Farai Dziva| As the nation continues to grapple with the biting economic challenges, Masvingo based clergyman Isaac Makomichi has declared that the formation of an inclusive government that includes Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC’s Nelson Chamisa and G-40 stalwart Saviour Kasukuwere is the lasting solution to the deepening impasse.
Makomichi has claimed that he had a dream in which he perceived the late former President Robert Mugabe’s soul was restless over the formation of an inclusive government.
Last week Makomichi pointed out that the three politicians should unite to form an inclusive government to save the country from further economic chaos . Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group.
“I had a prophetic in which the former President spoke about the formation of an inclusive government.
The former President(Robert Mugabe) revealed in the dream he was trying to inform President Mnangagwa, Chamisa and Kasukuwere about the formation of a Government of National Unity – through dreams.
As I indicated last week President Mnangagwa’ s efforts to revive the economy should be complemented by Chamisa and Kasukuwere.”
“In the same dream President Mugabe’s spirit revealed that values and principles of the liberation struggle should be respected.
You know this is a big dream so I am still praying about it but I am sure it will transform the country’s political situation.”
Farai Dziva| As the nation continues to grapple with the biting economic challenges, Masvingo based clergyman Isaac Makomichi has declared that the formation of an inclusive government that includes Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC’s Nelson Chamisa and G-40 stalwart Saviour Kasukuwere is the lasting solution to the deepening impasse.
Makomichi has claimed that he had a dream in which he perceived the late former President Robert Mugabe’s soul was restless over the formation of an inclusive government.
Last week Makomichi pointed out that the three politicians should unite to form an inclusive government to save the country from further economic chaos . Makomichi is the leader of Calvary Prayer Group.
“I had a prophetic in which the former President spoke about the formation of an inclusive government.
The former President(Robert Mugabe) revealed in the dream he was trying to inform President Mnangagwa, Chamisa and Kasukuwere about the formation of a Government of National Unity – through dreams.
As I indicated last week President Mnangagwa’ s efforts to revive the economy should be complemented by Chamisa and Kasukuwere.”
“In the same dream President Mugabe’s spirit revealed that values and principles of the liberation struggle should be respected.
You know this is a big dream so I am still praying about it but I am sure it will transform the country’s political situation.”
Clearly guilty COVID criminals who violated the lockdown statutes, Justice Bharat Patel, Senator Douglas Mwonzora, have been allowed to walk scot free as the police moved on to arrest nearly 500 perceived non-VIP members of the public.
Police last night announced they have 485 people countrywide for failing to abide by restrictions outlined by President Mnangagwa last week when he announced a raft of measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.
The development follows ZimEye on the ground surveys on which people cried out saying that the lockdown would hurt their very existence on earth. (watch video below).
During the week, Justice Patel violated both Zim statute and World Health Organisations guidelines by holding a non essential court session where he announced a controversial ruling condemned by every pick and sundry of legal experts.
https://youtu.be/6X89oHxf9Ig
Speaking to ZimEye, Senator Douglas Mwonzora who also attended the hearing, confirmed that the timing was inappropriate. He said he “would have done things differently” if it was him in charge.
I do not agree with president Mnangagwa and I have never been a fan at all but I also do not agree joining hands with prof @ProfJNMoyo who created AIPA, POSA and the Broadcasting Act – @DMwonzorapic.twitter.com/T2c9FSuG5O
But Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi quoted by the state media last night said that those arrested were found guilty of operating shebeens, failing to observe social distance in queues, while some motorists were also arrested for moving around aimlessly.
Asst Comm Nyathi said some of the arrested people were abusing the exemption rule on essential services, trying to bribe or lying to police details manning roadblocks.
In Harare, ZRP and the Harare municipal police mounted roadblocks on several roads where people were being asked to produce letters from employers or relevant authorities from their respective areas showing that they are providing essential services.
Most people were asked to produce a letter or concrete evidence clarifying the reasons of their visit in town or their final destination. Police dispersed some people who were loitering in the CBD. At Africa Unity Square, few people where seen enjoying their food in the park at mid-day, but had vanished later in the day.
Some taxis were parked along Third Street. Supermarkets were open, but closed in the afternoon in line with the Government directive. At most service stations fuel was available and there were short or no queues at all. Police also used a public address system to remind people to stay at home.
The Herald says it visited a number of bus terminuses in Harare including the usually ever-busy Simon Muzenda Street, Copacabana, Market Square and Charge Office, among others where some people were waiting to board Zupco buses. Zupco buses were ferrying passengers on condition they produced evidence that they were providers of essential services.
A number of people interviewed said they had come to town to conduct different businesses, some collecting their medication, while others were attending to pressing family issues like funerals and family disputes.
Mr Takunda Munemo who was in a queue waiting for a Zupco bus at Copacabana said he had come to town to seek medication at a private clinic in Newlands. “I came from Kuwadzana 3 because I have an appointment with my doctor. I came aboard a Zupco bus on the strength of my prescription. I cannot defer the appointment with my doctor,” he said.
Another man, Mr Thomas Nyandu from Ruwa said the lockdown was important, but Zupco buses needed to be disinfected and equipped with sanitisers.
In some farms surrounding Harare, it was business as usual.
A man from Glaudina, in Harare who offers car valet services along George Silundika Avenue and Simon Muzenda Street Mr Gift Famba said the 21-day lockdown was not sustainable for him. “I came into town early in the morning through Bulawayo Road using private transport to ensure I put food on the table for my family. My kids want to eat and I have to provide the food. That is why I am here. Otherwise my life will be unbearable.” Asked to explain how he managed to get into town when there is a big roadblock at the Zimbabwe Agriculture Society stretch along Samora Machel Avenue, Mr Famba said he used his survival skills to pass through. Herald/additional reporting
State Media – The Ministry of Health and Child Care said the latest case involved a 50-year old male resident of Harare who had travelled to the United Kingdom and returned home on March 21. The patient started exhibiting symptoms and the rapid response team went to assess him from home and proceeded to take samples for testing, which came back positive. The first case was confirmed on March 20, 2020 and involved a 38-year-old male from Victoria Falls who had returned from the United Kingdom. So far none of his contacts has tested positive. In its daily alert of March 30, 2020, the Ministry of Health and Child Care reported his condition to be stable and mild. On March 21, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory confirmed another case of a 30-year-old male from Harare who had travelled from the United States. One of his contacts, a 30-year-old male later tested positive for Covid-19. This second case, later died in admission at Wilkins Infectious Disease Hospital, Harare, becoming the first Covid-19 death in the country. On March 24, the laboratory confirmed another case involving a 52-year-old male from Ruwa who had travelled from Dubai. Three contacts of this case, a 40-year-old female, a 24-year-old female and a 21-year-old male have since tested positive to Covid-19. On March 26, Government also confirmed another case of a 24-year-old female who had travelled from the US. Epidemiology and Disease Control director in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Portia Manangazira recently said there might be need to retest some of the contacts who initially tested negative, arguing that they might have been tested too early. “We might need to retest all those contacts who initially tested negative because we might have tested them too early,” said Dr Manangazira. Herald
South African authorities are investigating how a private plane from Zimbabwe landed at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday afternoon without clearance from the Department of Transport under special measures in place during the country’s 21-day lockdown which began on March 26.
The chartered flight reportedly landed at South Africa’s biggest airport at around 12.30pm with one Italian passenger, who is a holder of a South African passport on board.
In a statement, the South African Transport Ministry said the passenger and crew were held at the airport while officials sought guidance on how to handle the flight before the plane was forced to fly back to Harare several hours later.
“A decision was made that the passenger, who is an Italian national holding a South African passport , would not be allowed to enter the country. The passenger initially refused to leave, but with the intervention of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the flight left the South African airspace at 7.50pm, returning to Harare, Zimbabwe,” said the ministry.
The Transport Department, the ministry said, was working with aviation entities to review the applicable protocols to ensure only flights with the necessary approval were allowed to enter South African airspace.
“(South African) Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has called for a full investigation into the incident.”
The plane reportedly landed back in Harare at 10pm. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza said he had not been apprised of the incident while the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) could not be reached to explain circumstances around the flight. Herald
Mnangagwa in close range, close chin need with pastors at State House
ZANU PF President Mnangagwa yesterday violated government rules by exposing pastors to infection.
Mnangagwa called for a national executive members of the Zimbabwe Chiefs Council and representatives of religious groups supposedly to update them on Covid-19 and Government’s efforts to curb the spread of the virus.
Experts say such meetings can easily be held over video teleconferencing provided for free by a host of internet companies such as Skype, Facebook, Google Hangout.
The development comes as every other nation in the world imposed a 2 m distance apart from each other. Mnangagwa himself has banned meetings of more than two people at any time for the rest of the month.
But Mnangagwa moved on to hold close chin -arm to arm interfaces with many preachers. He is seen below at close range with a host of them.
The state media reports saying Mnangagwa briefed the two groups on the 21-day lockdown which began on Monday.
The religious groups’ leaders were drawn from the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC), the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC), the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Zimbabwe (SCIAZ) and the Zimbabwe Indigenous.
Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Harare, Robert Ndlovu, who was representing the ZCBC offered Government the use of 55 health institutions run by the church.
“We have 55 health institutions that include, hospitals, clinics and rural health centres and we offer these to Government for use in the fight against the pandemic.
“We have also cancelled mass gatherings to allow self-isolation,” he said.
Archbishop Ndlovu said Catholics in various professional fields were also fund-raising to buy protective equipment and other materials needed in the fight against the disease.
ZCC’s representative, Reverend Samuel Sifelani said they had already issued pastoral statements advising their membership on how to conduct themselves in line with recommendations from the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“We also have various health centres across the country and these are open for Government’s use in the fight against Covid-19,” he said.
President of the EFZ, Bishop Never Mparutsa said: “We believe the limit of 50 (number of people in a gathering) is still too high given the danger posed by the virus.
“We have been mobilising resources to assist Government and our members also run hospitals and other facilities that are available to Government. If things become tough, we are also willing to offer some of our Church buildings for use possibly as quarantine centres.”
Mnangagwa greets Reverend Samuel Sifelani using a quick right kick, quick left kick approach at State House in Harare yesterday during his interface with church leaders on Covid-19 measures.
President of the SCIAZ, Sheikh Ismail Duwa said they had closed mosques to the public and were encouraging their members to pray at home adding they had also established a Covid-19 Muslim Taskforce.
“Prior to the national lockdown, the Covid-19 Muslim Taskforce went under necessary training focusing on the novel corona virus and had commenced a countrywide outreach health, educational and awareness tours in different provinces of the country.
“All this was being guided by the Presidential directives on preventing the spread of the corona virus,” Sheikh Duwa said.
ZIICC representative Reverend Andrew Wutawunashe also offered his organisation’s facilities to Government saying the illegal sanctions imposed on the country were hampering efforts to fight the disease.
“On the basis of humanitarian considerations I would want to say sanctions must be removed.
“The situation we are in affects all of us and doesn’t consider who you are so the sanctions must be removed,” he said.
In his remarks Mnangagwa said religious groups had a role to play in the fight against the pandemic.
“To you heads of churches and religious groups, this is the message I wish to convey to your congregants so that together we fight this pandemic. Where we are failing as Government, as secular authorities at the end of the day all of us are at the hands of God himself and his wishes and you are the only people who can intercede between us and the Lord above.
“This is why we say to you this is the challenge facing us as a nation and we have a role to play. In your case you have two roles, the physical role to play where you advise and assist the congregants and the second role is the spiritual role which guides the nation spiritually,” Mnangagwa.
Addressing the traditional leaders earlier, Mnangagwa said chiefs were the custodians of people in rural areas and had a pivotal role to play in educating them about Covid-19.
“In our country there is an outbreak of a disease called coronavirus or Covid-19,” said Mnangagwa.
“We are told that this disease is highly contagious. We are being advised that people should maintain social distance and wash their hands regularly. We should wash our hands using running water and wear masks as well. We received assistance from our friends and materials are arriving in the country. Our Health and Child Care Minister (Dr Obadiah Moyo) is in charge of the distribution. We resolved that each province should have an isolation centre.”
Mnangagwa said Covid-19 started in urban areas and no case had been recorded yet in the rural areas.
Mnangagwa said the disease had been detected in Harare and Victoria Falls with eight confirmed cases including one death.
“The World Health Organisation recommended for a lockdown of 21 days as part of controlling the disease and after deliberating as leadership we resolved to do that here starting on March 31.
“About 60 percent of our population is in the rural areas and that is where you are as traditional leaders. All the confirmed cases that we have have been recorded in urban areas so people are running to the rural areas. We then said how can we resolve this and agreed that we should talk to traditional leaders. People in the rural areas are under your structures including the village heads and we expect you to go and teach people about this disease. Tell them that unnecessary gathering has been banned for 21 days. If there is a funeral, we are only allowing 50 people only because if one person is infected the whole family will also be infected. For the next 21 days, we hope that we may be able to contain the spread of the disease and new infections,” he said.
Mnangagwa updated the traditional leaders on the invention of a ventilator by the Harare Institute of Technology and efforts being made to manufacture Covid-19 related material locally.- state media / Herald / additional reporting, analysis
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has shocked the Twitter community by claiming MDC president Nelson Chamisa is worse than Coronavirus.
Political analysts have described Mutodi’s remarks as a reflection of his pronounced hatred of the youthful MDC leader.
Mutodi also has also claimed government has nothing to do with the MDC’ s factional battles.
Mutodi tweeted: “No doubt Chamisa is worse than CoronaVirus. Has no respect for constitutionalism and definitely no country can subject itself to a dictator in this modern day and age.”
He added:”His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa has not contracted CoronaVirus as peddled by some misguided elements on the social media.
The Supreme Court is neither captured nor corruptible as alleged by Adv Tendai Biti and Prof. Welshman.”
In response to Mutodi’s comments, MDC SA province spokesperson, Innocent Nsingo said:
“Mutodi’s utterances are dangerous, how can he be so reckless? It is sad to note that Mutodi and his ilk are desperate to blame the people’s leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa for their own shortcomings.
Zanu PF must concentrate on fighting the deadly Coronavirus, instead of attempting to score political marks at this juncture.”
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has shocked the Twitter community by claiming MDC president Nelson Chamisa is worse than Coronavirus.
Political analysts have described Mutodi’s remarks as a reflection of his pronounced hatred of the youthful MDC leader.
Mutodi also has also claimed government has nothing to do with the MDC’ s factional battles.
Mutodi tweeted: “No doubt Chamisa is worse than CoronaVirus. Has no respect for constitutionalism and definitely no country can subject itself to a dictator in this modern day and age.”
He added:”His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa has not contracted CoronaVirus as peddled by some misguided elements on the social media.
The Supreme Court is neither captured nor corruptible as alleged by Adv Tendai Biti and Prof. Welshman.”
In response to Mutodi’s comments, MDC SA province spokesperson, Innocent Nsingo said:
“Mutodi’s utterances are dangerous, how can he be so reckless? It is sad to note that Mutodi and his ilk are desperate to blame the people’s leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa for their own shortcomings.
Zanu PF must concentrate on fighting the deadly Coronavirus, instead of attempting to score political marks at this juncture.”
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president Tendai Biti has described the Supreme Court ruling on the MDC presidency as null and void.
“The MDC Alliance participated in the 2018 Election and our candidate Advocate @nelsonchamisa had more than 2.6 m votes .
We then went to an MDC A Congress which unanimously elected @nelsonchamisa as our leader .
A judgment in which the MDC A was never part of can’t change that..
The MDC A is a people’s project. A massive institution backed by the working people of this country .It’s undisputed and uncontested leader is @nelsonchamisa
There is no country in the world where a court of law can impose leadership on a voluntary association.
No court of law can defeat or set aside the people s will as expressed in Gweru-@nelsonchamisa is our president,” said Biti.
“We reject Emmerson’s crude attempt to hijack the people’s revolution.We reject all forms of capture. We reject puppets ,enablers and corroborators.We reject fascists…”
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president Tendai Biti has described the Supreme Court ruling on the MDC presidency as null and void.
“The MDC Alliance participated in the 2018 Election and our candidate Advocate @nelsonchamisa had more than 2.6 m votes .
We then went to an MDC A Congress which unanimously elected @nelsonchamisa as our leader .
A judgment in which the MDC A was never part of can’t change that..
The MDC A is a people’s project. A massive institution backed by the working people of this country .It’s undisputed and uncontested leader is @nelsonchamisa
There is no country in the world where a court of law can impose leadership on a voluntary association.
No court of law can defeat or set aside the people s will as expressed in Gweru-@nelsonchamisa is our president,” said Biti.
“We reject Emmerson’s crude attempt to hijack the people’s revolution.We reject all forms of capture. We reject puppets ,enablers and corroborators.We reject fascists…”
A severe acute respiratory disease which emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 has become the world wide pandemic which has brought the world to its knees. It infects the lungs of its sufferer and causes pain, suffering or even death. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared this coronavirus & epidemic as a public health emergency of international concern and most countries in the world have declared a national disaster. The coronavirus has also spread to African countries and many African states have taken some measures to suppress coronavirus in an effort to stamp out the disease. This disease (COVID-19), can be impossible to control in countries with crowded informal settlements and fragile health systems. The major reason why Africa has the lowest number of the infected is because they do not have the test kit.
