Farai Dziva|A Non Governmental Organisation, ICOD Zimbabwe has written a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, expressing concerns about “gross abuse of human rights by the police force.”

ZRP Cops have been accused of assaulting civilians during the lockdown.

See part of the petition written by ICOD Zim:

ACKNOWLEDGING that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 (Constitution) mandates Parliament of Zimbabwe to make laws, carry out executive oversight and discharge a representative role, as well as protect the Constitution and democratic governance in Zimbabwe;

COGNISANT that in the exercise of its legislative function and authority Parliament can in fact initiate, prepare, consider or reject any legislation;
RECOGNISING that the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level are accountable to Parliament;
AWARE that Section 210 (Independent complaints mechanism) of the Constitution peremptorily requires:

An Act of Parliament must provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
MINDFUL of the following peremptory provisions of the Constitution
[t]he national security of Zimbabwe must be secured in compliance with this Constitution and the law.

Section 206(2) (National Security)
[i]n particular, the protection of national security must be pursued with the utmost respect for (a) the fundamental rights and freedoms and the democratic values and principles enshrined in this Constitution; and (b) the rule of law. Section 206(3) (National Security);
[t]he security services are subject to the authority of this Constitution, the President and Cabinet and are subject to parliamentary oversight. Section 207(2) (Security Services);
[m]embers of the security services must act in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Section 208(1) (Conduct of members of security services); and
[n]either the security services nor any of their members may, in the exercise of their functions violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person.

Section 208(2)(d) (Conduct of members of security services)
CONCERNED that close to seven years since the adoption of the Constitution in 2013, no tangible action has been taken towards realising the constitutional imperative of an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
DISTURBED by reports of assault, corruption and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown that was announced by H.E. the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and provided for in Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 – Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 from 30th of March, 2020, to the 19th of April, 2020;

AWARE that although the High Court of Zimbabwe, on April 16, 2020, granted an interim order – in a case that challenged torture, inhumane and degrading conduct, disregard of human dignity and violation of the Constitution by members of the Police Service and the Zimbabwe National Army – requiring members the security services to respect human rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms when enforcing the National Lockdown regulations, such an order does not provide for the investigation of complaints against misconduct and the remedying harm caused by such misconduct.

WORRIED that the absence of an effective and independent mechanism envisaged under Section 210 deprives members of the public a constitutionally prescribed avenue for redress;
MINDFUL that asking members of the public to report complaints about misconduct on the part of members of the security services and expect remedies any harm caused by such misconduct to internal mechanism provided by the security services is woefully inadequate to satisfy the dictates of Section 210 which requires an effective and independent mechanism.

NOW THEREFORE your petitioner beseeches the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional role and address the following issues of public concern:

Ensure the promulgation of an Act of Parliament envisaged by Section 210 of the Constitution to provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
Ensure the protection of the public through Parliament’s oversight functions vis-à-vis the aforesaid mechanism;
Subject the relevant mechanism to such oversight as may be provided in the relevant Act of Parliament; and
Inquire, using its constitutionally provided oversight function, into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.

PETITIONER’S PLEA AND PRAYER:

The petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional mandate to give effect to Section 210 of the Constitution and inquire into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.

WHEREFORE, we pray that your Honourable House will be pleased to take this case into favourable consideration, and grant any other such relief as it may deem fit,

AND your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

SCHOOLS that have unilaterally hiked fees and those charging foreign currency without approval risk deregistration, Government has warned.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema yesterday said schools should strictly adhere to current regulations.

The second term was supposed to begin this week but President Emmerson Mnangagwa indicated that conditions are not yet conducive for a safe learning environment, especially in the wake of growing coronavirus cases.

Despite being closed, most private schools are demanding upwardly reviewed fees, which have raised the ire of parents and guardians, who view them as exorbitant.

Minister Mathema said schools that intend to hike their fees should seek approval first, while those demanding foreign currency should stop the practice forthwith.

“I must warn them that I will not hesitate to deregister those out of line. We need as many schools open as possible, but regulations must be adhered to,” he said.

“Some schools even have the guts to charge in US dollars, openly, in broad daylight — we are saying that is not good. It must stop!”

Amb Mathema said the Education Act provides for the approval of any changes in school fees for both private and public institutions.

“I have seen some invoices but as Government, we don’t think this is the right time for people to be asking about money when everyone else is worried about human life.

“Having said that, I would like to emphasise that all fees increases have to be approved by the Permanent Secretary (Mrs Thabela Tumisang) and there are no such applications at the ministry yet.”-State media

By A Correspondent- Up to date, 380 people who were contacts of COVID-19 cases in Bulawayo have been successfully traced, and necessary testings and follow-ups have been conducted.

This was revealed by Bulawayo mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni who spoke to the publication and said:

A total of 380 contacts of all the positive cases have since been identified, classified and followed up. As it stands at least 11 cases are due to active local transmission. Efforts to prudently implement effective outbreak containment measures are ongoing.

The city has also conducted testing of at least 101 residents of the gated community and all the RT-PCR and RDT tested negative for the pandemic. In Event Based Surveillance the seven Rapid Response Teams activated on 27 February 2020 have been following up rumours of possible suspected cases of Covid-19 since then

Bulawayo has recorded 12 COVID-19 cases including one death so far. However, 2 people have so far violated self-isolation in the City, a Matar Dei Nurse aide who attended to the city’s fatality and a ZIMRA employee who was placed on self-isolation after hee colleague tested positive for the virus.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The government is considering chartering a plane to repatriate Zimbabweans in China who have indicated they want to come back home.

This was revealed by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister David Musabayana who said this to the state media:

Then we have about 200 people in China who have expressed their interest to come back home and the Government is working out the best way possible to evacuate them

We are thinking of chartering a plane to bring them home. That issue is now before the taskforce together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (and International Trade) to work out modalities on how those people can be evacuated

This comes amid reports that close to 4000 Zimbabweans in other countries have indicated that they want to come back home as they face lockdown induced hardships in other countries.

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By A Correspondent- MDC legislator for Bulawayo East Ilos Nyoni has said the problem of limited subsidised mealie meal  is hampering the coronavirus fight as people ignore social distancing while queuing for the scarce commodity.

Nyoni said:

“Despite the covid19 pandemic people ignore the recommended social distancing in search of the staple food. The major question is what is the way forward? Suggestions have been made that to limit these crowds that are not in compliance with social distancing mealie meal should be delivered at door steps  of each resident. It is doubtful if this is possible,” he said.

“We are all aware that food shortages and water challenges are a result of the current  drought. The remedy in the short term is for the relevant authorities to avail adequate funding to import enough maize, then flood the shops with subsidised mealie meal as this is a clear case of supply and demand.”

By A Correspondent- Health experts have warned government against complacence in the enforcement of the new stay-at-home order, especially regarding the informal sector amid fears any slip-up could boomerang with disastrous consequences.

This comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Friday an extension of the country’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown, albeit with relaxed conditions, that will see more businesses reopening to balance the people’s health needs and national economic interests.

While the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) hailed the decision by government saying it was informed by the need to alleviate hunger among the poor in the informal sector and that they were happy with the restoration of the quarantine days from eight back to 21 days, they were still concerned about its capacity to control the informal sector.

In announcing the lockdown extension Mnangagwa made it mandatory for citizens to always wear face masks outside their homes to curtail the spread of the virus.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Vice President Kembo Mohadi who is also the chairperson of the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce committee met the Bulilima and Mangwe district Taskforce teams to check the state of preparedness in the district in terms of mitigating the spread of Covid-19.

He toured Plumtree High School which has been turned a quarantine Centre for returnees from Botswana and Plumtree Hospital which has been earmarked as an isolation Centre.

VP Mohadi urged the nation to unite during this pandemic and work in ensuring the virus is contained.

Dingumuzi Phitu said as Bulilima West legislator, he represented the community l serve and we continue to mobilise resources such as PPEs, sanitisers and masks which are to be distributed to the rural clinics and a rural hospital in the constituency.

“Last week as l was delivering infrared thermometers l observed that the rural clinics and one rural hospital on the constituency have put in measures to ensure there are ready to attend to suspected Covid-19 cases,” he said.

