South Africa woke up with more cases of the Coronavirus pandemic with official figures approaching 2000.
Zimbabwe’s neighbour to the south has confirmed 1655 cases with 70 cases overnight on Sunday.
However the lockdown appears to be working as the country is no longer diagnosing new cases as was the rate before.
South Africa was escalating numbers up to more than 200 new cases in a day.
The country now has 11 confirmed deaths after two people succumbed over the weekend. The 2 were both in ICU Western Cape and Kwazulu Natal. First is an 82 year old female who was admitted on the 29th of March 2020.
The second one is an 86 year old Male who was admitted on the 26th March 2020.
The deaths in South Africa have been mainly of elderly people who are the most vulnerable of the disease.
Only 2 people of the 11 were under the age of 60 at 46 and 48 years.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital for tests, 10 days after testing positive for coronavirus, Downing Street has said.
He was taken to a London hospital on Sunday evening with “persistent symptoms” – including a temperature.
It is said to be a “precautionary step” taken on the advice of his doctor.
The prime minister remains in charge of the government, but the foreign secretary is expected to chair a coronavirus meeting on Monday morning.
Mr Johnson is expected to stay overnight and is having what have been described as “routine tests”, according to BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg.
In a statement, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “On the advice of his doctor, the prime minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests.
“This is a precautionary step, as the prime minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus.”
She added: “The prime minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the government’s advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
When “Contagion” came out in 2011, the idea that a virus could cripple the world seemed like horrifying fiction. Today, the coronavirus pandemic has made it a reality.
The health crisis has also catapulted the 9-year-old film into one of the most-watched movies right now. It’s just the latest unlikely chapter for the film director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns teamed up to make when another project the Oscar-winning director was planning to do fell through.
Hollywood has made plenty of disaster movies over the decades, but often they are over-the-top and full of unrealistic scenarios. And when a virus is in the plot, it usually causes people to become zombies. Soderbergh and Burns weren’t interested in any of that. Inspired by a 2006 TedTalk by Dr. Larry Brilliant, the duo wanted to make a story on what would really happen if a pandemic spread around the globe.
Made for around $60 million through Warner Bros., the movie included an ensemble cast of Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, and Marion Cotillard. It focused on a flu virus called MEV-1, which originated in Hong Kong and quickly spreads across the world killing millions and causing an apocalyptic-like existence for those still alive.
“The movie never tested great,” one of the movie’s producers, two-time Oscar-nominee Michael Shamberg, told Insider, looking back on the making of it. “But people understood it.”
But would they come to see a movie about what happens to the world after a deadly virus cripples it?
The movie’s opening days in theaters had everyone involved in the movie a little worried, as the CinemaScore polling from audiences coming out of the movie gave it a C+, according to Shamberg. But in the first sign that the movie could go against the odds, it was the top movie at the box office its opening weekend with a $22.4 million opening.
“Here’s a movie people didn’t love when they came out of it, but they told people about it and more people kept coming,” said Shamberg of the movie’s performance.
It went on to earn over $136 million at the global box office.
For any movie that would be the endnote. A successful run in theaters and going forward, DVD and Blu-ray copies of it would collect dust on shelves and a small thumbnail of the movie’s poster would appear as an option to watch on streaming services.
But then the coronavirus hit and suddenly “Contagion” didn’t seem like a horror or disaster movie, but a documentary. Everything in the movie was a mirror to what was on the news.
Both viruses originated in China. “Social distancing” — a term used in the movie — became a phrase for everyday life. And by the end of the movie, all you want to do is wash your hands.
As the coronavirus began to spread in January, the movie title spiked on Google Trends. By March, Warner Bros. announced that “Contagion” was only behind the “Harry Potter” franchise as the most in-demand title in its catalog to view online (it was the studio’s 270th most popular in December 2019). And currently, the movie is the most rented/purchased title on FandangoNow out of its non-new releases, while over on iTunes it has been in the top ten for weeks of titles viewed.
Shamberg said he’s amazed by the movie’s popularity.
“I don’t think in the history of cinema anything has happened like this before,” he said, giving all the credit to Soderbergh, Burns, and the experts who were hired to be consultants on the movie. “We should not forget that we need cinema both to entertain us, take our minds off of stuff, but also it is the most powerful medium for informing people.”
Shamberg was working on a TV pilot with Soderbergh before the coronavirus caused all production in Hollywood to shut down, so he has been able to talk with the director about the movie’s second life. And it seems Soderbergh feels the movie did its job.
“I think he’s just pleased that his vision as a filmmaker is out there, which was wanting to scare people into learning something,” Shamberg said. “He accomplished his mission.”
Opposition MDC official Morgen Komichi has said that he, together with Chalton Hwende, Happymore Chidziva and Amos Chibaya, tried to persuade party leader Nelson Chamisa not to appeal against a High Court ruling.
Komichi’s remarks come when Chamisa and his supporters are refusing to accept the ruling of the Supreme Court on the party’s leadership crisis that reduced Chamisa to a Secretary of Policy and Research in the party while Thokozani Khupe was reinstated as the leader.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Zim Morning Post, Komichi said that they approached Chamisa and advised him not to appeal but to hold a congress to correct the violation of the party constitution. He said:
We made our presentation to Chamisa at his advocate chambers offices. He did not respond to my advice but invited advocate Thabani Mpofu.
Mpofu argued saying he had found 11 faults in the judgment so there was need for an appeal and promised that he was going to win at the Supreme court.
Komichi claims that he had realised how serious the issues raised by “MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe” were.
Meanwhile, some MDC officials claim that Chamisa appealed the ruling because “there is confusion in the judiciary about the multiple and separate MDC political formations. The MDC Alliance did not want to fall victim to the confusion in a manner that would have disturbed the party from holding its congress in Gweru.”
Emmanuel Makandiwa has told all other prophets to stop claiming that they also predicted the coming of the Coronavirus instead insisting that he is the only one to have done so some five years back.
He was conducting his international online sermon on Facebook, Sunday, titled The Church The Cure.
“Do you remember that I said a disease is coming and I said it is coming from the sea,” Makandiwa said.
“I go by what God is saying rather than what men are saying because men are capable of darkening the councils of God.
“Now that the disease is around, most people (Prophets) feel obligated to talk about it.
“Whatever you hear being said by the people, whether they are politicians, scientists, women or men of God, you must understand that talking of the coronavirus is very suicidal.
“Before we had this pandemic, we had an opportunity as men of God to talk about it for us to believe, we should have said something about it before.”
On three occasions, he told his congregants of a demonic spirit from the sea that will go on a rampage killing millions by contaminating the atmosphere.
Added Makandiwa: “I see there is a lot of pressure, certain individuals they feel obligated because they look at the magnitude of this disease, how it has destroyed established structures and systems, money has been lost, time has been wasted, at this point they are saying I should have seen this.
“Hear me child of God, he cannot be coming now telling you concerning the end of something that he did not talk to you about concerning its beginning.
“Have you seen the thing before it started for you to see how it is going to end?
“Somebody who was able to see this before is in a better position to see because that person is strategically positioned, he stands a better chance of seeing how again it is going to end and if I were you, I would believe that person.
“When the disease is about to go, I will know, there is noway that we can have an argument in that area.”
So far, the disease has claimed more than 64 000 and infected over a million worldwide.
Zimbabwe only has nine confirmed cases and one related death.
THE military has been roped in to complement police in enforcing the 21-day lockdown, a strategy that is being implemented by other countries throughout the world to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had been enforcing the lockdown which has seen nearly 2 000 people being arrested countrywide for defying the stay-at-home order.
Police and soldiers are now jointly manning roadblocks and conducting patrols in suburbs to ensure that the public complies with the lockdown measures.
Defence and War Veterans Affairs Deputy Minister Victor Matemadanda said the deployment of the military was an operational issue which should be embraced as most countries have jointly deployed security forces for improved efficiency.
“At a personal level I don’t get involved in an operational matter. That is for the Joint Operations Command (JOC). But obviously when you see them working together like I have always said, they get involved at the request of the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” said Deputy Minister Matemadanda.
“But anyway, it’s not a new phenomenon in Zimbabwe, every other country that has taken (lockdown) measures has deployed the police and the army – all security agents to make sure that this is contained. If the deployment is being done now, I think Zimbabwe was even the last because everywhere else, soldiers are deployed because it is an emergency situation.”
To contain the virus, countries across the globe have implemented lockdowns and the military is playing a crucial part.
As part of lockdown enforcement measures, neighbouring South Africa on March 27 deployed both the army and police to ensure the public complies with the 21-day lockdown.
In Zimbabwe, the lockdown began last week on Monday and during this period people are required to stay at home, with only those providing essential services allowed to report for work. Only those providing essential services such as shops selling food and pharmacies are authorised to open. Travel between cities and provinces has been banned and within towns and cities, only Zupco buses provide public transport.
Movement of people and large gatherings are some of the fastest ways the virus is spread, hence the need for citizens to confine themselves at home.
Mashonaland West Provincial State Minister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka
Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) is now making 3 500 face masks a day and plans to increase production and start producing sanitisers.
Speaking during a tour of the plant by Mashonaland West Provincial State Minister, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, who is also the chairperson of provincial task force team, Vice-Chancellor Professor David Jambgwa Simbi said CUT was working flat out to open a sanitiser production plant to complement its face masks and protective wear plant.
He said production of the masks and sanitisers was aimed at curtailing the spread of the virus through cheaper and affordable masks.
“We are establishing a sanitiser making unity at our innovation hub that will make sanitisers using manual method,” he said.
“We are yet to receive ethanol for the production.”
He said the production of sanitisers will be automated gradually. CUT is using its Fashion and Textile department equipment to make the masks.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka applauded the institution for being patriotic and assisting the nation in curbing the spread of Covid-19.
“Your efforts are an example of par excellence and true symbol of patriotism,” she said.
She said the effort by the university was a sign that Zimbabweans were working together in the fight against Covid-19.
Turning to residents, Minister Mliswa-Chikoka urged residents to desist from defying the lockdown regulations as the move was aimed at protecting them and their loved ones.
She underscored the need for people to report any suspected positive cases as a measure to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
The following is an update from a member of the Cabinet Taskforce on Covid-19 and Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa
Good day Zimbabweans.
Government would like to thank every Zimbabwean who has been complying with the preventative measures put in place by our President Cde ED Mnangagwa. Prevention and precaution are key, there is no vaccine yet.
Zimbabwe is not alone in these tragic times. The whole world is under attack from this deadly virus. To this effect we have intensified civic education and information sharing with all communities all the way to the grass roots.
With the coronavirus there are no models except ourselves. Thus it is extremely important that as a people we take heed of our President and all what he has put in place.
Together we can win this war against coronavirus.
As we begin a new week, Government remains hopeful but alive to the potential danger of an outbreak; that the numbers will not implode at some point and this can only be aided if citizens continue to shine and play their part as they have exemplified high levels of maturity and understanding.
The Ministry of Information, working together with the Ministry of Heath, will continue to feed you with as much information as is possible such that there should be no vacuum in this regard.
The Government is fully seized with this pandemic and all hands are on deck. We believe that we will overcome this plague.
As cumulative tests, which have been done in the country, we have 349 and those who have been found negative are 340, those found positive nine.
If anyone suspects that they might be infected they need not go to the hospital, rather you should call toll free number 2019 whereby they would be assessed over the phone. If there is any need, an emergency rapid response team will attend to you.
MORE than 1 900 have so far been arrested for defying the 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, in the first week.
Almost all offenders were fined between $200 and $500.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “About 1 918 people across the country were arrested for various offences in defiance of the 21-day lockdown,” he said.
“Only yesterday 22 were arrested for liquor-related offences, 14 were nabbed for ferrying passengers without exemptions while 47 were arrested for operating businesses without exemptions. About 106 were arrested for unnecessary movement, 39 for gathering in public places and 179 for other offences,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi warned those who continue to defy the directive that they risk being arrested.
“We have been urging the public to comply with all measures and directives but some are in the habit of defying it. Those who will be found on the wrong side of the law will be arrested.
“We also observed that a lot of people are not practising social distancing. Others are busy holding parties for large numbers at their homes thereby exposing others and their families to the virus. We are urging everyone to stop the habit. Others buy beer and drink in buses or just closing themselves in beerhalls and start drinking while inside. The police are fully aware of that and soon they will pounce on the offenders,” he said.
Meanwhile police have increased their presence in market places where farmers can sell their produce to ensure health rules are enforced.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Sunday took his huge motorcade of heavily armed security details around Harare’s high density suburbs as he took time to check on the compliance to the national lockdown.
Mnangagwa’s tour started in Mabvuku and Tafara. He then proceeded to Kuwadzana before moving to New Marimba, Mufakose, Glen View, Budiriro, Highfield, Glen Norah and Chitungwiza.
He did not leave his vehicle because of the need to maintain social distance and did not address anyone in the residential areas though scores of residents had to come out of their homes into the streets to get sight of the huge motorcade.
The tour revealed that people generally took heed of the lockdown.
Most market stalls were unoccupied and people fetching water from community boreholes did so in an orderly manner, with police and municipal police helping to keep order at the boreholes.
President Mnangagwa commended the people for their discipline.
“We have been to Mabvuku, Tafara, Kuwadzana, Glen View, Budiriro, Highfield, Chitungwiza and so on; I am so amazed by the discipline our people have. Right through, people were in their homes. Those who were out, like in Mabvuku where I saw some people fetching water but with total discipline, were well organised. I am so happy and I think that people actually appreciate the reason why the Government has imposed this lockdown.
“I really appreciate that they heeded the call by Government to keep the social distance.”
Perhaps unaware of the hard hands of the police in enforcing compliance, Mnangagwa applauded Zimbabweans for “exercising self-discipline.”
“In some other countries, police beat up people for them to disperse and I admire and praise our people for the discipline. For the three hours we drove around, I saw very few policemen but people are complying, which is good and I praise our people for the discipline they have shown.
Police have detained hundreds of people for contravening regulations imposed for the 21-day lockdown in Zimbabwe — with a journalist facing up to a year in jail.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had been enforcing the lockdown which has seen nearly 2 000 people being arrested countrywide for defying the stay-at-home order.
Police and soldiers are now jointly manning roadblocks and conducting patrols in suburbs to ensure that the public complies with the lockdown measures.
“This is also my first lockdown experience and I wanted a direct experience by going around seeing how our people are reacting to the lockdown and what I saw is amazing. I think if this discipline is kept, I am hopeful it will mitigate against the spread of the pandemic.”
President Emmerson Mnangagwa's motorcade going through Harare high density suburbs
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says that government will make an assessment and decide on whether to extend or end the Coronavirus lockdown after the 21 day lockdown.
He acknowledged that there was an economic and social impact that had to be considered.
Speaking after touring many high-density suburbs in Harare and Chitungwiza to see for himself what was happening, he said Government was alive to the economic and social implications of the lockdown, but he would not prejudge that decision.
“I would not want to prejudge our decision. At the end of the 21 days, we are going to review our decision; if we think that it is containable we may go back because it has its economic impact,” he said.
“We have to weigh the possibilities of relaxing or continuing at the end of the 21 days. I cannot say now what is going to happen after, but what I can say is that currently I am happy with the way people have responded. You know we declared a lockdown.
“This is the first time that this country is going through a lockdown, so I felt it was important for me to go around and see how people are taking this measure to be kept at home.”
Government has warned individuals, private organisations and pharmacies that are selling unapproved Covid-19 rapid test kits that do not comply with Ministry of Health and Child Care, and World Health Organisation (WHO) specifications and protocols, saying such tests may produce erroneous results.
Private companies and some pharmacies have been selling unapproved rapid Covid-19 test kits online in Zimbabwe.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said the sale of these unregistered kits was illegal and whoever is involved in such has to stop immediately as all rapid test kits have to be initially evaluated for their specificity and sensitivity by the National Micro Biology Reference Laboratory.
“It has come to our attention that there are a number of individuals, organisations and pharmacies that are selling unregistered coronavirus test kits.
“As Government, we strongly condemn this because these organisations are not following the WHO laid down specifications,” said Dr Moyo.
The minister reiterated that the ministry will follow the WHO protocol of testing those who fall within the case definition of the coronavirus as well as testing those who would have travelled from Covid-19 affected countries and their contacts.
However, individuals who want to confirm their Covid-19 status are not restricted and can be tested at registered healthcare facilities that utilise approved Covid-19 testing systems.
POLICE in Victoria Falls are investigating a case where four junior officers, who were seemingly drunk, allegedly ran amok and assaulted residents leaving two injured and hospitalised on Friday evening.
The beatings left Mr Munyaradzi Sakho (29) who is a former Triangle FC soccer player hospitalised at Victoria Falls Hospital with multiple injuries on the back and face while Mr Stanley Chiwambo (41) was treated and discharged.
The two were beaten at the houses facing Mukali Business Centre at about 8pm on Friday and the four suspected police officers allegedly fled from the scene as residents threatened to beat them up after Mr Sakho had collapsed as a result of the assault.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident and said investigations were still going on.
“We are investigating with a view to identify the officers involved and find out what transpired.
We want to establish how and why they went to that house because they were not on duty. Correct facts will only come out after the investigations,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.-State media
POLICE in Victoria Falls are investigating a case where four junior officers, who were seemingly drunk, allegedly ran amok and assaulted residents leaving two injured and hospitalised on Friday evening.
The beatings left Mr Munyaradzi Sakho (29) who is a former Triangle FC soccer player hospitalised at Victoria Falls Hospital with multiple injuries on the back and face while Mr Stanley Chiwambo (41) was treated and discharged.
The two were beaten at the houses facing Mukali Business Centre at about 8pm on Friday and the four suspected police officers allegedly fled from the scene as residents threatened to beat them up after Mr Sakho had collapsed as a result of the assault.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident and said investigations were still going on.
“We are investigating with a view to identify the officers involved and find out what transpired.
We want to establish how and why they went to that house because they were not on duty. Correct facts will only come out after the investigations,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.-State media
Most of the renovations at Barbourfields Stadium have been completed, a Bulawayo City Council (BCC) official has claimed.
The venue is undergoing extensive touch-ups after it was banned from hosting international games by CAF.
Speaking to Sunday News, BCC senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said most of the work has been done despite the effects of the coronavirus crisis which has caused a 21-day lock-down.
