A ZIMBABWEAN woman is suing government, police officers and soldiers after she was bitten by dogs as the enforcement officers acted outside their mandate when they were enforcing the National Lockdown regulations.
In an urgent chamber application filed at the High Court in Harare on Thursday 9 April 2020, Lucia Masvondo of Karoi in Mashonaland West province and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) asked the High Court to issue an order protecting the 26 year-old woman against the conduct of some Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members and some Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) officers, who on Friday 3 April 2020 assaulted her as she was cooking food on an open fire outside her house.
The 26 year-old Masvondo said she is worried that as a result of the police and army officers’ conduct, who invaded her home, the security officers may have brought the deadly coronavirus to her home as she does not know where they have been to, where they were coming from or whether or not anyone of them carried the deadly virus.
Masvondo and ZLHR, who listed Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo, Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister July Moyo, Home Affairs Minister Kazembe, Commissioner-General of Police Godwin Matanga, Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe and the National Prosecuting Authority as respondents, argued that the army has no business patrolling the streets and purporting to enforce the National Lockdown regulations and that ZRP members and ZNA officers are not allowed to take the law into their hands and punish people by beating them up and asking them to lie prone on the ground.
The woman protested that the ZRP members and ZNA officers, who also assaulted some people, who reside at her residence using truncheons, were not observing or practicing social distancing guidelines as they were not sitting one-metre apart from each other in a truck in which they were moving around in.
Masvondo and ZLHR also want the High Court to issue an order declaring as unconstitutional the proclamation of the National Lockdown Order by Moyo.
In exercising powers granted to him under the Regulations, Moyo on 28 March 2020 published Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020-the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 declaring a National Lockdown to last 21 days and which commenced on 30 March 2020 and ending on 19 April 2020.
In their application, ZLHR and Masvondo argued that Moyo can only make Statutory Instruments pursuant to powers delegated to him by the Legislature in the parent Act of Parliament. By sub-delegating to himself the powers to make subsidiary legislation through section 8 of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations, 2020, S1 77 of 2020, the Health and Child Care Minister had acted ultra vires the Public Health Act and therefore unconstitutionally hence the National Lockdown is null and void. ZLHR and Masvondo argued that the National Lockdown is being enforced following the issuance of an Order that is a nullity.
ZRP members, ZNA officers and some municipal officers, Masvondo and ZLHR said, had committed some acts in the name of enforcing the National Lockdown Order that impinge upon the rights and fundamental freedoms.
In an affidavit accompanying the urgent chamber application, ZLHR Executive Director Roselyn Hanzi said enforcement officers must discharge their mandates according to the law and at all times act within the confines of the law.
Hanzi charged that Moyo failed in his constitutional duty to respect and uphold the Constitution by enacting section 8 of Regulations thereby arrogating to himself the powers to publish certain orders.
Hanzi protested against the confiscation and destruction of some farmers’ produce by law enforcement officers in Mutare early this week, saying such conduct is unlawful as it is not sanctioned by any of the Statutory Instruments that have been promulgated by Moyo.
The human rights lawyer said the National Lockdown regulations do not suggest that fresh farm produce spreads coronavirus and hence the ZRP members’ act of destroying people’s farm produce is criminal and constitutes malicious damage to property.
Hanzi also argued that the ZRP members were breaching the National Lockdown measures by arresting large numbers of people from different households and crowding them in trucks and holding centres, actions which facilitate the passing on of coronavirus by putting them in close proximity of each other without providing them with any forms of protective clothing.
As frontline enforcement officers, ZRP members and municipal officers were putting not only their lives in danger but those of their families and the greater people that they will come into contact with.
Hanzi argued that there are some rights that may not be limited at all as provided in section 86(3), which include the right to human dignity and freedom from torture, or cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment.
By A Correspondent|Senator Douglas Mwonzora was today asked why he is rising to challenge the legitimacy of his boss, the late Morgan Tsvangirai, the same man he once equated to Jesus Christ in a song’s decision making.
The interview comes a week after the supreme court verdict that ordered the MDC T to conduct an extraordinary congress within 90 days.
Since the verdict announcement, Mwonzora has been preaching support for the verdict that says his nemesis Nelson Chamisa’s appointment by his late boss, Morgan Tsvangirai was illegal.
He was asked: Senator Mwonzora, why’re you busy challenging the legitimacy of a dead man’s actions, Tsvangirai who can’t defend himself anymore, who you yourself once equated to Jesus Christ in a song, and not challenging the legitimacy of ED Mnangagwa who is alive &killing people?
He responded saying (audio) :
Qn: Sn Mwonzora: Why're you busy challenging the legitimacy of a dead man's actions, Tsvangirai who can't defend himself anymore (who you yourself once equated to Jesus Christ in a song), and not challenging the legitimacy of ED Mnangagwa who is alive &killing people? pic.twitter.com/VN1KFFq5B2
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening extended the country’s lockdown by two weeks until the end of April to slowdown the spread of the virus and a massive loss of life, but he said there is also a need to protect livelihoods.
Some measures announced include:
The Industrial Development Corporation has set aside R3bn for the procurement of essential medical supplies. The Small Enterprise Finance Agency has suspended loan payments for six months. Government has reprioritised R1.2 billion to provide relief to smallholder farmers and to contribute to the security of food supply. The Solidarity Fund has raised R2.2bn; R1bn will buy sterile gloves, face shields, surgical masks, test kits and ventilators. Cabinet is developing an economic package. The president, deputy president and ministers will take a 1/3rd cut in their salaries, the money will be donated to the Solidarity Fund. African Union COVID-19 Response Fund established to assist the continent. Below is the full message: MESSAGE BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ON COVID-19 PANDEMIC THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 2020
My Fellow South Africans,
At midnight tonight, it will be exactly two weeks since our country entered into an unprecedented nation-wide lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
During the course of these last two weeks, your lives have been severely disrupted, you have suffered great hardship and endured much uncertainty.
We have closed our borders to the world, our children are not in school, businesses have closed their operations, many have lost their income, and our economy has ground to a halt.
And yet, faced with such daunting challenges, you, the people of South Africa, have responded with remarkable patience and courage.
You have respected the lockdown and largely observed the regulations.
You have accepted the severe restrictions on your movement and many of the daily freedoms that we all take for granted.
You have done so because you have understood the devastating effect that this disease will have on the health and well-being of all South Africans unless we take drastic measures.
You have also understood that we must do everything in our power to prevent the massive loss of life that would occur if we did not act.
For your cooperation, for your commitment and above all for your patience, I wish to thank you personally.
I wish to thank you for reaffirming to each other and to the world that we South Africans are a people who come together and unite at moments of great crisis.
FOR MORE ON COVID-19 VISIT: https://www.cnbcafrica.com/covid-19/
Earlier today I had a most productive meeting with our Premiers about the work they are doing in provinces and districts to stop the spread of the virus.
I also had a discussion with the leaders of all our political parties represented in Parliament, who collectively pledged their support for the efforts that are being made to combat the pandemic.
Through this we are demonstrating that we are able to work together across party lines to confront a common threat.
Since I announced the lockdown just over two weeks ago, the global coronavirus pandemic has worsened.
Two weeks ago, there were 340,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in the world.
We now have over 1.5 million confirmed cases worldwide.
Over 90,000 people across the world have died from this disease.
The health systems of many countries have been overwhelmed.
Even the most developed economies in the world have not had the means to treat the many thousands who have fallen ill.
They have struggled to find the medical supplies and personnel necessary to deal with the pandemic.
The devastating effect of this is that many people have died.
The global evidence is overwhelming.
It confirms that our decision to declare a national state of disaster and to institute a nation-wide lockdown was correct and it was timely.
While it is too early to make a definitive analysis of the progression of the disease in South Africa, there is sufficient evidence to show that the lockdown is working.
Since the lockdown came into effect, the rate at which new cases have been identified here in South Africa has slowed significantly.
From 1,170 confirmed cases on the 27th of March, the number of confirmed cases today stands at 1,934.
In the two weeks before the lockdown, the average daily increase in new cases was around 42%.
Since the start of the lockdown, the average daily increase has been around 4%.
While we recognise the need to expand testing to gain a better picture of the infection rate, this represents real progress.
The measures we have taken – such as closing our borders and prohibiting gatherings – as well as the changes that we have each had to make in our own behaviour, have definitely slowed the spread of the virus.
But the struggle against the coronavirus is far from over.
We are only at the beginning of a monumental struggle that demands our every resource and our every effort.
We cannot relax. We cannot be complacent.
In the coming weeks and months, we must massively increase the extent of our response and expand the reach of our interventions.
We are learning both from the experiences of other countries and from the evidence we now have about the development of the pandemic in South Africa.
Both make a clear and compelling case to proceed in a manner that is cautious and properly calibrated.
Simply put, if we end the lockdown too soon or too abruptly, we risk a massive and uncontrollable resurgence of the disease.
We risk reversing the gains we have made over the last few weeks, and rendering meaningless the great sacrifices we have all made.
Fellow South Africans,
This evening, I stand before you to ask you to endure even longer.
I have to ask you to make even greater sacrifices so that our country may survive this crisis and so that tens of thousands of lives may be saved.
After careful consideration of the available evidence, the National Coronavirus Command Council has decided to extend the nation-wide lockdown by a further two weeks beyond the initial 21 days.
This means that most of the existing lockdown measures will remain in force until the end of April.
We will use the coming days to evaluate how we will embark on risk-adjusted measures that can enable a phased recovery of the economy, allowing the return to operation of certain sectors under strictly controlled conditions.
We will also use this time to ramp up our public health interventions.
We did not take this decision to extend the lockdown lightly.
As your President, I am mindful of the great and heavy burden this will impose on you.
I am keenly aware of the impact this will have on our economy.
But I know, as you do, that unless we take these difficult measures now, unless we hold to this course for a little longer, the coronavirus pandemic will engulf, and ultimately consume, our country.
We all want the economy to come back to life, we want people to return to work, we want our children to go back to school, and we all want to be able to move freely again.
But our immediate priority must remain to slow down the spread of the virus and to prevent a massive loss of life.
We must do this while preventing our economy from collapsing and saving our people from hunger.
We are determined to pursue a path that both saves lives and protects livelihoods.
Our strategy is made up of three parts:
– Firstly, an intensified public health response to slow down and reduce infections.
– Secondly, a comprehensive package of economic support measures to assist businesses and individuals affected by the pandemic.
– Thirdly, a programme of increased social support to protect poor and vulnerable households.
As government, together with our many partners, we have used this lockdown period to both refine and intensify our public health strategy to manage the coronavirus.
Our approach is to screen in communities and test people in hospitals, clinics and mobile clinics, to isolate those who are infected, and to care for those who are ill in our health facilities.
We need to do this intensively and systematically.
We have used the last week to develop our screening and testing methodology in various parts of the country.
Over the next two weeks, we will roll out the community screening and testing programme across all provinces, focusing in particular on highly vulnerable communities.
Those who test positive and cannot self-isolate at home will be isolated at special facilities that have been identified and are now being equipped.
At all times, we will observe the human rights of all people.
Let us not discriminate against people who test positive.
To ensure that our strategies are effectively coordinated and to ensure they are informed by comprehensive, real-time data, we have established the COVID-19 Information Centre at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
This world-class centre will keep track of all screening, testing, isolation and hospitalisation throughout the country.
It is already identifying infection hotspots.
It is following the spread and the severity of the disease, and enabling us to move our focus and resources where they are most needed.
We are working with mobile telephony companies and other institutions to locate those people who have tested positive for the virus and those with whom they have been in contact.
As part of the second element of our strategy, we have put in place various measures to provide support to businesses in distress, to workers facing loss of income, to the self-employed and to informal businesses.
Many of these measures are being taken up by both large and small businesses.
The Unemployment Insurance Fund has set aside R40 billion to help employees who will be unable to work, as part of the effort to prevent jobs losses as a result of the lockdown.
To date, it has paid out R356 million.
I would like to applaud all those employers who have continued to pay their workers during this difficult time, as well as those employers who are working with unions and government to assist their employees to access these benefits.
I would like to call on all businesses to continue to pay their suppliers, to the extent that they can, to ensure that those suppliers can also continue to operate and pay their staff and suppliers.
In this respect, I would like to appeal to all large businesses not to resort to force majeure and stop paying their suppliers and rental commitments, as such practice has a domino effect on all other businesses dependent on that chain.
We must do all we can to ensure that the underlying economy continues to function and to focus support on those small businesses that really need them.
The Industrial Development Corporation has set aside R3 billion for the procurement of essential medical supplies.
It has already approved R130 million in funding and expects to approve a further R400 million in the coming week to companies who applied for funding under this special facility.
The Small Enterprise Finance Agency has approved the postponement of loan repayments for a period of 6 months.
The small business debt relief and business growth facilities are currently adjudicating applications for assistance.
There is a total of R500 million available in support.
Government has reprioritised R1.2 billion to provide relief to smallholder farmers and to contribute to the security of food supply.
In addition to these expenditure measures, the Reserve Bank has also lowered interest rates and has taken measures to inject liquidity into the economy.
One of the biggest challenges that all countries in the world are facing is the shortage of medical supplies to fight the coronavirus.
As a country we have had to rely on our own capabilities to supply these goods, but have also had to source supplies from other countries.
In recent weeks, we have seen a massive mobilisation of South African business, labour, academics and government agencies to build the stocks of medical and other equipment needed to fight coronavirus.
We have, for example, established the National Ventilator Project to rapidly mobilise the technical and industrial resources of our country to manufacture non-invasive ventilators, which can be used to support patients afflicted with the disease.
Other projects are focusing on increasing the local manufacture of protective face masks, hand sanitisers and pharmaceutical products which can be used by health care workers and the public at large.
As the third part of our coronavirus response, we have been working to provide basic needs such as water and to maintain the reliability of food supply to the poorest South Africans.
We have also expanded the provision of food parcels and we’ve provided spaza shops with financial support.
To date, government has delivered over 11,000 water storage tanks to communities in need across the country, and many of these have been installed.
In addition, 1,000 water tankers have been provided for the delivery of water.
Several homeless people have been accommodated in 154 shelters.
I am pleased to report that the Solidarity Fund – which was established to mobilise resources from companies, organisations and individuals to combat the coronavirus pandemic – has so far raised around R2.2 billion.
It has already allocated around R1 billion to buy sterile gloves, face shields, surgical masks, test kits and ventilators.
It will also allocate funds for humanitarian relief to vulnerable households, in addition to the R400 million set aside by government for Social Relief of Distress grants.
All of these efforts, while necessary and commendable, will not be sufficient on their own to cushion the poor from the impact of this pandemic.
Nor will they provide the relief that businesses and their employees require.
Additional extraordinary measures will need to be put in place in the coming weeks and months to absorb the sudden loss of income to both businesses and individuals.
We are in a situation that demands swift action and exceptional methods, a situation that demands innovation and the mobilisation of every resource that we have.
Cabinet will be developing a comprehensive package of urgent economic measures to respond both to the immediate crisis and to the severe economic challenges that we must confront in the months ahead.
Further announcements on the next phase of our economic and social support strategy will be made in due course.
An essential part of our response to this emergency is the principle of solidarity.
From across society, companies and individuals have come forward to provide financial and other assistance.
In support of this effort, we have decided that the President, Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers will each take a one-third cut in their salaries for the next three months.
This portion of their salaries will be donated to the Solidarity Fund.
We are calling on other public office bearers and executives of large companies to make a similar gesture and to further increase the reach of this national effort.
In this regard, we welcome the donation of 20,000 cellphones by Vodacom for health workers that will be involved in screening and tracing in communities.
As we have stressed before and we will stress once again, our struggle against the coronavirus requires fundamental changes in behaviour from all of us.
Until we have contained the coronavirus, the same rules remain.
Shaking hands, hugging, sitting close to each other and other forms of physical contact enable this virus to be transmitted, and must be avoided.
We must continue to wash our hands regularly and thoroughly using water and soap or sanitiser.
To stay safe and to keep others safe we must continue to respect whatever restrictions that are placed on our movement and on our daily lives
Over the past two weeks, I have been speaking to other African leaders about a coordinated continental effort to combat the coronavirus and support our people and our economies.
We have established an AU COVID-19 Response Fund to mobilise the resources necessary to support this effort.
We have reached out to world leaders, even as they struggle with the pandemic in their countries, to assist the continent with essential medical supplies and to support a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa.
As we confront this disease in our country, we are part of a great global effort that is bringing humanity together in ways that many never thought possible.
For billions across the world, and for us here in South Africa, the coronavirus pandemic has changed everything.
We can no longer work in the way we have before.
As government, as NGOs, as political parties, as large corporations and small businesses, as financial institutions, as community organisations and as South Africans we will need to adapt to a new reality.
As we emerge from this crisis, our country will need to undergo a process of fundamental reconstruction.
To do so, we will draw on our strengths: our abundant natural resources, our advanced infrastructure, our deep financial markets, our proven capabilities in information and communication technology, and the depth of talent among our people.
We will draw on our proven capacity for innovation and creativity, our ability to come together in a crisis, and our commitment to each other and our common future.
We will learn from global experience and the best scientific evidence, but we will craft a uniquely South African response that uses our own capabilities as a nation.
This weekend is a sacred time for many South Africans.
For many, it will be difficult to spend this time without their friends and family.
I ask that you keep in your thoughts tonight all in our land who are vulnerable, destitute and alone.
I ask that you give what you can to alleviate their burden.
To contribute to the Solidarity Fund in any way you can.
This is a difficult time for us all.
Yet the message of Easter is one we carry in our hearts tonight.
It is the message of hope, of recovery and of rebirth.
As we walk this road together, as we struggle to defeat this pandemic, we remain strong and united and resolved.
Much is being asked of you, far more than should ever be asked.
But we know that this is a matter of survival, and we dare not fail.
We shall recover.
We shall overcome.
May God bless South Africa and protect her people.
Zambian President Edgar Lungu has announced that measures he announced to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in Zambia will be extended by another two weeks.
In a national address aired on state TV, President Lungu noted that the measures have yielded some level of success although they have taken away livelihoods of some people.
