Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has claimed he is now living in fear of the “Chris Mutsvangwa and SB Moyo coalition.”
Writing on Twitter, Mutodi appealed for prayers as he was not aware of what the two were planning against him.
On Monday Mutodi accused his boss Monica Mutsvangwa of capturing state broadcaster, ZBC.
“Living in fear of the Chris Mutsvangwa-SB Moyo coalition. I hope it won’t resort to wartime tactics. Appealing for prayers,” Mutodi posted on Twitter.
Commenting on the battle between Mutsvangwa and Mutodi, business tycoon Mutumwa Mawere said :
@energymutodi lifts a finger against @MinsterSBMoyo alleging that there is only one BOSS in Zim.
@energymutodi is a Deputy Minister yet on social media, he would appear to be accountable only to the President. Where is the order and structure in the govt? The centre has fallen apart.
By Own Correspondent| Deputy Information minister Energy Minister Energy Mutodi has exposed fissures in the ruling Zanu PF and government saying he is now living in fear of a coalition involving Foreign Affairs minister SB Moyo and War Veterans leader Christopher Mutsvangwa.
Early this week, Mutodi mocked Tanzania for resorting to prayers to fight lockdown while praising Zimbabwe for the lockdown.
The tweet did not go down well with government which was forced to distance itself from the remarks.
This forced Mutodi to hit back, commenting on a ZBC story saying it showed the abuse of state media by Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa and her husband Chris.
He has gone further to claim that he is living in fear of SB Moyo and Mutsvangwa.
“Living in fear of the Chris Mutsvangwa-SB Moyo coalition. I hope it won’t resort to wartime tactics. Appealing for prayers,” said Mutodi
Could Mutodi be revealing power fissures in both Zanu PF and the government or exposing a new faction headed by the two men he mentioned in his Twitter post
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s government of choosing politics ahead of people’s lives.
Chamisa also criticized the Supreme Court ruling on the MDC leadership dispute and the recall of MPs.
“The most significant Government achievement made during this COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe is the bizarre handing down of a Supreme Court judgment and the abusive summoning of parliament, not to fight the Coronavirus pandemic, but to fight political battles.
Why do we put politics ahead of nation building and saving lives?? livesbeforepolitics,”Chamisa argued.
Farai Dziva|MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has accused Emmerson Mnangagwa’ s government of choosing politics ahead of people’s lives.
Chamisa also criticized the Supreme Court ruling on the MDC leadership dispute and the recall of MPs.
“The most significant Government achievement made during this COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe is the bizarre handing down of a Supreme Court judgment and the abusive summoning of parliament, not to fight the Coronavirus pandemic, but to fight political battles.
Why do we put politics ahead of nation building and saving lives?? livesbeforepolitics,”Chamisa argued.
"I'd also like to report to your excellency and your honourables, so far no IMPORTED cases of coronavirus to Ximbabwe from China. And no confirmed cases in Ximbabwe have connections with Chinese nationals," says Ambassador @China_Amb_Zim who pronounces ZIMBABWE as XIMBABWE pic.twitter.com/9ln9xQUvcn
LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has said Councillor Somveli Dlamini remains the legitimate mayor for Victoria Falls as he can only be removed from office through a general election or a tribunal set by Government.
Minister Moyo wrote to the municipality yesterday nullifying an election conducted by 10 councillors which replaced Clr Dlamini with ward 5 Clr Richard Mguni last Thursday.
This puts to rest a tussle for power between Clr Dlamini and Clr Mguni which had seen the former disowning a resignation letter he purportedly wrote in March, as he claimed he remains the legitimate mayor for the town.
Minister Moyo confirmed writing to the municipality yesterday.
“He was not fired from being mayor. He can only be fired or removed in terms of the Constitution or if there is a tribunal set of which I haven’t put any. What it means is that since he has been reinstated, he returns to the office of the Mayor,” said Minister Moyo.
Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe has said motorists should put on masks even when they are alone in their cars online with government requirement.
He made the remarks during a post cabinet media briefing.
He added that police officers manning road blocks into city centres are allowed to check letters confirming that people getting into town are part of essential services.
By Robert Sigauke- The day of reckoning came sooner than expected, as events outpace and outdate fortunes in the mainstream opposition.
It does read that the alliance’s top names have now came to face the reality that the ante has gone up a notch. This is real politics now, those who will lose, will simply lose.
On Monday 11 May 2020, 85 MDC Alliance MPs gathered at Harvest House to discuss supposed emergency issues which business turned out to be a stock taking exercise to sniff out and scare the Judas Iscariot spirit out of anybody before they answer the so called call of thirty pieces of silver. The tragedy that has painted the sun black is that Thomas’ doubting spirit has overwhelmed the upper room, hence the stock taking.
These are corona daring politics to instil fear on adults who know too well where they stand, and where they might stand on each turn where a decision affecting their stomachs and political careers has to be made. It is actually an insult on the intelligence and dignity of these honourable men and women of the August house, to require them to brave the infected streets and contaminated air all to assemble and pledge for the umpteenth time their “loyalty” to an illegitimate leader. In a mass voluntary movement, nobody should be frog marched to pledge their loyalty.
Loyalty is pledged to values that founded the movement, these never change only people come and go. Loyalty ceases to be, if it has to be tested by stock taking before crucial bridges are crossed. It should be a matter of confidence, of subconscious togetherness.
Accepting that some of the MPs gathered at the meeting on Monday are also eligible delegates for the extra ordinary congress, pertinent and important questions arise from this. Is the alliance taking stock to weigh chances of participating in the extra ordinary congress? Is the alliance fully aware that not all the MPs gathered there belong to MDC-T, which is at the centre of the wrangle in courts, and therefore those outside the MDC-T component may not participate or vote in the upcoming congress?
Should the MDC-T in the alliance decide that they should resign en masse and pull out of parliament, is there an alternative programme for these cadres who will find themselves as new trespassers at parliament buildings and its programmes, without the perks and income. Biti’s rebellion in 2014 left many recalled MPs in the cold, they all remember this too well.
Whether it is factual or not, this is not the time for Wanachi to disclose to a group of hares that carrots are dangling across the river, it is both suicidal and renders the Monday meeting potentially wasted.
There are opposition cadres who are tired of the duel against the ever shrewd ruling party and have seen many a time hope promised and hope fading away for decades since the inception of the democratic project in the late 90s.
The western capitals too, are fast losing patience with the student kind of politics displayed by the Sikhalas, Hwendes and Bitis. Is it not Hwende who declared in a tweet that the MDC-T of Morgan Tsvangirai “went” with Khupe?
If it is on record then that the MDC of Tsvangirai is the one that had offices a Harvest House, is the alliance not contradicting itself? Sikhala continues making statements that border on treason to whip up populist sentiment, it seems the politics of thinking have all vanished into thin air.
I would like to believe Professor Welshman Ncube does not agree with most of these reckless actions, the man is a strategic thinking leader.
There are many within the opposition and ruling party who have awoken to the reality that the solution to the country’s problems involves everyone from either side.
This is the surest way that will bring food on the table for suffering Zimbabweans, people want buttered or unbuttered bread, resuscitation of industries, others in diaspora want to come back home. Unity, is the surest way that will bring peace and security for all people from all walks of life to exercise the very same rights demanded by the democratic project.
Lest we forget, Zimbabwe was born out of bloodshed, and any serious nationalist project does not see this cheap. The frank truth, an eventual democratic project government will not stand a nationalist movement like Zanu PF on the outside pissing in to the system as an opposition. The Entumbane episode in the early 80s is only a painful highlight of such possibilities. Zimbabweans can still achieve democracy, peace, bread basket status and security without the barrel. This is what the student politicians do not see, it takes foresight.
Whatever is left of Zanu PF will not reform itself out of power, and neither will it be taken out of power through the ballot easily, the hold it has on the majority of voters is one of deep emotional trigger, believe this.
Alex Magaisa correctly captured that the most important task of the opposition in the aftermath of the 2018 elections, was to mobilise and break the rural vote impasse. This is the game changer.
The allegations of a GNU in the making by the blabbermouth Wanachi is only confirmation, if true, of the predictions made in my previous article (Lest the Alliance will bark outside the Tent) relating to the fact that the legality and political legitimacy requirements of the MDC-T were all in pursuit of bringing the party to POLAD and hammer out a political settlement which I summarised, “will not end with drinking mazoeon the negotiating table.”
As means towards the end, there is talk in reliable circles that amendments of the laws are impending to the effect that the party with the MPs that have been recalled or resigned, will simply second and nominate a replacement. Being the legally recognised party leadership, Mwonzora et al will be the ones to put in place systems that will nominate who goes to parliament and who does not.
This will be the third score. This will make a lot of cents oh excuse me, sense while saving dollars. The fiscus is already burdened to deficit by the COVID thrusts, and holding such a huge number of by elections will only defeat the purpose of noble efforts to curb the spread of the virus. This is what the echoes from the system say, and this does make sense. Dollars need to be saved, lives need to be saved.
It is high time that the alliance leaders wake up and realise that the train is fast leaving them behind, they must put their house in order, be humble and salvage the little that is left. At times it is wisdom to take a step back to make progress forward. Arrogance is indeed a highway to self destruction. The house is on fire, see the inhabitants running to safety. The four already dismissed legislators had no choice, the remaining MPs still have and they will cleverly choose their battles.
Robert Sigauke is a Legal Manager, Author and Political Commentator. He writes from Johannesburg. dialogue@highveldmail.co.za
By A Correspondent- A Zanu Pf stalwart went around Kuwadzana, Harare calling on citizens to register their names as Zanu Pf supporters in order to access food aid during the Lockdown.
Said the Zimbabwe Peace Project in its report:
“Zanu PF political commissar a Mr. Guta of Kuwadzana constituency went around Kuwadzana paddocks telling perceived Zanu PF supporters to register their names with ruling party chairperson Mr. Mukazika to get government food assistance under the COVID-19 State fund.
“On 1 April 2020, Guta toured ward 9 and 10 encouraging devoted ruling party members to check if their names still existed under the party’s cell structures at branch level. Most residents who do not participate in ruling party programs were not included in the process.”
By A Correspondent- Morgen Komichi, who was the MDC Alliance’s chief elections agent and was arrested for publicly challenging the 2018 presidential elections, has made a U-turn and endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the country’s legitimate leader.
Komichi is now backing acting MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe after the Supreme Court ruling ordered her to convene an extra-ordinary congress within three months.
The Supreme Court ruling which ruled that Nelson Chamisa was unconstitutionally elevated to party deputy president by the late MDC founder, Morgan Tsvangirai, in 2016, also ordered the party to go back to its 2014 structures, paving the way for Khupe.
Khupe quit the party in a huff after losing the leadership battle to Chamisa in 2018 and formed her own faction of MDC-T, which she ran under in the 2018 presidential elections. After the Supreme Court ruling Komichi and Douglas Mwonzora immediately dumped Chamisa and joined Khupe.
Mwonzora fired the first shots last week when he recalled four MDC Alliance MPs as Khupe moved to take full control of the opposition party.
Komichi and Mwonzora, both senators, were part of the MDC Alliance that refused to recognise Mnangagwa’s electoral victory and on several occasions walked out on him in Parliament in protest over what they said was a stolen election.
But after crossing the floor, Komichi, who played a huge role over the “illegal” ascendency of Chamisa to succeed Tsvangirai, said he now recognised Mnangagwa as a legitimate leader.
“We received advice from a lot of people and organisations telling us that the card of Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy was no longer viable,” Komichi said.
“The matter of Mnangagwa’s legitimacy was decided by the Constitutional Court and we accept that ruling. We should respect court processes as a democratic and constitutional party.”
He added: “Democracy is a game of numbers, but now that I have pronounced myself, when he (Mnangagwa) walks in (Parliament), I will stand up for him and respect him. We have to respect decisions that were made by professionals.”
Komichi, who was also Chamisa’s chief election agent, also said Chamisa’s Constitutional Court challenge against Mnangagwa’s electoral victory lacked evidence.
“We did not have evidence on whether we had won the election or not,” Komichi said.
“What I can say for sure is that we did not verify the results. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) just announced the results and I stood up to say the results were fake; but after we lost in court, we have to respect the courts.”
In 2018, when Zec announced Mnangagwa as the winner of the presidential poll, Komichi stormed into the command centre, where the results were being announced and declared that they were fake, claiming he had evidence of Chamisa’s victory. In an affidavit presented in court, Komichi, under oath, said Chamisa had polled 2,6 million votes for the MDC Alliance party and, therefore, won the elections.
He also dismissed a political dialogue to tackle Zimbabwe’s economic crisis initiated by Mnangagwa, which Chamisa refused to join.
Komichi, who once declared undying loyalty to Chamisa, is now gunning for presidency of the MDC-T where he is set to square up with Khupe, Mwonzora and Elias Mudzuri.
Chamisa, in a separate interview, said he was well aware of the attempts by Mnangagwa to resolve the legitimacy issue by capturing structures of the MDC so that they confer to him what he desperately needed.
He said he would not be pressured into joining Polad and those who did so were “walking into hell and would lose their souls and sell out the future of the people of Zimbabwe”.
“I would lose my life, I would lose the life of Zimbabweans, because you are walking into a dungeon, you are walking into a den of lions, but also, you are walking into a bottomless pit. Nobody will walk into hell and be told you will lose nothing, you will lose your soul and you will burn,” Chamisa charged.
Meanwhile, the MDC Veterans Activists Association, (MDC VAA) who call themselves party custodians and veterans have thrown weight their behind Chamisa.
The MDC VAA which was formed in 2008 and has had a love-hate relationship with the party, however, pledged undying support for Chamisa. MDC VAA deputy secretary-general Takavafira Zhou said they acknowledged the leadership of Chamisa which came out of the 2019 congress.
WHO global update today: 84290 new cases, over 4 million confirmed cases & 285328 deaths.
I urge you all to continue to protect yourself and others from coronavirus, please wash your hands regularly and observe the social distancing guidance. We all need to play a part pic.twitter.com/I8jzqU68ja
— Dr Thokozani Khupe (@DrThoko_Khupe) May 13, 2020
By Own Correspondent| Social Welfare Minister Paul Mavima has said allowing returning citizens with money to chose quarantine facilities of their choice was not an admission of failure.
Speaking during a post cabinet media briefing Tuesday evening, Mavima said the decision to open up to those with own money was in response to those who offered to pay for better accommodation.
“We have not lacked resources to look after them, in terms of food and other provisions that they need,” Mavima said.
“There are returnees who are saying we do not want to be in public facilities, we would rather pay and be in more comfortable facilities.
“You will realise cabinet has said if there are those people who want to pay, we should set up those private facilities.
“You have to understand that there are some citizens who could not pay for themselves so the state has to continue providing for them and we can assure the state has resources to look after them,” said Mavima.
Over 3 000 Zimbabweans have since returned into the country since the outbreak of the deadly pandemic in March this year.
By A Correspondent- A prominent Twitter personality using the Twitter handle @Just_VeeV says former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva was “demoted” after she opposed corrupt deals in the Ministry.
On Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved the appointment of Dr Mahomva to the newly created post of Chief Coordinator, National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
According to @Just_VeeV, Dr Mahomva cancelled 3 tenders that had been illegally awarded to some officials.
Below is the full thread:Of @MoHCCZim chaos and Mahomva’s ‘demotion’
So word is that Mahomva cancelled 3 tenders that had been illegally awarded to some officials.
Company A had no capacity. Company B had no bank guarantee Company C had test kits that had not been approved.
Allegations are that company C procured the test kits just before gvt gave the directive to companies to test their employees before reopening their businesses. This also saw a spike in prices for the kits, from US$10 to $16. This made her more unpopular.
In addition, it is said the Minister didn’t want the PPEs being made by local universities to go through SAZ for quality testing and assurance, something the former Perm Sec didn’t agree with. So chucking her out was the only option.
It seems donors have confidence in Dr Mahomva. Most of the donations are going to gvt. Her departure could have made then consider 3rd party route something gvt could not risk. So they created the post to make sure she stays and finish off the #Covid19Zim work.
What happens after nobody knows. And oh hanzi the Minister used to take home 3 000 litres of fuel every month and Mahomva cut it down to 800. Hence their friction as well.
But some say Mahomva was no angel. And these are the allegations:
That she didn’t respect the Minister and ran a parallel ministry. She disregarded his directives and never sought approval especially in the past few months. This didn’t go down well with Dr Moyo.
Word is that most people in the Ministry did not like the idea of having Dr Moyo, who used to be their junior, elevated to being the Minister. And that he doesn’t enjoy support from Drs either who prefer working with Dr Mahomva instead.
Last night ZimEye investigated a self proclaimed millionaire, self boasting Julie Condliffe as she failed to refund a victim a paltry GBP 6,000.
There was a revelatory moment as Condliffe began to harrass another whistleblower via SMS during the program. This was as thousands tuned in to watch and listen.
For 12 years to date, ZimEye remains committed to investigative journalism that has seen victims of violence winning lumpsum amounts, millions of pounds being recovered and scores of victims winning court cases.
Condliffe told the victim who is reportedly suicidal, the only thing that is guaranteed in life is death. She said:
” I’ve also made some money in property; So the property game fluctuates up and down. There’s never any guarantee.
“I don’t think the any guarantees in life. I think the guarantees that we have are that we will die.
“That’s the one guarantee that I know.
There was another moment when it was revealed Condliffe has made a killing on a book she has authored titled, “Strategies For Investment Success.” She says the book a No.1 Best Seller.
“But in terms of the property market, it is going to continue to fluctuate and people will make money, people have made money before me, people will make….”
