The Ministry of Health and Child Care has released a statement updating the nation on the novel coronavirus.
The ministry said that as of 26 April 2020, Zimbabwe had a total of 31 coronavirus cases including 4 deaths and 5 recoveries.
We present the Ministry’s statement in full below.
As of 26 April 2020, a cumulative total of 2 804 796 confirmed cases and 193 722 deaths were reported from more than 210 countries/territories globally (Source WHO Sitrep No. 97)
The Ministry would like to report that today, a total of 328 tests were done, giving a total of 6 395 screening and diagnostic tests done to date. All the PCR tests done in Harare and Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe has thirty-one confirmed cases including five recoveries and four deaths as detailed in the table below.
Matabeleland North – 1 case – 0 recovered- 0 deaths
Bulawayo – 10 cases – 0 recovered- 1 death
Harare – 13 cases – 0 recovered- 2 deaths
Mashonaland East – 4 cases – 4 recovered- 0 deaths
Mashonaland West – 3 cases – 0 recovered- 1 death
Total – 31
The Ministry of Health continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVI-19 pandemic. As part of the intensified surveillance and contact tracing the Ministry has to date identified and collected samples from 69 contacts of the late case #27.
Case N29 and Case N30 reported yesterday involve a 46-year-old female and 66-year-old male patients respectively. Both are residents of Mhondoro, and were direct contacts of the late, case #27. The Rapid Response Team visited them at home in their village for assessment and collected samples for testing. Currently, they have been advised to self-isolate at home as both have mild disease.
Case #31 also reported yesterday is a 31-year-old Harare resident who returned from the United Kingdom on the 13th April 2020. He is stable and currently on mandatory isolation.
The Ministry continues to remind the nation that the most effective ways to protect yourself and others against COVID-19 are to practice good personal hygiene and exercise social distancing.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has revealed that professional sports teams in the country can resume training on the 18th of May.
The country’s top flight, Serie A, was temporarily suspended on March 9 in the wake of escalating cases of coronavirus in the third most populous country in Europe.
In his televised address to the nation on Sunday, Conte highlighted that athletes are free to start invdiual training on the 4th of May then move to training in groups on the 18th the same month as the authorities ease lockdown restrictions.
The minister also said that a decision on when the league would resume, will be made at a later date.
Defending champions Juventus lead proceedings in the Italian top division on 63 points, one ahead of secod-placed Lazio with 12 games remaining.
The continued lockdown in South Africa is reportedly further choking Zimbabweans as land lords continue to demand rental despite the fact that their employers have since declared no work no pay policy to the foreigners.
Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association director Michael Mdladla Ndiweni said was paying his tribute to the hard working people in South Africa.
“Phoke sizoba yini! The unveiled lockdown easing phases appear will be a very long wait. The sentiments by Minister Tito Mboweni must get us quickly thinking about the fate of our people. We cant just wish them away. It appears to have serious implications to our people,” he said.
“Let us spare a thought on our #COVID19 hardest people in South Africa. I have been chatting to a number of them. The situation is getting dire everyday. Landlords are demanding their rentals, their food stocks are getting depleted and they are not working. I know our renowned activists are doing all they can to keep some going under these difficult conditions.”
“Let us spare a thought and pay tribute to our hard working Omalayitsha who endured all the harassment, extortionists when were ferrying our informal cross border traders with goods for resale to keep families going, when they brought food for our families, when they brought building materials for us to have decent shelter, when they brought us cheaper goods from SA, when they brought us cheaper spare parts to keep our old cars going, their contribution in our livelihoods cannot just be poked fun at today. Their contribution to our lives is indelible.”
He said people must spare a thought and pay tribute to hard working people in South Africa who have been working in places of entertainment like restaurants, those who worked in hotels, those who worked travel agents, they have been key in keeping families fed at home, sent kids to school, young people to universities, the sick accessing medication, people were being dressed through their monthly remittances.
“What can urgently be done to make sure our people restart their lives again, it is becoming inevitable that some will be forced by these circumstances to come back home. What are the immediate strategies that can be employed to try and make them survive when they return. Some may dismiss me and say nothing will happen because maybe they are privileged and have authentic papers in SA. I am talking about our people who survived on menial jobs particularly those mentioned above,” he said.
“I remind our people at home to never forget how useful these people are in our lives in good times. I have seen some gloating about their conditions now. I cant blame South Africa, it is their country after all even though we have contributed immensely in their economy, bangenza loba yini ngezwe labo, kodwa thina sisheshe sikhohlwe.”
News Agents|More than a dozen countries on four continents recently disclosed problems with Chinese-made coronavirus tests and personal protective equipment. The problems range from test kits tainted with the coronavirus to medical garments contaminated with insects. Defective Chinese face masks, purchased by Spain’s Ministry of Health, were distributed to hospitals and nursing homes across the country, and more than 100 healthcare workers who used them tested positive for Covid-19.
A shipment from China of 8.6 million protective face masks and 150 tons of sanitary equipment arrives at Paris-Vatry Airport in France, on April 19, 2020. (Photo by Francois Nascimbeni/AFP via Getty Images)
Gatestone Institute recently reported that millions of pieces of medical equipment purchased from China by European governments to combat the coronavirus pandemic are defective and unusable.
Since that report, more than a dozen countries on four continents have disclosed problems with Chinese-made coronavirus tests and personal protective equipment. The problems range from test kits tainted with the coronavirus to medical garments contaminated with insects.
Chinese authorities have refused to take responsibility for the defective equipment and in many instances have cast blame on the countries that purchased the material. They have also called on nations of the world to stop “politicizing” the problem — at the same time that Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Communist Party have sought to leverage the pandemic to assert a claim to global leadership.
Spain, the epicenter of the coronavirus crisis in Europe, has experienced the greatest number of problems with medical equipment purchased from China.
After the epidemic hit Spain, the Spanish government purchased medical supplies from China in the amount of €432 million ($470 million). Chinese vendors demanded they be paid up front before making any deliveries. It now appears that much of the material being supplied by China is substandard.
In late March, for instance, the Spanish Ministry of Health revealed that more than a half million coronavirus tests it had purchased from a Chinese vendor were defective. The tests, manufactured by Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology, a company based in China’s Guangdong Province, had an accurate detection rate of less than 30%. Bioeasy had claimed, in writing, that its tests had an accurate detection rate of 92%.
After the swindle made international headlines, Bioeasy agreed to replace the tests. On April 21, however, the Spanish newspaper El Paísreported that all 640,000 replacement tests were also useless. The Spanish government is now seeking a refund.
The Chinese Embassy in Madrid blamed the Spanish government for purchasing the tests from an unauthorized vendor. Bioeasy, apparently, does not have a license to sell coronavirus tests. Spain, however, has also reported problems with material purchased from vendors that are authorized by the Chinese government.
On April 15, Spain’s Ministry of Health recalled 350,000 so-called FFP2 masks after laboratory tests determined that they were substandard. The defective masks were manufactured by Garry Galaxy Biotechnology, a company included on the Chinese government’s list of approved manufacturers of personal protective equipment. FFP2 masks are required to filter at least 94% of aerosols, but those delivered to Spain filtered only between 71% and 82% of aerosols.
The defective masks were purchased by the Spanish Ministry of Health and distributed to hospitals and nursing homes across the country. After the defective masks were recalled, more than a hundred healthcare workers who had used them tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
In the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia, local health officials on April 18 recalled 180,000 Covid-19 antibody tests — also known as serological tests — because of their low rate of detection. The tests, produced by the Chinese manufacturer Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech, were purchased by the central government in Madrid and distributed to regional health authorities to detect Covid-19 in two priority groups: healthcare personnel and elderly people in nursing homes. The Wondfo tests reportedly gave negative results to people who had previously tested positive for Covid-19, and also failed to distinguish between two types of antibodies, including those that confer immunity.
In the eastern city of Alicante, the General Hospital recalled 640 disposable medical garments after one of the boxes from China contained cockroaches. The hospital said that it had received a total of 3,000 garments in 75 boxes and that it found two insects inside one of the boxes. It added that given the shortage of medical supplies, the garments would be sterilized, not destroyed.
Other countries — in Europe and beyond — have also criticized the quality of Chinese medical supplies:
Australia. On April 1, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported that the Australian Border Force (ABF) had seized nearly one million Chinese-made faulty face masks and other protective clothing that was exported to Australia to help halt the spread of coronavirus. The material was valued at A$1.2 million (US$760,000). “We started seeing this stuff arriving roughly three weeks ago when news of the pandemic was really taking off,” an ABF official told ABC. “The dodgy material is coming via air cargo because there is a backlog of sea freight at Australian ports.”
Austria. On April 6, the Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed that 500,000 masks ordered from China for use in South Tyrol were “completely unusable” because they did not meet safety standards: “The result of the quality control check showed that the masks do not meet an FFP standard. When putting on the masks, it is impossible to obtain a tight fit in the area of the chin and cheeks.” Minister of Economics Margarete Schramböck complained that international providers of the urgently needed FFP2 and FFP3 masks had not delivered the required quality in nine out of ten cases. On April 9, Austrian media reported that the defective mask problem was far greater than initially thought. The Austrian Red Cross ordered 20 million masks from the same Chinese manufacturer that made the defective masks for South Tyrol.
Belgium. On March 31, the University Hospital of Leuven rejected a shipment of 3,000 masks from China because the equipment was substandard.
Canada. On April 7, the City of Toronto recalled more than 60,000 surgical masks made in China. The masks, valued at more than $200,000, were provided to staff at long-term care facilities. Toronto health authorities were investigating whether caregivers were exposed to Covid-19 while wearing the equipment. The masks represented around 50% of Toronto’s inventory of surgical masks, according to Matthew Pegg, Toronto’s fire chief and general manager of emergency management.
Czech Republic. On March 23, the Czech news site iRozhlasreported that 300,000 coronavirus test kits delivered by China had an error rate of 80%. The Czech Ministry of Interior had paid $2.1 million for the defective kits.
Finland. On April 10, the Managing Director of Finland’s National Emergency Supply Agency, Tomi Lounema, resigned after he admitted to spending €10 million ($11 million) on defective protective equipment from China.
Georgia. On March 27, Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze cancelled an order for 200,000 coronavirus tests manufactured by the China-based Shenzhen Bioeasy Biotechnology Company. The move came after Spain reported that 640,000 tests that it purchased from the company were defective. She said: “Georgia had a contract with this company, but today it has been canceled. The money has not been transferred. We are negotiating with another company and at first, they will send two thousand tests. If the reliability of those is approved by us, we will purchase an additional quantity.”
India. On April 16, the Mumbai-based Economic Timesreported that 50,000 pieces of personal protective equipment donated by China were defective and unusable.
Ireland. On April 6, the Health Service Executive (HSE) revealed that a large portion of the €200 million delivery of personal protective equipment supplied by China was found to be unusable for health care workers. The HSE told the Chinese company responsible for the delivery that unless the quality of the equipment being sent is guaranteed, there will not be any more deals between the two nations with regards to PPE. The government said that it was seeking a refund.
Malaysia. On April 16, Malaysian authorities approved the use of coronavirus test kits from South Korea after similar kits from China were found to be defective. A senior official in the Ministry of Health, Noor Hisham Abdullah, said that the accuracy of the Chinese tests was “not very good.” He expressed optimism over the South Korean tests: “Now that we have a test kit that is fast, portable and is cheap, that will make the difference.”
Netherlands. On March 28, the Netherlands recalled 1.3 million face masks produced in China because they did not meet the minimum safety standards for medical personnel. The so-called KN95 masks are a less expensive Chinese alternative to the American-standard N95 mask, which currently is in short supply around the world. The KN95 does not fit on the face as tightly as the N95, thus potentially exposing medical personnel to the coronavirus.
Philippines. On March 29, the Department of Health apologized for comments it made a day earlier that two batches of coronavirus test kits provided by China were substandard. Undersecretary for Health Maria Rosario Vergeire had said that kits made by Chinese manufacturers BGI Group and Sansure Biotech were only 40% accurate in diagnosing Covid-19 and that some of them would have to be discarded. The Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected those accusations and claimed that the kits complied with standards established by the World Health Organization. “The Chinese Embassy firmly rejects any irresponsible remarks and any attempts to undermine our cooperation in this regard,” a spokesman tweeted.
Slovakia. On April 1, Prime Minister Igor Matovič disclosed that more than a million coronavirus tests supplied by China for a cash payment of €15 million ($16 million) were inaccurate and unable to detect Covid-19. “We have a ton of tests and no use for them,” he said. “They should just be thrown straight into the Danube.” China accused Slovakian medical personnel of using the tests incorrectly.
Turkey. On March 27, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that Turkey had tried Chinese-made coronavirus tests but authorities “weren’t happy about them.” Professor Ateş Kara, a member of the Turkish Health Ministry’s coronavirus task force, added that the batch of testing kits were only 30 to 35% accurate: “We have tried them. They don’t work. Spain has made a huge mistake by using them.”
United Kingdom. On April 6, the London-based newspaper The Timesreported that 17.5 million coronavirus antibody tests supplied by China were defective. The Chinese manufacturers of the tests blamed British officials and politicians for misunderstanding or exaggerating the utility of the tests. The British government, which reportedly paid at least $20 million (£16 million) for the tests, said that it was seeking a refund. Meanwhile, other coronavirus tests destined for the UK were found to be tainted with coronavirus.
United States. On April 17, the director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Sandy Karsten, revealed that 3.9 million KN95 masks manufactured in China were defective. The State of Missouri had signed a $16.5 million contract with an unidentified vendor for the masks and paid half in advance. The vendor is refusing to return the $8.25 million. Missouri Governor Mike Parson said: “We got cheated here in this state and we are going to go out there and try to get our money back and hold people accountable.” In neighboring Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker said that the state had spent $17 million on KN95 masks that may be unusable: “You know things come in shipments of a million — you can’t go through one mask at a time and so you try to take samples from the shipments that come in, make sure you got what you are paying for.” In Washington State, 12,000 coronavirus testing kits produced in China were recalled after some of them were found to be contaminated with the coronavirus.
On March 30, China urged European countries not to “politicize” concerns about the quality of medical supplies from China. “Problems should be properly solved based on facts, not political interpretations,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
On April 1, the Chinese government reversed course and announced that it was increasing its oversight of exports of coronavirus test kits made in China. Chinese exporters of coronavirus tests must now obtain a certificate from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in order to be cleared by China’s customs agency.
On April 16, the Wall Street Journalreported that millions of pieces of medical equipment destined for the United States were being held in warehouses in China due to the new export restrictions imposed by the Chinese government. “We appreciate the efforts to ensure quality control,” the U.S. State Department said. “But we do not want this to serve as an obstacle for the timely export of important supplies.”
U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler from Georgia accused China of holding up shipments of test kits: “Testing is core to opening our country back up. I’m concerned that China’s holding up test kits. They’re playing games with trade policy to prevent us, the United States, from getting the testing that we need.”
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed the flaws of globalization by laying bare how the West has allowed itself to become dangerously dependent on Communist China for the supply of essential health care and medical products.
Andrew Michta, Dean of the College of International and Security Studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, explained:
“The Wuhan Virus and the attendant misery that the Chinese communist state has unleashed upon the world (very much including its own people) has laid bare a core structural flaw in the assumptions underpinning globalization. It turns out that the radical interweaving of markets — which was supposed to lead to the ‘complex interdependence’ that international relations theorists have been predicting for the better part of the century would lead to an increase in global stability… has instead created an inherently fragile and teetering structure that is exacerbating uncertainty in a time of crisis….
“If there is any good to come from the devastating impact on our nation of this pandemic brought about by the Chinese communist regime through its malice and incompetence, it will be the likely demise of enthusiasm for globalization as we know it across the West. After three decades of intellectual gymnastics aimed at convincing Americans that the off-shoring of manufacturing and the attendant deindustrialization of the country are good for us, the time has come for a reckoning.
“Since the end of the Cold War, Western elites seem to have been in thrall to the idea that various ‘natural forces’ in the economy and politics were propelling us forward to a digitally interconnected brave new world, one in which traditional considerations of national interest, national economic policy, national security, and national culture would soon be eclipsed by an emergent peaceful global reality. This virus crisis is a wake-up call, and while some argue we are waking up too late to effectively counter current trends, my money is on the ability of the American people to rally in a crisis and on the resilience of Western democratic institutions.
“Today, while battling the Wuhan Virus consumes the attention of our government agencies and health care systems, we should not lose sight of the foundational strategic challenge confronting the West in the emerging post-globalization era: We are in a long twilight competition with the Chinese communist regime, a struggle we cannot escape, whether we like it or not. Now is the time to wake up, develop a new strategy for victory, and to move forward.”
THE Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan, a bespoke cash based final expenses policy provided by Diaspora Insurance, a leading global funeral insurance company, has assured clients it will continue offering normal services during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a live conference call with Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan senior advisor Morrison Mamutse, company chief executive, Jeff Madzingo said although the world was facing trying times in light of the global coronavirus, the company remained operational and ready to serve its clients across the globe.
The United Kingdom headquartered company, he said, continued to offer agreed funeral covers to a bereaved family within 24 hours of showing proof that they had lost a relative.
“The Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan is paying as usual under the COVID-19 pandemic. We are supporting our clients. Our clients are our family and we have capacitated the whole team to continue to provide services from home,” Madzingo said.
“We have a big call centre in South Africa which is also supporting clients wherever they are in the world. We are paying within 24 hours as always has been promised.
“Today (Thursday), we paid tens of thousands of dollars worth payments in terms of COVID-19 claims. The support is available, we are paying the beneficiaries as was always promised. We are not reneging on our promises. We are able to meet our obligations,” he said.
Mamutse also said the Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan is operational in 13 Africa countries.
“Diaspora Funeral Cash Plan covers 13 countries and is based in Birmingham and our cover has stretched to countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Eswatini, Botswana, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi Ethiopia, Namibia, Mozambique,” said Mamutse.
“It is our responsibility as a responsible, ethical, and morally driven organisation to bring up to date information to our clients and to potential clients.”
Madzingo said it was important for people working in foreign lands to open a funeral cover as relatives will be able to meet their funeral expenses without challenges.
“Don’t get caught up in a situation where you have a double tragedy of losing a loved one and having to look for funeral support from the wider community or Go Fund Me or begging from the community groups or WhatsApp groups. The purpose of our policy is to give families funeral interventions,” he said.
Madzingo said because of the COVID-19 outbreak, burials had changed as people dying from coronavirus had to be buried within 24 hours making it impossible for a body to be flown home where most countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa, are under lockdown.
“It is a very difficult time for families but they can easily switch and bury their loved ones in the country of current residence.”
Economic Freedom Fighter leader, Julius Malema has lashed out on landlords demanding rent from their tenants during lockdown, saying they must ‘voetsek’.
Malema was responding to a letter shared by a social media user who claimed that his landlord has given him until the 1st of May to settle the rent for the month.
Following Malema’s response, some people agreed with him, saying that the landlord was being unfair by expecting rent to be paid while some people are not getting salaries due to the lockdown.
During this lockdown period it stands to reason that some tenants might experience some difficult in meeting their monthly obligations in terms of rent.
File picture of Nelson Chamisa in Covid-19 protective equipment
MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa has donated medical supplies worth US$3 000 to the Kwekwe City Council to help the MDC-run local authority fight the spread of COVID-19.
The donation was handed over to the Kwekwe mayor by former Health Minister in the now-defunct inclusive government, Henry Madzorera on behalf Chamisa.
Kwekwe Mayor Angeline Kasipo took delivery of the donation which consisted of 27 boxes of face masks, each with 50 masks, 1×50 boxes of dust masks, 10×150g washing powder, 16×5 litres of hand sanitisers, 10×1000 packs of theatre caps.