“In the coming week we expect to have sourced enough sanitisers to be donated to the health sector, business centres among other places in the constituency.”-online

In a leaked letter, Mthuli Ncube acknowledged there are necessary reforms President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government must undertake, including contentious political reforms.

Zimbabwe’s finance minister, Mthuli Ncube, has issued an impassioned plea to international finance institutions, laying bare the country’s battered economy and saying it faces “catastrophe” if it does not access critical bailout funding to fight the combined impact of crippling drought and the coronavirus pandemic.

In a leaked letter, the authenticity of which has been confirmed by a senior government official, Ncube wrote to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other international institutions, saying the country faced record poverty levels.

Ncube said without a transformative arrears clearance and re-engagement plan, Zimbabwe could “suffer a health and economic catastrophe” and the economy could contract by as much as 20%.

“This is a massive contraction with very serious social consequences,” that could “raise poverty to levels not seen in recent times,” reads part of the letter.

Zimbabwe, which cleared its debts with the IMF, still owes other international lenders more than US$9 billion, and has, since 2009, struggled to restructure these debts.

No support forthcoming

The debt arrears have contributed to Zimbabwe being unable to access any global funding to combat the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

At this year’s spring meetings, IMF Director: African Department, Abebe Aemro Selassie, told a press conference that Zimbabwe was not eligible for international support.

“Unfortunately, Zimbabwe continues to have arrears to the World Bank and AfDB which is a constraint on our ability to lend to the country,” Selassie said.

Not enough money locally

In his letter, however, Ncube said domestic resources to mitigate the impact of the pandemic were insufficient.

This is at a time the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to have a devastating health, humanitarian and economic impact on Zimbabwe, he added.

Ncube said there was simply no fiscal space to intervene, meaning there could be a drastic increase in already-unmanageable inflation rates, and the exchange rate could be destabilised.

Promise of reforms

In an unexpected move, he acknowledged that there are necessary reforms President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government must undertake, including contentious political reforms.

In return, Ncube is hoping for a debt rescheduling of 15 years, or cancellation of all official bilateral arrears.

The eventual normalisation of financial relationships will make Zimbabwe eligible for various support facilities available to fragile countries.

Farai Dziva|A Non Governmental Organisation, ICOD Zimbabwe has written a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, expressing concerns about “gross abuse of human rights by the police force.”

ZRP Cops have been accused of assaulting civilians during the lockdown.

See part of the petition written by ICOD Zim:

ACKNOWLEDGING that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 (Constitution) mandates Parliament of Zimbabwe to make laws, carry out executive oversight and discharge a representative role, as well as protect the Constitution and democratic governance in Zimbabwe;

COGNISANT that in the exercise of its legislative function and authority Parliament can in fact initiate, prepare, consider or reject any legislation;
RECOGNISING that the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level are accountable to Parliament;
AWARE that Section 210 (Independent complaints mechanism) of the Constitution peremptorily requires:

An Act of Parliament must provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
MINDFUL of the following peremptory provisions of the Constitution
[t]he national security of Zimbabwe must be secured in compliance with this Constitution and the law.

Section 206(2) (National Security)
[i]n particular, the protection of national security must be pursued with the utmost respect for (a) the fundamental rights and freedoms and the democratic values and principles enshrined in this Constitution; and (b) the rule of law. Section 206(3) (National Security);
[t]he security services are subject to the authority of this Constitution, the President and Cabinet and are subject to parliamentary oversight. Section 207(2) (Security Services);
[m]embers of the security services must act in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Section 208(1) (Conduct of members of security services); and
[n]either the security services nor any of their members may, in the exercise of their functions violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person.

Section 208(2)(d) (Conduct of members of security services)
CONCERNED that close to seven years since the adoption of the Constitution in 2013, no tangible action has been taken towards realising the constitutional imperative of an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
DISTURBED by reports of assault, corruption and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown that was announced by H.E. the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and provided for in Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 – Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 from 30th of March, 2020, to the 19th of April, 2020;

AWARE that although the High Court of Zimbabwe, on April 16, 2020, granted an interim order – in a case that challenged torture, inhumane and degrading conduct, disregard of human dignity and violation of the Constitution by members of the Police Service and the Zimbabwe National Army – requiring members the security services to respect human rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms when enforcing the National Lockdown regulations, such an order does not provide for the investigation of complaints against misconduct and the remedying harm caused by such misconduct.

WORRIED that the absence of an effective and independent mechanism envisaged under Section 210 deprives members of the public a constitutionally prescribed avenue for redress;
MINDFUL that asking members of the public to report complaints about misconduct on the part of members of the security services and expect remedies any harm caused by such misconduct to internal mechanism provided by the security services is woefully inadequate to satisfy the dictates of Section 210 which requires an effective and independent mechanism.

NOW THEREFORE your petitioner beseeches the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional role and address the following issues of public concern:

Ensure the promulgation of an Act of Parliament envisaged by Section 210 of the Constitution to provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
Ensure the protection of the public through Parliament’s oversight functions vis-à-vis the aforesaid mechanism;
Subject the relevant mechanism to such oversight as may be provided in the relevant Act of Parliament; and
Inquire, using its constitutionally provided oversight function, into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.

PETITIONER’S PLEA AND PRAYER:

The petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional mandate to give effect to Section 210 of the Constitution and inquire into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.

WHEREFORE, we pray that your Honourable House will be pleased to take this case into favourable consideration, and grant any other such relief as it may deem fit,

AND your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

By A Correspondent- African remittance company, Mukuru, has pledged to support the relatives of a Zimbabwean National Health Service (NHS) mental health worker who died from Covid-19 – leaving her 12-year-old daughter orphaned in the United Kingdom with no family.

According to the Daily Mail, Rutendo Mukotsanjera, a 45-year-old single mother, who lived in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, passed away from coronavirus on April 10 after a two week battle with the infection.

Rutendo left her 12-year-old daughter Chiedza, known as Chichi, alone in Britain where she is now being cared for by members of the Renew Church in Uttoxeter, where her mother worshipped.

The Daily Mail further revealed that Rutendo used to work weekends and evenings to regularly send money back home to Zimbabwe through Mukuru, to help her loved ones including her 22-year-old son Shungu Shaun and her mother.

According to her sister Rumbidzai, Rutendo was helping her son by renting him a place in the country’s capital Harare and paying his school fees so he could complete his Secondary education.

Mukuru has now pledged to continue supporting her son and mother by matching her monthly sends from the past year for the next 12 months – roughly £2,300.

The company’s CEO Andy Jury said:

Miss Mukotsanjera was the very embodiment of a Mukuru customer – hardworking, selfless, and the backbone of the family she supported. We were so saddened to hear of Miss Mukotsanjera’s passing.

We would like to continue to support her son in Zimbabwe over the next 12 months, to ensure he is able to continue along the path his mother paved for him.

By Own Correspondent| MultiChoice Zimbabwe has sent out a reminder to existing and potential DStv viewers that they should make use of only accredited installers and agents when they need installations or other technical support services.

Several customers have reported being given defective or substandard products and  inadequate support from people posing as DStv installers and agents, but who on investigation turn out to be illegal service providers whose activities are unknown and cannot be guaranteed as safe or worthy.

Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, strongly urged all DStv customers and would-be customers to use only those installers and agents whose business names appear on the official and authorised list of DStv accredited installers and agents.  “Over the years we have regularly warned that using unauthorised installers could result in loss of money, inadequate service and even exposure to fraudulent activity,“ she said.

“Our message is clear: check first to see who is accredited and who therefore offers services of a known high standard and who can be follow-up on if something were to go wrong.”

DStv accredited installers receive training from qualified technicians and other experts within the MultiChoice organisation, and they liaise closely with in-house technical and administrative staff. Their work is monitored and if a problem arises can be guided to a satisfactory resolution of the problem.

“They use proper equipment, have the necessary know-how and are regularly updated on all relevant information from the MultiChoice organisation,” said Ms Dziva.

“We have no jurisdiction over the illegal operators and customers will lose out, financially and in other ways, if they are mishandled.”