“The bulk of the work has been done. We are still working in full force, however, cognisant of the issues for COVID-19 and also watching national Government proclamations on the pandemic,’’ said Mpofu.
“We are not an exception as we have had to reduce the staff at the ground to meet the health standard requirement. We may be affected by failing to source the requisite material as some suppliers are reportedly working towards shutting down manufacturing and selling of material.”
Renovations have been carried out on the changing rooms, pitch, floodlights, dugout and installing WiFi internet. The parking areas are being refurbished.
The BCC has until June 15 to finish upgrading the stadium before a final CAF inspection is conducted ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.-Soccer 24
A ZANU PF official and council chairman for Chikomba District, Israel Dhikinya is reportedly under fire from the party’s leadership in the district for allegedly working with councillors from the opposition MDC.
A letter dated March 24, 2020, has been sent to Joel Biggie Matiza, the party provincial chairperson, copied to the President’s Office and the district development co-ordinator notifying him of the resolution to bar Dhikinya from serving as the council chairman.
Dhikinya is accused of assigning an unnamed MDC Alliance councillor to distribute food to Zanu PF supporters during the official handover of government houses to Cyclone Idai victims in Masasa recently.
It reads in part: We have resolved in the meeting of the Chikomba Zanu PF leadership that Cde Dhikinya, who is the chairman of the Chikomba Rural District Council, stops to operate as the chairman of the council representing Zanu PF as he is causing damage to the name of the party (sic) .
Dhikinya is also accused of denouncing the party and refusing to give council residential stands to Zanu PF youths for free.
The development was confirmed by ZANU PF provincial member in Chikomba District, Moses Matarutse.-NewsDay
A ZANU PF official and council chairman for Chikomba District, Israel Dhikinya is reportedly under fire from the party’s leadership in the district for allegedly working with councillors from the opposition MDC.
A letter dated March 24, 2020, has been sent to Joel Biggie Matiza, the party provincial chairperson, copied to the President’s Office and the district development co-ordinator notifying him of the resolution to bar Dhikinya from serving as the council chairman.
Dhikinya is accused of assigning an unnamed MDC Alliance councillor to distribute food to Zanu PF supporters during the official handover of government houses to Cyclone Idai victims in Masasa recently.
It reads in part: We have resolved in the meeting of the Chikomba Zanu PF leadership that Cde Dhikinya, who is the chairman of the Chikomba Rural District Council, stops to operate as the chairman of the council representing Zanu PF as he is causing damage to the name of the party (sic) .
Dhikinya is also accused of denouncing the party and refusing to give council residential stands to Zanu PF youths for free.
The development was confirmed by ZANU PF provincial member in Chikomba District, Moses Matarutse.-NewsDay
A Chirundu motorist injured two police officers after he attempted to run over them while they were doing patrols to ensure that residents were in compliance with the 21-day national lockdown to control the spread of the COVID-19.
Andrew Matsika allegedly tried to run over Constable Chimberengwa and Constable Chinyandu after the two officers confronted him while he was fixing his car last Thursday.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were investigating the incident.
He said: Police are investigating an incident where the suspect tried to run over Constable Chinyandu, who suffered minor injuries, before engaging the reverse gear that saw Constable Chimberengwa suffer head injuries.
He was later ferried to Mutenderi Mission Hospital while Chinyandu was attended at Chirundu clinic.
Residents in the border town have complained that the law enforcement agents were using heavy-handed tactics to keep them at home.
Meanwhile, videos of police officers torturing residents found wandering on the streets during the lockdown have begun to surface online, with one report claiming that drunk officers beat a Victoria resident to a pulp after they found him standing in his yard.- The Standard
A Chirundu motorist injured two police officers after he attempted to run over them while they were doing patrols to ensure that residents were in compliance with the 21-day national lockdown to control the spread of the COVID-19.
Andrew Matsika allegedly tried to run over Constable Chimberengwa and Constable Chinyandu after the two officers confronted him while he was fixing his car last Thursday.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were investigating the incident.
He said: Police are investigating an incident where the suspect tried to run over Constable Chinyandu, who suffered minor injuries, before engaging the reverse gear that saw Constable Chimberengwa suffer head injuries.
He was later ferried to Mutenderi Mission Hospital while Chinyandu was attended at Chirundu clinic.
Residents in the border town have complained that the law enforcement agents were using heavy-handed tactics to keep them at home.
Meanwhile, videos of police officers torturing residents found wandering on the streets during the lockdown have begun to surface online, with one report claiming that drunk officers beat a Victoria resident to a pulp after they found him standing in his yard.- The Standard
Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army members are being exposed to Coronavirus as they are deployed to the domain with no protection at all.
Police officers and Soldiers warned shortages of appropriate equipment may put lives of Service members at risk Frontline police staff are at risk of dying from Covid-19 as they are deployed in the frontline with no protective gear eve a glove or a face mask.
The duty of care is about ensuring that the right tools are available at the right time as the outbreak progresses and that the correct gear is used for public care to ensure the safety of the Police Officers and their families.
Face masks and gloves are needed for situations which puts you in contact with people who might be infected.
Zimbabwe is seeing a growing number of those seriously ill, and those with symptoms but not yet tested.
The police have been deployed in the streets to enforce compliance but they are not protected.
There is a great fear that they could pass the infection on to their families and work mates after catching it at work because of poor protection. Officers who are dealing most closely with the suspected Covid-19 people are most worried.
Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) appear to be widespread across the Police service and include GP practices as well as hospitals.
Police officers are engaged in running battles with people in the streets in trying to enforce the lock down. The mentality of the senior officers who deploy these officers in the streets without protection is questionable.
This borders around lines of witchcraft. Officers mingle with people every day they are putting their lives on the line. Every day a policeman on the front line is brushing shoulders with death.
The whole system lacks wisdom and it seriously depressing.
There is no logic in enforcing a lockdown by exposing the officers to the very virus they are meant to protect the public from. The situation is dire and urgent action has to be taken.
The police force in Zimbabwe is mismanaged highly neglected and is being run down. Our police officers resemble the chief’s security officers. There is generally no support for the police. The police have no tools of trade. Imagine ninety five percent of the Police stations have no cars no fuel nothing.
Officers have to ask the complainant to provide transport Officer’s in charge queue for transport with juniors and with the members of the public. The police force has been reduced to stooges in uniform. No wonder why they do not command any respect from the public.
Imagine when the whole world is panicking because of Corona our police are sent to mingle with the public with no protection.
Is this a plan to wipe the police force and blame Corona. Is this a planned genocide on the police why are our police officers neglected and treated like junks.
The most painful thing is that the senior officers have four cars each.
These are top of the range vehicles. If the Range Rovers the commissioners uses as their shopping basket are to be sold they can buy fifteen cars for rural stations. But no the commissioners needs Range Rovers for their shopping. lexus for their small houses Ford rangers for their girl friend’s children. In their view the police are not more important than girlfriends. Never mind three Nissan Land Cruisers for their wives.
No wonder the officers deployed on the streets are always angry and cruel.
Commentators believe the bad mood by the police was driven by the lack of equipment rather than a mental disorder. The police are not even made aware of the risks from the virus.
Other officers in the region wear full PPE, comprising an FFP3 masks (which offer high levels of respiratory protection), visors, surgical gowns and two pairs of gloves each. But the Zimbabwean officers are given a button stick and an empty stomach.
There will be a high death rate for police first responders. If they don’t have the protective kit, this increases their risk of death.
What they are doing is not fit for purpose. There really needs to be a big effort to ensure that Protection for officers is made an absolute priority.
It is staggering how the police force is working without protection. Police dealing with the public some of which are with symptoms strongly suggestive of Covid-19 are walking around with no protection at all.
All police officers are under an enormous amount of pressure and face some increasingly difficult times ahead, so we need to look after them, so they can look after everyone else.
We stand a risk of losing the entire police force and their family members from this virus.
“Frontline clinicians, care staff and patients deserve clear guidance on face masks and for that to then be consistently followed.
If they make a difference in protecting clinicians and patients, and police officers there will be a risk of reinfection.
The police are left ill-equipped because Police chiefs had been caught by surprise by the virus’s emergence.
“There’s a massive gap between what police need and the availability of that and there is a threat to staff health.
The trouble is that the police never saw such a big and difficult a problem as coronavirus coming and the chiefs do not care for their subordinates. They only care for themselves.
The role of the police is to ensure that the right tools are available at the right time.
This virus knows no boundaries. It infects ministers President’s princes and any one. So a button stick and an old rifle is not a Corona virus protective ware. No amount of officers will stop the virus. This is the time when we should be ashamed and save our police officers.
They need to be protected. These people have families they have children. All of them are bread winners. Save our police.
POLICE have, as per their recent warning, increased the number of roadblocks in the country – stopping and sending back both motorists and passengers in Zupco buses without a good reason to be on the roads.
This comes as more than 1 500 people have been arrested and made to pay fines for violating the tough measures that were recently introduced by the government, as part of measures aimed at ensuring compliance with the 21-day lockdown imposed by authorities.
In Bulawayo yesterday, hordes of bus passengers without letters of authorisation were forced to drop off at the roadblocks and ordered to return back home.
Similarly, many motorists intending to access the city’s central business district (CBD) were also ordered to go back home if they had no good reason to do so.
The CBD was virtually deserted, as most people complied with the lockdown regulations.
Police also barred people who wanted to buy farm produce at vending stalls, a day after President Emmerson Mnangagwa sanctioned fruit and vegetable trading in the country – following an outcry by rights and labour groups.
In the meantime, and with police enforcing compliance and turning away nonessential service providers from accessing the CBDs of major towns, this has resulted in shortages of basic goods and services in many high density areas.-NehandaRadio
Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army members are being exposed to Coronavirus as they are deployed to the domain with no protection at all.
Police officers and Soldiers warned shortages of appropriate equipment may put lives of Service members at risk Frontline police staff are at risk of dying from Covid-19 as they are deployed in the frontline with no protective gear eve a glove or a face mask.
The duty of care is about ensuring that the right tools are available at the right time as the outbreak progresses and that the correct gear is used for public care to ensure the safety of the Police Officers and their families.
Face masks and gloves are needed for situations which puts you in contact with people who might be infected.
Zimbabwe is seeing a growing number of those seriously ill, and those with symptoms but not yet tested.
The police have been deployed in the streets to enforce compliance but they are not protected.
There is a great fear that they could pass the infection on to their families and work mates after catching it at work because of poor protection. Officers who are dealing most closely with the suspected Covid-19 people are most worried.
Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) appear to be widespread across the Police service and include GP practices as well as hospitals.
Police officers are engaged in running battles with people in the streets in trying to enforce the lock down. The mentality of the senior officers who deploy these officers in the streets without protection is questionable.
This borders around lines of witchcraft. Officers mingle with people every day they are putting their lives on the line. Every day a policeman on the front line is brushing shoulders with death.
The whole system lacks wisdom and it seriously depressing.
There is no logic in enforcing a lockdown by exposing the officers to the very virus they are meant to protect the public from. The situation is dire and urgent action has to be taken.
The police force in Zimbabwe is mismanaged highly neglected and is being run down. Our police officers resemble the chief’s security officers. There is generally no support for the police. The police have no tools of trade. Imagine ninety five percent of the Police stations have no cars no fuel nothing.
Officers have to ask the complainant to provide transport Officer’s in charge queue for transport with juniors and with the members of the public. The police force has been reduced to stooges in uniform. No wonder why they do not command any respect from the public.
Imagine when the whole world is panicking because of Corona our police are sent to mingle with the public with no protection.
Is this a plan to wipe the police force and blame Corona. Is this a planned genocide on the police why are our police officers neglected and treated like junks.
The most painful thing is that the senior officers have four cars each.
These are top of the range vehicles. If the Range Rovers the commissioners uses as their shopping basket are to be sold they can buy fifteen cars for rural stations. But no the commissioners needs Range Rovers for their shopping. lexus for their small houses Ford rangers for their girl friend’s children. In their view the police are not more important than girlfriends. Never mind three Nissan Land Cruisers for their wives.
No wonder the officers deployed on the streets are always angry and cruel.
Commentators believe the bad mood by the police was driven by the lack of equipment rather than a mental disorder. The police are not even made aware of the risks from the virus.
Other officers in the region wear full PPE, comprising an FFP3 masks (which offer high levels of respiratory protection), visors, surgical gowns and two pairs of gloves each. But the Zimbabwean officers are given a button stick and an empty stomach.
There will be a high death rate for police first responders. If they don’t have the protective kit, this increases their risk of death.
What they are doing is not fit for purpose. There really needs to be a big effort to ensure that Protection for officers is made an absolute priority.
It is staggering how the police force is working without protection. Police dealing with the public some of which are with symptoms strongly suggestive of Covid-19 are walking around with no protection at all.
All police officers are under an enormous amount of pressure and face some increasingly difficult times ahead, so we need to look after them, so they can look after everyone else.
We stand a risk of losing the entire police force and their family members from this virus.
“Frontline clinicians, care staff and patients deserve clear guidance on face masks and for that to then be consistently followed.
If they make a difference in protecting clinicians and patients, and police officers there will be a risk of reinfection.
The police are left ill-equipped because Police chiefs had been caught by surprise by the virus’s emergence.
“There’s a massive gap between what police need and the availability of that and there is a threat to staff health.
The trouble is that the police never saw such a big and difficult a problem as coronavirus coming and the chiefs do not care for their subordinates. They only care for themselves.
The role of the police is to ensure that the right tools are available at the right time.
This virus knows no boundaries. It infects ministers President’s princes and any one. So a button stick and an old rifle is not a Corona virus protective ware. No amount of officers will stop the virus. This is the time when we should be ashamed and save our police officers.
They need to be protected. These people have families they have children. All of them are bread winners. Save our police.
By A Correspondent- A google search of a company called Big Brains did not yield any positive results.
The Big Brains company encountered is an e-learning startup with a different logo to the one on the letterhead below.
It is not clear whether this is genuine new or fake news.
MDC official Morgen Komichi has been accused by a Communications company Big Brains for failing to pay for speech services rendered to him on the 30th of March 2020. The company said Komichi promised to pay on the 1st of April but he never honoured the promise.
One L. Mujokoro the head of Finance and Accounting said, “We hope that you are happy with our services whose outcome clearly achieves your objectives as outlined in your service requisition form.
“We, however, note with concern that despite your undertaking to effect payment of the said services on or before the 1st of April 2020, you have not paid the same and are now ignoring our calls. Your delay to effect this payment also affect third parties like our assigned staff members whom we pay on commission on a job to job basis.”
Komichi has been given a deadline of 7 April to pay the bill.
“We hope that you will appreciate the sacrifice and risk they took to attend to you during this lockdown period. In the interest of fulfilling our obligations to our commission-based staff, we write to remind that you attend to payment of the said amount before Monday the 7″ of April 2020.”
By A Correspondent- MDC top politicians, Welshman Ncube and Douglas Mwonzora have had ugly exchanges on twitter with the latter accusing the party vice president of plotting a coup against disputed party leader Nelson Chamisa.
The simmering rivalry within the main opposition has been ignited by a recent Supreme Court ruling declaring Chamisa’s rise to the party helm as fraudulent.
The exchanges followed claims by Ncube that party politicians who openly celebrated the Supreme Court ruling had been sold a dummy by the court.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court Tuesday upheld an earlier High Court order for the beleaguered party to revert back to its leadership elected in 2014 and to call for an extra-ordinary elective congress within three months.
Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi, two party leaders who emerged victorious from the cited congress, have openly welcomed the ruling, drawing wide condemnation from the party faithful for alleged treachery.
In a bitter exchange of words on Twitter, Mwonzora questioned whether Ncube was not throwing dust in Chamisa’s eyes as he allegedly did with former president of the now defunct MDC splinter group Arthur Mutambara.
Ncube was first to lead an MDC revolt back in 2005, which saw the party split into two with the Ncube formation later inviting Mutambara to become its leader. Founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now late, remained with the mainstream MDC.
Ncube, who was secretary general of the splinter group, later took Mutambara’s job at a party congress, something that did not go well with the one-time deputy prime minister who was allowed to cling to his government job by then State President Robert Mugabe.
Charged Mwonzora, “We must equally ask are you (Ncube) not deliberately setting up Nelson Chamisa for failure so that you take over from him in 2024 as you did Mutambara some years back?”
“Given your rebellion against Tsvangirai it becomes a habit does it not? Only time will tell.”
Ncube responded: “We do not need to wait for time to tell, Chamisa is astute, very astute. He does not need me to make informed and strategic choices.
“Speaking for myself, and you can take this to your vault, I will not take over or rather I will not see to take over in 2024 or at any other time.”
Mwonzora finds himself fighting for his political life amid a volley of accusations by angry MDC members he was a party sell-out.
By A Correspondent- NewsDay and Voice of America correspondent Nunurai Jena, 55, was stopped at a police checkpoint in Chinhoyi and initially accused of using an expired press card before the officers charged him of disorderly conduct.
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) on Thursday condemned the arrest a second journalist during Zimbabwe’s 21-day coronavirus lockdown. On Monday, police arrested and later released Gweru-based freelance journalist Kudzanai Musengi for possessing a 2019 press card.
The information ministry intervened in that incident and explained that journalists were yet to be issued with press cards for 2020, owing to delays by the Zimbabwe Media Commission in gazetting new fees.
Jena was taken to Chinhoyi Magistrates Court after his arrest but the court was closed and is now expected to appear at the same court on Friday.
ZUJ secretary Foster Dongozi said:
“This is getting ridiculous and out of hand. Journalists have become a significant statistic in Zimbabwe. Let’s fight COVID-19, not journalists.”
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said it had deployed one of its lawyers, Kudzai Choga, to represent the journalist.
In a statement, the lawyers said:
“Jena was charged with contravening section 11(a)(b) of the Public Health (COVID-19), Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 and with disorderly conduct as defined in section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act after he was arrested while recording video footage of some police officers who were manning a checkpoint set up long the Chinhoyi-Chegutu highway in Mashonaland West province.
“Zimbabwe Republic Police members who arrested Jena claimed that he insulted some police officers who were manning the checkpoint by accusing them of being corrupt and thus hindered and obstructed them from carrying out their duties, including refusing to comply with their orders.