“The president wanted to show solidarity with the government and all matters relating to the COVID-19 war, and to emphasise that this is an epidemic which knows no boundary, including political, religious, class and other boundaries,” he said.
The former minister said the COVID-19 goods were sourced by Chamisa from party members living and working in the Diaspora.
South African Police Minister, Bheki Cele has apologised to the Muslim community for blasphemous remarks made by an officer towards prophet Muhammed when arresting congregants who had converged at a Mosque to pray on Friday.
Cele says the remarks made by the officer which can be heard at the end of a video that went viral on social media is unfortunate and that the matter will be investigated and the officer who made the remarks will be identified.
“It is rather unfortunate and it is unacceptable that someone could make such an utterance, this matter too will be investigated and the person who made the comment about the Prophet will be identified and brought to book,” he said.
The South Africa Police Service in Pretoria also says they arrested 41 congregants in two separate religious gatherings.
In the first incident, members of the SAPS Tactical Response Team(TRT) arrested 17 men on Friday, 24 April 2020 at approximately 13:00. The congregants had converged in a building in Pretoria West in what appeared to be a religious gathering.
All 7 suspects were arrested and kept in police custody over the weekend.
“They will be released on bail, issued with a fine and or taken to court on Tuesday, 28 April 2020, depending on the outcome of the preliminary investigations,” said SAPS.
The second incident, 24 congregants were arrested on Friday, 25 April 2020 after they too formed a part of what appeared to be a religious gathering in an area called Masibekela in the Mbuzini policing jurisdiction of Mpumalanga and not Pretoria West.
“Contrary to various reports, it was these arrests, and not Pretoria West, that were captured on the video which went viral on social media platforms,” they noted.
In both incidents, the congregants are alleged to have contravened the Regulations of the Disaster Management Act.
Minister Cele has however, called on all church leaders to discourage gatherings and comply with the Disaster Management Regulations Act which are being implemented to combat the COVID-19 virus.
“These regulations are in place to ensure that all people in South Africa are safe and protected against the virus, religious leaders should discourage gatherings,” he said.
A 14-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile in Mazvikadei on Saturday and his remains were retrieved yesterday afternoon.
The crocodile has since been put down by professional hunters and other people that were on the ground. The boy is set to be buried today.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) spokesperson Mr Tinashe Farawo confirmed the incident.
“Yes, that is what happened in Mazvikadei,” he said.
“It’s unfortunate that a 14-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile whilst he was trying to cross a river. It happened yesterday (Saturday) and then from Saturday up until today (yesterday), we have been searching for the remains of the young boy. We fortunately managed to retrieve the body mid-day. We were working with the sub-aqua unit and also our officers down there.
“It’s unfortunate and a sad development. We are deeply saddened as an authority.”
Mr Farawo said they deployed officers in the area, urging people to stay away from water bodies. He said the biggest problem was that there was overpopulation of animals — especially elephants and crocodiles, resulting in them invading communities.
ZIMBABWEANS returning from South Africa have begun trickling into the Beitbridge quarantine centre at the former Rainbow Hotel with the arrival of about 10 more yesterday making the total 46.
Of these new arrivals, eight were said to be environmental health technicians recently hired by government on their way from South Africa to Matabeleland North where they will be stationed.
There was also confusion on the new arrivals some of whom were said to be Beitbridge-based shipping agents who had disappeared from the poorly secured centre.
At the same time 15 of the 46 currently held are due to depart the centre with one having completed a 14day term while 14 others will benefit from the new eighth-day quarantine rule. Beitbridge district development co-ordinator Sikhangezile Mafu was not picking calls yesterday for comment.
A source from the district development committee, however, confirmed that 15 were expected to leave the centre, but awaited final clearance.
They are expected to undergo final COVID-19 tests after which they will be released.
State Media|Government has reduced the number of qualified, but unemployed nurses, to 450 following the unfreezing of posts in the health sector after the outbreak of Covid-19.
Over the years, the number of qualified, but unemployed nurses hovered around 2 000 considering the fact that training institutions continued to train for the public sector.
Recently, Government indicated that it was unfreezing about 4 000 post in the health sector, which include for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and many other workers, to help mitigate the impact of Covid-19. Of the 4 000 posts, 1 000 were allocated to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to also recruit health professionals, while the other posts will be shared among the different health workers mentioned above.
In a statement yesterday, the Health Services Board (HSB) said recruited professionals were drawn from databases kept at the HSB headquarters, provincial and central hospitals.
“We have recruitment databases for professionals kept at HSB and non-professionals databases created and kept by provinces and central hospitals,” said the HSB.
“Candidates for both are derived from these databases.
“Recruitment of non-professionals is thus decentralised to central hospitals and provincial offices.”
Candidates trained by the Ministry of Health and Child Care were immediately being deployed whilst those from other training institutions were going through a process of interviews, which might take a little longer.
Some posts are being filled through regrading.
“As for doctors, we have none who are out of employment, unless they are not willing to be employed by Government, while we have 450 unemployed nurses after the recent recruitment exercise,” HSB.
“We will be able to absorb all qualified doctors, while we might have a challenge in absorbing all unemployed nurses.”
Most of the qualified nurses will eventually be absorbed through replacement posts.
As part of the country’s response to Covid-19, Treasury agreed to the recruitment of 4 000 health workers and the creation of an additional 200 medical posts.
Recruitment for the posts is underway, with Cabinet recently reporting that over half of the posts had been filled.
The last mass recruitment of unemployed nurses was done in 2018 when all those in employment were fired for participating in an industrial action.
South Africans walking around at a shopping centre
More than two months after Egypt became the first country in Africa to confirm a coronavirus case, the outbreak appears to have reached almost every nation on the continent of 1.2 billion people.
Of Africa’s 54 countries, only two have yet to report a case of the virus: Comoros and Lesotho.
As of Sunday, the confirmed coronavirus death toll on the continent stood at 1,374 with fatalities including the former President of the Republic of the Congo Jacques Joachim Yhombi-Opango and Somalia’s former Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein.
Experts warn fragile healthcare systems in many African countries could be overwhelmed in the face of a severe outbreak of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
Statistics reported by 52 African Union (AU) member states were 30,329 cases; 1,374 deaths; and 9,106 recoveries, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said in a statement.
South Africa has the most confirmed cases out of all the member states with 4,546 confirmed case; 87 deaths; 1,473 recoveries. Egypt has 4,319; with 307 deaths reported and 1,114 recoveries.
Morocco has 3,897 cases, 159 deaths and 537 recoveries and Algeria 3,256; 419; 1,479.
Former Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba’s ambition of leading Cote d’Ivoire football faced a halt after former players unanimously voted for his rival.
All eleven out of fourteen members of Association of Former Ivorian Footballers who participated in the voting exercise via video conferencing endorsed Sory Diabate.
Of the 14 members in the Association, 11 voted for his rival, Sory Diabate, while three persons abstained.
Drogba and Idriss Diallo, who is Vice-President of the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) in charge of Marketing and Promotion Commission received no votes.
The results of the election, which was done via video conferencing, has reportedly sparked a massive debate in Ivory Coast.
Sory will now replace Augustin Sidy Diallo the current Ivorian Football Federation President.
In the latest case of social media hoodwinks amid the Coronavirus crisis, Zimbabweans in Pretoria, South Africa were reportedly sold a dummy after a WhatsApp voice note deceived them into believing that the Warriors duo of Khama Billiat and Nyasha Mushekwi would donate food at a named location last Wednesday.
The voice note, whose sender is still unknown, claimed that Zimbabweans living in the South African capital should convene at a recreational park in Mamelodi at 10am last Wednesday, as the pair would supposedly donate food to them.
According to local publication Zim Morning Post, there was a considerable turn out as Zimbaweans could be seen milling around the park as early as 9 am in anticipation of the relief aid amid a nationwide lockdown enforced by the Cyril Ramaphosa-government to mitigate the spread of the global pandemic.
Billiat and Mushekwi are among the highest earning Zimbabwean football stars, with the former being the highest paid player in the ABSA Premiership while the latter is known for donations after spending a reported US$120 000 in buying a bus for his former club CAPS United.
This lattest hoax comes barely a month after yet another fake message circulated on various forms of social media and mislead Zimbabweans in Soweto into believing that Billiat and his Kaizer Chiefs teammate and fellow countryman Willard Katsande would also donate food.
Food has become a scarcity to some Zimbabweans in the Rainbow Nation who are in the informal sector and for the second time, they have braved lockdown restrictions only to discover that all their efforts are in vain.
More Tanzanians tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday after the ministry of health of Uganda confirmed 4 more positive cases of coronavirus. The ministry said they had tested 1578 samples of which all were of truck drivers entering Uganda.
The 4 cases were Tanzanian truck drivers who had arrived in Uganda from Tanzania via Mutukula entry border point. When you add to the previously 4 confirmed cases this brings the total number of Tanzanians truck drivers who have tested positive for coronavirus to 8.
On its twitter account the ministry said it will give more information later on Monday morning 27th of April. Also in its prior communication the ministry of health had announced that the previous truck drivers who tested positive earlier on had already been repatriated to Tanzania.
The issue of Truck drivers testing positive for coronavirus has become a big challenge though the president of Uganda announced last week that truck drivers from Tanzania and Kenya will have to be tested at the entry border points and will have to wait for their results before being allowed to enter the country.
While Uganda and Rwanda are under lockdown as a measure to stop the spread of coronavirus, in Tanzania business is still going on as normal posing a huge risk of more tanzanians especially truck drivers on transit to the neighbouring countries contracting coronavirus.
The army truck which was being used to transport the soldiers lies on its side.
One soldier died on the spot and 23 others have been injured when an army truck veered off the road and landed on its side.
At least three of them were seriously injured while the others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident which occurred near the 49km peg along the Kariba-Makuti Road around 1.30pm.
The injured were taken to Kariba District Hospital for further care.
The army truck with 24 passengers on board was ferrying members of the Zimbabwe National Army who were helping in enforcing the National Lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.
According to sources, the truck was transferring the soldiers to their respective bases in Harare after their shift.
A man from Nyandeni area of Gwanda has been arrested after a gruesome murder of his friend in a misunderstanding over proportions of drinking a 200ml spirit liquor.
The man who is set to appear in court in Gwanda is alleged to have stabbed his now deceased friend six times with an Okapi knife after he accused his friend of drinking too much of the low cost liquor.
According to ZimEye.com sources in the area, the murderer chased his victim for a distance of over three hundred metres from their drinking place before stabbing him dead on the main Bulawayo to Gwanda highway at Mtshabezi Mission turnoff.
The witnesses indicated that other patrons at the drinking place, which remained open despite the lockdown regulations, could not restrain the murderer accused who was threatening to stab everyone around.
The villagers made a report to police in Gwanda leading to his arrest.
Police escort Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide Revelation members to Tshabalala Police Station after arresting them at their church on Sunday
POLICE in Bulawayo yesterday arrested 48 church members who were congregating for a service in Tshabalala suburb, defying lockdown regulations.
Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide Revelation members were arrested at their church at about 1PM.
Government imposed a five-week lockdown ending on May 3 and barred all social gatherings including those of churches to curb the spread of the deadly Covid-19.
The public is expected to stay at home and only leave their homes to buy essential commodities within a five-kilometre radius.
The members were wearing white garments but as police effected the arrest, they removed their church clothing.
The church premises are located about two kilometres from Tshabalala Police Station and the congregants were ordered to walk in a single file to the station with cops closely monitoring them.
They were made to observe social distance while being taken to the police station.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said: “A group of 48 people comprising men and women was today at around 1pm found at the Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide Revelation led by an Apostle Ndlovu who was heading the team. They were found at a church in Tshabalala worshipping, despite the lockdown regulations that outlaws such a gathering. They claimed that they thought that gatherings of below 100 people were permitted,” said Insp Ncube.
“They were then arrested and taken to Tshabalala Police Station where they are being held and are assisting police with investigations.”
He called on members of the public to adhere to lockdown regulations.
“I think people do not want to listen. It has been said over and over again that people must stay at home and they can only attend essential gatherings such as funerals, but church services were not exempted. They must follow regulations. Those who want to worship should do it in their homes. People must stay at home and abide by the given orders,” he said.
Residents who observed the church group being arrested expressed disappointment that some people were wantonly violating regulations.
Mr Dumisani Khabo said it was critical for residents to follow lockdown regulations as mass gatherings can easily spread the virus.
“At the moment we don’t know how many people actually have the virus. So, such gatherings could expose these congregants to Covid-19.
“When they leave their church, they will infect their neighbours and their neighbours also infect other people who come into contact with them. We can have the whole community getting the virus from such gatherings,” said Mr Khabo.
Mr Thomas Phiri of Tshabalala suburb said churches should be exemplary in society.
“Even the Bible says we must obey the rules of our lands. Churches must lead by example naturally. But if you find a church and its people disobeying rules and put the lives of other people at risk, then it’s no longer a church. It’s a cult, those people have been brainwashed. And endangering children and exposing them to such risk is something else,” said Mr Phiri.
This is not the first time for church members to be arrested for violating Covid-19 lockdown regulations in Bulawayo.
Two weeks ago, police arrested nine congregants of the Revival of Jesus Miracles Ministries in Nketa suburb for gathering in public in violation of lockdown regulations.
They were also taken to Tshabalala Police Station and each paid a $500 admission of guilt fine.
Those who fail to raise the required fines risk two months in jail.
Mass Covid-19 testing is being done in Chitemere Village, Mhondoro-Mubaira, and the surrounding villages after two more people in the area, who were in contact with the late Gogo Nguni nee Chitemere tested positive for Covid-19.
One of the latest positive cases did not live in the same house with the late Gogo Nguni, indicating that there is local transmission within the Chitemere community.
Her son, former MP for Mhondoro-Mubaira Constituency and former Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office, Mr Sylvester Nguni, plus his wife and his two sisters, all of whom were with Gogo Chitemere when she was taken to a private hospital in Harare, have tested negative for Covid-19.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo told The Herald yesterday that mass testing has since begun in the village.
“Our teams from Harare and Mashonaland West have since started combing the whole area, tracing and testing all individuals as we try to get to the bottom of this issue,” said Dr Moyo.
Mr Nguni has denied relations with Christopher Chitemere of Harare, who arrived in the country from the United Kingdom recently, saying it was a mere coincidence on names.
He said his mother never got in touch with this Chitemere and the only time she came to Harare in recent days was when she was brought to West End Hospital for treatment.
However, Mr Nguni said he has an uncle with the same name who lives in the Mhondoro area, close to his mother’s homestead.
Mr Nguni said the family was eagerly waiting for results of all close contacts to their mother as they seek closure on the issue.
According to the latest Covid-19 update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, three more cases tested positive on Saturday bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 31.
The ministry reported that their condition was stable and were not in hospital.
Thirty-four of the 73 returning residents in quarantine at the Zimbabwe Institute of Public Administration and Management (ZIPAM) in Darwendale were allowed home on Saturday.
Of the 34 discharged, seven had completed the mandatory 21 days in quarantine while the remaining 27 had completed 14 days and will spend the other seven days isolated in their own homes.
This follows declarations made last week by Health Minister Obadiah Moyo that government does not have funds to quarantine returnees for the twenty one days hinting at cutting the period to seven days.
In a briefing yesterday for the Ad-hoc Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said health officers in the provinces would follow up the 27.
The remaining 39 returnees at ZIPAM would be screened and released once they had met the laid-down requirements, she said.
Giving details of other groups under quarantine she said: “Today five returning residents from Mozambique were quarantined at Rowa Training Centre in Mutare Rural, and in Victoria Falls, at Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School, 45 returnees were yesterday placed under quarantine.”
She said the identification of isolation centres across the country’s administrative districts had been completed and work was at various stages to ensure that the medical facilities are ready to receive and handle severe and critical cases when the need arose.
Minister Mutsvangwa said training of medical personnel who will manage the facilities was on-going.
CIO agent Albert Vunganai ferried to his final resting place
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s long serving CIO agent Albert Vunganai who died in a car accident while escorting Mnangagwa’s wife on Friday was buried on Sunday at Glen Forest Memorial Park cemetery in Harare with serious concerns over disregard of standing Coronavirus precautions.
Well over the stipulated maximum number of mourners attended the burial and funeral wake at his family home exposing them to the effects of the ravaging virus which has killed over 200 000 people in the world and four of them in Zimbabwe.
Declaring a national lockdown to curb the spread of the virus at the end of last month, President Mnangagwa announced regulations that included an order that all funerals must be limited to no more than fifty people with social distancing and use of proper protective equipment being emphasised.
At Vunganai’s funeral wake and burial all these precautions appeared to have been ignored and no personal protective equipment like masks and gloves were supplied to mourners.
Harare currently has the highest numbers for both infections and deaths in the currently.
At the burial, Mnangagwa described the late Vunganai, who was a close aide to the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, as a professional cadre who was dedicated to his work.
The President said this in his condolence message read before Vunganai’s burial by the Deputy Director General in the President’s Department, Walter Tapfumaneyi.
Vunganai (36) died on Friday from injuries sustained in an accident in the Mavhuradonha mountain range in Muzarabani when the First Lady and her team were enroute to distribute foodstuffs to the elderly and vulnerable families.
Three other security officers were injured in the accident and are recovering in hospital.
Vunganai was a principal security aide in the President’s Department at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife Nancy and two children.
Chitungwiza Municipality is seeking US$3 million from corporates and well-wishers for the construction of an isolation centre for Covid-19 patients at Seke South Clinic.
If raised, the funds will be used to renovate two other facilities that will be used as medical centres. Acting Chitungwiza town clerk Dr Tonderai Kasu yesterday said they were in dire need of resources necessary for the containment of the virus. He said they had asked for assistance from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, which expressed their full support for the initiatives.
“I have written to Ministers Obadiah Moyo and July Moyo informing them of Chitungwiza’s plans with respect to renovations, refurbishments and construction at all three of the sites, as well as the equipment and other materials needed,” said Dr Kasu.
“Our response budget for the pandemic is US$3 093 727. We also requested assistance both in cash and in kind. We are also appealing for support from the corporate world, donors and development partners. We hope that steady progress will be made towards completion of these projects so that the virus will find us prepared.”
The MDC Alliance notes with regret and despair the massive destruction of people’s markets and other infrastructure accross the length and breadth of the country during this COVID-19 Lockdown period running from 30th March 2020 to 3 May 2020.
We note that the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe, has destroyed buildings and infrastructure, including churches and markets such as Mupedzanhamo in Mbare, the Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) market in Glenview, people’s markets in Gweru and many other markets accross the country.
Needless to say property worth millions and millions of dollars has been destroyed. Hundreds of our compatriots who make a living from the markets and infrastructure have now been left without a means of sustenance.
We have established that the destruction of properties is being executed by the State through the Ministry of Local Government and Zimbabwe Republic Police. We have also established that no single MDC Alliance council authorised or resolved to carry out these destructions.
That real power in the running and management of local authorities should reside in the Ministry of Local Government is regrettable, and is indeed a breach of Chapter 14 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
We make the point once more that all laws, in this case, the Urban Councils Act and the Rural District Councils Act must be harmonised with the Constitution.
It is only through harmonisation that real power will revert back to the elected officials not the bureaucrats in the form of town clerks and administrators in the parent Ministry. The MDC Alliance believes in Social Justice and the Rule of Law.
To destroy anyone’s property without due process and an order of court is patently unconstitutional.
More than that, to the extent that livelihoods are being destroyed through physical destruction of people’s markets, the destruction of the markets is a crime against humanity.
