Government has banned price hikes during lockdown,ordering goods and service providers to revert to 25 March pricing, ZimEye can report.

This was said by Vice President Kembo Mohadi while addressing journalists in Harare.

More to follow…

As the People’s party, MDC Alliance strongly condemns the wrongful and unlawful arrest and detention of Honourable Regai Tsunga and 12 others for ostensibly contravening Section 11(1)of the Public Health Act SI 83/2020 unnecessary movement during lockdown.

To start with there is no such penalty section as cited and the disruption and harassment of the Honourable Member of Parliament for Mutasa South and Councillor Farai Bhiza of Ward 11 as well as 11 other people was as unwarranted as it was unlawful.

Regrettably, due to the heavy handed nature and belligerent behavior of the Police they paid admission of guilt fines under protest in order to avoid the risk of contracting the Corona virus in the police cells as the police refused to accept that no offence had been committed.

Apart from the failure to appreciate that the offence and penalty under Section 11(a)and (b) of Statutory Instrument arise from either hindering or obstructing the police or failing to refuse to comply with a request or direction given by the police no attempt was made to engage the people who were driven by hunger and the State’s failure to make arrangements for the delivery of the basic staple food of maize meal to the ward.

It is necessary for the police to understand the import of the legislation and regulations they seek to enforce instead of being trigger happy and arrest innocent people who will not have committed any offence.

Hundreds of people have been harassed under similar circumstances and as the People’s party, the MDC Alliance is demanding for a FULL STOP to this madness.

Indeed as the MDC Alliance, we have pointed out before that while the lockdown is necessary to curb the spread of the pandemic what the state has dismally failed to do is to provide the safety nets for the people of Zimbabwe the majority of whom were already living from hand to mouth.

The situation was compounded and exacerbated by the ambush on Sunday afternoon when a caring government would have made a timeous announcement of the extension of the lockdown.

As the MDC Alliance, we reiterate that the right to food and water is enshrined in Section 77 of our national Constitution and it is imperative that the government ensures that this right is realized.

Further other crucial human rights like the right to Life, Human Dignity and Not to be Tortured or subjected to Inhuman Degrading Treatment or Punishment can not suspended under any circumstances.

We therefore demand that the State should deliver on the promises it made at the commencement of the lockdown and to implement the High Court orders made by the High Court last week in terms of which the police and other law enforcement agencies are required to observe people’s Rights in enforcing the COVID-19 Regulations.

Further, as the MDC Alliance we are also concerned that Lovemore Zvokusekwa who was arrested on Saturday and appeared in Court on Monday on charges of may be deprived of his right to a fair trial.

We say so because the complainant appears to have already taken the role of both the Prosecutor and Adjudicator by making a pronouncement that an example should be made of the Accused by imposing the maximum penalty of 20 years.

We believe in the doctrine of Separation of Powers and undue pressure should not be exerted on the courts to convict and the doctrine of the presumption of innocence is the cornerstone of our judicial system.

Innocent Gonese
Secretary for Justice and Legal Affairs
MDC Alliance

By A Correspondent- A government official has revealed that government will soon conduct research on citizens’ knowledge and attitudes regarding COVID-19.

Deputy Health Director resposible for Communications in the Health Ministry Paul Chinakidzwa told journalists that plans were underway to conduct the study in the few coming weeks egarding the knowledge and attitudes of citizens regarding the disease.

He said :

“Public health students at various universities are conducting various researches. Research is also being conducted at various hospitals. But as government, very soon we are going to conduct a knowledge and attitudes investigations study regarding the disease. However, in hospitals there are also studies taking place.”

Illegal forex dealers are beginning to trickle back into central Harare, despite roadblocks designed to check on motorists and on passengers in Zupco buses, with both groups required to prove they are in essential services.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi recently warned the illegal money changers saying police would descend on them.

“Police urge members of the public to receive their money from authorised dealers and then go to the shops, which have been authorised to transact in both local and foreign currency, to buy basic commodities or access medication from pharmacies,” he said.

“There is no need, therefore, for people to engage illegal foreign currency dealers while in the process exposing themselves to the Covid-19 pandemic. The ZRP will arrest all illegal foreign currency dealers who are committing such criminal acts, while at the same time disregarding the Government’s Covid-19 lockdown measures.”

Investigations by The Herald revealed that the illegal dealers target people who collect their forex from Mukuru and World Remit after these services were restored three days a ago to help Zimbabweans reliant on transfers from the Diaspora.

One of the money changers, who spoke to The Herald crew posing as potential clients, revealed how they evade the police on their way into the city centre.

“My friend, it is not easy to be operating from the city centre, but it is harder to do business at home so we are left with no choice but to sneak our way into the CBD and evade the security check points since we do not have passes or letters, which state that we offer essential services,” he said.

“At times we leave our vehicles outside the city centre and complete the journey into the CBD on foot. It is actually safer that way, as we have to make sure that the security services, particularly soldiers, do not see us since these do not compromise at all.”

His colleague added that they only came into the city centre during the week as more people would be receiving their remittances  from either Mukuru or World Remit.

“Those are our customers and we offer them a good rate,” he said. “Some of them are our regulars now so as soon as they withdraw their forex, they come to us.

“We have to be in the city centre to make good profits. There is competition in the suburbs and we are at an advantage if we do our business in the CBD.”

One of the people who had just received her foreign currency from Mukuru along Sam Nujoma Street confirmed that she regularly does business with illegal money changers.

“I always go to money changers to convert my foreign currency into local currency and will do the same today,” she said.

The Herald visited Copacabana bus terminus where some illegal money changers were conducting business, but discreetly.

The Herald approached one of them pretending to be seeking local currency from US$10.

“If you want to change US$10, I will have to transfer $410 into your EcoCash wallet and if you need cash then you will get $350,” said the money changer.

-State House

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean male working in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is currently in isolation at Karoi District Hospital after exhibitng Covid-19 symptoms on his way to Harare from the DRC.

Mashonaland West provincial medical director, Dr Wancesluss Nyamayaro yesterday said the patient was admitted at the hospital on Sunday night enroute to Harare from the DRC.

He said tests were done on the suspected patient and are now awaiting CPR confirmatory results from the Microbiological Laboratory in Harare.

Dr Charles Mupfururirwa, who was standing in for Hurungwe district medical officer, Dr Frankston Masiye, said the patient exhibited Covid-19 symptoms which were accompanied by fever and high temperatures.