By A Correspondent- Members of the Johanne Masowe eChishanu sect led by Moses Gwasarira of Highfield, popularly known as Mose Gwanzura, yesterday received some bags of rice from President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The rice was part of a 10-tonne consignment donated by Mnangagwa to the church in the wake of the global pandemic COVID-19 crisis.
The members of the apostolic sect have been Zanu-PF’s campaign machine during elections.
Speaking to NewsDay after receiving the rice at his shrine, Gwasarira said the donation was a shot in the arm as it complemented their efforts to feed more than 20 000 members, the majority of whom survived on vending.
By Jane Mlambo| Government has succumbed to public pressure to establish private accomodation where those with own money can stay during the mandatory quarantine period.
Speaking during yesterday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said returnees now have a choice to stay in government provided facilities or private accommodation of their choice.
“Cabinet resolved that returnees who offer to pay for themselves be allowed to do so on condition that the facility is secure and subject to inspection by health and security officials and that reputable and established companies be contracted to supply Covid-19 materials,” said Mutsvangwa.
There was a commotion the last time returnees from the United Kingdom arrived in the country when government offered them accomodation at Belvedere Teachers College.
The UK returnees said the facility did not have running water and was not fit for human habitation, forcing the government to consider private accommodation.
By A Correspondent- A man drowned in a dam in Harare while evading security guards who wanted to arrest him for trespassing at a farm, police have said.
The incident took place on Monday at Harava Dam in Hatfield.
“An unidentified male adult drowned at Harava Dam, Hatfield, Harare on Monday, 11th May while evading arrest from security guards for trespassing at a local farm,” police say.
His accomplice managed to swim across the dam and escaped, the police statement added.
Police say that investigations into the case are continuing.
Meanwhile, police say that replenishing of supplies should be done at the nearest shops within a 5 km radius.
“… gathering for the purpose of consuming alcohol at shopping centres/private residents is illegal. The police will arrest all those who violate the law,” the police warned.
However, residents say oftentimes, the basic commodities they want to purchase such as mealie-meal and sugar may not be available at nearby shops
Botswana capital city Gaborone was put back on a lockdown after the country recorded a new Covid-19 case.
Presidential Covid-19 task team co-ordinator Kereng Masupu said the capital city was declared a high-risk area and put under lockdown with effect from Monday.
This was after a truck driver from South Africa tested positive for Covid-19. The truck driver entered Botswana through the Tlokweng border from South Africa on Saturday and his results came back positive on Sunday.
At the time he had made contact with several other people, including businesses such as Choppies at Fairground Mall, the Puma filling station at Fairground Mall and the CA Sale and Distribution at Commerce Park, which were closed immediately, with their employees advised not to go to work until further notice.
“Those that came into contact with the truck driver are being traced while the truck driver is admitted at Sir Ketumile Masire Hospital,” he said.
All businesses the truck driver visited along his delivery route have been identified, registers have been collected and contact tracing has started.
The incident has occurred barely two days after the easing of restrictions on movement within the country to open up the economy, and only those with essential permits will be allowed to travel, Masupu has said.
Botswana has now registered 24 Covid-19 cases, with one death and 12 recoveries.
The country is under a state of emergency for six months in an attempt to cut the spread of Covid-19. Movement of people is restricted and only essential cargo is allowed through the country’s port of entry.
A footballer for FC Charles, a team from Glendale in Mashonaland Central province, reportedly died in mysterious circumstances after he slept with a sex worker and failed to pay for the services rendered, raising fears of witchcraft, while others maintain it was just a coincidence.
Crispen Magwaza (21) is said to have been bewitched by a sex worker, whom he failed to pay for her services.
NewsDay visited the Magwaza family, where a family spokesperson, Henry Magwaza confirmed the case.
“My boy fell sick. As the situation worsened, he divulged to me that he had slept with a certain lady of the night, (name supplied), but left without paying the service fee of US$10,” he narrated.
“I then took him to the woman’s place who told us that if he had not come with the money, something terrible would have happened to him.”
He added: “She told us to put the money on the floor so that the spirits could receive it directly and reverse the boy’s illness.
“She removed a scary doll and uttered a few words and my boy felt better.
“However, two days later, the situation worsened. We took him back but the lady said she could not do anything before he died.”
According to the family, Crispen developed urinary problems, urinating up to 20 litres of urine per day for five days before he passed on.
The sex worker is said to be in hiding after being threatened being threatened by the deceased’s friends.
This is not the first time bizarre things have happened in Glendale.
Sometime last year, Glendale hit headlines after an artisanal miner lost his manhood to a sex worker after failing to pay for services.
By A Correspondent- Gwanda State University (GSU) has been accused of ignoring the COVID-19 pandemic, by opening the institution during a lockdown to stop the spread of the pandemic.
In addition, the university’s lecturers, 16 of them, are said to be cramped up in a small room, in oblivion of social distancing rules.
“About 8 Teaching Assistants occupy a foyer with 2 tables. The Computer Lab, which has 3 functional computers is used by about 7 to 8 lecturers who want faster connectivity. Staff in the Works Department shares a poorly ventilated cubicle at an average of 10 in one room,” the source had said.
“A public office originally meant for chairpersons at the admin block is used by six to eight members,” a source at the institution said.
“The university must have made efforts to address the issue of office space for employees before making this wild and wayward decision.
“The university authorities should have waited for the Head of State to announce the official government position regarding reopening of Universities.”.
GSU spokesperson, Walter Ndlovu confirmed that all staff members were directed to report for work on May 4.
He said the motive behind was to enable easier and more effective supervision and coordination of efforts in the execution of the development of online teaching materials and modalities.
“Lecturers were also to receive some training on online teaching as well as online handling of assignments and examinations.
“We also intended to make thorough preparations for the possible return of students, to coordinate and facilitate the involvement and participation of our members of staff who are serving on various provincial and national committees working on COVID 19 activities,” Ndlovu said.
“It was meant to also prepare to receive returnees from neighbouring countries and beyond given that the university was identified as one of the quarantine sites in the Insiza District.”
He said unlike other universities, GSU was able to accommodate its staff on its campus, as they had a small staff complement.
“Issues of social distancing are therefore easy to observe,” Ndlovu said.
“Staff responded to the call to report for work overwhelmingly and work on the aforementioned tasks and others are proceeding well.”
A heath reporter Vivian Mugarisi has dropped a bombshell on yesterday’s appointment of Dr Agnes Mahomva to a new position of Chief Coordinator On COVID-19 Response in the Office of the President and Cabinet, saying it was a way to get rid of her after she reportedly cancelled three tenders illegally awarded to some companies connected to some top officials in the ministry of health.
Posting on Twitter, Mugarisi under the handle @Just_Veev said Mahomva could not be fired due to her strong connection with donors who were donating resources to government through her, hence the decision to give her a ceremonial post under the watchful eye of the President’s office.
Below is the thread posted by @Just_Veev early morning today…
Of @MoHCCZim chaos and Mahomva’s ‘demotion’ So word is that Mahomva cancelled 3 tenders that had been illegally awarded to some officials. Company A had no capacity. Company B had no bank guarantee Company C had test kits that had not been approved. Thread…
Allegations are that company C procured the test kits just before gvt gave the directive to companies to test their employees before reopening their businesses. This also saw a spike in prices for the kits, from US$10 to $16. This made her more unpopular.
In addition, it is said the Minister didn’t want the PPEs being made by local universities to go through SAZ for quality testing and assuarance, something the former Perm Sec didn’t agree with. So chucking her out was only option, but the donors…….
It seems donors have confidence in Dr Mahomva. Most of the donations are going to gvt. Her departure could have made then consider 3rd party route something gvt could not risk. So tbey created the post to make sure she stays and finish off the #Covid19Zim work…..
What happens after nobody knows. And oh hanzi the Minister used to take home 3 000 litres of fuel every month and Mahomva cut it down to 800. Hence their friction as well. But some say Mahomva was no angel. And this are the allegations……
That she didn’t respect the Minister and ran a parallel ministry. She disregarded his directives and never sought approval especially in the past few months. This didn’t go down well with Dr Moyo.
Word is that most people in the Ministry did not like the idea of having Dr Moyo, who used to be their junior, elevated to being the Minister. And that he doesn’t enjoy support from Drs either who prefer working with Dr Mahomva instead. But whatever the case is……pane nyaya.
By A Correspondent- Comic Pastor whose real name is Prosper Ngomashi has released another skit where he is apologising on behalf of mahwindi to government, the police and the general commuting public.
The comedian who is well known for his hilarious comedy skits says the Lockdown has affected the livelihoods of mahwindi pleading for it to end.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating 32 ZIFA councillors for receiving $8,000 bribery money in a 2018 election at the football organisation.
The bribes were apparently paid by one of the candidates for the Zifa executive committee post.
A police source told the state media:
“Had it not been the lockdown due to Covid-19 we could have covered a lot of ground. These councillors are spread all over.
Some are provincial chairmen, others regional chairmen and members of those leagues. Its a shame and from our preliminary investigations those elections were just a farce.
One of the candidates, we are told was paying in cash which makes it difficult to prove but one councillor is a willing witness to that.
We have also recorded statements from a former executive committee member who said procedurally, the association takes care of the candidates’ meals, accommodation and so called incidentials, so we shall be keen to get clarity on why this individual used his own money.
State Media|THIRTY conventional buses were inspected and 24 certified fit by the Central Mechanical and Equipment Department (CMED) in Harare yesterday following the recent invitation by Government for private commuter omnibus operators to join the Zupco franchise if they want to operate during the lockdown period and beyond.
The exercise is also being conducted in some parts of the country.
Government is urging private operators to bring their buses and drivers.
The buses should have certificates of fitness from the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), passenger insurance and vehicle insurance, while drivers should have a valid Class 2 driver’s licence, a defensive driving certificate and a medical certificate.
Those interested in joining the Zupco franchise should take their vehicles for vetting at the nearest depot.
CMED managing director Mr Davison Mhaka confirmed the development, saying six buses failed the test.
The six have since been taken for repairs and will be inspected again.
Today, CMED will be inspecting kombis.
“We are also testing drivers through our driving school Easy Go, checking on their driver’s licences, defensive driving certificates and medical certificates,” he said.
Mr Mhaka said they wanted drivers who comply with traffic rules and regulations.
“We are also going to set up a tollfree number where people will phone through and report the behaviour of drivers. The numbers will be on these buses and all those who misbehave will be withdrawn,” he said.
Last week, Zupco said it was bringing its 500 franchised kombis back into operation.
Since all formal sector businesses were allowed to reopen last Monday after lockdown movement restrictions were relaxed, Zupco has been battling to move commuters to and from work, with people having to wait for several hours forcing some to breach safety and lockdown rules by riding on trucks.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor Dr Shingi Munyeza says the current system that is running the current is on the path of self-destruction.
In a lengthy interview with Heart n Soul’s Blessed Mhlanga on Tuesday, Munyeza said the country needs young people with innovation who must take ownership of Zimbabwe and bring down the current system.
He said young people must not desire to leave the country, but desire to change the way the country is being run.
“When you have no food, you have no water, when your kids can’t go to school when there is disease on your doorstep and you don’t have money it’s a perfect storm, so it dismantles itself because the leadership that brought it there is not capable of actually taking it out of there.
“It can’t, because, if it was able, we wouldn’t be where we are, the systems that took it to where were are going or where we are about to plunge into right now is incapable of taking us out of it so we need new blood, new wineskins and that’s why I am calling for the young people to start climbing in and make sure that they take their place,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s cash strapped government has given a green light to returning residents wishing to finance their stay at quarantine facilities of their choice during the mandatory quarantine period.
The latest u-turn by the government comes barely a month after it slashed the mandatory quarantine period by one half, citing that the country does not have resources to follow the two-week period recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Speaking at Tuesday’s Post Cabinet Media Briefing, Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that returning residents will no longer be forced into government-designated Covid-19 isolation centers they are not comfortable with for as long as they have the financial muscle to book into facilities of their choice.
‘Cabinet resolved that returnees who offer to pay for themselves be allowed to do so on condition that the facility is secure and subject to inspection by health and security officials and that reputable and established companies be contracted to supply Covid-19 materials,’ said Mutsvangwa.
Information secretary Nick Mangwana also confirmed the development on social media.
Writing on his Twitter account Mangwana said,
‘The returnees wishing to pay for their own accommodation and upkeep will now be allowed to do so on condition the place is secure and is subject to inspection by both health and security officials.’ said Mangwana.
The returnees wishing to pay for their own accommodation and upkeep will now be allowed to do so on condition the place is secure and is subject to inspection by both health and security officials
This also follows after the government had a standoff with residents who returned home from the United kingdom over poor living and sanitary conditions at one of the designated quarantine centres.
The returnees who were camped at Belvedere Teacher’s college torched a social media storm after it emerged that they were resisting mandatory quarantine at the facility, whilst demanding to be accommodated in a hotel.
By A Correspondent- Police in Covid-19 protective gear today removed the body of a man who was found dead at a bus stop along Inyathi Road some few metres away from Chiredzi General Hospital.
The man is said to have died under mysterious circumstances after being seen holding a packet of tablets yesterday evening.
When contacted for comment, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not received the report.
Some sources said the man could have failed to get help at the hospital and was turned away for unclear reasons.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates.
Botswana capital city Gaborone was put back on a lockdown after the country recorded a new Covid-19 case.
Presidential Covid-19 task team co-ordinator Kereng Masupu said the capital city was declared a high-risk area and put under lockdown with effect from Monday.
This was after a truck driver from South Africa tested positive for Covid-19. The truck driver entered Botswana through the Tlokweng border from South Africa on Saturday and his results came back positive on Sunday.
At the time he had made contact with several other people, including businesses such as Choppies at Fairground Mall, the Puma filling station at Fairground Mall and the CA Sale and Distribution at Commerce Park, which were closed immediately, with their employees advised not to go to work until further notice.
“Those that came into contact with the truck driver are being traced while the truck driver is admitted at Sir Ketumile Masire Hospital,” he said.
All businesses the truck driver visited along his delivery route have been identified, registers have been collected and contact tracing has started.
The incident has occurred barely two days after the easing of restrictions on movement within the country to open up the economy, and only those with essential permits will be allowed to travel, Masupu has said.
Botswana has now registered 24 Covid-19 cases, with one death and 12 recoveries.
The country is under a state of emergency for six months in an attempt to cut the spread of Covid-19. Movement of people is restricted and only essential cargo is allowed through the country’s port of entry.
A 33-year-old Harare woman, believed to be linked to armed robbers, was arrested for hiding a gun in a maize field at her residence in Hatfield acting on instructions from her husband, who is at Harare Remand Prison.
File picture of Harare Magistrates Court
Hazvinei Kashanga appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and was not asked to plead to the charges when she appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboa, who remanded her to June 23 for routine remand.
The State led by Terence Mashaire had it that on May 5, 2020 detectives from CID Homicide received information that Kashanga had dug and hid firearms at No.77 Seke Road, Hatfield.
Acting on a tip-off, police from ZRP Hatfield teamed up with detectives from CID and proceeded to Kashanga’s house.
Upon interviewing her, Kashanga revealed that she received instructions from another suspected armed robber’s wife to hide the guns in the maize field.
The armed robber, who was only identified as Emmanuel was arrested and appeared in court where he was jointly charged with two other suspects also identified on State papers as Choms and Albert.
The three are in remand prison pending trial.
Upon searching her, Kashanga was found in possession of ammunition in her bedroom.
She then allegedly led police to the maize field where a double barrel short gun and four sets of 12 bore live rounds were recovered.
Kashanga was arrested and is expected to return to court on June 23 for her routine remand.
Own Correspondent|Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa has reported that two new Coronavirus cases have been detected at a Chinese firm in Norton, a town in the outskirts of Harare.
Said Mliswa, “I’ve just received notice that 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected at the Chinese tile factory, Sunny Yi Feng. This is a blow as I’ve always been concerned about this site and my fears appear confirmed. All the staff there will now undergo mandatory testing and isolation.”
Mliswa and the Chinese firm have previous running battles.
Lusaka Times|Zambian President EDGAR LUNGU has opened the Victoria falls to the public which was closed due to the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic.
President LUNGU says he wants key sectors of the economy running whilst observing the new normal of following Covid 19 health guidelines.
The President also said government will give incentives to sectors such as tourism in order to help it grow and sustain the available jobs.
He said the minister of finance will be briefed on which reliefs to give to the tourism sector.
President LUNGU also toured some hotels in Livingstone in order to appreciated the challenges faced by the sector.
The head of state was briefed that hotels in Livingstone were incurring losses because there are no tourists to book rooms and other facilities.
Later the head of state had his lunch at Chrisma Hotel restaurant where social-distancing was observed.
President LUNGU said he decided to have lunch at a restaurant in oder to show his support to the hospitality industry which has been hardly hit by the pandemic.
And tourism minister Ronald Chitotela says the President’s decision to open up the sector will help save many jobs.
Mr Chitotela assured President Lungu that the sector will adhere to the new normal.
Meanwhile Livingstone tourism Council representative Rodney Sikumba says the council is grateful to government for responding to their request of opening up the tourism sector.
A body is moved from a refrigeration truck serving as a temporary morgue to a vehicle at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, in the Borough of Brooklyn in New York on April 8, 2020.
The United States recorded 1,894 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 82,246, according to the real-time tally by Johns Hopkins University at 8:30 pm Tuesday (0030 GMT Wednesday).
The figure was a sharp rise after daily tolls fell below 1,000 on Sunday and Monday.