This is Murambatsvina Part 2 being carried out within the shadow and opaqueness of the Corona Virus Lockdown.
We are also concerned with the timing of the destruction of these markets.
The world at large including Zimbabwe is battling with the weight of an unprecedented pandemic that has killed thousands of people accross the world.
To therefore carry out these operations during this period is not only exposing the workers involved but the community too to Covid-19.
It exposes the informal traders in these markets to poverty at a time when resilience and safety nets are required to fight the pandemic.
The actions to destroy these structures is therefore cruel, degrading and inhumane. We as MDC Alliance condemns this and reject this outright.
We have instructed our councilors and local authorities countrywide to disown these acts of barbarism.
Whilst we believe in future smart cities and urban regeneration, any development must be planned and must be subject to the operations of Rule of Law.
We say to July Moyo and Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa STOP IT.
The MDC Alliance Leadership left Zimbabweans electrified with joy and hope when they joined hands in mourning the deceased and comforting the sick and also thanking frontline workers, the majority of them being Zimbabweans. An estimated figure of 45 Zimbabweans have died of the Covid19 so far.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW….
The Vice President Lynette Karenyi, Deputy Secretary General Jameson Timba and Deputy Treasurer General Lilian Timvious were live on ZimEye offering their solidarity with practitioners and the community at large.
Zimbabweans living abroad are faced with a myriad of problems during the lockdown period of which some of the problems include among others, exposure to the virus since the majority of them are frontliners, dying alone without their beloved ones, lack of dignified burials where they cannot even be burried home by their beloved ones loneliness as everyone is under lockdown, children left with noone close to look after, rejection of those who decide to go home, inhumane treatment of returnees under quarantine by the Zimbabwean government, victimisation of opposition activists, in particular Mary Ndoro who the Deputy Minister of Labour cited to be among the returnees and stated that she was among those who demonstrated against Minister S.B Moyo when he went to the United Kingdom. Mary is not at all among the returnees.
The leaders passed their condolences to the families and friend of the deceased and emphasised that the time was now to unite for a purpose and be our brother’s and sister’s keepers during the lockdown period as some live alone. VP Karenyi thanked the organisers of the wonderful programme as it gave them an opportunity to meet the members online. Hon Timveous thanked and assured Mary Ndoro and all other activists that the party will always stand with them in times of need. Hon Timba reiterated that the government must stop victimising its members and blaming MDC Alliance for their failures as he said the returnees demands were just.
B Tanyanyiwa
Spokesperson
MDC Alliance – Assembly of Women
It is a day set aside highlighting global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains that have been made so far.
Malaria remains a big problem in other parts of the world and in Zimbabwe it’s a public health problem. It is common in areas that are hot and moist. The theme for 2020 is “Zero malaria starts with me”.
What is malaria? It is a disease caused by infection with a parasite female anopheles mosquito. The mosquito is the vector that transmits the infection. Found mainly where there are open water bodies.
In Zimbabwe malaria peaks from November to April. The most effective control and prevention strategy is through prevention of mosquito bites.
Symptoms include fever, chills, rigors, headache, nausea,anorexia, joint pains, malaise and sweating.
There is also a history of staying in an area known to be endemic of malaria or traveling to that area. However one might not present with all the symptoms. In this era of COVID-19 pandemic excluding it is also important in those diagnosed with malaria.
Treatment – Malaria is a treatable disease. There are oral medications and intravenous medicines that can be used to cure the disease.
The disease progress quickly therefore early treatment saves life than late treatment.
There is no vaccine for malaria. Malaria can affect anyone of any age and despite previous infection you can still get malaria.
Prevention – Sleeping under a treated mosquito net and using mosquito repellents.
Wearing long sleeved shirts at night to avoid mosquito bites. Spraying open water bodies and covering them.
Taking malaria prophylaxis when traveling to a malaria endemic area.
Malaria is still a disease that kills thousands to millions of people every year.
Therefore let’s prevent malaria in our communities.
Compiled by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
Farai Dziva|MDC MP for Mutasa South, Regai Tsunga has related how he was harassed and humiliated by police details last week.
Tsunga was arrested for “unnecessary movement” as he distributed mealie meal to the needy in the constituency.
Tsunga, quoted by NewsDay, said : “My councillor in ward 11 Farai Bhiza was taking names of residents who wanted to be assisted with subsidised roller meal that government had not still delivered after the 21-day lockdown phase.
I arrived at the scene at the conclusion of this exercise and within minutes, police officers arrived. I got out of my truck to greet the police officers who had positioned themselves around a section of the parking lot at Mac’s Business Centre in ward 11.
I was promptly ordered to jump onto the nearby police truck to Mutare Central Police Station because I was under arrest along with councillor Bhiza and other residents.”
He added: I was charged with unnecessary movement. My lawyer Innocent Gonese argued for me, but the police were adamant. Under protest, I paid $500 for my release. In my view, it was unreasonable to arrest me for doing work in my constituency. An area MP cannot be said to be moving unnecessarily in area that he represents in Parliament.
I had not strayed out of the constituency; I was implementing a local food security and nutrition programme to ameliorate the suffering of our people arising from COVID-19 and the attendant lockdown As we speak, government has still not made door-to-door mealie-meal sales as promised and people face starvation.”
Farai Dziva|MDC MP for Mutasa South, Regai Tsunga has related how he was harassed and humiliated by police details last week.
Tsunga was arrested for “unnecessary movement” as he distributed mealie meal to the needy in the constituency.
Tsunga, quoted by NewsDay, said : “My councillor in ward 11 Farai Bhiza was taking names of residents who wanted to be assisted with subsidised roller meal that government had not still delivered after the 21-day lockdown phase.
I arrived at the scene at the conclusion of this exercise and within minutes, police officers arrived. I got out of my truck to greet the police officers who had positioned themselves around a section of the parking lot at Mac’s Business Centre in ward 11.
I was promptly ordered to jump onto the nearby police truck to Mutare Central Police Station because I was under arrest along with councillor Bhiza and other residents.”
He added: I was charged with unnecessary movement. My lawyer Innocent Gonese argued for me, but the police were adamant. Under protest, I paid $500 for my release. In my view, it was unreasonable to arrest me for doing work in my constituency. An area MP cannot be said to be moving unnecessarily in area that he represents in Parliament.
I had not strayed out of the constituency; I was implementing a local food security and nutrition programme to ameliorate the suffering of our people arising from COVID-19 and the attendant lockdown As we speak, government has still not made door-to-door mealie-meal sales as promised and people face starvation.”
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF has begun to belittle MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa, calling him “Secretary for Policy and Research” in a desperate attempt to discredit the youthful politician.
Surprisingly, Zanu PF accused Chamisa of “instructing MPs and councillors to distribute food aid to card- carrying MDC members.”
Political analysts say Zanu PF’ s line of argument reflects desperate measures to dilute the MDC leader’s growing influence.The argument is fraught with contradictions, according to political observers.
Zanu PF tweeted :MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research @nelsonchamisa is said to have ordered MDC MPs and notorious councillors to overlook deserving beneficiaries of global aid, demanding MDC-cards for one to have their name enlisted as a beneficiary of donated basics.
This Must Stop! This trend has been observed in Highfields East and West, Harare East and Mabvuku.
This is in direct violation of President’s Directive to stop patronizing relief aid.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF MPs have been reminded to work with people in their constituencies regardless of political color.”
Commenting on the ruling party’s assertion, Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando said:” Zanu PF is desperate to denigrate Chamisa.Zanu PF officials are losing sleep over Chamisa’ s growing influence.The argument is a smorgasbord of contradictions and black propaganda.Can a secretary instruct MPs and councillors to do something?This is a weak line of argument. The whole thing reflects desperation of the worst kind.”
Currently called Mjekejeke by many on social media, Mthembu may be called vibrator for some time after mentioning the word during an interview on Sunday evening.
Mthembu had a few interviews on the arrival of the Cuban doctors in South Africa and measures to be taken as the country prepares to move to level 4 of the lockdown.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika on the risk adjustment strategy of the reopening of the economy, Mthembu spoke of Personal Protective Equipment that will be supplied to all hospitals and the issue of “vibrators” for ICU patients.
He said: “There will be a time when we will peak, but so far we have managed to buy time to attend to all the needs of our hospitals – additional beds in our hospitals, additional hospitals that we are busy with right now, including issues of Personal Protective Equipment that we are rolling out to all our hospitals, including issues of vibrators that we will need for those that will need serious attention in ICUs in our hospitals.”
Despite knowing that the minister probably meant to say ventilators, social media doesn’t seem as though it will forget the blunder easily. – CITIZEN
Farai Dziva|Zanu PF has begun to belittle MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa, calling him “Secretary for Policy and Research” in a desperate attempt to discredit the youthful politician.
Surprisingly, Zanu PF accused Chamisa of “instructing MPs and councillors to distribute food aid to card- carrying MDC members.”
Political analysts say Zanu PF’ s line of argument reflects desperate measures to dilute the MDC leader’s growing influence.The argument is fraught with contradictions, according to political observers.
Zanu PF tweeted :MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research @nelsonchamisa is said to have ordered MDC MPs and notorious councillors to overlook deserving beneficiaries of global aid, demanding MDC-cards for one to have their name enlisted as a beneficiary of donated basics.
This Must Stop! This trend has been observed in Highfields East and West, Harare East and Mabvuku.
This is in direct violation of President’s Directive to stop patronizing relief aid.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF MPs have been reminded to work with people in their constituencies regardless of political color.”
Commenting on the ruling party’s assertion, Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando said:” Zanu PF is desperate to denigrate Chamisa.Zanu PF officials are losing sleep over Chamisa’ s growing influence.The argument is a smorgasbord of contradictions and black propaganda.Can a secretary instruct MPs and councillors to do something?This is a weak line of argument. The whole thing reflects desperation of the worst kind.”
Stringent conditionalities placed on the recently announced government Youth Relief Fund meant to help youths whose businesses were affected by Covid19 lockdown makes it difficult for many youths to access the grant.
There is a whole lot of requirements like bank statements and Zimbabwe Youth Council affiliation fee that makes it difficult for ordinary youths to meet.
More so, the online application process marginalizes those who are in the periphery of the periphery where issues of internet connectivity is a major blow.
The MDC Youth Assembly also bemoans the information gaps as far as the Relief Grant is concerned especially to the ordinary rural youths.
As such, we call upon the government and relevant Ministry to unconditionally remove stringent conditionalities like bank statements if real youths are to benefit from the grant.
It is public knowledge that the majority of ordinary youths survive from hand to mouth and they operate informal businesses hence they do not have bank statements.
That the majority of ordinary youths operate informal businesses automatically marginalizes them from the grant as many of their businesses are not formally registered.
It is also our hope that political colour is not going to be the prime determinant as to who benefits from the Relief Grant.
As an Assembly, we also call upon for the removal of a discriminatory clause which states that only businesses that were in existence 6 months prior to the lockdown announcement should be sole beneficiaries to the grant.
It is also our major underlining that the stringent, cumbersome and discriminatory conditionalities and secrecy surrounding the whole grant makes it appear more of a political grandstanding by the ruling party to pacify the increasingly restive youths.
As such, the grant remains a pie in the sky and dead aid for the majority of youths in informal businesses!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE: 25 APRIL 2020 As of 25 April 2020, a cumulative total of 2 719 897 confirmed cases and 187 705 deaths were reported from more than 210 countries/territories globally (Source WHO Sitrep No.96).
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 380 tests were done as detailed in table 1 below. giving a total of 6 067 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has thirty-one confirmed cases, including two recoveries and four deaths.
Table 1. Distribution of tests done today Mat. North – 3 Manicaland – 5 Mat. South – 54 Midlands – 6 Harare – 161 Bulawayo – 151 TOTALS – 380 Of the PCR tests done in Harare today, three were positive for COVID-19 and all the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.
Table 2. Number of confirmed cases to date Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 4 Mashonaland West – 3 Total: 31 Two of the three cases confirmed today were due to local transmission. All the three cases are stable, and not in the hospital. More details on these cases to follow.
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.
By A Correspondent- Chivi South legislator Killer Zivhu has predicted that Zanu Pf will win the forthcoming 2023 elections by a wider margin than what the party did at independence in 1980.
In a tweet, Zivhu said:
“2023 Zanu Pf will win elections with big margins than 1980 mark my words. Kana uchida meaning if you want politics just join Zanu Pf now, the opposition party is finished.”
2023 Zanu pf will win elections with big margins than 1980 mark my words . kana uchida politics just join zanu pf now the opposition party is finished pic.twitter.com/SBezfZYttq
By Nomusa Garikai- The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect Zanu PF’s political opponents on the understanding, once in power, they would implement the democratic reforms the nation was dying for.
Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends have had many golden opportunities to implement the reforms, with the best chances coming during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. Sadly, Tsvangirai et al took their eyes off the ball and they wasted all the opportunities. They have failed to implement even one reform!
Mugabe bribed the MDC leaders with the trappings of high office; the ministerial limos, the generous salaries, a US$4 million mansion for Tsvangirai himself, etc. And to show their appreciation, MDC leaders forgot about the reforms!
“Mazivznhu eMDC adzidza kudya anyerere!” (MDC leaders have learned to enjoy the gravy train good-life. They will never rock the boat now!) boasted Mugabe’s cronies during the GNU, when asked why MDC leaders were not implementing any reforms.
After the GNU, MDC leaders have abandoned all hope of implementing any reforms and have since settled for a few gravy-train seats Zanu PF gives away as bait.
The scramble for the bait seats has brought out the nation’s scum, the 2018 elections were a hotly contested affair with 23 candidates contesting for the presidency alone. They all knew with no reforms Zanu PF would win 2/3 majority in parliament plus the presidency; they were fighting over the remaining 1/3 or so MP seats and the coveted title of opposition party leader.
Of course, all of the opposition leaders contesting these flawed and illegitimate elections knew their participation gave credibility to the rigged elections and, thus some modicum of legitimacy to the resultant Zanu PF government. They were doing it out of greed, as David Coltart, a MDC leader and minister in the GNU, readily admitted in his book. The Struggle Continues 50 years of tyranny in Zimbabwe.
“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.
“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”
The “obvious” thing for the opposition to have done in 2013, 2018 and ever more so in 2023 is not participate in the elections without reforms designed to stop the curse of rigged elections. The country’s opposition is but scum, they participated in the elections then and they are already out campaigning for the 2023 elections!
“Good leaders are not seen by the size of their promises, but by what they have done to date. Conmen thrive on sweet promises, convincing you they can move mountains for you when they can’t lift a pebble for themselves. We stand by that assertion, track records matter more than promises,” Dr Nkosana Moyo, leader of Alliance for People’s Agenda. He was one of the 23 presidential candidates in the rigged July 2018 plebiscite.
“Elections came. The people chose. Did the people choose on merit or emotions? Did the people choose on track record or future promises? In Bulawayo one leader was not elected by the voters, but leadership is in him. He continues to innovate and find solutions to community problems.”
How can people “choose on merit” if elections are not free, fair and credible?
The country is stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 40 years and counting because the thugs rig elections. How can asking the nation to participate in these flawed and illegal elections for the umpteenth time be an “innovative solution” to ending the rat race?
“Hupenzi inyama yegakava!” (There is no one more stubborn than a fool!) so goes a Shona adage.
Dr Nkosana Moyo greed has closed your eyes, ears and mind to reason, reality and truth. You are just a first-class village idiot, no different from Mugabe, Mnangagwa, Tsvangirai, Chamisa and all the others whose greed landed us in this hell-on-earth and is keeping us there.
Zimbabwe’s number one priority is to make sure we implement the reforms necessary for free, fair and credible elections. It would be irresponsible to let the nation be stampeded into yet another rigged election by those blinded by greed!
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE: 25 APRIL 2020 As of 25 April 2020, a cumulative total of 2 719 897 confirmed cases and 187 705 deaths were reported from more than 210 countries/territories globally (Source WHO Sitrep No.96).
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 380 tests were done giving a total of 6 067 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has thirty-one confirmed cases, including two recoveries and four deaths.
Table 1. Distribution of tests done today Mat. North – 3 Manicaland – 5 Mat. South – 54 Midlands – 6 Harare – 161 Bulawayo – 151 TOTALS – 380 Of the PCR tests done in Harare today, three were positive for COVID-19 and all the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.
Table 2. Number of confirmed cases to date Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 4 Mashonaland West – 3 Total: 31 Two of the three cases confirmed today were due to local transmission. All the three cases are stable, and not in the hospital. More details on these cases to follow.
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.
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A Cuban medical brigade is expected to jet in South Africa on Monday to assist in the fight against the deadly Coronavirus.
The South African Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize Cuba is known for its disaster preparedness and its consistent deployment of medical brigades for disaster relief wherever required, which continues to earn Havana goodwill worldwide.
Read the full statement below:
We are pleased to announce that in the early hours of tomorrow, 27 April 2020, a delegation of 217 Cuban Medical Brigade will arrive in South Africa. This is in response to the Goverment of the Republic of South Africa’s request to the Government of Cuba to offer us assistance and medical personnel support comprising of infectious diseases specialists, to support South Africa in its efforts to deal with COVID-19.
The strong social and political solidarity and support that exists between the two countries have been seen in various development programmes. As the Department of Health, we have continuously enjoyed this support through the ongoing medical training programme of South African students in Cuba.
As Cuba did in the difficult times of apartheid, it has once again lent its hand by sending health workers who are specialised in the areas of Family Medicine, Infection Prevention Control, Case Management, Regulatory Authority, Epidemiology and Surveillance, Health Technology and Biostatistics.
Cuba is known for its disaster preparedness and its consistent deployment of medical brigades for disaster relief wherever required, which continues to earn Havana goodwill worldwide. Some of these highly skilled health professionals were in the frontline of fighting other outbreaks in the world such as Cholera in Haiti in 2010, and Ebola in West Africa in 2013.
Before departure from Cuba, the medical brigade had been placed in quarantine to ensure that they minimise any form of exposure prior to coming to South Africa. This is despite the fact that Cuba is one of the countries where the reported COVID-19 infection rate remains minimal.
As South Africa, we have taken an additional step which is in line with our lockdown regulations. This team will be put in precautionary quarantine as they await their test results.
We will also use this period to fully induct them into the South African situational analysis and the various provinces they will be deployed to.
Once this process is concluded, His Excellency, President MC Ramaphosa together with other Ministers will formally welcome the medical brigade to South Africa and also confirm their allocation to different provinces.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) board on Sunday appointed non-Executive Director Ms. Helliate Rushwaya as acting Chief Executive Officer.
A communications and media training specialist with over 20 years industry experience, Ms Rushwaya has worked with media organisations in Namibia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
She was appointed to the ZBC Board in July 2019 and chaired its content, programming and technical Committee.
Reads a statement from the public broadcaster;
“The Board of Directors of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation have resolved to second Non-Executive Director, Ms. Helliate Rushwaya, to the post of A/CEO on a rotational basis till a CEO is appointed in a substantive capacity.
“This decision came about due to the fact that the incumbent had been serving in an acting capacity for over the recommended threshold period of 6 months.”
Ms. Rushwaya takes over from Mr. Wisdom Hombarume who reverts to his role as director of digital media and broadcasting technology at ZBC’s Pockets Hill head office in Harare.
Hombarume had been acting head of the public broadcaster since September 2019 after the departure of the substantive CEO Patrick Mavhura.
Meanwhile, Ms. Rushwaya is a qualified broadcast journalist and holds an MSc International Events Management degree with a focus on Televising Major Events.
She has delivered media consultancy for international agencies such as the International Cricket Council (ICC) Television for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers.