“The patient is currently admitted at the hospital as we wait for CPR confirmatory test, but his temperature is varying daily,” he said. “We can only conclude that the patient is Covid-19 positive after tests.”

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West province Mary Mliswa who also chairs the provincial task force team on Covid-19, underscored the need for people to exhibit high levels of adherence to the lockdown regulations as they were in place to curtail the spread of the disease.

“People should not panic now that there is suspected case of COVID-19 but rather they should continue to adhere to the lockdown regulations,” she said.

She outlined the need for the Karoi hospital to improve on its levels of hygiene.-Statemedia

One more person has died of Covid 19 at a private hospital in Harare bringing the country’s total deaths to four.

Confirming the death on the sidelines of a WHO donation of PPE and a PCR machine in Harare today, Health and Child care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said contact tracing began last night following the demise of this case.

He said authorities were also working flat out to trace the source of infection.

“We are still trying to trace the source of infection for this case, so far we only know that the case came from Mhondoro,” said Minister Moyo.

-State Media

By A Correspondent- One more person has died of Covid 19 at a private hospital in Harare bringing the country’s total deaths to four.

Confirming the death on the sidelines of a WHO donation of PPE and a PCR machine in Harare today, Health and Child care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said contact tracing began last night following the demise of this case.

He said authorities were also working flat out to trace the source of infection.

“We are still trying to trace the source of infection for this case, so far we only know that the case came from Mhondoro,” said Minister Moyo.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwean government is since January to date unleashing Chinese visitors into the community- granting the Asian country’s citizens luxury self quarantine treatment, while on the other hand imposing dirty waterless toilet facilities for returning black Zimbabweans.

The government spokesman Nick Mangwana on Monday claimed that there are 65 Zimbabweans who flew from the UK and now due for mandatory quarantining, who are demanding hotel Quarantine facilities, an allegation which has turned out to be untrue. The government is on video announcing official policy that Chinese visitors are not subjected to mandatory quarantining. Health minister Obadiah Moyo said, “we want to make sure that the arrangements that we have put in place with the Chinese Embassy here in Zimbabwe is maintained.

“They have been extremely good to us.

“They have come forward with solutions and one solution which they came with was that of ensuring that if anybody happens to come form China and arrives at one of our airports they will have to subject themselves to 14 to 21 day self quarantine, which is good.

“We did not tell them that, but they are the ones that came to us and said that is the way we want to go.”

(Watch below)

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Via inbox
Belvedere Teachers College
Harare, Zimbabwe

April 20, 2020

Dear Zimbabwe

Re: Government is Lying: We didn’t demand hotel housing; we demanded basic amenities

As a matter of fact, and for the avoidance of doubt, I’m one of the returning residents who came via an Ethiopian airline yesterday (Monday).

I don’t want to belabor you with a long read. I will therefore go straight to the point.

Yesterday, the permanent secretary in the ministry of information Nick Mangwana tweeted that we — overseas returnees — were demanding hotels. No, this is an outright lie! We did not demand hotel accommodation.

In fact, I was shocked when I read the tweet which many Zimbabweans believed, including those who purport to be frontline human rights defenders. And the Fourth Estate too was hoodwinked.

Here is the other side of the coin. Just like any other Zimbabwean citizen with rights including access to shelter, water and health amongst other basic amenities, we demanded to be housed at a decent facility.

Decent in as far as basic health as defined by health bodies in the wake of the coronavirus is concerned. By basic facilities we meant at least a room with a bed and blankets; toilets with running water and clean bathrooms.

Belvedere, a facility which government authorities provided doesn’t have all those. And government spin doctors led by Mangwana want all Zimbabweans and the rest of the world to laud government for a job well done when in fact what they are doing is exposing returning residents to COVID-19, a pandemic government is claiming to be working to halt.

That hundreds of desperate college students live in shanty facilities such as Belvedere with no complaints doesn’t make it a habitable place.

That other citizens returning via Plumtree and Beitbridge ports of entry have agreed to be housed in dirty, stinky and cholera-infested facilities doesn’t make it right either and doesn’t indicate at all that the government of Zimbabweans cares about its citizens.

If this treatment of citizens by Zimbabwean authorities has anything to show, it is that authorities who have presided over poor infrastructure including hospitals does not care at all about protecting its citizens from COVID-19.

While we understand that this is an abnormal situation, a period of crisis, no right thinking Zimbabwean should commend government for treating its returning citizens like animals.

When we arrived at Belvedere we thought authorities had already assessed the place and certified it as habitable. Although we did not expect anything flashy given the fact that this is a temporary quarantine facility in an emergency situation, we didn’t expect that we will be thrown in a place which doesn’t have basic amenities such as running water.

To make matters worse, government authorities who came to address us regarding our concerns were arrogant.

A case in point is when a senior official in the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare threatened to unleash police on us, to force us to occupy an inhabitable accommodation.

“If you don’t comply we will ask police to enforce our commands,” the permanent secretary in the Social Welfare ministry who should otherwise know better about the government’s obligations about taking care of the vulnerable, us included, told us.

He added: “You can’t choose where to stay, we chose for you.”

This was after we had requested to be either quarantined at our homes or housed at a decent facility. Alternatively we requested the government authorities to open one of the hotels so that we pay living costs on our own while government provides food.

We also made it clear to the government authorities that we’re willing to be quarantined like other returning citizens but only if bare minimum conditions are met.

To those who have made insulting returning residents, their full-time jobs during this ongoing crisis; please know that while we understand the importance of being isolated from the rest of the community now, the conditions that returning residents are subjected to will in fact propagate the spread of COVID-19. While most of us are from Coronavirus hotspots, we don’t necessarily have the disease, but because of our poor living conditions in quarantine we’re now at more risk of contracting the deadly disease more than other citizens yet government should protect everyone equally.

And while some of you are wailing, thinking returning home is the stupidest thing to do, remember that some of the returnees are students whose accommodation has been withdrawn by their universities in countries such as the U.K and the U.S.

And also remember that some of the returning residents are people who had just visited for shorter periods and therefore cannot live in those countries indefinitely. After all it’s better to die in Zimbabwe where your family can bury you albeit within 24 hours than to die elsewhere where your family will not be able to access your mortal remains.

