five recoveries and four deaths.
Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 5 Mashonaland West – 3 Total – 32 Case #32 reported yesterday is a 52-year-old male resident of Murehwa, with no recent history of travel, who was admitted at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals on the 24th of April 2020.
He was receiving treatment under admission in a private ward for slide positive Malaria. He was tested for COVID-I 9 in line with the intensified surveillance and active case finding strategy that is being implemented nationally. Under this approach, all patients admitted in hospital are being tested for COVID-I 9. He had responded well to the treatment for Malaria and was due for discharge.
Following discharge, he will continue with his recovery under self-isolation at home. Contact tracing and appropriate infection prevention measures including decontamination at the hospital will be done in line with our national guidelines.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that, the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-I9 are to practise good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.
Farai Dziva|The leader of the MDC-T Parliamentary caucus, Mildred Dube, has dismissed the letter reportedly written by party Secretal General, Nickson Nyikadzino indicating that Thokozani Khupe was no longer in charge of the troubled formation.
The letter denotes that Nyikadzino is now in charge of the party.
Below is Dube’s statement:
We have noted with concern some misleading and disgusting statements attributed to the former MDC-T Secretary-General Mr Nickson ‘Mao’ Nyikadzino wherein he masquerades as the new MDC-T Acting President.
For the avoidance of doubt, we want to make it unequivocally clear to all and sundry that all MDC-T legislators remain loyal to the party as led by Dr Thokozani Khuphe and the leadership collective elected at the party’s 4th Congress.
Mr Nyikadzino makes baseless and unfounded allegations that the MDC-T had an inaugural congress in 2018.
This is wholly untrue, the fact of the matter is that a dispute within the party arose soon after the death of our founding father Dr Morgan Tsvangirai on the procedure to fill his vacancy. Informed by a legal opinion from Adv Matinenga, the party held an extraordinary congress at Stanley square in Bulawayo as provided for in the MDC constitution clause 9.21.1. This extraordinary congress was attended by more than 5000 eligible delegates drawn from our party structures and at no point did we invite non-members to that Extra-Ordinary Congress.
We want to further put it on record that we did not register as a new party with ZEC, it is on record that our party was already registered before the death of our late leader, what we only did was to remove the face of our late icon from the open palm & contested under the MDC-T brand.
We want to remind Mr Nyikadzino that the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe handed down a landmark judgment on the 30th of March 2020 that effectively put Dr Khuphe firmly in charge of the party that was left by Dr Tsvangirai and ordered her to convene an Extra-Ordinary Congress within 90days.
All decisions and actions done after the 14th February 2018 are thus null and void. The net effect of the Supreme Court ruling is that the two warring MDC-T formations i.e. the MDC-T component in an electoral pact called the MDC Alliance and the original MDCT led by Dr Khupe are now ONE thing.
Furthermore, the ruling is clear on what must be done to return the party to its founding values of internal democracy, constitutionalism and collective leadership.
We have no doubt whatsoever that the leadership collective as elected at the party’s 4th Congress in Harare led by our Acting President Dr Thokozani Khuphe is capable of convening the much-awaited Extra-Ordinary Congress to elect a successor to our late President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai.
As MDCT legislators we took an oath of office to uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the Republic and therefore we associate ourselves fully with the Supreme Court judgment.
We want to warn Mr Nyikadzino that his infantile and illogical statements are directly in contempt of court and if he continues with such actions we will not hesitate to seek legal recourse.
By A Correspondent- The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has dismissed as falsehoods the reports circulating on social media which suggest that the central bank has raided Foreign Currency Accounts which belong to individuals and organisations.
The RBZ was responding to a tweet by a local online publication which read:
Seems RBZ has raided FCAs. NGOs trying to withdraw free funds being told RBZ is yet to approve their transactions.
In response, the central bank said:
The RBZ (the Bank) would like to urge members of the public to dismiss, with utmost contempt, the tweet alleging that the Bank has raided Foreign Currency Accounts (FCAs). The article further alleges that the Bank is withholding approval of withdrawal of free funds by NGOs.
No FCAs have been raided. Furthermore, holders of free funds will continue to have unfettered access to their funds in line with Statutory Instrument 85 of 2020.
Members of the public should, therefore, disregard the falsehoods being peddled through social media as such claims are meant to cause panic and despondency.