Some African governments have led the way in taking action. Ghana, Kenya and Rwanda, announced school closures, bans on social gatherings and travel restrictions despite having recorded only a handful of cases. This is the same action which the Zimbabwe government has likewise taken and announced. Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has announced the lockdown which started from Monday in an effort to control the spread of coronavirus. The embattled opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, usually a strident critic of the government has supported this move. Advocate Chamisa has written in his twitter account, “Politics aside, we must unite to save lives”. He is very right, this is a time to unite against a common enemy which can wipe us all out regardless of political affiliation. Professor Johnathan Moyo, one of president Mnangagwa’s fiercest critics, has also agreed with the government on this move. Developments like this teach us all one very important lesson; who the real enemy is.
The fact that the two leaders of the mainstream political parties have agreed on the need for action to combat the coronavirus spreading shows us that this is a serious matter. It is therefore very important that we all weigh-in and do our best to fight this one common enemy which does not discriminate. It will infect the rich or poor, young or the old, the educated or the uneducated, and it seeks to touch all social classes. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the Honourable Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson, was reported to have tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating. This is something that our leaders can reflect on the fact that no one is safe, and therefore there has never been a better time to unite as country in good faith, and build a strong team against the coronavirus. Best efforts to unite us must be attempted at a time like this. Unity is indeed our first line of defence. We must understand that fighting coronavirus is fighting death, and therefore a good and legitimate fight must be wedged. Unity has countless advantages in this fight: we can put resources together, we can mobilise our people much better, there will be no one throwing spanners on the way there is definitely no Jecha in the fight against Corona virus. One might note the unity often displayed at funerals even of political opponents, and one wonders if that unity cannot be invoked at times like these when death is everywhere.
Perhaps let’s mention the figures and statics. The wolrdometer most recent publication reports of 902,350 infected people with over 45 000 deaths worldwide. These numbers are rising fast. The number of those who have been infected and recovered stands at 190 632. These figures are very frightening but encouraging. There are some recoveries, and we can only hope and pray that out of the huge numbers of those infected, there can only be recoveries. But this can only be possible if we pull together. If everyone does their part. Some have very high level responsibilities, whilst others might simply just have to stay at home and employ high hygiene standards, whilst others will be on the frontline fighting the infections in health centres in different capacities and others will be on the streets monitoring the lockdown. In all these efforts and tasks we must not forget who the real enemy is. The enemy is a tiny invisible creature which has got: the security forces out in full force, the people back in their homes, healthcare workers out at healthcare centres, businesses shut and high level meetings and briefings constantly coming. This is not your common simple enemy by any means, and likewise requires no common fight.
We must not lose focus when we engage each other in streets of crowded communities, in the hospital wards and corridors or in the very high level meetings and press briefings. We must not see each other as the enemy. The reason for this is simple: we could all soon be a statistic. We could all soon be sick or dead. It is not the time for conspiracies, misinformation or mischief on social media platforms.
We are all at risk. Italy has recorded the highest number of over 900 deaths in a day, followed by Spain and the UK. The UK has recorded the first world leader to contract the coronavirus. The question is what will Zimbabwe be? And that answer is in our hands.
Our country is therefore in a lockdown, and the government has rolled out the security forces to enforce these measures. Security forces will be used to ensure that the lockdown is enforced. They have their order to make sure that no one is out when they shouldn’t. However, both the security forces and the people in our streets should understand who the enemy is in this exercise. It’s a virus which is not possible to see through the naked eye. It is very important that this message is driven home. This is key to surviving the lockdown. Several news agents have carried out interviews with the people in the streets before the lockdown began on Monday. Our people are worried about loss to their incomes, some do not have enough food supplies, others live in very crowded environments, whilst others are generally scared of seeing the uniformed forced in the streets. Some of the people have the fear of the unknown, death and diseases to them and their loved ones. In short, a significant number of our people are petrified and anxious. There is no need to increase the trauma which the people are already going through.
The president has today spoken about the job of the security forces during the 21 day lockdown; to help, to protect and to keep us all safe. This message is re-assuring and must be the theme in the minds of the men and women of security forces. In some countries we often see images of strong service men and women helping some members of the public with lifting heavy items, and often help rescuing the trapped. This is how we can fight this virus in unity. Attitudes must change and friendly exchanges and cooperation must be the focus of our efforts. The current lockdown has therefore become necessary and we must all make it work, and fight the common enemy.
But, there is some good and hope for Zimbabwe before we look at some actual tips of surviving this lockdown. The number of new cases in China has plummeted dramatically. The saying goes “what man does man can do”. Zimbabwe can learn from Beijing, how they managed to contain the situation. After all there is a close relationship between Harare and Beijing. This should be good news for Zimbabwe. What did China do in its fight against the coronavirus? First, is what has been termed a “strict social distancing”? This simply means abandoning close contact among citizens and avoiding hugs and handshakes. Keeping a distance of at least 2 metres from each other. Some reports have attributed the slow spread of the coronavirus in some African countries to this measure. China also imposed more than a month of city-wide lockdowns of Wuhan and surrounding areas, extensive public monitoring of citizens, as well as various methods of punishment and rewards to encourage adherence to such measures. Most of these measures have also been implemented in Zimbabwe, therefore we should expect a positive result. God has in deed blessed every action with a corresponding effect.
Again, this is why the lockdown is in place.
Another good news and hope, is that Zimbabwe’s warmer climate could be an advantage against the coronavirus. Earlier studies suggested that warmer weather could stymie or kill the virus. Another recent study was carried out by healthcare profession in the USA regards the use the known vaccination, (BCG). This study compared countries that never had in place a universal BCG vaccination policy with countries that have a current universal BCG vaccination policy, like Zimbabwe. The study concluded that there is evidence that BCG vaccination is correlated with reduced mortality rates produced by COVID-19. This means things could work in favour of Zimbabwe in this this fight, we have an added advantage over the enemy. Therefore we can face the enemy with renewed strength and confidence.
Therefore let’s share some tips of things to do during the current lockdown. Children are home, workers and traders are also home, businesses are closed and events and religious meetings are cancelled. There is no Sabbath school class for the teacher of teachers, he has to stay home this weekend. Is it a time to reflect on freedom and the religious gatherings we often take for granted? Could this be the time to reflect on the imposition of a lockdown to protect citizens from an invisible danger (the tiny virus)? And to see the need for the laws of God in protecting His people from an invisible enemy whispers. Or shall we leave this a discussion on the religious platforms?
Any case, we are going to need some creativity homes in order to survive. It is going to be important to be creative and to create new routines in the house, and work towards being in control of the situation. Let’s tell the current situation who is boss in the home. It is very important not to self-pity and feel like “everything is been thrown at me” attitude. On the contrary it’s a time to think about activities to do. Some have suggested some useful activities that are often overlooked, like deep cleaning the house and re organising furniture and cabinets, moving furniture around in one room and cleaning some areas. Other have suggested cleaning the car, organising family meals and recipes, keeping in touch with family and friends and so on.
The internet is full of brilliant ideas, we just need to try them. One thing the government could do is to liaise with internet providers and provide reduced or free internet to those who need it. This would be a very useful gesture and a way to reach out. At times like these the people need to get in touch with their families and friends. One of the election campaigns by the opposition leader was the provision of free internet to everyone. This shows that it’s doable. When the people have some things to do they will stay inside and it can potentially be less confrontations with security forces in the streets, less drama, and in deed less chances of cross infection. Internet access and its responsible use can mean children can do some schoolwork online and can keep the adults occupied with further reading, researching, organising emails and other work related issues. This can also mean some entertainment, of course for some families as they can watch various programmes online.
Another tip to survive this lockdown is a good old simple book reading. Reading a book can do wonders and has often been seen as a characteristic of successful people. There are many benefits of reading a book and they multiply according to the type of book in one’s hand. For starters, it’s an activity which doesn’t need anyone else, which means one is enough for the fun. Books can hold and keep all kinds of information, stories, thoughts and feelings unlike anything else in this world. Can words, paragraphs, and reading fiction be all that great for you and your health? Yes. It definitely can, and it is a timeless form of entertainment and information. There are countless benefits from reading; like improved mental health, fighting depression, improved memory, better conversations, and confidence and so on.
In conclusion, there are so countless tips on surviving the current lockdown. Key to this survival is understanding the nature of the enemy we are fighting and the reason we are doing what we are doing. This should be engraved in the hearts and minds of the people, the security forces and the leaders of the various bodies concerned. Zimbabwe has what it takes to supress the enemy, the coronavirus disease spread, but we have our own challenges. The economic challenges and the government tight budget, the high youth unemployment and a fragile health system can allow the enemy to take root, and then can be impossible to stamp out. Obeying the government lockdown rules is not enough, we all need to make the fight against coronavirus work. We all need to take the necessary tips to survive this lockdown. We all need to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
Each country is looking out for its own. So We as a people we need to look out for our own and for another.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has expressed concern over the number of suspected Covi-19 cases that have been tested as of March 30.
In a statement the Commission says the number may be ‘too small’ considering the number of people who arrived in the country since the Corona it’s outbreak.
“According to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television (ZBC TV) updates only 194 suspected cases had been tested by 30 March 2020. This number is too small given that there are thousands of people who arrived into the country since the outbreak, some of them from high risk countries and regions. This means that our national statistics may not be very accurate,” read the statement
Decentralisation of the testing facilities, the Commission said was another area of concern as there was slow movement.
“There is concern on the slow pace of decentralisation of testing facilities to all provinces. By now provinces should have been sharing daily updates of their tested cases and the respective results so that the nation has a holistic picture of the situation.” ZHRC said fake products had also flooded the market thereby risking the lives of citizens.
“The market is getting flooded with “new” products that are surfacing including sanitisers, disinfectants and masks. The risk of fake and ineffective products on the market is very high thereby exposing unsuspecting members of the public to dangers of infections. All supplies must be tested by experts and only certified products should be allowed on the market,” noted ZHRC
The Commission said whilst there was an improvement on the electricity situation there was need to improve the water situation as it was dire.
“While electricity supply has stabilised in most areas the water situation is still dire. Urgent short to medium term solutions must be put in place to ensure enjoyment of the right to clean, safe and potable water. There is also need to minimise congestion at communal water points since non-observance of social distancing can lead to the rapid spread of the Corona virus.
The Commission added “Members of the public should have access to contact details of local COVID-19 response centres including health facilities for easier access to information and health services as well as for purposes of coordination during this crisis period.
“In crisis situations like what is currently obtaining, there is need to observe principles of equality and non-discrimination since specific vulnerable groups need extra care and support. The Department of Social Services should be resourced to ensure that such vulnerable households, institutions, and even communities receive critical relief assistance. This is particularly urgent since a lot of livelihood activities have been disrupted by the pandemic”
ZHRC said law enforcement agents should be guided by the human rights based approach in performing their duties, responsibilities and encouraged peaceful maintenance of law and order.
Gokwe-Nembudziya Member of Parliament Mayor Justice Wadyajena has accused prominent activist Advocate Fadzayi Mahere of being behind the ouster of Nelson Chamisa from the helm of MDC.
In an unprovoked and unsolicited tweet on Wednesday Wadyajena tore into Advocate Mahere saying, “Cosying up to this sly Microbe lady (Fadzayi Mahere) was Chamisa’s downfall. She‘s BAADDD news. Full of hate for her country and its people and takes money from ANYONE for her OWN interests. In working circles, she’s known for her famous inferiority complex and belief that Americans and Europeans are superior!”
This is not the first time that Wadyajena has been accused of making sexist and condescending comments against females.
Recently during the portfolio committee on Agriculture proceedings, he was widely criticized for denigrating Lynette Veremu the GMAZ General Manager when he questioned the employment procedure that she went through.
The fate of 10 undocumented Zimbabwean migrants, who were locked up in Graaff-Reinet, is in the hands of the department of home affairs.
The Zimbabweans were en-route to Port Elizabeth when the police pulled over their vehicle as they left Graaff-Reinet.
The vehicle was towed away by the police for safekeeping, reports Graaff-Reinet Advertiser.
None of the passengers have South African passports. The driver told the Advertiser that he is not scared of the virus. He said he was taking the passengers to an orange farm near Port Elizabeth where they were destined to work.
A doctor and nurses were called to the scene to monitor the situation.
All 10 passengers were taken to Midland Hospital to be tested for Covid-19. With the results not known, they were locked up in the local police cells as immigrants.
Police Spokesperson Captain Bradley Rawlinson said on Monday 30 March that the case is in the hands of the department of home affairs who will have to decide whether to deport them back to Zimbabwe.
MDC Vice President Professor Welshman Ncube has weighed in on the implications of the Supreme Court judgement on the MDC leadership dispute saying the ruling on Tuesday was only academic and impossible to implement because “the eggs cannot be unscrambled”.
Welshman Ncube
Below we reproduce the tweets by Professor Ncube.
The lie that whomever is the President of the MDCT is President or leader of the MDC Alliance is being propagated by desperate charlatans. Clause 3.1 of the Alliance agreement only provided that (Morgan) Tsvangirai would be the Alliance Presidential candidate for the 2018 elections.
In the event of the unavailability of Tsvangirai the Alliance agreement provided that the MDCT would nominate the Presidential candidate, subject to the approval of Alliance partners. Chamisa was so nominated and approved.
The rest of the agreement dealt with issues relating to the formation of the Alliance government in the event of electoral victory. All those provisions are irrelevant today. Nothing in the agreement dealt with the leadership of the Alliance in the event of electoral defeat.
No where in the Alliance agreement was it provided that the leader of the MDCT would ipso facto be the leader of the Alliance out of government. The Alliance agreement provided that the leaders of the parties with Parliamentary representation wd constitute a Principals Forum.
On the results of the election the parties with Parliamentary representation under the banner of the Alliance were the MDCT, MDC & PDP. These 3 and others resolved post the elections to integrate into one party under the banner of the MDC Alliance & go to Congress as one. They did.
The result was the Gweru Congress of May 2019 which elected Nelson Chamisa as MDC Alliance President. Thus the eggs were broken, scrambled & made into an omelette & hence the acceptance by the Supreme Court that the questions before it were moot (academic). The eggs could not be unscrambled.
To then proceed to issue an order attempting to unscramble the eggs & reconstitute back to 14 February 2018 the MDCT component of the omelette is to order the impossible. It just cannot be done. The result is that the MDCT (Khupe) will have a repeat of its Byo Congress.
They will add a few crumbs from the omelette in the form of Komichi, Mwonzora and whomsoever else desires to be part of that political funeral sadly ordered by the Courts.
On the day of the judgment this is what Ncube tweeted
At the last meeting of the MDC Alliance Standing Committee on 10 March 2020 I put to Cde Komichi & Cde Mwonzora the entire ZANU PF strategy on the Khupe case & their respective roles in that strategy. Their denials of both the ZANU PF strategy and their roles thereto were vehement.
I ended the debate by telling them that while we had no choice but to give them the benefit of the doubt on the day of the handing down of the judgement we will know the truth. Today we know.
I also told them that the MDC- A had already held its Congress & wd not hold another one & that the leadership elected at Congress was not negotiable & would never be determined by courts of law but only by the members of the party. That was true on that day as it is true today.
Legally, the MDC- A was not before the court and cannot be bound by a judgement to which it is not a party and which in any event is not directed at it. Politically, the people ALWAYS decide. Period.
JOHANNESBURG. — Kaizer Chiefs forward Khama Billiat and two Mamelodi Sundowns stars have been listed among the most the most valuable 11 based footballers in Africa.
With Billiat said to be one of the highest earners in the South African Absa Premiership, with seven titles to his name, it comes as no surprise to see the former Sundowns man listed with the continent’s finest.
The Zimbabwe international may have struggled with injuries during the 2019/20 season but is still regarded as one of the most potent attackers in Africa.
According to Transfermarkt, the Amakhosi star is the third-highest valued player at €1.9 million (R37m) on the continent.
He is only behind Pyramids talisman Abdallah El-Said and Al Ahly’s Mohamed El Shenawy.
The Egypt goalkeeper is ranked as the most valuable with an estimated market valuation of €2.2m (R43m) and he’s joined by Ahly teammates Ali Maaloul, Hussein El Shahat and Mohamed Afsha in the XI.
Meanwhile, Sundowns duo Thapelo Morena and Andile Jali have both made the line-up amongst the most highly-rated stars in Africa with valuations of €1.4m (R27.5m) and €1.2m (R23.6m) respectively.
Unsurprisingly North Africa dominates the list with Raja Casablanca, Esperance and Pyramids stars making up the rest of the team.
When Kaizer Chiefs snatched Khama Billiat and Ramahlwe Mphahlele from Mamelodi Sundowns, many had high expectations.
Billiat is yet to contribute at Chiefs in a meaningful way in his two seasons at Naturena while Mphahlele has spent more time in the stands for over a year.
Sundowns legend, Roger Feutmba, feels a reason that could be contributing to them not performing is they might not be surrounded by great players like they were at Chloorkop.
“When you look at those two players, Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Khama Billiat, they’ve done much more at Sundowns,” Feutmba told KickOff.com.
“I strongly believe they did well because they were surrounded by great players. They were playing under the philosophy which suited their qualities.
“But you can’t just say they are not doing well for Kaizer Chiefs. I think they are doing well even though it’s not the same as they were at Sundowns.” — Kick-Off.
By A Correspondent- A social media account allegedly belonging to former Vice President turned opposition leader Joice Mujuru has exposed Zanu Pf infiltration within the opposition party, MDC.
In the posts, the account warns of an alleged well-funded plot to infiltrate and weaken the ruling party’s opponents.
The account alleges that the ruling Zanu PF uses what is called a “bait and bleed” strategy in which they induce rival factions to engage in a protracted war of attrition against each other “so that they bleed each other white”.
The warnings from the account come at a time when the opposition MDC seems deeply fractured and in disarray following a ruling by the Supreme Court which said that Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate leader of the party.