He announced that Zambia has gone a full week without recording any new case of COVID-19.
President Lungu explained that out of the 82 tests conducted over the last 24 Hours, none were found positive.
He said 17 patients were discharged over the past 24 Hours.
By A Correspondent- University of Zimbabwe (UZ) lecturers are up in arms with the institution’s administration for allegedly seeking to scrap several programmes and replacing them unilaterally without consulting the academics.
Following a recent curriculum review process, the UZ administration led by vice chancellor Paul Mapfumo resolved to scrap several programmes such as Sociology from the Faculty of Social Sciences as well as several others from the Faculty of Arts, including Economic History.
But in responses to the resolution dated March 27, 2020, lecturers in the departments of Sociology and Economic History have threatened to take legal action, arguing they risk losing their jobs.
The lecturers argue that the University Act and Ordinance 25/ 43 sub-sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 44 spell out the roles of the faculty and departments in the development of new programmes, yet theirs “were largely ignored and in their place are impositions of new non-social science degrees from the executive who have no certified expertise in ‘our disciplines'”.
The lecturers described the executive’s proposal as an attempt to “decapitate, decimate, annihilate and unprofessionally reorganise” the Sociology department.
They argue that their rejected expert proposals were in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision 2030 as well as “rational trends within our disciplines and bench-marked with regional and international universities”.
The educators also claimed the supposedly imposed programmes lacked scientific justification and that they hardly meet the minimum requirements of Education 5.0.-DailyNews
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that the number of COVID-19 cases in Africa has now risen to more than 10,000, claiming more than 500 lives.
#COVID19 cases in #Africa have risen to more than 10,000. Tackling this pandemic requires a decentralised response. Communities must be empowered and get the resources/expertise needed to tackle outbreaks locally. https://t.co/SjX6XrZDt9pic.twitter.com/qRKLb1Nppw
The virus was slow to reach the continent compared to other parts of the world, but infection has grown exponentially in recent weeks and continues to spread, the UN health agency said.
Africa’s first case of new coronavirus was recorded in Egypt on 14 February. Since then a total of 52 African countries have reported cases and “a significant number” have reported cases in multiple provinces.
“COVID-19 has the potential not only to cause thousands of deaths, but to also unleash economic and social devastation”, warned Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
She called for communities to be empowered by local authorities, and for provincial and district levels of government to ensure that they have the resources and expertise to respond to outbreaks.
To help combat the virus, WHO is working with governments across Africa to boost surveillance, testing, isolation, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, together with risk communication and community engagement.
The UN health agency reported that so far that Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Nigeria have expanded national testing to multiple labs, allowing for a decentralized and more efficient system.
Supporting Zimbabwe
At the same time, urgent international support is needed to prevent millions of desperate Zimbabweans from plunging deeper into hunger.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), as COVID-19 takes hold, the country’s already severe climate- and recession-induced hunger crisis is becoming even more profound.
“With most Zimbabweans already struggling to put food on the table, the COVID pandemic risks even wider and deeper desperation”, said Eddie Rowe, WFP’s Country Director.
Cereal production in 2019 was half that of 2018, and less than half the national requirement. Experts predict that the upcoming 2020 harvest will be even poorer.
With unprecedented hyperinflation having pushed the prices of staples out of reach for most Zimbabweans, increasingly desperate families are eating less, selling off precious belongings and going into debt.
Moreover, COVID-19 threatens to exacerbate Zimbabwe’s dire economic and hunger crises, drastically affecting the lives of people in both urban and rural areas.
And while the UN agency supports communities afflicted by “crisis” and “emergency” food insecurity, more funding is needed.
“We must all do our utmost to prevent this tragedy turning into a catastrophe”, he warned.
WFP is appealing for $130 million to sustain an emergency operation through August to prevent millions of the most vulnerable from plummeting even further
COVID-19 spread threatens South Sudan
Confirmation earlier this week that the new coronavirus pandemic has reached South Sudan has prompted UN-appointed human rights experts to renew their call for an end to fighting there.
In an appeal to the authorities to step up efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the Commission on Human Rights in the world’s youngest country warned that 1.5 million people who’ve fled years of violence are at greater risk than ever.
Commission chair Yasmin Sooka said that it was unrealistic to even “talk about strict social distancing” at the moment.
So many displaced persons still live in tents, she said, “often inches apart from one other, and subsisting on rapidly diminishing humanitarian aid”.
They have only limited access to healthcare, water, hygiene and sanitation, food, and adequate housing, with women and children among the worst affected by these shortages, Ms. Sooka explained.
To halt the spread of the virus, the independent experts, which report to the Human Rights Council, urged the new Transitional Government of National Unity to quell intercommunal violence.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that his government is extending the lockdown by a further two weeks as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Addressing South Africans this evening, Ramaphosa said they have agreed to take a one third pay cut for the next three months with the money being channelled towards fighting the pandemic.
Health officials here have collected specimens from the remains of a deceased Chiredzi woman,to test whether she succumbed to Covid-19 at Chiredzi District Hospital on Tuesday.
The woman-from the sugar cane growing town-died after being admitted at the hospital for severe pneumonia leading to suspicions she had Covid-19.
Results are expected by today.
Provincial Medical DirextiDirector Dr Amadeous Shamu said her remains had not yet been interred.
“We collected samples from her body and sent them to Harare for testing after we classified her as Covid-19 suspect following her admission and subsequent death in hospital from severe pneumonia”he said.
“The symptoms she showed before her passing on(severe pneumonia) made us to treat her as a Covid-19 suspect and we expect results tomorrow(today)afternoon.”
Following the women’s designation as a Covid-19 suspect her burial would be done in accordance with rules applied to those who succumb to the disease.
“She has not yet been buried though under normal circumstances she should have been buried earlier considering that she was a Covid-19 suspect.Our teams delayed to go there(Chiredzi Hospital) to collect samples.
“Now I think they will have to wait for her results to come out before burying her.The results will be out by tomorrow(today)afternoon and she will be buried soon after.”
Dr Shamu rubbished circulating reports that the woman died after nurses at Chiredzi Hospital abandoned on suspicion she had Covid-19 because of her symptoms upon checking in.
Masvingo is still to record its first Covid-19 case with two previous suspected cases having both tested negative.
South Africans have done it again, now selling beer in cooking oil bottles. This because of the 21 days lockdown imposed on South Africa. Citizens have to bear 21 days without liquor and cigarettes. Thus far a couple of liquor stores and taverns have been broken into – there have been several videos making rounds on social media.
No liquor sales – at all, including from grocery stores according to the lockdown regulations. South Africans are only permitted to buy basic goods.
A number of arrests have been made for contravening the lockdown regulations. On Saturday, the whole wedding party was arrested in KZN. And thus far over a thousand people have been arrested.
The cooking oil bottled beer was confiscated by the police and have more beers have been confiscated all around the country.
Day 14 of the lockdown and people are in a desperate search for alcohol. Some liquor stores have been selling in closed doors at inflated prices.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police have reported that three men have been arrested after stealing maize weighing more than one tone.
In a report on Thursday, the police said on the 1st of April this year three men employed by a milling company were assigned to collect bulk maize from GMB Aspindale using two trucks.
It said that the trucks were loaded with 11 640kgs and 11 960kgs of maize on the 7th of April and the men left the GMB depot.
They then drove to Kadoma where the maize was re-weighed and it was discovered that the first truck had a shortfall of 780kgs while the second had a shortfall of 820kgs.
The trio, who could not give a satisfactory explanation for the shortfall, were arrested when the matter was brought to the attention of the police.
Police have warned members of the public against stealing as it carries a custodial sentence if one is unfortunate.
Zimbabwe is currently facing a shortage of maize meal and has resorted to sourcing maize from other countries.
South African based Prophet Shepherd Bushiri recently signed an agreement with Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe to assist the country with a supply of maize to avert the impending draught.-Online
The former war of liberation fighters will from the month-end of April be entitled to a combined pension plus allowance of ZWL$4 800.
The Harare based law firm Kanoti and partners last month wrote a letter to the Minister of Defense Oppah Muchinguri, Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube and the Paymaster informing them of the court order.
“Kindly be served here with the copy of the 13 March 2020 judgment in Case No HO 1548/19 for your attention and subsequent actioning in particular payment of the court $2 000 to the applicants on their April 2020 pay date.” The law firm said. “However out of an abundance of caution, we also respectfully remind your esteemed offices that as this $2 000 sum was payable monthly from January 1998 it entails that the 140% adjustments your offices jointly and severally to their wrongful $513 00, or thereabouts, the monthly pension has of law to be effected upon their lawful and now court-ordered $2 000 monthly pensions.”
The letter added that the amount is due from the April pay date.
“In effect, it means from January 2020 when the 140% was factored each war veteran became automatically entitled to an increment of $2 800.00 over and above the $2 000.00 thus giving a total $4 800.00 per month in monthly war veteran pension beginning this coming April 2020 pay date.”
By Stephen Chuma|Emmerson Mnangagwa is a man living on borrowed time!
Take the ravaging Corona pandemic aside, surely Mnangagwa would have been facing a massive and serious civil unrest by now.
An opportunist of proportions, Mnangagwa saw a window of opportunity in the deadly Corona pandemic and a leeway to elongate his illegitimate stay at Munhumutapa offices.
While the idea of a lockdown in face of the deadly Corona pandemic is not a bad idea altogether, it is crystal clear that the biggest beneficiary thus far is Emmerson Mnangagwa and not the hungry and angry masses who survive from hand to mouth.
Normally the lockdown period is supposed to reduce deleterious effects of the pandemic, but alas in our case it is the opposite.
This is largely because the cartels run government deliberately lacks will to tackle the pandemic.
Talk of testing kits or mere personal protective equipment like masks, Mnangagwa’s regime has dismally failed to provide the basics to combat the spread of the disease.
Of course ZANU PF apologists will be quick to point to Mnangagwa’s unilateral declaration of 21 days lockdown as a control measure but we all know what serious countries world over are doing to ensure that lockdown serve purpose.
Closer home, the South African government makes sure that all its citizenry is well catered for as far as basic human rights fundamentals like food, clean water and access to personal protective clothing is concerned.
Back home, besides untold harassment of poverty stricken masses by the uniformed forces, Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship has virtually done nothing to save and serve the people.
Clearly there is no connection whatsoever between the governors and the governed.
A clear indication that there is lack of social contract between the rulers and the ruled!
Overtly there is no passion for the people by those who stole the mandate from the people.
To think these are the very same people who dished out millions of bandanas, t-shirts, scarfs and zambias during the election season but now fail to provide masks is utterly disgusting!
Outside Covid-19, people are groaning and dying of starvation in this lockdown period.
Citizens have been completely shut out from their only source of livelihood – vending yet this heartless regime offers no alternative for survival.
All we have seen is parasitic ZANU PF district chairpersons capitalizing on people’s misery by creating databases that will be selectively used to distribute aid on partisan lines.
To divert us from our excruciating man made suffering, Mnangagwa goes on to set a very disinteresting Komichi-Khupe Supreme Court drama.
The level of rot and stinking poverty in the ghettos and countryside tells a harrowing story of a people without a government!
Citizens are hungry and angry because of the economic rot presided over by Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa is treading dangerously on a political cliff edge and for now only lockdown can save him.
Winter might be too cold for Mnangagwa.
Surely we cannot go on like this!
We are the people, we are the power!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) have been confirmed in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean authorities have introduced a number of measures to limit the spread of the virus, including announcing the closure of all borders to non-residents and a countrywide lockdown as of 30 March, for 21 days. Commercial airlines have suspended all flights in to and out of Zimbabwe. You should consult your airline and travel insurance company immediately to understand what impact this will have for your travel plans. You should ensure you have accommodation for this entire period as some hotels may close at short notice. If you take regular medication, you should ensure you have a sufficient supply See Coronavirus and Return to the UK.
Given the rapidly changing situation in the region, we are temporarily withdrawing a limited number of UK staff and their dependents from our Embassy. The Embassy will continue to carry out essential work including providing 24/7 consular assistance and support to British people in Zimbabwe.
You should avoid any political gatherings or demonstrations. These can be unpredictable, can turn violent without notice and the response from the security forces may be disproportionate. You should exercise a high degree of caution and monitor local media and this travel advice for updates.
Taking photographs of members of police and armed forces personnel and of demonstrations and protests is not permitted. You should avoid political activity, or activities which could be considered political, including political discussions in public places. Ensure you carry identification, so that you can produce it if required to do so by the security forces. See Political situation
Zimbabwe’s economic situation remains unpredictable. As of 24 June 2019, the only legal tender in Zimbabwe is the “Zimbabwe Dollar”. There is a shortage of physical cash and it’s currently not possible to make cash withdrawals using an international bank card. You should check with your tour operator or hotel what payment methods will be accepted. See Money
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing severe electricity shortages resulting in extended periods without power. During blackouts, you should exercise a high degree of caution when driving as traffic lights may not be operational. Water rationing is being experienced in certain parts of the country. Contact your tour operator or hotel for latest updates.
Availability of fuel is sporadic and queues are common. You are advised to check in advance if you can make payment with an international payment card. See Road travel
Tropical Cyclone Idai caused significant flooding and mud slides across many parts of eastern Zimbabwe in March 2019. Whilst the access situation has improved, many roads and bridges in the affected areas are still impassable. Electricity, water, and telecommunications networks have been impacted. If travelling to affected regions, take extra care and follow any advice given by the local authorities. Contact your hotel prior to travel to check that the hotel is still accessible and open.
On 6 September 2018, a cholera outbreak was declared in Harare by the Ministry of Health of Zimbabwe. See Health
There’s a moderate level of crime in Zimbabwe. Remain vigilant, especially after dark, and make sure accommodation and vehicles are secure. See Safety and security
Always carry identity documentation or a copy of your passport. See Local laws and customs
Holiday and business visas are available at the port of entry. Don’t violate the conditions of your visa. See Visas
Dual British-Zimbabwean nationals who travel to Zimbabwe must have a valid travel document to re-enter the United Kingdom. It’s not possible to re-enter the UK using a Zimbabwean passport or emergency travel document without a visa or entry clearance endorsed. See Dual nationals
Air Zimbabwe has been refused permission to operate flights to the EU because the airline has been unable to demonstrate that it complies with international air safety standards. British government employees travelling to and within Zimbabwe have been advised to use carriers that aren’t subject to the EU operating ban. See Air travel
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Zimbabwe, attacks can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.
Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.
According to the United Nations, Africa has over 10 000 COVID-19 cases, 500+ deaths and over 900 recoveries.
Zimbabwe and South Sudan are among the most vulnerable African countries as over 7.7 million people are food insecure in Zimbabwe according to the WFP and the fighting in South Sudan according to the publication.
The UNWFP is appealing for $130 million to feed vulnerable people in Zimbabwe while according to the publication: In an appeal to the authorities to step up efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the Commission on Human Rights in the world’s youngest country warned that 1.5 million people who’ve fled years of violence are at greater risk than ever.
Commission chair Yasmin Sooka said that it was unrealistic to even “talk about strict social distancing” at the moment.
So many displaced persons still live in tents, she said, “often inches apart from one other, and subsisting on rapidly diminishing humanitarian aid”.
They have only limited access to healthcare, water, hygiene and sanitation, food, and adequate housing, with women and children among the worst affected by these shortages, Ms. Sooka explained.
COVID-19 has killed over 76000 people and over 1.2 million people have been infected worldwide while 52 countries in Africa have recorded COVID-19 cases.-The Zimbabwean
One of the pictures doing the rounds on social media
Hailstorms that swept over some parts of Mutasa and Nyanga districts since Tuesday left a trail of destruction to property and infrastructure.
The storms were first reported in Odzi on Tuesday where a whole roof of a two-classroom block at St Francis Matanga Primary School were blown off.
Part of the roof on a girls’ toilet was also blown off.
There was also some damage to roads and trees that were felled by the storm before it moved to Nyanga. Areas surrounding Regina Coeli Mission were hit by the hailstorms from around 3.30pm on Wednesday until the early hours of Thursday.
Civil Protection Unit director, Mr Nathan Nkomo said his office was still to be furnished with finer details of the hailstorm and referred further questions to acting Manicaland Provincial Development Co-ordinator, Mr Edgars Seenza. Mr Seenza said he was waiting for a report from the Nyanga District Development Co-ordinator.
Roman Catholic Diocesan education secretary, Mr Lawrence Chibvuri said the storm damaged two classrooms at Regina Coeli Primary School.
“I received a report that two classrooms were damaged. Part of the roof on one of the classrooms was blown away and there were some structural damages to the office area and the other classroom,” he said.
“At St Francis, the roof of a two-classroom block was also blown off, but the trusses were not affected. We will need to move swiftly to repair these damages before schools open so that we do not disturb lessons.”
Manicaland provincial meteorological officer, Mr Lucas Murambi said Nyanga had received about 15mm of rain before the hailstorm.
“Nyanga is a generally cold area, but in the afternoon temperatures were relatively high and we had convective clouds resulting in thunderstorms. We had very little rain, but there was a lot of hailstones instead. Temperatures decreased causing the hailstones to stick to the ground for a longer period. That is why people woke up to see the piles of hailstones on the ground. They took longer to dissolve since temperatures were still very low,” he said.
He said his office had not yet received detailed reports on the extent of damages caused by the hailstorm.
Images of the hailstorm has since gone viral on the social media with villagers expressing shock, saying they had not witnessed something of that magnitude in the area.
DYNAMOS player Godknows Murwira says the league suspension has worked in his favour.
The Premier Soccer League, which was supposed to begin last month, was suspended due to the Covid-19 after President Mnangagwa’s call to suspend all sporting activities to curb the spread of the virus.
So far Zimbabwe has recorded 11 cases with two deaths. “I’m hoping that l will be okay when the league resumes.
“And l am happy that the suspension has worked in my favour and has given me time to recover from the injury.
“I’m doing everything l can to make sure that l recover quickly,” he said.
He added: “I’m not sure of how long will l be out but l am certain that l won’t take long to recover.
“But l don’t want to strain myself with too much training.