In 2014, Ms. Rushwaya project manager for the host broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland where she managed and trained television crew which broadcast the live event to 71 countries and territories under the auspices of the Commonwealth.-StateMedia
8/ I’ve been asked to present myself tomorrow morning to law & order & I shall do so with my head held high. If serving the people effectively is a crime then we’ll certainly see. Don’t worry about me, I’m ok in the Lord’s Hands & I simply request your prayers pic.twitter.com/NcfA6U6BAx
9/ I’ve gone through such persecution numerous times with former CG Chihuri & the same harassment continues. I do not fear standing trial as the frivolous charges can’t hold water but my time would be better spent on the ground helping the community.
There is murder case that happened at ward 9 GutuNorth. The woman had missing parts and l believe the @PoliceZimbabwe@Jamwanda2 are handling that issue unprofessionally. From the allegations the suspect are free. The incident happened in the afternoon @simbayeukai#Pakaipa
By Robert Sigauke- To correctly capture where we are right now, it is either the MDC-T faction in the MDC-Alliance, influences the alliance and its partners to run before events, or events will run over them and all their constituents.
The latter scenario would be a most regretted one seeing that the MDC-T faction within the alliance have little but momentous opportunity to help the situation and provide key leadership needed right now.
Opposition politics space finds itself in a whirlwind at the moment, the two boxers in the ring have taken countless punches each but believe they won the bout, public opinion and the massive crowds who paid to come into the grand arena have cast their costly bets, and yet the six eyes of the three judges by the ringside saw the most clearer and only they have the decisive say on how the night will end.
It is up to the loser to burn the midnight candle looking for a rematch clause in the contract signed before the fight. Except in this case, the rematch was given on a silver platter fore bearing that the loser will shout the loudest in protest that the crowds cheered more for him, in so far as evidence that he was the better opponent is concerned.
Chamisa’s faction lost in the High Court. They demanded a rematch before new judges, so was the appeal. Again they lost, and again they blame the judges of being captured by the state.
It is slowly sinking in, that legally the battle is lost but what they need to wake up to is that this was a political war in the first place. This is where the real war is, this is where the war will be won ultimately and the time to mobilise the numbers and move is now. The masses are waiting in readiness.
Corona lockdowns have effectively restricted all of us within small radii. The people have time to watch events and follow breaking news, the people are waiting for leadership and direction.
It is either decisions are made to run before events, or events will run ahead and render decisions worthless. A day in politics is a very long one.
The dust is fast gathering, barbs have been traded between the politicians, the noble men and women of the law have twisted and arm-twisted the interpretations of one single Supreme Court judgment in hundred ways.
The political analysts have made all attempts to harmonise the law, the politics and the ground dynamics. They have never been as puzzled as now. But the real currency are the people on the ground who are left baffled as to who ran away with the ball to collect the trophy.
They most importantly want to be on the winner’s side at the end of the duel, as there is a better chance on that side for free meat when celebratory cows are slaughtered, let alone in this harsh corona economy.
Here is my two cents of advice –
The MDC-T faction in the Alliance presents itself as a political caucus and leadership boasting of constitutionalism, democracy and rule of law, Chamisa and his grouping must accept the judgment and let the law have its day.
The courts do not attend nor vote at congresses, all candidates who have the pull muscle must participate at the Khupe congress and take the trophy in fair legitimate contest. The legitimacy woes will be put to rest once and for all. That is his best interest too.
In a more decisive move that must be taken seriously now if the inflated egos of Chamisa et al is anything to go by, and not subject themselves to Khupe’s congress, Chamisa and other alliance leaders must immediately announce the dissolution of their current loose political pact and form a fully-fledged MDC Alliance party followed by an inaugural congress later in the nearest convenient future to have enough time to prepare for the 2023 elections. No conspiracy, there are only benefits here.
If the events run ahead of the now needed key leadership as aforementioned, resulting in the alliance leadership sitting on their laurels and ignoring the judgment, this will “be a bad idea because the political careers of Mwonzora, Komichi, Khupe and all their aggrieved lot are on the line right now, they have everything to lose so they will sell even their souls to the devil to prevent this. If the whispers are correct, they have the full might backing of the regime, see how the police were deployed at Harvest House on the morning before the judgment was even handed.
This is telling. The alliance will therefore have to brace itself for a war of its short life. The war will involve issues about party assets, reversal of decisions made since 2018, party funds and unfortunately some will hang their robes going to jail. Behind bars, large numbers of supporters are of no use,” I quote from my previous article MDC and the Politics of Convenience.
Chamisa and the Alliance must remember that, Mnangagwa’s politically discredited POLAD is desperately seeking legitimacy and the Supreme Court judgment is a step in that direction. Chamisa is not winning that war if he and his partners do not announce steps to or morph the Alliance into a fully fledged political party separate from the MDC-T tag, before the Congress of Khupe whose legitimacy’s first leg has been accomplished by the High and Supreme Court judgments, the congress will settle the political legitimacy question.
It will be a victory for POLAD and its backers if the Khupe camp successfully holds their congress and elect their own, unchallenged by the more popular alliance players. This is because Mwonzora and Khupe will then, after settling both the legal and political legitimacy questions, bring the MDC-T to the POLAD negotiating table.
They will pick ministerial posts along the way, because POLAD will not be a gathering to drink mazoe only, something has to be in the offing at the end of the talks. This is what victory looks like in this age of mad and cheap game-play.
If this happens, POLAD will win the moral argument of being inclusive and politically legitimate. Yes, the alliance will remain with the numbers, but barking outside the camp in the cold. Since when have numbers been respected by the regime anyway?
Akuraira ndewako.
Robert Sigauke is a Political & Social Commentator, Legal Manager. He writes from Cape Town.
By A Correspondent- Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor, Gideon Gono, has angrily denied claims that the late President Robert Mugabe had confided in him to warn then Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander Constantino Chiwenga that President Emmerson Mnangagwa “was a ticking political time bomb for the country, who needed to be contained one way or the other.”
On Friday, the Europe based Spotlight Zimbabwe website ran an article titled: “Mugabe told Gono to tell Chiwenga that Mnangagwa was a time bomb for Zimbabwe after coup” in which it quoted an unnamed Mugabe family aide who claimed Mugabe “had a two hour conversation with Gono, during which he asked him to relay his final Mnangagwa warning message to Chiwenga.”
But in an exclusive interview with Nehanda Radio, Gono said “while I do not normally respond to all that’s written about me” the story was fiction. He said although “our families were close” and he was a close confidant of the late former president “at no time was I ever instructed or sent to deliver a message to the Hon Vice-President, Dr C G N Chiwenga as alleged by the said publication.”
The article went further to claim “Mugabe who had offered Chiwenga to take over from him at the height of the coup, as a counter move against Mnangagwa’s ambitions for the presidency, also reportedly advised the VP to remain ZDF chief and settle for nothing less than a presidium appointment in Mnangagwa’s government, as a means of buffering his power.”
But Gono said the author of the article “truthfully confesses that she did not speak to or get comment from me prior to publication. I am not a media person, but something tells me that such journalistic irresponsibility not to contact the alleged primary source does cast a dark cloud over the credibility of the story and the professionalism of the author behind it.”
While the article claimed its source was a relative or aide of the late President now living in South Africa who alleges he or she was there when the alleged conversation took place Gono said this could not have been possible as “most of the times after my retirement as Governor in November 2013, it would be the former First Lady in attendance or just the two of us, RG and myself at home.”
“No aide or relative was ever present or invited to our meetings to discuss anything business or personal with me. It is therefore preposterous for anyone to suggest that a relative or aide could be the source of this fertilized imaginary happening neither can it be attributed the former FL (First Lady) because such a conversation never took place with her present or absent.”
“Whoever therefore is spreading these lies, with whatever objective or agenda, and trying to involve me in any plots or acts of disaffection with the President should please desist from doing so in my name and retreat to the nearest corner of truth, decency, respect and observe the sanctity of facts.
Gono says “I became privileged to be a confidante of many Zimbabweans in high, middle and low positions in our country and society.”
He listed the late Vice Presidents John Nkomo, Joseph Msika and Simon Muzenda, the late opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, former VP Joice Mujuru and Deputy Prime-Ministers Arthur Mutambara and Thokozani Khupe among other leading figures.
“It is the current president (Mnangagwa) who appointed me CEO of CBZ in 1994 when he was acting Minister of Finance and we continued to work together during those years and as Governor at RBZ including after my retirement. I continue to avail myself to him and to serve Government in whatever capacity if called upon to. I recently loyally completed my 3 year tour of duty as Chairman of the now repealed Zimbabwe Special Economic Zones Authority.
“I also loyally served all arms of the Defense Forces of this country ( ZDF) under the the Commander Defence Forces now Hon Vice President Dr Chiwenga; I loyally served the State Security Apparatus under several State and Home Affairs ministers who include now Hon. Vice President Mohadi and at that time also became their confidante and banker.”
Gono said at no point had he been “a betrayer of their confidence or perpetrator of any spirit of division between them, other than to unite and promote oneness among them by not being a rumour monger or carrier of news detrimental to the callings of their offices.”
“No wonder, when all else seemed to be failing, I was, at 20:00hrs on 17 November, 2017 called upon to step in and intermediate between former President Mugabe, his family and Commanders of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces led by the then CDF, now V P Chiwenga. I have successfully carried out several intermediation missions since the mid 1990s when I had became of age!
“How we, as the three parties (RG, Commanders and myself) succeeded to break the resignation impasse right to the day of actual resignation of the then President and subsequent behind-the-scenes negotiations for peace and and reconciliation remain unknown to many and the real truth untold to date. That’s how matters of statecraft are handled.
“It is therefore ludicrous to a point of contemptuous amusement for anyone to suggest or think that I could, or would, for whatever reason, release a tit-bit of any conversation, real or imaginary, that could have taken or took place between anyone or anybody above and myself about anyone or anybody.
Gono said his relationship with both Mnangagwa and Chiwenga dated back to 1994. “I have not, over the years I have worked with or served them, detected any bad blood between them. The same applies to my relationship and working tenure with Hon VP Mohadi.
“I’m enjoying my retirement post 40 years of loyal national and private sector service nowhere else but to Zimbabwe so please, speculators, leave me out of your machinations.-NehandaRadio
“I enjoy good relations with and support our President and the entire leadership this country at the political, business, religious and social levels.
“I have learnt over the years that taking legal action against some dodgy websites of no permanent abode is an exercise in futility. I will let sleeping dogs lie.”
The ZBC Board has appointed Non-Executive Director Helliate Rushwaya as Acting CEO.
Helliate Rushwaya
In an announcement, the public broadcaster said:
The ZBC Board has resolved to second Non-Executive Director, Ms. Helliate Rushwaya, to the post of Acting CEO till a CEO is appointed in a substantive capacity. This is due to the fact that the incumbent had been serving in an acting capacity for over the recommended 6 months.
Rushwaya holds an MSc in International events management with a focus on broadcasting mega events.
She has worked at BBC Scotland and was Project Manager for the Host Broadcaster of the Commonwealth Games 2014. She also worked with the Host Broadcaster for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 in Harare.
She was appointed to the current ZBC board in 2019.
School pupils in Madagascar have been told they face expulsion if they refuse to drink a herbal tea their president claims prevents and cures Covid-19.
Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar’s populist leader, this week launched “COVID-organics” amid great fanfare, particularly on the radio and television stations he owns.
Developed from plants found in abundance on the Indian Ocean island, COVID-organics had allowed Madagascar to succeed where all other countries had failed, he said.
Not only would the product stop anyone who drank it from developing the virus, it would heal anyone who had caught it within seven days, the president told reporters. Two people had already been cured, he added.
“We can change the history of the entire world,” Mr Rajoelina said as he drank the first dose of the wonder drug. “Madagascar has been chosen by God.”
The product is being rapidly circulated on the island state. Soldiers in the capital Antananarivo went door-to-door on Thursday doling out sachets of COVID-organics, which can either be bought by the bottle or in powdered form to be mixed with water.
Not everyone has been as enthusiastic. Both the National Academy of Medicine of Madagascar and the World Health Organisation have expressed their concern, noting that there was no evidence to support claims it could cure the virus.
Clinical tests on the drug are understood to have involved just 20 volunteers and to have been conducted over a week.
Some Malagasy have also been sceptical. When schools re-opened on Wednesday after the Easter holidays, pupils were reportedly given the product and told that they had no choice but to drink it.
The parents of a 14-year-old boy in Antananarivo said their son had been told “to take it or leave”. Patrick Raharimanana, a senior opposition figure and former presidential candidate, alleged that some pupils had already been expelled for refusing to take the medicine.
A senior adviser to the president said that younger children would not be required undertake the COVID-organics course without parental consent.
None of the ingredients in the product is believed to be harmful.
It is chiefly derived from sweet wormwood and Ravensara. Sweet wormwood, a species of the artemisia genus that includes tarragon and mugwort, is known to have anti-malarial properties while Ravensara contains essential oils known to have medicinal qualities.
Several other world leaders, including Donald Trump, have advanced the unproven theory that another anti-malarial, hydroxychloroquine, can inoculate against the new coronavirus.
Mr Rajoelina’s television station, Viva, has sought to promote COVID-organics by screening a documentary featuring a Brazilian prophet allegedly predicting in November that a terrible disease would sweep the world but that Madagascar would save it.
Madagascar has recorded just 121 confirmed cases of COVID-19. No deaths have been reported.
By A Correspondent- Norton MP Temba Mliswa has donated groceries to s_ex workers in his constituency in a move aimed at easing their food challenges during the Lockdown period.
The Dictator of North Korea, Kim Kong, has been reported dead. The said leader was said to have a heart condition for some time and had to under a heart surgery. It is said that the heart surgery he had recently undergone left him in a “grave” condition. This is a shock to the people of North Korea as their Leader passes away.
However, the authenticity of this information has to be confirmed as this information did not come from a news agency in North Korean but from a news agency in China. A Beijing-backed satellite TV channel reported that the Korean Leader, Kim Jong, is dead. The Deputy director of the Beijing backed satellite Television, who is a very influential person in China and the niece of the Chinese foreign minister, reported that this information was disseminated to her from a ‘very solid source’, therefore the announcement that Kim Jong had passed away.
North Korea on the other hand did not release such news, neither was there any rumor amongst the North Koreans. No media outlet in the western world has received such and there remains no confirmation from North Korea, to certify that their Leader, Kim Jong, is dead.
There also was a viral image circulating on several social media platforms, showing the North Korean Leader, Kim Jong, lying dead in a glass coffin. Thought the image’s authenticity (to know if that wasn’t a made-up image) cannot be determined, the release by the Chinese news agency tends to approve that Leader Kim Jong Un, is dead.
If the Korean Leader, Kim Jong, really is dead, why was this information not released by the North Koreans, but came from China? Is it that, the North Koreans where trying to hide the information that their Leader is dead? If they were, then why? How come china is reporting such with claims that a ‘very solid source’ leaked this information and who is the source? There are many questions that need to be answered and so much to be clarified.
THE Covid-19 death toll among United Kingdom based Zimbabwean frontline workers against the pandemic continues to increase with yet another country health expatriate Herbert Chinzou succumbing to the dreaded ailment, this according to a social media post from Zimbabweans in the UK.
Below is a message shared on social media by the “Ladies of UK” and some images of the late Chinzou taken with wife and kids.
April 23 April 2020. A member of the SANDF is chasing illegal border crossers who want to buy food in SA from Zimbabwe these ladies come to the border line to see if they can’t ask those who are passing to Mussina to help them buy food. They vow that they are not and will never cut the 40KM R37m fence that is constructed on the border of the South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Sunday Times|A stream of people illegally transporting groceries and cigarettes between SA and Zimbabwe this week laughed off SA’s hastily constructed R37m border fence as a “joke”.
The Sunday Times visited Beitbridge, where the border post between the two countries has been closed to nonessential traffic in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
“This is not a fence,” laughed Busani Sibanda, moments after crossing the Limpopo River into SA.
“This thing doesn’t even take me five minutes to cut through. We make big holes so we can get suitcases with cigarettes through and small ones so we can get people and groceries through.”
Soldiers who patrol the fence admit they are fighting a losing battle trying to stem the flow of people across the border.
So far the department of public works has paid R21m to Magwa Construction for the 40km fence. At 1.8m high, it consists of six rolls of coiled razor wire and a razor wire grid.
The fence has been slated by governance experts as a “knee-jerk reaction” to seal off the border because of the Covid-19 crisis.
“The speed and timing point to concerns around gaps in planning and how these Covid-19 projects are being thought out and implemented,” said Sean Tait of the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, which monitors police accountability and governance in Africa.
The contract is to be investigated by auditor-general Kimi Makwetu for alleged procurement irregularities.
Makwetu this week said special measures need to be introduced to stop much-needed public funds from landing in the wrong pockets.
He has pledged to dispatch a team of auditors from his office to assist the government in preventing looting of the R500bn emergency coronavirus budget.
He cautioned that this budget was going to be spent through a system already plagued by “internal weakness, especially in the area of procurement”.
This week the Sunday Times spent three days on the border watching smugglers and ordinary Zimbabweans stream between the two countries, carrying groceries and contraband such as cigarettes.
Sibanda charges R500 to help someone cross the fence. He charges R2, 000 for arranging food purchases in Musina — the closest South African town to the border — and deliveries.
“We work in big teams. It takes about 40 of us 20 minutes to take a bakkie-load of food across the river. If the army brings their dogs, we move to where the fence ends and walk around it.”
A soldier, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “Not everyone coming across the river is a criminal. Most are starving. We find mothers who, when we arrest them, beg us not to send them home. They beg to be taken somewhere where they can eat.”
He said instead of closing the border, which has not stopped people crossing, the government should open it and test everyone who crosses for the virus.
The fence follows a servitude road patrolled by soldiers, police, private security firms and anti-poaching units.
It was erected over three weeks by Magwa Construction, which was carrying out maintenance work at the Beitbridge border post when the national lockdown was declared in late March.
Magwa’s Bertram Pringle said: “Our internal auditors are here. The external auditors are coming. SA will soon know that we did nothing wrong.
Kawia Rural Anti-Poaching owner Izak Nel, who conducts security for the contractors, said the fence breaches were really bad, especially on the eastern fence section.
“Last week my guys found 90 steel fence poles, which were taken from a 1km section of fence, in a donkey cart. They were about to be smuggled across the border.
“On Tuesday 22 holes were cut, with 14 on Wednesday. The breaches happen every day, all the time, especially during the day. That shows people’s desperation.”
Farmer Hannes Nel, whose property borders the fence, has been fighting for the fence to be repaired and upgraded. He said that though it addressed some security issues, it had been erected without any proper thought.
“The border closure cut people off from Musina, where they buy food supplies. People will do anything to feed their families, including cutting through the fence,” he said.
Mother of two Tracey Mabua, speaking moments after crossing the Limpopo River, said it cost her R3,000 to smuggle food into Zimbabwe.
“I don’t want to break the law but I have to. We are starving. The food our shops sell is too expensive. A 50kg bag of mealie meal costs R500. In Musina it is R150,” she said.
Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies said the current fencing system and lack of additional security systems reflect how far the country has rolled backwards since the 1980s, “when for all its mistakes and issues the country had an effective border management system, which has now fallen into disuse”.
“It is a complete waste of money to put up such a border fence unless it is under constant control and surveillance with patrols who are backed up by reaction forces,” said Cilliers.
Tait said that border security needs to be tightened up, but there needs to be careful management of and oversight over how the money is spent.
“Like the Strandfontein shelter for the homeless in Cape Town, the border fence construction raises questions,” he said.
“There are a number of things about how the government has responded to Covid-19 that need to be investigated.”