And by the way, returning residents also have homes where they can actually self-quarantine and cater for basic services our government is failing to meet.

While most of us are willing to be quarantined, we also do not understand why authorities are imposing a 21 day isolation, instead of the WHO approved 14 days.

Why should a cash-strapped government seek to host returning citizens for 7 extra days at it’s expense when it can use those resources to cater for more vulnerable communities who are already bearing the brunt of the extended lockdown, with barely no food?

And while you naysayers are supporting government on outright violation of human rights in the name of fighting COVID-19, remember that the government that you’re enabling to abuse it’s returning citizens now will not stop at that.

Post COVID 19 this government will continue to violate citizen rights because you enabled it to do so during a crisis.

Last but not least, Mangwana, we appreciate your ardent job in timely informing the nation about COVID-19, especially using real time platforms such as twitter. But I just have one request: Please stop spinning public interest information.

It doesn’t help your government and citizens who should make informed decisions during this unprecedented time.

And to gullible Zimbabweans, please always take what government authorities say with a pinch of salt. 99.9 percent of what they say is false or half-true.

The worst you can get from government authorities is a single story narrative. Find the other narrative before you opine on issues of public interest.

Quick updates:

1. There is still no running water at Belvedere.
2. Contrary to reports, police did not guard Belvedere so that returnees don’t riot or at worst escape. As a matter of fact, three police officers came, engaged with returnees then left after an amicable discussion.
3. Nomatter what authorities say, we won’t stay where we risk catching more viral diseases in addition to coronavirus. We will fight for our rights until we’re relocated to a facility that meets basic conditions: running water, one-person room, functional ablution facilities, bedding and food.

For the purposes of signing off, let’s just say my name is Case #0

By A Correspondent- Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals has denied social media claims that four of its employees have contracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The hospital’s public relations officer Linos Dhire said none of the hospital’s 98 staff members who were subjected to an immuno-chromatographic screening test tested positive for COVID-19. He said:

We have once again noted that there are some unscrupulous people circulating falsehood on social media claiming that four of our staff members including nurses tested positive for COVID-19.

To put the record straight, none of our staff members tested positive for the SARS-CoV 2 which causes COVID-19.

The facts of the matter are that 98 of our frontline staff members went through an immuno-chromatographic screening test.

Of the 98 who were screened using this particular tool, five required definitive testing method and were sent for rt-PCR which is a confirmatory test. We wish to announce that all the five members who were eventually tested using rt-PCR were confirmed negative for the COVID-19.

The statement followed a tweet by one Dr Chris Kandeya who said four employees including two nurses tested positive blaming the health ministry for not doing due diligence in contact tracing.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has 28 confirmed cases, three deaths and two recoveries from COVID-19.-HealthTimes

By A Correspondent- The government has gazetted Statutory Instrument 81 of 2020 which sets the national minimum wage at $2 549 74 for all employees except those in the agricultural and domestic sectors.

Labour Minister Paul Mavima said the directive comes into effect immediately, with those who are unable to pay the stipulated fees granted permission to apply for exemption with the relevant National Employment Councils.

Statutory Instrument 81 of 2020 reads in part:

THE MINIMUM WAGE OF $2 549 APPLIES TO ALL WORKERS OTHER THAN DOMESTIC AND AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYEES, FOR WHICH ALTERNATIVE PROVISION WILL BE MADE.

THE EXEMPTION SHALL TAKE IMMEDIATE EFFECT AS GRANTED BY THE NEC UNLESS AND UNTIL THE MINISTER ON GROUNDS OF PUBLIC POLICY OBJECTS TO IT, IN WHICH EVENT THE MINIMUM WAGE MUST BE PAID FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

THE NEW GAZETTED PRICES OF $2 500 TRANSLATE TO US$100 AT THE FIXED EXCHANGE RATE OF 1:25.

Laywers representing a man who was arrested for allegedly circulating a fake message about Zimbabwe’s intention to extend its 21-day lockdown, are expected to file a High Court bail application Wednesday seeking to overturn a lower court order to detain him.

Attorney Thomas Machinga told VOA Zimbabwe Service that he is working with some members of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in an attempt to seek the release of Lovemore Zvokusekwa from remand prison.

Machinga said, “… Once he was denied bail our only option was then to approach the High Court on appeal. We are working on the bail appeal, now I’m working with two more lawyers who are members of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Mr. Jeremiah Bhamu and Mr. Caleb Mutandwa. We are working on the paperwork so that by tomorrow, may be before close of business, we are going to file our bail appeal and may be upon reflection we are also considering taking this matter with the Constitutional Court to challenge the constitutionality of Section 31 of the Code.

“As you might be aware, in 2013 the Supreme Court which was our Constitutional Court in terms of the old constitution ruled that some part of Section 31 was unconstitutional. We believe it could be a chance again to take this matter before the Constitutional Court so that the constitutionality of the rest of the section can be considered by the Constitutional Court. That’s where we are. We will be filing this bail appeal tomorrow (Wednesday).”

The 36 year-old Zvokusekwa of Chitungwiza appeared at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday after he was arrested on Saturday by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers, who charged him with publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the state as defined in section 31(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

In court, prosecutors alleged that Zvokusekwa peddled falsehoods when he reportedly circulated a false and unsigned press statement purportedly written and issued by President Mnangagwa titled “EXTENSION OF LOCKDOWN PERIOD BY 13 DAYS ONLY” advising people that he had extended the national lockdown period by 13 days from 20 April, 2020, to 3 May, 2020.

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

Prosecutors said some witnesses who received the false press statement will testify against Zvokusekwa during his trial.

Zvokusekwa will return to court on 13 April.

VOA

POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested a machete gang leader who allegedly killed a police officer last year in Kadoma following a dramatic 40km high speed chase that saw his accomplice jumping off their vehicle and escaping on foot.

Officers from CID Bulawayo got a tip off that the suspect, Anyway Nkomeni of Chief Nembudziya village in Gokwe who had been terrorising communities in Inyathi had been spotted at a business centre in the area on Sunday.

Nkomeni who was popularly known as ‘Dinda’, allegedly led a terror gang called ‘maZiga’ which terrorised mining communities in Kadoma and Kwekwe before moving to Inyathi where they attacked police and civilians.

Nkomeni and his accomplice were involved in a high-speed chase with the police and when they were cornered, they jumped off their Honda Fit vehicle and escaped on foot.