“ZRP claimed that Jena recorded video footage of them checking on and educating some pedestrians and motorists about the carriage and movement of people as stipulated in regulations gazetted by the government early this week to contain the spread of coronavirus, and without the consent of police officers.
“Jena was first quizzed for using a 2019 media accreditation card before the law enforcement agents backed down as its use is still valid.”
By A Correspondent- Former Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Godfrey Gandawa has urged opposition Members of parliament to resign from the August house and leave ZANU PF to fail on its own.
Said Gandawa on Sunday:
“Continuing to participate in corrupted processes only serves to legitimise an oppressive system. Resources permitting, opposition MPs should resign and allow the regime to go it alone. Only when we remove the futile hope offered by the system can we emerge with something new.”
By A Correspondent- The Deputy Minister of Information, Energy Mutodi has said that Zimbabwean music icon, Thomas “Mukanya” Mapfumo’s political choices are affected by his old age.
Posting on Twitter, Mutodi a former rhumba musician said:
Good music does not translate to good politics. I like Dr Thomas Tafirenyika Mapfumo’s music. He is excellent but he gets lost when it comes to politics. After witnessing the war & singing in support of the struggle, Mukanya is losing it all because of age.
Mukanya started Chimurenga music before independence. The music genre was a symbol for the struggle against injustice as it assumed a distinct and threatening presence in war-torn Rhodesia.
Mapfumo used music to ridicule the colonial regime, denounce poverty while advocating for freedom. When Zimbabwe became independent in 1980, Mapfumo turned his attention to looming corruption, grinding poverty, and the decaying rule of law by the Robert Mugabe administration.
His music, as in Rhodesia, was censored upon his release of the “Corruption” album in independent Zimbabwe forcing him to relocate to the USA in 2000 where continued with his music.
Mapfumo who briefly returned to Zimbabwe after the demise of the late Mugabe is also a staunch critic of President Mnangagwa’s administration.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital after his coronavirus symptoms persisted.
Downing Street made the announcement Sunday evening.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests.
“This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus.
“The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the Government’s advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
More to follow…
By A Correspondent- Munyaradzi Sakho (29) said he was dragged from his yard and thoroughly beaten by four drunk police officers around 8 pm on Friday.
The former Triangle FC soccer player is now hospitalised at Victoria Falls Hospital after he sustained multiple injuries on the back and face.
Another victim of the brutal attack, Stanley Chiwambo (41), was also injured but was treated and discharged.
Struggling to speak from his hospital bed, Sakho told Sunday News that he was beaten by the police officers after he failed to tell them of his neighbour’s whereabouts.
He said:
I closed the butchery where I work and went to submit the day’s cash to the owner. I had just got home when they suddenly pounced on me when I was at the veranda.
I couldn’t even understand what they wanted because they asked for our neighbour and when I said I didn’t know his whereabouts they started beating me up and dragged me out of the yard.
Meanwhile, residents who live close to Mukali Business Centre where the assaults took place said the four policemen had been on duty patrolling in the suburbs during the day and were still in uniform when they allegedly committed the offence.
After committing the offence, the police officers fled from the scene when residents threatened to beat them up after Sakho had collapsed as a result of the assault.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations were being conducted to ascertain what really transpired.-StateMedia
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been admitted to hospital after his coronavirus symptoms persisted.
Downing Street made the announcement Sunday evening.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “On the advice of his doctor, the Prime Minister has tonight been admitted to hospital for tests.
“This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus ten days after testing positive for the virus.
“The Prime Minister thanks NHS staff for all of their incredible hard work and urges the public to continue to follow the Government’s advice to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.” More to follow…
By A Correspondent- People’s Party youths have called on government to establish an independent investigations directorate to redress police brutalities against civilians.
The youths alleged that the brutalities by the police goes unnoticed hence the force continued perpetuating these injustices.
Said the youths:
“As People’s Party Youths, we call upon the government to establish an Independent Police Investigations Directorate to deal with the brutalities by ZRP. These officers go rogue unattended and its a crisis in communities.”
By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he is impressed by how Zimbabweans are adhering to the lockdown regulations.
Mnangagwa spoke to the media after he had a drive-through tour of Mabvuku, Tafara, Kuwadzana, Mufakose, Budiriro, Glen View, Zengeza and Chitungwiza on Sunday to see how people are coping with the lockdown which is set to last for three weeks.
Said Mnangagwa, “Wishing a blessed Sunday to my brothers and sisters in lockdown. I am proud of the way you have responded to this challenging situation, with discipline, commitment, and spirit. The road is long, but we are on the right path. Stay strong and keep it up. Together, we shall overcome!”
Presidential Spokesperson George Chamba said Mnangagwa wanted to see for himself how Zimbabweans were living during this period.
“The President was highly impressed by the level of self-discipline throughout the suburbs, with movements limited to securing necessities like water, medical services, and food. This unscheduled drive-through, caught everyone by surprise, including yours truly who scrambled out of bed to .catch up with the impromptu tour. This allowed the President to meet society in its spontaneous, unorganized form in order to gauge what really goes on behind protestations of compliance. Happily, Zimbabweans did not disappoint.
“Even on communal water points, joint ZRP and municipal police manned and organized communities for order and social distancing. It became clearer that the water supply situation in our cities and towns need urgent attention.”
Charamba added that the communities were happy to see the President visiting them.
“Communities really appreciated the fact of a leadership mindful of the need to show empathy and first-hand appreciation of how families are coping. The whistle trip became the only appropriate mode and approach in the wake of the severe lockdown during which crowds and crowding are disallowed.
Without discounting other possibilities, the President intimated that would keep reviewing the situation for appropriate adjustments and responses, bearing in mind the lockdown levies enormous social and economic costs on society.
When life returns back to normal after the coronavirus outbreak has been contained, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) will have to restart its recruitment drive after it emerged that only nine of the targeted 60 experts took up job offers owing to poor remuneration and conditions of service.
The nine new recruitees are inexperienced freshly minted college graduates.
Zacc chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed to The Sunday Mail that the commission was facing serious challenges in attracting experienced experts to deal with sophisticated corruption cases.
Treasury recently gave the greenlight for the corruption-fighting body to engage 60 new personnel who include accountants, ICT experts, engineers, lawyers, auditors and forensic investigators.
However, the recruitment drive has hit a snag.
“The new investigators did not come because of low remuneration; because Zacc workers are paid using the civil service salary scale. The problem is that being a Zacc investigator is a high-risk job. Why would one leave the legal fraternity to join Zacc where the salary is low but the risk is high?” she said.
The commission believes investigators should ordinarily be given risk allowances as is the case with some State departments.
“There are dangers of being a Zacc worker; therefore, our salaries must be different from those of the civil service. Surely, something must be done to attract critical staff if we are to effectively fight corruption.”
The nine greenhorns that decided to take up the available posts are said to be undergoing intensive training to deal with corruption cases.
Some of the experts who turned their backs on the anti-graft body are understood to be employed by State-owned enterprises and the private sector.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said: “Our problem persists because we cannot lure anyone. There are no benefits or remuneration that is meaningful. “We are back to square one. However, we are working on making sure that things change for the better.”
Liaison between Zacc and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to review both remuneration and conditions of service are presently underway after which, subject to a favourable outcome, new packages would be offered to the 51 outstanding investigators.
The commission is pushing for high salaries, anti-corruption allowances and other non-monetary incentives to lure new skilled staff.
“We have already sent our proposals to the Public Service Commission and they understand the gravity of the matter. We hope they are addressing it as a matter of urgency so that the corruption fight can go on.”
Investigators who spoke on condition of anonymity claimed they were earning $4 000 per month and did not have medical aid or pension benefits.
They claimed that their counterparts in Zambia, for instance, were given an anti-corruption allowance amounting to around US$4 000.
“We are doing a high-risk job but our salaries are pathetic. Zacc is an independent commission but when it comes to salaries, we are graded as civil servants. Why can’t we have anti-corruption allowances so that investigators will not be tempted to take bribes,” said one investigator.
The recent reconstitution of Zacc under the stewardship of High Court judge Justice Matanda-Moyo is believed to have added fresh impetus to the fight against the deep-seated rot in both the public and private sectors.
There are, however, still concerns on the pace with which cases have been moving in the courts.
In order to mount an effective war against graft, the commission is in the process of being repurposed and restructured.
An asset recovery unit has already been set up, while a series of training and workshops to capacitate staff have been completed. More workers are needed to investigate and process the cases before the commission.
Presently, there are over 700 cases under investigation, of which 74 are high profile.
On January 27 this year, Prosecutor-General Kumbirai Hodzi said efforts were underway to give anti-corruption officers attractive packages.
“I had a meeting with President Mnangagwa and it was agreed in that meeting together with Treasury that we are going to take extraordinary measures that are going to ring-fence not only prosecutors, but every worker, every officer who is involved in anti-corruption work,” he said.
“Those measures include creating a very effective fence against compromise. It has been agreed that the salaries and allowances of the anti-corruption workers will be looked at in a manner that will ensure they will be freed and protected.”
He added that the workers would be provided with accommodation, transportation and allowances to ensure that they are not compromised.
South Africa now has 1585 cases of coronavirus infections, and nine confirmed deaths, health minister Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Saturday.
53 937 tests have been done.
Gauteng has 693 cases, most of all provinces, followed by the Western Cape with 433 cases and KwaZulu-Natal with 232.
Of the KZN cases, 11 and three deaths are linked to the St Augustine’s Hospital; these are patients, health workers and staff members.As precautionary measures, the hospital will not admit new patients, and it has closed affected areas.
Patients who have been to the hospital since the beginning of March are requested to contact the KZN department of health.
Tracing is being done for patients and over 150 tests have been done.
The Free State has 85 cases, the North West 11 and Mpumalanga and Limpopo have 18 recorded cases.
The Eastern Cape and Northern Cape have 25 and 7 cases respectively and there are 63 unallocated cases.
Meanwhile Workers at a Johannesburg construction site have been arrested after they were found at work despite the national lockdown.
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) arrested 55 construction workers at a construction site in Douglasdale, confirmed JMPD spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.Over the last week, more than 17 000 people have been arrested countrywide for various crimes and contravening lockdown regulations.
Of those, 2 005 were released on a warning by the police and ordered to appear in court, 124 were granted police bail and 7 450 fines and 16 court summonses were issued.
MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende has dismissed MDC-T acting president Thokozani Khupe’s claims that she is part of the Alliance.
Hwende asserted that Khupe refused to meet the then MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai when he invited her for meetings in 2017 because she was angry with the trade unionist because of his decision to form the MDC Alliance.
When Pres Tsvangirai was sick he tried to have meetings with Khupe as someone that he had worked with for a long time. But She hated MT’s decision to form the MDC Alliance so much that she refused to come and see him only to appear at the Funeral claiming to be the chief Mourner pic.twitter.com/xVeenkHtMZ
— Chalton Hwende MP Chairperson Public Accounts (@hwendec) April 5, 2020
When Pres Tsvangirai was sick he tried to have meetings with Khupe as someone that he had worked with for a long time.
But She hated MT’s decision to form the MDC Alliance so much that she refused to come and see him only to appear at the Funeral claiming to be the Chief Mourner.
The Sunday Mail of 6 August 2017 reported that Khupe and other top officials did not attend the launch of the MDC Alliance the previous day following an earlier confrontation with Tsvangirai over the alliance.
According to the report, Khupe accused Tsvangirai of dictatorial tendencies after he reportedly signed the pact without the blessings of his comrades.
Meanwhile, Khupe has since declared that she is part of the MDC Alliance and will seek to find out how funds allocated to the party under the Political Parties Finance Act were used.
The MDC Alliance consisted of the MDC-T then led by Tsvangirai and later Chamisa, Transform Zimbabwe, Professor Welshman Ncube’s MDC, Zimbabwe People First, the Multi-Racial Christian Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Party, and Zanu Ndonga.
Standard|FLAMBOYANT businessman Frank Buyanga has demanded “remote” meetings with his former girlfriend to discuss their child’s welfare, saying he fears meeting her in person will expose him to the coronavirus.
Buyanga is embroiled in nasty court battles with Chantelle Muteswa over the custody of their child.
The millionaire businessman left Zimbabwe with his son ahead of a court hearing that was scheduled for last week. Muteswa accused him of snatching the boy from her at a shopping centre in Harare.
Buyanga now wants a conference call via Skype to discuss the custody of the boy, a letter from his lawyers sent to Muteswa’s lawyers has revealed.
He argued that it was impossible for him and the boy to have face-to-face meetings with Muteswa due to the deadly coronavirus.
“We are instructed on behalf of Frank Sadiqi Buyanga in relation to the custody matter involving his son and Chantelle Muteswa,” Buyanga’s lawyer, Waller Pollins Goldstein, wrote.
“In light of the current Covid-19 situation and your client having been sentenced to prison for contempt of court, it is clearly unsafe for her to have face-to-face access to her child.
“We, therefore, propose to have remote meetings going forward.
“Please advise us of your times and conveniences in order to arrange a skype meeting with the child.”
Buyanga said he was concerned about an alleged false press release issued by Muteswa insinuating that he kidnapped his son.
The flamboyant businessman said he was considering relocating to the United Kingdom and was weighing options to move the child custody battle to courts in that country.
High Court judge Justice Happius Zhou recently delivered a landmark ruling on custody for children born out of wedlock after granting Buyanga and Muteswa joint guardianship of their child.
Previously Zimbabwe’s common law only granted sole guardianship to mothers for children born out of wedlock.
Last week Buyanga wrote a letter to the Judicial Service Commission complaining about one of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sons Collins’ alleged interference in the case between him and Muteswa.
He claimed Collins was in direct contact with High Court judge Justice Jacob Manzunzu, who is handling the case. Buyanga said the president’s son was linked to Muteswa
CHIPINGE – A Chipinge Town Council Environmental Health Officer (EHO) has been suspended for warning residents on a WhatssApp group of six serious potential cases of Corona Virus that the local authority is dealing with.
The Mirror is reliably informed that Shungu Masuku was suspended on Wednesday after she told residents to take Covid 19 seriously because there were cases of people who had entered Chipinge from South Africa and they had serious symptoms of Covid 19.
It is understood that the results of the six samples sent to Harare for tests are not yet known.
Masuku referred questions to her superiors at the local authority when asked for a comment.
Both the local authority secretary, Susan Dube and chairman Zivanai Nyakuchena professed ignorance over the matter.
The Mirror however understands that Masuku was suspended for divulging information that she had no authority to speak on.
Sources said, it is her defence that she sent out the statement because she ‘genuinely’ wanted to warn people to hid Government’s call to stay at home and to adhere to regulations to do with the pandemic.
The Mirror has seen the statement that Masuku sent on the group below.
“In Chipinge we are doing six contact cases whose names and addresses were given from our entry points. One is in Medium, one in Gaza and four in low density. Saka lets be on the alert people. Tinogona kunge tinayo Covid 19 muno muChipinge (We may serious have Covid 19 here in Chipinge). Vanhu stay at home ndapota. Dutu parinozopera vamwe vedu vanogona kushaikwa nekusateerera (Please stay at home. We may lose many people here because of this pandemic. Please take hid, don’t lose your life by failing to listen to this message). From EHO Chipinge Town Council.”
“This health officer clearly wanted to help her fellow countrymen and then overlooked the bounds of her work. She must have been moved by the level of complacency among residents over the pandemic and therefore wanted to give them real examples to prickle their conscience. The statement is powerful in a situation where very little information on patterns and distribution of the pandemic is available,” said a source.
POLICE have blocked officials from the MDC Alliance camp led by Nelson Chamisa from accessing the party’s headquarters in Harare CBD, with Chamisa’s deputy Tendai Biti blocked from entry while youths aligned to MDC-T party boss Thokozanu Khupe also attempted to take over the building.
Biti was barred from using the party headquarters on Tuesday for his post-Supreme Court judgment Press conference, and instead held it at his Milton Park offices.
Despite the 21-day national lockdown against coronavirus which is now on day 6, there has been a hive of activity around the multi-storey building located at 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue in central Harare, as party officials from both camps attempted to wriggle their way through police barricades.
The fights for control of the building took a nasty turn this Tuesday when the Supreme Court ruled that Khupe was the interim party president as per the MDC-T constitution, while the party is to hold an extraordinary congress in the next 90 days.
“Police officers are maintaining law and order in terms of the constitutional mandate that they have in terms of ensuring peace and security, particularly now that the nation is implementing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” police national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said.
MDC Alliance secretary-general Chalton Hwende is quoted by NewsDay saying the party was aware of the police presence adding that a group of youths, allegedly linked to Khupe, came to the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House on Wednesday trying to get access into the building claiming they were now in charge.
“I don’t know why the police are there, but I have heard there were some known youths aligned to Khupe who went there and tried to get access,” he said.
Warship Dumba, a key member of the Khupe camp who was also a personal security aide to Morgan Tsvangirai, said yesterday that he had accessed the office building.
MDC-T national chairperson Morgen Komichi told Zimbabwe Voice on Thursday that indeed, party officials had blocked MDC Alliance Vice President Biti from accessing the building, with the help of police.
Komichi said Chamisa was however free to use the building, but only as the party’s secretary for policy and research as ruled by the Supreme Court, in accordance with the 2014 MDC-T structures.
When the MDC-T held its congress in October 2014, Biti had broken ranks with then leader Morgen Tsvangirai and was fronting his own political outfit, PDP, which he later dumped and rejoined Chamisa in 2018 and won the Harare East parliamentary seat under the MDC Alliance banner.
Villagers from Buvuma area of Gwanda South have reported that three people have died in the area allegedly due to malaria, according to a local health centre.
Terrified villagers who spoke to ZimEye.com in confidence indicated that the three people were part of eight people in the area who have exhibited rare signs of a malaria infection leaving them believing that the deaths could have been Coronavirus cases.
The area is highly infested with cross border workers from South Africa and Botswana.
This is a developing story more details to follow …….
ZwelinzimaVavi is the general secretary of South African Federation of trade Union (SAFTU). This week Zwelinzima vavi tested positive for Covid-19. We can see on social media since this week Zwelinzima have been documenting his Journey towards recovery.