Eldred de Klerk, a comparative policing and social conflict specialist at the African Centre for Security and Intelligence Praxis, said: “We need to be spending the money very wisely, and in a targeted manner.”
He said a rudimentary border fence, which in extraordinary times could be seen as a stopgap measure, may not be a deterrent on its own.
Public works & infrastructure minister Patricia de Lille, whose department approved the construction, later asked the auditor-general to probe possible irregularities.
In e-mailed responses to questions from the Sunday Times this week, De Lille said critical areas relating to land borders, which need immediate securing, have been identified.
“The intervention was to ensure no persons cross into or out of the country … to contain the virus,” said De Lille.
“Magwa is appropriately qualified and was already working on a repair and maintenance project at Beitbridge. The overall sum, funded through the department’s infrastructure budget, covers materials; disposal of old damaged fence, accelerated construction, additional security.”
She said the fence, which was completed on April 20 as planned, was considered urgent because of the state of disaster that had been proclaimed.
By Josphat “Mzaca” Ngulube|Why was Josphat Mzaca Ngulube incarcerated? Now am free to talk about it because i was tried and found guilty for nothing! Josphat Mzaca Ngulube didn’t burn Zanu Pf cars or participated on what he was accused for!
On the day 14th of January 2019 he had gone for the burial of his grandfather Jimmy Ngulube at Athlone Cemetery and the burial order, funeral pictures and videos was produced as evidence in court. I want to tell fellow friends and Zimbabweans at large that your leader was arrested for nothing but only to be persecuted for being a political activists and a youthful leader who is destined for uniting and leading Zimbabwe at National level. I am a National leader not a regional leader as i have proved to you in my previous campaigns.I believe in unity and oneness for Zimbabweans. We should be brothers and sisters as citizens of this beloved nation but our leaders do not like it! They always want to label people so that they fuel tribalism and rule over a divided nation that will not see things the same way and fight for one purpose that will get rid of them. The 5months i spent in prison was an unfair one even though i am now a very strong and matured politician, l was initially at Khami remand prison transferred to Chikurubi Maximum and finally at Harare Central Prison where i was discharged from.
The whole thing was not fair from the time we were arrested last year January, The car that picked up the suspects was a CIO white mazda twin cab that had two black boots policeman with guns at the back of the truck, and two Zanupf supporters Geraldine Ndabambi and Tapiwa who were sitted on the back sits with tinted windows, they went around Sizinda pointing at Opposition members particularly Mdc that are very active on party activities and were turned suspects of the case of public violence and burning of two Zanupf cars. Out of 13 suspects two were said to be Zanupf G40 youths.It was Eva Bitu former Zanupf Bulawayo provincial chairlady who came out on National TV telling the nation that her two party vehicles were burnt by G40 youths and i have never been a Zanupf member and never been G40. She said this when she was sober minded and telling the truth just after the incident had happened and thats why Marshall Mpofu former Dj and Minehle Zanupf youths suspected to be G40 were among suspects.
We were just picked up without arresting officer no investigations and there was no investigating officer on our case. After days from 14 January the issue was hijacked but sinior party members who used it for getting rid of Josphat Mzaca Ngulube a threat in the 2023 parliamentary elections. I was called and surrendered myself to Tshabalala police station and was made a suspect on the 17th of January 2019. The case was used to eliminate political threats at Bulawayo south constituency,thats why Eva Bitu and all state witnesses denied their initial police statements in court and labeled police officers who recorded them as liers.
There is nothing that could have stopped Eva Bitu from lying and framing for Sizinda people, when she was staying with a state vehicle when she was just a Zanupf Boss not a government servant and she didn’t deny that in court. Oh what corruption is that? When government departments are struggling to function a party member with no drivers license had just parked cars to be used as pull vehicles.
Now i beg to differ with Chief Justice Malaba who came out gunblazing last year saying judiciary is not captured when someone can be convicted with no compelling reasons and given tongue waging sentence for public violence he did not commit,
Why was Bulawayo Magistrates courts were refusing with my record of proceedings for my bail application, it took them to be ordered by judicial service commission in Harare for them to release my record in just a week after my family and my lawyers tried to no avail wth local authorities at Bulawayo Tredgold magistrate court. Is it politics or corruption? What inefficiency and incompetence is that? Going to Harare was a blessing in disguise for me because i learnt a lot of things, this is where i penned a letter to the Secretary Judicial service commission Madam F. MASHURE who ordered release of my record of proceedings and it was released very fast l do not know where to say corrupt or incompetent servants. I edge all those with problems with courts to visit judicial services commission they are doing a great job and there is no one who is above the law. Again when my bail took 5weeks to be heard when it was filed on 13th of March 2020,procedural it was supposed to be heard in 48hours because my notice of appeal was filed within stipulated time of 10 days after i was sentenced last year November 21 2019,but it was heard after 840 hours.
We cant be marginalized on justice again as a region courts in Bulawayo should function the same way as Harare Mr Chief Justice Luke Malaba, if the judges are overloaded in Bulawayo at more they are a lot of judges in waiting recruit and serve Nation. Bail applications in Bulawayo are very stressing to be got especially by those who are in prison, because now there is now a way of applying even when you are in prison and its called self actor, in Harare the prisoners are respected of their rights to justice and the process is very fast, Judges should give deserving people bail its a right not a privilege.When i applied for review of my case last year after discharge at the close of state case i was not responded my high court Bulawayo until i was convicted and sentenced by the Magistrate Tinashe Tashaya i had queries and was violating my rights as someone who was on trial Chief Malaba you should probe the inefficiencies at Bulawayo courts,we are all Zimbabweans and we deserve same treatment whether in Bulawayo or Harare.
It is my observation that Zanupf is strategically deploying some judicial workers in Matebeleland to persecute any uprising leader in the region. I challenge the leadership of President Mnangagwa to be very careful with unity and Gukurahundi issue that they are trying to address once and for all. Leaders from Matebeleland have been abused arrested, jailed and killed badly in the past from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, Lookout Masuku, Dabengwa, Siwela, Mzila, Cain Nkala, Gunda, Ntuta, Chief Ndiweni, Zenzele Ndebele, Moyo,Gazi Mbuso Fuzwayo to mention a few, Josphat Mzaca Ngulube is now a victim of the same thing. How do expect to deal with Matebeleland issues if you still fight them like Mugabe time? People are not happy with what you are doing!
The issue of Gukurahundi should be addressed by the current leadership at Zanupf because Mugabe is gone and if you fail to address it it will haunt the next generation to come, Mr President and your comrades you are not genuine with this Gukurahundi issue but very soon most of you God will rest you and you would have left a time bomb to your children and grandchildren. The only wrong history about Zimbabwe is the one tgat that you teach our kids at schools but the Gukurahundi history we were taught by our parents lives and its still painful. We are the leaders who should listen and be engaged properly and seek a way of addressing Gukurahundi issue amicably.Above all you need to apologize to Matebeleland people and compansate people not this barbaric and unrespectful way tthat is rushed by abazukulu bethu oJenny engawabiza amadlozi akwethu? Angabupheka utshwala?We don’t want short cuts to Gukurahundi issue.
When i went to defense of my case its when the court was degenerated in a Zanupf head office and my case was more of a Zanupf hearing and the professional exchanged his books to party loyalty, The Bulawayo based minister paid for my incarceration and paid all the for civil servants to sit on my papers. My sentence was cooked to make me to be released after elections of 2023,
My case was cooked and was political persecuted for being an activist and staying in Sizinda.the police and even the state intelligence knew it that i was never there and never committed the crime i was given.Thanks to high court for giving me a bail and am ready for actual appeal.
For the deep injury caused by Eva Bitu and other Zanupf supporters to heal i have forgiven them, Bitu you are my mother in Sizinda be truthful and love all your kids in Sizinda the same way.I accepted the apology you made to families after you went sober about the case.May God bless Bulawayo South and we stay in peace and learn to tolerate each other on political grounds!
Senegalese authorities have confirmed reports that they are expecting anti-Covid-19 traditional medicine from Madagascar where the locally prepared potion is being promoted as a remedy to the Coronavirus.
Government spokesperson Abdou Latif Coulibaly told public broadcaster RTS that Senegal was ready to test the “miracle” drug, officially known as Covid-Organics.
The Covid-Organics is a herbal concoction prepared by researchers from the Madagascan Institute for Applied Research (IMRA), which has cured 60 patients, according to officials in the Island country.
“Covid-Organics will be used in prophylaxis, that is to say in preventive, but clinical observations have shown a tendency to its curative effectiveness,” said Dr. Charles Andrianjara, director general of IMRA.
Madagascan president Andry Rajoelina drank the liquid in front of cameras during a public presentation in the country’s capital Antananarivo a few days ago.
Senegal president Macky Sall and his DR Congo counterpart Felix Tshisekedi have shown support for the project.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO), which did not attend the launch of the drug, noted that there is currently “no evidence” that the potion can “prevent or cure the disease”.
Marvelous Nakamba and his Aston Villa team-mates have accepted a 25% pay cut for four months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Premier League club’s CEO Christian Purslow confirmed the news in a statement on Saturday evening.
The first-team coaches and senior management will also get wage deferrals.
“First-team players, first-team coaches and senior management have all agreed to defer 25 per cent of their salaries for four months to assist the club during this period of uncertainty,” Purslow said.
He added that a further review would take place at the end of the initial four-month period.
Nakamba is believed to be taking home at least US$68,000 per week in wages.
Meanwhile, Villa becomes the latest EPL club to announce a pay cut for players and coaching staff after Southampton, West Ham United, Watford and Sheffield United.- Soccer 24
South African football legend Jomo Sono says he is against the idea of not finishing the season and give the title to Kaizer Chiefs by virtue of being top of the log.
The Absa Premiership season was suspended in mid-March due to the coronavirus and its return has been delayed due to the escalating situation in the country.
Speaking on SAFM, as cited by Goal, Sono believes Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane would rightfully complain should the PSL decide to crown Amakhosi the 2019/20 champions.
Sundowns are lying in second place on the log with 44 points, just four behind Chiefs plus a game in hand.
“We don’t want people to turn around say, ‘Khoza had to give the league to Kaizer [Motaung] because they are friends’,” he said.
“And where does it leave Pitso? Pitso won’t keep quiet, day and night, and he’d be right because he wants to finish the league.
“He believes he can win the league and he’s got a chance of winning the league.”- Soccer 24
Farai Dziva|MDC MP for Mutasa South, Regai Tsunga has related how he was harassed and humiliated by police details last week.
Tsunga was arrested for “unnecessary movement” as he distributed mealie meal to the needy in the constituency.
Tsunga, quoted by NewsDay, said : “My councillor in ward 11 Farai Bhiza was taking names of residents who wanted to be assisted with subsidised roller meal that government had not still delivered after the 21-day lockdown phase.
I arrived at the scene at the conclusion of this exercise and within minutes, police officers arrived. I got out of my truck to greet the police officers who had positioned themselves around a section of the parking lot at Mac’s Business Centre in ward 11.
I was promptly ordered to jump onto the nearby police truck to Mutare Central Police Station because I was under arrest along with councillor Bhiza and other residents.”
He added: I was charged with unnecessary movement. My lawyer Innocent Gonese argued for me, but the police were adamant. Under protest, I paid $500 for my release. In my view, it was unreasonable to arrest me for doing work in my constituency. An area MP cannot be said to be moving unnecessarily in area that he represents in Parliament.
I had not strayed out of the constituency; I was implementing a local food security and nutrition programme to ameliorate the suffering of our people arising from COVID-19 and the attendant lockdown As we speak, government has still not made door-to-door mealie-meal sales as promised and people face starvation.”
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus.
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person.
Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.
This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.
Can COVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms.
This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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It is a day set aside highlighting global efforts to control malaria and celebrating the gains that have been made so far.
Malaria remains a big problem in other parts of the world and in Zimbabwe it’s a public health problem. It is common in areas that are hot and moist. The theme for 2020 is “Zero malaria starts with me”.
What is malaria? It is a disease caused by infection with a parasite female anopheles mosquito. The mosquito is the vector that transmits the infection. Found mainly where there are open water bodies.
In Zimbabwe malaria peaks from November to April. The most effective control and prevention strategy is through prevention of mosquito bites.
Symptoms include fever, chills, rigors, headache, nausea,anorexia, joint pains, malaise and sweating.
There is also a history of staying in an area known to be endemic of malaria or traveling to that area. However one might not present with all the symptoms. In this era of COVID-19 pandemic excluding it is also important in those diagnosed with malaria.
Treatment – Malaria is a treatable disease. There are oral medications and intravenous medicines that can be used to cure the disease.
The disease progress quickly therefore early treatment saves life than late treatment.
There is no vaccine for malaria. Malaria can affect anyone of any age and despite previous infection you can still get malaria.
Prevention – Sleeping under a treated mosquito net and using mosquito repellents.
Wearing long sleeved shirts at night to avoid mosquito bites. Spraying open water bodies and covering them.
Taking malaria prophylaxis when traveling to a malaria endemic area.
Malaria is still a disease that kills thousands to millions of people every year.
Therefore let’s prevent malaria in our communities.
Compiled by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Farai Dziva|Zanu PF has begun to belittle MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa, calling him “Secretary for Policy and Research” in a desperate attempt to discredit the youthful politician.
Surprisingly, Zanu PF accused Chamisa of “instructing MPs and councillors to distribute food aid to card- carrying MDC members.”
Political analysts say Zanu PF’ s line of argument reflects desperate measures to dilute the MDC leader’s growing influence.The argument is fraught with contradictions, according to political observers.
Zanu PF tweeted :MDC Alliance Secretary for Policy and Research @nelsonchamisa is said to have ordered MDC MPs and notorious councillors to overlook deserving beneficiaries of global aid, demanding MDC-cards for one to have their name enlisted as a beneficiary of donated basics.
This Must Stop! This trend has been observed in Highfields East and West, Harare East and Mabvuku.
This is in direct violation of President’s Directive to stop patronizing relief aid.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF MPs have been reminded to work with people in their constituencies regardless of political color.”
Commenting on the ruling party’s assertion, Masvingo based political analyst Jeffryson Chitando said:” Zanu PF is desperate to denigrate Chamisa.Zanu PF officials are losing sleep over Chamisa’ s growing influence.The argument is a smorgasbord of contradictions and half-truths. Can a secretary instruct MPs and councillors to do something?This is a weak line of argument.”
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE: 25 APRIL 2020 As of 25 April 2020, a cumulative total of 2 719 897 confirmed cases and 187 705 deaths were reported from more than 210 countries/territories globally (Source WHO Sitrep No.96).
The Ministry of Health would like to report that today, a total of 380 tests were done as detailed in table 1 below. giving a total of 6 067 screening and diagnostic tests done to date.
Therefore, to date, Zimbabwe now has thirty-one confirmed cases, including two recoveries and four deaths.
Table 1. Distribution of tests done today Mat. North – 3 Manicaland – 5 Mat. South – 54 Midlands – 6 Harare – 161 Bulawayo – 151 TOTALS – 380 Of the PCR tests done in Harare today, three were positive for COVID-19 and all the PCR tests done in Bulawayo today were negative for COVID-19.
Table 2. Number of confirmed cases to date Matabeleland North – 1 Bulawayo – 10 Harare – 13 Mashonaland East – 4 Mashonaland West – 3 Total: 31 Two of the three cases confirmed today were due to local transmission. All the three cases are stable, and not in the hospital. More details on these cases to follow.
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.
By Jane Mlambo| Deputy information minister Energy Mutodi is at it again this time accusing Kuwadzana legislator and opposition MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende of dressing his supporters in Zanu PF regalia before handing them foodstuffs in front of cameras.
Mutodi who is no stranger to controversy said he condemned Hwende for engaging in primitive political posturing and grandstanding.
Hwende has appeared in pictures distributing food to Zanu PF supporters in his constituency, a move widely hailed by people as political tolerance the ruling Zanu PF has failed to implement amid rampant reports of politicization of food aid in the rural areas.
By A Correspondent| The government is reportedly planning to release funds due to the MDC under The Political Parties’ Act to the team that is temporarily in charge of the MDC.
A local publication has reportedly confirmed the development.
The Daily News On Sunday confirmed that authorities will release $7,5 million due to the MDC under the Political Parties (Finance) Act to the group that is temporarily in charge of the party following the recent court rulings in a move which strengthens them significantly in the unfolding battle for the leadership of the party.
This comes after the High Court delivered an academic judgement that declared Nelson Chamisa an illegitimate MDC leader and reinstated the party’s 2014 structures.-DailyNews
By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance has defended its Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu for taking part in a ceremony where a charity organisation linked to first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa handed over donations to vulnerable people.
Matewu (38) has come under fire from fellow opposition activists for travelling to Mahusekwa at the invitation of Mnangagwa’s charitable organisation, Angel of Hope, on Friday.
All the three legislators from Marondera took elderly people from their constituencies to Mahusekwa growth point for the donation, while Mnangagwa was executing the same programme in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe.
MDC-A Mashonaland East provincial spokesperson and Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa said there was nothing amiss about Matewu’s presence at the event as the coronavirus outbreak meant that Zimbabweans must put politics aside to assist the vulnerable.
“Giving food to the vulnerable is a noble idea and as the MDC-A, we are very clear, we do not segregate on political lines and our MP is doing great work here in Marondera Central,” Marowa said.
“This is the time to be united more than ever before.
“This coronavirus thing is real. Most Zimbabweans are informal traders surviving from hand-to-mouth and as patriotic Zimbabweans, let’s do our best to assist the vulnerable in our midst. aturity.”
Matewu said donations to aid vulnerable people during the lockdown must not be politicised.
“Reports that I was with Mai Mnangagwa are false and misleading,” he said on Twitter.
“I received donations for Marondera from Angel of Hope.
“We urge all those willing to donate to our people to do so in this time of need.
“We won’t look which party you came from.”
Angel of Hope donated an assortment of groceries in Mashonaland East province a fortnight ago-Standard
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has provisionally pushed back this year’s June examinations by a month.
The decision was reached by senior Zimsec officials last week at a meeting to consider the impact of the current coronavirus lockdown on the exams.
However, the exams management body has since completed printing the examination papers.
Zimsec board chair, Professor Eddie Mwenje, said the provisional dates were subject to change depending on the position taken by Government at the end of the extended lockdown period next week.
“We met on Friday and managed to check the level of preparedness by Zimsec and they have completed printing of the papers for the June examinations. We can say that they are ready to stage the examinations. What we have advised them to do is to push the starting date by two to four weeks,” he said.
He added that the body took into consideration that candidates for the June exams would ordinarily have been studying for a long time.
“So, we advised Zimsec to consider pushing the exams by a minimum two weeks and maximum of four weeks so that it does not clash with other lessons for the November examinations.
“Instead of the exams beginning late May, they may be pushed to begin mid-June.
“Although there is no extension for the June examinations registration, we are considering pushing the dates.
“We also spoke of social distancing during these examinations.
“However, all this is also subject to Government pronouncement on May 3 when the current lockdown ends.”
There had been debate on how the June examinations would be handled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Progressive Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said it was possible for the exams to be written in June.
“Schools were closed in March, so candidates had enough time to prepare,” he said.
“I see no harm in starting the exams two weeks after the original date.”-StateMedia
According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, an army truck was involved in a fatal accident in Kariba while on it’s way to Harare.
“An Army truck involved in managing the #lockdownzim was involved in a fatal crush about 49km from Kariba on its way to Harare. One soldier lost his life while 24 others were injured. The injured were rushed to Kariba District Hospital. Condolences to the family of the deceased,” said Mangwana.
By A Correspondent- Officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe are currently assessing the cost of basic goods in retail shops following a price freeze announced by the government.