The gang leader who had been driving the vehicle was apprehended but his accomplice fled from the scene.

In an interview yesterday, Bulawayo police spokesperson inspector Abednico Ncube said the suspect was arrested after a 40km high speed chase as he tried to evade arrest.

He gave up the car and tried to escape on foot, before he was subsequently arrested.

“CID Bulawayo received a tip off from a community member in Inyathi that the suspect who was connected to the murder of a police officer at Brenton Mine, Kadoma, was around Mhlotshana mining area in Inyathi.

“The team followed and went to Inyathi where a follow up was made. Further information was received that the suspect was seen at Badala business centre where among other issues some members were arrested for violating Covid-19 regulations. The accused person, driving in a purple Honda Fit registration AFE2766 took off in a bid to escape,” said Inspector Ncube

“The team gave chase for about 40 km until they reached a place called Derbshire rank in Lower Gweru where the accused person and his accomplice stopped their vehicle and jumped off in a bid to run away after being cornered by the police.

“However, this accused person Anyway Nkomeni whose alias name is Dinda aged 28 years of Chief Nembudziya Gokwe district was arrested. His other accomplice managed to escape. He has been referred to Kadoma to face the charges.”

Sources said nine other people were arrested at Inyathi, most of them artisanal miners for violating lockdown orders and public drinking among other offences.

THE number of deportees quarantined at Mosi-oa-Tunya High School in Victoria Falls to curb the spread of Covid-19 had risen to 29 yesterday, up from eight last Friday while two more people were expected last night.

A total of 13 women and 16 men returning from Botswana, Namibia and Zambia have been quarantined while the other two who were already in town pending logistics are Victoria Falls residents who had returned from Cameroon.

The Matabeleland North Provincial Covid-19 Taskforce led by Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo identified the school as a quarantine centre for the province.

Yesterday the Minister and members of the Joint Operations Command (JOC) visited the quarantine centre where deportees are housed in classrooms with the department of Social Welfare taking care of them in partnership with the private sector.

The returnees were screened using the Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT) for Covid-19 at the border.

Minister Moyo assured them that they would be well taken care of as he explained the purpose of the isolation.

“You are not under arrest and no-one is accusing you of anything. We are trying to minimise the spread of coronavirus and this is only a precautionary measure as you will be housed here for 14 or 21 days depending on what health officials will say before you proceed to your homes after being tested. This means that you will be in Government hands during that period. As you noticed on your way here, borders are closed and only Zimbabweans returning home are allowed in,” said Minister Moyo.

In an interview after the tour of the quarantine centre, Mkhosana Clinic and Zimbabwe Aids Project (ZAP) Clinic which have been turned into isolation centres, Minister Moyo thanked the private sector for assisting to set up the centres.

He said Victoria Falls was ready in the event of any case that may need clinical isolation.

“Today we as the provincial taskforce were visiting all isolation centres in the province. We divided ourselves into groups. The Minister and Joint Operations Command members came to Hwange where we visited Painted Dog which donated sanitisers and disinfection chemicals in the morning. We went to Five Miles isolation centre in Hwange which we feel still needs support from Government.

“The local taskforce identified the place and they are connecting water and electricity but it still needs beds and other equipment. However, after touring the isolation centres in Victoria Falls, it shows that they are prepared and in case we have a patient with Covid-19 symptoms anytime they can handle it because one of the two facilities is well equipped,” said Minister Moyo.

Minister Moyo said Government had released RTGS$1.7 million to the Victoria Falls taskforce through the local authority to assist at the two isolation centres.

Hwange District Medical Officer (DMO) Fungai Mvura said the ZAP isolation centre is ready to receive patients while Mkhosana Clinic will be ready within two weeks.

Besides beds and other equipment, the centre has been equipped with two portable ventilators procured by the tourism industry.

“What is outstanding is medication and personal protective clothing,” said Dr Mvura.

Matabeleland North Provincial Social Welfare officer Mr Macnon Chirinzepi said the deportees are from across Matabeleland North while others are from Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Harare, Kadoma and Rusape.

He said the quarantine centre has capacity for 100 people.

Mr Chirinzepi appealed to well-wishers to donate internet services and a television set so that the deportees are kept abreast with what is happening in the country.

THE Bulawayo’s central business district (CBD) resembled a normal day as people thronged banks that opened yesterday as well as shops, pharmacies and the market place with also a marked increase in vehicular traffic.

With the hive of activity, one could be forgiven to assume the lockdown period was over.

President Mnangagwa extended the lockdown on Sunday by two weeks to May 3 as Covid-19 cases are increasing.

As of Monday, 3 308 people had been tested for Covid-19 in the country with three recorded deaths and two recoveries from 25 positive cases recorded so far in the country.

In Bulawayo’s CBD yesterday, there were long queues at banks and supermarkets, with forex remittance outlets arguably having the longest queues.

At the markets, a lot of vendors came all out with their boxes to stock up on fruits and vegetables for resale, while a lot of ordinary people were buying fresh produce in bulk and sharing outside.

Police and the army had to be called to restore order at a Western Union and MoneyGram queue at EcoBank at the corner of Fife Street and 9th Avenue when hundreds of people were demanding their diaspora remittances from the bank.

Most Western Union branches and MoneyGram branches in the city were closed as they reportedly had no money.

Banks re-opened for business yesterday and there were winding queues at NMB, First Capital Bank, NBS, EcoBank and at CBZ.

At most queues people were not adhering to social distancing rules.

Most people in queues said they had walked into the city centre from various suburbs as there is no public transport open to non-essential services staff.

At banks, clients said they had to stand in long queues as they needed the cash for day-to-day expenses as commodities were much cheaper when buying in cash as compared to using electronic transactions. Also, people avoid bank or electronic transaction charges when using cash.

For example, at Oceans Supermarket in the city, bread was going for $21 cash and $30 using other payment options which also attracts additional transaction charges.

“It’s better to just spend the whole day in the queue knowing that at the end of the day I will buy five items with cash than swiping for only three items at the shops. In Western areas, they charge you $120 for 2kg sugar when swiping but $80 if you are buying in cash. That is why we will just stand in the queue. We are happy that the banks have since opened. We have been suffering,” said Mr Thembani Ndlovu from Magwegwe North suburb.