“I’m working on what my body the injury requires.
Yes the injury is a set back but the suspension has worked in my favour.
“And l am doing all l can to make sure that l play when the season resumes because that’s what l was born for.”
The former Ngezi Platinum Star also had his sentiments on the virus and has encouraged people to be safe.
“I urge people to observe the locked down and make sure that they stay at home.
“We have to maintain social distance and be safe.
“If everyone manages to do that then we will all be safe from this virus. And l want to wish everyone who is infected a speed recovery.
“I urge everyone to be cautious and follow the steps so that we will fight this virus together and we will all be safe,” he said.-H-Metro
By Innocent Gonese| Over the last week the people of Zimbabwe have been preoccupied by two main issues: The Corona Virus epidemic and the Supreme Court Judgment in the case of MDC et al vs Elias Mashavira et al handed down on the 31st of March 2020 which has also been dubbed the Corona Judgment.
The mere fact that as Zimbabweans we have been diverted from focusing on a global epidemic speaks volumes about the nature of the judgment and the timing of its delivery.
There is something clearly amiss about the Judiciary choosing to deliver its ruling in a matter reserved several months ago at a time when we are supposed to be grappling with a monumental global crisis and when the Chief Justice himself had indicated that only urgent matters would be handled by the courts otherwise most matters would be postponed.
In analysing this judgment one should not lose sight of the political context and how our Judiciary has handled itself not just in this case but in several others and in particular I will refer to the Constitutional case that Honourable Jessie Majome and I, filed in against Constitutional Amendment no 1, which was heard early last year and whose judgment was handed down on the same day.
Firstly there was an inordinate delay in delivering the judgment. While I am not in agreement with the findings made by the Supreme court in relation to the proceedings in the National Assembly, at least the court accepted our submissions relating to the Senate Proceedings but in its Final Order then gave the Executive a second bite at the cherry by suspending the operation of the Order of invalidity for 180 days to ensure that the order is a virtual brutum fulmen.
Surely having found that the two-thirds threshold was not met in the Senate the amendment should simply have been set aside.
Now turning to the issue at hand, I will start by giving the background as the law does not operate in a vacuum .
It is common cause that since its formation, the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has given The Zanupf regime a run for its money and inspite of various machinations it has remained standing for over 20 years now.
One does not need a very high Intelligent Quotient (IQ) to link the delivery of the judgment at a time when people’s movements are limited and the police presence at Morgan Tsvangirai House as well as Thokozani Khupe’s triumphant tweet and Morgen Komichi’s prepared speech.
All these events point to the sinister involvement of the illegitimate regime and coupled with the subsequent re-emergence of Obert Gutu and his tweets; one sees the unmistakable footprints of Zanupf
Going back to the pertinent case, Elias Mashavira calls himself a District Organizing Secretary from Gokwe who was legally represented by a legal practitioner from Mutare in Manicaland (Ashel Mutungura) and at the Appeal his lawyer was assisted by Sarudzai Chatsanga from Nyanga.
Honourable Senator Mwonzora comes from Nyanga and all this could be a coincidence but the possibility of an indigent litigant who did not even attend at the Supreme Court on the 31st March having mounted such a costly litigation merely to vindicate his rights, where there is little or no tangible benefit to himself stretches credibility too far.
I submit that Elias Mashavira was simply a front and the real Applicant was none other than the person who did not have the courage to bring the case but whose behavior was always suspicious but there will be no prizes for guessing who that is .
I was present in the Supreme Court on the day that the case was argued and all those who are familiar with court proceedings will appreciate that when Counsel are presenting arguments you can read the Court’s mindset and clearly Justices Patel and Garwe appeared to be on point and this emerges from the judgment when it interrogates the issue of mootness and that should then have led the Court to the inescapable conclusion that whatever the other controversial findings of the court there was simply no question of upholding the High Court judgment in terms of the Order given then worse still the one on Appeal.
This is so because you can not unwind the hands of time and go back to the past. The parties have moved in directly opposed directions and their positions are not reconcilable.
Indeed, Khupe has now become an acolyte of the illegitimate regime and even imposing her for one second is a non starter.
Other people who were members of the National Council like Honourable Majome have retired from politics and she is now a ZACC Commissioner, while Honourable James Maridadi is now the Ambassador to Senegal
We also have people like Patrick Chitaka who flirted with People First then Nkosana Moyo before standing as an independent before announcing his retirement and then becoming a commentator and lambasting the MDC Alliance as a terrorist organization, now saying that he is suspending his retirement.
Then you also have the likes of Obert Gutu waxing lyrical about recalling MDC Alliance MPs oblivious of his embarrassing performance as a candidate in Harare East in the 2018 elections.
These are practical considerations which a serious court of law should have thought about before it issued a determination.
Granted some of them were not before the court, but when it took cognisance of the outcome of the 2018 general elections the court must also have been aware of the different paths taken by the parties in particular Khupe’s involvement in POLAD and the politics of resistance persued by Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the MDC Alliance party.
This is not to say that the other findings of the court are legally sound. Far from it as both the court a quo and the Appeal Court failed to interrogate the lengthy delay in challenging the appointment of the Vice Presidents more than two years after the event.
The Application was only made in September 2018 and the lame explanation that he only acted after seing the opinion of Advocate Erick Matinenga is devoid of logic. How did he come across the opinion and in what circumstances?
Any serious court would be expected to interrogate such aspects as ignorantia juris non excusat (ignorance of the law is no excuse).
That should have been fatal to the application.
It was also in the public domain that one Parston Murimoga tried to challenge the appointments in 2016 and no one persued the matter and for someone to resucitate the issue and succeed so long afterwards is a sad indictment on our courts.
The other issues relate to double standards in our judicary when faced with similar facts regarding the exhaustion of domestic remedies in the Kudakwashe Bhasikiti case the court ruled against him but in the recent case they found a way to accommodate Mashavira.This is curious and leads one to conclude that the law is applied selectively to suit predetermined objectives.
Law is not an exact science and courts can come up with a judgment which some people can applaud but it is necessary for Judges to introspect before making such far reaching decisions with equally far reaching consequences.
The adage that Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done is very apt in this case. This will go down as a grave injustice and it will cause serious embarrassment to our courts for many years to come
Did the Court look at the import of ordering an Extraordinary Congress a year after the Ordinary Congress was due? All the terms of the Office Bearers were supposed to expire in October 2019. Is it assumed that the Court has ipso facto extended these terms?
Further, the agenda of the so called Extraordinary Congress is just one; to elect a President and what about the other office bearers?
All these are questions which any serious court should have examined armed with the Constitution they had before them. That they did not is cause for serious concern.
However the most glaring shortcoming is the failure to appreciate that there are no two MDC T’s as claimed by Professor Lovemore Madhuku
The Judges had before them clear submissions that the party which contested under Advocate Nelson Chamisa was the MDC Alliance which subsequently had a Congress in May 2019 before the Appeal Hearing.
This was the clearest evidence that the case was moot and the judgment is not capable of enforcement.
I have heard suggestions that the MDC Alliance family should comply with the Court Ruling and that this would be upholding the Rule of Law.
With respect it is like trying to close the stable door when the horses have already bolted. It is simply not practicable for numerous reasons.
This is why in divorce cases once a marriage has irretrievably broken down no court will Order the parties to reconcile but it will rather deal with the ancillary issues.
In conclusion the judgment delivered by Justice Patel on the 31st March 2020 will be rightly or wrongly seen as a political judgment as it is baffling as to how the esteemed judges failed to appreciate that the final order granted was no longer feasible.
Innocent Gonese Secretary for Legal Affairs MDC Alliance
Shingirai Chirume know by his church activities as Prophet Makandiwa
HARARE – Prominent preacher Emmanuel Makandiwa whose real name is Shingirai Chirume has risked angering health authorities after telling his followers that the novel coronavirus would not kill them.
Zimbabwe is under a 21-day lockdown which started March 30 to help control the spread of the global pandemic, which has so far killed more than 88,300 people worldwide. The restrictions include a ban on church gatherings, which has forced many church leaders to turn to online sermons for their followers.
In a broadcast on Wednesday, Makandiwa told his followers that they would not die – a message which authorities will find unhelpful as it can lead to risk-taking under a false belief of divine immunity.
Claiming that the coronavirus was “spoken many many years ago”, Makandiwa said: “Everyone under the sound of my voice, as long as you can hear me, you’re spared. There’s not even one person listening to me tonight who shall be killed by this disease.
“You will not die because the Son (Jesus) is involved in what we’re doing.”
Makandiwa said he was giving his followers “freedom no medication can offer.”
“You can’t find this freedom in any pharmacy. If you can hear my voice tonight, start praying for others, stop praying for yourself… you’re covered, you’re protected,” he added.
Health authorities worldwide are calling for greater personal hygiene including regular washing of hands with soap or hand sanitisers and avoiding touching the face, as well as shunning crowds. Handshakes are strongly discouraged.
The virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Presently, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus.
Makandiwa will not be the first preacher to get into the cross-hairs of health authorities for misleading followers on the virus.
In Nigeria, there have been calls for the arrest of prominent TV preacher Chris Oyakhilome, known as Pastor Chris, after he repeated a discredited theory that the coronavirus is caused by fifth generation (5G) mobile communication technology.
“Don’t think what is happening right now has to do with a virus. It’s not a virus. The world has chosen to be deceived. As they have been deceived many times before,” Pastor Chris claimed.
“If you still don’t yet know what is going on, know today; it’s not about the coronavirus. This is basically a group of people serving a devilish cause trying to checkmate humanity to hell.
“There’s a movie called ‘Divergent’ from 2014. That’s what the groups that are interested in the New World Order are up to, to put vaccine in your body containing a digital ID, by which you as a human being can be controlled, you cease to be yourself.”
He claimed Nigeria’s federal government locked down Abuja, Lagos and Ogun to install 5G, and not to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“They had already tested 5G in Abuja and now they are digging in Lagos to get it ready. That’s why they locked down Abuja and Lagos so that the 5G can be installed.”
His bizarre conspiracy theory, which has been peddled by others online, has been rejected by other Nigerian preachers and the country’s communications ministry.
“What Oyakhilome has done has the tendency of rolling back the gains made in the fight against Covid-19 and also of derailing efforts at containing the spread of the disease. What he has done can be termed a terrorist act for its capability of leading citizens astray to mass death and certain doom. He should be held to account,” wrote Nigerian journalist Fredrick Nwabufo.
A conspiracy theory that links 5G mobile telecommunications masts to the spread of the novel coronavirus is dangerous fake news and completely false, according to experts.
In Britain and Brazil, masts were torched by people taken in by the conspiracy.
When asked by a reporter about the so called “theory” that 5G telecommunications masts could play a role in the spread of the disease, British Cabinet Officer Minister Michael Gove said: “That is just nonsense, dangerous nonsense as well.”
National Health Service England’s national medical director, Stephen Powis, said the 5G conspiracy idea was fake news with no scientific backing that risked damaging the emergency response to the outbreak.
“The 5G story is complete and utter rubbish, it’s nonsense, it’s the worst kind of fake news,” Powis said. “The reality is that the mobile phone networks are absolutely critical to all of us. Those are also the phone networks that are used by our emergency services and our health workers and I’m absolutely outraged, absolutely disgusted that people would be taking action against the very infrastructure that we need to respond to this health emergency.”
Daily News|AS ANXIETY levels over the deadly coronavirus continue to rise in the country, health experts are cranking up the heat on the government to come clean on its lack of preparedness to deal with the pandemic.
In addition, both medical doctors and human rights groups have told the Daily News that it is time that Zimbabwe asks for urgent international help if the country is to avert “a catastrophe of epic proportions”.
This comes as Zimbabwe has recorded its third death from Covid-19, amid growing fears that the country’s lack of preparedness could lead to an avalanche of infections among ordinary people.
It also comes as the 21-day national lockdown that was imposed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month to combat the spread of coronavirus is losing momentum, with more people breaching the regulations.
And now — in the wake of the death of a 79-year-old Bulawayo man who was confirmed to have had coronavirus — both doctors and human rights groups say the country needs to appeal for urgent international assistance to avert disaster.
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) said bluntly that the death of the Bulawayo man was a result of the government’s lack of corona preparedness.
“ZADHR is deeply concerned by the continued lack of preparedness in handling severe Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe.
“Equally, we are extremely worried by the possible exposure of health workers, both in private and public facilities, who are working without PPEs (Personal Protective Equipment).
“We urge health authorities to account for the … management of this case … It took five days (from 2 to 7 April) to get the result of the Covid-19 test, a period which is too long,” ZADHR said.
“The inability to diagnose on time is a clear sign that health professionals attending the deceased were exposed, as they lack essential protective equipment.
“The absence of diagnostic facilities for Covid-19 also brings to question the state of preparedness of centres outside Harare.
“What is the government doing to improve the turn-around time for tests? The patient was treated at a local hospital. Is this an infectious diseases hospital or a Covid-19 designated facility?” ZADHR said further.
“Previously, the minister of Health … assured the nation that the country is ready to deal with Covid-19 cases countrywide. The lack of clarity raises lots of questions.
“The patient was first seen on 23 March and was not advised to self-quarantine or get tested for Covid-19. “ZADHR believes that this case and the continued demise of severe cases of Covid-19 patients mirrors the utter lack of preparedness of the health system,” it added.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) was among those that said yesterday that it was becoming clear that the government was ill-prepared to handle the pandemic, and thus needed to appeal for help to avoid a human catastrophe in the country.
“The government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic should be rights-centred, honest and transparent. Lack of seriousness and propaganda can lead to catastrophic results.
“If the government lacks capacity, it must come out in the open and ask the international community, through the World Health Organisation, to step in and save lives,” HRW director for southern Africa, Dewa Mavhinga, told the Daily News.
The issue of how ill-prepared Zimbabwe has been to deal with Covid-19 was brought to the fore last month following the death of broadcaster Zororo Makamba — after he apparently contracted the lethal virus in the United States of America (USA).
His death and the family’s subsequent exclusive interview with the Daily News touched the hearts of many Zimbabweans and foreigners alike, generating wide debate about the government’s lack of capacity to deal with the disease.
Makamba family spokesperson, Tawanda, highlighted Wilkins Hospital’s lack of capacity to handle coronavirus patients.
“At the end, before he died, Zororo kept telling us that he was alone and scared and that the staff were refusing to help him, to a point where he got up and tried to walk out and they were trying to restrain him.
“I want people to know that the government is lying. Remember at some point I spoke to the president and he was saying that the report he had received about Wilkins from the Health minister was that there is equipment and medicine.
“However, right now they don’t even have water at Wilkins. The doctor we were in contact with here at Wilkins would turn off his phone, yet he was the critical contact person.
“This is such a heart-breaking experience for us and it goes to show the lack of seriousness our government has in dealing with the coronavirus,” Tawanda told the Daily News then.
Last weekend, the government also admitted that it was facing challenges with its coronavirus testing kits, with most of its stocks defective.
“We received some kits which we are not using because we found that they were defective. “We are, therefore, waiting to receive definitive testing kits because some of the rapid results testing kits we have give defective results. “This way, one person can test negative when one is positive, and a positive person can test negative when that is not the case. So, those tests are not reliable,” Health and Child Care minister, Obadiah Moyo told our sister publication the Daily News On Sunday.
“The only reliable testing that is taking place in the country is being carried by the government and not private hospitals.
“As government, we are using the golden standard which is definitive, although this takes five hours for results to show.
“We hope to get more testing kits so that we come up with results early,” Moyo further told the Daily News on Sunday.
Meanwhile, panic has gripped residents of Bulawayo following the death of the 79-year-old man who is said to have been in contact with many people before he fell seriously ill.
Bulawayo City Council medical director, Edwin Sibanda, said they were tracing the family of the deceased, and had so far identified 13 people who came into contact with him.
“We have collected specimens from 13 people, including healthcare workers, from Mater Dei Hospital. “Samples have been collected and sent to Harare. We are now following up on the rest of the family,” Sibanda told the Daily News.
The deceased was expected to be cremated yesterday. Meanwhile, Bulawayo residents and civil society leaders have also appealed to the government to decentralise Covid-19 testing.
They also appealed to the authorities to quickly capacitate Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital, which has been identified as an isolation centre for the region together with Ekusileni Medical Centre.
Authorities say the deceased man died on Saturday after initially presenting himself before a general practitioner on March 23.
“His condition deteriorated during the evening of the day of admission and he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the critical care and management in isolation, under a specialist physician.
“Whilst waiting for the Covid-19 test results, the patient continued to receive intravenous antibiotics and, additionally, he received medical treatment as a clinical case of Covid-19.
“On Saturday the 4th of April, his condition continued to deteriorate despite management in ICU until he died,” the government said.
Farai Dziva|Dean Furman has not received any offer but will leave SuperSport United to return to UK to start a family with his wife, the player’s agent Glyn Binkin has said.
The 31-year old will not renew his contract with Pretoria-based side when it expires at the end of the season.
“No [offers] as yet. He will be returning to the United Kingdom and that would be his first option as his wife is pregnant and both his and her families are based in the United Kingdom so that would be the ideal situation,” Binkin told Goal.
Furman arrived at United in 2015 after leaving English side Doncaster Rovers.
The government has assured the public that it has enough medicines to treat the symptoms of covid-19. This was said by the chairperson of the committee in charge of medicines during the Covid 19 crisis, Dr Sekesayi Nzenza, announces a ZBC news reader, to which the minister then says:
“when we were hit by the covid-19 pandemic that has spread around the whole world, us as Zimbabweans, president Emmerson Mnangagwa put together a task force from the cabinet to lead in the effort to to curb the covid-19 disease. To prevent and treat the disease, we need medicines; So Caps Pharmaceuticals has powers and expertise to produce other medicines, desperately needed to treat covid-19. We have heard from Farirai Mutema, that number 1 drug, capable of reducing the body temperature of a patient, is Paracetamol.
“Paracetamol is being produced right here at Caps Pharmaceuticals.
“Right now as you can see, this is an analgesic.