The country — hardest hit by the pandemic in terms of the number of fatalities — has now confirmed a total of 1,367,927 cases, the Baltimore-based school reported.
GLOBAL TOLL PASSES 290,000
The coronavirus pandemic has now claimed more than 290,000 lives worldwide, according to an AFP tally of official sources at 2200 GMT on Tuesday.
In total, 290,477 deaths have been registered, with Europe accounting for 159,205 of them. The United States is the worst-affected country, followed by Britain (32,692), Italy (30,911), France (26,991) and Spain (26,920).
EXPERT WARNING
France began reopening schools on Tuesday and Russia and India started getting back to work as the top US infectious disease expert warned that relaxing coronavirus lockdowns too quickly could have serious consequences.
Government immunologist Anthony Fauci’s stark words fed concerns that even a cautious exit from the unprecedented global economic shutdown could trigger another outbreak of the disease which has killed more than 290,000 people around the world according to an AFP toll.
In France, primary and nursery schools reopened with teachers wearing face masks and children’s chairs separated to avoid spreading the virus.
Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer hailed the reopening of schools, which will be rolled out gradually throughout the country and include Paris schools on Thursday.
Russia began easing lockdown rules even as infections surged past 232,000 — now the second most confirmed cases in the world after the United States.
Russia hit the dire landmark Tuesday after a week of reporting more than 10,000 daily infections and as it was confirmed that President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, tested positive for the virus.
US Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary tested positive last week and the White House said Tuesday that Pence has decided to “keep his distance” from President Donald Trump for a few days.
In testimony to US lawmakers, Fauci admitted the true number killed by the epidemic in the US is likely higher than the official toll of over 82,000 — the world’s highest.
And despite Trump’s evident desire to restart the economy ahead of the November election, Fauci warned that a 14-day decrease in cases was a vital first step to exiting lockdowns safely.
“If a community or a state or region doesn’t go by those guidelines and reopens… the consequences could be really serious,” Fauci said.
“There is a real risk that you will trigger an outbreak that you may not be able to control,” he added, warning that would not only cost lives, “but could even set you back on the road to trying to get economic recovery.”
On Tuesday, the US registered 1,894 coronavirus deaths in 24 hours.
FULL ACCOUNTING
In the US House of Representatives, Democrats unveiled a $3 trillion virus response package, the largest yet, to fund efforts to fight the pandemic and provide emergency payments to millions of American households.
But the measure faced immediate opposition in the Republican-held Senate, where leaders have said a new round of emergency funding is not yet needed.
Republican senators proposed legislation meanwhile that would empower Trump to slap sanctions on China if it does not give a “full accounting” for the coronavirus outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December.
“The Chinese Communist Party must be held accountable for the detrimental role they played in this pandemic,” said Senator Jim Inhofe. “Their outright deception of the origin and spread of the virus cost the world valuable time and lives as it began to spread.”
In Russia, some parts of the country hummed back to life Tuesday — the end of a “non-working” period.
For those braving public transport, masks and gloves were a must in line with new anti-virus rules.
“It’s a necessary measure,” said 25-year-old Tatiana Khan, speaking on a half-empty bus in Moscow.
“If everyone had worn masks from the start, observed the precautions, I think we wouldn’t have had such a spread of the epidemic,” she added from behind a surgical mask.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $270 billion economic stimulus as the Asian giant’s economy lumbers back to life.
Its giant railway network restarted in defiance of a recent surge in infections, with 3,600 recorded on Monday, just below Sunday’s record tally.
The country of 1.3 billion imposed a strict shutdown in late March, which Modi’s government has credited with keeping cases to a modest 70,000, with around 2,300 deaths.
Iran, meanwhile, said it would reopen mosques for three nights this week, after struggling to contain the outbreak that has killed more than 6,700 people there.
TEST ALL IN WUHAN
South Korea, credited with one of the world’s more successful anti-virus campaigns, said it was using mobile phone data to track Seoul nightclub visitors after a cluster of new cases.
The outbreak — which forced a delay in reopening schools — hit gay venues and potential carriers may fear coming forward because of the stigma surrounding homosexuality.
And in Britain, which has Europe’s most confirmed fatal cases, the Office of National Statistics said reports from care homes for the elderly suggest a government tally of 32,692 deaths underestimates the full toll.
In China, state media reported that Wuhan plans to conduct virus tests on the entire 11 million population after new cases emerged for the first time in weeks in the city where the outbreak began.
Scientists believe the virus jumped from bats to humans in a Wuhan market but there have been unproven claims — including from Trump — that the disease somehow escaped from a Chinese lab.
Economic and social lockdowns have cut a swathe through the global economy and, while many areas are now cautiously moving back to work, world markets are treading cautiously amid fears of a second wave.
The Nasdaq’s six-day winning streak ended on Tuesday as US stocks pulled back after Fauci’s warnings about reopening the economy too quickly.
One popular US attraction that will remain dark is Broadway.
The Broadway trade association announced Tuesday that New York’s beloved theatres will not reopen until at least early September.
New York remains the US epicentre, with COVID-19 continuing to kill more than 150 people a day in the state.
As world leaders begin their efforts to remove the lockout, the World Health Organization has outlined 6 principles to be considered before taking this step.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has given recommendations on measures and when to abolish the closure law that aims to curb the spread of cholera.
Dr. Adhanom said the first and most important step before removing the lockout, is to ensure the safety of the community and to have a thorough understanding of the nature of the disease.
1. Limit the spread of the disease
Dr. Ghebreyesus said world leaders must make sure they have overcome the spread of the disease before removing the lockout law altogether.
2. Improved health system
The second requirement, according to WHO Director, is to ensure the quality of the health care system, the testing, and the protection of all infected persons.
3. Reduce the risk of outbreaks
Leaders must ensure that the risk of outbreaks is minimized in specialized areas such as health centers and nursing homes.
4. Protective measures at public places
International leaders are advised to ensure adequate provision of protection in public places, such as schools, workplaces, places of worship, and other places where it is necessary and required by people to visit.
5. Monitor the risk of disease while importing goods
International leaders must also make sure that the risks of disease are kept on import
6. Educate the community
Finally, world leaders must ensure that their communities are well-informed about the peroneal disease and all its other characteristics. They should also adopt new defensive behaviors.
Gwanda State University (GSU) has been accused of ignoring the COVID-19 pandemic, by opening the institution during a lockdown to stop the spread of the pandemic.
In addition, the university’s lecturers, 16 of them, are said to be cramped up in a small room, in oblivion of social distancing rules.
“About 8 Teaching Assistants occupy a foyer with 2 tables. The Computer Lab, which has 3 functional computers is used by about 7 to 8 lecturers who want faster connectivity. Staff in the Works Department shares a poorly ventilated cubicle at an average of 10 in one room,” the source had said.
“A public office originally meant for chairpersons at the admin block is used by six to eight members,” a source at the institution said.
“The university must have made efforts to address the issue of office space for employees before making this wild and wayward decision.
“The university authorities should have waited for the Head of State to announce the official government position regarding reopening of Universities.”.
GSU spokesperson, Walter Ndlovu confirmed that all staff members were directed to report for work on May 4.
He said the motive behind was to enable easier and more effective supervision and coordination of efforts in the execution of the development of online teaching materials and modalities.
“Lecturers were also to receive some training on online teaching as well as online handling of assignments and examinations.
“We also intended to make thorough preparations for the possible return of students, to coordinate and facilitate the involvement and participation of our members of staff who are serving on various provincial and national committees working on COVID 19 activities,” Ndlovu said.
“It was meant to also prepare to receive returnees from neighbouring countries and beyond given that the university was identified as one of the quarantine sites in the Insiza District.”
He said unlike other universities, GSU was able to accommodate its staff on its campus, as they had a small staff complement.
“Issues of social distancing are therefore easy to observe,” Ndlovu said.
“Staff responded to the call to report for work overwhelmingly and work on the aforementioned tasks and others are proceeding well.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Ministry Of Health and Child Care permanent secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva to take over the running of the country’s Coronavirus programming something which ordinarily would be expected to be done by the Minister of Health Dr Obadiah Moyo himself.
Throughout the world, Ministers of Health are in the forefront working with the President in running the Coronavirus programme but only in Zimbabwe has the President decided to eliminate his Minister.
Below we publish the full statement by the President’s office appointing Mahomva to take over from her boss.
Contents of the statement clearly show that the President has lost confidence in his Minister and Dr Mahomva may soon be the next Health and Child Care Minister.
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE PRESIDENT AND CABINET DR M J M SIBANDA ON THE APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF COORDINATOR, NATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
His Excellency the President has, in terms of Section 203 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013, approved the appointment of Dr Agnes Mahomva to the newly created post of Chief Coordinator, National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
The post has been created after due consideration of the work of the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on COVID -19, which has indicated the need for an evidence-based, and coordinated division of labour between and among Government agencies and other significant entities, as the country acts to prevent, manage and contain cases of infection and illness relating to the virus.
Prior to her appointment, Dr Mahomva held the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, and brings to the new post her extensive knowledge and experience both from her work in Government and from her previous assignments in country, regional and global health organizations. As the Government’s principal technical spokesperson on efforts to combat the COVID-19 threat, Dr Mahomva has been on the frontline in defining Government strategy and in providing guidance to the public on behavioral adjustments needed to protect the populace against the spread of the pandemic, as well as on necessary health protocols that must be followed when dealing with cases, both suspected and established, of infection.
Dr Mahomva’s leadership is critical in coordinating the country’s expertise in medical, epidemiological and related research and practices, and in intensifying activities in the area of public health at a time when the country is contending with a formidable health threat. She will also take responsibility for ensuring synergies in activities relating to the logistical, resource mobilization, materials production, and distribution, protective services and monitoring functions in the fight against COVID-1 9.
Dr Mahomva’s appointment is with immediate effect.
An announcement on the appointment of a new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care will be made in due course.
Zimbabwe's former finance minister and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) politician Tendai Biti is greeted by party leader Nelson Chamisa as he leaves court after being convicted and fined under the country's electoral act in Harare, Zimbabwe, February 18, 2019.
By The Radical Zimbabwean|The lack of a sustainable economic model for the MDC is what has caused this current wave of back stabbings and skulduggery in the party. By ‘sustainable economic model’ one is referring to the financial arrangements of a political party which ensure that it has enough money and resources to be competitive.
The trouble in Zimbabwe is that the money which opposition political parties are reliant on is being apportioned by the Zanu regime. Opposition parties fighting a fascist regime shouldn’t rely on the oppressor’s generosity and whim. Imagine Zanu and Zapu guerilla operations relying on the money coming from having their MPs in the Rhodesian parliament – it’s unworkable. Will get to this later.
As much as I hate to say this, if those two (that man and that woman) get their hands-on the $7m dollars for opposition parties, they are going to have the power to coax other MDC MPs and their activists on the ground into joining their faction. They may not even have to actively go out and bribe people, seating MPs themselves will volunteer themselves to them. See, MDC MPs especially those who are not wealthy rely so much on the wages they get from being in that farcical parliament, they will likely volunteer their allegiance to that man and woman because those two will ensure they still get their hands on those salaries, for a while. Zanu could even be mischievous enough to incorporate this Muzorewa faction into a farcical government of national unity where that lot will be in charge of things like primary education and parliamentary hygiene. One is not against MDC MPs, buy one recognizes that their position in military kleptocracy has a serious defect. Whether they notice this or not, once a person becomes an MP they will be part of the political class in Zimbabwe (albeit a second tier) that enjoys a cushy life, nice houses, nice cars all financed by public taxes. As such, their political motivations and experiences of the problems in Zimbabwe in most cases will be different from the people they are supposed to be representing. For example, the first thing a seating MP would be passionate about is their parliamentary salary and the benefits they enjoy in their constituency. Those are the things they will defend gallantly. Once those things are secured, they will then assess other people’s problems and if those other problems require solutions which put their MP privileges at risk, they are likely going to be against those and propose superficial alternatives. Majority of the public want the problems in the country to go and for that to happen, every state structure in the country needs to be overturned and recreated to serve the people and that includes Parliament, and that includes sending all Zanu government officials and their stooges in the state to prison for a long time or forever.
Indeed, there are some radical MDC MPs who warm the cockles of one’s heart when they say it as it is, when they call for radical political change. But they are in the minority. All MDC MPs should be radical…so radical that they should donate half their salaries to the party’s humanitarian wing…so radical that they should be leading demos for regime change every week…so radical that they should use the parliament to mock the regime…so radical that they should eventually withdraw from parliament due to the fact that it has zero influence on government policy or accountability on the issues which matter…so radical that they should actually do things which can bring political change in Zimbabwe.
Now there is an argument that if the MDC do not send MPs into those parliaments, Zanu will run riot and puts through legislation that ruins the country. But hang on, Zanu is already ruining the country and that is because the country is a military kleptocracy where every state sector, Reserve Bank and means of production which matter are controlled by them. Indeed the courts from time to time serve justice on small matters, but on the substantive issue about who rules Zimbabwe the judge presiding might as well be wearing a Zanu cap and matching underwear because they will favour the incumbent.
Zimbabwean parliaments are actually serving Zanu’s interests by giving the world a false impression that Zimbabwe has democratic structures when it does not.
Without a sustainable economic model, the MDC will continue to be susceptible to bribery from Zanu via its MPs. Without a sustainable economic model, the MDC will continue to be a begging party at the mercy of Zanu. A sustainable economic model can be achieved by running the party like a proper business legally and clandestinely. In the past, one has written extensively about the three essential layers for the MDC – business capital, intellectual capital and activism.
What’s the way forward It’s difficult to develop a sustainable economic model especially in a country like Zimbabwe, Zanu will destroy any successful capital venture that finances the MDC. This is why this economic model needs to be operational in the diaspora. The MDC in Zimbabwe needs to sit down with the diaspora and come up with ideas. The MDC has a trump card which is Nelson Chamisa who is a charismatic superstar orator and charming man. He will be key to aggressive diaspora crowd funding which is one of the revenue streams needed for this thing. In the next publication, one will explore some of the avenues. In the short term, one understands that the MDC has no alternative but to rely on that state funding. Which means these factional wars will continue to happen, but whoever gets their hands on that $7m will have the upper hand because of the desperate maxim of our MPs.
State Media|Companies need to push ahead fast with plans to reopen, using exemptions already granted to lockdown regulations, but at the same time must follow the rules on masks, sanitising and social distancing so that workers and customers remain safe against Covid-19 infection, the Government has stressed.
The lockdown rules have been relaxed in steps to allow sectors to resume business and avoid an economic disaster for Zimbabwe, while at the same time simple public health rules have been put in place to maintain the gains from the lockdown and keep everyone safe.
Briefing journalists last night after a Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said Government wanted companies to reopen, but the firms were experiencing difficulties in accessing rapid results test kits for their employees, in compliance with the requirements. So extra time had been given for tests.
But even with the extra time given to find kits or arrange testing, companies must adhere to the rest of the conditions such as hand sanitisation upon entry to workplaces, the wearing of face masks and enforcement of social distancing at their premises.
The Government is also expecting the main business sectors to fill requirements for equipment and materials. Established and reputable companies will be contracted to provide equipment and materials for fighting and treating Covid-19 with briefcase companies seeking to cash in on the pandemic without offering value being “sifted out”.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Government had noted with concern the sharp rise in briefcase firms seeking to participate in tender processes for the supply of Covid-19 materials.
“Government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that such unscrupulous business elements are sifted out,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
Yesterday, Cabinet noted that the release of $27,5 million by Treasury to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and District Development Fund (DDF) for countrywide drilling and rehabilitation of boreholes, establishment of quarantine centres for returning residents and setting up of a 24-hour Covid-19 Command centres headed by the Civil Protection Unit, had contributed to the containment of the pandemic.
Responding to questions on Government’s ability to take care of those returning from other countries, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Professor Paul Mavima, said there were enough resources and the ministry had been allocated $125 million since the start of the lockdown.
“We may have some logistical problems here and there, especially this weekend due to the large influx of people at Beitbridge Border Post. We can assure the nation that the resources to look after these returnees are available,” said Prof Mavima.
“There is another element to the returnees; there are returnees who say ‘we do not want to be in public facilities, we would rather pay and be in more comfortable facilities’.
“And if you look at this matrix, you will realise that Cabinet is saying, yes, if there are those people who want to pay for themselves, we should set up those private facilities. But they will have to be inspected by health authorities and be approved before taking in any returnees, so that has been granted.”
Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Mr Nick Mangwana, told The Herald last night that if some returnees wanted private facilities as quarantine centres and were willing to pay, Government would assess the facilities ranging from hotels to lodges.
“Once everything has been put in place, then those designated places will be availed to those who can afford and are willing to pay. Security is still an issue to ensure that all the institutional infrastructure for a mandatory quarantine are in place regardless of who is paying.
“It means that the employees of these places have to be protected from potential infection. It also means that there should be enough security to prevent people from absconding,” said Mr Mangwana.
Meanwhile, Prof Mavima said the disbursement of $300, increased from the originally proposed $200, to vulnerable families under the cash transfer programme, had been delayed because Cabinet later directed that the list be reconsidered to ensure that those getting the money were genuinely vulnerable, meeting the envisaged criteria for beneficiaries.
Already, 90 000 beneficiaries have been approved and Government will start paying them soon.
Turning to police check points, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said they were meant to ensure compliance with lockdown regulations such as wearing facemasks.
He explained that even drivers alone in a vehicle still had to wear a face mask under the law.
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa is too busy working towards achieving Vision 2030 to be meddling in the internal politics of opposition parties, Zanu-PF national political commissar Victor Matemadanda has said.