After having persistent flu-like symptoms for days Zwelinzima confirmed the news about his diagnosis on Thursday in a live enterview with eNCA.
On Saturday he posted a video clip of himself, he is very much determined on beating the illness as he can be seen on the video sweating heavily.
Zwelinzima vowed in a clip that “we are made of stern stuff and he also vowed that ” corona have finally met its match” and he declared coronavirus to die.
Among different people coronavirus can cause varying levels of severity and symptoms and it specifically differs according to overall health and age.
Vavi is 57 years old which place him in the average group, the true danger zone is 70 or older of which Vavi is not near the age because older people or people with pre-existing conditions tend to fare worst.
Vavi had no idea where he might have contracted the virus. His last meeting was held before the lockdown was imposed which was for political and ideological with fellow SAFTU members.
He went into a self imposed quarantine period and his family members at home would also be tested.
MDC top politicians, Welshman Ncube and Douglas Mwonzora have had ugly exchanges on twitter with the latter accusing the party vice president of plotting a coup against disputed party leader Nelson Chamisa.
The simmering rivalry within the main opposition has been ignited by a recent Supreme Court ruling declaring Chamisa’s rise to the party helm as fraudulent.
Mwonzora claimed Ncube was intentionally leading Chamisa astray so he could snatch his boss’s job at their party’s next congress in 2024.
The exchanges followed claims by Ncube that party politicians who openly celebrated the Supreme Court ruling had been sold a dummy by the court.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court Tuesday upheld an earlier High Court order for the beleaguered party to revert back to its leadership elected in 2014 and to call for an extra-ordinary elective congress within three months.
Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi, two party leaders who emerged victorious from the cited congress, have openly welcomed the ruling, drawing wide condemnation from the party faithful for alleged treachery.
In a bitter exchange of words on Twitter, Mwonzora questioned whether Ncube was not throwing dust in Chamisa’s eyes as he allegedly did with former president of the now defunct MDC splinter group Arthur Mutambara.
Ncube was first to lead an MDC revolt back in 2005, which saw the party split into two with the Ncube formation later inviting Mutambara to become its leader. Founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now late, remained with the mainstream MDC.
Ncube, who was secretary general of the splinter group, later took Mutambara’s job at a party congress, something that did not go well with the one-time deputy prime minister who was allowed to cling to his government job by then State President Robert Mugabe.
Charged Mwonzora, “We must equally ask are you (Ncube) not deliberately setting up Nelson Chamisa for failure so that you take over from him in 2024 as you did Mutambara some years back?”
“Given your rebellion against Tsvangirai it becomes a habit does it not? Only time will tell.”
Ncube responded: “We do not need to wait for time to tell, Chamisa is astute, very astute. He does not need me to make informed and strategic choices.
“Speaking for myself, and you can take this to your vault, I will not take over or rather I will not see to take over in 2024 or at any other time.”
Mwonzora finds himself fighting for his political life amid a volley of accusations by angry MDC members he was a party sell-out.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are: -fever -tiredness
dry cough
Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell.
Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment.
Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing.
Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.
People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.- Credit :WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
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Econet Wireless founder and Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa has donated 45 ventilators to Zimbabwe to help the country fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Masiyiwa revealed the development on his Facebook blog which he uses to interact with over 1 million people across Africa and beyond. He wrote:
If you have been following developments through serious media, and listening to medical experts, you will know by now that the COVID-19 virus attacks the lungs and, at its most acute, it becomes difficult for the person to breath.
There is a type of hospital equipment called a Ventilator, which is used to keep the person alive, whilst they battle with the illness.
Because of the huge demand, this machine is now almost impossible to get, even if you have money to buy. The waiting list with producers runs into months.
It is also not something you can just produce, because of the technology and the supply of parts for it.
Since Higher Life Foundation Zimbabwe is run by a medical doctor, they have been trying to get some of this equipment, which costs from $15,000 up to $100,000 each.
Business leaders and entrepreneurs in every African country must come together and set up funds to buy this life-saving equipment.
Don’t just wait for governments.
By way of example, our foundation, in Zimbabwe – working with some of our donor partners – have just secured 45 full ICU Ventilator suites for distribution to Zimbabwe’s public hospitals.
They will be shipped before the end of the month. This is a drop in the bucket, in terms of actual requirement, so I hope groups like mining companies, bottling groups, banks and others will follow our example.-source:ZIMUCU
The Supreme Court Of Zimbabwe has ordered MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe to step down and hold an elective congress in less than 3 months for her party, the MDC T.
The Supreme Court Judges ruled saying:
It is accordingly ordered as follows:
The appeal be and is hereby dismissed with no order as to costs.
The judgment of the court a quo be and is hereby confirmed, save for the deletion of paragraphs 4 and 5 of the operative order.
The third respondent, in her capacity as the Acting President of the first appellant, be and is hereby ordered to convene an Extra-Ordinary Congress, within a period of three months from the date of this order, in order to elect a new President.
In the event that the third respondent fails or is unable to comply with paragraph 3 above, the third appellant, in his capacity as the National Chairperson of the first appellant, be and is hereby ordered to convene the aforesaid Extra- Ordinary Congress, within a period of four months from the date of this order.
VIDEO LOADING BELOW…
Also commenting recently, Legal expert Dr Tapiwa Shumba unmasked the confusion on the future of the MDC party after senator Douglas Mwonzora told ZimEye that MDC Alliance is not a political party. Mwonzora threatened saying his nemesis Nelson Chamisa is no more.
Mwonzora himself is on video stating the contrary.
Writing on Saturday, Dr Shumba threw into the open revelations that a political party has its legs at the Zimbbwe Electoral Commission and nowhere else. Below was his full text:
By Dr Tapiwa Shumba | There is no reason for any confusion. It is the MDC trading politically as MDC Alliance. Its been like that ever since. We were MDC trading as MDC-T and noone ever asked why everything about us was still MDC. Noone has ever seen an MDC-T constitution. We always celebrated MDC Anniversary and used MDC in our communications. It has always been MDC but MDC T started as far back as 2008 (before elections).
It’s a choice we make to connect to our history and traditions as we continue to renew, transform and grow on the other hand. It is the transacting name, which is the most relevant in Zimbabwe political context, that changes depending on the electoral market and dynamics. That’s why there is nothing trading as MDC currently. There is no MDC Councillor or MP. Many people don’t understand that MDC is now almost like our nickname or better still mutupo/totem in the Zim political context. Riri pachitupa now is MDC Alliance – it used to be MDC-T. Where our identity is requested for official reasons i.e ZEC and Parliament, Council we use the official name for the electoral cycle – now MDC Alliance. Hakuna chinhu chinonzi MDC kwese ikoko.
I say this because I see people asking.
1) Where is the MDC Alliance Consitution saka? (In fact you are not required to have any constitution in Zim).
2. Why did you celebrate 20 years Anniversary?
3. Why did you have 5th Congress?
4. Why are you stil using Harvest House HQ.
Until you understand that in Zimbabwe a Party only exists at ZEC, Parliament and Government you will continue to get confused about the MDC and MDC Alliance, the former being a street name at the latter being an official name. We will always officially transform to adapt to the political and electoral realities of the day but the soul will remain MDC, yet officially speaking, the MDC (our MDC) ceased to exist as an official electoral entity in 2008. The official MDC-T was abandoned when Thokozani Khupe abused it.
The transformation that takes place with the MDC in every electoral cycle is the fundamental reason why it is first class nonsense for anyone to say the Party must revert to a pre-electoral state. Pre-electoral state of the MDC are footsteps, hakuna chinhu, kunosara mutupo iwoyu unonzi MDC chete. That’s why there is this confusion, yet in truth, there is nothing new in the transformation of political parties. Consider this question – how old is ZANU-PF – and what is ZANU in all this – does ZANU-PF say it started in 1987 – but why do they claim and celebrate the 70s heroes and victories of ZANU when ZANU-PF started in 1987? Lastly, don’t be stupid.
Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic was given the opportunity to go back to his native Croatia before the 21-day lockdown began but chose to stay in Zimbabwe instead, it has emerged.
The 54-year-old Croat, was spearheading the local-based players’ preparations for CHAN 2020 as well as the blockbuster double header against Algeria when all football activity was put on hold owing to the escalation of globa pandemic.
Loga, as the former Sudan coach is now warmly reffered to in Zimbabwe, chose to stay in the country so as to not waste any travelling time when the lockdown is over.
“I had an opportunity to travel back to Croatia before the lockdown, but I wanted to be with Zimbabwean people and be part of them until this is over. I am optimistic that this will be over soon. I did not want to lose any time when this is over. I want to be there and quickly start working as soon as this is over; going back to Croatia I would lose about two weeks sorting my travelling papers to get back here,” he told The Sunday Mail.
“In some way I can say I am lonely but that is part of my job; mentally, I will have to deal with. I have been watching Zimbabwe national team matches, watching videos of the players, following what has been written about them so that I can have an idea of the kind of players I will be dealing with after this lockdown is over,” he added.-Soccer 24
By Business Reporter| Several questions have been raised on Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube allocating resources towards fighting the Coronavirus pandemic.
Below is a short narration MDC MP Thabitha Khumalo on the matter:
Why is it that in Bulawayo there is nothing? – “from his presentation they’ve been tasked with this role of the CoronaVirus, where a number of ministers have been posted to all the provinces and apparently they’ve been at work for just a week… They kept on telling us that they are looking for humanitarian aid.
…So as we speak we have no idea, how much the Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube @MthuliNcube allocated to Zimbabwe government to deal with Coronavirus. But by the sound of things, it looks like they just don't care about the ordinary people… – Khumalo pic.twitter.com/SSiWRNPtcU
“They have applied to the UNs, the WHOs, the World Bank, and we then asked them that yes, we hear you that you are applying for money humanitarian aid. What about our own domestic resources how much have you had allocated? And he informed us that he does not know but it keeps on accumulating every time. So as we speak we have no idea, how much the Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube allocated to Zimbabwe government to deal with Coronavirus. But by the sound of things, it looks like they just don’t care about the ordinary people. As far as they are concerned they are safe because the Kereke Hospital has been renovated, and it has been furnished, obviously and then St Anne’s has been furnished, so the ordinary Povo doesn’t matter. So for now we have no clue how much they have. He did not even mention that they have got any funding, humanitarian aid, that was not mentioned. That is news to us.”
Most of the renovations at Barbourfields Stadium have been completed, a Bulawayo City Council (BCC) official has claimed.
The venue is undergoing extensive touch-ups after it was banned from hosting international games by CAF.
Speaking to Sunday News, BCC senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said most of the work has been done despite the effects of the coronavirus crisis which has caused a 21-day lock-down.
“The bulk of the work has been done. We are still working in full force, however, cognisant of the issues for COVID-19 and also watching national Government proclamations on the pandemic,’’ said Mpofu.
“We are not an exception as we have had to reduce the staff at the ground to meet the health standard requirement. We may be affected by failing to source the requisite material as some suppliers are reportedly working towards shutting down manufacturing and selling of material.”
Renovations have been carried out on the changing rooms, pitch, floodlights, dugout and installing WiFi internet. The parking areas are being refurbished.
The BCC has until June 15 to finish upgrading the stadium before a final CAF inspection is conducted ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.-Soccer 24
HOSPITALISED Dynamos skipper, Partson Jaure, is recovering remarkably after undergoing a head operation last Sunday and there is heightened optimism within his family, the defender’s wife, Fadzai, has revealed.
The 29-year-old Warriors centre-back suffered serious head injuries in a car accident on March 22. It is believed that he has a 50-50 chance of returning to action.
Jaure reportedly lost control of his vehicle before it rammed into a tree in a near-fatal accident that left the defender with a depressed skull. “Partson is recovering well, we can even talk now,” Fadzai told The Sunday Mail Sport .
However, the last two weeks have not been easy for the 25-year-old mother of two. Getting her to talk about the ordeal was naturally difficult, especially for someone who is ordinarily media shy.
“Personally, I prefer to keep a low profile, but I guess I have to speak out given the circumstances. It has not been easy for me since that Sunday morning when I received the call from my mother-in-law,” she said.
She was still very deep in her sleep when the phone rang, at around 4am, on that fateful Sunday.
What made the call more suspicious was that it was coming from her mother-in-law at that odd hour. Fadzai was not at all prepared for what she heard from the other end of the call.
She is studying towards a degree in Supply Chain Management at Chinhoyi University of Technology, and was in the Mashonaland West town when she received the dreadful call. “My mother-in-law called me early in the morning, around 4am, that Sunday, informing me about the accident.
“It was difficult to digest her message. I was shocked and afraid at the same time.”
Jaure underwent an operation at Health Point in Harare last Sunday.
After the nine-hour operation, his doctors said the Warriors defender was on the mend.-State media
A ZANU PF official and council chairman for Chikomba District, Israel Dhikinya is reportedly under fire from the party’s leadership in the district for allegedly working with councillors from the opposition MDC.
A letter dated March 24, 2020, has been sent to Joel Biggie Matiza, the party provincial chairperson, copied to the President’s Office and the district development co-ordinator notifying him of the resolution to bar Dhikinya from serving as the council chairman.
Dhikinya is accused of assigning an unnamed MDC Alliance councillor to distribute food to Zanu PF supporters during the official handover of government houses to Cyclone Idai victims in Masasa recently.
It reads in part: We have resolved in the meeting of the Chikomba Zanu PF leadership that Cde Dhikinya, who is the chairman of the Chikomba Rural District Council, stops to operate as the chairman of the council representing Zanu PF as he is causing damage to the name of the party (sic) .
Dhikinya is also accused of denouncing the party and refusing to give council residential stands to Zanu PF youths for free.
The development was confirmed by ZANU PF provincial member in Chikomba District, Moses Matarutse.-NewsDay
A Chirundu motorist injured two police officers after he attempted to run over them while they were doing patrols to ensure that residents were in compliance with the 21-day national lockdown to control the spread of the COVID-19.
Andrew Matsika allegedly tried to run over Constable Chimberengwa and Constable Chinyandu after the two officers confronted him while he was fixing his car last Thursday.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were investigating the incident.
He said: Police are investigating an incident where the suspect tried to run over Constable Chinyandu, who suffered minor injuries, before engaging the reverse gear that saw Constable Chimberengwa suffer head injuries.
He was later ferried to Mutenderi Mission Hospital while Chinyandu was attended at Chirundu clinic.
Residents in the border town have complained that the law enforcement agents were using heavy-handed tactics to keep them at home.
Meanwhile, videos of police officers torturing residents found wandering on the streets during the lockdown have begun to surface online, with one report claiming that drunk officers beat a Victoria resident to a pulp after they found him standing in his yard.- The Standard
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has assured the nation that the June and November Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations will go ahead as scheduled.
In a statement Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Ambassador Cain Mathema said there were no changes save for a few measures that have been put in place to ensure smooth registration in preparation for the examinations.
“In this regard I would like to inform the nation that as a result of the nationwide lockdown which was announced by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa the following measures have been put in place.
“ZIMSEC has provided and electronic platform for the submission of candidates entry data and a proof of payment for the 2020 June and November examination” he said.
Minister Cain Mathema
As a means of easing communication during the nationwide lockdown, a call center has been set up at ZIMSEC head office to support heads of examination centres when they encounter problems in uploading entry data, he said.
Ambassador Mathema said candidates have also been advised not to physically visit their examination centers to verify their individual registration data as those will be done using statements of entry.
Heads of examination centres who fail to access the online platform must phone ZIMSEC call centres between 8 and 4pm for assistance.
CHIPINGE – A Chipinge Town Council Environmental Health Officer (EHO) has been suspended for warning residents on a WhatssApp group of six serious potential cases of Corona Virus that the local authority is dealing with.
The Mirror is reliably informed that Shungu Masuku was suspended on Wednesday after she told residents to take Covid 19 seriously because there were cases of people who had entered Chipinge from South Africa and they had serious symptoms of Covid 19.
It is understood that the results of the six samples sent to Harare for tests are not yet known.Masuku referred questions to her superiors at the local authority when asked for a comment.Both the local authority secretary, Susan Dube and chairman Zivanai Nyakuchena professed ignorance over the matter.The Mirror however understands that Masuku was suspended for divulging information that she had no authority to speak on.Sources said, it is her defence that she sent out the statement because she ‘genuinely’ wanted to warn people to hid Government’s call to stay at home and to adhere to regulations to do with the pandemic.
The Mirror has seen the statement that Masuku sent on the group below.
“In Chipinge we are doing six contact cases whose names and addresses were given from our entry points. One is in Medium, one in Gaza and four in low density. Saka lets be on the alert people. Tinogona kunge tinayo Covid 19 muno muChipinge (We may serious have Covid 19 here in Chipinge). Vanhu stay at home ndapota. Dutu parinozopera vamwe vedu vanogona kushaikwa nekusateerera (Please stay at home. We may lose many people here because of this pandemic. Please take hid, don’t lose your life by failing to listen to this message). From EHO Chipinge Town Council.”
“This health officer clearly wanted to help her fellow countrymen and then overlooked the bounds of her work.
She must have been moved by the level of complacency among residents over the pandemic and therefore wanted to give them real examples to prickle their conscience. The statement is powerful in a situation where very little information on patterns and distribution of the pandemic is available,” said a source.
THE Beautiful Bulawayo Trust, a committee formed to spearhead the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) in the city has been given one week to set up a testing and isolation centre after it emerged yesterday that Bulawayo has no such facility.
Thorngrove Infectious Disease Hospital which had been earmarked to cater for Covid-19 cases in the city is still undergoing renovations and in the event of a reported case in the city, the patient has to be transferred to Harare for isolation.
The revelations were made by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde July Moyo at a Press conference after a meeting between a delegation from the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 and members of the Trust last night.
The Trust is made up of various people from Bulawayo, ranging from academics to industrialists, who have come together to raise funds to help establish Ekusileni Medical Centre as a national Covid-19 isolation centre. Cde Moyo said the Trust has handed over a working document to the Ministerial Taskforce, which would be presented to President Mnangagwa.
“We will hand over this document to the President for deliberation but noting the situation which we are in at the moment, we have given the Trust a week to become operational of which they have assured us that they will be in a position to admit their first patient, if any, in the next week.
MDC top politicians, Welshman Ncube and Douglas Mwonzora have had ugly exchanges on twitter with the latter accusing the party vice president of plotting a coup against disputed party leader Nelson Chamisa.