The list of accredited installers and agents can be found at www.dstv.com or www.facebook.DStvZimbabwe.com. “It is unlikely that an accredited installer will provide an unsatisfactory service, but should that happen it can be reported to MultiChoice Zimbabwe and action can be taken to resolve the matter for the customer,” said Ms Dziva.

By Jane Mlambo| Government has denied reports that it has deployed soldiers to Mozambique to help in the fight against Islamic insurgency.

There were widespread reports that soldiers had been deployed to Mozambique without the blessing of parliament which according to the new constitution enacted in 2013 should approve such a plan, but Nick Mangwana who is the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of information, media and Broadcasting services said Zimbabwe had not deployed any troops.

“We are getting a lot media enquiries on weather Zimbabwe has deployed the Zimbabwe Defence Forces(ZDF) in Mozambique. The answer is that Zimbabwe has not deployed any troops in Mozambique,” said Mangwana.

Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa sneaked out of the country to Mozambique where he met his counterpart Fillipe Nyusi to discuss among other things the Islamic insurgency.

Thought a communique from the meeting did not indicate a decision to support Mozambique with troops, there were fears that they could have agreed to such a move.

By A Correspondent- The women who were quarantined first at Plumtree border post before being taken to a Bulawayo quarantine centre exposed military brutality at the facility where soldiers and the police are called to beat them up for querying their over detention.

The women, said efforts to engage social welfare officials over access to sanitary pads and even paracetamol also hit a snag revealing that menstrual blood flows on the blankets while they are sleeping.

The women said while they are not given the sanitary pads at the quarantine centre, efforts to get the officials at the quarantine centre to purchase the commodity for them also hit a snag.

Said one of the women:

“… Menstrual blood is flowing and spoiling our blankets because we are not given sanitary pads neither do we have access to go and buy them. The officials also refuse to touch our money when we ask them to go and buy pads for us at the shops.”

Added another returnee:

“I asked one of the social welfare officers to go and buy some medicine for me but they refused… this was after they also refused for me to go and buy it for myself. Instead, they told me to get someone from home to bring it for me but i explained to them that i have noone because all my relatives are far but they would hear none of it…”

Narrated another woman:

“… we are sharing a bar of soap amongst 7 people and a tube of colgate is shared by 5 people….All those arriving are also coming here and we mix and mingle when getting our meals. It is confusing how someone who came after us is let go while we are detained even after completing our 21 day quarantine.”

Added another woman:

“We have overstayed our quarantine but the officials here are not forthcoming regarding the way forward. We have been tested but it shocking why the results are not coming but several people that came after us have already left while we are still being detained.”

Watch the live video loading below………..

By A Correspondent- The government on Saturday gazetted Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 to clarify the Level Two national lockdown announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday.

SI 99 of 2020 describes businesses that are expected to open during Level 2 of the national lockdown. It says:

. . . business in the formal commercial and industrial sector means any business, industry, trade or occupation . . . in goods or services for the generation of income or the making of profits, the formalisation of which is evidenced in any one or more of the following ways:

(a) the holding of a shop or other licence from a local authority enabling it to operate the business in question from a specified premises; or

(b) being the lessee of premises governed by the Commercial Premises (Lease Control) Act [Chapter 14:04]; or

(c) being a registered operator for the purposes of the Value Added Tax Act; or

(d) being a registered as an employer for the purpose of paying employees’ tax under the Income Tax Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (Amendment) Order, 2020 (No. 5) 554 Act, or otherwise making a regular return of income for the purposes of that Act;

(e) being a party to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated through an Employment Council governing the business in question.

Individuals or businesses that fail to comply with the new regulations face hefty penalties of up to $36 000 or a year in jail [in the case of individuals].

It says:

Any person who fails to comply with an order of an enforcement officer given under this section, or who hinders or obstructs an enforcement officer from having the access referred to in subsection (6), shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Former Cabinet minister Walter Mzembi reportedly sold one of his Vainona houses to a Harare businessman (name withheld) to fund his political party, The Zimbabwe Sun can exclusively reveal.

Mzembi, one of the G-40 kingpins, was deposed in November 2017 in a military operation code-named Operation Restore Legacy.

“His business empire has crumbled and now he has sold his house to fund his political party. He has not been in the country since 2018 and things are falling apart,” a source revealed.

The former tourism minister, ensconced in exile, launched his political outfit People’s Party in January this year.

Already some of its members have resigned citing irregularities in the party.

“The party had no direction because of monetary issues, forcing some members to resign. Now he had to sell some of his properties to fund party activities,” he added.

Yesterday outspoken Gokwe-Nembudziya MP Justice Mayor Wadyajena sensationally claimed that Mzembi received US$1 million, though he could not divulge where it came from.

The exposure was inadvertently made while he was urging another exiled politician Professor Jonathan Moyo to move on.

“I hear you Prof. In the humble opinion of a concerned youngster, you took politics way too personally. Your allies are (at)home; Chipanga, Chombo, Grace…Kasukuwere invested, Mzembi recently received US$1 million yet life’s still unfair to you. You have young girls (and) they need their dad,” he tweeted.

Party treasurer-general Agrippa Bopela Masiyakurima, however, claimed on twitter no such funds had found their way into party accounts.

“As The Treasurer General @PeoplesPartyZim,i never received money from @zanupf patriots as @JusticeMayorW is waffling about.We just know that Zanu Pf tried to infiltrate us thru @TysonWabantu coming in thru back door.If @waltermzembi received money,it was for his personal use,” Masiyakurima said.

Efforts to get a comment from Mzembi were futile.

-Online

By A Correspondent- The government will enforce price reductions as some shops were not adhering to the price moratorium which they had committed to following a  multi-sectoral stakeholders agreement last month.

This was said by Vice President Kembo Mohadi on Friday at Gwanda Provincial Hospital during a visit to monitor progress in fighting Covid-19. He said:

We had a moratorium where we agreed that prices had to revert to the prices of 25 March.

Some have observed that and some haven’t but since it’s something that we didn’t coerce anyone into as they signed voluntarily, we will have to enforce it to see that it’s done.

It’s not price control, it was a mutual understanding that we need to help people.

The price moratorium seeks to reverse recent steep increases in prices of basic goods including bread, super-refined maize meal, cooking oil, flour and sugar to March 25.

Some retailers have not only failed to reduce the prices but have actually increased them.-statemedia

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

By A Correspondent- The Government is set to increase the cost of cheaper electricity a household can buy per month.

This was reportedly revealed by the  Energy Minister Fortune Chasi who said;

We are going to review and increase the amount soon. It is true the allocation may not be enough but we are looking into it

This means the 200 units that were going for $186 dollar will cost consumers more adding fuel to the fact that households require over $1000 for electricity only these days which is beyond the reach of many.-Standard

By A Correspondent- Children in Gweru are reportedly using masks and gloves picked from a local dumpsite in Woodlands Park.

This was confirmed by Obert Rupanga, the Woodlands Park suburb’s ward development committee chairperson who relayed his discomfort about the whole scenario.

Rupanga said:

Actually, some children pick up used personal protective equipment like face masks and gloves dumped from hospitals.

They wear these when playing and take them to their homes. We need help because we are at a great risk of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We have approached the Gweru City Council and they said money to relocate the dumpsite is on this year’s budget but we are concerned that, in the meantime, people may easily perish.

The poor waste disposal mechanism had left households in Gweru at risk of contracting the deadly virus. However, the province has so far not recorded a single case of COVID-19.-Standard

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe tested a record 1 436 people for the coronavirus bringing the total of people tested so far to 10 727 but it failed to publish the results saying they will be released today.

No reasons were given, but last week the Ministry of Health said six people in Harare had tested positive but later retested them and they all turned negative.

The number of positive cases that had risen to 40 was revised downwards to 34.

Tests for Harare and Bulawayo for 1 May whose results were pending all tested negative.

Zimbabwe has declared a seven week lockdown though it has eased some of the restrictions from tomorrow.

By A Correspondent- COVID-19 has claimed yet another Zimbabwean based in the United Kingdom.

Popular broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda, who is also based in the UK, announced the death of Irvin Fantie Moyo in Chelmsford through coronavirus.

He described the late Moyo as “one of the nicest Zimbabweans” based in the UK.