But The Zimbabwe Sentinel was adamant that something was wrong adding that transactions were “taking long” with “banks citing pending RBZ approvals.”
Some claim that RBZ raided the funds before.-Online
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Commissioner Jessie Majome has come out clear of her non involvement in political issues saying she retired from politics in 2018.
This followed reports that her involvement in ZACC had ended because of a Supreme Court ruling that restored the opposition MDC to its 2014 status when she was still actively involved in politics.
But writing on Twitter, Majome said she ceased being an MDC member in 2018 when she contested as an independent candidate in the Harare West parliamentary elections.
“I’m not employed by anyone except myself as I have been since 2004, thank you very much. Otherwise you’re right that I retired from politics – in 2018. What’s more important though is that I ceased being an MDC member before that in May 2018 when I voluntarily left the MDC,” said Majome.
MDC-T Leader Dr Thokozani Khupe has dismissed her Secretary General Nickson Nyikadzino’s statement in which he declared himself the Acting President.
Khupe said Nyikadzino’s statements are disgusting and misleading saying the party legislators remain to the movement she leads.
Below is the full statement;
We have noted with concern some misleading and disgusting statements attributed to the former MDC-T Secretary General Mr Nickson ‘Mao’ Nyikadzino wherein he masquerades as the new MDC-T Acting President.
For the avoidance of doubt, we want to make it unequivocally clear to all and sundry that all MDC-T legislators remain loyal to the party as led by Dr Thokozani Khuphe and the leadership collective elected at the party’s 4th Congress.
Mr Nyikadzino makes baseless and unfounded allegations that the MDC-T had an inaugural congress in 2018. This is wholly untrue, the fact of the matter is that a dispute within the party arose soon after the death of our founding father Dr Morgan Tsvangirai on the procedure to fill his vacancy. Informed by a legal opinion from Adv Matinenga, the party held an extra ordinary congress at Stanley square in Bulawayo as provided for in the MDC constitution clause 9.21.1. This extra ordinary congress was attended by more than 5000 eligible delegates drawn from our party structures and at no point did we invite non-members to that Extra Ordinary Congress. We want to further put it on record that we did not register as a new party with ZEC, it is on record that our party was already registered before the death of our late leader, what we only did was to remove the face of our late icon from the open palm & contested under the MDC-T brand.
We want to remind Mr Nyikadzino that that the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe handed down a landmark judgment on the 30th of March 2020 that effectively put Dr Khuphe firmly in charge of the party that was left by Dr Tsvangirai and ordered her to convene an Extra Ordinary Congress within 90days. All decisions and actions done after the 14th February 2018 are thus null and void. The net effect of the Supreme Court ruling is that the two warring MDC-T formations i.e. the MDC-T component in an electoral pact called the MDC Alliance and the original MDCT led by Dr Khupe are now ONE thing.
Furthermore, the ruling is clear on what must be done to return the party to its founding values of internal democracy, constitutionalism and collective leadership. We have no doubt whatsoever that the leadership collective as elected at the party’s 4th Congress in Harare led by our Acting President Dr Thokozani Khuphe is capable of convening the much awaited Extra Ordinary Congress to elect a successor to our late President Dr Morgan Tsvangirai.
As MDCT legislators we took an oath of office to uphold, defend and protect the Constitution of the Republic and therefore we associate ourselves fully with the Supreme Court judgment. We want to warn Mr Nyikadzino that his infantile and illogical statements are directly in contempt of court and if he continues with such actions we will not hesitate to seek legal recourse.
At the resumption of duties after five weeks of vacation, members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives on Tuesday said they will investigate the legality of Chinese nationals living in Nigeria for possible repatriation to their country.
The Reps made the resolution on Tuesday at their plenary following their return from five-week recess amid outbreak of coronavirus in the country.
The motion was sponsored by 10 lawmakers – Benjamin Kalu, Yusuf Buba, John Dyegh, Babajimi Benson, Tunji Olawuyi, Zakari Galadima, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nnoli Nnaji, Dennis Idahosa, and Tolu Shadipe.
This followed the poor treatment of Nigerians in China, especially those living in Guangzhou.
During the plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, the lawmakers considered a motion on the “Maltreatment and Institutional Acts of Racial Discrimination against Nigerians Living in China by the Government of China”.
The lawmakers mandated the House Committees on Interior, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring, as well as Commerce, to take up the assignment.