A recent government directive did not only order a price freeze but also directed manufacturers and retailers to revert to price levels that existed as at March 25, just before the coronavirus national lockdown.
Industry and Commerce Minister Sekai Nzenza said her ministry will reveal what will be done to retailers that have ignored the price moratorium as soon as the teams have completed their assessments. She said:
We agreed in good faith with the businesses that during the lockdown prices should come down to March 25 levels.
We reached this understanding in order to protect the consumer while also taking in the views of the retailers and manufacturers.
We have a task force from our ministry as well as another team from the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe and these are on the ground to monitor what is happening in the shops.
When they are done with the monitoring, we will then make an assessment of their reports before announcing the next steps.
Last Wednesday Vice President Kembo Mohadi announced that prices of basic foodstuffs – including maize-meal, rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, flour and bread — will revert to the levels of March 25.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The Covid-19 isolation ward at Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital in Bulawayo has been temporarily closed to allow for further renovations.
The facility, which closed on April 22, is expected to reopen after two weeks.
This was confirmed by Bulawayo City Council health services director Edwin Sibanda.
“As of April 22, the isolation ward at Thorngrove was closed for renovations to make sure that when it reopens in 14 days’ time, it will be ready to admit patients and treat those that are mild to moderate effectively unlike what we had previously,” Sibanda said.
“The rest of the hospital is also going to receive a facelift thanks to donors as well as the central government, which has provided some funding for that.”
Sibanda revealed that the government gave the local authority $10 million for the rehabilitation of the isolation centre while some companies donated materials and labour.
A month ago the local authority raised an alarm that the hospital was ill-equipped to handle Covid-19 cases and appealed to the government and well-wishers for assistance with equipment to respond effectively to possible coronavirus cases.
Since then various companies and organisations, as well as individuals, have made a beeline to donate various items such as bed linen, personal protective equipment and other consumables to the hospital.
Last week the hospital admitted its first Covid-19 patient, who was accused of violating self-isolation regulations.
However, the patient was later discharged and returned home for continued self-isolation.
Asked what would happen if a patient needed to be admitted to the isolation ward while the renovations were going on, Sibanda said there was still room to accommodate a patient if the need arises.
“It is not the whole hospital that is being renovated, there is still some space that can be created for those patients,” he said.
“Our prayer and hope is that the renovations are done quickly and the hospital reopens to take care of the patients that may come soon after the renovations are over.”-StateMedia
Stringent conditionalities placed on the recently announced government Youth Relief Fund meant to help youths whose businesses were affected by Covid19 lockdown makes it difficult for many youths to access the grant.
There is a whole lot of requirements like bank statements and Zimbabwe Youth Council affiliation fee that makes it difficult for ordinary youths to meet.
More so, the online application process marginalizes those who are in the periphery of the periphery where issues of internet connectivity is a major blow.
The MDC Youth Assembly also bemoans the information gaps as far as the Relief Grant is concerned especially to the ordinary rural youths.
As such, we call upon the government and relevant Ministry to unconditionally remove stringent conditionalities like bank statements if real youths are to benefit from the grant.
It is public knowledge that the majority of ordinary youths survive from hand to mouth and they operate informal businesses hence they do not have bank statements.
That the majority of ordinary youths operate informal businesses automatically marginalizes them from the grant as many of their businesses are not formally registered.
It is also our hope that political colour is not going to be the prime determinant as to who benefits from the Relief Grant.
As an Assembly, we also call upon for the removal of a discriminatory clause which states that only businesses that were in existence 6 months prior to the lockdown announcement should be sole beneficiaries to the grant.
It is also our major underlining that the stringent, cumbersome and discriminatory conditionalities and secrecy surrounding the whole grant makes it appear more of a political grandstanding by the ruling party to pacify the increasingly restive youths.
As such, the grant remains a pie in the sky and dead aid for the majority of youths in informal businesses!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
By A Correspondent- The first person to be quarantined at Beitbridge’s coronavirus isolation centre says he tested negative to the disease and now hopes to be released to go home.
Justin Mutandwa said:
“My results are negative and I hope I will be allowed to leave.”
He is an international haulage trucker and was held because he left behind his truck whose cargo was classified as non-essential.
Mutandwa was ferrying plant equipment to the Democratic Republic of Congo.-Standard
By A Correspondent- There have been claims that the South Africa-Zimbabwe border will reopen on May 3, 2020 to May 10, 2020 to accommodate Zimbabweans who are stranded in South Africa.
The message running viral on several WhatsApp groups in Zimbabwe supposedly from a news site called The South African news is fake. The site is nonexistent.
When Zimbabwe went into a coronavirus lockdown on March 30, 2020, the government said the borders would remain open to all returning residents, but the returning residents would be subjected to a mandatory quarantine to screen for coronavirus.
The South African Home Affairs department through its website also announced that: “During the lockdown, except for cases relating to expatriation initiated by another state, all foreign nationals who are currently in South Africa may not depart.”
Zimbabwe, as other States, has continued to accept citizens returning from abroad. however, no special arrangement to open the Beitbridge border post for a specific period has been announced.
The South African lockdown, which began on March 27 and was initially expected to end on April 16, was extended for another two weeks and will end on April 30, 2020, and not in August as claimed by the message.
Zimbabwe home Affairs and Cultural heritage deputy minister Mike Madiro said: “All plans to repatriate citizens will be announced through the formal channels and not through WhatsApp.”
Conclusion A social media post claiming that the Beitbridge border post will reopen for a specific period is false-ZimFact
#TeamLenon has made it to $10,000!!! We are SO grateful for your generous support. I now owe you a before & after interview. Hoping the interviewer is kind & that @lgwaunza brings his A-game. A pandemic, generous hearts & a man shooting his shot. Who knows what could happen?❤?? https://t.co/tttsfWjHW9pic.twitter.com/zJW3cnwHje
By A Correspondent- A retired top official in the Zimbabwe National Army caused a stir at the Beitbridge border post, as he resisted mandatory quarantine on his return from South Africa.
The ex-soldier, now among the 18 people held at the giant National Social Security Authority (NSSA) building that formerly housed Rainbow Hotel Beitbridge, was enraged when he was told that he would be quarantined for 14 days until certified Covid-19 free.
Beitbridge district medical officer Linus Samhere however said he had not handled that particular case, but confirmed several people had tried to evade quarantine through negotiations or otherwise.
Some, he said, even employed excuses as to have South African officials making calls that they were “authorised” to avoid quarantine.
Sources at the health port said the former soldier, who is now quarantined like everyone else, arrived from a business trip in South Africa, but did not take it kindly when health officials told him he would be quarantined.
By Nomazulu Thata- The cynical weapon that Zimbabweans know best is betrayal of one another in various aspects of our lives.
NOMAZULU-THATA
The cynical weapon of an African is best described as betrayal of self and the other to get piecemeals not worth by any measure of decency. Betrayal runs deep in our African societies and has its origin that predates colonialism.
We wake up today with a story that has been taking rounds in the social media of a woman returnee from UK who was part of a demonstration that hackled the current Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo.
Someone in the UK must have known that this woman was travelling home to Zimbabwe and waited for an opportune time to betray her to Zanu PF notorious secret service with clear intentions to harm her.
Whoever did that did not consider much about the consequences of her fate at the hands of a brutal regime called Zanu PF government.
Today’s story on Bulawayo 24 social media read: “Confirmed – Mugabe coup announcer’s attacker among UK returnees.”
I felt a deep sense of sadness when I read the article, but at the same time I realized that what has happened in Harare is typical the mentality of Africans generally, Zimbabwe included.
For centuries, the history of Africans are narratives imbedded with betrayal of one another. It is so sad that we have not come off this hateful, detestable and invidious habit.
To betray anybody to Zanu PF government disregarding what would happen to the fate of this woman is satanic but last. She/He knows exactly, intentions to betray her determined by hate.
It is betrayal done consciously with intentions to revenge, crush fatally once and for all with Mnangagwa’s CIO, whatever vendetta the betrayer has about her.
Who betrayed an African to the European slave traders and the slave trade was a booming and lucrative industry that saw millions of Africans sold to America to work as slaves: What did those Africans who betrayed their own get from the trade?
They got, with all disgust it deserves, a “piece of cloth and Whiskey!” West African monarchs sold the other Africans as merchandize devoid of Ubuntu to get a piece of cloth! It was the Africans wholly in cahoots with Europeans slave traders who waged wars with other Africans, captured those who lost the battle by transporting them to Goree, a Slave-market place, were the trading took place.
In 1979, my mother, Mrs Louisa Sihwa was then Chief Representative of Zapu in Senegal. She visited an island called Goree, a place that was built by an Afro-French in 1784, used as a house of slaves, a transit to no point of return. It took me decades to understand those letters my mother wrote describing what she saw in that island of Goree.
Those pictures of the island never escaped her: the horror of the gate so vivid as if it were yesterday. She wrote me letters extensively about Goree and the lessons we learn from such history of betrayal of your own to get in return for “perishables” a cheap barter exchange of trade: the cloth and whiskey drinks.
The next question we have to ask ourselves is: knowing how notorious Zanu PF regime is and how they will respond to this case with the woman who demonstrated against Minister Sibusiso Moyo: I feel sick right down the pit of my stomach just by imagining what will happen to her.
The nauseating feeling comes again when I think about the betrayer, what is he/she going to get if this woman was murdered by Zanu PF by torture. All those are possibilities that are real for us who know Zanu PF right from the time of the liberation struggle to today.
A piece of cloth and whiskey determined the lives of millions of Africans who are now called Africa-Americans today. We Africans are lucky in that the African Americans can speak to us despite the betrayals of centuries. It would appear the African has not learnt anything; this betrayal continues to this day because we have not revised this devilish aspect of Africa and Africans: we need to revisit the devilish in us.
We are quick to talk about racism, especially black-white racism. We have books about racism that can fill libraries and bookshops. Truly little is spoken about how Africans betrayed Africans to the very white people they condemn racist.
It escapes us completely that sad and dark chapters of our African history has not been adequately addressed by almost all communities, governments and academics in Sub-Sahara continent, we wonder still when we experience xenophobia in South Africa:
This brute force against Africans exclusively has not stopped. Its pain and violence punctuating the African lifestyle.
My topic is not far from talking about “betrayal” in the liberation struggle for independence. How many people were murdered because of “Betrayal” that saw commanders, freedom fighters right down to ordinary citizens killed by burning in open fires, so many of them were shot dead without thorough investigation.
Some were made to dig their own graves and were buried alive: remember Dr. Edgar Madekurozva. The most excruciating stories are told about the nastiness of the struggle for independence of Zimbabwe.
A traitor must be killed was the mantra in liberation movements but there was no clear demarcation line that determined the traitor and the innocent. In most cases personal scores were given a new definition: betrayal.
It was easy to label one as a traitor to the higher authorities in the liberation struggle not for any reason but was the way to square up personal differences.
There were some ludicrous punishments that were given to freedom fighters from both Zanu and Zapu. If there was a renegade in the army, he will be dispatched to the war front to fight the enemy Smith’s army: (there will always be some people in any given organisation who found loyalty of any kind a difficult thing to do)
Of course there were other reasons that were deemed as traitorous and inconstant, must be punishment. In some strange cases they will be told to go to the war front without arms. How can sending a freedom fighter to the front to fight a noble war be made punishment measures again?
The struggle for independence was a noble war, supposed to be a noble war and a battlefield was not to be punishment by any stretch our anyone’s imagination. This punishment on freedom fighters betrayed the values and principles of the liberation struggle altogether.
In most cases logic was not questioned at all because it would mean you are not down the line, unfaithful to the commanders.
There are some questions about the struggle for independence that still linger in our minds till today. How did the Smith regime get INTELLIGENCE information about the whereabouts of the camps for freedom fighters in Zambia and Mozambique?
It is widely whispered that some commanders betrayed the struggle by collaborating with Smith regime for monetary reasons noticeable by their lavish lifestyles in the middle of the struggle.
They gave military information to Smith’s Ken Flower he needed to bomb those camps with precision. A good example is Freedom Camp situated 35 kilometres away from Lusaka. When the camp was bombed by Rhodesian forces, those that survived the bombing were sent to Solwezi, away from the front line. (Solwezi is near Congo border with Zambia) Smith’s intelligence got it from the traitors inside Zapu.
The Smith’s military got the exact location of the camp and bombed the Solwezi camps once more. Curiously, the sell-outs were not punished. They are known by those that were in Zambia during the struggle till today.
This brings me to the argument about the demarcation line between a sell-out and an innocent freedom fighter who will be sent to the front to fight a liberation was as punishment, just flimsy accusations.
Betrayal, pain and violence play a big role in Zimbabwe politics today. Pain and violence are the stick that the government has used since independence, curiously there is no carrot.
Other organisations in the region have, replicated, copied the style of violence to reduce its citizens they purport to protect from Zanu PF regime. The Mthwakazi MLO, one of whose leadership is Israel Dube does not hesitate to warn all those traitors not loyal enough: they do not want to subject themselves to Mthwakazi political party ideology of cessation.
Israel Dube’s party MLO have literally replicated the killing art of Zanu PF in their struggle for independence of Mthwakazi Republic; they warn gloatingly, without shame how traitors will be executed by burning: Winnie Mandela necklace.
It can be said with equal truth that Israel Dube admires Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s brutality when dealing with perfidious citizens. This is what is meant when they say: pain and violence is easily replicable and contagious. Brute force brings the citizens to submission – coercion.
This is the rhythm and grammar we have known before independence and after independence, a sad legacy for the coming generation to leave behind when we pass on.
Betrayal runs in families too. We need not discuss this now because we know what betrayal in family setups is like. One thing stands out of our history as a nation and nations of this great continent: This country’s habitual lies in the fact that there is a lot of pain and blood that was spilt that liberated this country and most of other countries in the African continent.
This pain and violence are lingering in our psyche, we have internalized pain and violence in every respect or our daily lives. The liberation of this country was because of the use of brute force yes but even after independence we remained in the “struggle mindset” and hence pain and violence has defined us in various forms of our interaction with one another in our societies.
Violence and pain are so evident in our society, worse still we experience structural violence on daily basis, and we see this as normal. We ceased to recognize and realize the pain of pain; we have normalized violence and pain with time because pain has manifested in other forms of societal violence subconsciously and consciously?
Whoever betrayed this woman who demonstrated against Minister Sibusiso Moyo in London, I can say he/she is a poor soul. She/he is putting the life of this woman on the line. How is she/he going to feel if the brutal regime of Zanu PF murdered her? How is she/he going to spend the rest of her/his with blood on her/his hands.
There is a place in hell for such people who betray other people in exchange for a “cloth and whiskey” as payment. To appeal to his/her conscience is a waste of time because such people do not have it. When you hear Africans speaking about UBUNTU as if they have it!!
By A Correspondent- The MDC Alliance has defended its Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu for taking part in a ceremony where a charity organisation linked to first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa handed over donations to vulnerable people.
Matewu (38) has come under fire from fellow opposition activists for travelling to Mahusekwa at the invitation of Mnangagwa’s charitable organisation, Angel of Hope, on Friday.
All the three legislators from Marondera took elderly people from their constituencies to Mahusekwa growth point for the donation, while Mnangagwa was executing the same programme in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe.
MDC-A Mashonaland East provincial spokesperson and Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa said there was nothing amiss about Matewu’s presence at the event as the coronavirus outbreak meant that Zimbabweans must put politics aside to assist the vulnerable.
“Giving food to the vulnerable is a noble idea and as the MDC-A, we are very clear, we do not segregate on political lines and our MP is doing great work here in Marondera Central,” Marowa said.
“This is the time to be united more than ever before.
“This coronavirus thing is real. Most Zimbabweans are informal traders surviving from hand-to-mouth and as patriotic Zimbabweans, let’s do our best to assist the vulnerable in our midst. aturity.”
Matewu said donations to aid vulnerable people during the lockdown must not be politicised.
“Reports that I was with Mai Mnangagwa are false and misleading,” he said on Twitter.
“I received donations for Marondera from Angel of Hope.
“We urge all those willing to donate to our people to do so in this time of need.
“We won’t look which party you came from.”
Angel of Hope donated an assortment of groceries in Mashonaland East province a fortnight ago-Standard
By A Correspondent- Under the current regulations, public gatherings are prohibited, except for funerals, where attendance is limited to 50. However, the clandestine gatherings that are being convened by some teachers threaten to reverse some of the gains made in fighting the virus.
Many learners are being put in harm’s way as some serving and retired teachers are secretly conducting private lessons during the lockdown period, raising the likelihood that they could be increasingly exposed to the deadly coronavirus, The Sunday Mail Society can reveal.
The government closed all schools and colleges on March 24 2020, a week earlier than scheduled and four days after reporting its first confirmed coronavirus case. However, the growing uncertainty gripping the nation on when schools will reopen has led some individuals to capitalise by offering lessons at their residences.
Our investigations last week confirmed that unregistered schools had indeed resurfaced in most parts of the country. Most parents prefer tutoring to online-based studies, which are being offered by registered institutions, because of the high cost of data.
Backyard schools are operating mainly in high-density suburbs. Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced Level students who are set to sit for their national examinations this year make up the bulk of the clients.
In most cases, the lessons are conducted behind precast walls during the day, while others prefer the cover of darkness. However, it is feared that inasmuch as these makeshift profit-making “schools” are helping learners keep up with their studies, this might come at a very high cost to public health.
Recent Government data indicate that there could be over 219 unregistered schools in Harare alone compared to 205 registered institutions.
The makeshift schools are common in areas such as Kuwadzana, Mabvuku, Dzivaresekwa, Hopley, Tynwald, Glen View and Warren Park. Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe’s claims there could be more than 1 200 makeshift schools operating across the country.
Meeting the culprits
Disguised as guardian to a prospective learner, The Sunday Mail Society managed to interact with some of the defiant teachers. In Kuwadzana, an educator confirmed he was aware of the lockdown regulations but still decided to disregard them.
“Education has to carry on. We maintain social distancing and we have since contributed money to buy hand sanitizer that we apply before commencing studies,” Mr Arnold Chirikure proudly asserted. He is presently tutoring more than 20 students at his home.
Half of the learners attend classes during the day, while the remainder comes for evening classes. “I charge as little as US$7 per month for each child. I have since employed two qualified teachers,” he added, as he spiritedly tried to convince this writer to bring his child on board.
Separately, Mr Tafadzwa Mberi (not his real name) and his colleagues conduct lessons in Dzivaresekwa Extension. They charge US$6 per learner per month.
Mr Mberi has a class of 30 primary school learners and he claims to be conducting lessons in batches of not more than three “in line with social distancing”. But after we smuggled ourselves into the premises, we managed to do a headcount of about 15 learners.
“I have been offering extra lessons before and during the lockdown. That has been my only source of income. I retired from active teaching as a civil servant some 10 years ago,” said Mr Mberi, who is presently being assisted by his wife — a lecturer at a local university. He claims to attract as many as 50 learners, translating to about US$300 per month income.
Parents’ thumbs-up
But these illegal activities are unfortunately being aided and abetted by parents and guardians. “I do not know when this Covid-19 crisis will end. I cannot sit and watch my son miss out on his studies. Initially I was sceptical but all my friends are sending their children for these lessons,” said Kuwadzana-based Mai Tinashe.
“My daughter is supposed to be writing her Ordinary Level examinations this year. Some of her colleagues are studying online but I cannot afford that. The extra lessons are risky but an easy option for us. There is not much we can do under the circumstances,” said Mr Richard Madondo, a Warren Park resident.
Condemnation
Government, however, thinks otherwise. Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mr Patrick Zumbo said the public should report such illegal activities for appropriate action to be taken.