Moyo’s death follows those of many other UK based Zimbabweans, the majority being professionals employed in the British health sector and have been part of the frontline staff battling the world pandemic.

While there has been no deliberate tracing of Zimbabweans dying of coronavirus in the UK by authorities, the Zimbabwean embassy to the rich European country announced over a week ago that at least 29 citizens had succumbed to Covid-19.

UK remains one of the world countries worst affected by the pandemic.

By A Correspondent- A Mazowe man is in trouble for allegedly trying to kill his sister-in-law using a machete after she attempted to stop him from beating his wife.

Samuel Manyuchi (38) of Amatora Farm, appeared before Bindura magistrate Moreblessing Makati yesterday facing attempted murder charges and was remanded in custody to June 11.

Prosecutor Vincent Marunya told the court that on April 23 Manyuchi had a misunderstanding with his wife Shupikai Sande.

The complaint Esther Sande (24) tried to intervene, but Manyuchi took a machete from his hut, which he used to strike the complainant twice on the head.

Sande sustained two deep cuts and filed a police report leading to the arrest of the accused.

By A Correspondent- A Gwanda man has been arrested on charges of killing a fellow imbiber following a dispute over beer.

Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of Vusa Mathuthu on murder charges while his three accomplices are still at large.

He said the body of the deceased, Victor Dube (25) was discovered near Thandabantu general dealer shop at Mtshabezi turn off in Gwanda under chief Masuku on April 25.

“One suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder case, which occurred near Mtshabezi turn off. The other three alleged accomplices, who are still at large were identified as Mthandazo Ndlovu, Gift Bhiyana known as Mtshana and Blessing Maseko,” Nyathi said.

“The now deceased Dube and Maseko went aside to talk which resulted in an argument and they came back to join others they were drinking with.

“Maseko reported their dispute to the colleagues and they ganged up on Dube assaulting him with stones.”-Standard

By A Correspondent- A Madziva man allegedly struck his wife twice with an axe following a misunderstanding over money before committing suicide.

Robert Sirani (25) of Musenga village Chief Nyamaropa, drank a pesticide after striking his wife, Memory Kanyera (22) with an axe in the face and ribs.

Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe said Sirani savagely attacked the complainant over the misuse of $50 and US$1.

He tried to poison his wife by sprinkling temik poison in her relish, but she saw it and did not eat the food. Sirani then struck her twice with an axe, breaking two of her teeth in the process.

Sirani disappeared into the dark after the attack.

His wife was rushed to Madziva Hospital and a police report was filed. But Sirani was found unconscious in the bush and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead upon admission.-Standard

Zimbabwe yesterday tested a record 1 436 people for the coronavirus bringing the total of people tested so far to 10 727 but it failed to publish the results saying they will be released today.

No reasons were given, but last week the Ministry of Health said six people in Harare had tested positive but later retested them and they all turned negative.

The number of positive cases that had risen to 40 was revised downwards to 34.

Tests for Harare and Bulawayo for 1 May whose results were pending all tested negative.

Zimbabwe has declared a seven week lockdown though it has eased some of the restrictions from tomorrow.

VICE-President Kembo Mohadi says Zimbabwe has to avoid cross border infections at all costs as it is poorly equipped to handle infections.

Mohadi, who chairs the Covid-19 national taskforce, made the remarks on Friday during a tour of the Beitbridge isolation centre, which is expected to receive thousands of Zimbabweans returning from South Africa in the coming days.

“Get the people to understand this disease is real and we will all die if we allow people through the porous border line from Shashi to Chikwarakwara,” he warned.

“As a country, we are not equipped to fight the scourge, which has even failed the likes of advanced countries with trillions of dollars in their economies like the United States of America.

“Having realised we had no capacity, we resorted to prevention and that is what we must do or we will all perish,” he said, adding that his observation had nothing to do with politics.

There are reports of a surge in the number of Zimbabweans crossing into South Africa using a number of illegal crossing points along the Limpopo River.

The locals allegedly sneak into the South African border town of Musina where they buy basic commodities that are in short supply in Zimbabwe.

They also smuggle contraband such as cigarettes and alcohol, which is banned in the neighbouring country as one of the ways to control the spread of the coronavirus.

In March, South Africa started constructing a 40km border fence in Beitbridge, to control the spread of the virus through illegal migration.

The fence, however, has since been vandalised with scores of Beitbridge residents allegedly crossing into South Africa to smuggle groceries.

South Africans allegedly also sneak into Zimbabwe to buy alcohol.

Mohadi said more tests would be done countrywide following the delivery of test kits.

Meanwhile, last week the Zimbabwe embassy in South Africa said 2 191 Zimbabwean nationals in the neighbouring country had registered to be repatriated back home.

They will be quarantined in Beitbridge for 21 days before they are allowed to go home.

South Africa imposed a lockdown at the end of March to control the spread of the coronavirus, leaving thousands of Zimbabweans that rely on informal jobs stranded.

Parliament has been petitioned to reject government’s fresh bid to amend the constitution following the gazetting of Constitutional Amendment Bill No 2 that seeks 27 changes to the country’s supreme law.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum submitted a petition to speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda pleading with him to exercise his powers and throw away the proposed amendments.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government approved the changes to the constitution, which among other proposals, seek to remove the clause on the presidential running mate and consolidate power in the president’s office.

The proposals also seek to whittle down the powers of Parliament by limiting the executive’s accountability to legislators, among others issues.

But The Forum, a coalition of 20 human rights groups, said the amendments were retrogressive and would erode the tenets of democracy.

The rights lobby groups argued that it would be morally wrong for government to propose changes for the second time to the 2013 constitution, which has not yet been fully implemented.

The Constitutional Court last month ruled that Constitutional Amendment No 1 of 2017, which sought to give Mnangagwa more powers in the appointment of the chief justice and his deputy, was unconstitutional.

“Noting that the constitution has an enduring characteristic in terms of which it is made for posterity,” the forum wrote in a letter to Mudenda dated April 30.

“It is unlike ordinary legislation that can be amended to suit existing circumstances.

“Further noting that, while the constitution has a provision allowing for its amendment in section 328; the section betrays a rigid constitution such that it should not be resorted to easily and can only be amended in the event of absolute necessity.”

The Forum said government had not been confronted with any pressing need to justify amendment of the constitution.

“As an enduring piece of law, which reflects the basic values of the society of Zimbabwe as a whole, and enacted at great public expense, it is self-evident that the constitution should be amended only when it is absolutely necessary to do so,” the Forum added.

“Absent absolute necessity, the constitution should not be changed with munificent abandon.

“Great care and consideration should be taken before any decision to amend it is taken.

“Consequently, the petitioners pray that you exercise your powers and turn down any proposals by the government to amend the constitution of Zimbabwe.”

The Forum noted with concern that despite the significance of the changes being sought through the Constitutional Amendment Bill, there had been no attempts by the government to explain why it was a necessity to tinker with the constitution.

“Some of the provisions being amended have not even seen the light of the day,” The Forum added
“The people of Zimbabwe have not been given the opportunity to experience fully the constitution, which they adopted through a decisive referendum in 2013.
“This move by the government disregards the wishes and aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe.

“Parliamentarians and the executive must hold sacrosanct the will of the people and not undermine it.”

The human rights lobby groups said the constitution was a reflection of the wishes of majority of the people of Zimbabwe, which made it necessary to consult them before any changes to the supreme law were made.

Standard

THE Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has launched an internal investigation into the conduct of some of its senior officials following a tip-off from a whistleblower at alleged underhand dealings regarding the issuance of bureaux de change licences, according to top central bank sources.

This comes in the wake of recent swoops on seven bureaux de change suspected to be involved in illicit foreign currency transactions.

RBZ governor John Mangudya on Thursday last week announced that the operating licences of two private companies, Shons Finance Services and Superdeal Enterprises, which trades as Kwik Forex, had been suspended on allegations that they have not been declaring, or have been under-declaring their foreign currency transactions in breach of the law.

This came after the suspension of bureau de change licences of two other companies, Cash Twenty-Four and Crediconnect, earlier this month. The financial institutions had their bank accounts frozen on similar allegations a fortnight ago. Cash Twenty-Four has since admitted to the offence and paid an administrative fine of ZW$2,5 million.