The simmering rivalry within the main opposition has been ignited by a recent Supreme Court ruling declaring Chamisa’s rise to the party helm as fraudulent.
Mwonzora claimed Ncube was intentionally leading Chamisa astray so he could snatch his boss’s job at their party’s next congress in 2024.
The exchanges followed claims by Ncube that party politicians who openly celebrated the Supreme Court ruling had been sold a dummy by the court.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court Tuesday upheld an earlier High Court order for the beleaguered party to revert back to its leadership elected in 2014 and to call for an extra-ordinary elective congress within three months.
Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi, two party leaders who emerged victorious from the cited congress, have openly welcomed the ruling, drawing wide condemnation from the party faithful for alleged treachery.
In a bitter exchange of words on Twitter, Mwonzora questioned whether Ncube was not throwing dust in Chamisa’s eyes as he allegedly did with former president of the now defunct MDC splinter group Arthur Mutambara.
Ncube was first to lead an MDC revolt back in 2005, which saw the party split into two with the Ncube formation later inviting Mutambara to become its leader. Founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now late, remained with the mainstream MDC.
Ncube, who was secretary general of the splinter group, later took Mutambara’s job at a party congress, something that did not go well with the one-time deputy prime minister who was allowed to cling to his government job by then State President Robert Mugabe.
Charged Mwonzora, “We must equally ask are you (Ncube) not deliberately setting up Nelson Chamisa for failure so that you take over from him in 2024 as you did Mutambara some years back?”
“Given your rebellion against Tsvangirai it becomes a habit does it not? Only time will tell.”
Ncube responded: “We do not need to wait for time to tell, Chamisa is astute, very astute. He does not need me to make informed and strategic choices.
“Speaking for myself, and you can take this to your vault, I will not take over or rather I will not see to take over in 2024 or at any other time.”
Mwonzora finds himself fighting for his political life amid a volley of accusations by angry MDC members he was a party sell-out.
Two suspected fraudsters, both employees of Econet Wireless have appeared in court facing charges of stealing RTGS$19 984 475 which is probably the biggest fraud ever to hit the country’s telecommunications giant.
Chipinge magistrate Poterai Gwezhira was told by the State that the amount was exchanged on the black market for foreign currency through street vendors. Analysts said that the amount is huge and was a significant factor in the fall of the RTGS$ against the US$.
The two suspects are Mukai Maringe Mapanzure (35), a sales consultant at the Chipinge Branch which is housed at the NSSA Complex and Trymore Chimoyo (30), a brand ambassador for Econet based at Checheche.
Mapanzure appeared in court on Monday while his alleged accomplice Chimoyo appeared on Wednesday. They were ordered to pay $10 000 bail each and Mapanzure to stay at 4170 Medium Density Chipinge and Chimoyo at 213H Checheche Growth Point They will report to the Police on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The State alleges that Mapanzure directly siphoned the money from Econet and sent it out to foreign currency agents to transfer it into foreign currency. Chimoyo who acted as an accomplice allegedly collected the foreign currency from street vendors and surrendered it to Mapanzure.
The State papers reads; “During the period extending from December 30, 2019 to 21 March 2020, the accused who is employed by Econet Wireless as a sales consultant based at Chipinge Branch hatched a plan to steal from his employer. In his capacity as an employee with the ability to access the company’s EZW merchant mobile broadband merchant number 0784953460, created a sim card for the complainant’s merchant number and processed a private identification number to access the account. He also created two agent numbers 0771378844 and 0785042806 and registered them in fictitious names of Nyachidze Primary School and Ariston Holdings respectively. He inserted the counterfeit sim card for merchant number 0784953460 in his mobile cellphone with IMEI number 359725084071720 and misinterpreted as if he was the real owner of the account mandated to effect withdrawals. He transferred large sums of ecocash RTGS on different times to merchant number 0785042806 and 0771378844 thereby causing actual prejudice to the complaint of $5 186 000-00,”
It is understood that the full prejudice came to light when Chimoyo was arrested.
“The accused person on different times collected forex from street vendors who had received large sums of money from the actual perpetrator. He transformed large sums of realised ecocash RTGS on different times and handed the money to the accomplice thereby facilitating disposal of cash prejudicial to the complainant of RTGS$19 984 475- 00,” read part of the State papers against Chimoyo.
By A Correspondent- MDC Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube has revealed that the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai house formerly known as Harvest House is not owned by the MDC.
In a wide-ranging interview with journalist Zenzele Ndebele on Saturday, Professor Ncube said the building was owned by a Trust which had a lease agreement with the MDC Alliance.
The issue of the building came amidst speculations that the MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe would want to move into the building after the Supreme Court pronounced her as the rightful heir to the MDC-T throne which fell vacant after the death of Morgan Tsvangirai.
Ncube added that the supreme court judgment revealed that there was politicization of the judiciary because the judges turned a blind eye on some case judgments that were similar to the case at hand.
By A Correspondent- George Charamba the spokesperson of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that the police’s confiscation of Mutare farmers’ goods was regrettable.
A video that circulated on social media suggests that police raided Mutare farmers on the 3rd of this month around 3 am and confiscated their goods arguing that they were defying the national lockdown decree.
The lockdown was imposed by president Mnangagwa in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.
Responding to his follower on twitter who had asked if there will be compensation to farmers whose goods were confiscated, Charamba said:
Can’t say just yet until after our Monday prayers. The incident was unfortunate, regrettable.
Following the confiscation, President Mnangagwa ordered the police to allow farmers and traders of agricultural produce to continue with their operations unhindered.
While announcing the lockdown, Mnangagwa said that access to essential services including health and food was not going to be suspended.
By A Correspondent- ZimEye reviews President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State House address to journalists.
Said Mnangagwa while responding to a question on whether the lockdown period will be extended or not:
“I would not want to pre judge what we will do… after the 21 day period, we will have to weigh the option of whether we are extending or not… but i am currently happy with the response by our people.”
By A Correspondent- Police in the mining town confirmed that several shops have been broken into since the lockdown started on Monday last week.
Daring thieves in Kwekwe have taken advantage of the 21-day lockdown and broken into shops where they have looted an assortment of goods.
Speaking during a Kwekwe District Taskforce on coronavirus (COVID-19) on Friday, the Officer Commanding Police in Kwekwe District, Chief Superintendent Conrad Mubaiwa, said several arrests have been made in connection with the break-ins.
“We have had cases of break-ins at Mbizo 4 Shopping Centre where thieves broke into several shops and looted groceries and other valuable goods. Investigations are still ongoing and more details will be coming as we go,” said Chief Supt Mubaiwa.
He said two arrests have so far been made in connection with the break-ins.
“We have so far arrested two suspects who were believed to be going around with a commuter omnibus where they would load their goods. They are in police custody as we speak and they are assisting police with investigations,” he said.
Chief Sup Mubaiwa urged businesspeople to beef up their security during the lockdown period adding that police patrols would be increased in the town.
“We are going to beef up our patrols as police to ensure that businesses are safe from the daring thieves. But at the same time, we also encourage business people to also ensure that their businesses are well secured,” said Chief Supt Mubaiwa.
Meanwhile, Chief Supt Mubaiwa said police were taking measures to ensure that residents in Kwekwe abide to the set lockdown rules and avoid moving around willy-nilly.
“While most of the citizens have taken heed of the call by Government to stay indoors, we have had a few cases where some shops and bars have been opening and selling alcohol to people.
We as police, therefore, are going to ensure we enforce the call by the President. We are beefing up our police officers across the town to ensure that nothing like that happens,” he said.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe has responded to a news headline by Daily News which says “Shocker: Zim Corona Testing Kits Condemned.”
The Ministry said that the Minister of Health, Dr Obadiah Moyo had stated that defective kits were not used. Responding to Daily News’ tweet with the headline above, the Ministry said:
We appreciate your reportage @DailyNewsZim on Covid-19 news, but your screaming headline is giving false impression that all the tests which were done in Zimbabwe produced wrong results. Dr Obadiah Moyo clearly pointed out that defective kits were not used.
Other sceptical of the government however demand to know how the government managed to differentiate between defective and functional kits.
This comes when there are reports that some countries including Spain are accusing China of giving them defective kits which were not up to the task.
This also comes amid reports that about 14 percent of Chinese people that had recovered from coronavirus have tested positive again prompting some to say that perhaps the kits which initially tested them were defective.
By A Correspondent- Logan Williams who acted as the young Barry Allen “The Flash” has died aged 16.
Williams’s agent Michelle Gauvin, says he died Thursday. Gauvin did not give the cause of his death, but she said his sudden death comes as a “shock.”
Williams’s death was confirmed by firmed by Marlyse Williams his mother who told Tri-City News the family is “absolutely devastated”.
Mrs Williams also did not tell the cause of her son’s death but said coronavirus has made things harder for the family.
Tributes came pouring in for Williams who started acting at the age of 10 as his co-stars from series shared fond memories of the young actor on social media.
He appeared in other television shows, including “When Calls the Heart” and “The Whispers. ”star.-ABCNews
By A Correspondent- Senator Douglas Mwonzora was yesterday in an accident.
Speaking to ZimEye, Mwonzora confirmed the development and said the accident was minor and it occurred when he was coming from Engineer Elias Mudzuri’s house in the late afternoon along Lomagundi drive in Harare.
He said:
“Yes, I was involved in an accident while on my way from Mudzuri’s house. around 4pm. I was not hurt but the car is the one that was damaged when i rammed into a truck that was in front of me. I was fortunate that i was not hurt, but it is true, I was involved in an accident.”
By A Correspondent- African Roots musician and sculptor-cum-politician Bryn Mteki says he is taking no chances with the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and has since gone into self-isolation.
The Nora hit maker disclosed this in a video he posted on his WhatsApp status on Friday.
However, he did not reveal his recent travel history in the video, but a local publication established that Mteki, who contested the presidential election as an independent candidate, had entered the country from either Europe or the United States via Johannesburg on March 20.
“I am not just feeling a little bit well you know [sic]”, he said.
“It could be coronavirus, you know, corona scare. Just stay away, stay at home.
“I am just feeling a little bit under the weather, you know.”
Standard Style could not reach out to the musician to ascertain whether he had sought medical assistance or had gone for Covid-19 testing since he had travelled from high-risk areas.
However, a source close to the musician said Mteki was in self-isolation and taking no chances.
“He has no symptoms and looks perfectly well, but he decided not to mix with people, including his family, and has gone into self-isolation,” the source said.
In January, Mteki told this publication that he would spend the better part of this year in Europe and the US where he would hold exhibitions and attend arts festivals.
Popularly known as Sekuru Tau, Mteki surprised all and sundry when he threw his hat into the political ring for the July 31, 2018 presidential election as an independent candidate.-Standard
By A Correspondent- Nyaradzo Funeral Company says it is postponing a planned increase in premiums that was supposed to come into effect on 1 May 2020, until further notice.
In a statement, the company said the decision was made in view of the financial vulnerabilities facing its clients that have been triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.
The statement read:
As part of measures to complement Government efforts to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the whole country and the financial vulnerabilities this pandemic has caused on our clients, Nyaradzo Life Assurance Company would like to advise our valued clients that the implementation of the premium adjustment scheduled for 1 May 2020 has been deferred until further notice. We thank you for your continued support.
The company recently announced that it was suspending some of its services due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
Services including removal of bodies from homes and bus service for mourners were among those affected.
Wishing a blessed Sunday to my brothers & sisters in lockdown. I am proud of the way you have responded to this challenging situation, with discipline, commitment and spirit. The road is long, but we are on the right path. Stay strong and keep it up. Together, we shall overcome!
— President of Zimbabwe (@edmnangagwa) April 5, 2020
By A Correspondent- Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika said Saturday he was taking a wage cut to help fund the fight against the coronavirus, and ordered his government to do the same.
Mutharika said in a statement he had ordered the treasury to cut his own salary and the wages of his ministers and deputy ministers by 10% for three months.
The money saved would be directed towards the fight against the novel coronavirus, he added.
Malawi has so far recorded four cases of the virus.
“Government will take measures to protect jobs and incomes, protect businesses and ensure continuity of the supply chain and the survival of the economy,” he said in a statement.
Mutharika also announced the opening of new testing centres for Covid-19 and the recruitment by the health ministry of 2,000 extra staff.
“We need more soldiers and human power in this fight,” he said.
Mutharika declared a state of emergency on March 23 to combat the virus, closing schools until further notice.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to World Bank figures, more than half of the 17 million population lives below the poverty line.-AFP
Standard|‘Vultures’ are not waiting for the death of the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Ziscosteel), but are instead flying low for the kill, eyeing its mega-million assets, among them the steelworks’ real estate, it has emerged.
The first two installments in this series, where The Standard has been working with Information for Development Trust to expose alleged shady deals at the Midlands-based Zisco, revealed that government midwifed a controversial US$265 million takeover of the steelworks by ZimCoke, which paid only $1 in transfer fees.
Under the deal, ZimCoke is gunning to grab critical assets from the integrated Zisco — a state-owned enterprise — among them land, coke ovens, the railway line and stakes in essential subsidiaries such as ZimChem.
The current Zisco board led by Gift Mugano says ZimCoke is a “rogue investor” and is adamant that it will not allow the takeover because the purported seal flouted tender regulations and would effectively kill the steelworks, but ZimCoke insists it will not back down.
The Zisco board claimed last week that government, as the major shareholder, had recommended that the deal be revisited, but ZimCoke spokesperson and board member, Eddie Cross told The Standard that they had been given the go-ahead to upscale their work.
A document leaked to The Standard on Friday shows that the Zisco board had tasked its management to produce a close analysis of the possible impact of the ZimCoke deal, and the latter’s conclusion was that it would suffocate the resuscitation of the steelworks.
“The ZimCoke deal, in its current form, impinges on the resuscitation of Zisco, to such a serious extent that there will be no revival of Ziscosteel as an integrated steelworks as most of the plants are included in the ZimCoke domain and they will therefore be inaccessible to Zisco,” observed the company’s management.
Zisco cannot survive without its own coke batteries, coal supplies, the railway line, conveyor belt, gas holders, coke plant offices and workshop, refractory stores, the land on which it is sited, and water rights to Kwekwe River, among a host of other assets and enabling facilities that ZimCoke is gunning for, according to the management.
Documents and source testimonies showed that the ZimCoke deal also entailed the surrender of 400 general housing units, 15 executive houses, 48% shareholding in ZimChem, and all refractory materials, which were purchased by Zisco at the time they wanted to repair the batteries, pipes and electrical equipment.
The other assets that would go to ZimCoke are pipes, electrical equipment purchased by Zisco, granulated slag, which accumulated over the years and is used mainly by cement manufacturing companies, pig iron as well rail wagons at Dabuka and over 3 000 hectares of the steelworks.
A Zisco official who refused to be named said: “They (ZimCoke) want the houses from Torwood. Zisco has sold the houses and now remains with flats.
“So they are aiming to take over the flats and in the event Zisco is to be resuscitated, it will now have to rent flats for its workers from ZimCoke.
“The 15 executive houses are all that remains for the Zisco management.”
Paper trail has fingered several key persons perceived to be aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa that have already perched on Zisco properties.
July Moyo, Mnangagwa’s political sidekick for a long time and current Local Government minister, has been identified as one of the hawks eyeing Zisco assets.
Moyo, together with another Midlander and Mnangagwa ally, Daniel Mackenzie, was involved in negotiating the ZimCoke deal even though their roles remain hazy.
The minister has been occupying a Zisco house at Number 31 Orpheus Road from prior to the 2018 general elections and is reportedly negotiating to buy it, the same way Mnangagwa bought a house from the steel company about 20 years ago.
Mnangagwa has a house he bought from Zisco after renting it for some time, apart from buying Hotel Redcliff under unclear circumstances.
Moyo was reluctant to talk about his involvement.
“Talk to the people at Zisco,” he said, and dodged responding to specific allegations.
Mnangagwa’s ally, Arikana Chihombori-Quao, who is managing the president’s public relations in the US, took over Zisco’s Torwood hospital but it could not be immediately established if the purchase flouted any rules.
Chihombori-Quao, a medical doctor and activist, runs the US-based Bell Family Medical Centres and was recently removed by the African Union as its “permanent ambassador” to the USA.
In 2009, she attracted international condemnation for reportedly grabbing a white owned farm with the help of the Robert Mugabe government despite having lost her Zimbabwean citizenship when she became a US citizen.
At that time, Zimbabwean law did not permit dual citizenship.
“ZimCoke in its deal wants houses from Zisco,” a well-placed government official said. “This raises questions about why they would want houses, that Zisco still wants to use.
“They are an investor; they should build their own houses.
“It won’t be surprising that the deal is negotiated to allow some top officials easy access to the houses and critical assets when these are moved off the government company’s assets list,” said the source.
The official added: “Several questions have been raised as to why houses have formed part of the assets transfer to ZimCoke when Zisco also needs the resources to accommodate its own workers.”
But another official placed coal tar at the centre of the “vultures’’ interests.
Coal tar can be further processed to produce tar used for road construction, creosote, snake repellent and other related products.
“The need for high-grade coal tar started long back when a company, South Pole, which former president Robert Mugabe’s sons were believed to have a stake in, were targeting before the ZimCoke deal,” said the official.
The tar can be sold locally or within southern Africa for road construction.
“The Beitbridge-Chirundu dualisation project provides an easy market for the tar for ZimCoke to quickly break even,” the official added.
“That is the reason why it wants 48% shares in ZimChem (which processes the product) to influence the production of the tar.”
Cross denied allegations that ZimCoke was trying to grab Zisco assets and instead said their teams had stopped people from stripping the steel giant’s property.
“We have had a small team working at ZimCoke for over a year now,” Cross told The Standard.
“Their main task has been to stop the continuous theft of assets from the site — plant and equipment, scrap iron and cables.
“In addition, they have cut grass and fire breaks to protect assets and conveyor belts from bush fires.
“We have also sorted out all spares on-site and have started to prepare the site for the arrival of contractors.
“Offices have been renovated and we have had a succession of consultants on-site to look into what was needed to bring the plant back into production.
“All working drawings have been located and estimates of costs prepared. This has cost us close to US$1 million.”