Last month, the Supreme Court made an extremely weird ruling that can only be politically motivated when it ruled that Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate MDC leader in terms of the party’s constitution and subsequently ordered the convening of an extra-ordinary congress within three months to elect a new president.
The ruling by Supreme Court judge Justice Bharat Patel, sitting with Justices Paddington Garwe and Antonia Guvava, followed an appeal by MDC Alliance leaders Messrs Chamisa and Morgan Komichi challenging last year’s ruling by Harare High Court judge Justice Edith Mushore declaring that Mr Chamisa illegitimately acted as the party leader.
Justice Mushore also nullified the appointments of Mr Chamisa and Elias Mudzuri as deputy presidents of the MDC, saying they were unconstitutional. The dismissal of the appeal automatically reinstated Dr Khupe as the legitimate leader of the MDC, forcing the party to go back and start from February 15, 2018. Last week, Dr Khupe recalled Mr Prosper Mutseyami who is also Dangamvura-Chikanga legislator, Kuwadzana legislator Mr Charlton Hwende, Ms Thabitha Khumalo (proportional representation) and Senator Lilian Timveous from Parliament.
The MDC-Alliance reacted by threatening to pull out all their members from Parliament while alleging the involvement of the State in the recall of the MPs.
In a recorded video by the party’s information department, Matemadanda said the party and government was also looking at the impact of Covid-19 on Zimbabweans and how they can be assisted.
“We are not going to listen to side shows, these small boys games that are going on especially in the MDC where someone wants to involve the President of Zimbabwe for problems that they have created for disobeying the constitution they wrote for themselves and want to bring President Mnangagwa into that,” said Matemadanda.
Matemadanda said instead of dragging the name of the President and Zanu-PF into their chaos, they must sit down and try to settle their problems.
He said MDC is duty bound to follow their constitution and when they err should not blame people who were not part of it.
LOCAL Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has said Councillor Somveli Dlamini remains the legitimate mayor for Victoria Falls as he can only be removed from office through a general election or a tribunal set by Government.
Minister Moyo wrote to the municipality yesterday nullifying an election conducted by 10 councillors which replaced Clr Dlamini with ward 5 Clr Richard Mguni last Thursday.
This puts to rest a tussle for power between Clr Dlamini and Clr Mguni which had seen the former disowning a resignation letter he purportedly wrote in March, as he claimed he remains the legitimate mayor for the town.
Minister Moyo confirmed writing to the municipality yesterday.
“He was not fired from being mayor. He can only be fired or removed in terms of the Constitution or if there is a tribunal set of which I haven’t put any. What it means is that since he has been reinstated, he returns to the office of the Mayor,” said Minister Moyo.
The letter the Minister wrote reads in part: “It’s been brought to my attention that on May 7, 2020 at a meeting of Victoria Falls Municipality an election was held for the position of mayor of the town of Victoria Falls. Please note that in terms of Section 48 and 103 of the Urban Councils Act, a mayor is elected to the office after a general election and holds office until an election or until a successor is appointed. The Constitution in Section 278 provides for the due processes for the removal of a mayor or councillor and following my evenly referenced letter dated 5 May 2020, Clr Somveli Dlamini was reinstated as a councillor. As such, there is no provision for an election of a new mayor as Clr Dlamini regains his post until the end of his term of office.
“In terms of Section 316, I hereby order that the election of a new mayor of Victoria Falls is nullified and Clr Dlamini continues in the office of mayor.”
Minister Moyo reinstated Clr Dlamini as a councillor for Ward 9 last Thursday, on the basis of a letter written to him by Mr Douglas Mwonzora, who is secretary general of the MDC-T, as per the recent Supreme Court ruling which recognised Dr Thokozani Khupe as the party leader.
The local authority’s other 10 councillors had quickly replaced him with Clr Mguni in the mayor’s office saying he comes back as an ordinary councillor because he resigned.
Clr Dlamini, who had been in the political doldrums since February 24 when the MDC-Alliance leadership expelled him on allegations of violating party rules and disrespecting protocol, said he never resigned.
He dismissed last week’s election as null and void, saying the meeting was bogus.
Clr Dlamini has accused the MDC-Alliance of forcing him to sign the alleged resignation letter, an assertion dismissed by the party’s secretary Mr Charlton Hwende. The 10 councillors yesterday convened an urgent closed-door meeting before Minister Moyo’s letter to the council, where they resolved to rally behind Clr Mguni.
Clr Dlamini said he was not invited and only got to know about the meeting when he visited the municipal offices when the meeting was underway. Ward 1 Clr Margaret Varley, who is MDC-Alliance chief whip in council, called the meeting.
The nullification of Clr Mguni’s election means that he leaves before being sworn in and only five days after his election.
Clr Mguni said he had nothing against Clr Dlamini.
Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the municipality will abide by Government directive.
THIEVES broke into Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo and stole donated equipment which includes a compressor and borehole components.
The value of the stolen equipment could not be immediately established last night.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the theft, saying investigations were underway.
“We are investigating a theft case in which unknown suspects cut off a fence at Ekusileni Medical Centre this morning (yesterday) at around 4AM to access the premises. They stole a compressor and a water pump, which was connected to a JoJo tank and we are yet to ascertain the value of the stolen equipment,” he said.
Insp Ncube said no arrests have been made so far.
“As police, we are urging members of the public with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to inform us or contact any nearest police station,” he said.
Bulawayo acting provincial medical director Dr Welcome Mlilo said they are still assessing the value of the stolen equipment.
“I can confirm that there is some donated equipment which was stolen at Ekusileni Medical Centre, but I cannot authoritatively give you detailed information in terms of the value of the property and the exact quantities and police are currently seized with the matter,” he said.
The stolen equipment is part of the goods donated by well-wishers to fight Covid-19.
Ekusileni Medical Centre, a brainchild of late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, is one of the hospitals identified by Government in Bulawayo as Covid-19 treatment and isolation centre. The hospital has over the last few weeks been receiving donated equipment from various organisations and individuals.
A group of individuals, churches and the business community under the banner “I-am-4-Bulawayo-Fighting-Covid-19” is working towards mobilising US$10,5 million to fund the setting up of coronavirus testing and isolation centres in Bulawayo.
The initiative is focusing on capacitating Ekusileni Medical Centre, Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital and Mater Dei Hospital into fully equipped testing, isolation and treatment centres for Covid-19 as part of efforts to complement Government in the fight against the spread of the deadly global pandemic.
Several companies have been coming in with various equipment to be installed at the identified Bulawayo hospitals.
State Media|THE Covid-19 testing laboratory in Bulawayo is struggling to clear a backlog of cases after being overwhelmed with samples following increased tests nationally, a development that is also affecting retests to establish whether patients have recovered.
Sources said at some point, the backlog had surpassed 500 cases.
The backlog is even affecting suspected Covid-19 patients who are told to self-isolate while waiting for results.
As of yesterday afternoon, Bulawayo had 12 positive Covid-19 cases and one of them was fatal.
The situation has seen Bulawayo delaying retesting the 11 other Covid-19 patients to check if they have recovered.
Bulawayo’s Covid-19 testing started at Mpilo Central Hospital’s National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory last month after the National University of Science and Technology’s (Nust) Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) moved in some of its equipment to complement Government efforts in fighting the pandemic.
The laboratory is supposed to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Midlands and Masvingo.
Acting Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director Dr Welcome Mlilo confirmed the surge in Covid-19 samples which the laboratory was not capacitated to handle.
Dr Mlilo declined to reveal the actual number of samples yet to be tested.
“The ministry’s directive to increase testing occurred when our lab was not well capacitated to deal with that sudden jump on the number of tests. So, we are now putting things in place to normalise the situation. We are now optimising our lab which involves taking some testing components from labs around the country as part of Covid-19 response. We are engaging other labs with components that they are not using but that are suitable for testing,” said Dr Mlilo.
He said he could not immediately reveal some of the required consumables as they required laboratory scientists to properly explain.
Dr Mlilo said he did not have the actual date of when the numbers started increasing.
“I do not have the dates but it happened when we started testing everyone when Government said we should test all frontline workers, everyone admitted to hospitals so the samples increased. But we are now reacting to that and we are putting all components in place and we should be operating optimally by the end of the week. The lab struggled to deal with that number so we are realigning our system to deal with surge in numbers,” Dr Mlilo.
Speaking during the acceptance of two ventilators donated by Harare City Council at City Hall yesterday, Bulawayo City Council health director Dr Edwin Sibanda said challenges at the Covid-19 testing laboratory in Bulawayo were delaying confirmations status of Covid-19 patients in the city.
“All our Covid-19 patients are stable but we are waiting for the labs to certify them. The biggest challenge with this outbreak is that the laboratory is central to the diagnosis and discharge of patients.
“We can’t say you have Covid-19 or you don’t until we test you and that applies also to discharging patients. So, some of these patients do not feel anything, some never felt anything but the point is tests showed that they have the virus,” said Dr Sibanda.
“It is the lab which should also confirm that they no longer have the virus. And now once you have a problem at the lab it means you cannot tell if they are recovering or not.
“The labs must function for this whole thing to work. Because even after testing, you still need to retest to establish if patients are negative. All our patients are due for retesting, and samples have gone. The principle of discharge is saying we must test you after 14 days.”
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, a positive patient needs to be tested twice after 24 hours to confirm whether they have recovered.
Said Dr Sibanda: “If found negative the first time we have to wait a minimum of 24 hours and repeat the PCR test. If the two tests which are a minimum of 24 hours apart show that you are negative then you are discharged or classified as recovered. For some the first test was collected and still has not been processed hence there is no point in going for the second one before results are out.”
State Media|The High Court has castigated high-profile individuals facing corruption charges for abusing bail conditions, seeking passports for travel for medical or business reasons not revealed in the original bail application and thus rendering the court-imposed restrictions ineffective.
The court also noted that some said they were too ill to stand trial, but were able to run around and travel.
When setting bail conditions for those with resources to travel easily and who are facing serious charges, the courts normally seek more than just cash bail, also wanting the surety of the accused person’s up-market home and especially stopping them from leaving Zimbabwe or living in another country. They usually have to frequently call at a police station near their home to prove they are still in the country.
Justice Pisirayi Kwenda yesterday made a scathing attack on former Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) chairperson Stanley Nyasha Kazhanje and former Zimbabwe National Road Administration chief executive Frank Chitukutuku. Both approached the High Court separately, and in the end unsuccessfully, seeking the temporary release of their travel documents.
Kazhanje, is out on bail pending his High Court appeal against both conviction and sentence for allegedly concealing a US$10 000 payment he received from Intratrek Zimbabwe chief executive Wicknell Chivayo, a conviction that earned him a one-year jail term. He wanted to have his passport returned to enable him travel to Mozambique on a business trip.
Chitukutuku is on bail pending trial and had asked for the release of his passport to travel to South Africa to seek urgent medical treatment. He is charged with abusing his office by corruptly influencing the awarding of contracts worth US$20 million for the rehabilitation of roads to Fremus Enterprisers (Pvt) Ltd without following tender procedures.
Delivering the ruling in the case of Kazhanje, Justice Kwenda noted the former ZPC boss had systematically subverted the conditions of his recognisance under the guise of temporary variations.
It was the court’s view that every condition of bail was there to serve a particular purpose separate and distinct from that served by the other conditions.
“All the conditions work together as a unit to ensure that the accused person or the convict does not flee or is incentivised to stand trial or prosecute his appeal,” said Justice Kwenda. “Bail conditions are not tradeable commodities.”
The court, he said, did not operate the commercial activity of barter and would only alter the bail conditions if it was of the opinion that it was necessary to do so.
Justice Kwenda also took a judicial notice of the recent abuse of the temporary release of passports and waiver of reporting conditions by the high-profile individuals facing trial on corruption charges whose matters have come before the higher court.
“The fugitives are incapacitated by illness to attend court and yet alive and kicking for other purposes,” he said.
“While the accused can flee the jurisdiction without a passport, it is difficult to lawfully live in a foreign country without a passport. Therefore, the holding on to the passport acts as a restraint,” he said dismissing the application.
The court also made similar observations on Chitukutuku, who could not explain why he failed to advise the court at his initial bail hearing that he required his passport to travel to South Africa for specialist treatment every three months.
Thus, the judge said, a suspect who withholds information known to him at his or her bail application does so at his or her peril because they will not benefit from the restricted powers provided under the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act to vary the conditions. The court found no merit in Chitukutuku’s application and declined his request for the temporary release of his passport.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa with the Chinese Doctors
State Media|The team of 12 Chinese medical experts in Zimbabwe to share knowledge and experiences in the fight against Covid-19 yesterday met President Mnangagwa at State House, where Zimbabwe’s commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation with Beijing was restated.
The team arrived on Monday with a large consignment of test kits and protective equipment required in the fight against the pandemic.
According to Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Guo Shaochun, the team is the first to be sent to a Southern African country by China, not because the situation in Harare is dire, but due to close bilateral relations between the two countries.
In his remarks, President Mnangagwa said the medical team was free to visit all parts of the country to see how best they could assist.
“I want to assure of the readiness of the Government and people of the Republic of Zimbabwe to work with you and make your stay a pleasant one in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe and China enjoy excellent relations dating back to the days of our liberation struggle for independence and this gesture by your working visit attests to the determination by both nations to deepen bilateral cooperation,” said President Mnangagwa.
“You are therefore at home away from home. Your visit comes at a time when my country is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic. You should be free to visit wherever you want to visit. Ask questions you want to ask. We don’t have all the answers for all your questions but we will do our best to make you understand our situation so that you know how to assist us.”
President Mnangagwa said he was confident that Zimbabwe’s medical experts and frontline health personnel would learn from the Chinese team’s experience in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The experiences will also benefit the region, since member States are collaborating and coordinating their response.
“I would like to express my deep, profound gratitude to my dear brother His Excellency Xi Jinping, the President of the People’s Republic of China for the support he has continuously rendered to the people of Zimbabwe in the fight against Covid-19. Zimbabwe is under sanctions for nearly two decades but during the entire period, the People’s Republic of China and now, in particular, His Excellency President Xi Jinping has stood by us and for that we feel grateful,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the support that Zimbabwe continues to receive from China was testimony of the excellent bilateral relations that exist between the two countries.
Responding to President Mnangagwa’s remarks, Ambassador Guo said the coming of medical experts was an important action taken by the Chinese government to support Zimbabwe in the fight against Covid-19.
“In the face of difficulties, we always stand with the Zimbabwean Government and Zimbabwean people,” he said.
Zimbabwe and China enjoy a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation and in face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the two countries have been fighting side by side.
Ambassador Guo called on all countries to cooperate with the World Health Organisation in its efforts to investigate the origins of the coronavirus. Global scientists have not reached a conclusion regarding the origins of coronavirus, and Ambassador Guo discouraged people from relying on conspiracy theories.
Ambassador Guo said the Chinese government was taking good care for African nationals living China.
The Chinese team comes from Hunan province, and were among the Chinese medical staff involved in China’s successful battle against the pandemic almost from the start.
The Zimbabwean government is managing the COVID-19 pandemic better than other regional countries owing to the assistance from China, according to officials.
“We have a good relationship with China and the moment we heard about the pandemic, we started monitoring closely.
“We got medical expert advise and some Chinese handbook, that’s why we seem to be doing better than other regional countries,” Deputy Health Minister Dr. John Mangwiro said.
South Africa is the worst virus-hit country in the Southern African Development Community region with over 11 000 confirmed cases, 4,400 recoveries and 206 deaths.
Zambia confirmed 267 cases, 117 recovered and seven deaths and their graph keeps pointing upwards, while Zimbabwe registered 37 confirmed cases, 12 recoveries and four deaths so far.
Zimbabwe maintained a clean sheet for an entire week on April 30-May 7, before new cases were recorded again.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania are some of the countries in the region with high number of COVID-19 cases, according to the WHO.
But despite its health delivery system battling with shortages of medical supplies, personal protective equipment for health professionals, and even salaries for doctors and nurses, Zimbabwe is doing much better.
Referring to the reason of the country’s low numbers, Mangwiro said: “All we are doing is to follow the World Health Organizations (WHO) guidelines, taking from what the Chinese did in Wuhan and other regions.”
He added: “As the government, it’s our duty to let people know the truth, our figures are coming from proper tests and the results are there for all to see.”
Zimbabwe closed its borders and airports on March 30 when it announced its first 21-day lockdown with restricted movements and a ban of church, sports, and leisure gatherings.
The lockdown was later extended for another 14 days with a relaxed approach to allow businesses to start operating, but testing of all workers is mandatory while a new law that criminalize non-wearing of a mask is now in place.
After originating in China last December, COVID-19 has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.
The pandemic has killed over 290,000 worldwide, with total infections more than 4 million, while recoveries exceeded 1.5 million, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.
The lead in the battle against Covid-19 has yet again changed hands from the Vice Presidency and is now head-quartered in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Dr Agnes Mahomva has been moved from the post of Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care to become Chief Coordinator of the National Response to the Covid-19 pandemic with immediate effect.
Prior to the responsibility being given to Vice Presidency in particular Kembo Mohadi, it was being run by Health Minister Obadiah Moyo who was since relegated to a spectator in the country’s fight against the Coronavirus.
Explaining the move, Chief Secretary to President Mnangagwa and cabinet, Dr Misheck Sibanda said the Coronavirus management needed central control by “high-level medical expertise and professional leadership to advise the President and Government on the full range of health matters and recommend actions and to ensure that there is efficient administration of the required multi-agency effort and response.”