The central bank also swooped on three other bureaux de change companies, namely Stallion Financial Services, Forbes Financial Services and Juso Global, which were allegedly operating without the required licences.

The RBZ and financial services sector sources said the central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) were investigating how the institutions’ licences were issued since February last year when the government liberalised the exchange rate.

According to the sources, a whistleblower alerted the RBZ to possible corruption by central bank officials, which could have resulted in some companies that did not qualify, being allegedly licenced.

The sources said questions were also being raised about the lack of due diligence on the part of those charged with granting licences.

“There was an anonymous correspondence to the FIU early this month alleging that some RBZ officials could have had their palms greased in exchange for these bureau de change licences, which explains why there is this mess. So, in addition to investigating these companies’ operations, the FIU is also interrogating the processes of issuance of licences,” a source at the bank said.

In written responses to the Zimbabwe Independent, Mangudya said the so-called whistleblower should come forward with this information so that they can institute investigations into the matter.

He also said he had not been alerted of the whistleblower’s correspondence.

The central bank boss, however, said the bank had sufficient mechanisms to deal with any corrupt officials.

“If there is anyone involved in corrupt activities, the bank takes very stern measures against such malpractice and the socalled informer should approach the bank with the necessary information,” Mangudya said.

He also dismissed allegations that the central bank does not carry out proper due diligence exercises when granting bureau de change operating licences, saying the RBZ sticks to stringent procedures laid down by the law. He said the current cases were a result of market indiscipline.

“Bureaux de change are licenced in terms of the Exchange Control (Authorised Dealer with Limited Authority) Order published in the Statutory Instrument 104 of 2015 which is complemented by Operational Guidelines for Bureaux de Change. The Operational Guidelines for Bureaux de Change provide for specific requirements and incorporates operational improvements to the framework that is done through Exchange Control Directives and Circulars,” Mangudya said.

“The operational guidelines detail the licensing framework and include an application form which guides the applicant as to the information required to enable Exchange Control to assess the suitability of the applicant for a Bureau de Change licence. Any applicant who meets the set minimum licencing criteria is eligible for a bureau de change licence.

“We should not confuse market indiscipline with the method of granting operating licences. The bank’s surveillance team is seized with the matter to ensure total compliance with rules and regulations and will not hesitate to deal with unscrupulous behaviour of some bureau de change,” he added.

The minimum criteria include a probity test where the applicant is required to provide: Zimbabwe Republic Police clearance of directors and officers of bureaux de change; Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) tax clearance certificate; antimoney money laundering certificate and declarations by the shareholders/directors of the bureau de change that they have not received any criminal or regulatory penalty on matters relating any financial activity.

Corruption allegations related to foreign currency dealings have stalked the RBZ for a long time now.

Farai Dziva|A Non Governmental Organisation, ICOD Zimbabwe has written a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, expressing concerns about “gross abuse of human rights by the police force.”

ZRP Cops have been accused of assaulting civilians during the lockdown.

See part of the petition written by ICOD Zim:

ACKNOWLEDGING that the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013 (Constitution) mandates Parliament of Zimbabwe to make laws, carry out executive oversight and discharge a representative role, as well as protect the Constitution and democratic governance in Zimbabwe;

COGNISANT that in the exercise of its legislative function and authority Parliament can in fact initiate, prepare, consider or reject any legislation;
RECOGNISING that the State and all institutions and agencies of government at every level are accountable to Parliament;
AWARE that Section 210 (Independent complaints mechanism) of the Constitution peremptorily requires:

An Act of Parliament must provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
MINDFUL of the following peremptory provisions of the Constitution
[t]he national security of Zimbabwe must be secured in compliance with this Constitution and the law.

Section 206(2) (National Security)
[i]n particular, the protection of national security must be pursued with the utmost respect for (a) the fundamental rights and freedoms and the democratic values and principles enshrined in this Constitution; and (b) the rule of law. Section 206(3) (National Security);
[t]he security services are subject to the authority of this Constitution, the President and Cabinet and are subject to parliamentary oversight. Section 207(2) (Security Services);
[m]embers of the security services must act in accordance with this Constitution and the law.

Section 208(1) (Conduct of members of security services); and
[n]either the security services nor any of their members may, in the exercise of their functions violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person.

Section 208(2)(d) (Conduct of members of security services)
CONCERNED that close to seven years since the adoption of the Constitution in 2013, no tangible action has been taken towards realising the constitutional imperative of an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
DISTURBED by reports of assault, corruption and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown that was announced by H.E. the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and provided for in Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 – Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 from 30th of March, 2020, to the 19th of April, 2020;

AWARE that although the High Court of Zimbabwe, on April 16, 2020, granted an interim order – in a case that challenged torture, inhumane and degrading conduct, disregard of human dignity and violation of the Constitution by members of the Police Service and the Zimbabwe National Army – requiring members the security services to respect human rights, dignity and fundamental freedoms when enforcing the National Lockdown regulations, such an order does not provide for the investigation of complaints against misconduct and the remedying harm caused by such misconduct.

WORRIED that the absence of an effective and independent mechanism envisaged under Section 210 deprives members of the public a constitutionally prescribed avenue for redress;
MINDFUL that asking members of the public to report complaints about misconduct on the part of members of the security services and expect remedies any harm caused by such misconduct to internal mechanism provided by the security services is woefully inadequate to satisfy the dictates of Section 210 which requires an effective and independent mechanism.

NOW THEREFORE your petitioner beseeches the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional role and address the following issues of public concern:

Ensure the promulgation of an Act of Parliament envisaged by Section 210 of the Constitution to provide an effective and independent mechanism for receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about misconduct on the part of members of the security services, and for remedying any harm caused by such misconduct;
Ensure the protection of the public through Parliament’s oversight functions vis-à-vis the aforesaid mechanism;
Subject the relevant mechanism to such oversight as may be provided in the relevant Act of Parliament; and
Inquire, using its constitutionally provided oversight function, into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.

PETITIONER’S PLEA AND PRAYER:

The petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to exercise its constitutional mandate to give effect to Section 210 of the Constitution and inquire into reports of assault and other misconduct by members of the security services during the national lockdown.

WHEREFORE, we pray that your Honourable House will be pleased to take this case into favourable consideration, and grant any other such relief as it may deem fit,

AND your petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

By A Correspondent| Marondera Central MP, Caston Matewu, who was involved in a terrible accident on Friday night has indicated that he is recovering well in hospital.

“I am recovering well in hospital thanks for all your prayers,”Matewu posted on Facebook.

Focus is on the murder-accused ZANU PF strongman and UMA institute’s Cleopas Kundiona after the horrific accident that left the youthful Marondera West broken ribs last night.

Kundiona who lost to Matewu in the 2018 polls, has a history of murder trials that goes back to over 20 years ago, in 2000.

He once appeared before the High Court after the Zanu-PF candidate for Marondera West, the late Rufaro Gwanzura’s campaign manager, was shot during the race for the June 2000 parliamentary elections.

Kundiona also appeared on trial for allegedly murdering Mr Musekiwa Mufakwadziya.

More than 103 MDC supporters were killed between the years 2000 and 2002.

On Friday, his competitor, Matewu was involved in a highly suspicious accident while on a short 7 km journey to Marondera town centre.

His vehicle suddenly veered off the road and uprooted a tree, injuring all passengers inside the vehicle.

On the spot witness statements say it veered off the road on its own.

A side report submitted on Friday night says there were gunshots fired at Matewu’s car resulting in the accident.

A vehicle carrying soldiers and an unnamed Intelligence Officer was first to arrive at the scene. They assisted in getting MP Matewu to hospital, a family source told ZimEye.

THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) have called on the country’s leadership to engage in inclusive and broad-based dialogue in efforts to address the country’s socio-economic crisis, in wake of the deadly coronavirus (Covid-19).

This comes as the Covid-19 pandemic has further deteriorated the country’s ailing economy, with many companies facing closure, many people losing their jobs and sources of income while others are currently facing starvation.

In his May 1 Workers’ Day address yesterday, ZCTU president Peter Mutasa said government had failed to address workers’ plight which has been worsened by the national lockdown introduced to curb the deadly Covid-19, hence the need for the leadership to come together and dialogue.