“we have a lot of paracetamol. We have increased our production. To ensure that the public when they they are now experiencing high temperatures, when they are now being pained, they will no longer be troubled of paracetamol scarcity, because we have paracetamol here at Caps.”
Several Zimbabwean players plying their trade in foreign countries say they embraced pay cuts as a genuine move, which has been prompted by the COVID-19 lockdown which reduced revenue generation.
Most European clubs have suggested pay cuts for players in an attempt to avert the burden on the clubs’ coffers.
Big-names across the world have given up a portion of their salaries, including Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo, to reduce costs at their clubs where there has been no income following to the suspension of league games and international competitions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A survey by Soccer24 revealed that most foreign-based players had embraced the move, as a genuine step to keep their clubs in business.
“For me, it’s something that is difficult for both teams and players but it’s because of the situation, it’s not that teams wanted us to stop (playing) but the situation caused it, so we just have to adjust to it, that’s how life is,” said Myanmar-based defender Victor Kamhuka.
Stade de Reims midfielder Marshal Munetsi said nothing had been discussed to that effect, but he admitted that the situation is difficult for everyone and needed compromise.
ABSA Premiership based players also look set to get pay cuts as clubs take steps that would help them remain afloat financially.-Soccer
DYNAMOS player Godknows Murwira says the league suspension has worked in his favour.
The Premier Soccer League, which was supposed to begin last month, was suspended due to the Covid-19 after President Mnangagwa’s call to suspend all sporting activities to curb the spread of the virus.
So far Zimbabwe has recorded 11 cases with two deaths. “I’m hoping that l will be okay when the league resumes.
“And l am happy that the suspension has worked in my favour and has given me time to recover from the injury.
“I’m doing everything l can to make sure that l recover quickly,” he said.
He added: “I’m not sure of how long will l be out but l am certain that l won’t take long to recover.
“But l don’t want to strain myself with too much training.
“I’m working on what my body the injury requires.
Yes the injury is a set back but the suspension has worked in my favour.
“And l am doing all l can to make sure that l play when the season resumes because that’s what l was born for.”
The former Ngezi Platinum Star also had his sentiments on the virus and has encouraged people to be safe.
“I urge people to observe the locked down and make sure that they stay at home.
“We have to maintain social distance and be safe.
“If everyone manages to do that then we will all be safe from this virus. And l want to wish everyone who is infected a speed recovery.
“I urge everyone to be cautious and follow the steps so that we will fight this virus together and we will all be safe,” he said.-H-Metro
On this day in 1996, Leonard Tazvivinga Dembo, also nicknamed Musoro We Nyoka died.
Born on February 6 1959 in Chivi, Masvingo, the Zimbabwean guitar-band musician and member of the band Barura Express started singing aged 9.
Dembo, whose real name was Kwangwari Gwaindepi’s early childhood is not fully documented.
However, his relatives alleged that he grew up without his father, an experience he later on reflected in his song writing, particularly in such songs as Nhamo Moto and Nhamo Iya ndakura Nayo.
He attended primary school initially in Buhera, and later in Bulawayo, and also in Chembira School, Harare.
However, he allegedly did not attend secondary school. On completing primary school he returned to Bulawayo looking for work.
His singing career
Dembo was interested in singing from as early as nine when he was a shepherd-boy and later when he moved to Bulawayo to look for work soon after the Zimbabwean Independence.
He was largely inspired by the success of such other musicians such as Jonah Moyo and the Chimbetu Brothers.
His music incorporated traditional Shona sayings in his lyrics and his musical style was rhumba-based, played on electric guitars tuned to emulate the characteristic sounds of the mbira.
Dembo seemed to have been interested in love songs. Also known as the King Of Sungura music, due to the lead guitarist skills he had from the creative melodies he churned,
Dembo is still a legend in Zimbabwe as his songs still continue to sell widely and budding musicians find inspiration from his hits.
Farai Dziva|Golden Munandi says his 18-year football career never gave him a fortune and is now selling chocolate sweets to earn a living.
The retired attacking midfielder, 35, played for a number of teams in the top-flight including CAPS United, Black Rhinos, FC Platinum and Triangle, and also featured for Bulawayo Chiefs and Zimbabwe Saints in Division One.
In an interview with Chronicle, Munandi said he regrets that football only gave him fame and friends without fortune.
“For the past 18 years, I enjoyed playing local football. However, I regret that I only got fame and friends from playing the game for 19 local clubs,” he said.
“For the past 18 years, I enjoyed playing local football. I was so nomadic all in search of greener pastures, but here I am, now a former footballer who is selling chocolate sweets which I import from South Africa.”
The former player feels FC Platinum betrayed him when they terminated his contract and didn’t pay him signing-on fees and compensation. He had helped the team gain promotion, but the arrival of Rahman Gumbo saw him fell out of favour.
“With the great work I did for the team since our days in the lower divisions, the treatment that I got from them at the end of the day was a slap in the face,” Munandi added.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Highlanders received a paltry US$8.50 for television rights for the 2019 season from Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), it has emerged.
In 2018, the national broadcaster and the Premier Soccer League signed a deal to flight league games on television and radio, a deal which sees clubs benefiting from it in terms of broadcasting rights.
According to the 2019 inflation-adjusted audited financial statement released by Bosso, the Bulawayo based side got ZW$383, which is about (US$8.50).-Soccer 24
According to the United Nations, Africa has over 10 000 COVID-19 cases, 500+ deaths and over 900 recoveries.
Zimbabwe and South Sudan are among the most vulnerable African countries as over 7.7 million people are food insecure in Zimbabwe according to the UNWFP and the fighting in South Sudan according to the publication.
The UNWFP is appealing for $130 million to feed vulnerable people in Zimbabwe while according to the publication: In an appeal to the authorities to step up efforts to contain the spread of the virus, the Commission on Human Rights in the world’s youngest country warned that 1.5 million people who’ve fled years of violence are at greater risk than ever.
Commission chair Yasmin Sooka said that it was unrealistic to even “talk about strict social distancing” at the moment.
So many displaced persons still live in tents, she said, “often inches apart from one other, and subsisting on rapidly diminishing humanitarian aid”.
They have only limited access to healthcare, water, hygiene and sanitation, food, and adequate housing, with women and children among the worst affected by these shortages, Ms. Sooka explained.
COVID-19 has killed over 76000 people and over 1.2 million people have been infected worldwide while 52 countries in Africa have recorded COVID-19 cases.-The Zimbabwean
Farai Dziva|Opposition party, MDC says health workers are badly exposed to the deadly Coronavirus such that government should implement measures to avert an impending catastrophe.
In a statement MDC health secretary Dr Henry Madzorera said:
” Our health workers are still working without the necessary Personal Protective Equipment, and this is extremely worrisome.
We are now dealing with a full fledged outbreak and we should not wait for mass fatalities to start acting.
Our narrow window of opportunity to prepare is fast running out.
How many health workers were exposed in this particular case?
Why are we hesitant to test suspects? Does government really have testing kits, adequate to meet this threat? We implore government to disclose exactly how many cases they can test now.
Government needs to cry out loud to the corporate sector and to ordinary citizens at large if we have a shortage of test kits. By now we should be doing tests in the provinces, leaving the NMRL to be a confirmation centre, backed up by the regional collaborative laboratory in South Africa.
Emmerson Mnangagwa is a man living on borrowed time!
Take the ravaging Corona pandemic aside, surely Mnangagwa would have been facing a massive and serious civil unrest by now.
An opportunist of proportions, Mnangagwa saw a window of opportunity in the deadly Corona pandemic and a leeway to elongate his illegitimate stay at Munhumutapa offices.
While the idea of a lockdown in face of the deadly Corona pandemic is not a bad idea altogether, it is crystal clear that the biggest beneficiary thus far is Emmerson Mnangagwa and not the hungry and angry masses who survive from hand to mouth.
Normally the lockdown period is supposed to reduce deleterious effects of the pandemic, but alas in our case it is the opposite.
This is largely because the cartels run government deliberately lacks will to tackle the pandemic.
Talk of testing kits or mere personal protective equipment like masks, Mnangagwa’s regime has dismally failed to provide the basics to combat the spread of the disease.
Of course ZANU PF apologists will be quick to point to Mnangagwa’s unilateral declaration of 21 days lockdown as a control measure but we all know what serious countries world over are doing to ensure that lockdown serve purpose.
Closer home, the South African government makes sure that all its citizenry is well catered for as far as basic human rights fundamentals like food, clean water and access to personal protective clothing is concerned.
Back home, besides untold harassment of poverty stricken masses by the uniformed forces, Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship has virtually done nothing to save and serve the people.
Clearly there is no connection whatsoever between the governors and the governed.
A clear indication that there is lack of social contract between the rulers and the ruled!
Overtly there is no passion for the people by those who stole the mandate from the people.
To think these are the very same people who dished out millions of bandanas, t-shirts, scarfs and zambias during the election season but now fail to provide masks is utterly disgusting!
Outside Covid-19, people are groaning and dying of starvation in this lockdown period.
Citizens have been completely shut out from their only source of livelihood – vending yet this heartless regime offers no alternative for survival.
All we have seen is parasitic ZANU PF district chairpersons capitalizing on people’s misery by creating databases that will be selectively used to distribute aid on partisan lines.
To divert us from our excruciating man made suffering, Mnangagwa goes on to set a very disinteresting Komichi-Khupe Supreme Court drama.
The level of rot and stinking poverty in the ghettos and countryside tells a harrowing story of a people without a government!
Citizens are hungry and angry because of the economic rot presided over by Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa is treading dangerously on a political cliff edge and for now only lockdown can save him.
Winter might be too cold for Mnangagwa.
Surely we cannot go on like this!
We are the people, we are the power!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
By Stephen Chuma Emmerson Mnangagwa is a man living on borrowed time!
Take the ravaging Corona pandemic aside, surely Mnangagwa would have been facing a massive and serious civil unrest by now.
An opportunist of proportions, Mnangagwa saw a window of opportunity in the deadly Corona pandemic and a leeway to elongate his illegitimate stay at Munhumutapa offices.
While the idea of a lockdown in face of the deadly Corona pandemic is not a bad idea altogether, it is crystal clear that the biggest beneficiary thus far is Emmerson Mnangagwa and not the hungry and angry masses who survive from hand to mouth.
Normally the lockdown period is supposed to reduce deleterious effects of the pandemic, but alas in our case it is the opposite.
This is largely because the cartels run government deliberately lacks will to tackle the pandemic.
Talk of testing kits or mere personal protective equipment like masks, Mnangagwa’s regime has dismally failed to provide the basics to combat the spread of the disease.
Of course ZANU PF apologists will be quick to point to Mnangagwa’s unilateral declaration of 21 days lockdown as a control measure but we all know what serious countries world over are doing to ensure that lockdown serve purpose.
Closer home, the South African government makes sure that all its citizenry is well catered for as far as basic human rights fundamentals like food, clean water and access to personal protective clothing is concerned.
Back home, besides untold harassment of poverty stricken masses by the uniformed forces, Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship has virtually done nothing to save and serve the people.
Clearly there is no connection whatsoever between the governors and the governed.
A clear indication that there is lack of social contract between the rulers and the ruled!
Overtly there is no passion for the people by those who stole the mandate from the people.
To think these are the very same people who dished out millions of bandanas, t-shirts, scarfs and zambias during the election season but now fail to provide masks is utterly disgusting!
Outside Covid-19, people are groaning and dying of starvation in this lockdown period.
Citizens have been completely shut out from their only source of livelihood – vending yet this heartless regime offers no alternative for survival.
All we have seen is parasitic ZANU PF district chairpersons capitalizing on people’s misery by creating databases that will be selectively used to distribute aid on partisan lines.
To divert us from our excruciating man made suffering, Mnangagwa goes on to set a very disinteresting Komichi-Khupe Supreme Court drama.
The level of rot and stinking poverty in the ghettos and countryside tells a harrowing story of a people without a government!
Citizens are hungry and angry because of the economic rot presided over by Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa is treading dangerously on a political cliff edge and for now only lockdown can save him.
Winter might be too cold for Mnangagwa.
Surely we cannot go on like this!
We are the people, we are the power!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva|Douglas Mwonzora has claimed he firmly is in charge of Morgan Tsvangirai House and business at the opposition party headquarters will resume after lockdown.
Mwonzora also accused MDC Secretary General Charlton Hwende of “attempting to tamper with party documents.”
Mwonzora, quoted by Daily News said:
“We said Harvest House is under lockdown and that the security was ordered to lock the offices so that no business takes place there.
It is not like I came with a new set of keys, but that I instructed the security to make sure nobody conducts business there.
I am aware that Chalton Hwende went to the office to work, but he knows he is acting in contempt and being irresponsible.
We suspect that he wants to tamper with documents, especially financial records.
We want to warn against that. We have a lot of options, but it is not our intention to be prejudicial, but they must never underestimate our resolve. We know they were disappointed with the court ruling and we allowed them time to cool off.”
Top Slovakian side MŠK Žilina has become the first football team that has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic that is gripping the world.
MSK Zilina which won the Slovakian Super Liga 7 times said in a statement posted on its website:
In the current situation, players with professional contracts could show solidarity, especially to the people who were involved in their training, who provided them with service and conditions.
The players with the highest salaries and those whose contracts were finishing this summer or winter were released.
Our budget for this year is based on revenues we were counting on receiving this summer during the transfer period.
Today, this amount will in all likelihood be close to zero.
The young players, who have shown willingness and solidarity, will have their chances as they have been kept.”
MSK Zilina in 2010 became the Slovakian club to play in the group stages of the Uefa Champions League.-City Press
Kwaita outbreak yeCorona amongst mapostori in Wheathamstead, UK. 2 people have died so far, one is getting buried today. A few others are in hospital. Everything is shrouded in secrecy…No one wants the news published. pic.twitter.com/dMc010yUnb
By Jane Mlambo| Medical doctors today met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and told him to upscale Covid-19 testing amid fears more people could have died of the deadly disease.
The doctors represented by Dr Samukange also told Mnangagwa to establish more testing centres across the country and dump the use of one centre which has seen results taking long to come.
A case in point is the Bulawayo man whose test results only came out three days after his death in a case that exposed the shambolic nature of Zimbabwe’s preparedness to fight the pandemic.
Posting on Twitter, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Nick Mangwana said the medical doctors also told Mnangagwa to institute rapid testing to ensure results come out early as compared to the current situation
“Dr Samukange speaks to HE President @edmnangagwa on behalf of Senior Doctors. He talked of the need to test more, results to come out early, rapid testing and the decetralisation of testing,” said Mangwana.
By Own Correspondent| The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has extended the registration period for November 2020 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations, and will open a window for late entries after the end of the lockdown period.
In a statement yesterday, Zimsec said preparations for both the June and November examinations were on course and no late registration fees would be charged to candidates and centres.
There would be no late registration for the June 2020 examination session with candidates who failed to register being accommodated in the November 2020 examinations.
“Zimsec, like any other institution, is not privy to what will happen after the 21 days of the lockdown, but would like valued stakeholders to know that a window for the registration of candidates for November 2020 examination will be provided when the lockdown is lifted,” it said.
“This provision is in accordance with the Honourable Minister of Primary and Secondary Education’s announcement that all potential candidates will access the 2020 examinations.”
The announcement came after the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) asked the Government to consider suspending all the 2020 examinations until there was a well-informed analysis of the impact of Covid-19.
Zimsec insists the examinations are going ahead with preparations already at an advanced stage.-StateMedia
Health officials here have collected specimens from the remains of a deceased Chiredzi woman,to test whether she succumbed to Covid-19 at Chiredzi District Hospital on Tuesday.
The woman-from the sugar cane growing town-died after being admitted at the hospital for severe pneumonia leading to suspicions she had Covid-19.
Results are expected by today.
Provincial Medical DirextiDirector Dr Amadeous Shamu said her remains had not yet been interred.
“We collected samples from her body and sent them to Harare for testing after we classified her as Covid-19 suspect following her admission and subsequent death in hospital from severe pneumonia”he said.
“The symptoms she showed before her passing on(severe pneumonia) made us to treat her as a Covid-19 suspect and we expect results tomorrow(today)afternoon.”
Following the women’s designation as a Covid-19 suspect her burial would be done in accordance with rules applied to thse who succumb to the disease.
“She has not yet been buried though under normal circumstances she should have been buried earlier considering that she was a Covid-19 suspect.Our teams delayed to go there(Chiredzi Hospital) to collect samples.
“Now I think they will have to wait for her results to come out before burying her.The results will be out by tomorrow(today)afternoon and she will be buried soon after.”
Dr Shamu rubbished circulating reports that the woman died after nurses at Chiredzi Hospital abandoned on suspicion she had Covid-19 because of her symptoms upon checking in.
Masvingo is still to record its first Covid-19 case with two previous suspected cases having both tested negative.
By Innocent Gonese| Over the last week the people of Zimbabwe have been preoccupied by two main issues: The Corona Virus epidemic and the Supreme Court Judgment in the case of MDC et al vs Elias Mashavira et al handed down on the 31st of March 2020 which has also been dubbed the Corona Judgment.
The mere fact that as Zimbabweans we have been diverted from focusing on a global epidemic speaks volumes about the nature of the judgment and the timing of its delivery.
There is something clearly amiss about the Judiciary choosing to deliver its ruling in a matter reserved several months ago at a time when we are supposed to be grappling with a monumental global crisis and when the Chief Justice himself had indicated that only urgent matters would be handled by the courts otherwise most matters would be postponed.
In analysing this judgment one should not lose sight of the political context and how our Judiciary has handled itself not just in this case but in several others and in particular I will refer to the Constitutional case that Honourable Jessie Majome and I, filed in against Constitutional Amendment no 1, which was heard early last year and whose judgment was handed down on the same day.
Firstly there was an inordinate delay in delivering the judgment. While I am not in agreement with the findings made by the Supreme court in relation to the proceedings in the National Assembly, at least the court accepted our submissions relating to the Senate Proceedings but in its Final Order then gave the Executive a second bite at the cherry by suspending the operation of the Order of invalidity for 180 days to ensure that the order is a virtual brutum fulmen.