In a statement yesterday, Sibanda said: “The post has been created after due consideration of the work of the ad hoc Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Covid-19, which has indicated the need for an evidence based, and coordinated division of labour between and among Government agencies and other significant entities, as the country acts to prevent, manage and contain cases of infection and illness relating to the virus.”
Ordinarily, all the responsibilities and expertise that Sibanda highlighted are what should be with the Minister of Health and Child Care.
Dr Sibanda belittled Dr Obadiah Moyo when he indicated that Dr Mahomva is bringing extensive knowledge and experience both from her work in Government and from her previous assignments in the country, and in regional and global health organisations.
“As the Government’s principal technical spokesperson on efforts to combat the Covid-19 threat, Dr Mahomva has been on the frontline in defining Government strategy and in providing guidance to the public on behavioural adjustments needed to protect the populace against the spread of the pandemic, as well as on necessary health protocols that must be followed when dealing with cases, both suspected and established, of infection,” said Dr Sibanda.
He added: “Dr Mahomva’s leadership is critical in coordinating the country’s expertise in medical, epidemiology and related research and practices, and intensifying activities in the area of public health at a time when the country is contending with a formidable health threat.”
Dr Mahomva, he said, would also be responsible for ensuring synergies in activities relating to the logistical, resource mobilisation, materials production and distribution, protective services and monitoring functions in the fight against Covid-19.
An announcement on the appointment of a new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care would be made in due course.
ZIFA and a number of former Masvingo United players have mourned the death of prominent businessman Tanda ‘Mhunga’ Tavaruva, who died at his Masvingo home on Monday afternoon after a long battle with diabetes and hypertension.
He was 84. In its condolence message, Zifa said the late Tavaruva was a man, who embodied football, not only in Masvingo, but in Zimbabwe as a whole. It said he had a passion for the game as well as the upliftment of the society through creation of employment across the business and sporting sectors.
“He lived for the game, loved the game and most importantly ensured it contributed to the welfare of thousands of families in and around Masvingo through his transport, farming and football investments.
“We cannot mention the Premier Soccer League and indeed Zimbabwean football without mentioning Mhunga and Masvingo United. Today we mourn the passing away of another giant in football,” said Zifa communications and competitions manager Xolisani Gwesela. Some former Masvingo United players also mourned the death of Tavaruva.
The former players took to social media to express their condolences to the man, who laid a foundation for their careers, with South Africa-based Ovidy Karuru saying what made it even more painful was that they will not be able to be present at the burial of the man they regarded as their father due to travel restrictions caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
“Tanda Tavaruva, Mudhara Mhunga. God why now when we can’t travel to pay our last respects? I can’t be there to pay my last respect to the man who made me who I am today, no words. Rest In Peace baba vangu, another angel called to heaven,” wrote Karuru on Facebook.
Blessing Gumiso, who had a season at the side described the late Tavaruva as a football loving person, who was always jovial and cracked jokes with players.
“Rest in peace our football father. It was a blessing playing a season for Masvingo, Una Una. I shall forever cherish you. I remember when you used to come to camp with a big envelope full of bonuses asking for a win before games and you would crack jokes before leaving. Until we meet again,” wrote Gumiso.
Other former players like Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Johnson Zimbabe and India-based Simbarashe Gate also expressed their condolences on the passing away of the businessman.
Tavaruva owned and funded one of the most talented Masvingo United sides that went within a whisker of landing the Premiership title.- State media
THE Zanu PF leadership here has recommended that Masvingo bus operator Tanda “Mhunga” Tavaruva be accorded provincial liberation war hero status in recognition of the sterling job he did in aiding the fight for independence.
Tavaruva (84) succumbed to diabetes and hypertension at his Rhodene home on Monday afternoon, having been unwell for a long time.
His son, Godfrey Tavaruva, yesterday said the bus operator would be buried tomorrow at Mangwandi Cemetery.
“We agreed as a family that burial will take place on Thursday. His wish was to buried next to his late son (Denis) who is buried there and a grave had long been reserved for that.”
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chair and Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira confirmed that they had formally applied to the party national headquarters, asking for Tavaruva to be accorded provincial liberation war hero status.
He expressed optimism that the party national leadership would agree to honour Tavaruva because of the role he played during the struggle for independence and in the post-independence era.
He said besides supporting the liberation war effort by clothing and financing guerrillas from his base in Zambia, Tavaruva was also a towering figure in the sphere of transport and agriculture in post-independent Zimbabwe.
“Tavaruva deserves to be honoured not only because of the role he played for Zimbabwe to become independent, but also for founding one of the biggest public transport companies in Masvingo and Zimbabwe, that created employment for thousands of people. He was one of the biggest employers in Masvingo, running arguably the biggest firm in the city.
“In the social sphere he founded Masvingo United Football Club bringing smiles to the Masvingo community.
His shadow was everywhere across Masvingo hence the call to honour him as a hero for Masvingo,” said Chadzamira.-State media
The trial of Marry Mubaiwa on assault charges had to be postponed yesterday as some witnesses were observing the lockdown in their rural homes and cannot travel.
Mubaiwa, the estranged wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, is accused of assaulting the family maid, Delight Munyoro, at Hellenic School in Borrowdale following an altercation over the custody of children.
The State, led by Mr Charles Muchemwa and Mr Teddy Kamuriwo, proposed to postpone the case to June 20.
Since Mubaiwa had already been booked for surgery for June, the trial was deferred to July 27.
Mubaiwa, through her lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, indicated she was supposed to undergo a medical operation for injuries sustained in the Bulawayo blast at White City Stadium in 2018.
The operation had been scheduled for June since it was assumed the assault trial would be over by then.
Mubaiwa appeared in court before regional magistrate Mr Trynois Utahwashe. The State consented to the trial running from July 27 to 30.
Mr Muchemwa said: “Your Worship, this matter was supposed to be coming for trial today, but some members of the public are not yet allowed to come to court.
“The investigating officer has said the witnesses travelled to their rural homes where they are during lockdown and because of that, we are unable to proceed with trial today.
“We had suggested June 20 but I am advised by the defence that the accused person will be undergoing an operation during that period and they will be submitting the proof tomorrow.”
Ms Mtetwa confirmed the development saying: “Your Worship, it is correct that today (yesterday) was the day for trial commencement, but we were told that witnesses are not available.
“The State had proposed a new date that is June 20, but my client is supposed to undergo an operation during the same month. “The operation is due to the injuries she sustained during the Bulawayo blast.
Also by June 20, she would not have fully recovered,” she said.-State media
NEWS REVIEW: ARREST WARRANTS FOR ZANU PF PROXIES, PROGRESS | ASSASSINATION VIDEO EMERGES | CABINET BRIEFINGS:watch video below for an update on the above items :
Farai Dziva|The Ministry of Health and Childcare has announced that 12 people have recovered from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Below is the Health Ministry’s latest update:
As of the 11 May 2020, 4006 257 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 278 892 deaths have been reported from more than 210 countries/ territories globally (WHO Situation report 112).
The Ministry would like to report that today, 740 rapid screening tests and 670 PCR tests were done in the public sector.
Additionally, 94 rapid screening tests and 56 PCR tests were done in the private sector giving a total of 834 rapid screening tests and 726 PCR tests done today.
One of the PCR tests done in Harare today was positive for COVID-19, whilst all the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19. More details on the latest case to be given in tomorrow’s update.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has thirty-seven confirmed cases, including twelve recoveries and four deaths.
Cumulatively, a total of 12 498 rapid screening tests and 10 598 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date… The latest recoveries include 3 cases from Harare.
These were confirmed through two consecutive PCR negative tests from samples taken at least 24 hrs apart in line with the WHO guidance.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise good personal hygiene, always wear a face mask in public places and exercise social distancing. For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.
Police are intending to interview 32 Zifa councillors that were allegedly paid bribes ahead of the 2018 Zifa elections that ushered in Felton Kamambo as Zifa president and Gift Banda as his deputy.
The bribe money totalling just over $8 000 was paid by one of the candidates for the Zifa executive committee post and the suspect (name supplied) has since given a recorded statement to the police in Harare. The official exchange rate then was one-to-one to the United States dollar.
He claimed the money was for “lunch and other incidentals”.
“Had it not been for the lockdown due to Covid-19, we could have covered a lot of ground. These councillors are spread all over. Some are provincial chairmen, others regional chairmen and members of those leagues.
“It’s a shame and from our preliminary investigations those elections were just a farce. One of the candidates, we are told was paying in cash, which makes it difficult to prove, but one councillor is a willing witness,” said a police source.
The source said a total of $8 110 was paid to the councillors via mobile money transfer system, with figures ranging from $400 to $1 700, depending on the influence that each individual councillor was deemed to have.
Three of the “highly influential councillors” who got over a $1 000 each are said to be in Harare, Bulawayo and Matabeleland North provinces (names supplied).
“We have also recorded statements from a former executive committee member, who said procedurally, the association takes care of the candidates’ meals, accommodation and so-called incidentials, so we shall be keen to get clarity on why this individual used his own money,” said the source.
Kamambo stunned then incumbent and businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, getting 35 votes to Chiyangwa’s 24.
Constitutionally, the winner was supposed to garner at least two thirds of the vote, but after amassing 35 to Chiyangwa’s 24, the latter withdrew his candidature just before a re-run was conducted.
Just like Chiyangwa, the then incumbent vice-president Omega Sibanda also fell by the wayside, losing 22-37 to Banda. Phillemon Machana was the only one re-elected to the board.
New faces elected in those elections were Manica Diamonds secretary-general Sugar Chagonda, Rodrick Chamu Chiwanza and Brighton Malandule.
Chiwanza has since been expelled from the Zifa executive committee after being found guilty of misrepresentation, claiming he possessed eight years of football administration experience.-state media/herald
Farai Dziva|The Ministry of Health and Childcare has announced that 12 people have recovered from the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
Below is the Health Ministry’s latest update:
As of the 11 May 2020, 4006 257 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 278 892 deaths have been reported from more than 210 countries/ territories globally (WHO Situation report 112).
The Ministry would like to report that today, 740 rapid screening tests and 670 PCR tests were done in the public sector.
Additionally, 94 rapid screening tests and 56 PCR tests were done in the private sector giving a total of 834 rapid screening tests and 726 PCR tests done today.
One of the PCR tests done in Harare today was positive for COVID-19, whilst all the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19. More details on the latest case to be given in tomorrow’s update.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has thirty-seven confirmed cases, including twelve recoveries and four deaths.
Cumulatively, a total of 12 498 rapid screening tests and 10 598 PCR diagnostic tests have been done to date… The latest recoveries include 3 cases from Harare.
These were confirmed through two consecutive PCR negative tests from samples taken at least 24 hrs apart in line with the WHO guidance.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-19 pandemic and would like to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practise good personal hygiene, always wear a face mask in public places and exercise social distancing. For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.
One major challenge that football has faced and will continue to face is sponsorship.
In African countries like Zimbabwe many youngsters oozing with talent have their dreams shattered due to this challenge.
Sponsoring football in Zimbabwe is a matter of giving without receiving because it goes along with very few if not no benefits at all. It takes great passion of the game, selflessness and love for the community to sponsor a competitive soccer team in Zimbabwe.
Such was the calibre of Tanda Tavaruva of the popular Mhunga Buses.
Masvingo is a town with a lot of talented youngsters as well as a legion of football lovers.Many sponsors including individuals, companies and renowned organisations tried to support and motivate the football fraternity but found the going getting tough and abandoned the projects along the way. Up stepped Mudhara Mhunga with his financial support to sponsor the mighty Masvingo United FC affectionately known as Una Una(Asipo haapo).
The dawning of Una Una provided a fertile ground for Masvingo’s aspiring footballers to showcase their talents and pursue their dreams. Many football players managed to see the world by standing on Mudhara Mhunga’s shoulders.Of note is Costa Nhamoinesu who even played in the UEFA champions league.The players did not only benefit through exposure but financially, educationally and socially. The list of beneficiaries is endless.Of note are Loyd Hlahla, Maxwell Chambara, Roland Madziva(the late), Asmin Rupanga, Raymond Undi, Godfey Dondo, Joe Kwangware, Douglas Zimbango, Johnson Zimbabe etc.
The impact of Tanda Tavaruva on the football fraternity was so great that it was felt internationally.
The team attracted very good players from as far as Zambia who include Ronnie Musakanye, Kingsley Ntosha, Ferdinand Mwachindalo, Chewe Mulenga, David Mutale etc.
During Masvingo United’s stint in the Premier League, big teams such as Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United did not enjoy playing the games at Mucheke Stadium because it was Una Una’ s hunting ground with it’s legion of supporters rallying behind their team.
During Una Una’s games on Sundays, Tanda Tavaruva proved to be the number one supporter.
Clad in his vintage suits and trademark scotch chicken-featheŕ decorate hat, he would support the team throughout the full 90 minute game.
Fare thee well Mudhara Mhunga!For the love of the game!For the sacrifice you made!For lives that you positively changed!For the smiling faces that you brought to Masvingo community!For the positive contribution towards the beautiful game!For the humble nature that you displayed!May your soul rest in peace! God bless!
The columnist Mugova Benjamin Makanyire is a football enthusiast, football junior and top flight coach, Fifa grassroots coaching ambassador,sports medicine practitioner, educationist. Contacts:0775132439, email:mugomakanyire@gmail.com
Farai Dziva|The struggle for democracy and real change is unstoppable, MDC Alliance Parliamentarians have declared.
Read below the MDC Alliance Parliamentary Caucus Communique:
The Parliamentary Caucus of the MDC Alliance met yesterday and noted the worsening economic crisis in Zimbabwe, destruction of the people’s livelihoods and the closure of democratic space in particular the systematic attack on the MDC Alliance, its leadership and Members of Parliament.
The Caucus recognised the need to continue with the defence of the Zimbabwean Constitution, the MDC Alliance’s Constitutional right of existence and it’s objective of pursuing democratic transformation in our country.
The Caucus recommitted its allegiance to the people of Zimbabwe who voted for the MDC Alliance, commitment to the MDC Alliance and it’s leadership led by Adv Nelson Chamisa and expressed solidarity with the expelled leaders of the caucus and put it’s weight behind them.
The Caucus unanimously agreed to support the decision by the leadership of the party to suspend all Parliamentary activities pending consultation of the structures, general membership and Zimbabweans at large.
The meeting resolved to use all available avenues to fight the injustice.
Parliamentarians however resolved to continue being of service to the Zimbabwean people in the fight against COVID-19.
MPs will continue to provide leadership on community initiatives meant to alleviate the plight being faced by vulnerable people in different constituencies particular in respect of food shortages during the current lockdown period.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has remained defiant after being accused of “misrepresenting facts.”
Mutodi accused his boss, Monica Mutsvangwa, of abusing ZBC.Mutodi was responding to an article in which government distanced itself from his remarks about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mutodi responded: “This shows gross incompetence at the ZBC and it also goes on to show how Monica and her husband Chris are abusing the state media.”
See below the full version of the ZBC story :
GOVERNMENT has distanced itself from statements purportedly made by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Energy Mutodi on measures taken by Tanzania to contain Covid-19.
The said statement, said the Government, does not reflect its position nor policy.
In a statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr Sibusiso Moyo said the Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that were adopted by President John Magufuli to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Tanzania.
“I make reference to the message of 4 May 2020 purported to have been posted on Twitter by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Honourable Dr E. Mutodi in which he compared the measures against Covid-19 adopted by the head of state of Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
“I wish to make it clear that this statement does not reflect the Government’s position nor policy.
“The Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that the President of United Republic of Tanzania His Excellency John Magufuli adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 in his country.
“Taking into account the unique domestic environment and other factors prevailing on the ground, indeed, no two individual countries have the same set of environment and conditions to warrant the adopting of a uniform response to disease outbreaks and other crises,” he said.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe is not in competition with any member state.
“Each government is implementing policies that best suit their unique domestic environments in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The Government is working in close partnership with SADC and African Union Member States as well as with other interested international co-operating partners to fight this global pandemic.
In this context, there was no basis whatsoever, to compare the policies of the two Presidents.
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Energy Mutodi has remained defiant after being accused of “misrepresenting facts.”
Mutodi accused his boss, Monica Mutsvangwa, of abusing ZBC.Mutodi was responding to an article in which government distanced itself from his remarks about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mutodi responded: “This shows gross incompetence at the ZBC and it also goes on to show how Monica and her husband Chris are abusing the state media.”
See below the full version of the ZBC story :
GOVERNMENT has distanced itself from statements purportedly made by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Energy Mutodi on measures taken by Tanzania to contain Covid-19.
The said statement, said the Government, does not reflect its position nor policy.
In a statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr Sibusiso Moyo said the Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that were adopted by President John Magufuli to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Tanzania.
“I make reference to the message of 4 May 2020 purported to have been posted on Twitter by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Honourable Dr E. Mutodi in which he compared the measures against Covid-19 adopted by the head of state of Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
“I wish to make it clear that this statement does not reflect the Government’s position nor policy.
“The Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that the President of United Republic of Tanzania His Excellency John Magufuli adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 in his country.
“Taking into account the unique domestic environment and other factors prevailing on the ground, indeed, no two individual countries have the same set of environment and conditions to warrant the adopting of a uniform response to disease outbreaks and other crises,” he said.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe is not in competition with any member state.
“Each government is implementing policies that best suit their unique domestic environments in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The Government is working in close partnership with SADC and African Union Member States as well as with other interested international co-operating partners to fight this global pandemic.
In this context, there was no basis whatsoever, to compare the policies of the two Presidents.
Farai Dziva| A 62-year-old Masvingo woman has claimed she got married on Mother’s Day after administering “Prophet” Makomichi’s ” anointed love potion herb” for three days.