People who queued for forex remittances said they were struggling to get their money as most branches were closed, with the few open ones reportedly offering “slow service”.

“We have been here since 7AM. We walked. We couldn’t be in the Zupco bus and the police made us leave our car at Athlone Avenue and continue on foot. They told us that they will close at 12PM, right now its way past 11AM and the queue is still not moving. We need the money because we need to eat,” said Mrs Nobuhle Matshazi from Sauerstown.

In a statement, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said they had noted the high volumes of people trekking into the city yesterday and they were going to act.

He said they had arrested some people but could not immediately give the number of those arrested.

“While we understand that people need to restock on food supplies and some people have genuine business in town, we still want to limit the numbers and decongest the CBD. We will continue to work and our teams are still working at the roadblocks. The high numbers of people arrested are not necessarily a reflection that the people of Bulawayo are the rowdiest, but it is a reflection of the effectiveness of the police force in the province. We warn all those who continue to violate lockdown orders that they will be arrested as we shall leave no stone unturned,” he said.

Speaking during a donations handover ceremony at Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital yesterday, Bulawayo mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni said the public’s attitude on Covid-19 was worrying as there were many people still defying lockdown regulations, putting themselves, their families and the general public at risk.

The mayor said flattening the curve is a collective responsibility and it needs everyone to avert the spread of Covid 19.

“It is saddening to note that the issue of social distancing is still not being adhered to, especially in Bulawayo. Let us protect each other to save lives and practice social distancing. I also need to implore businesses operating this time to ensure that they do not expose people to Covid-19. While hand sanitisers and washing of hands is encouraged, may we also ensure that we discourage unnecessary loitering outside our premises,” he said.

During the same occasion, the assistant director of the Health Services Department Dr Khulamuzi Nyathi urged Bulawayo residents to observe lockdown regulations and stay at home as the movement of people spreads Covid-19.

State Media

Zimbabwean citizens who returned from the United Kingdom on Monday aboard Ethiopian Airlines will have to stay at Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College, as Government could not secure alternative accommodation.

The returnees had agreed to put up at the college on Monday on condition that Government would secure a “better place”. .

The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) was suggested, but the fact that UZ is already being used as a manufacturing hub for Covid-19 equipment does not allow it to be a quarantine facility. Other people, some of whom are involved in the production of the Covid-19 materials, are also staying on campus.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Secretary Mr Simon Masanga yesterday said Government was now working on availing borehole water to the returnees for drinking, adding that the college already had running water from the local authority.

“The institution had running water, but what they wanted was borehole water and we are in the process of getting that sorted,” he said.

“However, today we will organise bottled water for them. Since we could not secure accommodation for them at the UZ, that means we will have to work with what is there. They will have to stay at Belvedere Teachers’ College, after all this is only a temporary arrangement.”

Mr Masanga said those intending to get their personal blankets and linen from their relatives where free to do so, but no interaction would be permitted between them and their relatives.

“If anyone of them feels or visits a friend’s cubicle, that will be at their own risk, but we have made efforts to maintain social distancing even as they sleep,” he said.

Government had a difficult time on Monday trying to negotiate with the returnees to accept compulsory quarantine.

The returnees insisted that the quarantine facility was below standard and inhabitable and only accepted to sleep at the college on condition that they would be moved the following morning.

Yesterday, videos and pictures of the dormitories, bedding and ablution facilities made rounds on social media, but most Zimbabweans could not take any of it, insisting that Government should not compromise on compulsory quarantine.

The anger by most Zimbabweans emanated from confirmed cases of Covid-19 involving returnees who failed to abide by self-isolation rules and instead roamed around the streets, exposing other people to the virus.

JUSTICE Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has said processes are underway to amend the recent clemency order and ensure more categories of prisoners benefit from the Presidential amnesty as an urgent measure to decongest prisons.

Government is also working on transferring inmates from heavily-congested prisons to less-populated centres to promote social distancing.

Early this month, President Mnangagwa exercised his constitutional powers of mercy to effect the amnesty to reduce the prison population to levels that could be accommodated safely.

Only 1 680 were released, a figure far off the targeted 5 000.

The country’s prisons, whose holding capacity is 17 000, had about 22 000 inmates prior to the amnesty, but the figure dropped by 1 680.

Only 53 women benefited from the amnesty after it turned out that most of them committed specified offences like murder, robbery, carjacking, sexual offences and public violence.

Women prisoners who have served at least half their effective sentence, juvenile prisoners who have served a third; those sentenced to 36 months or less who have served half and those over 70 who have served half qualified for release as long as they were not serving for specified offences.

Offenders excluded from the amnesty include those convicted of murder, treason, rape or any sexual offence, carjacking, robbery, stock-theft and public violence, plus any conspiracy, incitement or attempt to commit these crimes or being an accessory.

Also excluded are prisoners who benefited from a previous amnesty, those jailed by a court martial, which would apply to certain offences by members of the defence forces and prisoners with a record for escaping from lawful custody.

Minister Ziyambi said Government was working on amending the clemency order to allow more categories of prisoners to benefit.

“As a stop-gap measure, we are in the process of amending the clemency proclamation so that it includes other categories of offenders in a bid to reduce the prison population.

“We are also considering transferring some categories of prisoners to other jails that are not crowded as a way of maintaining social distance in light of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said Government was also planning to construct new prisons.

“Our prisons were constructed long back when our national population was around seven million, but the figures have now ballooned to around 13 million people.

“That calls for expansion of prison facilities to accommodate more offenders. To that end, we have approached Treasury for funding,” said Minister Ziyambi.

Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison in Harare has remained overcrowded by 94 percent despite the recent Presidential amnesty that freed prisoners. Only 19 inmates qualified for amnesty in the section of most serious offenders, resulting in the population insignificantly dropping from 2 654 to 2 635.

The current population remains close to double the prison’s ideal holding capacity of 1 360 and the situation has strained the prison’s resources, including food and water supplies.

Chikurubi alone requires 1,6 tonnes of maize meal daily and the authorities are struggling to source the scarce commodity.

THE number of people who have tested positive to Covid-19 in Zimbabwe has risen to 28 after three more confirmed cases were reported in Harare.

In an update last night, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the total number of reported deaths remained at three while there have been two recoveries. Harare Metropolitan Province now has the highest number of confirmed cases at 13 followed by Bulawayo Metropolitan Province with 10 cases. Mashonaland East has four confirmed cases, while Matabeleland North has one case. The rest of the provinces are yet to record Covid-19 positive cases.