“The government has failed to address the plight of the worker whose wages and buying power were already eroded before Covid-19 and have further deteriorated as a result of the pandemic and measures introduced to curb its spread.

“In light of all of this, there is nothing stopping President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa from sitting down and engaging in inclusive dialogue.

“There is no substitute to dialogue if we are to solve our political problems. But it must not be just dialogue, but inclusive dialogue and we believe the current political ‘dialogue’ is inadequate and not inclusive enough,” Mutasa said.

Mutasa further said that the government had failed to avail social security nets for the vulnerable, to ensure that frontline workers are availed with adequate personal protective equipment and curbing price increases.

“Our assessment is that despite these suggestions, the government did very little to ameliorate the plight of Zimbabweans.

“Many citizens are starving in their homes and many are literally scavenging. There is so much talk without action, for example, when it comes to price hikes, the government gazetted a moratorium but we have not seen the prices go down instead they are increasing.

“Citizens are forced to choose between Covid-19 deaths or starvation. The government has forsaken the people,” Mutasa said.

He called on workers across various sectors and political divide to come together and enforce a new social order post-Covid-19, which will see their plight addressed if the government continues to turn a blind eye.

“This is not a time for us to be looking at whether we are from the informal or formal sector or from Zanu-PF or MDC. MDC supporters are struggling to purchase basic commodities and the same goes for Zanu-PF supporters.

“So, what is the basis of the division? The working class has one struggle that of destroying capitalism, corruption, cartels, nepotism, inequalities, gender and other forms of discrimination, State repression and dictatorship that have caused untold suffering to the worker,” Mutasa said.

ZCC secretary-general, Kenneth Mtata said given the challenges the country has had to deal with as a result of Covid-19, Zimbabwe desperately needs national consensus to effectively deal with the post-Covid-19 situation.

“The pandemic has exposed our fragile health service system and the failure of our politicians across the divide to close ranks against the pandemic.

“It has also awakened the latent regional tensions regarding the balance of allocation of resources for pandemic preparedness.

“At the heart of everything, it has exposed the deep divide regarding a mutually acceptable solution to the national question.

“We can either choose to continue in the same old path of paralysis and pain or take advantage of the Covid-19 to chat a new trajectory towards lasting peace, justice and sustainable prosperity for all Zimbabweans,” Mtata said.

Mtata added that this position, largely held by the churches and other sectors of civil society, sees a nation that is

stuck in mutually exclusive visions of the future that can only be extricated by a national renewal process through comprehensive and broad-based national dialogue processes.

“This position envisions a three-tier dialogue processes resulting, at the local foundational level, in an activated critical consciousness and agency among the citizens.

“At the second level of organised society, it must result in convergence of opinion leadership and agenda setting shaped by connection and articulation and representation of the key interests of broader society.

“At the third level, political and policy consensus must be reached, leading to a national settlement that will transform purely competitive and mutually exclusive visions to a shared national vision in which everyone feels included,” Mtata said.

He further said that Covid-19 had already laid a foundation for citizens, non-State and State actors to work together, adding that a consensual national dialogue approach could solve the country’s long-standing problems in the post Covid-19 era.

-DAILY NEWS

A grouping of informal traders, Bulawayo Upcoming Traders’ Association (Buta) is resisting relocation by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) from operating at a section of the Central Business District (CBD) as the local authority moves to decongest the city centre in the wake of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Buta secretary-general Mr Dumisani Ncube said the informal traders operating along 5th Avenue have taken a position to move back to their spaces of trading after the national lockdown, which was extended for another two weeks by President Mnangagwa on Friday. He said they risk losing business if they relocate to other areas.

“The position of vendors is that they won’t move from the 5th Avenue marketplace. The council must just re-arrange the vending bays to maintain social distancing. If we move, we will lose business. This part of town is easily accessible to our customers,” he said.

The association has vowed to take the local authority to court should it close 5th Avenue for informal trading or relocate its members.

“We are trying to avoid a situation which happened in 2005 where we ended up taking the council to court, since we are legally trading with licences expiring on the 31st December 2020 and some of our members have paid their rentals in advance. The issue of social distancing can be rectified amicably,” Mr Ncube.

A letter by the association addressed to the Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, shown to Sunday News Business indicates the unwillingness of the informal traders to move from their trading area.

“We as an association are of the opinion that there is urgent need for engagement among all stakeholders involved in this matter, as a means of arriving at an amicable agreement . . . May we state clearly that we seek co-operative engagement without unnecessary costs (lawsuits). Please bear in mind that 95 percent of the population is unemployed and therefore rely on vending for a livelihood. Making arbitrary decisions that deny such persons of their rights to work for a living may lead to unnecessary confrontation,” read part of the letter.
Contacted for a comment, the town clerk said he was yet to receive such correspondence.

He, however, said the local authority would go ahead with plans to close 5th Avenue from all informal trading activities in accordance with its long-standing town planning programme.

“The closure of 5th Avenue is a town planning issue, which cannot be wished away, as we plan to be a Smart City by 2030, as per our vision. We’ve the Covid-19 pandemic and other commutable infectious diseases to control and we have to revolutionise the way we do business because what was happening at 5th Avenue was unsustainable,” said Mr Dube.

He, however, said the local authority would come up with a number of initiatives to ensure that all informal traders that would be affected are assisted with alternative working spaces.

“People will always resist change because of the risk factor or fear of the unknown. We’ll try our best as we can to mitigate the plight of traders who will be affected. In the end I believe everyone will buy into the policy shift,” said Mr Dube.

-State Media

Media houses have to improve the welfare of journalists through “life-rewarding salaries” and decent working conditions, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has said.

In a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day, which is commemorated on May 3 every year, Minister Mutsvangwa said Government was committed to ensuring a safe working environment for media personnel.

“Reporters and journalists are the agents of searching, processing and spreading information to the general public,” she said.

“It is, therefore, important that their ability to carry out this task is not tampered with.

“Safety of their working environment is very crucial.

“The threat of death or imprisonment of reporters and journalists has no place in civilised societies.

“It is also important to ensure that press workers’ welfare is improved upon through provision of decent working conditions and life-rewarding salaries.

“The Government of Zimbabwe is fully committed to the principles of press freedom and this is obtained in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.”

Government’s commitment to fulfil regional and international human rights instruments, she added, was reinforced by the Constitution.

Sections 61 and 62 of the country’s supreme law provide for freedom of the media.

Journalists, however, have to stay clear of sensationalism in their work, she added.

“On their part, journalists have to improve on the standards of the profession.

“Report in an informative and analytical way. Avoid the temptation of tabloid sensationalism, this is why my ministry with cooperating partners carried out a number of training workshops for journalists to improve on their Covid-19 reporting skills.

“Government has adopted stringent policies against the spread of false information and it is our belief that the measures put in place provide good grounds for credible journalism to thrive.”

Employers in the media sector, Minister Mutsvangwa said, have to strive to provide workers with protective clothing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This year’s World Press Freedom Day commemorations come at time when Zimbabwe and the whole world are locked in a life-and-death combat against Covid-19,” she said.

“These are trying times and Government, through the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has been consulting widely on how best to support this sector during and beyond Covid-19.

“The media plays a critical role in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Citizens depend on the media for information that empowers them to adequately respond and to implement the necessary measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“It is for this reason the Government has included journalists among the essential service providers and for them to be given the necessary support while carrying out their work.

“Government has also emphasised the need to ensure that journalists’ safety is guaranteed and that all media workers have access to protective clothing and equipment.”

Government is presently reforming the country’s media laws to ensure that media freedoms were respected in line with the Constitution.

“In pursuing Vision 2030 aptly articulated by our President, His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa, Government has been taking leadership in ensuring that it creates a conducive environment for the media sector,” she said.

Since last year, Government has sponsored three Bills that will repeal the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA). One of the Bills, Freedom of Information Bill, which promotes access to information has since been passed by Parliament and awaits Presidential assent.

The other law, Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill, looks at the regulation of the media and maintenance of professional standards is at the second stage of reading in Parliament.

The Protection of Personal Information/Data Protection Bill is presently in the works.