The woman who identified herself as ” The Relieved One” posted her testimony on Makomichi’s social media group.
Makomichi distributes what he calls the “anointed love potion herb” to women and girls across the country- for free.
Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust.
In her testimony the woman said : I got married at 62 when I had given up hope of finding love.
I can’t really explain what happened but I got married on Mother’s Day after administering the anointed love potion herb for only three days.My husband is 70 and we are beginning to enjoy ourselves together. I know people will not believe what I am saying but who cares ? I am a relieved woman after all.
I was a frustrated woman having tried to get married four times without success. I really thank the prophet for giving me the anointed herb for free.
I know some church leaders are sceptical of the herb but my message is clear, there is nothing sinister, it is really genuine.
I can’t recall how many times I fasted in my life.I also applied different types of anointing oil to avail.
Those who are really desperate to get married should contact the prophet on 0777469342.
GOVERNMENT has distanced itself from statements purportedly made by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Energy Mutodi on measures taken by Tanzania to contain Covid-19.
The said statement, said the Government, does not reflect its position nor policy.
In a statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr Sibusiso Moyo said the Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that were adopted by President John Magufuli to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Tanzania.
“I make reference to the message of 4 May 2020 purported to have been posted on Twitter by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Honourable Dr E. Mutodi in which he compared the measures against Covid-19 adopted by the head of state of Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
“I wish to make it clear that this statement does not reflect the Government’s position nor policy.
“The Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that the President of United Republic of Tanzania His Excellency John Magufuli adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 in his country.
“Taking into account the unique domestic environment and other factors prevailing on the ground, indeed, no two individual countries have the same set of environment and conditions to warrant the adopting of a uniform response to disease outbreaks and other crises,” he said.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe is not in competition with any member state.
“Each government is implementing policies that best suit their unique domestic environments in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The Government is working in close partnership with SADC and African Union Member States as well as with other interested international co-operating partners to fight this global pandemic.
In this context, there was no basis whatsoever, to compare the policies of the two Presidents. — ZBC News Online.
GOVERNMENT has distanced itself from statements purportedly made by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Energy Mutodi on measures taken by Tanzania to contain Covid-19.
The said statement, said the Government, does not reflect its position nor policy.
In a statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Dr Sibusiso Moyo said the Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that were adopted by President John Magufuli to contain the spread of Covid-19 in Tanzania.
“I make reference to the message of 4 May 2020 purported to have been posted on Twitter by the Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Honourable Dr E. Mutodi in which he compared the measures against Covid-19 adopted by the head of state of Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
“I wish to make it clear that this statement does not reflect the Government’s position nor policy.
“The Government of Zimbabwe fully respects the sovereign measures that the President of United Republic of Tanzania His Excellency John Magufuli adopted to contain the spread of Covid-19 in his country.
“Taking into account the unique domestic environment and other factors prevailing on the ground, indeed, no two individual countries have the same set of environment and conditions to warrant the adopting of a uniform response to disease outbreaks and other crises,” he said.
Dr Moyo said Zimbabwe is not in competition with any member state.
“Each government is implementing policies that best suit their unique domestic environments in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The Government is working in close partnership with SADC and African Union Member States as well as with other interested international co-operating partners to fight this global pandemic.
In this context, there was no basis whatsoever, to compare the policies of the two Presidents. — ZBC News Online.
By Fanuel Chinowaita| Police in Mutare have dispersed MDC Alliance councillors who were doing their caucus meeting from their party Office today.
MDC Alliance Councillors wanted to see if there’s anyone who has crossed line to Zanu pf funded MDC led by Thokozani Khupe, Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi.
Speaking to Mutare Councillors they said they will not revoke their unwavering support to the MDC Alliance and their President Nelson Chamisa.
“We are all clear on MDC Alliance and President Nelson Chamisa. Almost everyone has attended except for Councillor Chabuka who gave an apology.
“Out of 18 Councillors 17 have attended, the 19th Councillor is an independent one”, said Deputy Chief whip Councillor John Nyamhoka.
When we contacted Councillor Chabuka why he did not attend the caucus, he gave an apology and said he was at work in Harare.
He sent the following statement:
“Ladies and gentlemen, cdes and friends, the esteemed provincial leadership of Manicaland and all party leadership for Manicaland Province.
I have failed to attend this great and grand meeting as I am in Harare and was attending to court. I have also encountered transport challenges but I wanted to be with you.
“I belong to MDC ALLIANCE as led by Our President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and his executive.
“I also belong to the Manicaland Provincial Leadership of Hon Prosper C Mutseyami and his entire executive.
“May my apology and my affirmation to the leadership of Advocate N Chamisa and his executive and that of Manicaland Provincial Executive as led by Hon P C Mutseyami be read.
“Yours in Struggle Cllr Simon Chabuka (Ward 12).”
The actions by the police details can be viewed as political because last weeked the same police details allowed a loosing candidate and businessman Esau Mupfumi to do his meeting. Police was also deployed from Mutare Central to protect him.
Mupfumi is already campaigning to be the Member of Parliament for Chikanga Dangamvura after an MDC Alliance MP Prosper Mutseyami was unconstitutional recalled from the Parliament last week.
South African Health Minister Doctor Zweli Mkhize has dedicated International Nurses Day to the healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 and the nurses in South Africa who paid the ultimate price for it.
Mkhize was leading a virtual celebration of the day from the King Edward hospital in Durban on Tuesday.
Nurses’ selfless work was honoured across the country with candle lighting ceremonies.
International Nurses Day celebrates the dedicated contribution of nurses around the world. This year the focus is also on the brave nurses treating COVID-19 patients.
Mkhize has called on health workers not to lose hope, but to remain brave and gallant soldiers in fighting the pandemic:
Team 2020, a voluntary non profit association of activists concerned with administrative justice and devolution of employment opportunities, welcomes the resumption of Diploma in General Nursing May 2020 Intake interviews which are set to run from 11th to 15th May across the country’s 22 Nursing Schools.
In particular, Team 2020 congratulates the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) for decentralizing the interview process to all the nursing schools.
This is a departure from the January 2020 intake where United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and Parirenyatwa Hospital were the only interview centres. This decentralisation is a step in the right direction.
We further congratulate MOHCC for allowing shortlisted candidates to attend interviews at any interview center near them.
This is a welcome move in times of economic hardships, escalating transport costs and travel restrictions.
We would however be delighted if this becomes a permanent feature of the nursing students recruitment exercise.
Team 2020 notes a few but critical administrative challenges that need urgent attention.
We note that private hospitals like Hwange have been designated as interview centres but no MOHCC officials are present to conduct interviews. This has resulted in applicants from Hwange, Binga and Victoria Falls traveling in vain.
We further note that a number of applicants who were previously notified of successful shortlisting are being turned away by interviewing panels because their names are not appearing on the list given by MOHCC. Such proof of earlier communication on shortlisting as portal account notification or SMS are not being accepted by interviewing panels.
3) We further note that while the official requirements for registration include a maximum of two Ordinary Level sittings, some interview centres initially rejected those with two sittings.
4) There has been low turnout of candidates in rural interviewing centres such as St Anne’s in Mangwe District. This is despite excellent performance of O’ Level candidates in the area over the past few years.
This calls for MOHCC to locate every clinic and hospital as an information dissemination center for the nursing students recruitment process.
Further collaboration with Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education should result in the use of schools as information dissemination centers.
In conclusion, we reiterate our call for MOHCC to implement devolution of power in the nursing students recruitment process. Every nursing school must be allowed to manage it’s own applications portal just like universities do.
We further call upon MOHCC to develop internal capacity for website management in order to eliminate communication time delays incurred while consulting contractors at Chinhoyi University of Technology.
The ruling ZANU PF party has summoned two of its officials for a disciplinary hearing over allegations of stealing maize availed by the Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
Muzarabani Rural District Council chairperson Ashton Chiweshe and Mount Darwin councillor John Chakare (Zanu PF) allegedly stole the maize which was supposed to be distributed to vulnerable members of the community.
Mashonaland Central provincial party spokesperson Alfred Mufunga confirmed the pending disciplinary hearing for the officials. He said:
We have summoned the two for hearing this week and for now I cannot say much as we are waiting for the hearing.
Chiweshe, Muzarabani ward 25 councillor and accomplices Joseph Makaza (39), Ronald Mushango (22) and Jacob Chihuni (30) appeared before a magistrate in Mount Darwin in April over the matter.
They were however released after prosecutors revealed there were mistakes in their docket.
Reports allege that Chakare received 300 bags of maize from the GMB, but could not account for five bags valued at $1 025.
Press statement|Matabeleland Collective (MC) note with serious concern the statement by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) that there have been 25000 people arrested in Zimbabwe during COVID 19 Lock Down with the highest number 5914 from Bulawayo.
MC renews its call to the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to honour its commitment to investigate the ZRP for heavy handed tribal discriminatory Policing in the City of Kings.
MC demands an investigation in light of statistically high number of people arrested which is a trend also noted during the Shut Down 2019 where Bulawayo also scored the highest number of arrests. MC raises alarm that there is a high possibility of police abuse of office especially during times of conflict like this COVID 19 pandemic.
On 14-16 January 2019 during the Shut Down in Bulawayo there was alarmingly high number of arrests (500 adults and countless children) and hooliganism causing widespread looting throughout the City. MC noted that Police Officers and Soldiers were accused of encouraging looting and also that there was a high influx of people from outside the city who were leading criminal activities. MC called on the Government to investigate this but no investigation was ever convened.
Once again Lock Down 2020 there is widespread brutal beatings, arbitrary and excessive use of arrests. During this Lock Down period Police have also unnecessarily handcuffed people in pairs and putting them under risk of contracting COVID19. Arresting over 5914 people at this time is peculiar considering Government has an amnesty releasing prisoners. MC calls on the ZRP to consider other options and use minimum force so as to obey social distancing statutes at this time.
The investigation was promised to MC membership during a meeting with The President His Excellency E. D. Mnangagwa on 21 March 2019 and captured in the Implementation Matrix released on 9th April 2019 by Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The three month deadline for the investigation came and went without any action. Police Officers and Soldiers who were seen looting never faced any disciplinary action and residents witnessed them openly encouraging looting. Some residents felt Police did not protect them from hooliganism by thugs who set up illegal road blocks, demanding “Tolls” from pedestrians and motorists alike. Police Officers then over responded with massive arrests in the City which went on for months with arrests being made from list of names prepared without any investigation.
MC is also calling on residents of Bulawayo who were subjected to violent beating on 16 April 2020 to come forward to document their experiences. Some cases have also been exposed in the press. On this day in particular Police officers deployed around Bulawayo went on the rampage beating people in CDB and in suburbs. Some police officers said the crackdown on that particular day was said to be due to a visit to the city by Vice President Kembo Mohadi. Police Officer and Soldiers attacked people including those lawfully queuing with social distancing at Bureau de Change or Supermarkets.
Also on 16 April 2020 two sisters from Cowdray Park were brutally beaten after police randomly removed them from a queue at Supermarket in Cowdray Park. The women were subjected to inhuman degrading treatment which included tribally based insults on their womanhood and physical attributes. No investigations have been done to identify the culprits.
Banks and Bureau de Change were provided permission to open so people could access cash. Mauline Ngwenya of Iminyela heard this and on 16 April 2020, she went to Western Union in City Centre to get cash sent by her sister for her family’s food. She was in a queue with a ticket when a man joined behind her and proceeded to get a ticket to be served. He told Mauline that he had just been beaten at Fife Street Western Union branch but needed to get cash urgently. The crowd assured him that as long as they all had tickets to be served they would be safe. After some minutes Police officers and Soldiers arrived at this branch and the man said these were the ones who had beaten him. A few of those in the queue decided to run away than to chance it but they did not realise they were running in the direction of another group of Soldiers whom they accidentally collided with.
The soldiers ordered those in the fleeing group to lie down on the ground, face down. They then beat them with baton sticks. As they did so they asked, “Didn’t you hear the president saying you must not walk around town? We don’t want anyone in town. We went away and as we arrived at the bus stop there were more police and soldiers beating people trying to get transport home. People left the queue to walk home injured and in pain. The police beat everyone without giving any ear to any excuse. One old person who was going to UBH for their medication was beaten up and told to return home. Some who were in their work uniforms got beaten first before they were allowed to show their relevant authorisation letters. One of these was torn up by a Soldier who said I can’t read I am illiterate.”
Matabeleland Collective renew their request for an investigation into Policing in Bulawayo especially in light of the manner in which the Police use Gukurahundi style formats to do their work including tribal hatred targeting women and subjecting them to gender insensitive insults. The Zimbabwe Republic Police cannot continue to stir up trauma by this form of Policing in a region still living the pain of Gukurahundi 40 years later.
MC call on the Zimbabwe Republic Police to transparently identify Police Officers involved in use of excessive force on citizens and arbitrary arrests. Citizens will come forward to identify the Officers for prosecution.
MC call on Government through the appointed Ministries to appoint a commission of enquiry with some independent actions as part of it and complete the investigation within 3 months and publish findings within one month of submitting the draft report. The scope of the investigation should be Policing abuse of office and neglect of their service mandate to serve and protect.
ZANU PF Mashonaland Central has expelled their official Goodman Musariri who was recently taken to court for insulting president Emmerson Mnangagwa and endorsing his deputy vice President Constantine Chiwenga.
The party provincial spokesperson Alfred Mufunga confirmed.
“We expelled Musariri from the party for his gross misconduct after he imposed himself as Chairperson of Masimba district in Mazowe,” Mufunga said.
“His mission was to destroy the party we cannot have a party member who insults the president on social media that is totally unexpected hence he was expelled last weekend.”
Meanwhile, Musariri is on $300 bail for his alleged shenanigans after he called Mnangagwa to resign and Chiwenga to take over in their party WhatsApp group.
His WhatsApp messages denounced Mnangagwa while endorsing Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga to take over and the messages read as follows,”We agree that the likes of vaMnangagwa, who only has less than 18 years to live on this universe, must maximise his retirement time. After all, he has nothing to offer Zimbabwe except to loot it the more for 18 years,” one of the messages read.
“I recommend that General Chiwenga takes over and be at liberty to formulate a GNU [government of national unity] that will adopt meritocracy, pragmatism and honesty.
“Mnangagwa must resign or retire early and be given a golden handshake as constructive dismissal. He needs the maximum of 18 years that he is left with under this universe!!”
Another message read: “President vanoda kuti vasvike 2030 (he wants to get to 2030)? Thomas Mapfumo goes on to say ‘achida kunyanya kunge achiiteiko aisa nyika munzara yakadai kubva 2017 (what more can he offer he has impoverished the nation)??”
By A Correspondent- Some thieves broke into Ekusileni Medical Centre in Bulawayo where they stole a compressor and borehole switch.
The hospital is yet to open but has been identified as a national referral centre for COVID-19 treatment.
Reacting to the news of the break-in Secretary in the Ministry of Information Publicity and Broadcasting, Nick Mangwana said:
Reports indicate that thieves broke into Ekusileni Medical Centre last night and got away with a compressor and components of a borehole switch. They cut a fence at the rear of the facility to gain entry. Surely, who [does] that?
Ekusileni Medical Centre briefly opened in January 2004 but was closed down just 6 months later after it was discovered its medical equipment was obsolete. The hospital was built in honour of late Vice-President of Zimbabwe Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo with funding from NSSA.
Several attempts to reopen the hospital have failed since.-StateMedia
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in SA has climbed to 11,350.
The Western Cape has recorded a surge of 484 confirmed Covid-19 infections, contributing to SA’s total cases rising to 11,350.
The province, with 6,105 cases, now has 53.8% of the country’s infections to date, according to data released by health minister Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday.
Gauteng has recorded 43 new cases. The province now has 2,014 cases, or 17.7% of the national total.
The Eastern Cape is the third worst affected with 148 new cases (1,504 cases or 13.3%) followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 22 new cases (1,394 cases or 12.3%).
The country’s fatalities now total 206.
The minister said 106 people have died of Covid-19 in the Western Cape, 44 in KZN, 24 in the Eastern Cape and 22 in Gauteng.
The Free State has six fatalities (and 135 confirmed cases), Limpopo three deaths (54 confirmed cases) and North West one death (51 confirmed cases). No deaths related to Covid-19 have been recorded in Mpumalanga (63 confirmed cases) or the Northern Cape (30 confirmed cases).
A total of 369,697 tests have been conducted to date, with 13,630 tests done in the past 24 hours.
Mkhize urged South Africans to play their part in helping to combat the spread of the virus.
“This outbreak will only be defeated if the community understands the issues of hand washing, sanitising, coughing and sneezing into your elbow and so on. Each one of us can do something to reduce our chances of contracting the virus, and each one of us can do something to reduce the spread,” he said.
Police have released a full list of 129 fugitives currently at various Coronavirus quarantine centres in the country. The fugitives have been on their wanted list and had fled to hide in South Africa.
The recently returned into the country after being deported from the neighbouring countries.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the fugitives and suspects would be taken to various courts once they are released.
“They have been taken to various isolation centres where they will be managed during the 21 days of quarantine. “As you know there is a lot of information, which is filtering in relation to the nature of the crimes they could have committed either in this country or Botswana and South Africa where they are coming from. “The profiling process will also give us direction on how to manage them during and after their quarantine period,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said 16 suspects were as of yesterday isolated in Matabeleland South while 20 were sent to Matabeleland North. Bulawayo province received 30, Manicaland seven, Midlands got 15 while two others were quarantined in Mashonaland Central. Masvingo and Midlands provinces received 15 each, while one was isolated in Mashonaland East. Two people had been sent to Mashonaland Central as of yesterday.