Some of the posts from the Joice Mujuru account read:
The enemy within. it’s just the beginning. More is coming. plan plan plan and repeat planning. crucial times ahead. Good morning Zimbabwe.
…The amount of money being thrown on the floor to attract people for top & strategic positions is staggering. Very serious money involved, cars, free fuel coupons, farms. And with difficult times ahead, jobs will be lost. Very good comrades are going to fall for it. Remember these words – the enemy from within. Good night Zimbabwe.…I always avoid your questions. But this staying at home business maybe I can spill
lesson 1
They do what’s called “bait and bleed” that is induce to rival factions to engage in a protracted war of attrition against each other “so that they bleed each other white”
This has been perfected and don’t look at it from the top level. It’s very much active at the lower-level structures.
So this is not the time sit under a tree and drink whisky and have cookouts with girls. This is a war. You have 2 raging wars. Corona Virus and this obvious one. In wartimes, there are “situation rooms” dissecting every single structure and situation.
Your rival does not sleep. They plan plan plan and keep planing. Your rival has a situation room. Every day they go to a situation room to plan & replan, plan, go to the people & replan, gauge the mood, go to the people, plan & replan. What are you doing? Lockdown? Think again.
State Media|Government has established the Zimbabwe Covid-19 National Disaster Fund to enable citizens and other well-wishers to contribute towards the fight against the deadly virus which has killed nearly 50 000 people from over 900 000 cases reported worldwide this year.
The establishment of the fund follows other measures that were announced by the Government early this week that include $600 million to cover one million households and $50 million to cater for civil servants’ medical needs during the pandemic through the Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS).
The money is an addition to $500 million that Government has already set aside for the fight against the disease.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube yesterday said Government efforts may not be enough as the pandemic is likely to be one of the worst natural disasters to befall the nation in recent times.
“The scale and seriousness of this epidemic calls upon all of us as Zimbabweans to put our best foot forward and therefore wish to call upon and implore all stakeholders that have the capacity and wish to assist in any way to come forward with their contributions to the effort to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Contributions can be in cash to the bank accounts indicated below or in kind or even in the form of ideas,” Minister Ncube said.
The Government, the minister said, had established a National Disaster Fund dedicated to receive and account for contributions from development partners and well-wishers and ring fence them for deployment to mitigate the effects of the disease.
Minister Ncube said those wishing to donate in kind should send their donations to targeted ministries subject to Treasury concurrence as per applicable procedure.
“Utilisation of funds and material resources will be through the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ Department of Civil Protection with processing facilitated by the Accountant General,” Minister Ncube said.
He advised the public and private sector, development partners and well-wishers making contributions towards the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the form of cash to use the listed bank accounts:-
CBZ Bank Selous Branch: SWIFTCODE COBZZWHA, SORT CODE 6000
i) National Disaster Fund Account: 06621537300047 ZWL/RTGS ii) National Disaster Fund Account: 06621537300057 USD
iii) National Disaster Fund Account: 06621537300077 ZAR
vi) Telecel: Merchant Code 216732 Official contact details to make contributions are as follows: –
Mr E Zvandasara 0712 211 554/ 0242 751734
Mrs M Mukondomi 0712 808 075 0242 763 027
Mr D Bundu 0712 876 344
Minister Ncube said the use of the accounts would ensure that resources were deployed for their intended uses and that there was full accountability.
“To facilitate ease of reconciliation, the procedure for any contribution/donation is a direct deposit into any of the above accounts and immediate follow up with an advisory note indicating name of organisation, the amount donated as well as targeted use,” he said.
Government will incur an estimated loss of $80 million during the 21-day lockdown, but is not worried about the cost as its focus is on rescuing citizens who have lost production time, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.
The lockdown enters day four and people in the informal sector are not going to work as Government implements the lockdown, which seeks to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Fielding questions from the media during a post-Cabinet meeting in Harare on Tuesday, Prof Ncube said a rescue package was a priority.
“Right now we worry about how we are going to use what we collect,” he said. “That’s is the issue.
“Our initial estimate is $80 million (loss), but we are not concerned about that.
“We are concerned about how we use whatever we collect to rescue our citizens through cash transfers — the SMEs and the funding that we are crafting towards the Ministry of Health and other ministries to support the fund against coronavirus.”
Some of the loss that the Government will incur emanates from the transactional charges that would be paid to mobile networks and banks to ensure that people got full value of the rescue package.
The data of the beneficiaries of the rescue package is with the Department of Social Welfare, but would be updated to cater for new beneficiaries.
Turning to the use of free funds for local transactions, Prof Ncube said there was no policy shift.
“On the use of US dollar, we are very clear that this is the use of free funds in your pockets,” said Prof Ncube.
“We are saying feel free to use those free funds in the shops as well. What that does is that it gives you the flexibility that is so desired given this tough episode where we have cash shortages and that is relief again, it’s not a policy shift.”
By Karsten Noko|There is a sketch doing the rounds on Twitter: Two people standing in the centre of a hallway, back towards one another, each struggling to push a different door closed. On the right, a health worker in a hazmat suit closes the door on the coronavirus, while on the left a police officer in a medical mask pushes back a horde of people.
The romanticised implication is that in the space between COVID – 19 and its potential victims, it is medics and security services who push back together to save lives.
A similar theory is at the root of the growing trend where the military and police enforce government lockdowns to contain the spread of coronavirus. But the reality in many countries – especially where security forces traditionally have a less than friendly reputation – is not as picture-perfect.
As the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to shift fast, and continues to overwhelm health systems in the global north, it is clear for many countries in the global south that their best bet to limit the impact is prevention. It is no surprise that they try to be creative and use whatever means available to them to try and control the pandemic.
For most, the solutions have been isolation, quarantine and lockdown. And everywhere from India to South Africa to the Philippines, states have deployed police forces and even the army to enforce them.
Military enforced lockdowns
Last week, South Africa began a 21-day lockdown with the army out in the streets to enforce it. For many communities, especially in townships and high-density suburbs, the deployment of security forces means trouble. Memories of the military-enforced State of Emergency during apartheid are still fresh for many people. More recently, memories of 2012’s Marikana massacre bring up more anxiety when officers with guns appear in an already heightened atmosphere.
So far, hundreds have been arrested by police for flouting isolation regulations; many more, including the homeless, have been assaulted and harassed by security forces for failure to observe the order. Police went as far as firing rubber bullets at people who were going to the supermarkets – something deemed permissible as per the government’s regulations. Although, to its credit, the government is also communicating with citizens regularly, the use of force has not helped build trust. It has reportedly turned deadly in at least three cases.
Similar stories have been reported across the continent. In Kenya, a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed by police while standing on his balcony in Nairobi during curfew. Riot police previously fired tear gas at civilians heading for a ferry in Mombasa as they attempted to enforce a curfew.
In Uganda, motorbike drivers were hospitalised after being shot by police for violating movement restrictions.
In Zimbabwe, a 21-day army-enforced lockdown began this week. Last January, when the government raised the price of fuel by 150 percent, protests quickly turned violent as civilians and security forces clashed. Today, the same military is expected to come in defence of the population against the pandemic. The fact that the government-created COVID-19 Taskforce is led by the retired general responsible for the military coup in 2017 is enough to send chills up the spines of many.
Historic trust deficit
As with institutions, the security forces are not a problem per se. They have done phenomenal work in many parts of the world as peacekeepers in protection of civilian sites and in response to natural disasters.
We cannot, however, pretend that the military – not only in the countries mentioned above – has a good reputation if they have clamped down on communities numerous times in the past.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a lockdown of the whole country, an estimated 1.3 billion people, and authorities have said civilians risk being shot at if they do not comply with the lockdown order.
For Indian-administered Kashmir, which has been under lockdown for political reasons since August 2019, what does this mean? Is it possible to explain to people, and to expect them to understand, that suddenly the lockdown is meant to protect them and the rest of the country from a pandemic?
In many countries, there is an historic trust deficit between the military and communities.
In Nigeria in 2017 for instance, a reported vaccination drive that was to be conducted by the army led to pandemonium as students fled and boycotted classes, fearing the military was using the campaign as a ploy to infect schoolchildren with monkeypox. Attempts by the army to dispel the rumours fell on deaf ears.
The situation could be even worse if today’s coronavirus lockdowns are enforced in countries experiencing active or protracted conflicts, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Central African Republic and South Sudan – where security forces have often been accused of committing atrocities.
What have we learned from previous epidemics?
While it is true that we are dealing with an unprecedented pandemic in COVID-19, this is also not the first time the world has had to deal with a disease outbreak. And we must not forget the lessons from past pandemics.
In the DRC, an Ebola outbreak has been going on for almost 20 months, and what has been particularly notable is how militarised the response was.
On multiple occasions, medical staff had to be evacuated as their colleagues were killed in mob or civilian attacks against Ebola responders. As an observer noted, the deployment of security forces has an adverse effect by raising the levels of mistrust between the responders and the community. As the levels of mistrust increase, the need to deploy more forces increases.
In both the West Africa and the DRC Ebola outbreaks, we learned that gaining public trust and acceptance of measures is key to controlling the spread of diseases. When we put communities at the centre of the response, the need to enforce the lockdowns through military means also decreases.
At times like these – with speed of the essence – deployment of troops, where done, should be bolstered by, and probably play second fiddle to community engagement and health promotion aimed at turning communities into allies.
Only when communities understand what is at stake and what they need to do to protect themselves will they cooperate with responders. It is true that this approach takes time – but if this is not done, we risk getting rejected by communities and losing even more time in the end. The length of time it took to control the two latest Ebola outbreaks is telling in this regard.
Communities are not enemies
Building the confidence and trust of those affected and those at risk is inextricably intertwined with a public health approach. If we expect people to voluntarily come out when they have symptoms of COVID-19, and to expose their travel history for contact tracing – this can only work where the community is an ally in the control of the pandemic, and not a source of a problem whose solution is a lockdown.
As the WHO chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, explained, lockdowns and movement restrictions only buy us time by slowing the pandemic, but they are only useful if accompanied by rigorous testing, contact tracing and isolation of those infected.
At this stage, the security forces can be repurposed as a useful asset for many states who find themselves having to throw the kitchen sink at the pandemic. But this repurposing cannot be separated from a public health approach that puts communities at the centre of the response.
We must act fast. Or the window of opportunity may soon evade us.
State Media|FUNERAL service providers nationwide have with immediate effect suspended the removal of bodies from homes and are burying the dead within 24 hours.
The funeral parlours are treating all bodies as Covid-19 contaminated hence the decision to bury them within 24 hours.
The service providers said the new measures are meant to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Nyaradzo Funeral Services, in a statement said only bodies emanating from road traffic accidents and homicide cases will not be treated as having the risk of Covid-19 contamination.
“At the meeting held today under Zimbabwe Association of Funeral Assurers (ZAFA) the following was agreed: All bodies to be treated as Covid 19 contaminated except road traffic accident and homicide which may be treated as special cases. As such we must strictly adhere to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines,” the statement said.
“No removals are to be done from home or any other place until there is an opinion on the cause of death by the medical practitioner. This therefore means we must notify health official before doping any removal from home. The police have been informed of this position as they are the custodians of all sudden death bodies.”
It said bodies can only be removed from hospital when the cause and manner of death has been established.
“All burials should be done within 24 hours and encouragement should be done for local burials to limit distance travelled. All confirmed Covid-19 cases to get state supervised burials,” reads part of the statement.
Nyaradzo said funeral service providers have suspended transport services for mourners and will pay clients cash-in-lieu to promote and enhance social distancing being encouraged by health experts to minimise Covid-19 transmission.
“The bus for mourners is suspended with immediate effect in line with the Government position on health and safety measures especially the social distance concept,” reads the statement.
Doves Morgan Managing Director Dr Talent Maziwisa said decisions agreed by ZAFA members were adopted in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“We agreed as ZAFA to do that. This was also done in consultation with our parent ministry of Health and Child Care,” he said.
However, Health and Child Care Ministry permanent secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva said Government was not privy to the deliberations.
She however confirmed that the State supervises burials for all deaths from confirmed Covid-19 cases.
“I am not aware of the meeting. However, the position of the ministry is that all confirmed Covid-19 cases will get state supervised burials. Maybe the funeral service providers themselves would know better with regard to the other issues,” she said.
By A Correspondent- MDC Alliance Treasury General Senator David Coltart has responded to Morgen Komichi who instructed them to handover party assets to Thokozani Khupe and said there was nothing to handover since they do not own Harvest House.
Coltart said:
It is clear from the actions of the Police yesterday, who blocked Vice President of the MDC A Tendai Biti from entering the MDC A headquarter building, and this morning when they blocked members of our staff from entering the building, that the State is going to back Mr Komichi’s attempt to seize control of MDC A assets.
If ever there was evidence that this is entirely a plan concocted by the Mnangagwa regime to destroy the only political party which poses any threat to its control, then this is it. The judgement does not give the Police these powers.
The Headquarter building is not even registered in the name of any version of the MDC but is owned by an independent Trust which leases it to the MDC A. Without a court order in the name of the Trust, the police has no lawful right to bar the MDC A from using the building
Coltart has also claimed that the supreme court ruling has no bearing on the MDC Alliance.
Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) this afternoon claimed they have found a cure for the Newcastle virus which has caused major losses in the poultry industry worldwide.
The discovery is the first in the world. Vice Chancellor Professor Eddie Mwenje this afternoon said they tested the drug on chickens and it worked. He said the drug would be released any time this year.
“Bindura University of Science Education has been working on the virus and we have been doing research on Newcastle. We now have a cure for the virus and we are doing tests to finalise the market mechanism of action the drug,” he said.
“The drug should be out sometime this year. We have submitted our projects for final funding to our ministry.”
Funeral parlours will now remove bodies from homes under guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.
In this regard, all bodies are being treated as Covid-19 contaminated. Nyaradzo Group is already implementing the Government directive, which compels deceased people to be buried within 24 hours.
In a statement, Nyaradzo Group said it was also under instruction to suspend the bus service for mourners to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infection.
“Reference is made to the above and the meetings held today between funeral service providers under ZAFA and the Ministry of Health and Child Care,” said the group.
“The following was discussed and agreed (that) the bus for mourners is suspended with immediate effect in line with the Government position on health and safety measures, especially in the social distance concept.
Clients will be paid cash-in-lieu of bus service via EcoCash or bank transfers.
By A Correspondent- Cases of Covid-19 have now been discovered in Durban’s biggest townships with health officials deploying tracer teams to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus, with cases reported in KwaMashu, Inanda adding to that of an earlier death in Umlazi.
eThekwini Metro Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda confirmed the cases in Amaoti in Inanda, KwaMashu and Umlazi where one person, a teacher, died.
“They found someone in Umlazi who passed on. There is one in KwaMashu and one in Amaoti in Inanda. The department is identifying people who are possible contacts and trace those who met them.”
Kaunda was on a walkabout in Glebelands Hostel in Umlazi and Dakota informal settlement in Isipingo, both south of the city where he distributed pamphlets, hand sanitisers and soap.
A teacher, from Platt Drive Primary in Isipingo died on Tuesday after testing positive about a week ago. A day after she passed on, the department of education said that several people close to her had also been infected with Covid-19 including a 14-year-old pupil.-News24
By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwean University, Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) has on Thursday claimed that it has discovered the cure for the Newcastle virus which has caused major losses in the poultry industry worldwide.
The discovery which is the first worldwide was announced by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eddie Mwenje this afternoon. He said:
“Bindura University of Science Education has been working on the virus and we have been doing research on Newcastle. We now have a cure for the virus and we are doing tests to finalise the market mechanism of action the drug.
The drug should be out sometime this year. We have submitted our projects for final funding to our ministry.”-StateMedia
MDC Deputy Spokesperson Womberai Nhende has warned MDC official Morgan Komichi that he must desist from attempting to takeover Harvest House because he will be met with violence.
Nhende posted the statement on Twitter after Komichi told the media that Chamisa will be allowed to access MDC offices as a normal member of the party because he is no longer President.
Said Nhende, “Kwahi will take over Harvest House naKomichi Mdara it’s not about the property it’s about your political disposition espoused in your proposition.. Huya tokudambura underpant…you will get a rude awakening. Go and take over your conjugal rights on your GF from Malvern uko.”
Kwahi will take over Harvest House naKomichi ???? Mdara it's not about property it's about your political disposition espoused in your proposition.. Huya tokudambura underpant ..you will get a rude awakening. Go and take over your conjugal rights on your GF from Malvern uko pic.twitter.com/PvzBdMa9AJ
Nhende emphasized that the MDC youths will not betray their leader Nelson Chamisa.
“Young people have jus but one mandate and that mandate shall and can never be betrayed. We are not moved by judicial capture meant to destabilise the MDC. We stand with President Nelson Chamisa to punctuate and fulfill the democratic struggle.”
Chamisa is yet to issue a statement regarding the supreme court ruling that removed him as President of MDC.
Hotelier Cresta Hotel has temporarily closed down its hotels across the country as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread and affect key economic sectors such as tourism.
Said Cresta Hotels Group managing director for Zimbabwe Chipo Mandela:
“After wide-ranging discussion with key stakeholders and considerable deliberation within the company, it has been decided that all five Cresta Hotels properties in Zimbabwe will temporarily cease operations from April 1 until further notice. Our last day of current operations will be March 31.
“This difficult decision has been taken as a result of the current situation arising from the international Covid-19 crisis, with the primary factor being the safeguarding of the health of customers and staff, as well as their families and the community at large.”