Surely having found that the two-thirds threshold was not met in the Senate the amendment should simply have been set aside.
Now turning to the issue at hand, I will start by giving the background as the law does not operate in a vacuum .
It is common cause that since its formation, the mainstream Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has given The Zanupf regime a run for its money and inspite of various machinations it has remained standing for over 20 years now.
One does not need a very high Intelligent Quotient (IQ) to link the delivery of the judgment at a time when people’s movements are limited and the police presence at Morgan Tsvangirai House as well as Thokozani Khupe’s triumphant tweet and Morgen Komichi’s prepared speech.
All these events point to the sinister involvement of the illegitimate regime and coupled with the subsequent re-emergence of Obert Gutu and his tweets; one sees the unmistakable footprints of Zanupf
Going back to the pertinent case, Elias Mashavira calls himself a District Organizing Secretary from Gokwe who was legally represented by a legal practitioner from Mutare in Manicaland (Ashel Mutungura) and at the Appeal his lawyer was assisted by Sarudzai Chatsanga from Nyanga.
Honourable Senator Mwonzora comes from Nyanga and all this could be a coincidence but the possibility of an indigent litigant who did not even attend at the Supreme Court on the 31st March having mounted such a costly litigation merely to vindicate his rights, where there is little or no tangible benefit to himself stretches credibility too far.
I submit that Elias Mashavira was simply a front and the real Applicant was none other than the person who did not have the courage to bring the case but whose behavior was always suspicious but there will be no prizes for guessing who that is .
I was present in the Supreme Court on the day that the case was argued and all those who are familiar with court proceedings will appreciate that when Counsel are presenting arguments you can read the Court’s mindset and clearly Justices Patel and Garwe appeared to be on point and this emerges from the judgment when it interrogates the issue of mootness and that should then have led the Court to the inescapable conclusion that whatever the other controversial findings of the court there was simply no question of upholding the High Court judgment in terms of the Order given then worse still the one on Appeal.
This is so because you can not unwind the hands of time and go back to the past. The parties have moved in directly opposed directions and their positions are not reconcilable.
Indeed, Khupe has now become an acolyte of the illegitimate regime and even imposing her for one second is a non starter.
Other people who were members of the National Council like Honourable Majome have retired from politics and she is now a ZACC Commissioner, while Honourable James Maridadi is now the Ambassador to Senegal
We also have people like Patrick Chitaka who flirted with People First then Nkosana Moyo before standing as an independent before announcing his retirement and then becoming a commentator and lambasting the MDC Alliance as a terrorist organization, now saying that he is suspending his retirement.
Then you also have the likes of Obert Gutu waxing lyrical about recalling MDC Alliance MPs oblivious of his embarrassing performance as a candidate in Harare East in the 2018 elections.
These are practical considerations which a serious court of law should have thought about before it issued a determination.
Granted some of them were not before the court, but when it took cognisance of the outcome of the 2018 general elections the court must also have been aware of the different paths taken by the parties in particular Khupe’s involvement in POLAD and the politics of resistance persued by Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the MDC Alliance party.
This is not to say that the other findings of the court are legally sound. Far from it as both the court a quo and the Appeal Court failed to interrogate the lengthy delay in challenging the appointment of the Vice Presidents more than two years after the event.
The Application was only made in September 2018 and the lame explanation that he only acted after seing the opinion of Advocate Erick Matinenga is devoid of logic. How did he come across the opinion and in what circumstances?
Any serious court would be expected to interrogate such aspects as ignorantia juris non excusat (ignorance of the law is no excuse).
That should have been fatal to the application.
It was also in the public domain that one Parston Murimoga tried to challenge the appointments in 2016 and no one persued the matter and for someone to resucitate the issue and succeed so long afterwards is a sad indictment on our courts.
The other issues relate to double standards in our judicary when faced with similar facts regarding the exhaustion of domestic remedies in the Kudakwashe Bhasikiti case the court ruled against him but in the recent case they found a way to accommodate Mashavira.This is curious and leads one to conclude that the law is applied selectively to suit predetermined objectives.
Law is not an exact science and courts can come up with a judgment which some people can applaud but it is necessary for Judges to introspect before making such far reaching decisions with equally far reaching consequences.
The adage that Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done is very apt in this case. This will go down as a grave injustice and it will cause serious embarrassment to our courts for many years to come
Did the Court look at the import of ordering an Extraordinary Congress a year after the Ordinary Congress was due? All the terms of the Office Bearers were supposed to expire in October 2019. Is it assumed that the Court has ipso facto extended these terms?
Further, the agenda of the so called Extraordinary Congress is just one; to elect a President and what about the other office bearers?
All these are questions which any serious court should have examined armed with the Constitution they had before them. That they did not is cause for serious concern.
However the most glaring shortcoming is the failure to appreciate that there are no two MDC T’s as claimed by Professor Lovemore Madhuku
The Judges had before them clear submissions that the party which contested under Advocate Nelson Chamisa was the MDC Alliance which subsequently had a Congress in May 2019 before the Appeal Hearing.
This was the clearest evidence that the case was moot and the judgment is not capable of enforcement.
I have heard suggestions that the MDC Alliance family should comply with the Court Ruling and that this would be upholding the Rule of Law.
With respect it is like trying to close the stable door when the horses have already bolted. It is simply not practicable for numerous reasons.
This is why in divorce cases once a marriage has irretrievably broken down no court will Order the parties to reconcile but it will rather deal with the ancillary issues.
In conclusion the judgment delivered by Justice Patel on the 31st March 2020 will be rightly or wrongly seen as a political judgment as it is baffling as to how the esteemed judges failed to appreciate that the final order granted was no longer feasible.
Innocent Gonese Secretary for Legal Affairs MDC Alliance
By A Correspondent- Government has been taken to court over its failure to provide doctors working on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic with masks.
The Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) is seeking to compel the authorities urgently to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical practitioners, warning that medics in the troubled health sector will otherwise die.
“There are simply no adequate PPEs for health personnel working at public and private health facilities in the country. We attest to the shortages because we work there,” read the court application.
“If no urgent steps are taken to address the shortcomings, the country will be caught unprepared to handle a possible escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic and many lives will be lost, sadly including the lives of those at the frontline.”
ZADHR said 1,500 staff working in public hospitals require at least three masks daily, a “luxury” that the government is failing to provide.
“Yet it is a necessity if we are to avert the Italian disaster, where a large number of health practitioners got infected through the provision of health services to patients,” the statement said.
Since Zimbabwe recorded its first positive case last month, testing has lagged behind. As of last Thursday, only 316 suspected cases had been tested for Covid-19.
According to the health ministry, Zimbabwe has recorded 10 positive cases, including one death – that of Zororo Makamba, a prominent television journalist. With kits unavailable, neither doctors nor suspected sufferers are being tested. Many cases are being turned away from Wilkins hospital, Harare’s main isolation facility.
The latest move comes after junior doctors and nurses went on strike a fortnight ago in protest over the lack of PPE.
A fortnight ago, Zimbabwe received a donation from the Jack Ma Foundation that included 200,000 tests, 100,000 face masks and 10,000 protective suits, but the equipment is not enough for the country’s health personnel.
Tapiwa Mungofa, treasurer of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, said hospitals had entered emergency mode.
“Only a few doctors, especially those with their own transport and those who reside at the hospitals, are reporting for duty,” Mungofa said.
Zimbabwe’s health sector has been crippled since last year after months of strikes over poor working conditions, with doctors claiming that patients were dying due to lack of medical supplies.
Zimbabwe’s once vibrant health delivery system has collapsed over the past two decades, largely due to an economic crisis. This has raised doubts over the country’s ability to cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
In January, doctors ended the months-long strike when billionaire Strive Masiyiwa intervened, offering to pay salaries for more than 2,000 medical personnel for six months.-online
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has questioned government’s preparedness to fight the deadly COVID-19 after a 79-year-old man from Bulawayo had his test results released three days after his death.
In a statement, the MDC said the Bulawayo man’s death left the nation with more questions than answers regarding the seriousness of government in fighting this deadly pandemic.
Below is the MDC statement issued by Secretary for Health, Dr Henry Madzorera.
Second COVID-19 death in Zimbabwe.
We learnt with great sadness the passing on of case no. 11 of confirmed COVID-19 infection in the city of Bulawayo on the 4th of April 2020. This death gives us more questions than answers regarding our seriousness and preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic. We have the following observations to make:
1. Local transmission of COVID-19 is now a reality in Zimbabwe, and a history of foreign travel to a country with COVID-19 should no longer be an important consideration when deciding who a suspect is, and who should be tested. This case had the cardinal symptoms of COVID-19 infection on 23rd March, namely sore throat, cough and fever. That should have been enough to trigger isolation and a visit by the Rapid Response Team, with samples for testing taken there and then.
2. Admission of the patient into a general ward, and then a general ICU, betrays gross lack of preparedness on the part of government. If this patient was admitted into a specialized isolation facility we expect the Ministry to tell that to the nation in clear terms, because it’s important.
3. Our health workers are still working without the necessary Personal Protective Equipment, and this is extremely worrisome. We are now dealing with a full fledged outbreak and we should not wait for mass fatalities to start acting. Our narrow window of opportunity to prepare is fast running out. How many health workers were exposed in this particular case?
4. Why are we hesitant to test suspects? Does government really have testing kits, adequate to meet this threat? We implore government to disclose exactly how many cases they can test now. Government needs to cry out loud to the corporate sector and to ordinary citizens at large if we have a shortage of test kits. By now we should be doing tests in the provinces, leaving the NMRL to be a confirmation centre, backed up by the regional collaborative laboratory in South Africa.
5. In summary, this case betrays gross unpreparedness for the COVID-19 outbreak, and speed of execution is essential if we are to prevent any further unnecessary loss of life, slow down community spread and protect our valued first responders, the health workers. We urge government to do a thorough audit of case no. 11 and learn all the lessons that can be gleaned from it.
Dr H Madzorera Secretary for Health & Child Welfare MDC-Alliance
On Tuesday 07 April, we woke up to very sad news of the passing of Liveson Ncube, who died of the injuries sustained from the beatings by the members of the ZRP on the 30th of March.
All the dreams the boy had, are now shuttered. It is so sad to note that the first death was recorded out of the brutality of the State security agent and first before the Coronavirus struck.
According to the report we got from a devastated family member, the 25 year old boy was standing just outside the family house in Old Lobengula when the uniformed Zimbabwe and Zanu thugs pounced on him, beating him to a sponge.
Unconscious, he was hurried to IMpilo hospital where he spent one night before he was discharged showing signs of recovering but with a paralysed side of his body and died on his sleep on Monday night.
As MLF, we express our deepest concern over the treatment our people are receiving from the Zimbabwean government. For starters, we view the the imposition of the 21days lock-down on Mthwakazi as one thing equal to exposing the nation to the deadly corona virus itself .
In a sober and frank sense, no sane leader would impose a 21days long lock down on people who are living in dire poverty and hunger. What are the people expected to live on while locked in their homes?
Mthwakazi has the highest poverty rate in Southern African binary state with its citizens surviving on just below $2 per day. The circulation of money is so much limited that in some parts of Mthwakazi, people struggle for months to put together $5.
Putting these two facts into account, it then says the 21days imposed was and remains too much for the ordinary people who survive on hand to mouth kind of life. Instead of them dying of the virus, they will starve to death in their homes or they will be forced to defy the rules of the lock-down and see them being victimised in the same faction Mr Liveson Ncube was.
As a movement, we condemn not the barbaric treatment that our people are exposed to but also the attempts to sentence Mthwakazi to death by starvation.
It is improper that the government would impose a lengthy 21 days lock down just because of less than 5 cases that had been reported for over a week. It is going to be hard for the people to stand hunger in their homes yet the figures given do not show high levels of the outbreak of the virus in the ‘country’.
What we saw the security agents doing on the hungry people and the report of the death of Liveson Ncube is nothing but a reminder of how our loved ones were killed during the Gukurahundi era.
During that time the food embargo was imposed on the people of Mthwakazi and those who tried to go around in search of food, were treated in the very same manner as Mr Ncube.
We believe the oppressive government is capitalising on the outbreak of corona to keep in check the activities of Mthwakazi people. This is witnessed by the words of Minister July Moyo that those who felt corona like symptoms in them should go to Wilkins Hospital in Harare.
Why are Mthwakazi healthcare centres not equipped with the testing equipment yet those in Harare are equipped.
In as much as we wish our people to be safe from the deadly corona virus we warm Zimbabwe to stop harassing and killing our people. We further urge them all (Mthwakazi people) to take all necessary precaution measures and sanitise as much as they can, as that is all that can maybe save them for now as hospitals in our land are under equipped.
In that light, we plead with the traditional leaders to stand up and engage the nation’s spirit mediums and seek protection for the Mthwakazi masses from the pandemic.
By A Correspondent- A top police officer has warned that vehicles parked in Harare’s central business district whose owners have no exemption from the lockdown will be impounded with the owners being charged and prosecuted.
National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said only motorists who have been exempted from the lockdown provisions under Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 will be spared.
The warning followed a notable increase in the volumes of traffic coming into the city centre.
Some vehicles, according to the police, are parked for no valid reason or purpose.
“The security services have noted with concern an increase in the volume of traffic, with some vehicles being parked in the CBD.
“Such vehicles will be impounded with the owners being arrested and prosecuted.
“No movement of vehicles or people will be allowed on the country’s roads except those with exemptions. Those with exemptions should also act responsibly and avoid abusing this privilege,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Meanwhile, police have urged people to celebrate Easter holiday at home and avoid gatherings during the 21-day-lockdown period.
“The nation is going to commemorate the Easter Holiday from April 10 to 13, 2020 and at the same time observe the Covid-19 safety and health guidelines which were pronounced by the President of Zimbabwe on March 27.
“The ZRP is therefore urging all Zimbabweans to observe the Easter holiday while at home.”-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Malawi recorded its first Covid-19 death and added three new cases to its tally on Tuesday, bringing its overall number of infections to eight.
According to health minister Jappie Mhango, who also heads the country’s Covid-19 cabinet committee, the deceased was a 51-year-old woman who died in Blantyre on Tuesday morning.
News website, Malawi24 reported that the woman was of Indian origin and had recently returned to Malawi from the United Kingdom.
“She had an underlying medical condition. Our Blantyre District Health Office and Environmental Health Team is assisting with the burial arrangements. As a nation we grieve with the family of the deceased and I urge you all to respect their privacy,” the publication quoted Mhango saying.
Two of the three new cases were recorded in Blantyre, while the other case was from Chikwawa, Malawi24 reported.
One of the patients is a 34-year-old woman who came into contact with the first case victim, who was registered on Monday.
The second patient is a 28-year-old woman who travelled from the United Kingdom to Malawi on March 19.
The third patient is a 30-year-old man who travelled from South Africa to Malawi on March 16.
The coronavirus first surfaced in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
It has since spilled over to other parts of the world, with 1.3 million infections confirmed globally. Over 76 000 deaths have been recorded, and close on 300 000 people have recovered from the virus, according to statistics referencing website Worldometers.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has warned people and motorists against moving out of their residence during this Easter holiday, saying no movement of people or vehicles will be allowed on the country’s roads except those exempted.
In a statement yesterday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said people must observe the lockdown rules pronounced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“The police are urging all Zimbabweans to observe Easter holiday while at home with a view of containing the spread of COVID-19 virus,” he said.
“No movement of vehicles or people will be allowed on the country’s roads, except those with exemptions. Those with exemptions should also act responsibly and avoid abusing the privilege.”
Nyathi said there was a surge of motor vehicles parked in Harare’s central business district, threatening to impound those vehicles and arrest the culprits.
The police said it had so far arrested 2 885 people for violating COVID-19 lockdown rules.
By A Correspondent| One of Zimbabwe’s top sculpture artists, Tom Blomefield, has died.
He was 95.
Blomefield who spent nearly 100 years investing in people, is the founder of the Tengenenge Sculpture Community which is in Guruve.
The cause of death could not be immediately established.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW..
Below was a statement by his son, Steve.
Greetings everyone I have sad news. Tom Blomefield, my father and one of the main movers of the Zimbabwe sculpture movement peacefully passed away today at 11am today in Holland.
Tom Blomefield
He will be sorely missed by tens of thousands of people whose family members learned art at Tengenenge and fed extended families, and who survived droughts, locust invasions and army worm infestations. Many of the thousands who learned sculpture are scattered throughout the world blessing others through their art works.
He lived a long, happy life serving his community and the nation of Zimbabwe. He spoke two African languages fluently [Chewa and Yao] and learned to coexist within these cultures. He also spoke English, Dutch and German.
By A Correspondent- Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader has predicted doom if authorities fail to take decisive measures to address the novel coronavirus.
Chamisa said that the number of people who are being tested for coronavirus in the country per day is too insignificant compared to those being tested in other countries in the region and continent.
He said:
A disaster is loading in Zimbabwe. Lives are at risk. We must Invest in testing & tracking. A lockdown without testing, tracking & isolation is useless. Rwanda has tested over 1500 people in 2 days & SA 68000 so far. Zim has “tested” 392 only over the past month. Leadership a necessity!
His remarks resonate with those of Ali Naka who accuses the government of testing as fewer people as possible to have fewer people testing positive for coronavirus.
Authorities claim that the country is prepared to contain the virus but indicators have so far suggested a mismatch between what is being said and what is on the ground.
The failure by Wilkins Hospital, a Harare institution designated for infectious diseases, to provide a ventilator to Zororo Makamba was viewed as reasonable grounds to say the country is ill-prepared to fight the deadly pandemic
SA Breweries has confirmed nine drivers were arrested and a massive consignment was impounded on Wednesday, but the company says it was moving it to a storage facility and it has the necessary permits.
This after Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko announced the police had intercepted the cargo west of Johannesburg, fined the drivers and was tracking down the company’s managers.
Telephonic comment was not immediately available from SAB, but the company tweeted: “We wish to clarify that we regard the president’s call for lockdown seriously and appreciate the government’s efforts to safeguard our nation and its people.”
The company said it had all the necessary permits to move stock from one storage facility to another during wind-down operations.