MASVINGO PROVINCE Number Particulars of Ex-convict offence Gender Previous address in South Africa Address of intended destination Sentence 1 Ophen Mudekedza 37years Theft M Village Maramba, chief Tadu, Renco Mine school, Masvingo 2years 6months 2 William Timothy Mupere 34years Theft M Sitsutsu Village, chief Chilonga, Chiredzi 4years 3 Aleck Sibanda 28years House Breaking M Macharaga Village, Chief Maranda, Masvingo 5years 4 Christopher Ndlovu 33years Theft M Matsakale Village, Chief Chimbudzi, Mwenezi 6months 5 Godfrey Mathebula 42years Theft M Chingandino Village, Chief Dzoro, Zaka 2years 6 Madzore Velancio 40years Theft M Mbuyamaswa Primary Sch, Zaka 12months 7 Zvidzo Obey 61 Assault M Muzondo secondary Sch, Chivi 1month 8 Mukurumbira Simon 64years House breaking M Mutero Primary Sch, Gutu, Mupandawana 3years
9 Dube Maxwell 57years Murder M Gondo Primary Sch, Mashava, Masvingo 9years 10 Panto Muchungweni 57years Possession of stolen property M Magocha Primary Sch, Masvingo 6months 11 Tendai Simbi 34years Assault M 699 Makuva St, Masvingo 1months 12 Evans Brown 32years Robbery M Madyanguwe Primary Sch, Chibi, Mavingo 6years 13 Musenge Nashe 34years Theft M Gwamakungiwo Sec Sch, Mashava, Masvingo 6months 14 Oden Nyathi 31years Possession of Dagga M 2346Makondo, Chiredzi 1year 15 Machimbira Roy 25years Theft M Zorobwe Primary Sch, Masvingo 3years 16 Gwati simon 32years House breaking M 4 Citrus Road, Masvingo 1year 6months 17 Gangana James 63years Possession of drugs M Tapudzai Sec Sch, Chiredzi 3weeks 18 Matone Tapiwa 32years Theft M 3342 Rutenga Primary Sch, Masvingo 1year 19 Mudyiwa Artwell 30years House breaking M Magombedzi Primary sch, Gutu 26months 20 Mokotori Charles 26years House breaking M Chikwakwa primary Sch, Masvingo 4years 21 Muketi Sam 36years Theft M 1589 Dendera Road, Chiredzi 3years 6months 22 Ncube Ishe 26years House breaking and Theft M Hundembe School, Chivi 4years 23 Munyaradzi Mugabe 38years Car Theft M Morgenster High School, Masvingo 3years
BULAWAYO PROVINCE Number Particulars of Ex-convict offence Gender Address of intended destination Sentence 01 Trust ndlovu 31 years Housebreaking and theft m 3008 Magwegwe North Bulawayo 1 year, 7 months 02 Derick ndlovu 26 years Theft m 318 A Njube, Bulawayo 2 years 03 Zenzo Moyo 29 years Armed robbery M 567/2 Old Lobengula, Bulawayo 1 year, 2 months 04 Mguni Oden 31 years robbery M 1543 emakandeni, Bulawayo 2 years 05 Lovers Mahlangu 24 years Theft M 4445 Nketa 7, Bulawayo 15 days 06 Ngwenya khulekan 31 years Assault M 21254 Phumula South, Bulawayo 2 months 07 Ndlovu sibangani 32 years Fraud M 33857 Entumbane, Bulawayo 5 years 08 Nkomo Bheki 35 years Robbery M 70432 Lobengula, Bulawayo 2 years 09 Mthokozisi Mzalana 27 years Theft M 5365 Magwegwe West, Bulawayo 19 months 10 Themba khumalo 31 years Car Breaking M 98 Mzilikazi, Bulawayo 4 years 11 Khumalo Junior 26 years Assault and M.D.P M 10 Calston Road, Bulawayo 2 months 12 Sithokozile sibanda 27 years Shop lifting F 1090 Nkulumani, Bulawayo 4 days 13 Craig Khumalo 27 years Theft M 4467 Luveve, Bulawayo 19 months 14 Bekithemba Ndlovu 22 years Robbery M 2588 New Magwegwe, Bulawayo 4 years, 2 months 15 Ndube mayibongwe 31 years Theft M Mhlabaloyi School, Bulawayo 2 years 16 Beki Mahlalela 25 years Robbery M Luveve Primary School, Bulawayo 12 years 17 Phumulani Ndlovu 32 years Theft M Milton Boys High Bulawayo 15 years 18 Masimba clive 31 years House Breaking M 168 Nketa 6, Bulawayo 2 years 19 Eugene Zingami Lucky 26 years Theft M 2492 New Magwegwe, Bulawayo 3 months 20 Meki Khana 24 years Murder M 56346/2 old Lobengula, Bulawayo 6 years 21 Alecks chauke 27 years Theft M 5743 Luveve 5, Bulawayo 3 years 22 Ngwenya Gerald 32 years Theft M Sihlengeni primary school, Bulawayo 9 months 23 Ndlovu bruce 29 years Statuory rape M 9068/10 Phumula East, Bulawayo 2 years,6 months 24 Raposo Mkhululi 26 years House breaking and theft M 6721/2 Old Magwegwe, Bulawayo 5 years 25 Michael Ali 31 years Possession of drugs M House number 44 street, lement site, Bulawayo 2 years 26 Ngwenya Sibusiso 34 years Assault M 560/2 old Magwegwe, Bulawayo 2 months 27 Kunene Richard 28 years Theft M P15 Mzilikazi, Bulawayo 14 months 28 Zweli Nyathi 26 years Selling drugs cyrstal M 3525 Emakandeni, Bulawayo 3 years 29 Jabu Ncube 33 years theft M 70375 lobengula extension, bulawayo 9 months 30 Ophas Ncube 29 years Shop lifting M 1963 3rd street Makokoba, Bulawayo 1 year
MASH EAST Number Particulars of ex- convicts offence Gender Address of intended destination sentence 1 Enock Khumalo Stock theft M 1399 Simona street Marondera 8 months
Mash Central Number Particulars of Ex-convict offence Gender Address of intended destination Sentence 1 Solomon Chauke 36years Culpable homicide M Gombedze Primary Sch, Chief Chipara, Mt Darwin 4years 2 Michael Mucherera 35years Theft M 773 Chipembere St, Bindura 9months
Manicaland NUMBER Particulars of ex- convicts offence Gender Address of intended destination sentence 1 Nyanga Anton assault M 17 Julius Dale Nyanga One month 2 Chenjerai Chimoko theft M Chipinge near Chibuwe high school Two years 3 Admire Maphosa Armed robbery M 2024 Dangamvura Mutare 7 years 4 Lorrence Harare theft M Chipinge near Maunganidze school 3 years 5 Tumai Simon Armed robbery M N 81 B Dangamvura Mutare 5 months 6 Philani Sithole assault M Chipinge near chivhunze Pry school 1year 3 months 7 Dube bongani Assault M 26 chibanduka rd Mutare 2 yrs 9 months
MAT SOUTH Number Particulars of Ex-convict offence Gender Address of intended destination Sentence 01 Nkosilathi Ndlovu Theft Male Chief Mabhena Esgondini 5Months 02 Ovystone Munyambo MDP Male 393 Marriage Gwanda 1 year 03 Melusi Mboyisa HB and Theft Male Masendu village Plumtree 6 year 04 Bongani Ngwenya Theft Male Malaba village Matobo 2 years 05 Khulani Nzdinda HB and Theft Male Chief Sandi Mazalingwe ,Plumtree 11months 06 Thubelihle Ndlovu Shoplifting Male Chief Madhuna, Filabusi 1 year 07 Ndoza Ncube HB and Theft Male Chief Mathe, Gwanda 3years 08 Carlison Mahlangu Theft Male Mashaba Village, Chief Mathe Gwanda 8years 09 Prosper Mbedzi HB and Theft Male 218,Dulibadzimu,Beitbridge 7years 10 Ayanda Dube DD act Male Ndiweni village Chief Nyangazonke Kezi 3 months 11 Livison Ndou HB and Theft Male Village Sikho Chief Sthaudze,Beitbridge 8 months 12 Bhekisisa Zwane Fraud Male Ntoli Village, Plumtree 3 years 13 Artwell Ngwenya Assault GBH Male Chief Madlambuzi ,Plumtree 2 months 14 Artiwell Ndebele HB Male Village Tshompani, Chief Mpini Plumtree 18months 15 Tsepo Pethele Immigration Act Male 182 Dombetemba Resettlement,Plumtree 2 months 16 Mlangeni Ndumiso Assault Male Ngezelwa village, Filabusi 10 days
MAT NORTH 01 Nkosilathi Sibanda 45years Theft Male Chief Jubalala,Nyamandlovu 3 years 02 Cosmas Moyo 37years Theft Male Chief Muzwikana,Headman Benjamin,Tsholotsho 2 years 03 Wilfred Ndlovu 27 Years Robbery Male Chief Tatehoko,Headman Joseph,Tsholotso 7 years 04 World Ndlovu 32years Robbery Male Chief Gambu,Headman Khulu,Tsholotso 5 years 05 Brilliant Sibanda 36 Years Robbery Male Chief Mabikwa,Headman Silas,Lupane 5 years 06 Nhloniphani Moyo 25years Assault Male Chief Sikobokobo,Headman John Dube,Nkayi 8 months 07 Dingani Mpofu 34 years Theft Male Chief Malisa,Headman Sithemba Nkayi 1 years 08 John Ndlovu 36years Theft Male Chief Sinamakonde,Headman Simujemba,Binga 9 months 09 Thulani Dube 33Years Robbery Male Chief Mathumbula Khumalo,Headman Gombe,Tsholotso 3 years 10 Moyo Admire robbery M Lupane near Luphaka Sec School. 1 yr 6 months 11 Mpofu Sipho Shop lifting M Lupane near Ndimimbili Pry school 2 years 12 Ndebele Mathew HB and theft M Tsholosho near Tshabanda Pry school 1 yr six months 13 Ncube Thubalethu theft M Bambanani Primary school Lupane 5 years 14 Ngwenya Mvelewenhle Possesion of firearm M Tsholostho 2 years 15 Doubt Ncube assault m Bubude pry school tsholotsho 30 days 16 Ncube Given Attempted Murder M Makovula pry school Lupane 4 years 17 Kenny Ncube theft M Madlethu pry school Nkayi 5 years 18 Moyo Mandla Thfet M Village 18 Sikende Tsholostho 3 years 19 Ngwenya Mandlenkosi Posesion of a firearm M Mathambo Pry school Lupane 3 years 20 Ncube Zimba HB and theft M Ntobi pry School Lupane 7 months
HARARE PROVINCE Number Particulars of ex- convicts offence Gender Address of intended destination sentence 1 Allen Muringayi DD Act M 13 Bindu street Zengeza one chitungwiza 3 months 2 Jonathan Kudakwashe Theft M 15757 Unit P SEKE Chitungwiza 9 months 3 Tino Chingwede DD Act M 4573 Glen Norah A Harare 12 months 4 Andy Mbewe ( mashumbi) DD Act M 13707 unit N seke Chitungwiza 2 years 5 Soko Jabulani theft M AP 22 Nyashunu street Kambuzuma Hre 2years 6 Allan Office Possesion of illegal Fish M 312 old highfeilds Hre 1 year 7 Kandawasvika Tonde theft M 268 Alpha street st Marry Chitungwiza 3 years 8 Sibanda Thulani HB and theft M 1134 Kuwadzana Ext Hre 1 year 9 Funnuel Mopaile HB and theft M 4279 hota close Budiriro 2 hre 3 years 10 Muchongwe Austin Theft M 7 chitoto Mufakose Hre 12 months 11 Mudiwa Michel theft m 14017C New Zengeza 4 Chitungwiza 4 years 12 Kapunu Banabas theft M 4376 63rd crescent Glenview 3 Hre 2, 4 months 13 Pride Bello theft M 17238 Unit M seke Chitungwiza 60 days 14 Ben Blessing Mandivenga DD act M 41 Chiraramhene Mufakose Hre One month 15 Shadreck Mushayi 35years Theft M 3034 old Tarafa Hre 7 months
MIDLANDS Number Particulars of ex- convicts offence Gender Address of intended destination sentence 1 Elvis Sibanda HB and theft M Musala Clinic Gokwe 10 years 2 Moyo Diego theft M Mataga Mberengwa near Mpandashangu pry school 14 months 3 Shumba John MDP M Mberengwa near Mabika Pry school 5years 9 months 4 Mabvunda lesly theft M Mataga Mberengwa near Chengwe pry school 6 months 5 Nkiwane Liberty HB and theft M 1418 Nehosho Gweru 6 yrs 6 Nyoni Dumisani HB and theft M Near Mhlahlayo pry school Gweru 1 yr 7 Fred chimuka Robbery M 2091 Parkland rd Gweru 1 yr 8 Elias Moyo Driving without licence M Fatima High school, Silobela Gweru 5 months 9 Moyo Learmore HB and theft M Gokwe Near Nhenga pry school 6 omnths 10 Nyoni Clopas Robbery M Mataga mberengwa 2 yrs 6 months 11 Sibanda Frenk MDP M Zvishavane near Mapani pry school 6 months 12 Matambanadzo Tambayi Driving without license M W542 Amaveni kwekwe 10 days 13 Stephen Zai HB and theft M Mataga Mberengwa 4 yrs 14 Michel Chikwina theft M St Patricks Pry
Gweru 4 years 15 Chinoza Gift theft M Muguti Village Shurugwi 4 years.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s, they do not reflect the views of Opera News.
A Russian woman has sparked controversy after announcing that she is set to marry the stepson that she helped raise for the past 10 years.
The 35-year-old social media influencer has received a lot of backlash since she announced her upcoming nuptials to her 20-year-old stepson.
Oddity Central reports that Marina Balmasheva, who rose to fame in Russia for documenting her weight-loss adventure online, is getting a lot of attention these days, because of her controversial new romantic relationship.
Shortly after divorcing her 45-year-old husband, to whom she had been married for 10 years, the Instagram influencer announced that she was romantically involved with her 20-year-old stepson, Vladimir. The couple reportedly plan on tying the knot in the near future and having children of their own…
The announcement was enough to stir up a heated debate in conservative Russi, but for some reason, Balmasheva thought that it would be a good idea to post side by side photos of her and Vladimir when she was 22 and he was 7-years-old, and now, as a couple. This really upped the negative feedback up to extreme, with many calling her behaviour immoral.
“You never know how life will turn out and when you will meet a person who makes you smile,” Marina Balmasheva wrote on Instagram. “I know that some will judge us, others will support us, but we are happy and wish you to be as well.”
Balmasheva and her former husband, Aleksy, had adopted five children together, plus the two boys he had from a previous marriage. Apparently she had also wanted to have children of her own, and Russian media had speculated that one of the causes for their breakup was the inability to conceive.
Ananova News reports that the woman’s relationship with Vladimir developed as she struggled with her weight, dropping 58 kilograms from the 132 kilograms she weighed initially. When they both realized that they shared a mutual attraction, they went public.
Many of Marina’s fans reacted negatively to the announcement of her new lover and their plans to get married, and they weren’t the only ones. Child services have now taken away five of her adoptive children and placed them with her ex-husband. She was told that even though she can still see the children every now and then, she can’t take them away for days at a time, or post photos and videos of them online.
“We had some sort of agreement with the child services. I was supposed to have a deal with them and they would not make trouble for me or Aleksey (her ex-husband). They would not oppose us seeing each other, would not prohibit me taking the children. But I got played,” Balmasheva told Russian reporters.
It is unclear whether Marina Balmasheva plans to appeal the decision to have her children taken away, but her relationship with Vladimir is moving forward, as are their plans for a wedding. meanwhile, they are trying to ignore all the negative feedback and crude online comments.
“What shocks me most is that this boy grew up before her very eyes,” one Instagram user wrote, while others made jokes about Marina trading in her older ex-husband for a “newer model”.
Thokozani Khuphe and Abednico Bhebhe, not ready to talk to Chamisa
THE recently reinstated MDC-T national organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe has appealed to Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa to show leadership and use the Supreme Court judgment as an opportunity to unite the opposition struggle in Zimbabwe.
Bhebhe strongly believes the two warring MDC factions of Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe can still smoke the peace pipe and find each other.
“Unnecessary debates and counter accusations are raging on as to who must be held accountable. While it is a democratic right to express one’s opinion on a subject, the trigger of all this mayhem is none other than the supreme court judgment.
“The court responded to the appeal by the MDC, Nelson Chamisa and Morgan Komichi, whether wrong or right, its here nor there, but a judgement was handed down to the appellants. Instead of accusing one another, why not take advantage of the judgment to settle our differences as opposition and dialogue amongst ourselves and unite against the common enemy.”
He said Zimbabweans need a change in 2023 and that can only be achieved by having unity of purpose.
“If ZAPU and ZANU could unite after the later had killed over 20000 innocent civilians at cold blood, what’s so difficult in the MDC? I appeal to Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe to show leadership by doing what other people see as an impossibility.
Thokozani Khupe, Bhebhe and Thabitha Khumalo
“To those comrades who are protective of their new found positions, l challenge them to consider the plight of the people than their positions. I am pleading with all leaders to please stop writing and communicating statements that further the divisions in the opposition, it’s helping no one but Zanu-PF.
“I pledge to play my part in unity dialogue, so is every leader who really wants to see freedom in their lifetime.”