The MD said, “the secondary objective” of the suspension of operations is to allow for longer-term survival of the businesses of the group, which is essential for all stakeholders, most notably staff, customers, the travel and tourism sector in Zimbabwe.
The group’s businesses in the country include Cresta Lodge and Sango Conference Centre, Cresta Oasis Hotel and Apartments and Cresta Jameson Hotel in Harare, Cresta Churchill Hotel in Bulawayo and Cresta Sprayview Hotel at Victoria Falls.
“While all planning in the current crisis remains difficult to undertake, it is hoped to recommence operations on Wednesday July 1, subject to decisions being made either to extend the period of closure or, preferably, to shorten this planned closure of operations. All related decisions will be decided with the guidance of relevant health authorities, including the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation,” she added.
“This decision has not been taken without considerable forethought and thorough consideration, as well as an examination of all options, and it is our belief that in doing so we are serving the best interests of all stakeholders, especially in the longer term.
“The co-operation, support and understanding of all staff, customers, the travel trade and other stakeholders is needed and greatly appreciated during this most difficult of all times in a situation of unprecedented challenge.”
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe police on Thursday 2 April 2020 arrested and charged Nunurai Jena, a freelance journalist with contravening some stringent regulations imposed this early week by government in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus in the country.
The 55 year-old Jena, who become the latest person to fall victim to the country’s new and stringent measures, 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 check point 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, who is represented by Kudzai Choga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, recorded a 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 government early this week to contain the spread of coronavirus and without the consent of police officers.
Jena, who was first quizzed for using a 2019 media accreditation card before the law enforcement agents backed down as its use is still valid owing to the delay by Zimbabwe Media Commission in gazetting new fees for renewal of media practitioners’ accreditation cards, becomes the latest person to be arrested and charged for breaching the national lockdown order.
The freelance journalist, who was taken to Chinhoyi Magistrates Court on Thursday 2 April 2020 but could not appear before a Magistrate as the courts were closed, is expected to appear in court on Friday 3 April 2020.
Daily News|A NORTON family lost money and other valuables worth US$56 000 after armed robbers pounced on their home on March 29, police said.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) reported that the criminals are still at large.
“On March 29 around 1830 hours, the complainants (five) were watching television…., one of the accused persons knocked at the dining room door and one of the complainants opened the door to investigate.
“The accused requested to see the garden boy and the complainant mentioned that he doesn’t have a garden boy. One of the accused persons produced two pistols and the other had one pistol and pointed the pistols at the businessman, ordering him to surrender his firearm.
“The businessman called his son and advised him to escort the two accused persons to his bedroom to collect a star pistol from the gun cabinet,” reads part of the statement from the police CID.
“At that moment, four other accused persons who were armed with AK rifles each suddenly appeared and force-marched the businessman into the dining room.
“Four of the accused persons then ordered the family members to lie on the floor in the dining room and they complied…”
At first, the armed robbers searched the complainants and took some valuables including smart phones and cash worth about US$100.
“The accused persons then ransacked the house and took an HP Sleek book laptop, a Sony Ipad and a Silver Samsung Camera.
“They demanded cash from the businessman who indicated the money was at the office in Harare. One of the accused fired one shot which grazed one of the complainants’ right leg sheen,” reads the statement.
“One of the accused took the wife of the businessman to her bedroom where he fondled her breasts, tore her pant, inserted his fingers into her private parts and tried to have sex with her but was ordered to stop by his accomplice.”
Another accused person took the businessman’s niece to the kitchen where tried to rape her but failed.
“The accused persons went on to ransack the businessman’s bedroom and took US$21 685 cash that was in a satchel on top of the wardrobe, two satchels, two monarch bags, four caps and various groceries from the kitchen.”
They then took the businessman’s office keys and car keys of a Toyota Hilux Double Cab registration number AEK9841 into which they loaded their loot and drove away.
All the property stolen was valued at US$56 455 and nothing was recovered, the police said.
Farai Dziva|Warriors goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze has urged people to respect the lockdown and stay at home in order to save lives amid the escalation of the coronavirus.
The novel pandemic has literally put the world to a halt and South Africa, where Chipepezeze plies his trade for Limpopo-based Baroka, is currently on a three-weeks lockdown enforced by President Cyril Ramaphosa, an implementation also put in place by his Zimbabwean counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Chipezeze urged people to stay at home in an interview with South Africa publication Kick Off.
“When they say lockdown, it’s lockdown. Everyone is indoors. So there is nothing you can do. There is no time to go out or live the normal life we used to,” he said.
“It’s a lockdown, papa. Everyone must stay indoors, papa. Stay at home, papa. Safety comes first. So I think they did a good thing in doing the lockdown thing because like I said, health comes first, more than anything.”
“Follow the rules you know, stay indoors, sanitise every time. They must also try the social distancing and stuff,” he added.
Juventus forward Paulo Dybala says he confessed to his team Cristiano Ronaldo that the Portugal skipper is hated in Argentina due to his personality.
Ronaldo also has a long standing sporting rivalry with Argentina captain Lionel Messi as the two are regarded among the greatest players ever played in the game with eleven Ballon d’ Ors between them.
Speaking in an interview with the Argentinian Football Association, Dybala said: “I said to him, ‘Cristiano, in Argentina, we hate you a bit because of your figure, because of how you are, of how you walk’.
“‘The truth is that you’ve surprised me because I’ve found you to be different.’”
Dybala is one of the few stars to have played alongside both Ronaldo and Messi, giving the forward a unique insight into two of the greatest to ever play the game.-Soccer 24
When other world leaders are demonstrating genuine governance against a common enemy COVID-19, Zanu PF is deploying resources to fight against its own people. Once again ED and his leadership have shown how insensitive they are. When action should be taken towards providing safety, field hospitals, testing, PPE’s and food, action is being taken against those very people leaders are supposed to protect.
MDC – NORTH AMERICA PROVINCE is not surprised though by the judgement passed by the ZANU-PF captured Supreme court giving Khupe of MDC-T leadership of MDC. NAP members, unapologetically and unequivocally, state that the judgement will not sway them from MDC objectives and the obligations to the ZANU-PF oppressed citizens of Zimbabwe. MDC-NAP does not abide by any unenforceable ruling that is not legally binding.
Notwithstanding that all resources and actions should be focused on saving people’s lives not the propagation of kangaroo rulings in order to hold on to power to the detriment of people’s lives. Indeed it is a showcase of desperation for legitimacy at the expense of people during a world war against COVID-19.
NAP will continue to fully observe and steadfastly serve the MDC party led by the President Advocate Nelson Chamisa. We reiterate that political leadership matters are not settled by a partisan judiciary, especially a ZANU-PF captured judiciary.
NAP will remain resolute and see to the end the liberation of the long suffering Zimbabweans who endorsed President Chamisa at the ballot box in 2018, as well as at the MDC National Congress in 2019. We shall abide by the voice of the people, not an act of intimidation to stifle & shut down the people’s will.
NAP calls upon every *sincere* MDC member, from national leadership down to the the grassroots to come together to support and uphold the leadership of our legitimate President Nelson Chamisa, whatever it takes. NAP will work closely with national leadership to ensure the party comes out of this minors setback stronger and united than ever.
Post the Coronavirus pandemic the people of Zimbabwe should never, never, never, forget how ZANU-PF and its cronies chose power, greed, and self pampering over protection of the citizens, provision & safety for them during the fight against COVID-19.
God bless the people of Zimbabwe and the legitimate President of Zimbabwe, Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
On his popular Facebook blog, Strive Masiyiwa proposes a solution to how African countries can address the shortage of critical hospital beds to nurse Coronavirus patients.
He writes:
“We don’t have enough hospital beds under normal circumstances. So what are we going to do if a lot of people get sick at the same time?
That is one of the problems with Coronavirus.
Specialist hospitals set aside for “infectious diseases” are way too small, where they even exist.
The solution:
#1. Let’s start to prepare minimum 25 percent of all existing hospital beds to take critically ill Coronavirus patients… NOW!
#2. Let’s prepare military-style field hospitals in all available halls, and empty buildings where there is sufficient facilities for water.
During the Ebola campaign I worked closely with African military Medical Corps, and I was impressed. They should be out there, right now, building and preparing.
#3. Turn to China. Our Chinese friends (and they are our friends, don’t let anyone fool you otherwise – China is our friend), they have the capacity and the reach to help us in this situation. We need things like Test Equipment, PPE, Ventilators, beds, and even field hospitals and clinics. They also have the technical and clinical expertise.
Let’s appeal to them in a coordinated way.
#3. Home-based Care: I have written about it separately. This is where 99% of the our people will be nursed back to health (at home). If done properly, it will save millions of lives.”
Defender Jerome Boateng has been hit with a fine by his club Bayern Munich after he left the city “without permission”.
The 31-year-old centre back had left Munich to visit his son who was not feeling well. His visit breached rules of confinement imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
And on his way back home, Boateng was involved in a car accident when he lost control of his Mercedes and skidded into the motorway barrier. He was not injured in the crash but, according to reports, the car was damaged.
In a statement, Bayern said: “Bayern defender Jerome Boateng left Munich yesterday without permission from the club.
“Boateng has transgressed the guidelines issued by the club by being too far away from his home.
“These guidelines govern the behaviour of the FC Bayern players in the current situation in line with government directives on restrictions on movement and the recommendations of the health authorities.”
Bayern did not specify the amount of the fine which was being donated to local hospitals.-Soccer 24
Zimbabwe Football Association boss Felton Kamambo says national team coach Zdravko Logarusic is getting his salary is getting his salary well ahead of time as the association do not want to run the risk of being dragged to Fifa for failing to pay the gaffer.
There were reports last week suggesting that the Croatian gaffer was not happy with Zifa who were said to be failing to pay him on time.
But according to Kamambo’s claims, it seems the rumours were not true.
Speaking to ZTN, he said: “We want the coach to concentrate on doing his job hence the move to ensure that his salary is paid long before its due. I believe we have done our best to take care of the coach, and we are glad that Loga appreciates the effort.
“He is determined to take the Warriors to unprecedented levels and as Zifa we are fired up as well. This is the year football will do the talking and we believe that with Logarusic in charge of the national team good times will roll once again.”
Zifa has twice suffered the ignominy of being hauled before Fifa after failing to pay Brazilian mentor Valinhos and Belgian journeyman Tom Saintfeit.-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent| In a new twist to the Frank Buyanga child-abduction case, the businessman has reported saying his 5 year old son who he kidnapped from the mother early last week, traveled to South Africa, then flew over to Dubai; Buyanga now says the 5 year old son has now been stolen from him in Dubai. He is now saying the mother has seized the child from him in the UAE. As Buyanga reports saying he is at present in Dubai, he has been found making another contradicting report, saying he is in fact still in the Zimbabwe.
reports
The Buyanga case has seen 4 abduction reports being against Mr Buyanga’s name. On the 11th March he accused the First Family for abducting his child.
He would himself abduct the child, and violently so last week on the 26th March in Waterfalls, Harare. The incident which was filmed on CCTV shows at least two men dressed in black suits armed with guns kidnapping the child from the mother’s car (video below). Added to the CCTV, witnesses spoke on camera as they positively identified Buyanga at the scene.
Soon after a warrant of arrest was issued after him for child abduction, attempted murder, and also armed robbery, Buyanga now reports that he has fled to South Africa, and then on to Dubai, with the child, and then to suddenly begin claiming that the child has been kidnapped in the UAE.
This means he would have flown to the UAE between Thursday and Tuesday. Clear UAE government travel data shows that it is illegal to fly into that country in the last 8 days, which throws doubts on his claim that he landed there.
The UAE is not subject to the Hague Convention, which places responsibility on that government to return the child to his country of origin and obey Zimbabwean court orders.
His written admission that he has taken the child out of Zimbabwe implicates him for breaching two High Court orders that bar him from taking the child out of Zimbabwe. In the first High court order (….. Interim order of HC 5011/19 Buyanga was ordered not to remove the minor child from Zimbabwe) [copy below].
The High Court order barring Buyanga from taking the child out of Zimbabwe
.
Another High Court order passed on the 21st November 2019 says he must of necessity obtain consent from the minor’s mother
It also comes as Buyanga while saying he is now in Dubai, is on another hand announcing he is in fact still in Zimbabwe. His lawyers wrote to the Police Commissioner General saying he is in fact still in the country.
Intriguing Coincidence however struck as his other lawyer, Wilson Manase wrote to the registrar of the High Court saying he was “now out of the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.”
Manase added: “He left and he is out of the country on business with the child. This application therefore has been overtaken by events. We believe that while the horse has bolted, this application has become irrelevant in so far as its intents are concerned.
“The applicant (Muteswa), if need be, must apply for an order she may seek in the country where the child may be.”
Manase said Buyanga had not broken any law as he had been granted joint custody of the child by the High Court.
“Our client, therefore, did not act in a manner which transgresses the law. The purported appeal by the applicant against Justice (Happious) Zhou’s judgement lapsed as it was not correctly served to the first respondent. In this regard, the appeal is a nullity,” Manase added.
Speaking to ZimEye, Chantelle Muteswa said she has not visited the UAE at any time this year.
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus.
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person.
Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.
This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.
Can COVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms.
This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
People can catch COVID-19 from others who have the virus.
The disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth which are spread when a person with COVID-19 coughs or exhales.
These droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person.
Other people then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
People can also catch COVID-19 if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets.
This is why it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick.
WHO is assessing ongoing research on the ways COVID-19 is spread and will continue to share updated findings.
Can the virus that causes COVID-19 be transmitted through the air?
Studies to date suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through contact with respiratory droplets rather than through the air.
Can COVID-19 be caught from a person who has no symptoms?
The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all is very low. However, many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms.
This is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. It is therefore possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill.
WHO is assessing ongoing research on the period of transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to share updated findings.
Credit:WHO
Inserted by Zimbabwe Online Health Centre
For more information like/ follow our Facebook page:
As the Movement for Democratic Change South Africa External Assembly we wish to categorically state that we are not moved by the Supreme Court judgement of today 31 March 2020 where they imposed Thokozani Khupe on us.
We know Zimbabwean courts are captured by Zanu PF therefore their rulings are always biased.The people are always the perfect judges in political disputes not the captured courts.
We therefore stand by the people’s courts that elected Advocate Nelson Chamisa as the MDC Alliance President at Gweru in 2019.
As MDCSA we hereby reaffirm our unwavering support for the people’s president Adv Nelson Chamisa.
We are not shaken by today’s Supreme Court ruling,we are not moved at all.We are not going to handover the people’s struggle to Zanu PF surrogates.We will never betray the people’s struggle.
Neither in this life nor in the next.
It’s clear Khupe is a Zanu PF project.We will never be part and parcel of such rubbish.The people’s democratic struggle for economic and social emancipation will continue unabated under the stewardship of the elected leadership of Gweru congress of 2019- led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
We edge our members to remain resolute during these trying times.There is power in togetherness.
Farai Dziva|The Movement for Democratic Change South Africa External Assembly says it will never surrender the people’s struggle to Zanu PF puppets.
See full statement below: As the Movement for Democratic Change South Africa External Assembly we wish to categorically state that we are not moved by the Supreme Court judgement of today 31 March 2020 where they imposed Thokozani Khupe on us.
We know Zimbabwean courts are captured by Zanu PF therefore their rulings are always biased.The people are always the perfect judges in political disputes not the captured courts.
We therefore stand by the people’s courts that elected Advocate Nelson Chamisa as the MDC Alliance President at Gweru in 2019.
As MDCSA we hereby reaffirm our unwavering support for the people’s president Adv Nelson Chamisa.
We are not shaken by today’s Supreme Court ruling,we are not moved at all.We are not going to handover the people’s struggle to Zanu PF surrogates.We will never betray the people’s struggle.
Neither in this life nor in the next.
It’s clear Khupe is a Zanu PF project.We will never be part and parcel of such rubbish.The people’s democratic struggle for economic and social emancipation will continue unabated under the stewardship of the elected leadership of Gweru congress of 2019- led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa.
We edge our members to remain resolute during these trying times.There is power in togetherness.
To All MDC Alliance Leadership, Structures and Membership
The Supreme Court Judgement in light of the Party leadership comes as no surprise but remain exactly what it is, a regretable high sounding nothing.
The MDC Alliance leadership was decided and settled by the people at the 5th National Congress held in May 2019, Ascot Stadium in Gweru and that will never be changed outside the dictates of the People’s Party Congress and MDC Alliance Constitution.
The judgement remains a non event and our structures’ focus remain on programs and activities clearly scheduled in our 2020 calendar, despite relentless attempts by the captured judiciary to destabilise the Party in conivance with the illegitimate Mnangangwa and his mafia regime.
It remains irresponsible trying to earn cheap political scores and smuggle Thokozani Khupe as leader of People’s movement, her rightful place is the political dustbin in as far as the Zimbabwean political landscape is concerned.
The people of Zimbabwe are suffering because of a manmade political and economic crisis and it is our duty to free them.
Presently, the nation should be focusing on managing and effectively preventing the spread of the deadly Corona virus.
To this end, All our MDC Alliance, 14 000 branches, 210 CCC, all 13 Provinces, the entire National Leadership, members and supporters remain resolute, committed to the people’s cause and forever on guard to protect the Party and fully behind the People’s President Adv Nelson Chamisa.
Hon Amos Chibaya The People’s National Organising and Party Building Secretary.
Farai Dziva|MDC National Organizing Secretary Amos Chibaya has described the Supreme Court ruling on the dispute between MDC A leader Nelson Chamisa and Thokozani Khupe as ” a high sounding nothing.”