No details on the new cases were provided by the Ministry.

The ministry said 841 tests were done yesterday, giving a total of 4 159 diagnostic tests done to date. Results for 65 samples were still pending. “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 and exercise social distancing,” said the ministry.

Private sector producers and retailers have agreed with the Government to freeze prices of essential foods as part of measures to cope with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures required to contain the threat.

The envisaged moratorium, still to be formally announced and implemented, follows recent steep increases in prices of basic goods, including bread, super-refined maize-meal, cooking oil, flour and sugar, largely driven by a huge jump in exchange rates, both interbank and black market, in the weeks before the Covid-19 lockdown.

Many of the inputs for most of these basics are still imported.

However, exchange rates have now stabilised, the interbank rate being fixed at Z$25 to US$1 for the duration of the Covid-19 emergency and the black market rate stabilising after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) stamped on two bureaux de change who had driven the rate up fast in a buying spree on behalf of a small group of buyers just before the lockdown.

The stable rates, coupled with lockdown exemptions for mining and tobacco auctions, the two major export earners, means that a price moratorium is financially viable without creating shortages and rates are likely to remain stable since import pressure has been sharply reduced by travel bans and the difficultly of moving non-essential cargo.

The decision to halt further price increases was contained in a report to Cabinet on the country’s preparedness and response to the Covid-19 outbreak presented by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who is also the chairman of the ad hoc inter-ministerial task force on the disease.

Bread prices rose by around 33 percent from an average $20 to $30 during the lockdown, while cooking oil now costs anything between $120 and $160 for two litres, up from $70 depending on brand and the retailer.

Sugar is now selling for over $65 for 2kg while the price of refined maize meal is averaging $230 per 10kg pocket although roller meal remains fixed at $70 per 10kg packet.

Presenting the 12th Cabinet Decision Making Matrix yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said an announcement on the moratorium would be made soon.

“Salient areas where remarkable achievement has been made include discussions regarding the proposed moratorium on prices of identified basic commodities that were concluded and announcements in this regard will be made in due course,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.

Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said her ministry had engaged the private sector organisations, including the Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers among others.

According to a survey carried out by the consumer protection affairs section under her ministry, the food basket for a family of six rose from $4 656 in February to $6 660 as of April 11.

“We met with suppliers and producers and this was a multi-sectoral meeting held on April 11 and the people involved are those who produce, manufacture and distribute food and the purpose of that meeting was to find out how we can put our heads together and protect the consumer and the people involved include the GMAZ, the CZR and others.

We came to an agreement, which still needs to be announced and we intend to make the announcement together in due course where everyone will be present,” Dr Nzenza said.

The minister added that consultations agreed that the producers would ensure that there would be continuous supply of commodities.

Meanwhile Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Professor Paul Mavima said his units had completed compiling the data base for vulnerable people expected to benefit from the $200 monthly cash transfer.

Government has set aside $600 million to be disbursed to vulnerable people over three months up to June.

THE number of people who have tested positive to Covid-19 in Zimbabwe has risen to 28 after three more confirmed cases were reported in Harare.

In an update last night, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said the total number of reported deaths remained at three while there have been two recoveries.

Harare Metropolitan Province now has the highest number of confirmed cases at 13 followed by Bulawayo Metropolitan Province with 10 cases. Mashonaland East has four confirmed cases, while Matabeleland North has one case. The rest of the provinces are yet to record Covid-19 positive cases.

The ministry said 841 tests were done yesterday, giving a total of 4 159 diagnostic tests done to date. Results for 65 samples were still pending.

“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 and exercise social distancing,” said the ministry.-State media

Farai Dziva|MDC MP for Kuwadzana East, Charlton Hwende will on Friday distribute mealie meal to the elderly people in the constituency.

“Those who stay in Kuwadzana East who are over 65 and are struggling to get mealie meal your MP will be distributing free mealie meal on Friday contact my PA Enos 07 33012625 .

I have also specifically asked the Zanu PF and the MDC-A leadership to help identify beneficiaries,” said Hwende in a statement.

Farai Dziva|The Movement for Democratic Change has roundly condemned the arrest of the party’s MP for Mutasa South Constituency, Regai Tsunga.

Tsunga was arrested for distributing mealie meal in the constituency.

“MDC Alliance MP @regaitsunga arrested for distributing maize to ordinary people in his rural constituency. #SaveThePoor #ZanuPfMustGo,” tweeted MDC Youth Assembly Secretary General, Gift Ostallos Siziba.

“I hear Hon Regai Tsunga has been arrested for distributing mealie meal to his Constituence, I cannot fathom the intellect of this evil regime,” Marondera MP Caston Matewu posted on Facebook.

Following a live discussion Monday night hosting Senator Morgen Komichi, ZimEye ran a poll to establish whether opposition leader Nelson Chamisa should attend the upcoming MDC T congress.

Below is the final poll result where 71 percent of the voters said Chamisa should not attend the congress because it is a non event, while 15 percent said he should attend. 11percent of the voters said leave me out of it and 3 percent professed ignorance on the matter.

See the poll results below…..

Watch the live video loading below……

Pandemonium reigned supreme on Friday after a Harare woman was caught red-handed cheating after her boyfriend visited her, unannounced.

Out of desperation, the woman jumped from the second floor of her flat to the ground in a bid to evade confrontation. 

Unfortunately, the attempt at escape was disastrous as she suffered nasty injuries. Her lover whom she was caught with suffered the same fate after also making the jump. The incident occurred at a flat along Tongogara Avenue.

The woman who has only been identified as Nancy was rushed to hospital after the botched escape. Reports are that Nancy’s boyfriend who has been paying for her accommodation arrived at the apartment unannounced whilst she was in the company of her other lover, leading to the fracas.

Contacted for comment, Nancy, confirmed the incident. She, however, denied having sex with her other boyfriend whom she was caught with. In the lengthy interview with the publication, Nancy who was in the company of her friend identified as Tapiwa, said:

‘I am still in shock and I beg you not to publish the story since it might affect my job as well as my close relatives.

The one I love most and who gives me his ear arrived early morning while I was accommodating my boyfriend and I failed to handle the situation upon hearing a knock by the door.