“It is against the law to conduct extra lessons either at home or schools. This applies to periods before, during and after the lockdown. Report such people and they will be brought to book,” urged Mr Zumbo.
Opportunists seem to be taking advantage of the nationwide shortage of schools. According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education 2016 annual statistical report, the country has a shortage of over 2 000 schools. But some of the teachers that are employed in these makeshift schools are not qualified, which could adversely impact on learners.
Online schools
Under-the-tree classes are the most affordable to most families due to the prevailing economic challenges. Online schools are an alternative, albeit an expensive one. Professor Donald Rukwata, a part-time university lecturer, says Covid-19 has brought a different dimension to local education.
“This is a global problem. But the sudden shift from conventional classes gives rise to temporary learning mechanisms and online learning processes. Traditional schools have to up their online learning options so that they counter the makeshift school challenge,” said Prof Rukwata.
He adds that online studies require tutors to think about courses in a new way that accommodates new learning tools and techniques. But online learning is considered to be unfriendly to disadvantaged groups, especially those with limited access to the internet.
New School Term
Government is reportedly working on a new school calendar for 2020. Speaking during a recent media training workshop involving the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Higher Life Foundation, Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana said schools would have to cover for lost time.
The Government was deliberating on the way forward, said Mr Mangwana. Overall, the Government is working on a plan to construct at least 10 schools per province this year to cater for the growing number of learners.
About $400 million has already been allocated for the project. Last year, a total of 18 schools in eight provinces were built, while private organisations and individuals constructed 150. Building more schools is expected to lower the educator-to-learner ratio from 1:60 to the standard 1:35.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The report contradicts the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s daily updates which have consistently put at 2 the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 in the entire country.
The Provincial Medical Director for Mashonaland East has reported that all four COVID-19 patients have recovered from the disease.
The COVID-19 situation report by Mashonaland East dated 23 April 2020 reads in part:
A total of 71 suspected cases have been reported in the province. These cases have either tested within the province (58) or were referred to either Wilkins or Beatrice Infectious Disease Hospital (13).
The total number of received results was 65 of which 4 were positive and 61 negatives whilst 6 are still pending.
The province has tested 377 people using RDT test and 3 tested positives. The three who tested positive are health workers at Mount St Mary’s Hospital(2) and Ruwa Rehab (1) and specimens for PCR were collected and sent to NMR. At the moment these three health workers are in self-isolation pending the results from NMRL.
Four cases of Covid-19 have recovered from the disease after having two samples collected and tested negative. Surveillance: Screening at all ports of entry Nyamapanda boarder Post and Robert Gabriel International airport is being done routinely.
The province had a total of 217 cases put under surveillance to date, 175 of those have finished the 21 days without developing any signs and symptoms, 35 have returned to the countries where they came from, 3 cases are lost to follow up (1 never came to the given address, 1 went to look for employment in Ruzawi no address or phone and 1 false address and phone not reachable) which leaves the province with 4 currently under surveillance.
Last Week, RBZ Governor suspended two bureau de change agents and has also put a further two on spotlight. Do you think this will work in controlling exchange rates
By A Correspondent- Prominent apostolic church prophet Biggie Musanzika populary known as Madzibaba Jonah of Johane Masowe sect has gone digital in respect of the country’s total lockdown.
The Centenary based prophet is now conducting his prayer sessions on social media and has since urged his congregants to follow health tips being issued by the government.
“We have gone digital and all our prayer sessions are now being conducted on social media in respect of the country’s lockdown,” said Madzibaba.
Madzibaba touched the storm last year after he gave a prophecy of the covid-19 on December 31 and a video of him went viral.
He told Bulawayo24.com that he is preparing to donate food humpers to the elderly and the needy in Mashonaland Central province.
Meanwhile, a lot of churches have gone digital to avoid mixing in a bid to fight the deadly Covid-19 pandemic
By A Correspondent- Two men were sentenced to six months in prison by Bindura provincial magistrate Tinashe Ndokera for possessing dangerous weapons yesterday.
The state led by Thembinkosi Mananga said on April 22 the duo Chipadze Kudzai (18) and Mashayahembe Anyway (21) were stopped at a roadblock while travelling in an unregistered Nissan Carravan by a uniformed forcer.
They complied and a search was conducted in their vehicle where an axe, Columbia knife and chisels were found under the driver’s seat leading to their arrest.-Online
Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa real name Shingirai Chirume founder of United Family International Church.He's also a business man rumoured to have purchased a 1.3million
363chat|Church leaders threatening to reject possible covid-19 vaccination over conspiracy theories should be held accountable for disseminating information that puts the public in danger Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has said.
This comes on the backdrop of United Family International Church (UFIC) founder, Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s sentiments in which he vowed not to accept covid-19 vaccination while address his followers a few weeks ago.
In a statement, ZimRights noted that Makandiwa’s stance retards the progress made through efforts that have in place for years targeting to convince apostolic church sects into accepting conventional medicines instead of relying on prayers and faith alone.
“Over the years, a number of campaigns have been launched to convince the religious sects to embrace modern medicine especially for the benefit of vulnerable groups like women and children. Significant gains have been made. But a new threat to these gains emerged in the third week of the lock-down as some church leaders started spreading conspiracy theories about COVID 19, including threatening to reject any vaccination against the disease,” said the human rights body.
ZimRights further highlighted that the spread of covid-19 conspiracy theories by church leaders puts the public in danger as it may persuade some to disregard the safety precautions treating the pandemic like a myth.
“In times of crisis, the church plays a critical role in being a source of hope and information.
Reports of church leaders disseminating conspiracy theories about COVID 19 raise a real danger of the return to those early days of religious defiance to medical health facilities, raising fears that these may lead to people undertaking dangerous behavior, like treating COVID 19 as a myth,” reads the statement.
They further noted that if lives are lost due to this misinformation the church leaders should be held accountable.
“While the constitution guarantees freedom of worship, ZimRights further believes that church leaders have a role to play in helping protect societies against disinformation. It is dangerous to disseminate information that is likely to place people in danger. If because of dissemination, lives are lost, leaders must be held accountable for such loss.”
According to the Zimbabwe lndependant,the Covid19 health frontline personnel have had enough of the government’s false promises.
This comes against the backdrop of the government’s disregard of their general welfare.The health staff said they have not received any allowances that they were promised since the beginning of the outbreak.
ln the meantime,Medics from the army have been called in at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare to replace the nurses who refused to attend to patients until their issues have been addressed.
Apparently,the nurses are currently working for a mere ZW$1000 – ZW$2000.
“This week, the nurses wrote to the City of Harare’s director of health Services, Prosper Chonzi, stating they were disappointed that they were being expected to work in a highly infectious environment without any monetary incentives. The nurses are only being paid monthly salaries, ranging between ZW$1 000 and ZW$2 000, which they say are not enough to sustain them”,said Bridget Mananavire.
Several nurses at the infectious diseases hospital are now eyeing greener pastures, especially at the private Covid-19 facilities that are being established in the capital,this according to Zimbabwe lndependant.
The frontline team stressed their inability to perform their duties anymore because they are hungry and they cannot fend for their families. They have been working since January on the frontline of this pandemic, but up to today,they have not received any salary increment and no allowance,” the Wilkins nurses said in one of the letters under the subject matter: “Incapacitation of frontline workers”.
As of the 19th of April, the nurses were not attending to patients, as their concerns had not yet been addressed.
They further demanded a written document stating that they would receive risk allowances as well as life insurance in United States dollars.
The Zimbabwe government should make sure they do something very soon.They simply cannot afford to have such a strike in the midst of the novel coronavirus outbreak.This could lead to an escalation on the cases of the epidemic.
Allowances aside,$1000 – $2000 is very little as salary for nurses.They deserve much more than that.
The ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease, a novel infectious disease was spread to the United States in January 2020. Cases have occurred in all fifty U.S. states and all inhabited U.S. territories except American Samoa. All 50 states received disaster declarations from the federal government.
On friday, United States of America recorded its lowest number of virus deaths 1257 since it peaked the nation some months ago.
According to John Hopkins Saturday night current report,United States have recorded 2,494 more coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours.
The country now has an overall death toll of 53,511, with 936,293 confirmed infections, according to a tally by the Baltimore-based university today.
The United States is by far the hardest-hit country in the global pandemic, in terms of both confirmed infections and deaths. Americans, especially those who are vulnerable, may need to stop attending large gatherings as the Coronavirus spreads through US communities.
Corby, England. (News of The South) -About 37 Zimbabweans have died in the UK and Twenty four Of them are nurses and doctors and care workers. This number is five times more than those who died on the whole country in Zimbabwe. It has been said Coronavirus does not discriminate – but some evidence has suggested it does affect some communities far more than others.
Zimbabweans and all other Asian and black communities in the front line are dying. The majority of the Zimbabweans in the UK have chosen nursing as their profession. They are the ones in the front line. Most black nurses are bullied in the hospitals some have complained of being forced to be in contact with positive patience despite the fact that they have underlying conditions
Most Zimbabwean nurses have died on duty. The government has announced a review into the disproportional impact Covid-19 has on ethnic minorities in the UK, including British Muslims and black nurses.
Risking their lives’ Zimbabwean nurses have always dreamed of being big nurses. In line of duty 18 Zimbabwean nurses have died and their families said they had been considered fit and healthy before they contracted the virus. They never believed that they were seeing them for the last time alive.
“Any death is devastating but losing one of our own is beyond words,” Zimbabwean nurses in the UK are described as professional, passionate nurses who always put their lives in front. Every where you go Zimbabwean nurses a very, very, respected and valued members and they are absolutely valued. Now the community sits down behind the closed doors wondering who is next.
Every house in a Zimbabwean family in England has a person working as a nurse or a care worker. Care workers work with vulnerable population of the society. This puts of sixty thousand Zimbabwean in England at Risk of getting Corona virus.
“It shows the incredible bravery of every member of the NHS who goes into work knowing that these dangers are there.”The Corona virus continues its grim march’ but ‘every life lost makes me Zimbabwean determined than ever to push for victor.
“It shows the incredible bravery of every member of the NHS who goes into work knowing that these dangers are there.”The Corona virus continues its grim march’ but ‘every life lost makes me Zimbabwean determined than ever to push for victory’.
The NHS’s chief nursing officer Ruth May also paid tribute to the medics who have given up their lives, but added that she is concerned the fallen heroes will not be the last to die.
Ms May urged the public to shun sunny weather this spring and stay home to honour the memories of nurses who are dying.
As we write now twenty Zimbabwean nurses have died in the course of duty. Look at all the lives they have looked after and all the families they comforted when patients passed away.
Zimbabwean nurses are angels and they will wear Zimbsbwean flag above the NHS crown forever more because they earned that crown the very first day they started.
One report, from the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre, has found 30 per cent of Covid-19 victims were from Black, Asian and other minority backgrounds, whilst people from these backgrounds make up just 13 per cent of the UK’s population. This is scary because you ask yourself exactly what is happening if this Corona has no discrimination why are the hospitals having different statistics which is actually accurate. Is there a sinister thing happening in the hospitals. Is this a conspiracy against the blacks. Nowhere has Covid-19 hit minority communities more than those working on the frontline of the NHS, where doctors and nurses have been trying to save their lives of their fellow colleagues. Those from ethnic minority backgrounds constitute two thirds of NHS deaths; on Friday two more doctors from BAME backgrounds lost their lives to the virus, it was announced.
ITV News has been examining the causes, we have learnt that socio-economic factors such as deprivation, underlying health conditions and cultural differences, like inter-generational households which more common in ethnic minority communities, could lead to an increase in the transmission of Covid-19. Health literacy is definitely an issue in Black and Ethnic Minorities, again, this is partly linked to socio-economic deprivation and language barriers that may exist,” Dr Hina Shahid told ITV News.
“Cultural and faith factors may also change a way a person perceives health or health information. We know that there is also this mistrust in health and healthcare professionals and also accessing healthcare itself.” She added: “People tend to present when they are sicker and that can make it more difficult to treat so we do have a big role to play in assembling or disseminating the correct information in ways that people can understand, in ways that take into consideration their beliefs about health and illness because that’s how the message is going to resonate for them.”
We need to lol at at faith and religion…which we know is an important determinate of health – we don’t have this data so it makes it difficult to unpick and understand what is going on.”But on the ground churches were meeting in house and unknown to them they were spreading the virus. One small church in the midlands had six people in hospital. Each day one Zimbabwean dies of Corona. Today every family knows one family which has a victim of the virus. This means almost every Zimbabwean in the Uk has a risk of catching the virus. We have many Zimbabwean men who are working as bus drivers,delivery drivers train drivers and train assistance.
These jobs exposed the man to the virus and as a result the diseases is exported in the houses. The nature of jobs Zimbabweans do in the UK is such that the interaction with the public is inevitable. This has seen so many Zimbabweans at risk. There is a great mm number of nurses in the Zimbabwean community and since they are in the frontline they the soft targets of the virus. whilst there are socio-economics differences; but cultural differences – which could lead to more disproportionate ethnic minority Covid-19 cases and deaths – have a part to play.
Within the Zimbabwean community community. Many feel the need to visit loved ones who are ill with virus symptoms, or go to a family or friend’s house to pay their respects for someone who has died from Covid-19 as culturally this is what many would do. The issue of social distancing from a Somali context is to be honest alien to us, we shake hands, we go to our houses for condolences.” “The other issue is that when you have families that are visiting each other where there are funerals, condolences, we do share this with other communities…but for us it’s more alarming.” How can the socio-economic factors affect ethnic minorities amid the coronavirus outbreak? The first ten doctors to died of coronavirus in the UK were from ethnic minority backgrounds. In that ten three were Zimbabweans. The virus’ impact across all minorities may be because many of them work or live in the most “at risk” scenarios which often don’t allow for social-distancing at home or at work. For instance, the frontline of the NHS and care work to public transport and the “gig economy”. Ethnic minorities are often over represented in high-risk key jobs where they can’t afford to stay at home; including taxi, bus and delivery drivers. Some communities may have a mistrust of healthcare systems so don’t go to their GP or seek medical advice until it is late. One Zimbabwean nurse said It is a tragic loss for, you know, I lost my brother, two of my uncles were critically ill, and I had lost a cousin and a friend, a very close friend of mine. “And it has psychological impact on the whole family, it’s a really difficult time and I’m sure there’s others, we’re all in this together and sharing the same pain but words cannot describe. We’re just going to have to continue with his legacy and try to move on.” She continued: “It’s very difficult, you know I still look after my dad who’s critically ill and he’s bed bound, it’s very difficult but we try to do the best that we can.” “Even within my community I know a lot of family and friends who have lost loved ones due to coronavirus.” “You get to a point where I don’t want to pick up the phone, you’re just constantly worried and you’re frightened who’s next…or who’s been taken to hospital, it was already traumatising enough with my uncle and brother taken from the same house and another uncle I admitted myself,” she added. It is indeed painful each day does not pass without a death of a Zimbabwean nurse or any in the care work. The British government only praises NHS workers nothing for the care workers or any other frontline job. Our greatest prayer is that this virus ends now. If Zimbabwe Is to be ravaged like Europe surely we will not stand.
Beijing: Chinese and Japanese media have been claiming that North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un is dead. At the moment, pictures of a funeral on Twitter are going fiercely viral. As reported by Express, the vice-chairman of the Hong Kong-backed news channel, which claims to be the niece of a Chinese foreign minister, has announced Kim Jong-un’s death.
Shijian Xingzhou, deputy director of HKSTV Hong Kong satellite television, says a ‘very solid source’ has informed him of Kim Jong Un’s death. Shijian Xingzhou reported on a social media app called Weibo for her reading of about 15 million followers, claiming Kim Jong Un is dead.
However a Japanese magazine reports that Kim is in a very critical condition after failing heart surgery. In the US, TMZ has confirmed Kim Jung Un’s death. However, no official information has yet been revealed from North Korea regarding the matter. Kim Jong is seen on those last R 11 April, after which he has not appeared in the media.
PREPARATIONS for the second school term have begun but opening will now be delayed as authorities roll out changes to how the academic institutions will operate in view of the Covid-19 scourge.
They were scheduled to open on May 5. Zimbabwe’s lockdown was last week extended by a fortnight to May 3.
But with Government planning to overhaul the learning environment through a raft of changes that include reducing class sizes to enforce social distancing, this is no longer possible.
The reorientation, necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic, will also involve provision of protective wear for educators and regular disinfection of schools.
Further, Government is mobilising a budget to procure sanitisers for all schools and new single-student desks.
Authorities told The Sunday Mail that schools will only open when the Covid-19 outbreak has been sufficiently contained and a safe learning environment for pupils has been fashioned.
Plans being considered include provisionally allowing pupils sitting for public examinations this year to return to school while measures are put in place to allow for the rest to resume classes.
Grade 7, Form 4 and 6 classes sit for public examinations towards the end of the third term.
Primary and Secondary Education Deputy Minister Edgar Moyo said only President Mnangagwa would issue a proclamation to reopen schools.
“In terms of the school opening calendar we are still looking at the dates,” said Deputy Minister Moyo.
“We will stand guided by any pronouncement made by His Excellency the President after consultations with his team and advisors. We will look at the progression of the disease in terms of how well we manage to contain it.
“We are preparing at the moment, but we cannot anticipate when schools will be opened because this is a function of reading how well we manage the disease.”
He said the school calendar will most likely be altered as a result of the disruption occasioned by Covid-19. Social distancing will be enforced at all schools once they reopen.
“We are looking at how, when schools eventually open, we will deal with things like enforcing social distancing at the schools especially in classes. We are looking at things like reducing class sizes, school furniture for single student sitting and how this can be used to enforce social distancing.
“We are also looking at how we can provide the relevant protective equipment for our teachers and school staff, and how we can also protect our children. Provision of sanitisers is also important as well as disinfecting schools which will be prioritised,” he said.
Deputy Minister Moyo said Government is consulting stakeholders so that in the event that the President makes a pronouncement, they are not caught off guard.
“Right now we are working on budgeting for procurement of the requisite stuff we need, this includes sanitisers, furniture and disinfectants.
“We are working with our partners as well as looking at what contribution Treasury can make. What is certain is that our schools will never be the same when they reopen.”
“We are not yet there and we cannot speculate on the position that will be taken (regarding partial opening of schools) and that may turn out to be the way.
“It is one of the options that we are considering but it is only as part of preparations, we cannot discount any option now. In short, we are developing a plan in anticipation of the pronouncement.”
Zimbabwe Schools Development Associations/Committees secretary-general Mr Everisto Jongwe said schools should be the last institutions to open after the lockdown.
“It’s a Catch-22 situation,” he said.
“For a start enforcing social distancing is very tricky in schools. We have schools that have up to 4 000 pupils and to ask them to enforce social distancing is impossible, worse still if it is a boarding school.
“Then you look at the issue of providing protective equipment, and asking Government to provide that for teachers, support staff and pupils is a huge ask.
“We have to be very careful about what we do before we can reopen schools. Reopening schools should be the last issue on the table after we have reopened the rest of the country.”
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Dr Takavafira Zhou urged Government to consult widely before reopening schools.
“The most important lesson we have is that schools cannot reopen for the second term but can open for the third term this year. It is noble that Government is considering all these options but as you know saying one thing and doing it are two very different things,” said Dr Zhou.
“What Government needs to do is engage us as teachers unions so that we can agree on the way forward together and this is so that we can also share our concerns.
“The idea of opening schools later in the year is very noble but it has to be supported by all because the security of teachers and pupils is paramount.”
All schools and tertiary institutions closed on March 24.
Announcing the closure, President Mnangagwa said Government “will advise on dates for the reopening of all teaching institutions in the country once the threat of the virus is adjudged to have receded”.