Read full statement below :
To All MDC Alliance Leadership, Structures and Membership
The Supreme Court Judgement in light of the Party leadership comes as no surprise but remain exactly what it is, a regretable high sounding nothing.
The MDC Alliance leadership was decided and settled by the people at the 5th National Congress held in May 2019, Ascot Stadium in Gweru and that will never be changed outside the dictates of the People’s Party Congress and MDC Alliance Constitution.
The judgement remains a non event and our structures’ focus remain on programs and activities clearly scheduled in our 2020 calendar, despite relentless attempts by the captured judiciary to destabilise the Party in conivance with the illegitimate Mnangangwa and his mafia regime.
It remains irresponsible trying to earn cheap political scores and smuggle Thokozani Khupe as leader of People’s movement, her rightful place is the political dustbin in as far as the Zimbabwean political landscape is concerned.
The people of Zimbabwe are suffering because of a manmade political and economic crisis and it is our duty to free them.
Presently, the nation should be focusing on managing and effectively preventing the spread of the deadly Corona virus.
To this end, All our MDC Alliance, 14 000 branches, 210 CCC, all 13 Provinces, the entire National Leadership, members and supporters remain resolute, committed to the people’s cause and forever on guard to protect the Party and fully behind the People’s President Adv Nelson Chamisa.
Hon Amos Chibaya The People’s National Organising and Party Building Secretary.
As MISA Zimbabwe Chinhoyi Chapter, we strongly condemn the arrest by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers of a fellow journalist Nunurai Jena with Newsday and Voice of America for practising his duties with 2019 press card.
Jena is currently being held at Chinhoyi Central Police Station, Traffic Department section after he was arrested at a police roadblock for operating using a 2019 accreditation press card.
The arrest comes barely four days after Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services instructed the ZRP to accept the 2019 accreditation cards.
Journalists have continued operating without enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) as they seek to inform the nation on the deadly COVID-19 virus and therefore, request high levels of respect and honour.
The act by the police not only in Chinhoyi but Mutare and Gweru is a great cause of concern.
We therefore ask for coordination within the police force so that we work together in the fight against COVID-19 currently ravaging the world.
By A Correspondent- A social media account allegedly belonging to former Vice President turned opposition leader Joice Mujuru has exposed Zanu Pf infiltration within the opposition party, MDC.
In the posts, the account warns of an alleged well-funded plot to infiltrate and weaken the ruling party’s opponents.
The account alleges that the ruling Zanu PF uses what is called a “bait and bleed” strategy in which they induce rival factions to engage in a protracted war of attrition against each other “so that they bleed each other white”.
The warnings from the account come at a time when the opposition MDC seems deeply fractured and in disarray following a ruling by the Supreme Court which said that Nelson Chamisa is not the legitimate leader of the party.
Some of the posts from the Joice Mujuru account read:
The enemy within. it’s just the beginning. More is coming. plan plan plan and repeat planning. crucial times ahead. Good morning Zimbabwe.
…The amount of money being thrown on the floor to attract people for top & strategic positions is staggering. Very serious money involved, cars, free fuel coupons, farms. And with difficult times ahead, jobs will be lost. Very good comrades are going to fall for it. Remember these words – the enemy from within. Good night Zimbabwe.…I always avoid your questions. But this staying at home business maybe I can spill
lesson 1
They do what’s called “bait and bleed” that is induce to rival factions to engage in a protracted war of attrition against each other “so that they bleed each other white”
This has been perfected and don’t look at it from the top level. It’s very much active at the lower-level structures.
So this is not the time sit under a tree and drink whisky and have cookouts with girls. This is a war. You have 2 raging wars. Corona Virus and this obvious one. In wartimes, there are “situation rooms” dissecting every single structure and situation.
Your rival does not sleep. They plan plan plan and keep planing. Your rival has a situation room. Every day they go to a situation room to plan & replan, plan, go to the people & replan, gauge the mood, go to the people, plan & replan. What are you doing? Lockdown? Think again.
The police yesterday arrested 182 people countrywide for violating lockdown restrictions.
According to the publication: Residents yesterday continued to defy the lockdown order as police arrested 182 people throughout the country for the violations at a time when over 1 000 visitors from countries with confirmed Covid-19 cases are in Bulawayo.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo residents are slowly returning to their day to day life as they were seen in commodity queues, hitchhiking and roaming around town despite the lockdown that is supposed to end later on this month.
Bulawayo has not yet recorded a single COVID-19 positive case.-State media
Farai Dziva|Controversial Deputy Information Minister, Energy Mutodi has shocked the Twitter community by claiming MDC president Nelson Chamisa is worse than Coronavirus.
Political analysts have described Mutodi’s remarks as a reflection of his pronounced hatred of the youthful MDC leader.
Mutodi also has also claimed government has nothing to do with the MDC’ s factional battles.
Mutodi tweeted: “No doubt Chamisa is worse than CoronaVirus. Has no respect for constitutionalism and definitely no country can subject itself to a dictator in this modern day and age.”
He added:”His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa has not contracted CoronaVirus as peddled by some misguided elements on the social media.
The Supreme Court is neither captured nor corruptible as alleged by Adv Tendai Biti and Prof. Welshman.”
In response to Mutodi’s comments, MDC SA province spokesperson, Innocent Nsingo said:
“Mutodi’s utterances are dangerous, how can he be so reckless? It is sad to note that Mutodi and his ilk are desperate to blame the people’s leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa for their own shortcomings.
Zanu PF must concentrate on fighting the deadly Coronavirus, instead of attempting to score political marks at this juncture.”
By A Correspondent- Police details stationed in Marondera have reported that they have rescued a 5-year-old boy who is believed to have been kidnapped by a housemaid in Kuwadzana, Harare.
According to the police officers, the maid disappeared with the boy on 13 March 2020 and never came back.
The boy was reportedly discovered in Marondera by an alert informant who reported the matter to the police leading to the rescue and he was later reunited with his father.
Police are currently looking for the maid, Isabel Makuya, aged 33 years who is believed to be from Chigondo area, Wedza. She is light in complexion, slim and tall. She was last seen wearing a white top, khaki skirt and white tennis shoes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts may report to any nearest Police station or ZRP Dombotombo on 0652323572
ZRP has issued a statement urging members of the public are warned against picking people from the streets as housemaids.
“They should rather make use of the Police vetting system when employing people to enhance the security of families. ” ZRP said.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Guruve driver Monalisa Jessamin allegedly stole money which amounted to US$ 460 and $1700 bond in a lift from Guruve to Mvurwi yesterday.
Sources familiar with the incident told a local publication that Jessamin was offered a lift by a businessman and upon disembarking she reportedly stole the money.
“She stole the money while disembarking at Ruyamuro shopping center, Guruve which was stached under neath the the passenger’s seat the driver observed it when he arrived in Mvurwi and filed a police report,a raid was made at her homestead and some of the money was recovered,” said the source.
It is further alleged that she is currently assisting police with investigations.
By A Correspondent- Police have warned Government employees and other fraudsters to desist from producing fake essential service letters at checkpoints.
Such developments have resulted in an increase in the number of people loitering in the central business district (CBD) and other places.
A sizeable number of people were seen in Harare compared to the first two days of the lockdown.
Police noted with concern the rate at which new people were producing letters purportedly from their employers to enable them to travel or leave their homes.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the development was hampering efforts to manage and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“We have noted with concern the proliferation of letters from junior employees and staff from various institutions and Government departments and ministries pleading to be allowed to pass through police roadblocks and checkpoints.
“This compromises efforts to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Please take note that, only heads of institutions or senior officials have authority to seek exemptions for members of staff engaged in essential services.
“Those who want to take advantage and influence the police yet they are not part of the exempted essential service providers will not be entertained,” he said.
By A Correspondent- A high-speed chase involving Fawcetts Security Guards and a retail store manager who was suspected of stealing groceries reportedly resulted in an accident.
The suspected manager Edmond Nhidza escaped unhurt after he rammed into a Fawcetts Security vehicle that was blocking the road. A security guard who narrated the story said:
Nhidza stole some groceries from the shop worth around $ 1 200. We suspect this was not the first time because he would usually leave office late. He would use his laptop bags to carry the stolen groceries to his car.
On this particular day, Fawcett security guards asked to search his vehicle after suspecting that there was something sinister about his movements. He refused and sped off and we searched all over Masvingo but we could not find him.
We then alerted our branches in Gutu and Nyika to be on the lookout. He was then spotted near Mutendi Farm and he immediately drove back towards Masvingo before turning into Chiredzi-Chivhu road
Security guards in Gutu allegedly barricaded the road intending to stop him but he continued speeding with the intention of intimidating them so that they would remove the vehicle on the road.
He then rammed into a stationary vehicle. Fortunately, no other person was injured.
Nhidza has since suffered a stroke and could not appear in court.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent | The man quite at the centre of legal battles which have seen MDC renegade Thokozani Khupe celebrating that she’s now been appointed the Acting President of the MDC-T, Douglas Mwonzora yesterday loudly indicated that the exiled Prof Jonathan Moyo is worse than ZANU PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
He repeated his view that his former boss Nelson Chamisa has joined hands with Professor Moyo. During the 2018 elections, Mwonzora attacked Chamisa over the political support he was getting from both Moyo and the late President Robert Mugabe.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with ZimEye, Mwonzora was responding to a question on if he is happy working with Emmerson Mnangagwa who clearly violated both law and moral by using the army to change the 2018 election results. He answered by saying:
“I do not agree with president Mnangagwa and I have never been a fan at all but I also do not agree joining hands with Professor Jonathan Moyo who created AIPA, POSA and the Broadcasting Act.”
FULL INTERVIEW BELOW…
I do not agree with president Mnangagwa and I have never been a fan at all but I also do not agree joining hands with prof @ProfJNMoyo who created AIPA, POSA and the Broadcasting Act – @DMwonzorapic.twitter.com/T2c9FSuG5O
The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) would like to condemn in the strongest of terms the recent abnormal price hikes by most retailers in the wake of a National Lockdown that was announced by the Government that commenced on Monday the 30th March 2020. Nothing can justify this barbarism other than sheer recklessness and avaricious tendencies.
As VISET, we call upon the Government to act and NOW to protect consumers! Clearly these retailers are taking advantage of the COVI-19 pandemic to profiteer at the expense of the lives of the people.
The world over, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a halt to fundamental operations be it economic, social and political. In Zimbabwe, the Informal Sector, accommodating over 90% of the population, remains the hardest hit.
The world’s economic giants like the US, UK, France, Japan, China among others have already been affected negatively and these Governments have been forced to roll out social provisioning and social safety nets to help their citizens in this difficult epoch.
However, the situation is comparatively different to Zimbabwe. Over the past decades, the country’s economy has been taking a nose dive and this resulted in unprecedented mushrooming of the informal economy.
The recent soaring of prices of basic commodities have triggered countrywide concerns and fears about threats to food security, shaking the capabilities of the urban poor to adapt to the situation during the COVID-19 21 Days Lockdown.
Therefore, in times of adversities people in the informal economy are exposed to the harsh conditions that come with disasters. The majority of informal traders generally live on the basis of from hand to mouth.
This means that the lockdown has actually worsened their livelihoods already jeopardized by a number of factors. To that end, unjustified price hikes means that informal trader have to face twin evils at once, that is poverty induced by reduced buying power and the ravaging COVID-19.
Skyrocketing food prices can have devastating effect on the physical, mental, social and psychological state of poor informal sector players.
Therefore, our position as an organization is that prices of basic commodities must fall to ensure that citizens abide by the dictates of the lockdown, otherwise at this rate our members will be left with no option but to disobey the directives coming from the Government and all its agencies.
We further call upon the captains of industries to intervene and bring to book those who are wantonly hikes the prices of basic commodities. This is the time to be united as Zimbabweans and ensure that we fight COVID-19 from a united standpoint
Prepared by the VISET Information and Publicity Department
The Foul & Fall of Prophet Java| Robert Sigauke, Religious Commentator, Cape Town.
Panganai JavaRobert Sigauke
Is it the lure of fame, the hog of the limelight, the love of money, or even the love of thyself?
The tragedy of it all is that at the end of the day it is Christianity which is on trial. Some of its most prominent sons and daughters used to call it by day and curse it by night, but now curse it by day even in full glare and shock of the heathen. Most people might not know what true Christianity is, but certainly all are sure what it is not. For a prophet to now embody that which most would identify with what Christianity is not, is tragic at best and a disservice to the body of Christ. It is certainly not only about prophesying that Bushiri is dying in December 2019 of which time judged on that already, or a whole prophet of the Almighty sponsoring and producing music videos of an alternative genre parading naked women and promoting obscenities, the kind of music and video scripts that will put Jamaican dancehall hall of famers to shame, it is also everything about the lifestyle and choices that surround oneself. The word Christianity itself, comes from the word Christ. When people noticed that the apostles and other followers of Christ “conducted” themselves the way Christ did, that is how they termed them Christians. Therefore, Christians are those that identify themselves with and “conduct themselves” like Christ. Christ is One who brought and still brings light to confront darkness in the world, darkness being that which is loathed and identified as unreligious or evil in a secular world. If Christ was physically on earth today, he would not have participated in a music video promoting “buttocks” of women and sponsoring secular music that praises love of money, material riches and promiscuity.
The Christian faith is one of works, and works are a manifest of what one believes in as the Bible accurately captures it. Christ did not associate with the fraudulent tax collectors to fraudulently collect tax Himself. Jesus did not entertain the prostitute who washed His feet with her hair to join her in her trade, in fact He told her not to sin anymore. Jesus did not turn water into wine to be a drunkard Himself.
It is certainly religious to want to put boundaries on how a Christian should walk or talk, dance or work but, accepting that a Christian is guided and carries oneself within a manifest of the acceptable parameters of the Holy Spirit, there surely must be a difference between one and a non-believer. Does it not cause more confusion when prophets endorse each other today and declare each other fake tomorrow?
The biggest question would be when the endorsement was made which Spirit was guiding one? The Spirit of God cannot endorse a Prophet today and then tomorrow declare that the same prophet was fake all along. In fact, in the verbal exchanges between Prophet Bushiri and Prophet Java last year when Java predicted that Bushiri would die in December, there were declarations that one is fake and one is such. The same Prophet Java that Ubert Angel was once claimed to be the spiritual father to, and the same Prophet Ubert Angel whom Prophet Bushiri looks up to. This not only confuses the world, Christians too.
Just recent months back, Prophet Java associated and conducted crusades with a very questionable character in the US, Prophet Joshua (not TB Joshua). This is the young man whose followers claim that he is Jesus in human flesh, and Joshua enjoys and prefers it that way. In fact, YouTube is awash with videos of Joshua making Michael Jackson moves in church services while his followers who are more like fanatics, throw money and literally worship him as they refer to him as Jesus in human flesh. This is the character that Prophet Java associated with and endorsed at the same time.
Today, social media is awash too with videos of Prophet Java speaking in “tongues” which sound much the same like an unpublished Shona dancehall song from Enzo Ishall’s songwriting catalogue. It worked in America as there might not have been a Shona speaking person during the church service but here in Cape Town, hameno veduwee.
The man needs our prayers.
Robert Sigauke is a Political and Social Commentator. He writes from Cape Town. Whatsapp +27713348876 or email [email protected]
By A Correspondent- Former MDC T Vice president has scoffed at the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa after the Supreme Court passed a judgement that the latter was not the rightful leader of the MDC.
Gutu using his twitter handle said:
Kuchava nekugeda geda kwemeno(there will be knashing of teeth)… Musanyeberwa(do not be deceived)… Supreme Court judgment has got far-reaching & ground-breaking legal & political ramifications. That’s the very reason why some people are running scared! They can run for now, but most certainly they won’t escape! Watch the space
Gutu was responding to MDC Alliance leaders who say the supreme court ruling has no bearing on Chamisa’s MDC Alliance.
By A Correspondent- The Ministry Of Primary and Secondary Education issued a statement on June and November Examinations.
In its statement, the ministry said:
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform parents/guardians that preparations for the 2020 June and November Examinations are going on as scheduled.
In this regard, I would like to inform the nation that as a result of the nationwide lockdown which was announced by HE, the President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, the following measures have been put in place:
1. ZIMSEC has provided an electronic platform for the submission of candidate entry data and proof of payment for the 2020 June and November examinations.
2. A call centre has been set up at ZIMSEC head office to support heads of examination centres when they encounter problems in uploading entry data.
3. Candidates do not need to physically visit their examination centres to verify their individual registration data as this will be done using statements of entry.
4. Heads of examination centres who fail to access the online platform should phone ZIMSEC call centres between 0800hrs-1600hrs for assistance.
The call centre numbers are: 08080147, 0242304552/4, 0242302622/4 or
Whatsapp 0772148786
SHOULD THERE BE ANY INTERVENING CIRCUMSTANCES, THE NATION WILL BE ADVISED ACCORDINGLY.
FLASHBACK- The late former president Robert Mugabe speaks "…..Mai Mujuru and Mai Khupe don't offer much, so i have said, there is Chamisa left". pic.twitter.com/ECG36JVFBt
By A Correspondent- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has suspended three Mkoba 3 High School male teachers over allegations of having sexual relations with several pupils, some of them in Form One.
The teachers were allegedly served with suspension letters last Thursday morning.
Acting Midlands Provincial Education Director Mr Luke Matutu on Wednesday said the three teachers were suspended to pave way for investigations.
“Yes, I confirm that three male teachers at Mkoba 3 High School in Mkoba, Gweru, have been suspended from work pending investigations. But I have not received the documents from Gweru district on the alleged cases,” he said.