In a bid to promote access to plural and diverse media services, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has since received applications for community radios and private television stations.

-State Media

THIEVES took advantage of water shedding before raiding 60 houses in Njube, Bulawayo where they stole taps on Friday night.

The thieves were allegedly targeting brass taps in their midnight raid.

Although Bulawayo police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube said only eight residents had so far come forward to report the cases, residents told Sunday News yesterday that more than 60 houses in the suburb were raided.

“Investigations are in progress and we believe the thieves could be people who live within the community so we urge those that might have information which might assist the police solve the crimes to come forward,” Insp Ncube said.

One of the residents, Mr Morris Mukwiti, who stays in F Square said he woke up at 6am and was about to take a bath when he noticed his tap was missing. He said he immediately noticed that his neighbour’s tap was also missing and after enquiring from others, he realised several of the houses had their taps stolen.

“After realising that my tap and the neighbour’s were missing I alerted other residents through our area WhatsApp group to check their meters and that is when it emerged many houses had fallen victim to the thieves. From our count, more than 60 houses were raided,” said Mr Mukwiti.

Another F Square resident, Ms Nyaradzo Hoboya said no one heard the thieves at night but only discovered in the morning that the taps were stolen.

“My daughter was sweeping outside when she was alerted by our neighbour, Mukwiti that our tap was missing. As you can see the tap is close to 16 metres from the house so it would be difficult to hear the thieves when one is sleeping but we saw footprints around the toilet and we believe they belong to the thief,” she said.

Mr Antony Ndlovu of E Square said he also realised the tap was missing in the morning and had to replace it with a plastic tap which he was given by a neighbour.

-State Media

Former cabinet minister Walter Mzembi has Slammed President Emmerson Mnangagwa for flying to Mozambique saying the same journey late former liberation war leaders Robert Mugabe and Edgar Tekere walked did not require him to hire an expensive jet from Dubai.

Mzembi added that Mnangagwa himself crossed into Mozambique on foot when he was running away from Mugabe before the November 2017 coup.

“If it is true that Mugabe & Tekere walked to Mozambique, and liberation fighters did the same & in 2017 @edmnangagwa escaped by car , and Ian Smith would despatch helicopters there , why do we need to charter an aeroplane from Dubai for the same?,” wrote Mzembi on Twitter.

Mnangagwa sneaked out of the country to Mozambique for yet tone known reasons but is related to his SADC role as the chairperson of the troika on politics and defence.

Opposition MDC vice president Tendai Biti argues that the reported unilateral deployment of Zimbabwean troops to fight terrorists in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado region is not only illegal but foolish and costly.

Biti says the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should be involved as a whole instead of Zimbabwe’s adventurism. Said Biti:

The reported deployment of Zimbabwean troops in Mozambique represents further reproduction of illegalities ill-thought actions by the regime. Assuming there is an urgent military situation in Cabo Delgado surely the region collectively must act. A meeting of SADC must be held.

The SADC Organ on Defense and Security should surely have met. This kind of unilateralism which we saw during the DRCcivil war is foolish and costly and against the basic tenets of international law.

Wars are protracted and costly. The involvement of the region as a precondition to any involvement.

Further, any involvement should only have been part of a SADCMission and nothing else. Parliament should be notified and the constitution should be followed.

But Zimbabwe is in COVID war (sic) and can’t even afford basic PCR Tests. This move is total madness. Zimbabwe can’t afford unilateralism nor a war.

Biti further contended that the same people who plunged the country into the DRC Civil War in order to loot the country’s mineral resources are at it again, now in Mozambique. Biti added:

History has now shown that Zimbabwe’s participation in the DRC war was not based on Pan Africanist solidarity but greed and avarice. UN Reports expose the massive looting of diamonds and bauxite that took place under cover of that war. Regrettably, the same characters are now in Mozambique.

-Online

THE Seventh Day Adventist Church, Zimbabwe West Union Conference (ZWUC) donated mealie-meal as well as sugar beans to the needy in Bulawayo targeted at the vulnerable members of society.

The donation consisted of 22 tonnes of mealie-meal and four tonnes of beans and was handed out at the church’s headquarters in the city.

Speaking during the donation last week, ZWUC president Dr Micah Choga, the said the church was aiming at alleviating the burden on the already vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, widows and even the church’s literature evangelists who cannot earn a living because of restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“We have 2 220, 10kg packs of mealie-meal that are meant for 2 220 households, we are not just sending mealie-meal, there is beans so that each pack is going with 1kg beans. We are targeting the elderly, the disabled, widows and widowers, child headed families and also our literature evangelists who are self-supporting and at this moment they can’t support themselves so that are the groups that we are targeting to assist,’’ Dr Choga said.

The mealie-meal and beans were divided between the two conferences under the ZWUC, that is the West Zimbabwe Conference and South Zimbabwe Conference. Dr Choga said the church has noted that even in the eastern suburbs, there are people in need of assistance, hence they would not be left out.

“Each conference is going to receive 1 110 hampers targeted for 1 110 households, it’s going to be the mealie-meal and also the beans for each family. We are targeting the whole of Bulawayo, we noticed that these days even in the low-density areas we have vulnerable people, in the high-density areas we also have those vulnerable people,’’ he said.

The funds for the mealie-meal and beans came from the allocations that were meant for travelling and meetings.

“What we have done as a church, we are the head office in this region, we have collaborated with two other offices and put our resources together, we did not have a pre-planned budget so what we have done, we have said to each entity look at your travel budgets, look at your seminar budgets and all those have been re-purposed to make this possible,” said Dr Choga.

To avoid having people gathered, Dr Choga indicated that they arranged for the donations to be taken directly to the identified beneficiaries.

“What is going to happen is that the districts have put in the number of people that they have identified in their area so these are going to be distributed, dropped at each church and they will take those to the beneficiaries because we also want to avoid bringing people together. Because of Covid-19, we are cognisant of the well-being and protection of the people. This is why we are not going to bring people together so that they receive, there will be people who will take these to the houses,’’ he said.

A donation of face masks was also made to the office of the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs, Cde Judith Ncube.

-State Media

AN employee of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) in Bulawayo, who was in self-isolation pending her coronavirus test results reportedly violated the regulations and travelled to Gweru with four other people in her car.

This was after a 27-year-old Zimra male employee tested positive to Covid-19 (coronavirus) in Bulawayo on 29 April prompting Zimra to close its Bulawayo offices and send 52 of its workers who might have been exposed to the virus for testing and mandatory self-isolation. It has since emerged that one of the 52 workers from the Bulawayo office disregarded self-isolation regulations and travelled to Gweru where her family is based. She has since been traced and put under isolation with her family in the Midlands town while officials are waiting for her results.

It is understood that the woman who resides in Senga high-density suburb in Gweru but works in Bulawayo was told by officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care to go under self-isolation and avoid interacting with other people but failed to comply and travelled to Gweru with four other unknown passengers. The passengers could not be immediately traced.

Her trip to Gweru was discovered after the Bulawayo Provincial Covid-19 Response Team visited her place of residence for routine check-ups. The team was then advised that she had left for Gweru, prompting it to advise the Midlands Provincial Covid-19 Rapid Response Team to look for her at the Senga family home.

Midlands Provincial Medical Director Dr Reginald Mhene confirmed the development saying the province was awaiting test results of the woman.

“This woman came from Bulawayo despite having been tested and placed under isolation. Our team has visited her and quarantined her together with her family while we wait for the results. We are, however, still to record a single positive case in the province,” he said.
Zimra Commissioner General Faith Mazani had earlier issued a statement confirming that 52 people from the revenue authority’s Bulawayo offices have been subjected to testing and self-isolation after one of the workers tested positive.

“We were notified by the Health and Child Care Ministry that a frontline staff member of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority tested positive for coronavirus on 29 April. As Zimra we wish to inform our valued clients and members of the public that our Bulawayo port offices have been immediately closed pending comprehensive disinfection as well as receipt of results of 52 officers who may have been exposed to the virus. All the tested individuals have since been put under mandatory self-isolation for at least 14 days,” she said.