After informing my boyfriend about the one who was knocking by the door, he opened a window and jumped and I quickly followed him and fell on the roof of a parked Honda Fit car.’

‘The car saved me from serious injuries although I am still experiencing hand and back pains.

I was rushed to a doctor that I do not know the condition of my boyfriend who fell on the ground. He described me as a coward lady through a WhatsApp message and blocked my contact accusing me of failing to unlock the door and explain since we had not been in intimacy.’

‘He was my boyfriend and not my lover so we never engaged in s_ex but he slept over since it was too late and I feared for his life because of the lockdown security measures,’ said Nancy refusing to identify names of the two boyfriends.

Watch live video loading below….

In line with the new COVID-19 testing strategy, the Ministry continues to implement screening and diagnostic testing across all provinces.

Today, a total of 457 tests were done as detailed in table 1 below, giving a total of 3 308 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.

… to date, Zimbabwe has twenty-five confirmed cases, including two recoveries and three deaths.

All the PCR tests done in Harare and Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.

Today, the Ministry received the second consignment of COVID-19 laboratory diagnostic test kits and personal protective equipment from the Jack Ma Foundation through the African Union.

The Ministry is very grateful to the Jack Ma Foundation for the support in strengthening the national response and will ensure equitable distribution of these commodities across all provinces.

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 and exercise social distancing.

When you use a mask, cover your mouth and nose, and make sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

Avoid touching the mask while using it if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

If masks are not used correctly, they can be a source of infection.
For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.

A 20-YEAR-OLD man and a 21-year-old woman from Bulawayo allegedly committed suicide in separate incidents.

The man allegedly killed himself yesterday in New Magwegwe suburb while the woman is suspected to have taken her life on Saturday.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said the man, whose name was not given, was found hanging at his home by his brother-in-law who had had tea with him hours earlier.

“I can confirm that we recorded a case of a man from Magwegwe suburb who committed suicide by hanging himself.

“The man whose name was not given and is aged 20 was allegedly drinking tea and chatting with his brother-in-law when he indicated that he was not feeling well.

“He went to a room in the house and at around 9AM his brother-in-law found him hanging from a roof truss with a nylon rope,” said Insp Ncube.

He said police took the body to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for post-mortem and a case of sudden death was opened.

Scores of residents were gathered outside the house, disregarding social distancing, until police dispersed them.

Efforts to get a comment from the family were fruitless as they said they were still grieving.

Magwegwe residents’ association chairperson Mr Phillip Karanda said he knew the man as a vegetable vendor who used a pushcart to sell his produce around the suburb.

“Moments before the death, a colleague of his passed by my home after being with the deceased in the morning.

“A few minutes later he informed me that he had received a call that his friend had committed suicide.

“As the local leadership we would like to tell the youths to be open to their elders in future and tell them if they have problems so we can come to their assistance,” said Mr Karanda.

A resident who declined to be named said the deceased was known as Nkosi and was reportedly having domestic issues with the people he stayed with.

“I heard that Nkosi had issues with the people he stayed with who are said to have been abusing him.

It’s said he had earlier sent a message to one of the people he stayed with, telling him that he wanted to commit suicide,” said the resident.

Insp Ncube said police are worried about the number of suicides involving young people after a woman allegedly hanged herself on Saturday at a house she rented.

“On April 18, a 21-year-old woman from Nkulumane area who was staying alone was found hanging at the house she rented,” he said.

Insp Ncube said the deceased in both suicide cases did not leave suicide notes.

He urged the community, especially youths to seek counselling instead of taking their own lives.-State media

An anonymous person has reportedly donated 10 ventilators to Harare City Council and has since delivered one.

The development was announced by the local authority in a tweet this Tuesday. The tweet said:

A Good Samaritan has donated 10 ventilators to council. The benefactor chose to remain anonymous. So far one machine has been delivered with the remaining nine expected by weekend.

This comes when the country has also in the recent past received some medical equipment from Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundation, Sakunda Holdings and other well-wishers.

The donations come when the country is intensifying its fight against the coronavirus pandemic that has so far killed three people in the country.

Last month, Zimbabwe’s ill-preparedness to fighting the virus was exposed after the family of Zororo Makamba alleged that the death of their relative could be avoided if Wilkins Hospital had ventilators.

Wilkins, a health institution run by Harare City, was immediately renovated following the outrage and is reportedly in a better state now

Permanent secretary in the Information ministry, Nick Mangwana has revealed that a wellwisher has pledged to meet the hotel bills for the Zimbabwean UK returnees trapped at Belvedere Teachers College.

The wellwisher, an employee of fellow Zimbabweans currently quarantined at Belvedere Teachers college reportedly offered to meet their hotel bills following revelations that the returnees were trapped at the institution with no water or proper ablution facilities.

He said:

We publish below reactions to the tweet from Mangwana:

By A Correspondent- Harare North legislator has exposed how the roller meal is ending up on the black market where it is being sold in forex.

Rusty Markham said in Hatcliffe, the scarce commodity was delivered to a shop and only a few packets sold to the majority and the balance collected using the back door and delivered to vendors.

… to date, Zimbabwe has twenty-five confirmed cases, including two recoveries and three deaths.

All the PCR tests done in Harare and Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.

Today, the Ministry received the second consignment of COVID-19 laboratory diagnostic test kits and personal protective equipment from the Jack Ma Foundation through the African Union.

The Ministry is very grateful to the Jack Ma Foundation for the support in strengthening the national response and will ensure equitable distribution of these commodities across all provinces.

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 and exercise social distancing.

When you use a mask, cover your mouth and nose, and make sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

Avoid touching the mask while using it if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

If masks are not used correctly, they can be a source of infection.
For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.

State Media|TWO suspected thieves were arrested after police opened fire and deflated one of the tyres of their getaway car during a dramatic high-speed chase, as cases of unlawful entry and theft dominate the Bulawayo crime scene during the lockdown.

Police said criminals were taking advantage of the lockdown to raid deserted business premises and parked cars, with $50 000 worth of property stolen on the first day of the lockdown.

Thieves are mainly targeting food outlets in residential areas. They are also capitalising on deserted streets to attack individuals roaming the streets in violation of lockdown regulations.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said six cases of unlawful entry and theft and arrests of several suspects, including two men who led police on a high-speed chase after theft from motor vehicles, have been recorded in the city.