The House asked the committees to investigate the Nigeria Immigration Service, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigerian Content and Development Monitoring Board, and any other relevant Ministry, Department or Agency (MDA), to check the validity of all immigration documents of every Chinese national in Nigeria.
It further ordered the committees to probe the expatriate quota of all Chinese businesses in Nigeria to ascertain the number of illegal and undocumented immigrants in the country and ensure they were repatriated to China to regularise.
The lawmakers said this would be in collaboration with the Immigration, Nigeria Customs Service, the CAC, and relevant MDAs.
The House of Representatives also resolved to urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant MDAs to ensure that all categories of Nigerians who wished to return home were evacuated from China and quarantined upon arrival.
The lawmakers urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and all relevant MDAs to provide necessary financial and other assistance to affected Nigerians who wish to seek redress in any local or international court for breach of fundamental rights, loss of property or any other actionable cause occasioned by their maltreatment or discrimination in China.
Channels TV reports that the lawmakers asked the Committees on Inter-Parliamentary Relations, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights and Diaspora, to ascertain the extent of violation of rights of Nigerians in China, as well as losses arising from such maltreatment.
The lawmakers with the various responsibilities were asked to report back within two weeks for further legislative action.
The House, however, sought the concurrence of the Senate on the motion.
JOHANNESBURG – The Public Protector is investigating the Department of Public Works and the role Minister Patricia de Lille played in the building of the R37 million Beitbridge border fence.
The Defence Department allegedly requested that a 40-kilometre stretch of the fence be repaired during the shutdown of the country’s borders.
The Public Protector’s office received a complaint from the African Transformation Movement claiming that proper procurement processes were not followed.
Spokesperson Oupa Sekgalwe said that the team of investigators would now be writing to the affected parties to ask for more information.
“At this stage, it’s pure allegations, there are no indications of whether wrong was done or not. That can only be arrived at once the investigation has been seen through. It is still in the early stages.”
GWERU City Council has started demolishing all vending stalls and illegal structures in the central business district and at Kudzanayi long-distance bus terminus.
All vendors are being relocated to an open space adjacent to Mtapa cemetery.
Yesterday, the local authority demolished all structures at Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus, Kombayi vegetable and grain market, TM local bus terminus and other undesignated vending areas.
In an interview after touring the cleared sites, Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Larry Mavima said Government was impressed with the levels of compliance.
“We had a directive from central Government that all the towns and cities should clear all vending and flea markets in the CBDs. It was on a short notice but Gweru City Council managed to inform the vendors on time and gave them time to clear their wares. I am impressed. The idea is to have the vending markets clean so that we reduce the possible spread of Covid-19,” he said.
Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe said vendors have been relocated to Mtapa where they are preparing a space close to the cemetery.
The local authority also intends to construct a new bus terminus at the site.
“All the vendors are being moved to Mtapa. The area that we have moved them to had been earmarked for the construction of a long-distance bus terminus. The set up in many towns and cities is that long distance bus terminuses are not in the CBD, so this is what we are also doing.
“We will also put up new and modern structures in town to accommodate a limited number of these small businesses but the majority will remain in Mtapa. Construction has already started and we are hoping that we will complete preparing the area next week.”
Cllr Makombe said part of the Kudzanayi terminus will be converted into a Zupco rank.
“We have areas such a TM bus terminus were there were vending and flea market stalls. That rank has been permanently closed and all the vendors and public transport operators who were there have been permanently removed.
At Kudzanayi long distance bus terminus we have also removed all vending and flea market stalls and transformed the area into the Zupco bus terminus.
It used to be a Zupco bus terminus before and now we are handing the terminus back to the public transport operator because it has resumed its operations in local routes,” he said.
THE Victoria Falls Municipality (VFM) has introduced a roster for vegetable vendors operating at designated markets to ensure social distancing and decongest public areas to prevent spread of Covid-19.
Specific vendors will now be using the market on given days as determined by the local authority.
The arrangement which was introduced last week, is in line with Government call on local authorities to take advantage of the lockdown to clean up and renovate small and medium enterprises and informal trading workplaces.
The Government order dated April 8 is aimed at ensuring that vending areas are conducive to operate from when business reopens after the lockdown.