It added it had been in contact with the Department of Trade and Industry and police, saying it had also appointed lawyers to assist the arrested drivers. In terms of the Disaster Act no alcohol can transported, purchased or sold during the lockdown.
Numerous booze smugglers have been arrested for contravening the act.
However, SAB said the alcohol seized was not for sale or distribution and was always in its possession.
South Africa Breweries said it has since engaged both the department of trade and industry (DTI) and police to clarify its “orderly wind-down measures” and has “subsequently shared all requisite approvals and permits”.
The movement of the alcohol at its seven breweries was specifically provided for in the lockdown regulations, said the company.
“The alcohol in transit at the time of arrest and seizure was packaged inventory which had to be moved to an SAB-owned offsite storage facility as our warehouse storage capacity at the breweries had reached permissible limits,” it said.
“The alcohol seized was not for sale or distribution and was always in SAB’s possession.
“Further to this, permission to transport a portion of our packed inventory had been obtained.”
Emphasising it was operating within the confines of the law, the company said it would assist those placed under arrest.
“All employees who have been confronted by the police are being assisted with the aid of our legal representative Bowmans as well as SAB’s internal legal counsel.”
By A Correspondent- Four passengers escaped with minor bruises after a ZUPCO bus they were traveling in was involved in an accident with a haulage truck along Samora Machel Avenue yesterday.
The driver of the bus, only identified as Munyonga, said the haulage truck’s brakes could have failed, forcing it to hit the bus at a traffic light controlled intersection at the corner of Seventh Street and Samora Machel Avenue.
Zupco bus accident
“I had a few passengers on board heading to Sally Mug-abe Heights, and four of them escaped with minor bruises,” said Munyonga.
“Traffic lights were in my favor when the haulage truck suddenly hit my bus, while I was already at the intersection along Seventh Street.
“The haulage truck driver apologized saying his truck brakes failed, and I was left with no option other than swerving to the pavement to avoid getting hit and I thank God who saved people’s lives,” he added.
The haulage truck driver refused to entertain H-Metro for further questions, arguing that police were handling the accident, and his boss was still to give him permission to comment.
“I was coming from Msasa that is all I can say at the moment since the accident is now being attended to by police,” said the haulage truck driver, refusing to clarify on his destination and the load. However, H-Metro established that the truck with foreign registration plates was coming from Msasa and was carrying mealie-meal.
A police officer who attended the accident scene told H-Metro that it was the third they had attended to along Samora Machel Avenue yesterday and no serious injuries had been recorded.
Efforts to get an official comment from police were in vain by the time of going to print.
THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) insists the June and November 2020 examinations are going ahead with preparations already at an advanced stage.
The exams body has also extended the registration period for November 2020 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations, and will open a window for late entries after the end of the lockdown period.
In a statement yesterday, Zimsec said preparations for both the June and November examinations were on course and no late registration fees would be charged to candidates and centres.
There would be no late registration for the June 2020 examination session with candidates who failed to register being accommodated in the November 2020 examinations.
“Zimsec, like any other institution, is not privy to what will happen after the 21 days of the lockdown, but would like valued stakeholders to know that a window for the registration of candidates for November 2020 examination will be provided when the lockdown is lifted,” it said.
“This provision is in accordance with the Honourable Minister of Primary and Secondary Education’s announcement that all potential candidates will access the 2020 examinations.”
The announcement came after the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta) asked the Government to consider suspending all the 2020 examinations until there was a well-informed analysis of the impact of Covid-19.
The opposition MDC has questioned government’s preparedness to fight COVID-19 after a 79-year-old man died in Bulawayo yet results of his specimens came out 3 days after his death.
The leading opposition party’s statement reads:
Second COVID-19 death in Zimbabwe.
We learnt with great sadness the passing on of case no. 11 of confirmed COVID-19 infection in the city of Bulawayo on the 4th of April 2020. This death gives us more questions than answers regarding our seriousness and preparedness for the COVID-19 pandemic. We have the following observations to make:
1. Local transmission of COVID-19 is now a reality in Zimbabwe, and a history of foreign travel to a country with COVID-19 should no longer be an important consideration when deciding who a suspect is, and who should be tested. This case had the cardinal symptoms of COVID-19 infection on 23rd March, namely sore throat, cough and fever. That should have been enough to trigger isolation and a visit by the Rapid Response Team, with samples for testing taken there and then.
2. Admission of the patient into a general ward, and then a general ICU, betrays gross lack of preparedness on the part of government. If this patient was admitted into a specialized isolation facility we expect the Ministry to tell that to the nation in clear terms, because it’s important.
3. Our health workers are still working without the necessary Personal Protective Equipment, and this is extremely worrisome. We are now dealing with a full fledged outbreak and we should not wait for mass fatalities to start acting. Our narrow window of opportunity to prepare is fast running out. How many health workers were exposed in this particular case?
4. Why are we hesitant to test suspects? Does government really have testing kits, adequate to meet this threat? We implore government to disclose exactly how many cases they can test now. Government needs to cry out loud to the corporate sector and to ordinary citizens at large if we have a shortage of test kits. By now we should be doing tests in the provinces, leaving the NMRL to be a confirmation centre, backed up by the regional collaborative laboratory in South Africa.
5. In summary, this case betrays gross unpreparedness for the COVID-19 outbreak, and speed of execution is essential if we are to prevent any further unnecessary loss of life, slow down community spread and protect our valued first responders, the health workers. We urge government to do a thorough audit of case no. 11 and learn all the lessons that can be gleaned from it.
Dr H Madzorera Secretary for Health & Child Welfare MDC-Alliance
The United States reached 400,000 confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday according to the Johns Hopkins University tally, a grim milestone that comes as the death tolls continue to rise in hot spots in what experts expect to be the country’s deadliest week so far.
The US set another record with 1,850 deaths in a single day on Tuesday, the highest single-day total of any country. By Wednesday, more than 14,500 deaths had been reported nationwide.
US health officials have warned that between 100,000 and 200,000 people in the country are likely to die from COVID-19, the disease the virus causes. But officials said this week that despite the grim totals, there are signs that the death toll may not be as high as expected if mitigation efforts continue.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency on January 30 and a pandemic on March 11.
The US had its first known case of the novel coronavirus in January. By March, US health officials warned of a serious threat to the public.
States began issuing shelter-in-place orders and cancelling classes in an effort to “flatten the curve”, or limit the spread of the virus to give hospitals a chance to treat those infected.
The US Congress passed on March 27 a significant $2.2 trillion rescue bill, called the CARES Act to aid prevention efforts and offer a lifeline to struggling businesses and individuals.
The administration of President Donald Trump has at times been lauded and scorned for its handling of the pandemic.
At first, Trump said warm weather in April could make the virus disappear, remarks that were widely criticised.
After the passage of the CARES Act and daily news conferences with top health officials, such as Dr Anthony Fauci, the public began to trust the president with his approval ratings reaching new heights.
However, states have aired grievances with the federal government, saying Washington is not offering needed medical supplies.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly stated that states are bidding for ventilators on an open market akin to online auction site eBay.
Trump dismissed the claims, saying the US and his administration are handling the outbreak better than anyone else.
Cuomo said on Wednesday that despite high death toll, “there is no doubt” the state is bending the curve.
New York recorded its highest daily death toll – 779 – on Tuesday. The state’s death toll increased by 731 the day before.
“Don’t start doing a retrospective like it’s over,” Cuomo told a daily briefing on the states’ coronavirus response, urging residents to stay at home as much as possible. “We are not through it. It’s not over.”
Fauci, the top US infectious diseases expert, told Fox News on Wednesday that health officials are planning ways for the country to return to normal activities if distancing and other steps to mitigate COVID-19 this month prove successful in curbing the outbreak.
The Trump administration has called for 30 days of measures, including staying at least 1.8 metres (six feet) away from other people, that have upended American life.
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said such steps must continue but that there are hopeful signs they are working.
“If in fact we are successful, it makes sense to at least plan what a re-entry into normality would look like. That doesn’t mean we’re going to do it right now, but it means we need to be prepared to ease into that,” Fauci said.
By Cllr Denford Ngadziore | Zimbabwean citizens residing in Harare received a disturbing report coming from Manicaland which says ZANUPF tried to highjack the distribution of food aid from the World Bank and partners. The aid is meant for informal traders and disadvantaged people who have been adversely affected by the COVID19 21days lockdown.
Whilst it is not new that Zanupf always uses food aid as a weapon to entrench polarization and ensure that citizens are beheld to Government, it is important that Harare residents register their position clearly against such behavior which has been a long decade virus in Zimbabwe.
We will make sure that in Harare food distribution and or any donations from World Bank and other Partners, be distributed in a fair manner. All deserving Zimbabweans should benefit irregardless of color or political affiliation.
We will be closely monitoring this process and have already set up monitoring teams till the distribution day. We are aware of ZANUPF plans in Hopley Zone 1, Harare South where instructions were issued that people have to pay $5 bond for their names to be included on the beneficiary list. Once all the evidence has been gathered it will be brought before the World Bank and ZRP . Deserving citizens should access this facility irregardless of their political affiliation and without payment of bribes.
Harare is not like other areas where partisan food distribution is used as a weapon to suppress freedom of political choices. Food donations will not be from Zanupf farms therefore we will resist and stop any such plans in Harare Metropolitan Province.
Cllr Denford Ngadziore MDC Alliance Harare Province Youth Secretary
By A Correspondent| One of Zimbabwe’s top sculpture artists, Tom Blomefield, has died.
He was 95.
Blomefield who spent nearly 100 years investing in people, is the founder of the Tengenenge Sculpture Community which is in Guruve.
The cause of death could not be immediately established.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW..
Below was a statement by his son, Steve.
Greetings everyone I have sad news. Tom Blomefield, my father and one of the main movers of the Zimbabwe sculpture movement peacefully passed away today at 11am today in Holland.
Tom Blomefield
He will be sorely missed by tens of thousands of people whose family members learned art at Tengenenge and fed extended families, and who survived droughts, locust invasions and army worm infestations. Many of the thousands who learned sculpture are scattered throughout the world blessing others through their art works.
He lived a long, happy life serving his community and the nation of Zimbabwe. He spoke two African languages fluently [Chewa and Yao] and learned to coexist within these cultures. He also spoke English, Dutch and German.
The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) a human rights watchdog says the country is in a state of neglect owing to human rights violations in the midst of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
According to the ZPP March 2020 monthly report for March 2020 the health sector is in shambles because government has not invested much in health delivery system.
“The unpreparedness of the Government to deal with COVID-19 is an indication of a state that has not invested enough in improving the country’s health delivery system. The health sector has for long been in shambles as doctors frequently go on strike for long periods citing incapacitation and a shortage of drugs and equipment for use in public hospitals,” said ZPP
The watchdog says the announcement by health personnel on 25 March that they were downing tools again reflects a government that does not take seriously the welfare of its workers and of the citizens who are supposed to be taken care of by those professionals.
The report says the lack of basic equipment at Wilkins Hospital was unfortunate and is a reflection of neglect of public health institutions.
“Failure by Wilkins Hospital to have basic equipment and tools such as an electrical adapter and oxygen ventilators is regrettable and is a grim reflection of how public health institutions have been neglected for long. This is evidenced by the fact that it has become a norm for government officials and their families to go abroad to seek medical attention.
“The refurbishment of two private hospitals in Mt Pleasant and Avondale (Both in Harare) is an insult to the majority of Zimbabweans who rely on public institutions for medical attention. This move to refurbish the two institutions is an indication of a society that cares more for the welfare of the elite at the expense of the majority,” read the report
State Media|Zimbabweans must stop propagating racial and slanderous publicity relating to the origins of Covid-19, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo said last night.
“The ministry has received reports, and in some cases photographic evidence, of Zimbabwe-based companies propagating offensive, racially-discriminatory publicity relating to the supposed origins of the Covid-19 virus,” he said.
“Discrimination in any way, shape or form is abhorrent to the Government of Zimbabwe. Whatever its origins, Covid-19 is a global threat, affecting each and every inhabitant of planet earth, with zero regard for ethnicity, social status, wealth or any other of the various strata, which have been contrived, over centuries, to set us apart from each other.”
Dr Moyo said misguided assumptions with regard to the origin and the consequent attribution of blame “take us nowhere, render a difficult situation even more challenging and impact negatively on relations between and amongst brotherly nations and peoples”.
He said during colonial rule, Zimbabweans were subjected to worst forms of discrimination and it was, therefore, unthinkable that any Zimbabwean national or resident should seek to dishonour the ethos and sacrifice which led to the sovereign independence by indulging in any form of racially-charged slander or insult, against anybody, for whatever reason.
“It is simply unacceptable,” said Dr Moyo. “True, to this principle, Zimbabwe recently co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution on Covid-19, cautioning the world against “any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in response to the pandemic.”
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly and stressed the need for intensified international solidarity.
Said Dr Moyo: “Our focus as Government, as a people and as a community, must be on directing all energy and maximum effort towards limiting the spread of this deadly virus and minimising its impact upon our populace and indeed all those who reside in Zimbabwe.
“Our efforts do not take place in a vacuum. They are part of a regional continental, and indeed fully global effort, by all nations and all people in alignment with the detailed guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation to compact this disease.
“Zimbabwe is playing its part within that global effort.
“We rely on the support and cooperation of others, from within our region and way beyond.
“We are grateful for the assistance being provided at both domestic and international levels, as we prepare and consolidate our defences.”
MDC Vice President Welshman Ncube has called on senior party officials, Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora to resign from their senatorial positions.
The call comes after the trio openly associated themselves with a recent court order that declared party leader Nelson Chamisa illegitimate.
The three were elected senators in the 2018 elections on an MDC Alliance ticket with Chamisa as the party’s presidential candidate.
Komichi is a senator in Midlands province, Mudzuri in Harare and Mwonzora in Manicaland.
“If Mwonzora is the constitutionalist he says he is and fully embraces the Supreme Court judgment declaring invalid and void all appointments and decisions made by Chamisa then let us see him resign his Senate seat for he was appointed onto the Manicaland PR (provisional representative) Senate list by Chamisa,” Ncube said.
“The same applies to Komichi, who comes from Masvingo, but pleaded with Chamisa to appoint him and place him as No.2 on the Midlands Senate list ahead of (Francisco) Masendeke who was then chairman of Midlands South. He too must, in good conscience resign his Senate seat for the same reason.
“Then VP Mudzuri who had been beaten in a primary election in Harare, had to be appointed by Chamisa onto the Harare Senate PR list ahead of (James) Makore who was sitting Senator, he too cannot have his cake and eat it too,” Ncube said.
In response, a defient Mwonzora said he would not resign as he was qualified to be a Senator not because of the benevolence of anyone.
“I applied and was approved as a Senate candidate by the elections directorate of the main MDC. My candidature was approved by the National Council. I am a Senator because I objectively qualified and not because of the benevolence of anyone,” said Mwonzora.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his government had yet to decide whether it would extend the lockdown beyong next Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government had yet to decide whether it would extend the lockdown beyong next Thursday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa became a walking meme this week when he joked that while people expected the lockdown to end on April 16, he didn’t say what year that would be.
A meme circulating on social media contains a picture of an emotional woman pointing at Ramaphosa saying “you said 16 April” in reference to the end of the nationwide lockdown.
Ramaphosa, laughing, replies: “I didn’t mention which year”.
In a recording of a video conference the president held at Rand Water on Tuesday, Ramaphosa gave life to the meme when he said: “Some people are saying the 16th of April (the lockdown will end) but when we announced it I didn’t say what year it would end.”
The entire teleconference broke out in laughter.
Presidency insiders said the president was definitely making reference to the meme which he had also seen.
On a serious note, Ramaphosa later told journalists that the government was yet to decide whether the 21-day lockdown would end next Thursday.
The president was making the point that he wants water distribution to be ramped up even beyond the end of the lockdown.
“And I don’t know when the lockdown will end,” the president said.
WHO Director General Dr. Tedros and President Trump
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday blasted U.S. President Donald Trump, telling him if he wants to have many body bags he should keep politicizing COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Dr. Ghebreyesus did not mention President Trump by name, but he warned that using a disease that has wreaked havoc all over the world is a waste of time. The WHO boss said trying to politicize the virus is like playing with fire.
He called on the world leaders to use other means to cheap “political points” and not a disease that is ravaging the planet.
He said the world should focus on the issue at hand, defeating the virus, and “quarantine politics”, saying “let’s fight like hell” to defeat this virus. He said failure to do that, the worst may be yet to come.
Johannesburg – health minister Zweli Mkhize has announced that the number of COVID-19 deaths has risen to 18 in the country.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, the minister said the cases had gone up to 1,845. “This is an increase of 96 from the previously reported cases.”
The minister said he was saddened to report the five additional deaths from Tuesday’s figure.
“We convey our condolences to the families of the deceased and also appreciate the health workers that treated the deceased patients.”
Gauteng is still the epicenter in the country with 782 infections, followed by the Western Cape at 495 and KwaZulu-Natal with 354 cases.
The North West and the Northern Cape are at the bottom with 15 and 13 infections respective while the number of unallocated cases stands at 11.
The total number of tests conducted across the country so far is 63,776. “This is an increase of 5,678 from our last report,” the minister added.
Zimbabwe National Army and Zimbabwe Republic Police yesterday joined forces during a flag march, conscientising citizens about the need to stay home and comply with lockdown regulations in order to help fight the spread of Covid-19 as traffic in the city centre increases
THE Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has noted willful defiance of the lockdown order, hence it is deploying personnel for joint operations with the police to ensure compliance.
The country is under a 21-day lockdown to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 that is ravaging the world infecting more than 1,2 million.
A total of 11 cases including three deaths have been recorded in the country.
Since Sunday, police have been conducting joint patrols with the military.
Yesterday, the ZNA jointly launched an operation with the police code name “Abasha corona” to sensitise the public on the need to comply with lockdown regulations.
The ZNA said the security forces will ensure that President Mnangagwa’s lockdown decree is followed to ensure the nation does not suffer catastrophic consequences due to Covid-19.