Beyonce and Jay Z have been a power couple for over a decade. She has made recent appearances at the Golden Globes after releasing her song Before I Let Go. There’s no denying that the pair are secretive, so today we are going to look at their various properties, homes and mansions (including their home in Bel Air which cost 88 million dollars, their House in Tribeca, New York and their Mansion in The Hamptons, Long Island) and give you a complete house tour.
FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday visited the family home of her aide Albert Vunganai (36), who passed away in an accident in the Mavhuradonha mountain range during a tour of duty to Muzarabani on Friday.
Earlier, she had visited her three other hospitalised aides, who were in the same vehicle as the deceased, and wished them a speedy recovery.
The First Lady paid homage to her aide and gave mourners an emotive account of how tragedy struck.
Amai Mnangagwa was deeply moved that she joined other mourners who collected the deceased’s remains from a city funeral parlour. She spoke glowingly about Vunganai, whom she said worked hard and acted professionally in the discharge of his duties. She wished Vunganai’s team strength in the face of calamity and praised his parents and church for bringing up such an “upright, honest and hard-working gentleman”.
“To the family, I want to say that I am here for you and I will ensure that each time you are in need of something I will assist where I can. Kuna mai nababa vaVunganai, I thank you for raising an upright child who did not betray your family’s image. He was an upright young man who was the envy of everyone,” the First Lady said while fighting back tears.
“He worked hard with his team, giving them direction and ensuring that everything was done to perfection.”
The First Lady showered praises on the deceased’s mother for having played her motherly role well in bringing up her child, who she said always demonstrated unimpeachable integrity. Vunganai, she added, was more of a son than aide to her.
The deceased’s father, Mr Calvin Vunganai, said he was humbled to have been visited by the First Lady in his moment of grief. He chronicled his family history and described his son as a hardworker.
“I wish to thank the First Lady for coming to commiserate with us in this dark hour. I have no power over God and I will have to look after my grandchildren so that they can have a bright future,” he said tearfully.
When tragedy struck, the First Lady and her team were on a tour of duty to Muzarabani, where they were distributing foodstuffs to the elderly and vulnerable families. She also used the opportunity to raise awareness about the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, which has killed thousands worldwide. The country is currently under lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
However, this has exposed the elderly and vulnerable members of society, most of whom are food insecure, hence the First Lady’s interventions countrywide. Vunganai was a principal security aide in the President’s Office having joined the organisation in 2008. He leaves behind his wife Nancy and two children — Nyevero (9) and Jefferson (4). He will be buried in Harare today.
The MDC-A has defended its Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu for taking part in a ceremony where a charity organisation linked to first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa handed over donations to vulnerable people.
Matewu (38) has come under fire from fellow opposition activists for travelling to Mahusekwa at the invitation of Mnangagwa’s charitable organisation, Angel of Hope, on Friday.
All the three legislators from Marondera took elderly people from their constituencies to Mahusekwa growth point for the donation, while Mnangagwa was executing the same programme in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe.
MDC-A Mashonaland East provincial spokesperson and Marondera mayor Chengetai Murowa said there was nothing amiss about Matewu’s presence at the event as the coronavirus outbreak meant that Zimbabweans must put politics aside to assist the vulnerable.
“Giving food to the vulnerable is a noble idea and as the MDC-A, we are very clear, we do not segregate on political lines and our MP is doing great work here in Marondera Central,” Marowa said.
“This is the time to be united more than ever before.
“This coronavirus thing is real. Most Zimbabweans are informal traders surviving from hand-to-mouth and as patriotic Zimbabweans, let’s do our best to assist the vulnerable in our midst. aturity.”
Matewu said donations to aid vulnerable people during the lockdown must not be politicised.
“Reports that I was with Mai Mnangagwa are false and misleading,” he said on Twitter.
“I received donations for Marondera from Angel of Hope.
“We urge all those willing to donate to our people to do so in this time of need.
“We won’t look which party you came from.”
Angel of Hope donated an assortment of groceries in Mashonaland East province a fortnight ago.
THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has provisionally pushed back this year’s June examinations by a month.
The decision was reached by senior Zimsec officials last week at a meeting to consider the impact of the current coronavirus lockdown on the exams. However, the exams management body has since completed printing the examination papers.
Zimsec board chair, Professor Eddie Mwenje, said the provisional dates were subject to change depending on the position taken by Government at the end of the extended lockdown period next week.
“We met on Friday and managed to check the level of preparedness by Zimsec and they have completed printing of the papers for the June examinations. We can say that they are ready to stage the examinations. What we have advised them to do is to push the starting date by two to four weeks,” he said.
He added that the body took into consideration that candidates for the June exams would ordinarily have been studying for a long time.
“So, we advised Zimsec to consider pushing the exams by a minimum two weeks and maximum of four weeks so that it does not clash with other lessons for the November examinations. Instead of the exams beginning late May, they may be pushed to begin mid-June. Although there is no extension for the June examinations registration, we are considering pushing the dates. We also spoke of social distancing during these examinations.
However, all this is also subject to Government pronouncement on May 3 when the current lockdown ends.”
There had been debate on how the June examinations would be handled in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou said it was possible for the exams to be written in June.
“Schools were closed in March, so candidates had enough time to prepare. I see no harm in starting the exams two weeks after the original date.”
The Bulawayo City Council has permanently closed some informal markets in the Central Business Centre (CBD) including the popular Khothama Market to bring order in the city beyond the lockdown period.
In a notice, Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube said the streets that were used as markets were now open to traffic and pedestrians. Mr Dube said council had identified certain portions in the CBD as temporary facilities to accommodate informal traders but the declaration has now been cancelled.
“The said portions of roads shall be open to normal vehicular and pedestrian traffic with effect from midnight Sunday 3 May. This action is in the national interest and is in line with actions taken by Government to deal with the threat of the Covid- 19 (coronavirus) pandemic,” reads the notice.
The areas that will now be opened for vehicular movement include 8th Avenue between Josiah Tongogara Street and Robert Mugabe Way, portion of 5th Avenue between Robert Mugabe Way and George Silundika Street, portion of 5th Avenue between George Silundika Street and Fife Street, portion of 5th Avenue between Fort Street and Herbert Chitepo Street and portion of 5th Avenue between Herbert Chitepo Street and Lobengula Street.
Meanwhile, refuse collection will now be done fortnightly in the city as the council is experiencing cash flow problems.
“Residents are advised of the changes in the refuse removal collection schedule. Refuse will now be collected fortnightly on the same day that it was being collected on during the weekly regime until further notice. These disruptions are due to reduced cash inflows currently being experienced. These changes in refuse collection are for the eastern areas which will now be collected fortnightly and the Central Business District which will now be collected thrice a week instead of daily,” he said.
Sen Komichi you're this doc was not signed by you but it's a document that you yourself submitted before the Con Court and you labelled the MDC Alliance, a political party.
Pretoria — South Africa’s main opposition on Friday criticised that country’s Public Works and Infrastructure minister for the massive expenditure amounting to R37 million for the construction of a 40km Beibridge border fence that was quickly damaged. “South African taxpayers have forked out a whopping R37 million for what is effectively a ‘washing line’ to keep Covid-19 from reaching South Africa from Zimbabwe.
“Almost R1 million per kilometre was spent on a 1.8-metre-high wire fence meant to halt illegal border crossings into South Africa along the Beitbridge border post,” said the Democratic Alliance’s Samantha Graham-Maré.
Graham-Maré said the announcement by Patricia de Lille (pictured right), that repairs totalling R37m would be effected to 40km of the border fence, should have signalled a new era in tackling South Africa’s “almost non-existent border” with Zimbabwe.
“It would have ensured that kilometres of fencing stolen for animal kraals around the Beitbridge border area would have been replaced and restored,” she said. “According to the minister, all emergency procurement protocols had been adhered to.
“A contractor had been duly appointed to do a fast-track job to secure our country against the movement of undocumented illegals with the potential to infect South Africans.
“Regrettably, within days, pictures emerged of gaping holes in the new fence. Reports of stolen fence posts followed.
“The minister responded that there would be increased security around the fence to ensure that there were no more breaches.
“What sort of border fence did we procure that required its own security?
“What quality of material was used that it can barely withstand a wire-cutter, and who drafted the specifications for this fence?
“A game fence on an ordinary game farm stands between 1.8 metres and 2.4 metres high.”
The DA pointed out that a border fence, such as the one erected on the Morocco-Spain border, was6m high.
“This border fence, costing R37 million, should be impenetrable — and built to last. It clearly is not.
“The minister has subsequently backtracked on her earlier assertions that the appointment of Caledon River Properties trading as Magwa Construction was within the procurement guidelines of the declared national state of disaster,” said Graham-Maré.
“In addition, the department has admitted to having deviated from procurement processes by appointing Magwa Construction through a nomination process.
“After stoically defending the appointment, the minister has now requested an audit into the entire project by the attorney-general.
“We can only hope that their audit will also reveal the basis on which Magwa Construction was selected above other, more well-known companies.”
On Friday, the DA said it had submitted questions to De Lille about the appointment of the contractor as well as the specifications of the fence and the value for money that South African taxpayers received.
“If the purpose of the fence was merely a temporary cessation of the influx of illegal immigrants to protect our populace against Covid-19, then perhaps the fence built would have been sufficient.
“But it was not. It has been hailed as the new border fence between South Africa and Zimbabwe,” said Graham-Maré.
“Sadly, minister de Lille’s fence is a R37 million band-aid on a bullet wound.
“If we are going to protect our borders, we need a ‘snake of fire’, not a washing line costing almost R1 million per kilometre.”
In March, de Lille announced that the construction of a new fence at the Beitbridge border between South Africa and Zimbabwe was beginning and would be completed within 40 days.
“In terms of Section 27 (2) (l) of the Disaster Management Act, No. 57 of 2002, I have invoked emergency procurement procedures in relation to the erection and repairs of the border fences, east and west of the Beitbridge border post,” De Lille said at the time.
The step followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation when he declared a national state of disaster in response to the global Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the country’s borders would be secured.
State Media|PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday sent a condolence message to the family of Mr Albert Vunganai, a close aide to the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, who died from injuries sustained in a car accident in Mt Darwin on Friday.
Three other security officers were injured in the accident and are in hospital. In a statement, the President described Mr Vunganai as an exemplary security and intelligence officer.
“It was with great shock and deep grief that my wife and I received yesterday the tragic news of the untimely death of Mr Albert Tonderai Vunganai, principal security officer, following a car accident in Mavhuradonha, Mt Darwin district, Mashonaland Central Province,” said the President.
He said Mr Vunganai’s death pained them (President and First Lady) the most considering that the accident happened in the course of duty.
“The late Vunganai was known very well to both of us, the First Lady and myself, having worked with him since 2014 when he joined my staff as a member of the close security unit during my tenure as Vice-President of the Republic of Zimbabwe before he was reassigned to the First Lady’s close security unit in 2017, where he worked until his untimely death yesterday (Friday).”
The President said the late Vunganai discharged his duties with professionalism and was a team player.
“Vunganai was a very good and exemplary security and intelligence officer, who discharged his duties with absolute loyalty and dedication, which are the hallmark of a professional cadre.
“His untimely departure, therefore, leaves a deep void among his colleagues which will be difficult to fill as he was such a good team player. On behalf of Government, my wife, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to express our sincere condolences to the Vunganai family, especially his wife Nancy and the children, during this dark hour of grief,” said the President.
“May they take comfort in the knowledge that we grieve with them, as their loss is ours together.”
Earlier the President visited the three injured security details at West End hospital in Harare.
“I have come to see my officers who were involved in an accident yesterday. It is good they know I have compassion towards them so I visited them. They are in capable hands and I’m assured everything possible is being done and I wish them a quick recovery.”
I just wanted to thank you for reporting on the status of the trial for Munyaradzi Mawadze and his two accomplices who murdered Sipho Ncube . You reported the case on Friday the 24th of April. When the body was found after their confession, every publication in Zimbabwe had the report however subsequent to that and when these bail hearings etc were applied for, no publication has followed through with the exception of yours. I state this on the basis that through a simple good Gel search you’re the only ones coming through as having the latest reporting on this situation.
Given that, l would like to say hats off to you and your team because I’m the absence of organisations like yours, some cases that have a high probability of being quashed (due to corrupt practices) without the public’s knowledge can actually go that way and it’s the family of the deceased that goes without the necessary closure of knowing the perpetrators are behind bars for taking the life of their love ones .
State Media|Workers in various sectors of the economy, particularly the hospitality and tourism industry, are bearing the brunt of the novel Coronavirus, and there are growing fears of job losses if the global economy continues worsening.
The local tourism industry employs more than 40 000 workers. Most companies are considering cost-cutting measures in order to stay afloat as revenues decline. The country’s five-week national lockdown is set to end on May 3. Employers Confederation of Zimbabwe (EMCOZ) president Mr Israel Murefu said the tourism, hospitality and airlines industries were the most affected by the pandemic.
“Some companies may not be able to come back to life when the current extended lockdown is over. This is because many, especially the so-called non-essential businesses, have lost production, markets or consumers, as well as suppliers. The companies have employees sitting at home but have valid contracts of employment and therefore expect to be remunerated even though they have not been rendering any services,” said Mr Murefu.
He warned that many companies would not be able to sustain salaries beyond this month.
“This is what the companies have actually said and it is on record. I am not sure how one could preserve jobs if they cannot remunerate those jobs,” he said.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) vice president Mr Farai Chimba told our Harare Bureau yesterday that the tourism sector was bleeding as hotels, restaurants and bars remained closed. The sector’s 40 154 workers, most of whom are female employees, are presently working from home. It is believed that women make up 61 percent of the tourism and hospitality sector, accommodation and food services.
Overall, the tourism industry contributes 1,4 percent to national employment, according to HAZ. Mr Chimba, however, said various companies were implementing measures to reduce the impact of Covid-19.
“As this is a very diverse sector, there is no one solution that fits all. Re-evaluation of costs, reducing the seasonal staff complement, sending staff on leave, salary and wage cuts are some of the cocktail of measures that have been implemented in various businesses based on their business model positions,” he said.
Mr Murefu also weighed in: “Our advice is that labour should be managed in terms of the Labour Act and workplace or (National Employment Council) NEC consultations are the way to go if an employer wants to do something that may adversely affect labour. While everyone is encouraged and is being called upon to protect employment, if one is unable to open or can only open at very low capacity owing to financial constraints, they may not be able to carry as many jobs as they were before the crisis. This is where joint workplace or industry consultations on the way forward are needed in terms of the law.”
Mr Murefu said EMCOZ was pushing for a Distressed Relief Fund to be established to assist companies come back to life. He also suggested measures including tax relief, revisiting the two percent tax, National Social Security Authority (NSSA) contributions holiday, reviewing Value Added Tax (VAT) levels, subsidies as well as lowering electricity tariffs. Other recommendations are softer bank loans and easier access to working capital for small to medium enterprises and big businesses.
However, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima recently issued a statement urging companies to avoid retrenchments, unpaid leave and unfair terminations during the lockdown period.
Furthermore, Government has come up with a $600 million package to support the informal sector and vulnerable households. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that globally over 25 million jobs will be lost due to the coronavirus.
TESTING of Covid-19 at the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo might grind to a halt as it has emerged that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that workers put on when conducting tests has run out.
The centre started testing for Covid-19 (Corononavirus) on 13 April and is one of the only two centres in the country. The other testing centre is the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory in Harare. Workers at the centre revealed yesterday that they have run out of PPE and if no supplies are made by today, testing would stop with effect from tomorrow. They raised concern that part of the equipment was allocated to areas that did not need sophisticated protective equipment like security guards.
Chairman of the National University of Science and Technology Applied Genetics Testing Centre, Mr Zephania Dlamini who is part of the team leading the testing at Mpilo said the situation was dire.
“We are left with five suits only to work with. We received 10 suits yesterday (Friday) and used five today (yesterday). We cannot have any results coming from this centre if there is no protective equipment. People cannot work,” he said.
However, contacted for comment, the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo, said there was no need for panic as there was enough PPE for hospitals.
“There is plenty of PPE that has arrived in the country and is being dispatched as we speak from Natpharm in Harare. I visited Natpharm this morning (yesterday) and all hospitals are going to get their share of PPE. They were preparing to ship out the consignment to various destinations across the country. The people at Mpilo should not worry too much, by tomorrow, their consignment should have been delivered,” he said.
Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director Dr Welcome Mlilo said the hospital administration could have misallocated the equipment, with some of the critical equipment sent to the main hospital and given to among others, security guards. He however, could not reveal how many PPE sets were given to Bulawayo hospitals by Government, which sourced the equipment and also received donations from various organisations.
“Some of the equipment was probably sent to the main hospital so we need to liaise with them so that people work. I will have to consult with Natpharm on how many PPE sets were supplied to Mpilo, United Bulawayo Hospitals and to the Bulawayo City Council,” said Dr Ndiweni.
However, Sunday News observed that five guards who were manning entrances at the hospital were clad in full PPE suits. Apart from providing security, they were also applying sanitiser to visitors. Mr Dlamini, however, said the laboratory was managing to cope with tests for both Covid-19 and tuberculosis (TB).
“We are giving the TB lab a chance to run their samples in the morning, so they run from around 6am to about 1pm and then the Covid-19 samples come in from 2pm going late into the night. This is also dependent on the number of TB samples that are there and how many Covid-19 samples are there,” he said.
Mr Dlamini, added that they were not satisfied with the flow of resources to the facility.
“We are not satisfied. We are not getting enough consumables. We only get polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Kits and the instruction kits, that’s all. Consumables like pipette tips, centrifuge tubes, we are not getting those and we have been cannibalising from our National University of Science and Technology (Nust) laboratory and we hope we will be able to reimburse our laboratory. The Minister of Finance (and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube), however, promised to assist us if we give him the list of our requirements,” he said. Speaking after the tour of the facility yesterday, Minister Ncube said Government will look at the concerns raised by Mr Dlamini and his team.
“Our role in Treasury is to ensure that they are supplied with resources. I can find additional resources so that tests can happen rapidly and massify them. I am pleased to see the workforce of people here. They are highly dedicated people who work long hours. They are here at 6am and can leave at midnight.”
Mpilo Hospital acting chief executive officer, Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, said he had reprimanded the official who gave out PPE suits to security guards.
“Everyone has to be safe but PPE suits can not be given to security guards. Giving them was a mistake and I have since reprimanded the official who gave them the suits. That will not happen again. I have also been running around since morning to source some PPE suits for the lab because I also knew that their stocks were low. Iam confident they will continue with their work. In fact the hospital has been supportive to them ever since they started working from the lab in the hospital,” he said.
Funny things continue to happen during the Coronavirus shutdown in Zimbabwe.
Members of Parliament in most constituencies have had the responsibility to check on the welfare of the people in their constituencies.
Parliament forms one of the three pillars of government, hence Parliamentarians have a role to play in circumstances such as these.
The wife of the President has no official role in the country and given that every the constituency has an MP and councillors, the First Lady has no role to play during a shutdown.
The arrest of Mutasa Member of Parliament Regai Tsunga after as he went to check on people who have failed to access subsidised mealie-meal is clear evidence that the Government of Zimbabwe is up to no good.
Did the Government expect the Member of Parliament to ignore hungry people from his constituency who had failed to access mealie-meal?
Did the Government ever want the people of Mutasa to access the mealie-meal in the first place?
While some opposition Members of Parliament are arrested for trying to help people in need of food, the First lady is travelling around the country at will.
This is evil, and anyone associated with Government should be ashamed of such behaviour.-Kennedy Kaitano