“During the 9th Cabinet meeting, it was resolved that local authorities should take advantage of the national lockdown to clean up and renovate small and medium enterprises and informal trading workplaces. Please make every effort to comply with the resolution,” read a circular sent to all local authorities by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
VFM Housing and Community Services director Mr Brian Nyamande said the local authority does not have illegal vending stalls that need to be demolished.
“Unlike other towns we don’t have illegal markets and what we are simply doing is managing issues of crowding at the designated markets. We are also trying to step up cleanliness and hygiene under lockdown and we have been saying they can’t all come at once.
“They have split each other into groups and we have rosters where they take turns to go to the market so they are not crowded,” said Mr Nyamande.
Some go to the market once or twice a week.
He said the council is using the ongoing lockdown spruce up the vending stalls and around markets with the help of some vendors who have offered to provide labour to clean alongside municipal workers.
“Some buildings needed thorough cleaning, which was not possible when there was a high volume of people. In short, all we are doing is cleaning and decongesting our markets as we implement lockdown rules but we have no illegal structures to demolish,” said Mr Nyamande.
Vendors returned to the vending areas in the second week of the lockdown after Government allowed them to resume operations as an essential services provider.
Government implored local authorities to ensure that vendors are provided with necessary protective equipment such as sanitisers and face masks.
The private sector in conjunction with the council setup some tippy taps at markets entrances to make sure all those who enter the vending areas sanitise by washing hands.
In the stalls, vendors display their wares about two metres apart unlike previously when they would be within a metre apart.
There are three main vegetable markets in Victoria Falls in Mkhosana and Chinotimba suburbs.
Chairperson of Chinotimba Tarven Market Mr Lizwe Sibanda said less than 30 vendors now occupy the market on each day unlike before when there would be around 70.
“We are taking turns to go to the market as we go on different days but a majority of people have since stopped coming waiting for the lockdown to end. Some have given up because its not easy these days to travel to Bulawayo to stock up vegetables but generally the market is now smart. Everyone has face masks and sanitisers which were distributed by council, ” he said.
Matabeleland North Environmental Management Agency provincial manager Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze urged all local authorities to implement the Government call in urban areas as well as along highways to keep the environment clean and habitable.
By A Correspondent- A Malawi High Court on Tuesday extended indefinitely an order barring the government from imposing a 21-day coronavirus lockdown which was announced by President Peter Mutharika earlier this month.
AFP reports that the court had initially placed a temporary block on the stay-at-home order after a human rights groups filed a petition against the lockdown.
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) argued that the government had failed to announce any measures to cushion the poor and vulnerable from the effects of the lockdown which had been due to start on April 19.
The initial order blocked the shutdown for seven days, pending a judicial review.
Following that review, High Court judge Kenyatta Nyirenda extended the ban for a further five days.
On Tuesday he decided to refer the case to the Constitutional Court because the issues raised by the petitioners required interpretation of the constitution.
“I determine …that a matter on the interpretation or application of the Constitution has arisen in these proceedings,” Nyirenda said.
Judiciary officials were unclear when the case would be brought before the Constitutional Court.
But for now Judge Nyirenda has ruled that until the constitutional court sits and makes a ruling, “there must be no lockdown,” judiciary spokeswoman Agnes Patemba, told AFP.
The HRDC went to court accusing the government of imposing the “lockdown without providing for social security interventions to marginalised groups”.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa. More than half of its population live below the poverty threshold.
“While we respect the health regulations regarding the lockdown, we want a lockdown that follows all… laws and we do not want rights of vulnerable groups to suffer,” said independent rights activist Victor Mhango.
“The lockdown should not infringe or limit constitutional rights,” he said.
Malawi has so far registered 36 coronavirus cases, including three deaths.
Madagascar has been talk of town after their president Andry Rajoelina announced that his country has cure for novel Coronavirus. According to report , the traditional plants grown on the island could provide the much needed cure of Covid-19.
He took the good news to citizens of Madagascar to assure them they had found a remedy of Covid -19 on a national television. The confident president took the good news to the world through his tweeter account.
The plant remain to be a mystery as the country want to go into books of records for their discovery.
The news has been received on a good note of finding antidote to Covid-19 and has attracted Africa leaders and researchers. And Guinea Bissau president Umaro Embalo has communicated with president Madagascar Andrye Rajoelina to roll out mass production of Covid-19 vaccine. Guinea president want to save lives of his citizen and the extended part of West Africa.