Businessman and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa has donated 45 Ventilator Intensive Care Unit (ICU) suites to Zimbabwe in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Masiyiwa, who has been leading a campaign to help African governments head off the potentially devastating social and economic impact of the epidemic, was writing on his popular Facebook blog where he explained the importance of Ventilators.
Masiyiwa wrote:
Why Ventilators are so important
If you have been following developments through serious media, and listening to medical experts, you will know by now that the COVID-19 virus attacks the lungs and, at its most acute, it becomes difficult for the person to breath.
There is a type of hospital equipment called a Ventilator, which is used to keep the person alive, whilst they battle with the illness.
Because of the huge demand, this machine is now almost impossible to get, even if you have money to buy. The waiting list with producers runs into months.
It is also not something you can just produce, because of the technology and the supply of parts for it.
Since Higher Life Foundation Zimbabwe is run by a medical doctor, they have been trying to get some of this equipment, which costs from $15,000 up to $100,000 each.
Business leaders and entrepreneurs in every African country must come together, and set up funds to buy this life-saving equipment.
Don’t just wait for governments.
By way of example, our foundation, in Zimbabwe – working with some of our donor partners – have just secured 45 full ICU Ventilator suites for distribution to Zimbabwe’s public hospitals.
They will be shipped before the end of the month. This is a drop in the bucket, in terms of actual requirement, so I hope groups like mining companies, bottling groups, banks and others will follow our example.
This is a not a crisis in which you “sit on your hands, and provide running commentary” [my Mother]
Zimbabweans have expressed outrage over the recent fuel price increase announced by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) at a time when global fuel prices are going down.
Fuel prices have been static for several weeks but on Saturday, ZERA announced that the prices of diesel and petrol had been raised with effect from 5 April 2020.
According to a circular issued by ZERA, diesel now costs $21.52 while petrol costs $21.77. This means that for the first time in over a year, a litre of petrol now costs more than that of diesel.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi, says he will give an explanation on why the government, through ZERA, has increased fuel prices when global crude oil prices have been on a decline. Said Chasi:
FUEL PRICE INCREASE: the question being asked as to why our fuel price is going up when international prices are going down is a legitimate one. I will endeavour to give an explanation later today.
Prices of fuel have been going down over the past several weeks amid decreased demand and an oil price war sparked in part by the spread of the coronavirus.
According to US News, in March, Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s major oil exporters, announced plans to flood the market with oil in an escalation of a price war with Russia after the latter refused to go along with a plan to cut production in light of decreased demand.
Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army members are being exposed to Coronavirus as they are deployed to the domain with no protection at all.
Police officers and Soldiers warned shortages of appropriate equipment may put lives of Service members at risk Frontline police staff are at risk of dying from Covid-19 as they are deployed in the frontline with no protective gear eve a glove or a face mask.
The duty of care is about ensuring that the right tools are available at the right time as the outbreak progresses and that the correct gear is used for public care to ensure the safety of the Police Officers and their families.
Face masks and gloves are needed for situations which puts you in contact with people who might be infected.
Zimbabwe is seeing a growing number of those seriously ill, and those with symptoms but not yet tested.
The police have been deployed in the streets to enforce compliance but they are not protected.
There is a great fear that they could pass the infection on to their families and work mates after catching it at work because of poor protection. Officers who are dealing most closely with the suspected Covid-19 people are most worried.
Shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) appear to be widespread across the Police service and include GP practices as well as hospitals.
Police officers are engaged in running battles with people in the streets in trying to enforce the lock down. The mentality of the senior officers who deploy these officers in the streets without protection is questionable.
This borders around lines of witchcraft. Officers mingle with people every day they are putting their lives on the line. Every day a policeman on the front line is brushing shoulders with death.
The whole system lacks wisdom and it seriously depressing.
There is no logic in enforcing a lockdown by exposing the officers to the very virus they are meant to protect the public from. The situation is dire and urgent action has to be taken.
The police force in Zimbabwe is mismanaged highly neglected and is being run down. Our police officers resemble the chief’s security officers. There is generally no support for the police. The police have no tools of trade. Imagine ninety five percent of the Police stations have no cars no fuel nothing.
Officers have to ask the complainant to provide transport Officer’s in charge queue for transport with juniors and with the members of the public. The police force has been reduced to stooges in uniform. No wonder why they do not command any respect from the public.
Imagine when the whole world is panicking because of Corona our police are sent to mingle with the public with no protection.
Is this a plan to wipe the police force and blame Corona. Is this a planned genocide on the police why are our police officers neglected and treated like junks.
The most painful thing is that the senior officers have four cars each.
These are top of the range vehicles. If the Range Rovers the commissioners uses as their shopping basket are to be sold they can buy fifteen cars for rural stations. But no the commissioners needs Range Rovers for their shopping. lexus for their small houses Ford rangers for their girl friend’s children. In their view the police are not more important than girlfriends. Never mind three Nissan Land Cruisers for their wives.
No wonder the officers deployed on the streets are always angry and cruel.
Commentators believe the bad mood by the police was driven by the lack of equipment rather than a mental disorder. The police are not even made aware of the risks from the virus.
Other officers in the region wear full PPE, comprising an FFP3 masks (which offer high levels of respiratory protection), visors, surgical gowns and two pairs of gloves each. But the Zimbabwean officers are given a button stick and an empty stomach.
There will be a high death rate for police first responders. If they don’t have the protective kit, this increases their risk of death.
What they are doing is not fit for purpose. There really needs to be a big effort to ensure that Protection for officers is made an absolute priority.
It is staggering how the police force is working without protection. Police dealing with the public some of which are with symptoms strongly suggestive of Covid-19 are walking around with no protection at all.
All police officers are under an enormous amount of pressure and face some increasingly difficult times ahead, so we need to look after them, so they can look after everyone else.
We stand a risk of losing the entire police force and their family members from this virus.
“Frontline clinicians, care staff and patients deserve clear guidance on face masks and for that to then be consistently followed.
If they make a difference in protecting clinicians and patients, and police officers there will be a risk of reinfection.
The police are left ill-equipped because Police chiefs had been caught by surprise by the virus’s emergence.
“There’s a massive gap between what police need and the availability of that and there is a threat to staff health.
The trouble is that the police never saw such a big and difficult a problem as coronavirus coming and the chiefs do not care for their subordinates. They only care for themselves.
The role of the police is to ensure that the right tools are available at the right time.
This virus knows no boundaries. It infects ministers President’s princes and any one. So a button stick and an old rifle is not a Corona virus protective ware. No amount of officers will stop the virus. This is the time when we should be ashamed and save our police officers.
They need to be protected. These people have families they have children. All of them are bread winners. Save our police.
Standard|Fears are growing that the government is poorly equipped to deal with confirmed coronavirus cases, following shocking revelations by a 52-year-old Ruwa resident who tested positive after a trip to the Middle East.
The new coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, was in January confirmed to have spread from the Chinese city of Wuhan.
It has spread fast throughout the world, killing more than 60 000 people in a short space of time, with Italy, the United States and Spain being among the most affected, while China seems to be already containing the pandemic.
Saul Sakudya, who tested positive to Covid-19 after travelling to Dubai last month, spoke out to The Standard, which worked in collaboration with Information for Development Trust to track down affected people, and revealed how officials bungled his case and almost cost his and the family’s lives.
His testimony exposed government’s poorly coordinated testing system and its neglect of confirmed cases.
Sakudya, who trades in electrical accessories, told The Standard that he travelled to Dubai on March 15 to buy stock for his small business, returning three days later.
He said he opted to be quarantined at his home after having a nightmarish experience from the day he decided to go for Covid-19 testing at Wilkins Hospital, the only such centre serving the capital.
A day after his arrival, on a Thursday, he developed a cough and, feeling tired, decided to spend the day at home.
“On Friday, my situation became worse, and at midnight, I started having a terribly dry cough, feeling dizzy, severe headache, loss of appetite, throat irritation and a severe backache, but I wasn’t sneezing,” he said.
After another day at home, he finally decided to consult a doctor, who prescribed antibiotics and advised him to go and rest, but his situation subsequently deteriorated.
“Monday morning, I decided to go for Covid-19 testing at Wilkins Hospital.
“My 21-year-old son drove me to the infectious diseases hospital. It was around 2pm. I was there when Zororo Makamba died,” added Sakudya.
Zororo, a 30-year-old television personality and son of James Makamba, a prominent Zanu PF politician-cum-businessman, succumbed to the disease on March 23, a few days after his return from the US.
His death provided the first glimpse into the Zimbabwean health system’s ill-preparedness to manage positive coronavirus cases.
The Makamba family complained immediately after Zororo’s death that they struggled to secure a ventilator and, even after it was accessed from a private practitioner, Wilkins Hospital did not have suitable plugs.
The family also complained that it was asked to pay US$120 000 for the hire of a ventilator and felt that Zororo’s death could have been avoided had the health system been functioning well.
Zororo was the second confirmed corona case, followed by Sakudya.
The third patient from Zimre Park in Ruwa, a suburb to the south-east of Harare, said he waited for a period far longer than the promised time to receive results after his Wilkins test.
“I was told that my results would come out in five hours and if they didn’t, it would mean that I had tested negative,” said Sakudya.
“I went back home to wait for my results. Five hours passed and no results came.”
As the wait took too long, he at one time visited his office in the city, driven by his 21-year-old son, the first born with his 40-year old wife, while his eldest son aged 24, is from a past relationship.
That day, three days after, was when he received a call from a Ministry of Health official confirming his case.
He returned home from the office to meet the ministry official who announced that he was taking him away for quarantine.
“Imagine, [they availed the results] after 72 hours. What if I had interacted with many people thinking that I was negative?” said a worried Sakudya.
It was also at that stage, he added, that they took samples from his 40-year-old wife, his son who had been driving him, and his 10-year-old daughter.
“I was asked to go to Wilkins for isolation. My son was still driving me.
“We went to Wilkins and were told the hospital was closing down for renovations.
“We were referred to the Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital.
“At Beatrice, we were told to go back to Wilkins.
“They said they were not ready to handle a coronavirus case.
“We went back to Wilkins, but they refused to take us, this time referring us to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals,” said Sakudya.
Out of frustration, he called Prosper Chonzi, the head of health services at the Harare City Council, which runs Wilkins Hospital, to complain that he was being tossed around despite his condition.
Chonzi reportedly advised him to go home so that an ambulance would ferry him to an isolation centre the next day.
As promised by Chonzi, an ambulance was despatched to pick him up.
“They took me to Beatrice Hospital,” Sakudya said.
“There was chaos at the hospital with panicky nurses fleeing the hospital, complaining that they had no protective clothing to handle a Covid-19 patient.”
He was forced to remain in the ambulance for more than three hours and the nurses returned only when he was moved to a secluded spot at the hospital.
“I was finally admitted and doctors immediately came. I was injected and given antibiotics.
“The following day [Friday], I told them I wanted to be isolated at home because I needed warm water continuously,” he said, and that is how he returned to Zimre Park where he has been since then.
Health ministry officials subsequently brought his wife’s and 21-year-old son’s results out of the samples collected two days before.
His wife and son tested positive, while their 10-year old daughter tested negative.
Two maids and another relative were tested that day and their results came out negative two days later.
Government publicised the negative results without first advising Sakudya and his family.
“It was saddening that results came after announcements were made and were already circulating on social media. That is not good,” fumed Sakudya.
His worries are not over, though.
Since he and his family went into isolation, no one from the Health ministry or the social welfare department has bothered to check on them, despite the fact Zimbabwe, so far, has a manageable nine confirmed cases.
Only Chonzi and two other officials named as Duri and Mudariki have been checking on him since self-isolation started on March 24.
Sakudya, his wife and the two sons — the elder who is 24 — are self-isolating in a cottage at their Zimre home, while the family members who tested negative are now confined to the main house.
“We are using one bathroom,” he revealed. “We have devised a way that those who tested negative will bathe first, and those that are positive later, but we have to make sure we clean the bathroom thoroughly.”
Sakudya said his two sons had not developed any symptoms and his wife only complained of chest pains, and he said he was out of pain.
“Government has not been supportive. “It is not walking the talk.
“I was quarantined on March 24 and up to now, no one from the Ministry of Health or any government department has been here to see me, or provide food,” he said.
“It is now about 14 days to go for the national lockdown to be complete, I am not supposed to go out, but my government is not worried about how I am surviving.
“What is the social welfare department doing if it can’t help the vulnerable?” said Sakudya.
Zimbabwe is now into its seventh day of a national lockdown decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa to manage Covid-19.
Well-wishers bring food and other essential items to Sakudya’s gate, phone to notify him of the deliveries and leave.
For Sakudya, who said he feared a death sentence had been passed on him the day he was diagnosed positive, life or routine during the isolation period has not been easy.
“I jog in my yard, listen to music and watch films. Sometimes I sleep for two hours.
“I am taking antibiotics and hot water with lemons.
“Sometimes I sleep for about two hours during the day. Those negative of the coronavirus will have their own world in the main house.”
He said Covid-19 patients need moral support, not disdain and discrimination.
“I felt my world was crumbling, like I was in a restriction cell where no lullaby could soothe the seething mass of despair, but am glad I am a new narrative of hope,” he added.
Thomas Muwodzeri, a former councillor in the ward under which Zimre Park falls, has also been offering the Sakudya family moral support.
“This is a national disaster and the government should take an active role,” he said.
“As residents, we need information to bail out our friends and brothers.”
Health ministry permanent secretary Agnes Mahomva confirmed to The Standard that Covid-19 test results must be availed within five or seven hours.
“I think there was a communication problem,” Mahomva said. “I don’t think it is possible that he was told that if results didn’t come out after five hours it meant that he was negative.”
On government support, Mahomva referred questions to the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, whose minister Paul Mavima was not picking calls.
However, the permanent secretary in the ministry, Simon Masanga, said his department had not been alerted of Sakudya’s ordeal.
“I am hearing about it from you only now. It’s a health issue and the ministry of Health is responsible,” Masanga said.
“If it is a case that the person needs food aid, it is our ministry and as soon as we have records, we will assist.”
MDC top politicians, Welshman Ncube and Douglas Mwonzora have had ugly exchanges on twitter with the latter accusing the party vice president of plotting a coup against disputed party leader Nelson Chamisa.
The simmering rivalry within the main opposition has been ignited by a recent Supreme Court ruling declaring Chamisa’s rise to the party helm as fraudulent.
Mwonzora claimed Ncube was intentionally leading Chamisa astray so he could snatch his boss’s job at their party’s next congress in 2024.
The exchanges followed claims by Ncube that party politicians who openly celebrated the Supreme Court ruling had been sold a dummy by the court.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court Tuesday upheld an earlier High Court order for the beleaguered party to revert back to its leadership elected in 2014 and to call for an extra-ordinary elective congress within three months.
Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi, two party leaders who emerged victorious from the cited congress, have openly welcomed the ruling, drawing wide condemnation from the party faithful for alleged treachery.
In a bitter exchange of words on Twitter, Mwonzora questioned whether Ncube was not throwing dust in Chamisa’s eyes as he allegedly did with former president of the now defunct MDC splinter group Arthur Mutambara.
Ncube was first to lead an MDC revolt back in 2005, which saw the party split into two with the Ncube formation later inviting Mutambara to become its leader. Founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now late, remained with the mainstream MDC.
Ncube, who was secretary general of the splinter group, later took Mutambara’s job at a party congress, something that did not go well with the one-time deputy prime minister who was allowed to cling to his government job by then State President Robert Mugabe.
Charged Mwonzora, “We must equally ask are you (Ncube) not deliberately setting up Nelson Chamisa for failure so that you take over from him in 2024 as you did Mutambara some years back?”
“Given your rebellion against Tsvangirai it becomes a habit does it not? Only time will tell.”
Ncube responded: “We do not need to wait for time to tell, Chamisa is astute, very astute. He does not need me to make informed and strategic choices.
“Speaking for myself, and you can take this to your vault, I will not take over or rather I will not see to take over in 2024 or at any other time.”
Mwonzora finds himself fighting for his political life amid a volley of accusations by angry MDC members he was a party sell-out.
State Media|THE Beautiful Bulawayo Trust, a committee formed to spearhead the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19) in the city has been given one week to set up a testing and isolation centre after it emerged yesterday that Bulawayo has no such facility.
Thorngrove Infectious Disease Hospital which had been earmarked to cater for Covid-19 cases in the city is still undergoing renovations and in the event of a reported case in the city, the patient has to be transferred to Harare for isolation.
The revelations were made by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo at a Press conference after a meeting between a delegation from the Inter-Ministerial Taskforce on Covid-19 and members of the Trust last night.
The Trust is made up of various people from Bulawayo, ranging from academics to industrialists, who have come together to raise funds to help establish Ekusileni Medical Centre as a national Covid-19 isolation centre. Moyo said the Trust has handed over a working document to the Ministerial Taskforce, which would be presented to President Mnangagwa.
“We will hand over this document to the President for deliberation but noting the situation which we are in at the moment, we have given the Trust a week to become operational of which they have assured us that they will be in a position to admit their first patient, if any, in the next week.
Isolation wards undergoing renovation at Thorngrove hospital in Bulawayo.
“They have said they will start with a carrying capacity of 50, as the 50 beds are already available but the capacity is to go up to 200 but what the people of Bulawayo have said is that depending on the intensity of this coronavirus they think it is necessary to have a 600-bed capacity in the whole Metropolitan Province,” said Moyo.
He said Bulawayo did not have an isolation centre in case of an outbreak.
“In terms of testing there is equipment at the National University of Science and Technology and at Mpilo Hospital. We are in the process of combining these so we can do the testing here locally. I understand in Bulawayo we currently have the rapid testing equipment but it is not complete, so they have not started testing, therefore testing is at the moment only being done in Harare where samples from all corners of the country are sent,” said Moyo.
Early in the week, Sunday News sent written questions to the local authority’s spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu who revealed that the local authority required US$300 000 for the complete refurbishment of Thorngrove hospital to be able to house Covid-19 cases.
“A third or less would make the hospital able to admit the first 50 patients comfortably,” said Mrs Mpofu.
Also present at the Press briefing were Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Professor Paul Mavhima, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Development, Prof Amon Murwira and the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndlovu.