Said Ms Mazani; “Zimra shall continue to offer essential services to its valued Bulawayo clients from home as far as possible since our online services remain uninterrupted. Zimra would want to assure the nation and all its valued clients that it continues to be dedicated in its mission to promote economic development through efficient revenue generation facilitation of legitimate trade and travel. In line with our mandate of protecting the civil society, the authority is asking for patience and tolerance as we join the nation in dealing with the devastating effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic.”

-State Media

CASH-strapped Gweru City Council has announced that it is left with water treatment chemicals that can only last until tomorrow.

The local authority did not renew its contract with its supplier whom it owes more than $1 million in outstanding payment.

The dire situation has been exacerbated by the supplier who is now demanding payment upfront in addition to the balance before they could supply chemicals to the local authorities.

Gweru City Council needs more than $2 million to procure the chemicals and clear the outstanding payment, council said.

This is despite the local authority collecting a paltry $1,2 million after billing residents $36 million, part of which was used to pay salaries.

Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe was furious during an urgent meeting held last Thursday where the management informed the council that they had run out of chemicals to treat water and that chemicals could only last up to Monday.

Clr Makombe has demanded a report from acting Town Clerk Mr Douglas Chikwekwe on why management informed councillors late on the eve of the 1 May holiday which is followed by a weekend making it difficult for the local authority to mobilise resources on time to procure the chemicals.

In an interview after the meeting, Clr Makombe attributed the crisis to poor planning by the council management.

“I received a call from the Acting Town Clerk (Douglas Chikwekwe) around 3pm on Thursday requesting an urgent meeting. I was then informed in the meeting that ‘we’ are left with four days of water chemicals. We then called all chairpersons of committees and informed them that we have no money to procure the chemicals to treat our water. This is poor management by the council management. I’m tempted to believe what came out in the skills audit report that the majority of the management have no capacity to hold the positions they have,” he said.

Clr Makombe said council coffers had run dry after failing to generate enough revenue to pay its employees.

“We do not have money as council at the moment. We managed to pay some of our employees their salaries while the management has not yet received their money. We collected $1,2 million last month from a potential $36 million which we had billed people. Our monthly demand for chemicals is $800 000. We also owe our supplier more than $1 million. We are also paying our workers from that same amount.

It’s a crisis now. I am in Harare trying to mobilise resources and talk to our suppliers. If nothing materialises it means we might not have water,” he said.

-State Media

GOVERNMENT yesterday gazetted Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 to comprehensively give clarity to the Level Two national lockdown announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday.

The measures show a balancing act that allows reopening of some formal businesses coupled with extra caution and enhanced testing to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The new law prescribes hefty penalties of up to $36 000 or a year in jail for individuals and companies who fail to comply.

SI 99 says: “Any person who fails to comply with an order of an enforcement officer given under this section, or who hinders or obstructs an enforcement officer from having the access referred to in subsection (6), shall be guilty of an offence and liable to fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both such fine and such imprisonment.”

SI 99 of 2020 prescribes that every individual must wear a mask “whether improvised or manufactured” when leaving home.

The new regulations also give clarity to businesses that are expected to open during Level 2 of the national lockdown.

“. . . business in the formal commercial and industrial sector means any business, industry, trade or occupation . . . in goods or services for the generation of income or the making of profits, the formalisation of which is evidenced in any one or more of the following ways — (a) the holding of a shop or other licence from a local authority enabling it to operate the business in question from a specified premises; or (b) being the lessee of premises governed by the Commercial Premises (Lease Control) Act [Chapter 14:04]; or (c) being a registered operator for the purposes of the Value Added Tax Act; or (d) being a registered as an employer for the purpose of paying employees’ tax under the Income Tax Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (Amendment) Order, 2020 (No. 5) 554 Act, or otherwise making a regular return of income for the purposes of that Act; (e) being a party to a collective bargaining agreement negotiated through an Employment Council governing the business in question.”

In relation to transport services the new law states that “every vehicle used by the transport service must be disinfected against Covid-19 by or at the direction of an enforcement officer at least twice daily.”

It also stipulates that every individual must be temperature-tested and have his or her hands sanitised before being allowed to board buses while further reinforcing the decree that any public gathering should not exceed 50 people.

The S1 also prescribes that workers who are going to benefit from the relaxed lockdown must undergo rapid or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing “before resuming work for the first time during the national lockdown, every person . . . must at the direction of an enforcement officer submit to screening and testing for the Covid-19 disease, whether by use of the rapid results diagnostic test or other test approved by the Minister of Health. (3) Employers of the persons referred to in subsection (1) must arrange with enforcement officers for the testing contemplated by subsection (2) to take place at an agreed time at the workplace or at any other place agreed between them, for which purpose they may contact the Ministry of Health Call Centre or the Ministry of Information Call Centre.”

SI 99 says all business are also expected to operate from 8am to 3pm “except for good cause” that can be proved to law enforcement agents. Speaking to journalists in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said a massive testing programme will be rolled out around the country soon, including both rapid testing and the more comprehensive PCR tests.

“Rapid testing will allow us to carry out a surveillance screening, which will enable us to have a general picture of the country’s Covid-19 status while we continue with the PCR diagnostic testing in order to establish the definitive Covid-19 status of the country.”

Dr Moyo said the massive testing programme will see mandatory PCR tests being undertaken on “all admitted patients, all health care workers, security service employees as well as all clients testing positive following rapid screening”.

He said under the enhanced testing programmes, selected public and private health centres will conduct PCR and rapid testing, while outreach teams will also be deployed to various parts of the country.

Outreach teams will be deployed with support from some of our partners to facilitate testing of employees at their respective workplaces.

“The ministry will expedite testing both at designated facilities and their respective workplaces.”

Dr Moyo implored companies that have been granted the greenlight to open to enforce preventive measures as well as ensure that all staff are tested.

The President said only public buses will be the mode of public transport while kombis and smaller taxis are still not permitted to operate.

Churches, gyms, bottle stores, bars, beer halls, leisure and recreational facilities remain closed, said the President.

Meanwhile, Dr Moyo yesterday also explained the anomaly regarding the six cases that had initially tested positive before a retest provided negative results last week.

“Yes, the six cases came out initially positive but then tested negative. As part of quality assurance, we needed to have a retest because that was a sudden jump because previously we would have one or two positive cases. So it was a retest to ensure that all the high numbers were correct. Because of this quality assurance, people should not worry too much about our accuracy. I can assure the public that the quality of our results remains credible, if it had problems, these retests would not have given us accurate results,” he said, adding that the testing process was a complex procedure.”

-State Media

PEOPLE who will get out of their homes without face masks will from tomorrow be arrested as part of a raft of measures meant to ensure that the country conforms to Covid-19 lockdown Level Two guidelines announced by President Mnangagwa on Friday.

President Mnangagwa announced that the country will extend the national lockdown which was meant to end at midnight today by a further 14 days but downgraded it to Level Two, which entails among other guidelines that all people must wear face masks of any type, even home-made cloth ones, in all public spaces and when they are outside of their homes.

President Mnangagwa also announced the reopening of industry and commerce provided that the companies ensure mandatory screening and testing and operate from 8am to 3pm.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana told Sunday News that wearing face masks in public was now law, after a Statutory Instrument was gazetted by the President yesterday.

On the monitoring of companies to ensure that they adhere to the 8am to 3pm operating hours, Mr Mangwana said the police would be in full force to ensure the adherence, revealing that companies will be heavily fined or lose their licences in the event they are caught on the wrong side of the law.

Mr Mangwana said while exemption letters were not policy, administratively authorities would require people to present evidence that they were part of the bracket of people that were required to go to work as per the provisions of the lockdown.

“The exemption letters were not part of law as such but what will prevail is that the police will ask people just to produce proof of where they are going. For example, when people are going to a funeral, the police may ask for the proof, which is for administrative purposes but the policy will then be the number of people meant to attend a funeral.

The police may ask people to prove that they work under the category of industry and commerce.

People can then produce these exemption letters, in some cases, this can take the form of company identification documents,” said Mr Mangwana.

He said what is important to highlight was that the informal sector remained closed hence those in the informal sector were not exempted from the lockdown.

Writing on his twitter handle, Mr Mangwana added that “restaurants and other eateries can sell food but people should not eat on the premises.

They have to take away the food.”-State media