The joint ZNA/police campaign saw security forces going to public spots such as market places where scores of people were not observing social distancing.
They also visited most of the western suburbs including Emganwini, Nketa, Pumula, Magwegwe, Gwabalanda, Luveve and Cowdray Park.
In an interview after completing the campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel Leonard Tsvangira said the military will assist the police to effectively implement lockdown regulations.
He said it was a matter of concern that the public is aimlessly violating procedures that are meant to protect them from the deadly virus.
“The way we are operating basically, this is a police operation and as the ZNA we are only in support of the operation. What is happening on the ground, it is the ZRP who identify the needy areas and we coordinate our operations. In support of them we always give them staff members from the ZNA so that they go as a joint operation to assist each other,” he said.
“While there are some areas that need to be operating, our population needs to understand that it is only those who should leave their homes for essential services like medical attention or shopping, especially when you want to replenish your food items. things on the ground show that everyone is moving around and we are trying to conscientise them that they should stay at home.
“We are also conducting some joint patrols that encompass the ZNA as well as the ZRP. Our main aim is to ensure that we educate the populace on how to curb Covid-19 which was declared a national disaster. What we are observing on the ground is that it seems, especially at places like market place and shopping areas, those areas have become a challenge because the populace has a tendency of crowding,” he said.
THIRTEEN staff members at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo and everyone at a retirement village in Suburbs where a 79-year-old man who succumbed to Covid-19 on Saturday lived, have been placed under isolation as more people he came into contact with are being traced.
Those asked to go under self-isolation include doctors and nurses who attended to the patient at the hospital.
The victim whose name has been withheld by health officials lived at Qalisa Retirement Village.
His family lives at another house in the same suburb.
The city’s rapid response team is still tracing a network of people who were in contact with the deceased so that they get tested for Covid-19 and their number is expected to increase.
Health officials are interested in examining private doctors, staff at pharmacies, family members, nurse aides and others at Qalisa as well as in Hwange where the deceased visited.
Although the victim did not travel out of the country, Government is looking into his travel history as he visited Hwange in Matabeleland North between March 14 and 16 where he is alleged to have met some tourists at a lodge in the mining town.
The victim who became the 11th patient to test positive for Covid-19 in the country and the first person in Bulawayo, was posthumously confirmed to have succumbed to the virus on Tuesday, making him the second person to die in the country.
A Chronicle news crew yesterday visited Mater Dei Hospital to assess the situation and observed that it had not closed its doors as alleged on social media. Staffers who spoke to the news crew on condition of anonymity said an alert Covid-19 rapid response team disinfected the hospital and closed the ward in which the 79-year-old died soon after he succumbed to the virus on Saturday.
Bulawayo City Council director of health services Dr Edwin Sibanda said although Bulawayo had not yet received the Covid-19 results when the man died at Mater Dei Hospital on Saturday, they took precautionary measures by treating him as a suspected positive Covid-19 case even before results were released.
He said although samples from the victim were taken on Friday, there were challenges transporting them to Harare on the same day, as they rely on courier service providers.
Dr Sibanda said the samples were only sent to Harare for testing on Monday, when the patient had already died.
“But when he passed on the rapid response team was informed and went there and did all the disinfection as per protocol. Then the body was removed under the supervision of the environmental health officers and was taken to Bulawayo United Hospitals mortuary under strict conditions where it was kept, as we did not have the results that this was a Covid-19 case. But we thought it was likely to be a Covid-19 case so we treated it as if it was,” said Dr Sibanda.
He said when results were delivered confirming that the man had died of Covid-19 on Tuesday, the rapid response team started tracing those who had been in contact with the deceased.
Dr Sibanda said at Mater Dei Hospital, 13 people including doctors and nurses have had their samples taken for Covid-19 testing.
He said the victim first visited a private doctor in the city before going to Mater Dei Hospital.
“For example, there is a story that he was seen at a lodge in Matabeleland North and we have told the provincial rapid response team to start tracing those he might have contacted. The dates and places where he went or was suspected to have gone. So, they have to make follow ups of the possible contacts. So those in hospital that he got in contact with, samples were collected yesterday. In our last count last night, 13 people have had their samples and I’m sure today a few more samples should have been collected,” said Dr Sibanda.
He said the network of his contacts could be much wider and they were doing all they can not to leave anyone behind including his relatives and private doctors.
“When he continued feeling unwell he went to the hospital so we are talking of him starting from the hospital admissions, right up to the ward and eventually going to the Intensive Care Unit where a suspicion of Covid-19 was made and it is at that point that our rapid response team was alerted and came. Prior to that, all these people were not followed up,” he said.
Dr Sibanda said health workers were closely working with the victim’s family to cremate him in line with public health standards in view of Covid-19 and the procedure should have been done yesterday.
Zimbabwe’s ministry of foreign affairs on Tuesday said an impostor, claiming to be its ambassador in South Africa David Hamadziripi, had been soliciting money and donations from unwitting members of the public, particularly prominent Zimbabweans.
“The impostor is targeting prominent Zimbabweans, claiming that the ambassador is giving out donations of goods of equipment of some kind. The impostor then asks for money to transport the said donation,” Zimbabwe’s foreign affairs and international trade’s spokesperson Constance Chemwayi said in a statement.
“Please be advised that Ambassador David Hamadziripi, or the Embassy of Zimbabwe to South Africa is not giving out any donations of any kind. Should you receive any message or call from anyone claiming to be Ambassador David Hamadziripi, and claiming to offer a donation of any equipment or goods and asking for money to transport the said donation, do not entertain him.”
The Harare authorities warned that the person behind the requests “is a fraudster and a conman”, and urged the contacted individuals to report the matter to police, and the Zimbabwe embassy in Pretoria, via email [email protected].
Zimbabwe’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, appointed Hamadziripi as Zimbabwe’s top envoy to South Africa in 2018, replacing previous ambassador Isaac Moyo, who is now the country’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) boss in Harare.
Like Moyo, the soft-spoken Hamadziripi has championed various “economic diplomacy” initiatives across South Africa, and initiated several programmes for Zimbabweans in South Africa to contribute towards the Harare economy.
Government has so far identified and assessed seven more potential Covid-19 testing centres in Harare and a similar process is ongoing in Bulawayo and eight other provinces to decentralise testing and to allow more testing should it be necessary. The equipment used to measure the viral load of people living with HIV can be used to test for Covid-19 once the needed test chemicals are in stock.
The Government has reviewed case management, standards and regulatory frameworks with its latest action plan. An assessment of diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccines for compassionate use has also been completed and will be shared widely in due course.
Priority has also been given to strengthening of institutional arrangements with private healthcare professionals and institutions to coordinate information on screening, testing and treating of Covid-19 patients.
In its situational report released last night, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said since the first case of Covid-19 was imported and reported on March 21, a total of 395 suspected cases were tested, from which 11 have since tested positive.
A further 5 793 travellers arriving from countries with confirmed Covid-19 cases were still under surveillance out of the 20 512 who were on the surveillance list. The rest have since been removed from the surveillance list.
To increase testing of more suspected cases of Covid-19, the ministry said patients presenting with pneumonia and flu-like symptoms will now be tested for Covid-19, a change from the previous policy of only testing those with symptoms and whose travel history or possible contact with infected people increased suspicions.
The country’s case definition has since been broadened to include any patient with severe acute respiratory infection (fever and at least one sign or symptom of respiratory disease, for example, a cough or shortness of breath) and requiring hospitalisation and with no other disease cause that fully explains the clinical presentation.
In view of local transmission, the ministry has also prioritised strengthening of contact tracing and following confirmation of imported cases, it has also prioritised strengthening capacity of screening for all entry and exit points.
The country’s ninth confirmed case of Covid-19, a 50-year-old Harare man, died at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital last night, eight days after his first symptoms appeared.
The man had returned from Britain and started showing symptoms on Wednesday last week. He alerted the local rapid response team, which went to assess him at home and collected samples for testing, which proved positive the next day.
Initially, the patient was being managed from home until Wednesday when his condition deteriorated resulting in him being taken to Wilkins Hospital, where he was admitted for critical care and management in the intensive care unit under the care of a specialist physician.
“The family has been informed and we are currently working with the family to ensure safe burial of his remains in line with regulations from our Public Health Act,” reads part of yesterday’s daily update from the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
The first death was recorded in Harare on March 23 and the second death occurred in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Vehicles parked in Harare’s central business district whose owners have no exemption from the lockdown will be impounded with the owners being charged and prosecuted, a top police officer has said.
National Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said only motorists who have been exempted from the lockdown provisions under Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 will be spared.
The warning followed a notable increase in the volumes of traffic coming into the city centre.
Some vehicles, according to the police, are parked for no valid reason or purpose.
“The security services have noted with concern an increase in the volume of traffic, with some vehicles being parked in the CBD.
“Such vehicles will be impounded with the owners being arrested and prosecuted.
“No movement of vehicles or people will be allowed on the country’s roads except those with exemptions. Those with exemptions should also act responsibly and avoid abusing this privilege,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Meanwhile, police have urged people to celebrate Easter holiday at home and avoid gatherings during the 21-day-lockdown period.
“The nation is going to commemorate the Easter Holiday from April 10 to 13, 2020 and at the same time observe the Covid-19 safety and health guidelines which were pronounced by the President of Zimbabwe on March 27.
“The ZRP is therefore urging all Zimbabweans to observe the Easter holiday while at home with a view of containing the spread of COVID-19 virus,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
A confidential document surrounding the death of a 79-year-old Bulawayo man who died of Coronavirus has revealed that the patient’s samples could not be taken to Harare on time because of lockdown regulations which bar intercity travels.
Meanwhile, residents of Qalisa Retirement Village where the person stayed are living in fear authorities have not been forthcoming to visit the area to assist them with proper quarantining methods, testing them or fumigating the place.
The man is the second case to die in Zimbabwe.
Read the confidential report below:
Client admitted at Mxxxx xxx Hospital on the 02 of April 2020. Moved to isolation cubicle in Intensive Care Unit the following morning. Given oxygen, and other medication, not put on a ventilator, test for COVID-19 (among other tests) done. Passed on 04″ April and disinfection protocols instituted.
Symptoms and signs (at least 2 days)
– cough
– breathing difficulty
– sore throat
– temperature 36°C (at time of RRT visit)
History of presenting complaints Having been to Gxxxx lodge 14-16 March, he on March the 23″ developed sore throat, fever and cough. He underwent treatment using antibiotics by his General Practitioner (GP). The worsening shortness of breath led to attendance at Mxxxxxxx accident and emergency unit on the 02″ of April. He was admitted to first floor overnight then transferred to isolation cubicle of the intensive care unit on the morning of the third floor on the 03″ of April. A physician was asked to see the patient; suspected Covid-19 and he called the local rapid response team and instituted isolation in intensive care unit (ICU) cubicle bed. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) from came and did a throat swab on the same day. The patient passed on the 04″ April. The disinfection team was called and came in to spray, and barrier methods of the body and waste management done.
Body disposal- Cremation.
Having failed to meet the courier services on Friday 03 April and having the lockdown (no travel” between cifies_allowed) the sample that had been collected moved to Harare By courier overnight on Monday 06 April and was processed at thé National “Microbiology Reference Laboratory at the Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare on the 07” and results found to be positive.
Travel History
The deceased lived in a secluded community in Bulawayo. He had been to Gxxxx Lodge in Hwange from the 14″ to the 16″ of March 2020, a place that is visited bytourists. He had received a visitor from the UK a few days past.
Action plan As of the 2100hrs, on 07″ April 2020 the rapid response team (together with the disinfection team) had gone back to the hospital to:
– find the next of kin – dig deeper into the travel history (modes of travel, passenger manifest, etc) – identify and list all contacts, including the attending GP – collect swabs from contacts — (at least 13 collected by then, more to be collected on 08″ April 2020) – find and isolate contacts (the hospital have a self isolation facility for staff) – monitor all contacts for 14 to 21 days ice. till 18″ to 25″ April 2020
NB: This report is intended for official use only.
It will be shared with the local response taskforce, as chaired by the Honorable Provincial Minister of State as well as the Provincial Development Coordinator, and Town Clerk.
It will also be shared with the neighbouring provinces, and the Ministry of Health and Child Care Epidemiology and Disease Control Unit for onward transmission to the Permanent Secretary.
For insight, introspection and peer review it will be shared with academic/ professional bodies so as to get input of continuous quality improvement on Epidemic Preparedness Response.
This report will be regularly updated and shared to relevant authorities as more information is received. As per requirement a Situational Report (Sit Rep) will be generated.
A by-election to replace fired Zifa executive committee member Chamu Chiwanza will be held at the next Zifa assembly meeting.
Chiwanza was booted out for not possessing the requisite five years football administration experience prior to his election in 2018.
The holding of the by-election was confirmed by Zifa lawyer Chenaimoyo Gumiro yesterday.
Chiwanza’s hearing was conducted on August 14, 2019 following a complaint by one of the losing candidates Stanley Chapeta who is the Zifa Central Region chairman.
Chapeta came fifth with 34 votes behind Philimon Machana, Sugar Chagonda, Bryton Malandule and Chiwanza.
Upon getting information that Chiwanza had misrepresented to the electoral committee that he had eight years of football experience, Chapeta filed an official complainant seeking disqualification of Chiwanza.
Chiwanza had alleged that he had been a Conduit Football Club secretary general for eight years.
The disciplinary committee chaired by one LT Muradzikwa, on August 14 disqualified Chiwanza.
The accused person as appears from the charge sheet served on him on the 22 July, 2019(ex facie) was elected a Board member on 16 December, 2018.
Prior to the election, member had vouched information that he meets the requisite five-year football administration as per article 32 (4) of the Zimbabwe Football Associations constitution and that he had eight years as secretary general of Conduit Football Club. That information turned out to be false.
It turned out that the respondent did not meet the requisite five-year football administration after one of the contestant Stanley Chapeta whistle blew to that effect.-State media
POLICE have arrested 2 885 people countrywide for disregarding lockdown regulations and warned people against travelling during the Easter holidays because the lockdown is still on.
The Easter period starts tomorrow until April 13 but the country is on a 21-day national lockdown which ends on April 19.
President Mnangagwa last week declared a 21-day lockdown as part of robust measures to combat the spread of Covid-19, a deadly global pandemic which has so far killed more than 85 000 and infected more than 1,4 million worldwide.
The lockdown is meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.
A total of 11 people have tested positive to Covid-19, with the latest case being that of a 79-year-old Bulawayo man who succumbed to the disease on Saturday bringing to two, the number of people who have died of Covid-19 in the country.
In a statement yesterday, National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged Zimbabweans to observe the Easter holiday in their homes to contain the deadly pandemic.
He also expressed concern over an increase in the volume of traffic, with some vehicles being parked in central business districts the whole day for no valid reasons, saying such vehicles risked being impounded with owners being arrested and prosecuted.
“So far 2 885 people have been arrested countrywide for liquor, traffic, opening of businesses, unnecessary movements and other miscellaneous offences. We have since intensified patrols, surveillance and roadblocks with a view of nabbing those who openly defy Covid-19 lockdown measures,” he said.
“The nation is going to commemorate Easter from 10-13 April 2020 and at the same time observe the Covid-19 safety and health guidelines which were pronounced by the President, His Excellency, Cde ED Mnangagwa on 27 March 2020.”-State media
THIRTEEN police officers in Bulawayo were arrested for allegedly soliciting and accepting a US$10 bribe from a commuter omnibus crew.
The accused persons who are all stationed at Bulawayo Central Police Station, were arrested by a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zaac) team after an unidentified whistle-blower captured them on video while they were allegedly receiving the bribe before posting it on social media where it is now circulating.
Constables Mathias Siziba (29) of Mpopoma, Everisto Choto (30) of Mzilikazi, Sithabile Mthombeni (37) of Entumbane, Reason Mabhena (32) of Pumula South, Annastancia Nkomo (31) of ZRP Ross Camp, Witness Ndlovu (31) of ZRP Mabutweni Camp, Admire Chimunda (33) of ZRP Nkulumane Camp, Isaiah Siziba (30) of Nketa, Felix Ndawana (28) of Nkulumane, Blessing Maranke (26) of ZRP Stops Hostels Ross Camp, Nation Gilson (35) of ZRP Sauerstown, Shepherd Ndlovu (34) Mzilikazi and Reuben Mugundu (31) of Sizinda were arrested on Tuesday.
They appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya yesterday facing bribery charges.
They were remanded out of custody to May 8 on their own cognisance.
The prosecutor, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said on March 30 at around 8AM, the accused persons were patrolling the streets of Bulawayo’s central business district where they were controlling the movement of both human and vehicular traffic during the Covid-19 lockdown when they intercepted a Mercedes Benz Sprinter at the intersection of Josiah Tongogara Street and 4th Avenue.
“They blocked and stopped a commuter omnibus and demanded bribes from the crew for allegedly disregarding lockdown regulations,” said Mr Chakabuda.
The court heard that the unsuspecting cops were captured on video by a whistle-blower while allegedly receiving the US$10 from one Thulani Ndlela.-State media
THE number of Covid-19 fatalities in Zimbabwe has risen to three after the ninth patient, a 50-year-old Harare man on Wednesday succumbed to the global pandemic at Wilkins Hospital’s ICU.
To date, Zimbabwe has 11 confirmed cases.
The deceased had travelled to the UK and returned home on March 21.
In a statement, the Secretary of Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva said the deceased had been admitted to Wilkins Hospital after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 with an underlying comorbidity.
“The Ministry however, would like to report that the ninth patient deceased today under admission in the intensive care unit at Wilkins Hospital.
He was a 50 year old male resident of Harare who had travelled to the United Kingdom and returned home in the 21th of March 2020,” she said.
Dr Mahomva said the deceased started exhibiting mild symptoms and alerted the local Covid-19 rapid response team on April 1, which went to assess him at home.
His condition however, deteriorated and the local medical team immediately went to stabilise him.
“On 7 April 2020, he was admitted for critical care and management in ICU at Wilkins Hospital under the care if a specialist physician.