Meanwhile, the Government has directed that all council and privately-owned clinics and hospitals will fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Child Care as the country tries to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
This comes amid revelations that 21 health facilities have been identified to be turned as Covid-19 testing centres in Bulawayo, 19 of which are council-owned clinics.
“This all is done to ensure co-ordination and monitoring, so that we are able to win this war as a team,” said Moyo. Cde Moyo further revealed that the Ministerial Taskforce was now actively involved in the mapping exercise where Covid-19 test sites in all districts are being identified.
“Right now, the numbers are few but we must not relax because we have not yet tested a lot of people, so when the testing increases, we might face challenges, which is why we are here as ministers to work on this mapping exercise. I am especially happy that people of Bulawayo are also working hard being led by the Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Judith Ncube ,” said Moyo.
POLICE have arrested more than 1 500 people across the country since the 21-lockdown started on Monday for defying rules and regulations stipulated under the directive which was put in place to minimise the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19).
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told Sunday News that as of yesterday afternoon, 1 516 people had been arrested for various offences related to failure to observe rules and regulations related to the lockdown.
Asst Comm Nyathi said despite the arrests, the general public has responded well in taking heed of the call to stay at home during the lockdown period.
“From the first day up to today (yesterday) we have arrested a total of 1 516 for various offences throughout the country which include the issue of operating shebeens, traffic offences and people who are trying to open bars yet they are no exception. We also have some businesses that are trying to open when they should not be opened,” he said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the public was also failing to observe social distancing.
“People are also not observing the issue of social distancing and we are saying people must observe social distancing guidelines as given by the Government,” he said.
Social distancing or physical distancing is a set of non-pharmaceutical interventions or measures taken to prevent the spread of a contagious disease by maintaining a physical distance between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other.
Asst Comm Nyathi said the public was also failing to stay indoors.
“People should also stay indoors, we have had a challenge of people who are moving around without reason. Some are driving and some are walking on the streets particularly after 5pm. We are asking those people to stay indoors and observe safety measures,” he said.
A survey around Bulawayo revealed a different picture from the day the lockdown commenced. The streets were generally empty with a few worming queues of people at grocery stores seeking basic commodities. Security details at supermarkets were ensuring that shoppers maintained social distancing as they queued to access groceries and other goods. Pharmacies that initially announced that they would operate until 10pm changed their operating times and were closing shop at 3pm.
Several fast food outlets were generally closed save for a number that operated from morning and closed in the afternoon.
Commuter omnibuses were also off the streets following a Government directive to have only recommended transport operators on the roads. Law enforcers were also visible both in the CBD and residential areas ensuring that people were observing the lockdown and staying indoors.
Zimbabwe’s government closed all schools and colleges on March 24, 2020, in response to the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In making the announcement, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said government would determine the date when schools and colleges will open again after assessing the situation. Although Mnangagwa has made a couple of other subsequent announcements on measures the government is implementing to manage the situation, he has not spoken about the re-opening of schools and colleges.
Patrick Zumbo, a spokesperson in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, confirmed that the message circulating on WhatsApp, regarding the re-opening of schools, was fake.
“It’s not true, we are yet to be guided on when schools will open. We closed schools early because of the coronavirus and we await a directive on when to commence lessons,” Zumbo said.
The corona virus pandemic has hit everyone in the world very hard not just in terms of the health aspect but also in financial terms as the world economy has literally grinded to a halt.
In South Africa the government decided to implement a 21 day lock down to try and curb the spread of the virus, this has meant that all non-essential workers must stay at home. This has put the already vulnerable foreign nationals living in South Africa in an untenable position as their employers have decided to take advantage of them and not pay them during this lock down.
The ones in the country legally and are registered by their employers will have some assistance as they will be able to claim from the Unemployment Insurance Fund but for the thousands if not millions who are not registered or are self employed it is going to be a bleak next couple of weeks.
The government of South Africa is to be commended for the food parcels it has been distributing during this lock down however for foreign nationals who are here legally and are tax payers the criteria the government has used to distribute these food parcels seems quite unfair.
The food parcels are given to you when you bring your valid South African identity document which emphatically excludes all foreigners. So basically these taxpayers are being excluded from benefitting from their taxes which they pay dutifully each and every year in this time of dire need.
Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Dr Sithembiso Nyoni
More than $600 million will be extended to small businesses, vendors and the elderly by Government in the next fortnight as part of elaborate interventions to compensate for loss of income during the coronavirus-induced 21-day national lockdown.
The lockdown, which began on Monday, will run until April 19.
People who were living on the streets have already been evacuated, while temporary settlements that had been built for Cyclone Idai victims in Chimanimani are being decongested.
The ministries of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare; Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communty Development, as well as local authorities are working on a database for the affected groups.
Beneficiaries would soon start receiving cash benefits.
“The disbursements are set to start soon. Once we have received the data and verify it, then we start disbursing the grants.
“The payment will be done within the 21-day (lockdown) period.
“This programme is targeting those whose livelihoods were affected by the lockdown. The assistance they will get is short term.”
Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said associations that represent small businesses were currently compiling lists of members expected to benefit from the facility.
“We have instructed the associations of small businesses to come up with lists of their members so that they can be forwarded to the relevant authorities,” she said.
Government has also availed shelter for people living in the streets.
Those rounded up have been taken to Ruwa Rehabilitation Centre for temporary shelter while long-term plans are being worked out.
In Chimanimani, Cyclone Idai survivors have been provided with protective clothing.
The settlements have also been decongested. Chimanimani District Development Committee (DDC) chairperson Mr Joseph Manyurapasi said families living in camps have been adequately educated about the coronavirus and the national lockdown.
“The current set-ups in Chimanimani resemble most typical settlements in the country. There is enough space for people to practise social distancing,” he said.
“Unlike during Cyclone Idai where we were caught unawares, this time around we are prepared and we have been educating the people in Chimanimani on how they can protect themselves and prevent the spread of the disease.
“We have received protective clothing and sanitisers from Government.”
Government has also drilled five boreholes at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare to ease the wter situation.
In addition, innovation hubs in universities countrywide have been mandated to produce hand sanitisers and protective clothing.
There is currently a shortage of hand sanitisers in most retail shops, with the few that are available attracting premium prices.
Increased local production is, however, expected to ensure affordable prices.
State Media|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday night held a “very important” teleconference with several African Heads of State, French President Emmanuel Macron and World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.
The leaders resolved to ratchet up the fight against Covid-19 through enhanced coordination.
Convened by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the current African Union (AU) chair, the teleconference also comprised presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Felix Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Macky Sall (Senegal), Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (Mali) and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Chairperson of the AU Commission Dr Moussa Faki was also part of the high-level discussions.
The parties focused on synchronising efforts as well as lobbying global support for debt relief and a financial package for African countries to save lives.
Yesterday, President Mnangagwa, who is chairperson of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, described the virtual indaba, which also touched on sanctions imposed on Harare, as “very important”.
“Very important call last night with leaders from across the region. This virus respects no borders. We must work together,” the President said on his official Twitter account.
In an interview last night, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana said the diplomatic engagement bode well for Zimbabwe.
“This was a very enlightening meeting that came out with several resolutions that could be positive to Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Our President suggested during the conference that when the Global Fund for coronavirus is disbursed, ministers from the Bureau countries should hold such teleconferences so that they can share strategies.
“President Kagame is the one who brought in President Macron into the teleconference and the African leaders raised the issue that the French president should take their concerns to G20 member states. The G20 countries have not been activating some of the recommendations that they have previously made such as on climate change and other matters.”
The Heads of State, he added, also considered trading Covid-19 fighting equipment amongst each other.
“President Kenyatta suggested that African countries should buy from each other and enhance trade of such equipment even during the lockdowns that many countries have imposed.”
In a communique released yesterday, the AU said the Heads of State reaffirmed the call for lifting sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe during the meeting.
“The Heads of State and Government strongly urged for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and Sudan to allow them to adequately respond to the pandemic and save lives. The African Union has repeatedly called for the lifting of these punitive sanctions, which the Bureau consider intolerable and inhumane in the present context,” said the AU.
During the deliberations, the Heads of State resolved to establish inter-ministerial committees to enhance coordination in response to Covid-19.
The AU said: “It was agreed to establish continental ministerial coordination committees on health, finance and transport to coordinate in order to support the comprehensive continental strategy.
“The Heads of State underscored the need for a comprehensive and coordinated continental approach, and to speak with one voice on Africa’s priorities.”
Currently, Zimbabwe is not receiving any financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank owing to legacy obligations to the latter.
During the teleconference, the Heads of State agreed that international financial institutions needed to review their funding policies, while also advocating for a special fund for African nations to fight the pandemic.
“Cognisant of the devastating socio-economic and political impact of the pandemic on African countries, the Bureau reiterated the need for rapid and concrete support as pledged by the G20 and other international partners, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. It is critical that these institutions review their current disbursement policies to display flexibility and speed, including raising the availability of IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
“The Bureau also echoed the call for a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, including deferred payments, the immediate suspension of interest payments on Africa’s external public and private debt in order to create fiscal space for Covid-19 response measures.”
The Heads of State rallied for new strategies to fight the pandemic, including ramping up capacities of individual countries to produce medicinal equipment, said the AU.
“The Heads of State highlighted the unprecedented threat that Covid-19 presents to the health of African citizens and to the continent’s hard-won developmental and economic gains. They also recognised the imperative to establish humanitarian and trade corridors in a spirit of African solidarity and integration.
“Given the urgent need for medical supplies and equipment, the Heads of State called for international cooperation and support while up-scaling local production on the continent.”
Member countries were also encouraged to provide US$12,5 million each to help the continent in fighting Covid-19 as a united front.
The Heads of State also reportedly noted progress made in operationalising the African Union Covid-19 Response Fund established on March 26 2020 to which members pledged US$12,5 million and an additional US$4,5 million to Africa’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On his official Twitter account, President Kagame said the meeting was highly fruitful.
“We discussed the need for Africa to stand together, speak with one voice and work through our institutions to mobilise resources and harmonise the support from international partners. Thank you to initiatives by African institutions such as @AfDBGroup and @afreximbank for their support.
“The meeting stressed the urgency and need to materialise all commitments swiftly and flexibly. Through coordinated action, we can succeed in mitigating the health and economic impact of #Covid-19 on our population.”
President Kagame also bemoaned the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the world.
“The loss of and damage to life and economy globally and particularly in Africa is colossal … and so must be the amounts of energy and financial package(s) to bring things back to normal and beyond.”
The leaders took note of the rapid action coordinated by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Jack Ma Foundation in mobilising over one million diagnostic tests, six million masks and 600 000 personal protective equipment (PPE) items to all AU member states in less than a week.
Zimbabwe has since received its allocation of 20 000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100 000 medical face masks and 10 000 protective suits from the donation.
During the meeting, presentations were given by the WHO director-general, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, who emphasised the importance of equitable access to tests. Africa’s CDC director, Dr John Nkengasong, updated leaders on the continent’s rapidly increasing Covid-19 infection rates.
A Correspondent- A total of 875 people have been arrested countrywide on Day Five of the national lockdown for violating anti-COVID-19 regulations, at a time when police are raising concerns on “lockdown house parties” which have become a hit.
In major cities, people are reported to be binge drinking and throwing parties in their houses, where substance abuse is the order of the day. At the said parties, children are exposed to fumes from dangerous drugs and cigarette smoke which is dangerous as passive smoking has detrimental health effects.
When reporters toured some Bulawayo suburbs, it established that most residents were beginning to heed the call to stay at home and follow the lockdown regulations as gazetted by Government.
Interviews also showed that people were shaken by the alarming increase in global statistics of confirmed cases which have shot past the one million marks, while nine cases and one death have been confirmed in the country. Although the generality of people is complying with the regulations, some people continue to flout the Government directive as scores have been seen roaming aimlessly in the central business district (CBD) and residential areas.
Police roadblocks continued to be in full forces as scores of people were forced to return to their locations after they were deemed to be making unnecessary trips to the central business district.
The Zimbabwe United Passenger Company was also transporting essential staff only to work stations as members of the public were advised to get essentials from places within a 5km radius from their homes.
In a telephone interview yesterday, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the police force was pleased that people were beginning to heed the call to stay at home although he highlighted there were still some rogue elements who continue to disregard regulations. He said there was a new trend of house parties where people were converging at homes to drink alcohol, flouting laws on social distancing and public gatherings.
“We continue to be in full force across the country and have observed that people are now heeding the call. Generally, people are now complying. The volume of traffic on the roads is also decreasing, showing signs of compliance,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He warned people hosting house parties that they would face the wrath of the law if they did not stop their shenanigans.
“However, we note with concern about the growing trend of house parties where people are converging in homes and breaking laws on public gatherings and flouting social distancing and lockdown orders. We, therefore, warn members of the public against these as we will be descending on them without further notice,” he said. Meanwhile, in Gweru, residents have continued to defy the Government’s lockdown directive and vehicular and human traffic are increasing in the central business district.
Yesterday people were crowded at undesignated pick-up and drop off points like the Gweru City Council offices along the Gweru-Bulawayo Road, Amtec and Cathedral looking for intercity transport. In most high-density suburbs, people were going about their usual business.
At Ascot Mtapa and Mambo suburbs, residents blamed Gweru City Council’s failure to provide water, for their failure to fully comply with the lockdown order. Some residents were also seen milling around bottle stores after failing to purchase alcohol from supermarkets which have stopped selling the product
“We have gone for two months without water and it is difficult for us to stay home. We would want to stay indoors but we are compelled to go to boreholes to queue for water because our council has failed to provide us with water. The local authority itself is partially to blame for people’s failure to comply,” said a resident.
Midlands Minister of State Larry Mavhima said the Provincial Joint Operation Command (JOC) will intensify a crackdown on defiant residents. “We are also concerned with what has been happening. We are beefing up security to ensure full compliance,” he said.-StateMedia
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa who is the current African Union (AU) chair, on Friday night convened a critical teleconference with several African Heads of State, French President Emmanuel Macron and World Health Organisation (WHO) director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.
The teleconference comprised president Emmerson Mnangagwa, Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Felix Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic of Congo), Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Egypt), Macky Sall (Senegal), Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (Mali) and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The meeting must have been a lesson for Mnangagwa who has recently been summoning people for meetings at State House against Coronavirus lockdown regulations that prohibit face to face meetings and travelling.
He recently held meetings with his cabinet ministers, church leaders, traditional leaders and business community at his official residence contradicting his own decree on meetings and movements during the 21 Day Lockdown.
In the teleconference, the leaders resolved to ratchet up the fight against Covid-19 through enhanced coordination.
Chairperson of the AU Commission Dr Moussa Faki was also part of the high-level discussions.
The parties focused on synchronising efforts as well as lobbying global support for debt relief and a financial package for African countries to save lives.
President Mnangagwa on Saturday described the virtual indaba as “very important”.
“Very important call last night with leaders from across the region. This virus respects no borders. We must work together,” the President said on his official Twitter account.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court upheld a previous High Court judgment that declared Nelson Chamisa an illegitimate leader of the MDC T. The court ruled that Dr Thokozani Khupe was the legitimate acting president of the party when Chamisa got into power after the death of founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, on February 14, 2018.
It is now unclear how things will pan out for the opposition political party. The state run Sunday Mail’s Gender and Community Editor FATIMA BULLA spoke to Dr Khupe about this and more.
Extracts from the interview below:
Q: What meaning does the Supreme Court ruling carry for you?
A: I welcome the Supreme Court ruling. It does not only carry something for me but it offers justice for everyone who believes in fairness and democracy. You must remember that this case was brought by our organising secretary from the Gokwe Sesame District. This ruling carries so much meaning. Above all, it is important for our democracy and to all who aspire to be leaders in society.
Q: Some say you already knew the judgment prior to it being passed. Is this true?
A: I learnt of the pending judgment from my lawyer, Professor (Lovemore) Madhuku, who had been contacted by the relevant officials to attend the proceedings. This particular case has been going on for a year and the leadership dispute since February 2018.
Naturally, our members have been anxious and it was prudent that we call for calmness among our members who felt betrayed by the justice system through delays which they could not understand, especially in the face of blatant criminality and injustice which occurred after the death of Dr Morgan Tsvangirai. It was important that we make an appeal to our members to accept the outcome of the SC (Supreme Court) judgment regardless of whether it was against us or in our favour. Calling for calmness does not suggest anything except what it means. We are a law-abiding political party.
Q: What impact does the ruling have considering there are two factions, your MDC and MDC-A led by Nelson Chamisa?
A: The court ruling is very clear. You are correctly putting it that these are factions of the same party. One remained in the Alliance and the other opted out of the Alliance. The court has ordered both factions of the MDC-T to go to an extraordinary congress to elect a substantive president. The Alliance was a conglomeration of seven parties, with MDC-T being part of that Alliance.
Q: You contested as MDC-T leader while Nelson Chamisa was on an MDC-A ticket in the 2018 elections. Sentiment is that the court ruling does not change the status quo. What do you say to that?
A: The court was about the legitimate successor to Dr Tsvangirai and what the court has done is to correct the wrongs that were committed by Mr Chamisa and his faction. It has afforded membership of the MDC-T an opportunity to elect its leader as provided for in the constitution of the MDC. We are a social democratic party, which has to live by its founding principles. We subscribe to the ideals of our organisation’s constitutional democracy. We do not subscribe to political expediency.
Q: There is talk of assets and the parliamentary budget of US$7 million at the centre of your fight with Nelson Chamisa. Is what is unfolding before us politics of the tummy?
A: If you have been following the case you will realise that I objected to the unconstitutional appointments of additional VPs way back in 2016. I was the only elected VP of the party. My duties were to assist the president of the party, whose duties included defending and upholding the constitution of the party.
It has never been about assets of the party. It has always been about constitutionalism and democracy. It is the responsibility of the leader of the party to make sure that there is proper governance and sound administrative polices in the party.
The US$7 million that you are referring to is political finance which belongs to the organisation. Whatever funds are received, they must be accounted for. Political finances are meant to fund the activities of the organisations and not an individual. So I am not fighting for myself but the party as a whole.
Q: The court has directed you to convene an extraordinary congress within three months. Are you considering the MDC-A and how will this work out?