The arrests were made between March 28 and April 18 and stolen goods worth more than $100 000 were recovered.

“Between the period of March 28 and April 18, we received six cases of unlawful entry into premises and theft and usually the criminals will be targeting business premises like shops, hospitals and schools. We had a case where the suspects went to Mpilo Central Hospital and stole eight doors, four electronic breakers and several electrical sockets,” said Insp Ncube.

“Property that was stolen on the first day of the lockdown on the March 30 is valued at $50 000. The suspects went to a butchery in the central business district during first week of the lockdown and they broke into the premises and stole beef, chicken cuts, sausage and soft drinks all valued at $5 638.”

The suspects broke into Luveve High School and stole five desks and four chairs valued at $6 000.

Insp Ncube said most of the cases of unlawful entry and theft occurring in the western suburbs involve suspects who break into houses and steal food stuffs.

“While we are conducting patrols, we are also urging owners of premises to secure their premises by enlisting security guards. As ZRP Bulawayo province, we have not received alarming cases of domestic violence and we would like commend the local community. We also encourage people to stay at home as part of lockdown regulations meant to protect lives,” he said.

Insp Ncube said they also recorded incidents of people who were mugged while moving around in violation of lockdown regulations.

“It appears that these suspects know that there would be few people on the streets. These criminals are taking advantage of the lockdown to pounce on people who do not comply and are spotted walking in the streets and pathways in the evenings or even during the day because there would be few people moving around,” he said.

Gift Timothy Derera (21), Innocent Mutsipa (25) who are both unemployed were arrested for stealing a cellphone worth $25 000 from a car, which was parked in the central business district.

They appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Shepherd Munjanja facing charges of theft from a motor vehicle and remanded to May 8.

The prosecutor, Ms Grace Zhou said on April 15 at around 11AM, the complainant parked his car, a Toyota Harrier at a parking lot at corner Robert Mugabe Way and 9th Avenue. He secured the doors by locking them before the two accused persons in the company of their three accomplices who are still at large arrived at the scene in their car, a Honda Fit.

“The accused persons forced opened the front doors of the complainant’s car and stole a G-Tel cellphone which was inside. After committing the alleged offence, the drove away in their getaway car,” said Ms Zhou.

Insp Ncube said the two accused persons were arrested after a dramatic high-speed chase.

Police received a tip off that the accused persons were spotted driving a blue Honda Fit, which has no number plates after breaking into another vehicle in the central business district.

The police followed the car along Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue into Old Victoria Falls road and spotted the accused parked near United College of Education.

On seeing the police approaching, the accused persons got suspicious and they jumped into their car and sped off, resulting in the high-speed chase.

“One of the police officers opened fire and shot a left front wheel of the accused persons’ car using a CZ pistol and it deflated. The accused persons got out of their vehicle and tried to flee, but police caught up with two accused persons and apprehended them,” said Insp Ncube.

Four of the suspects managed to escape and they are still at large.

Health minister Obediah Moyo has confirmed that 52 people have died from malaria nationally.

Addressing a post cabinet press briefing, Tuesday, Moyo said the ministry was on high alert in cambarting the disease which was at its peak.

Watch the live video loading below…

Watch the live video loading below…..

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THE British Government has announced a US$43,6 million aid package towards Covid-19 medical supplies to assist in fighting the pandemic in Zimbabwe.

British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Melanie Robinson confirmed the latest development.

“We have announced nearly US$44 million which makes us the biggest contributor to the COVID-19 response here in Zimbabwe,’’ said Ambassador Robinson.

“This shows how important the relationship between the British and Zimbabwe people is,” she said.

Watch live video loading below….

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa presents the 12th post cabinet press statement at Munhumutapa offices in Harare.

Watch the live video loading below…..

LAWYERS representing political activist Josphat Mzaca Ngulube have challenged and finally won the incarceration of the aspiring Bulawayo legislator who was last year jailed seven years for public violence.

Ngulube was convicted on charges of burning three cars and property at a house belonging to Zanu PF Bulawayo provincial women’s league chairperson Eva Bitu during the violent January protests.

He was convicted alongside Fortune Masuku, Melusi Moyo and Otilia Sibanda who have all also been granted freedom on bail pending appeal.

Ngulube contested the 2018 parliamentary elections as an independent candidate in Bulawayo South constituency before joining the MDC last year.

“Mzaca” and four others were in January this year taken from Khami Prison where they were languishing since their sentencing in November last year and were transferred to Harare under unclear circumstances.

The State’s case, as presented by Jetro Mada, was that on January 14 at about 7am, Ngulube, acting in connivance with 100 others, unlawfully blocked the free movement of traffic at the intersection of Sizinda Road and Nketa Drive.

Mada said the crew accused Bitu of solely benefiting from taxpayers’ money and pushed her Ford Ranger out of the yard and set it alight.

“Accused persons went back into the yard where they had left a Nissan NP300 and a Toyota Vitz. They set alight the Nissan whose flames destroyed part of the Vitz. The Ford Ranger and Nissan NP300 were burnt beyond repair,” Mada said.

Mada said the cars had a total value of US$95 000.

High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese, Monday, granted ‘Mzaca’ ZWL$2000 bail pending appeal against both conviction and his seven-year sentence.

As part of the bail conditions, Justice Makonese ordered that Ngulube reports every fortnight at Tshabalala police station and he continues to stay at his place of residence in Tshabalala.

Dear Editor

Kindly follow up on this communique regarding our repatriation back to Zimbabwe. We are currently stuck here.

In line with the new COVID-19 testing strategy, the Ministry continues to implement screening and diagnostic testing across all provinces.

Today, a total of 457 tests were done as detailed in table 1 below, giving a total of 3 308 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.

… to date, Zimbabwe has twenty-five confirmed cases, including two recoveries and three deaths.

All the PCR tests done in Harare and Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.

Today, the Ministry received the second consignment of COVID-19 laboratory diagnostic test kits and personal protective equipment from the Jack Ma Foundation through the African Union.

The Ministry is very grateful to the Jack Ma Foundation for the support in strengthening the national response and will ensure equitable distribution of these commodities across all provinces.

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 and exercise social distancing.

When you use a mask, cover your mouth and nose, and make sure that there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

Avoid touching the mask while using it if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

If masks are not used correctly, they can be a source of infection.
For assistance, please call the COVID-19 tollfree hotline number: 2019.