Today, the 8th of April 2020, his condition continued to deteriorate despite management in ICU until he deceased this evening,” said Dr Mahomva.
She said the deceased’s family has since been informed and they are currently working with the family to ensure safe burial of his remains in line with regulations under the Public Health Act.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care through the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory today tested 18 samples and they all tested negative.
Dr Mahomva said the Ministry of Health and Child Care is continuing to be on high alert to the global pandemic, which has so far claimed more than 85 000 lives with more than 1, 4 million people infected globally.
She urged citizens to practice good personal hygiene to prevent the spread of Covid-19.- State media
Farai Dziva|Prayer Network of Zimbabwe, a coalition of Christians from different denominations, has challenged Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to reject the Coronavirus vaccine.
See full statement below:
It is disheartening that COVID-19 has caused havoc throughout the world in the manner it has, seemingly unabated and showing no signs of retreat.
Our prayers are with those infected and affected by this pandemic. We hold in great honour doctors, nurses and all those who are on the front line in this battle of our time.
However, we note with serious concern, recent reportage on the testing of new corona vaccines on Africans as suggested by two French doctors.
This has been rightly condemned by many people the world over. Most importantly, the World Health Organization condemned it and assured Africa and the world that it will not happen and that the world will be protected from such malice.
As PNZ, we are gravely worried about the silence of African leaders over this serious issue. Our expectations were that they would stand up against all attempts at using their people as guinea pigs by unscrupulous Western companies whose evil intentions are clearly known about Africa.
It is time the world heeds to the voice of God. He reveals to redeem. A cure to this catastrophic pandemic would have been sought early but noone took heed to this prophetic signal.
We pray and petition our Zimbabwean Government to rise and lead in standing against COVID-19 vaccine experimentations being done in Africa.
Why are they not done in those countries worst hit by the pandemic. We implore the Zimbabwean and South African leaders to use their strong positions of influence in AU and SADC to lead the charge to send a strong message to the west that Africa is not a lab for testing half done vaccines.
Yes, we continue to pray for a vaccine to be found, tested and produced to save the world. We stand with world citizens as we go through this pandemic and call on everyone to respect the advice of medical experts and governments in dealing with the virus. Stay at home, wash hands regularly and observe social distancing as advised.
PNZ also calls on African governments to invest in their own health care systems and stop running abroad every time they need medical attention. Rather, we urge African governments to prioritise medical research and disaster management in their development thrusts. We condemn corruption in African States which has contributed to poor heath care services and reduced our ability to adequetly respond to outbreaks of this magnitude.
In conclusion, we urge the World Health Organization to continue ensuring that Africa and the rest of the vulnerable world is protected against unethical vaccine and product development.
Emmerson Mnangagwa is a man living on borrowed time!
Take the ravaging Corona pandemic aside, surely Mnangagwa would have been facing a massive and serious civil unrest by now.
An opportunist of proportions, Mnangagwa saw a window of opportunity in the deadly Corona pandemic and a leeway to elongate his illegitimate stay at Munhumutapa offices.
While the idea of a lockdown in face of the deadly Corona pandemic is not a bad idea altogether, it is crystal clear that the biggest beneficiary thus far is Emmerson Mnangagwa and not the hungry and angry masses who survive from hand to mouth.
Normally the lockdown period is supposed to reduce deleterious effects of the pandemic, but alas in our case it is the opposite.
This is largely because the cartels run government deliberately lacks will to tackle the pandemic.
Talk of testing kits or mere personal protective equipment like masks, Mnangagwa’s regime has dismally failed to provide the basics to combat the spread of the disease.
Of course ZANU PF apologists will be quick to point to Mnangagwa’s unilateral declaration of 21 days lockdown as a control measure but we all know what serious countries world over are doing to ensure that lockdown serve purpose.
Closer home, the South African government makes sure that all its citizenry is well catered for as far as basic human rights fundamentals like food, clean water and access to personal protective clothing is concerned.
Back home, besides untold harassment of poverty stricken masses by the uniformed forces, Mnangagwa’s military dictatorship has virtually done nothing to save and serve the people.
Clearly there is no connection whatsoever between the governors and the governed.
A clear indication that there is lack of social contract between the rulers and the ruled!
Overtly there is no passion for the people by those who stole the mandate from the people.
To think these are the very same people who dished out millions of bandanas, t-shirts, scarfs and zambias during the election season but now fail to provide masks is utterly disgusting!
Outside Covid-19, people are groaning and dying of starvation in this lockdown period.
Citizens have been completely shut out from their only source of livelihood – vending yet this heartless regime offers no alternative for survival.
All we have seen is parasitic ZANU PF district chairpersons capitalizing on people’s misery by creating databases that will be selectively used to distribute aid on partisan lines.
To divert us from our excruciating man made suffering, Mnangagwa goes on to set a very disinteresting Komichi-Khupe Supreme Court drama.
The level of rot and stinking poverty in the ghettos and countryside tells a harrowing story of a people without a government!
Citizens are hungry and angry because of the economic rot presided over by Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa is treading dangerously on a political cliff edge and for now only lockdown can save him.
Winter might be too cold for Mnangagwa.
Surely we cannot go on like this!
We are the people, we are the power!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva|South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has effectively suspended a government Minister for violating lockdown restrictions.
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has been placee on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid.
According to media reports, Ndabeni-Abrahams violated the lockdown regulations when she visited the home of a friend, contrary to the lockdown regulations.
“Ramaphosa summoned Ndabeni-Abrahams on Tuesday where he expressed his disapproval of her actions and ordered her to deliver a public apology to the nation,” a southern publication reported.
“The nation-wide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans.
Members of the National Executive carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are having to make great sacrifices.
None of us – not least a member of the National Executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation.
I am satisfied that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law,” said Ramaphosa.
RESPONSE ON THE ALLEGED BEATING UP OF PEOPLE IN CHITUNGWIZA, KAROI, KARIBA, KUWADZANA AND OTHER PLACES DURING LOCKDOWN
The issues that have been raised with reference to the allegations against the Zimbabwe National Army members who are assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police in enforcing the lockdown are not true.
On the contrary and as a matter of fact, the broad spectrum of our citizens are complying with the lockdown without any adverse reports coming from either other security forces, government and community leaders involved in the national effort to curb the pandemic.
Our advice is that anyone who claims to be a victim must promptly report to the nearest Zimbabwe Republic Police or the Zimbabwe National Army camps.
It is futile to raise such serious allegations in the social media and/or media houses without reporting them to the relevant authorities.
Director Army Public Relations Lt Colonel Alphios Makotore
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that its findings after a review are that there’s no need for healthy people to wear face masks in public.
Guidelines by WHO released on Monday 6 April following a review say that masks, though helpful were insufficient on their own.
WHO was reviewing data from Hong Kong which suggested masks helped in preventing the spread of COVID-19 in communities.
There is currently no evidence that wearing a mask (whether medical or other types) by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
Prof David Heymann, who chaired the WHO’s scientific and technical advisory group for infectious hazards, said wearing masks is for the protection of others, not oneself.
People think they are protected when they are not…
The organisation’s findings conflict with recent advice from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, which urged the US public to wear masks in public places.-World Health Organization
Farai Dziva|Police flatly rejected a donation of gloves from MDC MP for Marondera Central Caston Matewu.
Matewu donated the protective gloves to the police in Marondera as part of efforts to enhance their safety and protection in the fight against Coronavirus.
“I tried to donate protective gloves to police in Marondera but I was tossed from one office to another.
It was clear politics was at play so I ended up giving the gloves to municipal workers. In times like these unity is key,” said Matewu.
Farai Dziva|Police flatly rejected a donation of gloves from MDC MP for Marondera Central Caston Matewu.
Matewu donated the protective gloves to the police in Marondera as part of efforts to enhance their safety and protection in the fight against Coronavirus.
“I tried to donate protective gloves to police in Marondera but I was tossed from one office to another.
It was clear politics was at play so I ended up giving the gloves to municipal workers. In times like these unity is key,” said Matewu.
REVERED playwright and actor Aaron Chiundura-Moyo reckons people should not believe everything which comes on social media regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The affable Shona writer, who is holed up at his Glen View residence, said the 21-day lockdown has made him a social media fan.
Chiundura-Moyo has however said he views and reads most stories which comes from social media with a critical mind.
“I have been following social media a lot but some of the stories you hear are not true at all,” he said.
Moyo said while social media was the in-thing, he said it could be misleading especially where there is a crisis.
“At the moment, there is this global pandemic – Covid-19 – which has claimed many lives.
“In Zimbabwe, it has claimed one person but stories being circulated on social media paint a bad picture of a nation in real crisis.
“As such, we urge people not to believe everything they hear and read on social media.
“If we closely assess our situation, I can safely say we are safe in Zimbabwe and we only need to take precautions,” he said.
The veteran arts practitioner has however appealed to Government to conduct door to do exercises giving out food handouts to citizens.- H-Metro
REVERED playwright and actor Aaron Chiundura-Moyo reckons people should not believe everything which comes on social media regarding Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The affable Shona writer, who is holed up at his Glen View residence, said the 21-day lockdown has made him a social media fan.
Chiundura-Moyo has however said he views and reads most stories which comes from social media with a critical mind.
“I have been following social media a lot but some of the stories you hear are not true at all,” he said.
Moyo said while social media was the in-thing, he said it could be misleading especially where there is a crisis.
“At the moment, there is this global pandemic – Covid-19 – which has claimed many lives.
“In Zimbabwe, it has claimed one person but stories being circulated on social media paint a bad picture of a nation in real crisis.
“As such, we urge people not to believe everything they hear and read on social media.
“If we closely assess our situation, I can safely say we are safe in Zimbabwe and we only need to take precautions,” he said.
The veteran arts practitioner has however appealed to Government to conduct door to do exercises giving out food handouts to citizens.- H-Metro
ZimEye is receiving feedback in Zambia that the truckers stranded in that country since the weekend into Monday and were filmed on camera alleging they are being drugged, have finally been released following the ZimEye story.
This is a developing story and below is a short report from one of the whistleblowers (unedited):
Thanx Simba – the Situation has changed after that story. They now said they will put requirements before truckers come to Zambia and some drivers who were in Quarantine were brought back by bus to their trucks yesterday. May God Bless you always. I even have their Memo/Minutes for the Zambia authorities after they have a Meeting. You saved lives there my brother.
Keep the good work.
-REFRESH THIS PAGE FOR THE UPDATE-
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS’ BRIEFING BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH HON. DR. CHITALU CHILUFYA, MP AND THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS HON. MUTOTWE KAFWAYA, MP HELD ON SUNDAY 5th APRIL 2020 AT 09:30HRS
The following are the highlights of the stakeholders briefing: –
a. The Minister of Health emphasised that Zambia was in a “State of Public Health Emergency” because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
b. That Zambia was implementing a robust “scalable response plan” to COVID 19, in which a multi-stakeholder approach was required in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic.
c. The quarantining of truck drivers at Kazungula and Livingstone/Vic Falls border posts over the past few days has been worrisome to the Government and something needed to be done about it.
d. As a result, the Government decided to relocate the quarantined drivers from the border posts to Lusaka where drivers will continue with their quarantining programme in accordance with Statutory Instrument (S.I.) No. 22 of 2020. Trucks are being parked at Makeni Dry Port and Heroes Stadium. Transport companies affected are allowed to send relief drivers to pick up the trucks subject to the cabins being sanitized by the MOH.
e. Quarantine period to commence from date of arrival in Zambia, therefore those drivers that have spent days at border quarantine facilities, will have their days at UNZA reduced accordingly.
f. That as at 4 April 2020, 146 trucks had been escorted from the border posts to Lusaka. 57 of these are parked at the Makeni Dry Port and the balance at Heroes’ Stadium in Lusaka.
g. Drivers had been taken to the University of Zambia (UNZA) School of Veterinary Services, which has been turned into an approved Public Quarantine Facility.
h. The Government, through the Lusaka Province Administration, provided temporary catering services for the quarantined drivers.
i. Drivers for refrigerated trucks had requested that they be left to sleep in their trucks for the purpose of ensuring that the temperature is maintained at correct levels to avoid products going to waste.
j. Another 57 trucks left Livingstone for Lusaka this morning (5 April 2020) under Police escort.
k. The biggest challenge at the moment was the welfare of drivers. That truck owners and employers of the quarantined drivers needed to take care of these drivers during the quarantine period as the mandatory quarantining was not sustainable to the Government.
l. Going forward, Government plans to: (truncated).
ILLEGAL money changers are slowly coming back to the city centre in Bulawayo while a majority are now operating from residential areas as the 21-day national lockdown entered Day 9 yesterday.
The money changers, in blatant defiance of the lockdown directive for people to stay at home, have started pushing street forex rates up again.
Government last week allowed businesses to trade in forex and pegged the US dollar at 1:25.
At the time, street rates were as high as 1:43 for electronic transfers and due to absence of money changers on the street, they went as low as 32 but had risen to around 39 yesterday.
The lockdown which started last week on Monday, is meant to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19 which has infected more than 1,3 million people globally and killed over 78 000.-State media
ILLEGAL money changers are slowly coming back to the city centre in Bulawayo while a majority are now operating from residential areas as the 21-day national lockdown entered Day 9 yesterday.
The money changers, in blatant defiance of the lockdown directive for people to stay at home, have started pushing street forex rates up again.
Government last week allowed businesses to trade in forex and pegged the US dollar at 1:25.
At the time, street rates were as high as 1:43 for electronic transfers and due to absence of money changers on the street, they went as low as 32 but had risen to around 39 yesterday.
The lockdown which started last week on Monday, is meant to mitigate against the spread of Covid-19 which has infected more than 1,3 million people globally and killed over 78 000.-State media
TB Joshua has addressed his botched prophesy in which he claimed the Coronavirus pandemic would end on 27 March 2020. The religious leader said the Holy Spirit gave him the message that the pandemic would end on 27 March.
During an interview on his own TV, Emmanual TV the preacher addressed his controversial prophecy and said;
I am not a politician, I just have to give you the message as the Spirit gave it to me
Meanwhile, Joshua has also claimed COVID-19 is a failure in advanced technology adding fuel to the COVID-19 5G conspiracy theories that have overtaken the world.-Online
STATE security agents deployed to enforce the 21-day national lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus have been accused of terrorising residents in several towns and cities, with some of the victims left seriously injured.
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum director Blessing Gorejena yesterday said her organisation had documented 51 assault cases involving security agents, with most of the cases recorded in urban areas.
“Besides what we have documented through our structures, several cases are going unreported although we are working round the clock to help victims suffering from human rights violations by mainly State actors,” Gorejena said.
The lockdown became effective last Monday, before reports of police and army brutality emerged from different parts of the country, while videos of members of the uniformed forces “punishing” lockdown offenders went viral.
But police yesterday challenged the assault victims to report to their nearest police stations, while the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) dismissed the reports as false.
On Monday, soldiers reportedly violently dispersed people at Chigovanyika Business Centre in St Mary’s, Chitungwiza, and in Kuwadzana 4, a few hours before President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s convoy passed through the busy shopping centres.
Later at night, the soldiers are said to have bashed the residents for booing Mnangagwa earlier in the day. In Karoi and Kariba, police and the army reportedly harassed residents, leaving some nursing injuries.
A 79-year-old Kariba resident, Homani Matamba, claims he was assaulted by police officers while seated at home with his two sons.
“I was seated outside around 8pm when I was assaulted by the police, who accused us of not staying indoors. When they hit me, I passed out and don’t remember how I fell after they hit me all over the body and face. I was only attended to by my wife after the police had left,” he said.
Lucia Masvondo (26) from Chikangwe high-density suburb, Karoi, said police beat her up and unleashed a dog on her after finding her preparing supper using firewood inside her yard.
“I am worried that this lockdown is forcing us to be indoors at 8pm. Are we not allowed to prepare supper? Is it what the President has told these officers?” she asked.
Another resident Kemptson Guvheya (46) was assaulted as he was seeing off his brother.
Human rights lawyer Jeremiah Bamu said: “A lockdown is not a declaration of a state of emergency. People still have their rights and members of the security services have an obligation to respect, protect and promote these rights. Anyone whose rights have been violated has recourse in terms of the Constitution and law. They need to consult their lawyers on the available remedies they may have at law.”
Contacted for comment, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged the assault victims to report to their nearest police stations.
“We urge those being abused by the police officers enforcing lockdown to report to their nearest police stations for investigations to be instituted. We are seeing some of these issues on social media, but when we try to investigate them, we find nothing on the ground,” Nyathi said.
ZNA spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore yesterday said the allegations of police and army brutality were false.
“The issues you have raised with reference to the allegations against the Zimbabwe National Army members, who are assisting the Zimbabwe Republic Police in enforcing the lockdown, are not true. On the contrary and as a matter of fact, the broad spectrum of our citizens are complying with the lockdown without any adverse reports coming from either other security forces, government and community leaders involved in the national effort to curb the pandemic,” he said in a written response.
“Our advice is that anyone who claims to be a victim must promptly report to the nearest Zimbabwe Republic Police or the Zimbabwe National Army camps. It is futile to raise such serious allegations in the social media and/or media houses without reporting them to the relevant authorities.”
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Staff members of Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo been in strict isolation since the 2nd of April after a suspected case of Coronavirus was detected at their health institution.
Although the government and the hospital have not publicly stated the name of the institution where the 79-year-old man who passed away on the the 4th of April was admitted at, reports have indicated that he was at Mater Dei.
On Thursday, Christian Brothers College Deputy Senior Prefect Jamie Mitchell took some food to the staffers at the hospital.
CBC posted on the Facebook page saying, “Our deputy senior prefect, Jamie Mitchell, and his mum, Mandi Mitchell, a staunch supporter of the college for many years,have been doing deliveries of baked goods and other tasty treats to the Mater Dei.
“This is an initiative to help boost the morale of the hospital staff who have been in strict isolation, away from their families, since last Thursday. Mrs Mitchell said the staff have been so grateful for the deliveries, and wish to extend their sincere thanks to the Bulawayo community for their support during this difficult time.”