“These are allegations and its the Gweru District Schools Inspector (Mrs Angeline Zahile) who instituted an investigation. They are alleged to have been having sexual relationships with their pupils.”
The team tasked to investigate the alleged misconduct by the three teachers, sources said, has been forced to delay the probe due to the threat posed by Covid -19.
The source said the Ministry took the measure to protect the girl child following numerous and anonymous letters by concerned parents and teachers at the school that were addressed to Mrs Zahile.
“There were several anonymous letters sent to the District Schools Inspector alerting the Ministry about the alleged sexual abuse of female pupils at the school. The Ministry as you know doesn’t take lightly issues of this nature leading to their suspension,” said a source close to the matter.
The source said girls who turned down love proposals from these teachers complained of victimisation at the school.
“We had a situation where girls have been complaining about abuse at the hands of male members of staff at the school. It then becomes very difficult when the teachers start abusing anyone who would have turned down the love proposal.
Life at the school becomes difficult and we appreciate this move by the Ministry to bring sanity at the school. Whatever the verdict from the investigation, we are definitely sure that some will be forced to change how they interact with the girl child,” said another source.
“Fears 5G wifi networks could be acting as ‘accelerator’ for disease” wrote the DailyStar, 26 March 2020
The Daily Star has reported on “a new conspiracy theory” surrounding the new coronavirus: that 5G networks could be responsible for the rapid spread of the virus.
However, there is no evidence to suggest that 5G has anything to do with Covid-19—the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
The headline quoted above has now been changed by the Daily Star to read “Coronavirus: Activists in bizarre claim 5G could be acting as ‘accelerator’ for disease” and includes a statement by the UK government to say there is “no convincing evidence that 5G is dangerous”.
The article refers to two theories to support the claim that 5G accelerates the new coronavirus. Firstly that 5G might suppress the immune system and, secondly, that viruses can communicate through radio waves. Neither of these theories is backed up by evidence. The new coronavirus is also affecting countries and regions where no 5G is present.
There is no evidence that 5G networks are harmful to health.
Like the previous generations of wireless network technology (4G, 3G and 2G), 5G mobile data is transmitted over radio waves. Other types of technology that use radio waves include smart meters, TV and radio transmitters, and radar and satellite communications.
Radio waves are a small part of a wider electromagnetic spectrum of waves, which all emit energy called electromagnetic radiation. Radio waves are found at the low-frequency end of the spectrum and—alongside microwaves, visible light and heat—only produce non-ionising radiation. This means that these waves cannot damage the DNA inside cells, which is how waves with higher frequencies (such as x-rays, gamma rays and ultraviolet light) are thought to cause cancer.
To improve the speed and capacity of our wireless technology, 5G uses a higher frequency of radio waves compared to its older generations. The frequency of this new wireless technology remains very low: the maximum levels of electromagnetic radiation measured by Ofcom were about 66 times smaller than the safety limits set by international guidelines.
Public Health England states that “the overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health.”
The two theories given to support the 5G claim in the article are flawed.
The Daily Star quotes an “activist and philosophy lecturer at the Isle of Wight College” saying that electromagnetic radiation from 5G suppresses the immune system, helping the virus to thrive. As mentioned above, the level of radiation from 5G is far below levels of electromagnetic radiation thought to cause damage to cells in the human body.
The second theory appears to be that “viruses “talk to each other” when making decisions about infecting a host”. This is not true. The Daily Star article links to a 2011 research paper which suggested that bacteria may produce electromagnetic signals to communicate with other bacteria. This hypothesis is disputed, and refers to bacteria and not viruses like the new coronavirus.
The new coronavirus is also spreading in places without 5G networks. There are many parts of the UK that do not have 5G coverage yet, but are still affected by the virus (for example, Milton Keynes and Portsmouth). There are no 5G networks at all in Iran, yet this country has been severely affected by Covid-19 (at the time of writing, Iran had the sixth-highest number of reported Covid-19 cases and fourth-highest number of deaths of 177 countries and regions in the world).
What is known about the spread of the new coronavirus?
The World Health Organisation says that every person with the virus infects, on average, between two and two and a half other people.
The new coronavirus is spread from person to person mainly through small droplets that people with Covid-19 sneeze, cough or exhale. The droplets can live on surfaces for many hours, meaning that the virus can be transmitted without direct contact with someone who is infected. There is some evidence to suggest that the virus may also be transmitted in the air, although the WHO warns that evidence from research conducted under “normal human cough conditions” is needed to show this.
For up to date information on how to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, see the advice issued by the NHS
By A Correspondent- Officers at Bulawayo Central Police Station pressed the panic button when a local returning from South Africa, who is also a fraud suspect, started coughing uncontrollably in the holding cells leading to the suspicion that he had Covid-19.
Bewildered officers called the Bulawayo City Council Covid-19 Rapid Response team to the station and the suspect was rushed to Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital where he is admitted to the isolation ward.
The drama unfolded hours after the detention of the suspect on Monday.
Sources said police officers initially thought the 30-year-old suspect was faking Covid-19 symptoms to get released.
The virus has infected about 894 000 people and has killed about 45 000 people globally.
In Zimbabwe, eight have been infected and one has died.
Other suspects who were locked up in the holding cells with the suspect reportedly started hysterically banging cell bars for attention as the coughing got worse.
The suspect was at the time exhibiting more Covid-19 like symptoms, such as shortness of breath, shivering and sneezing.
A senior police officer allegedly had to rally subordinates who were scurrying all over the charge office in alarm.
National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident yesterday and said the affected police officers and other inmates were in isolation.
“I can confirm that we had a suspect who exhibited symptoms of Covid-19. The rapid response team was called to the station and the suspect was taken to the Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital for monitoring,” said Asst Com Nyathi.
“We are waiting for the relevant health authorities to confirm if it’s a Covid-19 case or not. The safety of police officers and any other staff involved in Covid-19 activities is of primary concern to the Commissioner-General of police (Godwin Matanga). Government is mobilising resources to avail more protective equipment for police officers.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said medical officers within the police force were attending to police officers who were on duty and had sent them into self-isolation as prescribed by health experts.
He said other suspects who may have come into contact with the patient would also be under self-isolation.
Bulawayo City Council Assistant Health Services Director Dr Khulamuzi Nyathi while addressing journalists yesterday at the Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital during a handover of donations from well-wishers in the city, said the patient was under observation.-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Douglas Mwonzora has trashed reports that he master-minded the plot to ouster Nelson Chamisa from the MDC-T presidency.
In an exclusive interview with ZimEye, Mwonzora said:
“When these allegations started in 2008, I challenged the leadership to investigate me and bring me to a disciplinary committee. They did, but they found nothing…..”
WATCH THE LIVE VIDEO LOADING BELOW FOR THE FULL TEXT OF MWONZORA’S RESPONSE ………
By Nomusa Garikai- The Supreme Court has endorsed the High Court judgement that Chamisa’s seizure of the MDC-T leadership in 2014 was unconstitutional.
The Court has ruled that whatever happened after the seizure was null and void and order the party to hold an extra-ordinary congress to elect new leaders.
“No amount of judicial gymnastics can change fact that no judge can order a person into political affection,” said Professor Welshman Ncube, MDC A VP.
The Court ruled that Chamisa’s ascendance was not legal. Professor Ncube and many of the MDC A leaders are pointedly avoiding addressing this point because they all know that what Chamisa did was messy, to say the least!
Yes, Zanu PF is thrilled to bits with the judgement more so because Mnangagwa has Khupe and her followers in his pocket through POLAD. Even if there was no POLAD, the judgement has divided MDC and weakened it into utterly uselessness.
As since its formation in 1999 MDC has broken up and divided every few years. But this division may well be the coup de grace. And for it to happen at the time when the country is going through its greatest trial of all times because of the corona virus. Given the ruling party, Zanu PF, is a corrupt and incompetent and certain to blunder from pillar to post, the nation was hoping even a mediocre MDC will help stop Zanu PF go off the rail completely. What a time for MDC to choose to commit hara-kiri!
My guess is Komichi, Khupe, Mwonzora and others will call the extra-ordinary congress a.s.a.p. Chamisa and those around him will not attend as they will still be torn between recognising the court ruling and defying it. So, Khupe and company will emerge as the new leaders.
Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, David Coltart and others who joined MDC-T to form MDC A cannot attend the congress since they were not members of MDC-T in February 2014.
The reconstituted MDC will inherit all the MDC A MPs, Senators and Councillors and offer them the option to retain their post if they swear allegiance to the new leadership. Many will accept but others like MP Biti and Senator Coltart will this too bitter a pill to swallow. It will be the second time Biti is booted out of parliament because the party whip was withdrawn.
If the truth be told MDC leaders themselves were gloriously happy to see Zanu PF implode in 2014 with the booting out of Mai Mujuru and her followers. As soon as she was out, two new Zanu PF factions emerge, one led by Mnangagwa, Lactose, and another G40 led by Grace Mugabe with her husband as the faction’s Godfather. The November 2017 military coup settled Mnangagwa and his lot as the winners.
A month before the November 2017 coup Grace Mugabe complained that her husband was so fearful of a coup he “slept with one eye open!” Well it is now Mnangagwa’s turn to sleep with one eye open. Many people believe another coup is on the cards.
Mnangagwa’s failure to revive the Zimbabwe economy has made the ordinary Zimbabweans themselves restless, they are desperate for real change as contrast to the recycling of the same corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless leaders by Zanu PF and MDC.
Both Zanu PF and MDC are imploding and for exactly the same reason – the lack of democratic competition within the party has allowed corrupt and incompetent leaders to overstay and thuggery as the only way to gain power. Both political leaders love power and the material wealth it brings. They do not give a damn about freedom, justice and the suffering masses.
Professor Welshman Ncube and his fellow MDC friends failed to implement even one democratic reform during the 2008 to 2013 GNU because they had secured seats on the gravy train and Mugabe offered them the trappings of high office. With their snouts in the feeding trough they forgot about the democratic changes. Where was his “political affection” then?
The FIFA President Gianni Infantino has predicted that all European football leagues this season, including the Spanish top flight league, English Premier League (EPL), Serie A, Bundesliga and League 1 will be back by the middle of April.
But Tebas believes it will take a little longer before the current campaign resumes across Europe. In mid April, we should be able to be back on with all European competitions, Tebas told Marca.
All of them. Of course, it depends on how the pandemic evolves. It could be before, but that is the date we have got in mind about being able to resume.
He officially announced it in skysports on Wednesday evening.
Birmingham Mail|Warriors star player, Marvellous Nakamba is set to leave his English Premier League side Aston Villa on his way back to Turkey according to Birmingham Mail.
The 26-year-old has only been with Dean Smith’s side since the summer and is the third player to be linked with a move away from the club this week
Marvelous Nakamba has been linked with a shock exit from Aston Villa.
According to reports in Turkey, the 26-year-old is a target for Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor.
He is the third Villa player to be linked with a move to Turkey by the press there, with Mbwana Samatta (Galatasaray) and Trezeguet (Besiktas) said to be interesting clubs over there.
Nakamba, it is claimed by newspaper Sabah, via Sport Witness, would be a replacement for John Obi Mikel who terminated his deal with Trabzonspo last month.
Villa only signed Nakamba last year, one of their 12 new players brought in following Dean Smith’s side’s promotion to the Premier League through the Championship’s play-offs.
By David Hofisi|The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled the case of MDC and Others vs Elias Mashavira and Others SC 56/20 and confirmed the ruling of the High Court which stated that Thokozani Khupe was the legitimate leader of the opposition MDC that was founded by the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Various opinions have been thrown into the matter. We present below David Hofisi’s interpretation of the judgment. Hofisi is a Human Rights Lawyer, ILS Law and Society Graduate Fellow, as well as Doctoral Candidate.
Background
High Court’s Justice Edith Mushore ruled on 8 May 2019, that the appointment of Chamisa and Engineer Elias Mudzuri to the positions of vice president was contrary to the MDC constitution.
Ordered MDC to hold an extra-ordinary congress under the stewardship of Khupe as Acting President.
Chamisa appealed at the Supreme Court.
Grounds of Appeal
The MDC insisted that a wrong version of its constitution had been used, incorrect interpretation of its reference to deputy presidents had been rendered and asserted that the application should have been dismissed.
Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court dismissed all of the MDC’s grounds of appeal.
Advocate Chamisa’s lawyers finally conceded that the MDC constitution used in the High Court was actually the legitimate version.
Supreme Court confirmed all the findings of the High Court including the ruling that Advocate Chamisa had been improperly elevated to the positions of vice president and acting president.
The order for an extra-ordinary congress with Dr. Khupe as Acting President was confirmed and this is to be done within three months of the court order.
All appointments and/or reassignments and actions by Chamisa in his capacity as Vice President, Acting President and substantive President are null, void and of no force or effect.
‘But Chamisa was already elected party President‘
Yes and no. The Court referenced the Smith government’s declaration of UDI and subsequent court cases dealing with the question of incumbency as a matter of fact (de facto) as opposed to a matter of right/law (de jure).
Some judges observed that although the Smith government was not legitimate in terms of the law, it was in effective control of the territory necessitating acceptance of its legitimacy.
To an extent, the Court similarly acknowledged Advocate Chamisa’s populist credentials
The Court noted that Chamisa was elected unanimously at congress, unopposed and he not only has effective control of the Party but he has proven himself the most formidable opposition candidate at the polls.
Thus, the Court conceded that Chamisa’s de facto leadership of the Party rendered the appeal academic as it had been overtaken by events.
However, and in a dramatic twist, hamisa’s own populist bona fides were turned against him. The Advocate’s formidability as a candidate and viability of his party only served to heighten the Court’s scrutiny since “…it might someday be electorally elevated to become the ruling party in Zimbabwe.”
The tenets of rule of law and good governance were found to be even more relevant in such circumstances. The congress which elected Chamisa was not in accordance with the High Court order as it was not under Khupe’s stewardship as Acting President and is insufficient to discharge the obligations created by the High Court order.
Almost like the UDI government in need of proper process before it can be recognised, Chamisa despite his Populism required constitutional process to attain de jure incumbency.
‘But the judgement is about MDC-T, not MDC Alliance‘
Not exactly. The judgement is germane to the MDC. MDC-T was a moniker developed to distinguish the Tsvangirayi faction from that of Welshman Ncube/Arthur Mutambra. Officially, they both remained MDC. Similarly, the MDC Alliance was a vehicle for elections used by seven political parties led by the MDC, hence the prefix to its title.
The MDC Alliance was never a stand-alone party but a group of parties coalescing around the MDC for purposes of elections. At the conclusion of elections, some alliance members joined the MDC whilst others reverted to their own structures.
Therefore, the MDC, and not the MDC Alliance, held its fifth elective Congress in Gweru where Chamisa was elected president. It was not an inaugural MDC Alliance Congress but the fifth iteration of the MDC’s elective congresses at which they celebrated 20 years of existence.
The party which elected Chamisa as president which is required to abide by the court’s findings. Given that the alliance is something that collapsed into the party after elections, it is counter-intuitive to suggest it can be extricated and presented as the bona fide entity which held a congress in 2019. Neither the facts nor the judgment sustain this claim.
‘But Khupe held her own congress‘
This is true. The Court noted that Khupe may be involved with a different political formation, but found that it does not amount to abandoning her rights and interests in terms of the MDC constitution. Her activities are insufficient basis to cleanse the constitutional abrogation by the MDC and its functionaries.
In the absence of a judicial determination regarding the circumstances that led to Chamisa’s elevation, her rights and interests in the party remained extant, her activities elsewhere notwithstanding.
What does it mean going forward?
This judgement reinforces Khupe’s claim to the reins of the MDC in real and material terms.
She is the Acting President of the MDC at law. Matters to do with party assets, participation in the MDC Alliance as well as disbursements from the state all fall squarely under her stewardship.
It could mean an ability to recall Members of Parliament and local authorities, which comes with the capacity to whip elected representatives into conformity. Further, it enhances her ability to engage with regional and international actors as the only legally recognised leader of the main opposition.
The swift moves by Morgan Komichi and Douglas Mwonzora to take assertive action and shape the political narrative suggest that those dismissing the judgement out of hand might be underestimating its utility.
Chamisa who retains his public appeal can opt to use his numbers to trounce Khupe at the court-ordered extra-ordinary congress. But even as you are reading this, I suspect you share my doubt regarding the plausibility of such newfound companionship.
Chamisa has done everything in his power to avoid any eventuality in which he is not at the helm of the party, even temporarily. His experience running against Douglas Mwonzora in 2014 likely made him suspicious of the electoral process which are not under his control.
His loyalists’ retorts at the courts were as swift as they were sharp, signally continued disdain with any adverse rulings from the courts. Without any substantive critique of the judgment, they have opted for insistence that the judgement is inconsequential since their new found titular home is under the banner of the MDC Alliance.
Insisting on the identity of MDC Alliance involves relinquishing that of the MDC – which may come with loss of real and material power (and possibly assets). It is conceivable that grounds will be found to mount a constitutional challenge. However, the political dividend from such a move would be minimal in circumstances where there is no impending congress or plebiscite at which electoral performance can countenance constitutional misfeasance.
The most certain outcome is that the Chamisa camp will not take this lying down. I previously presented this as a clash of constitutionalism against populism; a mild but alarming version of ZANU PF’s conviction that its electoral majority is a license to freedom from constitutional constraints.
After the High Court and Supreme Court have both restated the contents and made orders in terms of the MDC’s own (now undisputed) constitution, they will no doubt retort, “but we have the people!” If they follow the court order they will also have legal propriety, without which there will be new installments in this ceaseless yet needless confrontation at the expense of consolidating opposition movement.