The Supreme Court on 31st March ordered Khupe to organise an extraordinary congress within three months to elect a new leader using the 2014 party structures.
Bhebhe was the party’s national organising secretary during the said period and was responsible for running the party’s structures across the country.
The MDC-T has since advised that the extraordinary congress will be convened on 31st July. In the event that the coronavirus emergency measures will still be in place, the party intends to hold the extraordinary congress via virtual in order to ensure the Supreme Court ruling is complied with to the letter.
Councillors at the Harare Metropolitan Province towns and cities have predominately expressed their allegiance to Nelson Chamisa against the Supreme Court ruling that imposed Thokozani Khupe as the leader of the opposition party.
Just a few days after Victoria falls Councillors defied a directive by Khupe’s Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora to accept back former mayor recalled by Chamisa, the Harare Metropolitan Councillors from Harare City Council , Chitungwiza and Epworth met separately to deliberate on the development post the Supreme Court judgement.
Sources close to the meetings indicated that from the Harare City Council 41 out of 45Councillors attended the meeting and all expressed allegiance to Chamisa.
In Chitungwiza Municipality out of 21 councillors 20 attended and all of them decided to remain with Chamisa. In Epworth Local Board all 5 Councillors are with President Nelson Chamisa.
The Councillors undertook to defend the Party in their various wards.
CITE|Some of the deportees who came back from South Africa escaped from the Beitbridge Quarantine centre and efforts to locate for them are underway.
Zimbabwe has been receiving large numbers of people coming back from other countries in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mandatory quarantine period is 21 days, with testing conducted on the first, eighth and 21st days, according to the government’s latest testing plan for returning residents and international travellers.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Ndavaningi Mangwana confirmed eight people absconded from Beitbridge.
“There are 197 people at Beitbridge Quarantine Centre as of today (Tuesday).111 males, 64 females, 11 boys and 11 girls. Eight absconded and 22 were discharged. 49 are still awaiting their PCR results (that is COVID-19 results tested from the Polymerase Chain Reaction machine). Efforts are underway to account for those who absconded,” he said on his Twitter platform.
According to Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020, Section 6 (4-5), it is a criminal offence for a person to leave any place of detention, isolation or quarantine without clearance and may be arrested without a warrant.
They are liable to fine not exceeding level 12 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.
In an interview with CITE, Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Lovemore Matuke, said some returnees did not understand the importance of quarantine.
“They are not treated like prisoners but deal with friendly units when they come in to the country. The returnees come in large numbers and the ratio does not match number of police officers on the ground to watch them,” he said.
Matuke said returnees needed to be educated on why going on quarantine was important.
“They need education of the importance on quarantine to their families, friends and fellow countrymen. But some don’t understand it,” said the deputy minister.
He claimed there was a possibility that those who would have escaped could have been criminals who did not want to be arrested.
“Some of these people would have committed crimes then run away to South Africa for hibernation. Now when they are here and have a chance to run away, they do. It’s a mixed bag of people who come back to the country. Some are genuine, some are not genuine.
“Those who are not genuine would have committed crimes such as murder, theft or some would have run away from their families or have pending cases. It is not everybody who is genuine. Profiling is underway at Beitbridge but go with a camera, some may run away not wanting to show their faces,” Matuke explained.
Matuke said quarantine centres were not prison facilities but their aim was to provide security.
The deputy minister acknowledged that his department was focused on the people’s welfare and was not up to speed with security issues at the centres.
“As for the bigger picture, why some absconded may not come from social welfare but security. I am giving you an answer from a social point of view,” Matuke said.
He lamented that the escapees left at a time when testing could have been in progress.
“They could have absconded anytime in the process. I don’t know if they had done testing but they should have gone for proper testing. I am not sure if they had completed that, I don’t have enough information but once testing is done, they graduate to leave,” said the deputy minister.
There is a possibility that if the escapees had not tested but were positive for COVID-19, they could transmit the virus to others, a point which the deputy minister concurred with.
“It is correct to say they can infect others but it doesn’t eradicate that police will follow up on them. Some may have crossed back into South Africa but police will find them since details were taken during profiling. This is the challenge when dealing with humans because it is really an offence to run away from a quarantine centre,” Matuke said.
Zimbabweans illegally crossing in and out of South Africa
GOVERNMENT has called upon community leaders to assist in the fight against COVID-19 by availing information on people who are illegally sneaking into the country. This was revealed by the Deputy Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Honorable Lovemore Matuke when he toured Rupangwana Quarantine Centre in Chiredzi.
Matuke spoke on the need for returning residents to follow COVID-19 quarantine procedures.
“We are aware at the same time worried about people who are sneaking into the country through illegal routes. Now is the time we work together to ensure those people are known and be quarantined because some might be having the virus,” he said.
The Minister of State for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira said the province is working on increasing the number of quarantine centres given the increase in the number of returnees.
“Quarantine centres must not be seen as prisons that’s why we are identifying suitable places for our people,” said Chadzamira.
Rupangwana Quarantine Centre currently has accommodated 19 returnees who were intercepted on their way from South Africa.
A 25-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man has been arrested after he allegedly stabbed his friend, leaving him severely wounded for slaughtering his dog.
Obvious Maphala from Zendele Village in Colleen Bawn was not asked to plead when he appeared before Gwanda provincial magistrate, Ms Charity Maphosa facing an attempted murder charge. He was remanded in custody to May 19.
Prosecuting, Mr Silent Shoko said Maphala stabbed Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu who is his friend and also neighbour with an Okapi knife.
“On 2 May at around 7AM, Maphala discovered that his male dog was missing and he went around the neighbourhood looking for it. He went to Mr Khumbulani Ndlovu who is his friend and neighbour’s home and discovered that he had slaughtered the dog and had hanged it up to dry,” he said.
“Maphala confronted Mr Ndlovu over the matter and demanded to know why he had slaughtered his dog resulting in a misunderstanding. Maphala then drew an Okapi knife from his pocket and stabbed Mr Ndlovu once in the neck, once on the left ear and once in the back.”
By Fanuel Chinowaita |Police in Mutare have dispersed MDC Alliance Councillors who were doing their caucus meeting from their party Office today.
MDC Alliance Councillors wanted to see if there’s anyone who has crossed line to Zanu pf funded MDC led by Thokozani, Mwonzora and Komichi.
Speaking to Mutare Councillors they said they will remain unwavering on MDC Alliance and their President Chamisa.
“We are all clear on MDC Alliance and President Nelson Chamisa. Almost everyone has attended except for Councillor Chabuka who gave an apology.
“Out of 18 Councillors 17 have attended, the 19th Councillor is an independent one”, said Deputy Chief whip Councillor John Nyamhoka.
When we conducted Councillor Chabuka why he did not attend the caucus he said he is at work in Harare.
He send the following statement, “Ladies and gentlemen, cdes and friends, the esteemed provincial leadership of manicaland and all party leadership for manicaland province.
“Unfortunately I have failed to attend this great and grand meeting as I am in Harare as I was attending to court. I have also encountered transport challenges but I had wanted to be with you.
“I wish to categorically state that I belong to MDC ALLIANCE as led by Our President Advocate Nelson Chamisa and his executive.
“I also belong to the Manicaland Provincial Leadership of Hon Prosper C Mutseyami and his entire executive.
“May my apology and my affirmation to the leadership of Advocate N Chamisa and his executive and that of Manicaland Provincial Executive as led by Hon P C Mutseyami be read.
“Yours in Struggle Cllr Simon Chabuka (Ward 12).”
Mutare Police’s action as been viewed as political because last weekend it allowed a loosing candidate and businessman Esau Mupfumi to do his meeting. Police was also deployed from Mutare Central to protect him.
Mupfumi is already campaigning to be the Member of Parliament for Chikanga Dangamvura after an MDC Alliance MP Prosper Mutseyami was unconstitutional recalled from the Parliament last week.
South African government will soon put a law that restricts employers from employing a certain percentage of foreigners.
The Department of Employment and Labour is looking to formalise a new employment policy which will restrict the number of foreign nationals working in specific sectors of the economy.
Presenting to parliament on Thursday (7 May), Employment and Labour director-general Thobile Lamati said that this employment policy is currently being developed by the department’s employment services branch.
“If the minister is given the legal right to set sectoral targets, what would happen was that in areas for instance where there was a preference for foreign nationals – such as the restaurant sector – the minister could make a determination on a percentage of the foreign nationals allowed (to work) in the sector,” he said.
Employment and labour director-general Thobile Lamati told South African MPs that, “What could happen is that where there are areas where there is a preference for foreign nationals, for instance, restaurants, the minister would most probably determine that in this sector, only this percentage of foreign nationals will be allowed to work.
“This is not a new thing. It happens all over the world. It is part of labour market employment policies. We think that employment policy will go a long way in addressing the number of challenges we have in the labour market.”
South African media have also reported that Employment and labour minister Thulas Nxesi said it was well known that in agriculture, restaurants and the private security and hospitality industries that employers preferred to hire foreign nationals.
“In some cases, this had to do with skills, but in others, it was a matter of exploiting cheap labour, he said. You can’t sit with millions of unemployed South Africans and in certain industries you just allow non-South Africans to be employed without any regulation,” the minister said. “We must introduce those quotas and stick to those quotas and be very hard to those quotas.”
However, in doing this it was important not to be seen to be xenophobic or violating international conventions that SA has signed. It is going to be a balancing act.”
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa has with immediate effect appointed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Agnes Mahomva to a new portfolio of Chief Coordinator, National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Chief Secretary Dr Misheck Sibanda has said.
According to Sibanda, “the post has been created after due consideration of the work of the Ad-hoc Interministerial Task Force on COVID-19, which indicated the need for an evidence based, and coordinated division of labour between and among government agencies and other significant entities.”
Sibanda said Mahomva’s replacement in the ministry of health will be announced in due course.
Police in Covid-19 protective gear today removed the body of a man who was found dead at a bus stop along Inyathi Road some few metres away from Chiredzi General Hospital.
The man is said to have died under mysterious circumstances after being seen holding a packet of tablets yesterday evening.
When contacted for comment, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Chief Inspector Charity Mazula said she had not received the report.
Some sources said the man could have failed to get help at the hospital and was turned away for unclear reasons.
Unholy alliance, Emmerson Mnangagwa and Thokozani Khupe
MDC Vice President Tendai Biti has sensationally confirmed that the ruling ZANU PF is currently negotiating with the Supreme Court created MDC-T of 2014 led by Thokozani Khupe.
According to Biti, the plan is to forge a government of national unity led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Said Biti, “Desperate regime actively negotiating some GNU with Supreme Court created Frankenstein outfit and other dross with constitutional amendments being mooted some of which are to suspend all elections for 7 years. The desperate marriage of unelectable desperados not popular inside.”
Desperate regime actively negotiating some “GNU” with Supreme Court created Frankenstein outfit &other dross with constitutional amendments being mooted some of which are to suspend all elections for 7 years.The desperate marriage of unelectable desperados not popular inside 1/2
Sources within the Khupe MDC-T have also indicated that Khupe will be sworn into parliament as early as next week to replace Thabitha Khumalo her long-time rival who she recalled from parliament two weeks ago.
The move to rush Khupe back into parliament is meant to give her bigger bargaining power for the deal.
The two sisters who were brutalized by the police.
Six police officers are before the courts in Bulawayo and internal police discipline, accused of brutally assaulting two sisters for allegedly breaching coronavirus lockdown regulations.
Pictures of the two women’s badly bruised bodies which circulated online prompted the intervention of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) which assisted the two women in filing a formal police complaint.
The officers are named as Tichaona Zariro, Christabel Munyondo, Elizabeth Denhere, Patson Gumoreyi, Zibusiso Masuku and Simbarashe Bvekwa.
Watch video downloading below as the women tell their gruesome tale:
Masvingo Zanu PF leadership has recommended that the late Tanda ‘Mhunga’ Tavaruva be accorded provincial liberation war hero status in recognition of the sterling job he did to aid Zimbabwe’s fight for independence and after.
Zanu PF Masvingo provincial chair and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Ezra Chadzamira said the ruling party had formally applied to the party national headquarters asking for Tavaruva to be accorded a provincial liberation.
His son Godfrey said the late bus operator would be buried on Thurs at Mangwandi Cemetery in the Masvingo. ”We agreed as a family that burial will take place on Thurs. His wish was to buried next to his late son who is buried there & a grave had long been reserved for that.”
Former MDC Vice President Elias Mudzuri has challenged says the decision by Nelson Chamisa led Executive to withdraw MPs from parliament saying that the move was against the rule of law and good governance.
In a tweet on Tuesday Mudzuri said:
Parliament's main institutional function is to make laws and constitution. For MPs to boycott Parly in support of those that breach constitutions, disrespect courts and rule of law is taking the electorate for granted
MDC Alliance deputy secretary general Jameson Timba told the media recently that the party had disengaged from Parliament and begun consultations with structures.
“We are heading to a mass resignation of our parliamentarians and this will force us to a by-election, where the people will decide. We decided that as leaders we can’t impose our decisions on the people. They are the ones who elected us, so they should define our next step,” he said.
Paul Nyathi|As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic spreads, schools all around the world are moving to eLearning, and while this presents a great opportunity, it also means increased risks.
The coronavirus pandemic has changed many things, and one of those areas is the schooling of our young people. As great as the opportunities that are presented by eLearning, there are also great risks in the form of cyberbullying, predators and inappropriate content.
To help bring parents and guardians up to speed on the dangers that exist on the internet we provide you with a detailed discussion to help parents and guardians educate their children on online dangers such as cyberbullying, predators, and inappropriate content.
Strict adherence to social distancing guidelines has severely affected Zupco’s carrying capacity under lockdown level 2 forcing commuters to wait for transport to and from work.
A survey conducted in Harare by The Herald on Friday revealed that commuters were spending more than two hours on average waiting for transport.
Zupco is the sole public transporter after Government implemented a raft of measures aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, which included the banning of kombis and unregistered conventional buses from operating during the lockdown period.
The situation has since pushed the parastatal to cast its net wider and invite more operators to join the Zupco franchise.
Government has since eased the conditions to allow licensed private conventional buses to resume operations in towns.
Inter-city travel is still banned.
Zupco acting chief executive Mr Evaristo Madangwa conceded that they were struggling to effectively service the urban routes and were looking to double kombis under the Zupco franchise.
“We have 507 conventional buses and 500 commuter omnibuses (kombis),but they have not been enough to match the demand because the buses are not carrying to capacity.
Conventional buses are carrying 32 people per trip while kombis are managing nine,” Mr Madangwa said.
He said negotiations with private transporters were already underway with changes to the biting transport shortages expected soon.
“We are working to add another 500 kombis and more conventional buses to ease the pressure on the fleet servicing passengers currently,” he said.
Mr Madangwa said by end of next week the number of buses and kombis should have significantly increased.
The Zupco expansion strategy comes at a time when kombi operators have sent a distress call to Government saying they are suffering financial strain.
Farai Dziva| A 62-year-old Masvingo woman has claimed she got married on Mother’s Day after administering “Prophet” Makomichi’s ” anointed love potion herb” for three days.
The woman who identified herself as ” The Relieved One” posted her testimony on Makomichi’s social media group.
Makomichi distributes what he calls the “anointed love potion herb” to women and girls across the country- for free.
Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group and the president of Vulnerable Youth Support Network Trust.
In her testimony the woman said : I got married at 62 when I had given up hope of finding love.
I can’t really explain what happened but I got married on Mother’s Day after administering the anointed love potion herb for only three days.My husband is 70 and we are beginning to enjoy ourselves together. I know people will not believe what I am saying but who cares ? I am a relieved woman after all.
I was a frustrated woman having tried to get married four times without success. I really thank the prophet for giving me the anointed herb for free.
I know some church leaders are sceptical of the herb but my message is clear, there is nothing sinister, it is really genuine.
I can’t recall how many times I fasted in my life.I also applied different types of anointing oil to avail.
Those who are really desperate to get married should contact the prophet on 0777469342.
Farai Dziva|Manchester players Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Timothy Fosu-Mensah were reportedly asked to end their training at a private school’s pitch and leave the facility.
According to The Sun newspaper, Wan-Bissaka and Fosu-Mensah were training together at Saint Ambrose College in Cheshire.
The two wanted to take advantage of the relaxation of the lockdown regulations but they contravened the guideline which doesn’t allow one to go outside with another person who is not from the same household.
The defenders were then told by college staff to leave because they did not have permission to be there.
The publication adds the pair practised social distancing rules by maintaining the required two-metre gap at all times before the interruption.
Meanwhile, Premier League players are expected to return to training this month while adhering to new health and safety guidelines.
The UK government on Monday announced that the season can resume from June 1 but behind closed doors.
Farai Dziva|Mamelodi Sundowns star defender Anele Ngcongca thinks his former teammate Khama Billiat should be used as an example to show how good the club’s coach Pitso Mosimane really is.
Billiat became a household name at Masandawana prior to his move to Kaizer Chiefs in 2018, scoring 47 goals in the famous yellow strip and also winning the Player of the Year in 2016.
Ngcongca strongly believes the Zimbabwean winger was a good player when he arrived at the Pretoria-based side from Ajax Cape Town but Mosimane polished him into the player he eventually became.
“Khama will tell you about Pitso, the man moulds you to be the best,” he told South Africa publication Far Post.
“No doubt, he (Khama) was good, but Pitso is the kind of coach, who takes a good player and turns them into a world beater.”
“Pitso is a master at what he does. I am privileged to have worked with him in the national team and now at Sundowns. He’s at the level of one of my best coaches in Belgium, Franky (Vercauteren),” he added.