A: The extraordinary congress is for the MDC-T and it excludes its Alliance partners. The court did not direct us to include the other six Alliance partners. So we are looking forward to all members of the MDC-T to come together in compliance with the court judgment.
Q: Judging by the number of votes Mr Chamisa polled in the last election compared to yours, some say you should talk to Mr Chamisa and work out a way forward. Is there such a possibility and under what terms would that work out for you?
A: He had the party machinery and resources. Besides the court has directed that we go to an extraordinary congress to elect a leader. I am currently facilitating that and making sure that we hold the extraordinary congress. I am not clear why I must talk to Chamisa outside what has been provided for by the court and our constitution. I cannot be seen to make my own arrangements outside the explicit directive of the court. I will be in contempt of the same.
Q: You have been accused of being a sell-out for joining the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad). You were also part of a team that toured President Mnangagwa’s farm. Sexist comments were also directed at you. What are your thoughts on this?
A: The sexist comments are more of a reflection on those people who make them and the society which tolerates such. Polad requested the President of the country to celebrate Unity Day at his farm, and being a member of Polad, naturally, I attended. Currently, there are 17 out of the 23, 2018 Presidential candidates in Polad.
As an individual, I find it absurd that joining a dialogue platform is equated to selling out. Our country needs all of us to put our heads together and proffer solutions to the Government of the day. I do not believe that there is any other practical solution to resolve the challenges that we face except to iron out our differences and rescue the suffering masses of our country. I am a mature individual who believes in dialogue as a means to resolve issues.
I am not the first opposition individual to meet with President Mnangagwa, the late Morgan Tsvangirai met with him on several occasions accompanied by Chamisa, who even attended the 2018 independence celebrations presided over by the same Government. I think it is only fair that we apply the same standards to measure people, considering I did not visit President Mnangagwa’s farm as an individual but as part of the team that is in dialogue.
Q: There are allegations that some money was misused within the MDC-A. Is this an issue that would be within your purview to deal with? Do you now have power to intervene?
A: Currently, I do not have details of how the money was used. I have read also in the media about the allegations. In the MDC-A we have our party MDC-T, certainly we will be interested to find out what has been happening with regards to public funds under the previous leadership of Mr Nelson Chamisa. I would like to lead a corruption-free organisation and if time permits, I would like to get to the bottom of the matter.
Q: You won the fight against cancer, now the court ruling. How do you think you will fare in the task ahead?
A: God has led me this far. I believe in prayer. With God all things are possible. I will allow God to lead me once again as we restore our party and as we explore ways of getting our country out of its current problems.
To our members and the general population, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you gave me throughout the years and as we went through a difficult time as a party. I believe great things lie ahead. Give us a chance to rebuild our party and our great country. We have no other home except Zimbabwe. Let us work together and fix it. United we can achieve so much more.
MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe who lay week got a surprise Supreme Court ruling declaring her the leader of an unclear political formation which ropes in MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has immediately revealed that she wants Chamisa to account for $7m paid to the MDC for its presence in parliament under the political parties finance by government.
Government recently released more than $7 million to the MDC led by Chamisa as part of the $25 million that was shared with the ruling Zanu-PF as funding from the Political Parties Finance Act.
“The $7 million that you are referring to is political finances money which belongs to the organisation. Whatever funds are received, they must be accounted for. Political finances are meant to fund the activities of the organisations and not meant to go to an individual’s pocket,” said Dr Khupe.
“Currently, I do not have details of how the money was used. I have read also in the media about the allegations. In the MDC-A, we have our party MDC-T; certainly, we will be interested to find out what has been happening with regards to public funds under the previous leadership of Mr Nelson Chamisa. I would like to lead a corruption-free organisation and if time permits, I would like to get to the bottom of the matter.”
Khupe is on record clearly declaring that she is in politics just for the money and nothing else.
“I personally I love a better life. Your life is good man. But life can only be good when you have money in your pocket. Because money speaks. We are all here because we want money… We are in politics because we want money,” she said in a file video.
I personally I love a better life. Your life is good man. But life can only be good when you have money in your pocket. Because money speaks. We are all here because we want money… We are politics because we want money. pic.twitter.com/TK109C5QML
POLICE in Victoria Falls are investigating a case where four junior officers, who were seemingly drunk, allegedly ran amok and assaulted residents leaving two injured and hospitalised on Friday evening.
The beatings left Mr Munyaradzi Sakho (29) who is a former Triangle FC soccer player hospitalised at Victoria Falls Hospital with multiple injuries on the back and face while Mr Stanley Chiwambo (41) was treated and discharged. The two were beaten at the houses facing Mukali Business Centre at about 8pm on Friday and the four suspected police officers allegedly fled from the scene as residents threatened to beat them up after Mr Sakho had collapsed as a result of the assault.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident and said investigations were still going on.
“We are investigating with a view to identify the officers involved and find out what transpired. We want to establish how and why they went to that house because they were not on duty. Correct facts will only come out after the investigations,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
Residents told Sunday News that the four policemen had been on duty patrolling in the suburbs during the day and were still in uniform when they allegedly committed the offence. Residents alerted the residents association leadership who then phoned police and identities of the suspects were not yet known yesterday.
Mr Sakho, struggling to speak from his hospital bed, said he was beaten up within the yard at his place of residence.
“I closed the butchery where I work and went to submit the day’s cash to the owner. I had just got home when they suddenly pounced on me when I was at the veranda. I couldn’t even understand what they wanted because they asked for our neighbour and when I said I didn’t know his whereabouts they started beating me up and dragged me out of the yard,” said Mr Sakho.
The Victoria Falls Combined Residents’ Association (Vifacora) released a statement condemning the acts of police officers.
“Four off-duty police officers yesterday (Friday) evening decided to abuse their office and went on a spree of beating up residents in their homes. They were spotted drinking alcohol around Mkhosana during the day while on duty and upon finishing work decided not to go home but went around still in their uniforms assaulting residents,” said Vifacora chairman Mr Morgen Dube.
“As residents we condemn this kind of behaviour from police who are entrusted to protect the society and ensure people abide by the law as well as comply with the lockdown measures put in the wake of this deadly Covid-19 pandemic. We want these culprits to be dealt with to send a message to the whole society that no one is above the law and that their actions were criminal and not part of their duty,” said Mr Dube.
Econet Wireless founder and Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa has donated 45 Ventilator Intensive Care Unit (ICU) suites to Zimbabwe to help the country fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Masiyiwa revealed the development on his Facebook blog which he uses to interact with over 1 million people across Africa and beyond. He wrote:
Why Ventilators are so important
If you have been following developments through serious media, and listening to medical experts, you will know by now that the COVID-19 virus attacks the lungs and, at its most acute, it becomes difficult for the person to breath.
There is a type of hospital equipment called a Ventilator, which is used to keep the person alive, whilst they battle with the illness.
Because of the huge demand, this machine is now almost impossible to get, even if you have money to buy. The waiting list with producers runs into months.
It is also not something you can just produce, because of the technology and the supply of parts for it.
Since Higher Life Foundation Zimbabwe is run by a medical doctor, they have been trying to get some of this equipment, which costs from $15,000 up to $100,000 each.
Business leaders and entrepreneurs in every African country must come together and set up funds to buy this life-saving equipment.
Don’t just wait for governments.
By way of example, our foundation, in Zimbabwe – working with some of our donor partners – have just secured 45 full ICU Ventilator suites for distribution to Zimbabwe’s public hospitals.
They will be shipped before the end of the month. This is a drop in the bucket, in terms of actual requirement, so I hope groups like mining companies, bottling groups, banks and others will follow our example.
This is not a crisis in which you “sit on your hands, and provide running commentary” [my Mother].
STATE MEDIA: Mr Nelson Chamisa, whose ascension to the helm of the opposition MDC-T in February 2018 was recently nullified by the Supreme Court, has to account for the $7 million he received under the Political Parties Finance Act.
Last week, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling which declared Mr Chamisa as an illegitimate leader of the opposition political party and nullified decisions he made while purporting to be president.
The party was also ordered to hold its congress within the next three months to correct the illegality, which was considered an affront to the organisation’s founding values and constitution as a social democratic party. Dr Thokozani Khupe, who was declared as the legitimate acting president of the party as the most senior elected official after the demise of former president Dr Morgan Tsvangirai on February 14 2018, told The Sunday Mail that it was in the party’s interest to account for how public funds were used.
“The $7 million that you are referring to is political finances money which belongs to the organisation. Whatever funds are received, they must be accounted for. Political finances are meant to fund the activities of the organisations and not meant to go to an individual’s pocket,” said Dr Khupe.
“Currently, I do not have details of how the money was used. I have read also in the media about the allegations. In the MDC-A, we have our party MDC-T; certainly, we will be interested to find out what has been happening with regards to public funds under the previous leadership of Mr Nelson Chamisa. I would like to lead a corruption-free organisation and if time permits, I would like to get to the bottom of the matter.”
Government recently released more than $7 million to the MDC-Alliance as part of the $25 million that was shared with the ruling Zanu-PF as funding from the Political Parties Finance Act.
The law prescribes monetary allocations to any political party that garners 5 percent of the total votes cast in national elections.
MDC-A has already been reeling from a scandal where $2 million allegedly vanished from its coffers.
The party had to rope in a team of independent auditors to comb through the organisation’s books. Separately, the party has begun preparations for the congress, with a call for nominations for the party presidency set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Two suspected fraudsters, both employees of Econet Wireless have appeared in court facing charges of stealing RTGS$19 984 475 which is probably the biggest fraud ever to hit the country’s telecommunications giant.
Chipinge magistrate Poterai Gwezhira was told by the State that the amount was exchanged on the black market for foreign currency through street vendors. Analysts said that the amount is huge and was a significant factor in the fall of the RTGS$ against the US$.
The two suspects are Mukai Maringe Mapanzure (35), a sales consultant at the Chipinge Branch which is housed at the NSSA Complex and Trymore Chimoyo (30), a brand ambassador for Econet based at Checheche.
Mapanzure appeared in court on Monday while his alleged accomplice Chimoyo appeared on Wednesday. They were ordered to pay $10 000 bail each and Mapanzure to stay at 4170 Medium Density Chipinge and Chimoyo at 213H Checheche Growth Point They will report to the Police on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The State alleges that Mapanzure directly siphoned the money from Econet and sent it out to foreign currency agents to transfer it into foreign currency. Chimoyo who acted as an accomplice allegedly collected the foreign currency from street vendors and surrendered it to Mapanzure.
The State papers reads; “During the period extending from December 30, 2019 to 21 March 2020, the accused who is employed by Econet Wireless as a sales consultant based at Chipinge Branch hatched a plan to steal from his employer. In his capacity as an employee with the ability to access the company’s EZW merchant mobile broadband merchant number 0784953460, created a sim card for the complainant’s merchant number and processed a private identification number to access the account. He also created two agent numbers 0771378844 and 0785042806 and registered them in fictitious names of Nyachidze Primary School and Ariston Holdings respectively. He inserted the counterfeit sim card for merchant number 0784953460 in his mobile cellphone with IMEI number 359725084071720 and misinterpreted as if he was the real owner of the account mandated to effect withdrawals. He transferred large sums of ecocash RTGS on different times to merchant number 0785042806 and 0771378844 thereby causing actual prejudice to the complaint of $5 186 000-00,”
It is understood that the full prejudice came to light when Chimoyo was arrested.
“The accused person on different times collected forex from street vendors who had received large sums of money from the actual perpetrator. He transformed large sums of realised ecocash RTGS on different times and handed the money to the accomplice thereby facilitating disposal of cash prejudicial to the complainant of RTGS$19 984 475- 00,” read part of the State papers against Chimoyo.
Freelance journalist Panashe Makufa was beaten up by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), on Saturday around 1700hrs in the Harare suburb of Kuwadzana while undertaking his professional duties.
Makufa briefed MISA Zimbabwe that he was taking pictures of a police operation wherein they were dispersing people in Kuwadzana as part of their enforcement of the national lockdown.
It has come to our attention that when the police approached him, Makufa produced his accreditation card and it was disregarded as having expired. The four police officers also instructed Makufa to get into their police vehicle where he was assaulted by two officers and forced to delete pictures before being dropped off at Kuwadzana 2 shops.
The MISA Zimbabwe lawyer is assisting Makufa on legal steps to take in response to the assault and loss of the entire day’s worth of footage. MISA Zimbabwe is also assisting the freelance journalist with access to medical attention.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has announced new fuel prices with effect from 5 April 2020.
The new prices will see diesel being sold at ZWL$21.52 while petrol is now ZWL$21.77.
This has come as shocking news considering that on the global market, oil prices are going down due to COVID-19.
Energy minister, Advocate Fortune Chasi said those questioning the move to increase fuel prices have a legitimate concern which he will address in due course.
“FUEL PRICE INCREASE: the question being asked as to why our fuel price is going up when international prices are going down is a legitimate one. I will endeavour to give an explanation later today,” he said
HOSPITALISED Dynamos skipper, Partson Jaure, is recovering remarkably after undergoing a head operation last Sunday and there is heightened optimism within his family, the defender’s wife, Fadzai, has revealed.
The 29-year-old Warriors centre-back suffered serious head injuries in a car accident on March 22. It is believed that he has a 50-50 chance of returning to action.
Jaure reportedly lost control of his vehicle before it rammed into a tree in a near-fatal accident that left the defender with a depressed skull. “Partson is recovering well, we can even talk now,” Fadzai told The Sunday Mail Sport .
However, the last two weeks have not been easy for the 25-year-old mother of two. Getting her to talk about the ordeal was naturally difficult, especially for someone who is ordinarily media shy.
“Personally, I prefer to keep a low profile, but I guess I have to speak out given the circumstances. It has not been easy for me since that Sunday morning when I received the call from my mother-in-law,” she said.
She was still very deep in her sleep when the phone rang, at around 4am, on that fateful Sunday.
What made the call more suspicious was that it was coming from her mother-in-law at that odd hour. Fadzai was not at all prepared for what she heard from the other end of the call.
She is studying towards a degree in Supply Chain Management at Chinhoyi University of Technology, and was in the Mashonaland West town when she received the dreadful call. “My mother-in-law called me early in the morning, around 4am, that Sunday, informing me about the accident.
“It was difficult to digest her message. I was shocked and afraid at the same time.”
Jaure underwent an operation at Health Point in Harare last Sunday.
After the nine-hour operation, his doctors said the Warriors defender was on the mend.-State media
POLICE in Victoria Falls are investigating a case where four junior officers, who were seemingly drunk, allegedly ran amok and assaulted residents leaving two injured and hospitalised on Friday evening.
The beatings left Mr Munyaradzi Sakho (29) who is a former Triangle FC soccer player hospitalised at Victoria Falls Hospital with multiple injuries on the back and face while Mr Stanley Chiwambo (41) was treated and discharged.
The two were beaten at the houses facing Mukali Business Centre at about 8pm on Friday and the four suspected police officers allegedly fled from the scene as residents threatened to beat them up after Mr Sakho had collapsed as a result of the assault.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday confirmed the incident and said investigations were still going on.
“We are investigating with a view to identify the officers involved and find out what transpired.
We want to establish how and why they went to that house because they were not on duty. Correct facts will only come out after the investigations,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.-State media
President Mnangagwa has applauded Zimbabweans for self-discipline during the ongoing 21-day lockdown, while advising farmers supplying produce to urban centres and other localities to continue to operate and agricultural markets to remain open as the country enters Day 6 of the lockdown today.
Further, the President said veterinary outlets and related services should continue operating as the country fends off livestock diseases.
Addressing the nation at State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa said the presence of military personnel on the streets and other places was just symbolic, as people heeded the Government call. He said the nation’s safety and collective security lay in self-discipline, but people should not be deceived by the low infection numbers and Government should continue to scale up preparations.
“Apart from the focus on the pandemic itself, it is integral that we keep our economy moving forward during this period of lockdown. “Food supply must be guaranteed, with minimum shocks or disruption.
Farmers must continue to produce for our nation even under conditions of lockdown.
Farmers and traders alike must equally continue to deliver produce to markets, including those markets that supply our cities, towns and growth points.
“To that end, I directed our security arms to ensure pathway of food supply.
All agriculture activity must remain undisturbed throughout the period of the lockdown. All our producers must continue to feed our nation with minimum hustles. Equally, our veterinary outlets and services must continue to run as we fend off the diseases against our livestock.
Our outlets and field teams working on projects meant to climate-proof our agriculture and towards impending harvests as well as winter wheat programmes must be facilitated.”
He said the country was not yet out of the woods but applauded Zimbabweans for high level self-discipline during the lockdown.
“Only last week, I directed a total lockdown of our society for a duration of 21 days. As your President, I am proud of the way most of you have responded to the lockdown,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Except where absolutely necessary, you have stayed home together with your families.
You have observed and voluntarily enforced social distance and religiously followed routines of basic hygiene as recommended by the World Health Organisation.
Social interactions have either stopped or drastically reduced. We are on the right path.
The deployment of security arms has largely been symbolic, with you our citizens heeding the call, taking the lead and showing the way in the fight against this pandemic. Well done Zimbabweans and keep it up,” said the President.-State media
ZIFA has received the report concerning preliminary inspections done on the National Sports and Barbourfields in March.
The report further confirms that the two facilities do not meet minimum standards expected by FIFA and CAF to host Warriors’ matches.
Both stadia are still barred from hosting senior men’s competitions, but they are approved to host youth and women’s competitions.
The inspection done in March was meant to provide ZIFA and stadium authorities with guidelines on areas that require attention before the final round of inspections scheduled for June and July 2020.
Government and Bulawayo City Council have been notified of the recommendations made by CAF inspectors, and the urgent need to attend to issues raised cannot be further emphasised.
If work on recommendations is complete, ZIFA will invite CAF to conduct another inspection between 15 June and 20 July to determine whether or not we can play senior men’s competitions at home.
Our local stadium inspection team, the First Instance Body will conduct weekly inspections to ensure that refurbishments at National Sports and Barbourfields Stadiums are in line with the expectations of CAF and FIFA.
We appeal to all stakeholders involved to expedite the process of upgrading our facilities to the required standard so that we avert the grim possibility of playing our home matches abroad.
In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, we encourage everyone to observe recommended healthy habits regarding staying safe while also combating the spread of the deadly virus. — Zifa.org.