By A Correspondent| A research paper has suggested that BCG vaccination reduces COVID-19 cases in a country.
A single dose of Bacille de Calmette et Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to prevent TB and administered within hours of a child’s birth, and the procedure was declared mandatory by the World Health Organisation (WHO), making it an integral part of the routine immunisation programme.
The paper published in a journal, says in an abstract:
COVID-19 has spread to most countries in the world. Puzzlingly, the impact of the disease is different in different countries. These differences are attributed to differences in cultural norms, mitigation efforts, and health infrastructure.
Here we propose that national differences in COVID-19 impact could be partially explained by the different national policies respect to Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) childhood vaccination. BCG vaccination has been reported to offer broad protection to respiratory infections.
We compared large number of countries BCG vaccination policies with the morbidity and mortality for COVID-19. We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination (Italy, Nederland, USA) have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies. Countries that have a late start of universal BCG policy (Iran, 1984) had high mortality, consistent with the idea that BCG protects the vaccinated elderly population. We also found that BCG vaccination also reduced the number of reported COVID-19 cases in a country. The combination of reduced morbidity and mortality makes BCG vaccination a potential new tool in the fight against COVID-19.
UK, Spain, see highest daily deaths as Iran’s total toll passes 3,000 in what’s seen as worst crisis since WWII.
Own Correspondent|Zimbabweans generally continue to defy the lockdown order as police arrested 182 people throughout the country for the violations at a time when over hundreds of visitors from countries with confirmed Covid-19 cases are in still making it into the country.
Countrywide, there are eight confirmed cases and one death.
Globally, more than 44,000 people have died, about 900,000 have been diagnosed with the virus, and some 190,000 have recovered, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
The coronavirus death toll in the UK rose by 563 in 24 hours, according to the health ministy, a record jump that brought the number of patients who died in hospital to 2,352.
The announcement on Wednesday came as Spain recorded its highest daily death toll – another 864 people – while infections jumped to 102,136, up from 94,417.
In the United States, the death toll has exceeded 4,000 and the number of confirmed cases surpassed 200,000.
Meanwhile, Iran’s death toll exceeded 3,000 with 138 new fatalities as the the United Nations chief warned the pandemic is the “worst crisis” to face the world since World War II.
More than 1000 people have died from the novel coronavirus in the United States as of end of day Wednesday, April 1, 2020, according to the latest tally. Of that number, hundreds of people died in New York State alone. In New York City, about 1400 people have already died from the deadly bug overall. New York State as a whole has seen about 2000 dead.
One virus tracker which collates information from government and health agencies said 1049 people died from the coronavirus on Wednesday, up from about 900 dead on Tuesday.
That number represents the highest death toll in a single day in the United States from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
Overall, more than 5100 people have now died in the United States from the coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
That number has eclipsed the total deaths from the 9/11 terror attacks in New York where the World Trade Center towers collapsed more than 18 years ago.
“More than 900 people have died from COVID-19 in Manhattan alone, and the city was opening temporary hospitals in a convention center, a Navy ship and Central Park. Refrigeration trucks were serving as temporary morgues,” USA Today reported on Wednesday.
Chris Cuomo tests positive for coronavirus At a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the next two weeks in the U.S. will be “very painful”. The President said he wants “every American to be prepared for the days that lie ahead”.
Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said at the briefing estimates showed between 1 million to 2 million in the U.S. could die from the virus if the current mitigation efforts, including social distancing are not maintained.
But with social distancing, between 100,000 and 240,000 deaths could be recorded, Birx said.
“As sobering a number as that is, we should be prepared for it,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “Is it going to be that much? I hope not, and I think the more we push on the mitigation, the less likelihood it will be that number.”
On Wednesday 1st April 2020 Rwanda extended national lockdown announced on 21st March in the country to 19th April 2020 as efforts to minimize spread of corona virus continue.
In a statement by Rwanda Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente it was made clear that only essential service providers would be allowed to move during this time.
Providers of services such as health care and banking would be excused, also those transporting food items can do so.
This communication came after a joint cabinet meeting that approved the measures.
Other conclusions reached are that public and private schools and other institutions of higher education would remain closed.
Places of worship have also been barred from conducting any functions, in a move to stop gatherings, as a crack down on unnecessary movement continues.
This comes amidst an increase in the number of confirmed cases in Rwanda, after the ministry of health and announced on Wednesday 1st April 2020 that there were 82 cases of Corona virus
The statement reinstates a lock down in the country because Rwanda had earlier on announced a two-week lockdown on 21st March 2020 and this is meant to extend the initially planned period.
President Paul Kagame said earlier last week in a televised address that these steps would determine how fast the country overcomes the corona virus pandemic.
President Paul Kagame
Suspension of commercial passenger flights and closure of borders was among the initial measures by Rwanda which President Kagame said helped to prevent imported new cases.
According to the statement, President Kagame acknowledged the efforts made in adhering to the preventive measures that aimed at slowing down the spread of Corona virus in the country.
Apart from essential service providers, all other public and private sector employees in Rwanda are advised to work from home as travel is also prohibited except for medical reasons
A mandatory 14-day quarantine at designated locations is a must compliance on the part of returning Rwandan Citizens and legal residents while borders remain closed except for cargo and goods
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has suspended three Mkoba 3 High School male teachers over allegations of having sexual relations with several pupils, some of them in Form One.
The teachers were allegedly served with suspension letters last Thursday morning.
Acting Midlands Provincial Education Director Mr Luke Matutu yesterday said the three teachers were suspended to pave way for investigations.
“Yes, I confirm that three male teachers at Mkoba 3 High School in Mkoba, Gweru, have been suspended from work pending investigations. But I have not received the documents from Gweru district on the alleged cases,” he said.
“These are allegations and it’s the Gweru District Schools Inspector (Mrs Angeline Zahile) who instituted an investigation. They are alleged to have been having sexual relationships with their pupils.”
The team tasked to investigate the alleged misconduct by the three teachers, sources said, has been forced to delay the probe due to the threat posed by Covid -19.
The source said the Ministry took the measure to protect the girl child following numerous and anonymous letters by concerned parents and teachers at the school that were addressed to Mrs Zahile.
“There were several anonymous letters sent to the District Schools Inspector alerting the Ministry about the alleged sexual abuse of female pupils at the school.
The Ministry as you know doesn’t take lightly issues of this nature leading to their suspension,” said a source close to the matter.
The source said girls who turned down love proposals from these teachers complained of victimisation.
“We had a situation where girls have been complaining about abuse at the hands of male members of staff at the school. It then becomes very difficult when the teachers start abusing anyone who would have turned down the love proposal. Life at the school becomes difficult and we appreciate this move by the Ministry to bring sanity at the school. Whatever the verdict from the investigation, we are definitely sure that some will be forced to change how they interact with the girl child,” said another source.
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has said people must restrict this month’s National Clean-up Day to cleaning up their homes this Friday from 8AM to 10AM due to the lockdown aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.
The agency said in compliance with the nation’s strategy to combat the pandemic, people won’t be gathering at various points but they should not forget to take care of the environment.
The organisation’s education and publicity manager, Ms Amkela Sidange, yesterday said waste generation at the household level is bound to increase during this period when families are at home.
She said it was important for people to prioritise the sorting of waste at their homes to recover recyclable and compost biodegradable materials.
Ms Sidange said this reduces residual waste accumulating in the environment.
“This National Clean-up Day occurs when the entire global village and our country Zimbabwe are seized with the ramifications of the novel Covid-19,” said Ms Sidange.
“This calls for all citizens to take time to reflect on our waste management practices as a country, redefine them and admit that a clean environment is essential for a healthy nation.
“With the lockdown now in earnest in the country and calls for everyone to stay at home and be safe from Covid-19, let’s therefore take time to clean within our households especially our back yards as from 0800 to 1000hours, this April National Clean-up day.”
The official also urged local authorities to take advantage of the deserted Central Business Districts (CBDs) and other critical areas including markets during the lockdown and clear all dumps, empty bins, maintain a regular waste collection schedule and generally sanitise those areas.
She said such a move among other things will help to build sustainably clean cities and communities.
Ms Sidange said EMA remains resolute in its efforts to achieve a clean, safe and healthy environment as provided for in the Constitution.
“As we intensify our efforts as a country towards the fight against Covid-19, it is imperative that we maintain a clean and healthy environment hence we encourage all of us to take part in creating a clean environment, and also stay safe from Covid-19. Let’s promote a clean environment for a healthy nation,” she said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa last month issued a bizarre warning that his government was going to do house inspections and arrest people who fail to get rid of cockroaches in their homes.
Mnangagwa was addressing a clean-up campaign at Matizha Business Centre in Gutu.
“Tine shungu dzokuti iwe pauri kana usvike pokunzi wakachena. Haufaniri kungochena wakubuda mumba kuinda kunevamwe. Chena uri pamba pako ipapo.
Bulawayo Residents crowd to buy prepaid electricity at a ZESA office in the City Centre.
State Media|Bulawayo Residents yesterday continued to defy the lockdown order as police arrested 182 people throughout the country for the violations at a time when over 1 000 visitors from countries with confirmed Covid-19 cases are in Bulawayo.
No Covid-19 case has been confirmed in the city.
Countrywide, there are eight confirmed cases and one death.
During Day Three of the lockdown yesterday, more people continued to defy the lockdown order.
Even though Government has said there must be no inter-city travel, scores of hitchhikers were on the country’s highways boarding vehicles leaving Bulawayo.
Some people were catching rides in haulage trucks, especially along the Victoria Falls, Gwanda, Plumtree and Harare highways as there were few cars on the roads and public transportation was scarce.
There was also an increase in the number of vehicles in Bulawayo’s CBD, with scores of people roaming the streets.
At supermarkets and Zesa offices in the CBD, there were long queues as people continued to look for basic commodities and electricity coupons.
Other signs of continued defiance in the city were of people selling fuel from illegal selling points along the streets.
Some youths were spotted in the city taking selfies and looking relaxed, oblivious of the prevailing lockdown. They were hostile when approached by the news crew for interviews.
In Emakhandeni suburb near MaHadebe Beer Garden, a group of men was seen skinning a goat while others were drinking beer outside the confines of their yards, while children played football in the dusty streets of the same township.
More people were seen carrying hoes and some fresh produce suggesting that they were coming from their fields as it is just about harvest time for a lot of families that practice urban farming.
When Chronicle spoke to some people who were seemingly defying the lockdown, most of the responses bordered around boredom and the difficulty of starting a new routine.
In a telephone interview, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Engineer Joel Biggie Matiza said movement from one city to the other remains suspended since the lockdown started on Monday, even for Zupco buses.
He said transporters and members of the public who were travelling to other towns and cities were breaking the law. The Minister, however, said there was nothing that his ministry could do to people found travelling as it was not in his jurisdiction “to chase after people.”
He said the Zupco intercity travel was temporarily suspended for the lockdown period. “As a Ministry, we have suspended all intercity travel for public transporters as a means of ensuring that people adhere to the regulations of the 21-day lockdown. It is unfortunate that people are being defiant, we call on public transporters to abide by these guidelines as we have also suspended the Zupco intercity travel scheme. unfortunately, we cannot do much about defiant people who are going on highways to hike and it is not within my ministry to act on that,” he said.
For the defiance, police said they had arrested 182 people as health experts warn of the catastrophic impact of not abiding by the lockdown.
Yesterday, police said they had noted that some non-essential civil servants are abusing pass letters so that they move aimlessly in violation of Covid-19 mitigation measures.
“The police have so far arrested 182 people for operating shebeens, public drinking, disorderly conduct and committing various traffic offences. Police have also observed aimless movements by motorists with some claiming to be looking for fuel or shopping for basic commodities. Such motorists are advised that the law provides for them to do the shopping at centres within a 5-kilometre radius of their residence,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
He said Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 will be fully employed to arrest anyone violating Covid-19 regulations.
“The police have noted with concern the proliferation of letters from junior employees and staff from various institutions and Government departments/ministries pleading to be allowed to pass through police roadblocks and check points. This compromises efforts to curb the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“Please take note that, only heads of institutions/departments or senior officials have authority to seek exemptions for members of staff engaged in essential services. Those who want to take advantage and influence the police yet they are not part of the exempted essential service providers will not be entertained.”
He said even those queuing for basic commodities will not be spared from following the laid down Covid-19 guidelines.
Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya, said if the public continue defying the lockdown measures, they will lobby Government to impose tougher measures which will keep people at home.
Dr Ngwenya said the public should take seriously measures put in place to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“We urge people to stay at home and there is need for education. Ignorance will lead to a huge number of people dying in Africa, people are ignorant. We may be forced to call for more stringent lockdown measures if people do not want to comply with regulations. We may have to ask Government to put serious measures which will allow very few people to move, making the lockdown even harder than this. We would rather have people being locked down than being sick and dying,” said Dr Ngwenya.
He said what is even worrying for countries such as Zimbabwe are resource constraints.
“We are not going to be able to handle this disease because we are resource constrained. If we look at numbers coming from other countries, they are in winter and we are a few weeks before winter. Once this thing is here, for example we don’t have enough ambulances to go and collect patients,” he said.
Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni told a full council meeting yesterday that he was glad that Bulawayo does not have any cases of people who have tested positive to the Covid-19 virus. He said the Emergency Preparedness Team has been active on the ground conducting surveillance, tests and health education.
“The rapid response teams in Bulawayo were activated on the 27th February 2020 when the first rumour was received and we have been making follow ups to date. The number of people who have been followed up under this have been 36, while 21 specimens have been collected with 11 negative and 10 pending (sent between 30 and 31 march 2020). It should be noted that the turnaround time of the national microbiology laboratory has been approximately 48 hours,” said the mayor.
He said the city has also been conducting travellers surveillance from February to March 2020.
“There was a noticeable increase in the influx of travellers reported by the ports of entry from February 498 to March 2020 627. The total number of visitors that have come into Bulawayo from areas with confirmed Covid-19 cases and possibly active local transmission is 1 125. 100 percent of all travellers that came into the country during the month of February 2020 have been followed up at least once and are all asymptomatic (of a condition or a person) producing or showing no symptoms) the list of travellers that came into the country during the month of March 2020 was received at the end of this past week. it has a total of 627 travellers that are currently being followed up by city’s environmental health practitioners,” he said.
Dr George Chirwa, executive director for Access Forex
Access Forex has committed an initial US$200 000 to assisting vulnerable segments of society across Zimbabwe, who have been affected by the negative impact of drought and Covid-19.
Access Forex, an organisation providing bureau de change and remittance services for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora mainly in the United Kingdom and South Africa, has taken the move to complement efforts by Government and other humanitarian organisations to help mitigate the devastating impact of drought and Covid-19 pandemic.
In partnership with churches, NGOs and Government, Access Forex will provide food aid in the form of hampers to the vulnerable and needy in society.
The intervention will begin in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls before being rolled out to the rest of Zimbabwe.
Dr George Chirwa, executive director for Access Forex said they were a Zimbabwean business, and has corporate social responsibilities.
“We believe that local organisations and people can play a big role in resolving Zimbabwe’s current challenges,” he said.
“This initiative is our small way as a responsible corporate citizen to support the $100 million fund recently announced by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube.”
Dr Chirwa said Government needed help from everyone to deal with the challenges.
State Media|Preparations for the 2020 June and November examinations are going on as scheduled, Primar|y and Secondary Education Minister Cain Mathema has said.
He said the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) has provided an electronic platform for the submission of candidate entry data and proof of payment.
“The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education would like to inform parents/guardians that preparations for the 2020 June and November Examinations are going on as scheduled,” said Minister Mathema.
He said due to the nationwide lockdown announced by President Mnangagwa, Zimsec had provided an electronic platform to verify data.
A call centre has been set up at Zimsec head offices to support heads of examination centres when they encounter problems in uploading entry data.
Heads of examination centres who fail to access the online platform can contact Zimsec call centres between 8am and 4pm.
Minister Mathema said if there were any intervening circumstances, the nation will be advised accordingly. Yesterday, Zimsec spokesperson Ms Nicky Dhlamini said there was significant progress in the registration for Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations.
“There is progress on the issue of online registration. Schools are responding well and all is in order. However, we have not yet received any communication on whether we should extend the registration period for schools or not, so to that effect, April 9 remains the last date for examination registration.”
Government recently announced it will pay 53 percent of examination fees for the June and November examinations for all candidates writing seven subjects and below.
Parents will pay 47 percent.
Government had since released $150 million towards exam preparations.
POLICE have warned Government employees and other fraudsters to desist from producing fake essential service letters at checkpoints.
Such developments have resulted in an increase in the number of people loitering in the central business district (CBD) and other places.
A sizeable number of people were seen in Harare compared to the first two days of the lockdown.
Police noted with concern the rate at which new people were producing letters purportedly from their employers to enable them to travel or leave their homes.
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the development was hampering efforts to manage and prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“We have noted with concern the proliferation of letters from junior employees and staff from various institutions and Government departments and ministries pleading to be allowed to pass through police roadblocks and checkpoints.
“This compromises efforts to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Please take note that, only heads of institutions or senior officials have authority to seek exemptions for members of staff engaged in essential services.
“Those who want to take advantage and influence the police yet they are not part of the exempted essential service providers will not be entertained,” he said.
State Media|OFFICERS at Bulawayo Central Police Station pressed the panic button when a local returning from South Africa, who is also a fraud suspect, started coughing uncontrollably in the holding cells leading to the suspicion that he had Covid-19.
Bewildered officers called the Bulawayo City Council Covid-19 Rapid Response team to the station and the suspect was rushed to Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital where he is admitted to the isolation ward.
The drama unfolded hours after the detention of the suspect on Monday.
Sources said police officers initially thought the 30-year-old suspect was faking Covid-19 symptoms to get released.
The virus has infected about 894 000 people and has killed about 45 000 people globally.
In Zimbabwe, eight have been infected and one has died.
Other suspects who were locked up in the holding cells with the suspect reportedly started hysterically banging cell bars for attention as the coughing got worse.
The suspect was at the time exhibiting more Covid-19 like symptoms, such as shortness of breath, shivering and sneezing.
A senior police officer allegedly had to rally subordinates who were scurrying all over the charge office in alarm.
National Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident yesterday and said the affected police officers and other inmates were in isolation.
“I can confirm that we had a suspect who exhibited symptoms of Covid-19. The rapid response team was called to the station and the suspect was taken to the Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital for monitoring,” said Asst Com Nyathi.
“We are waiting for the relevant health authorities to confirm if it’s a Covid-19 case or not. The safety of police officers and any other staff involved in Covid-19 activities is of primary concern to the Commissioner-General of police (Godwin Matanga). Government is mobilising resources to avail more protective equipment for police officers.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said medical officers within the police force were attending to police officers who were on duty and had sent them into self-isolation as prescribed by health experts.
He said other suspects who may have come into contact with the patient would also be under self-isolation.
Bulawayo City Council Assistant Health Services Director Dr Khulamuzi Nyathi while addressing journalists yesterday at the Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital during a handover of donations from well-wishers in the city, said the patient was under observation.
Government has noted with concern that some citizens are not adhering to social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.
In a statement issued by the Taskforce on COVID-19, spokesperson Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Government was worried about non-compliant behaviour.
“We note that some citizens continue to struggle with practising social distancing. Government urges each and everyone one of us to remind the next person the need to maintain social distance and other preventative behaviour. We have to be each other’s keeper in order to beat this invisible enemy, coronavirus,’’ Minister Mutsvangwa said.
The number of people who have been arrested for defying the 21-day lockdown directive has risen to 182. On the first day of the lockdown, 19 people were arrested for various non-compliant offences.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged the public to avoid aimless movements.
“Police have observed aimless movements by motorists with some claiming to be looking for fuel or shopping for basic commodities. Such motorists are advised that the law provides for them to do the shopping at centres within a 5-kilometre radius of their residence.
“Those found without justification of being outside the said radius will be arrested and prosecuted in terms of Section 4 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020. Also, members of the public who are queuing for basics commodities should do so in an orderly manner in line with guidelines provided by Government,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said save for the exempt organisations, all citizens with organisations not listed on the exemptions are urged to abide by the directive.
While the majority of Zimbabweans largely observed the lockdown measures laid out by President Mnangagwa last week, there was an increase in presence of people in most urban centres across the country.
The Herald observed a significant number of people in the CBD in Harare with queues seen at various supermarkets.
Business activity and movement of people had increase at shopping centres in Westgate, Avondale and Queensdale.
An increase in traffic in the city centre was also observed while in high density suburbs people were slowly venturing outside.
In Marondera, residents were defying the lockdown directive as they went about their daily routines.
Residents, especially those in high density suburbs were freely moving without observing social distancing in areas like Cherutombo, Cherima and Dombotombo.
Most people were in queues to buy mealie-meal or electricity, but did not observe social distance of at least being one metre.
Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Aplonia Munzverengwi urged residents to observe the Government directive.
“We have noted with concern in some areas in Marondera that people are going out their business without regard to the directive issued by Government.
“So far, our province has four confirmed cases of coronavirus. I am pleading to people to stay in doors,” said Minister Munzverengwi.
There was increased activity in the CBD with more people coming to buy basic commodities while at Mudzviti Bus Terminus there were queues.
Flea markets and vegetable markets remained deserted although indications are that vegetable vendors have been going to Sakubva Musika in Mutare City as early as 4am to buy produce.
In the Midlands, people were also loitering with increased traffic in both Kwekwe and Gweru.
There were fairly long queues at DCK shop and Victoria Foods shops in Gweru.
Police, however, maintained heavy presence in the CBD. Most service stations had fuel.
In Bindura people were in general compliance with the lockdown directive with a few people and motorists getting into town to buy groceries.
The police also intensified their patrol and monitoring of movement of people and motorists in the central business district and residential areas.
In the border town of Beitbridge, the levels of compliance remained high with most people indicating they decided to stay at their homes.
At least 1 680 prisoners were yesterday released from prisons countrywide under the presidential amnesty.
Beneficiaries of the amnesty comprised 53 women and 1 627 men.
Some women failed to qualify for amnesty after it turned out they were serving jail terms for specified offences like murder, robbery, car-jacking, sexual offences and public violence.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) had initially recommended the release of 5 000 prisoners to reduce the prison population to 16 838, but most inmates failed the test.
Speaking during the release of the pardoned prisoners in Harare yesterday, ZPCS national public relations officer Superintendent Meya Khanyezi said the de-congestion of prisons was important, particularly in the wake of Covid-19.
“Today we released 1 680 prisoners nationwide, who qualified for release under the Presidential Amnesty,” she said.
“We welcome this measure as it is going to de-congest our prisons, especially in the wake of Covid-19.”
Supt Khanyezi urged the public to accommodate those released and assist in their reintegration into society.
“We plead with the public, particularly their relatives, to accept them,” she said.
“This will help their reintegration process. Most of the released prisoners find their way back to prison in no time because they would have not been accepted into the society.”
Supt Khanyezi said the released prisoners were given bus fare and travelling documents to enable them to reach their respective destinations.
“We gave them bus fare and each was given a pass which will make it easy for them to reach their destinations during this lockdown,” she said.
“We also have educated them on measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.”- State media
Government has noted with concern that some citizens are not adhering to social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.
In a statement issued by the Taskforce on COVID-19, spokesperson Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Government was worried about non-compliant behaviour.
“We note that some citizens continue to struggle with practising social distancing.
Government urges each and everyone one of us to remind the next person the need to maintain social distance and other preventative behaviour. We have to be each other’s keeper in order to beat this invisible enemy, coronavirus,’’ Minister Mutsvangwa said.
The number of people who have been arrested for defying the 21-day lockdown directive has risen to 182. On the first day of the lockdown, 19 people were arrested for various non-compliant offences.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged the public to avoid aimless movements.
“Police have observed aimless movements by motorists with some claiming to be looking for fuel or shopping for basic commodities.
Such motorists are advised that the law provides for them to do the shopping at centres within a 5-kilometre radius of their residence.
“Those found without justification of being outside the said radius will be arrested and prosecuted in terms of Section 4 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020. Also, members of the public who are queuing for basics commodities should do so in an orderly manner in line with guidelines provided by Government,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said save for the exempt organisations, all citizens with organisations not listed on the exemptions are urged to abide by the directive.
While the majority of Zimbabweans largely observed the lockdown measures laid out by President Mnangagwa last week, there was an increase in presence of people in most urban centres across the country.-State media
Government has noted with concern that some citizens are not adhering to social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.
In a statement issued by the Taskforce on COVID-19, spokesperson Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Government was worried about non-compliant behaviour.
“We note that some citizens continue to struggle with practising social distancing.
Government urges each and everyone one of us to remind the next person the need to maintain social distance and other preventative behaviour. We have to be each other’s keeper in order to beat this invisible enemy, coronavirus,’’ Minister Mutsvangwa said.
The number of people who have been arrested for defying the 21-day lockdown directive has risen to 182. On the first day of the lockdown, 19 people were arrested for various non-compliant offences.
Police spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi urged the public to avoid aimless movements.
“Police have observed aimless movements by motorists with some claiming to be looking for fuel or shopping for basic commodities.
Such motorists are advised that the law provides for them to do the shopping at centres within a 5-kilometre radius of their residence.
“Those found without justification of being outside the said radius will be arrested and prosecuted in terms of Section 4 of Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020. Also, members of the public who are queuing for basics commodities should do so in an orderly manner in line with guidelines provided by Government,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.
Asst Comm Nyathi said save for the exempt organisations, all citizens with organisations not listed on the exemptions are urged to abide by the directive.
While the majority of Zimbabweans largely observed the lockdown measures laid out by President Mnangagwa last week, there was an increase in presence of people in most urban centres across the country.-State media
The late veteran journalist and Zimpapers Masvingo Correspondent Walter Mswazie was laid to rest at a Mangwandi Cemetery on the outskirts of Masvingo City with scores of people from all walks of life present to bid him farewell.
Mswazie(45) passed away on Tuesday at Makurira Memorial Clinic from kidney complications. A church service led by the Masvingo City Seventh Day Adventist was held at his residence in Rhodene suburb before burial.
Speaking before burial various speakers posted tribute to Mswazie for being a humble and dedicated scribe who was committed to his job.
Chiefs council President Fortune Charumbira in his graveside eulogy described Mswazie as a rare breed of a journalist who with infallible character. He said the media would never be the same without Mswazie and urged journalists to take a lead from him by shunning bribery and reporting objectively.
Rungano Gumbochuma,the late Mswazie’s young brother thanked members of the Masvingo media for supporting him until his last breath. He paid tribute to Zimpapers for extending support to enable Mswazie to a perfect send off.
Herald Masvingo Bureau Chief George Maponga, who represented Zimpapers, said Mswazie’s passing on was a big loss to the company saying he would be sorely missed because of his high work ethic.-State media
Farai Dziva| MDC vice president Welshman Ncube has revealed that Morgen Komichi and Douglas Mwonzora refused to take heed of his advice during a crucial party meeting.
From that day Ncube became suspicious of the two’s loyalty to the party.
See statement below:
VP Prof Welshman Ncube Statement
At the last meeting of the MDC Alliance Standing Committee on 10 March 2020 I put to Komichi & Mwonzora the entire ZANU PF strategy on the Khupe case & their respective roles in that strategy.
Their denials of both the ZANU PF strategy and their roles thereto were vehement.
I ended the debate by telling them that while we had no choice but to give them the benefit of the doubt on the day of the handing down of the judgement we will know the truth. Today we know.
I also told them that the MDC- Alliance had already held its Congress and would not hold another one and that the leadership elected at Congress was not negotiable & would never be determined by courts of law but only by the members of the party. That was true on that day as it is true today.
Legally, the MDC Alliance was not before the court and cannot be bound by a judgement to which it is not a party and which in any event is not directed at it. Politically, the people always decide. Period.
Certainly there is no best term to aptly explain treacherous actions of our erstwhile comrades, Morgan Komichi and his legions than Struggpreneurship!
Yes it can only be Struggpreneurship!
A concept whereby revolutionaries-cum-sellouts pursue parochial and selfish agendas to earn a fortune from the enemy at the expense of the revolution.
Merchants of Struggpreneurship pose as sheep but alas they are wolves in sheep skins.
So callous, knavish and shameless are these purveyors that they are quick to ulullate at pulverized judgements from hyena courts.
Of course such Iscariotic behavior is expected of them for there are few pieces of silver that comes along the way from their new found masters.
Remember Morrison Nyathi!
Morrison Nyathi was a respected ZANLA commander who later turned out to be a turncoat after he sold out thousands of liberation war revolutionaries at Chimoio during the colonial era.
Every struggle has its own Morrison Nyathis!
The National Democratic Struggle is not spared either!
Talk of Morgan Komichi and his legions!
True revolutionaries and Zimbabweans should however take heart from the fact that turncoats barely last a distance.
We all know what happened to Morrison Nyathi and his new found colonial masters.
Just like Nyathi and the Rhodesian Front, Komichi and Emmerson Mnangagwa regime will not last long.
The end is nigh!
A 1980 in 2020 is beckoning!
Stephen Sarkozy Chuma MDCYouthAssemblyNationalSpokesperson
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president Tendai Biti has described the Supreme Court ruling on the MDC presidency as null and void.
“The MDC Alliance participated in the 2018 Election and our candidate Advocate @nelsonchamisa had more than 2.6 m votes .
We then went to an MDC A Congress which unanimously elected @nelsonchamisa as our leader .
A judgment in which the MDC A was never part of can’t change that..
The MDC A is a people’s project. A massive institution backed by the working people of this country .It’s undisputed and uncontested leader is @nelsonchamisa
There is no country in the world where a court of law can impose leadership on a voluntary association.
No court of law can defeat or set aside the people s will as expressed in Gweru-@nelsonchamisa is our president,” said Biti.
“We reject Emmerson’s crude attempt to hijack the people’s revolution.We reject all forms of capture. We reject puppets ,enablers and corroborators.We reject fascists…”
Farai Dziva|MDC vice president Tendai Biti has described the Supreme Court ruling on the MDC presidency as null and void.
“The MDC Alliance participated in the 2018 Election and our candidate Advocate @nelsonchamisa had more than 2.6 m votes .
We then went to an MDC A Congress which unanimously elected @nelsonchamisa as our leader .
A judgment in which the MDC A was never part of can’t change that..
The MDC A is a people’s project. A massive institution backed by the working people of this country .It’s undisputed and uncontested leader is @nelsonchamisa
There is no country in the world where a court of law can impose leadership on a voluntary association.
No court of law can defeat or set aside the people s will as expressed in Gweru-@nelsonchamisa is our president,” said Biti.
“We reject Emmerson’s crude attempt to hijack the people’s revolution.We reject all forms of capture. We reject puppets ,enablers and corroborators.We reject fascists…”
The MDC Youth Assembly would like to state it categorically without fear of contradictions that Mr Mwonzora and Mr Morgen Komichi have automatically lost their positions in the MDC after deciding to join Thokozani Khuphe’s Zanu PF project.
The two know very well that they cannot speak on behalf of the party when there are organs responsible for that.
They went on without the people’s mandate to tarnish the image of the party by addressing members of the media and announcing some imaginary standing committee leadership outside that of the 2019 elected leaders.
Our President is Advocate Nelson Chamisa
This behavior amounts to indiscipline and we as the Youth assembly have the moral and political responsibility to defend our movement from such captured elements.
While due process is being taken, MDC members should not interact or communicate with these sellouts and modern day Morison Nyathi’s of the Zimbabwean struggle.
The duo is therefore barred from visiting and meeting our party structures and entry at any of our offices including our Headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.
We wish to reiterate that the captured judiciary cannot purport to give us a leadership. Our party’s leadership comes from the people and we held our Congress in May 2019, which elected President Nelson Chamisa and the rest of the people’s leadership.
It has been a pleasure working with you and we wish you all the best. .
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| The coronavirus outbreak, which originated in China, has infected more than a million people and it’s still counting. Its spread has left businesses around the world counting costs and realising the imminent disaster in the pipe line.
Big shifts in stock markets, where shares in companies are bought and sold, can affect many investments in pensions or individual savings accounts. The world is in limbo and the giants are clamouring this spells disaster for Zimbabwe. Investors fear the spread of the coronavirus will destroy economic growth and that government action may not be enough to stop the decline. If ZIMBABWE has a functional ministry of finance they should do as central banks in many countries, including the United Kingdom, to slash interest rates.
That should, in theory, make borrowing cheaper and encourage spending to boost the economy. Zimbabwean government must come up with coronavirus aid bill to help workers and businesses who have been bruised by the Corona virus.
While we are fighting the virus now the country must think ahead and cushion its people. Zimbabwe’s tourist industry has been badly damaged, with airlines cutting flights and tourists cancelling business trips and holidays and all ports of entry being closed.
Governments around the world have introduced travel restrictions to try to contain the virus and this has affected ZIMBABWE and shook its economy to the bone.
If the economy is not growing, that generally means no more wealth and no more new jobs. It’s measured by looking at the percentage change in gross domestic product, or the value of goods and services produced, typically over three months or a year. Zimbabwe is reliant on the other countries so is every country.
The world’s economy could grow at its slowest rate since 2009 this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It must be realised that the fight against Covid-19 is a full-on war. China seems to have won the first battle. Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Japan have also chalked up visible successes in mitigating the outbreak, no doubt owing to their experiences in dealing with the 2003 Sars epidemic. Zimbabwe on the other hand, is only just awakening from its illusions of invulnerability.
As a result, the epidemic is now raging across the world and Zimbabwe not being spared. The country which suffers more is Italy, which has particularly strong economic ties to China. Northern Italy is the new Wuhan Chinese megacity where the coronavirus first emerged). With its health system already overwhelmed, the Zimbabwean government has slammed on the brakes, shutting down the retail economy and quarantining the entire country.
All shops except pharmacies and grocery stores are closed. People have been instructed to stay at home and may enter public places only for necessary shopping or commuting to work. Unfortunately public and private debt obligations (such as housing rents and interest payments) have not been suspended. Zimbabwe has not attempted to slow down the economic clock until the coronavirus dies out. It has left itself wide open for the onslaught of the hunger driven by the effects of Corona.
Globally, not all responses to the crisis have been well targeted, and others have not been strong enough. Most But, most important, all Zimbabwe need to follow China in taking direct action against Covid-19. Nobody on the frontlines should be constrained by a lack of funds.
Hospital intensive-care units must be expanded; temporary hospitals must be built; and respirators, protective gear and masks must be mass-produced and made available to all who need them. Beyond that, public health authorities must be given the resources and funds they need to disinfect other public spaces. Hygiene is the order of the day. In a very rare foresight which was prophetic President Mnangagwa had declared a cleaning day every first Friday of the month.
While hygiene is being controlled from the president’s office there has been no visible efforts put to protect those on the frontline and boosting the testing kits. Zimbabwe only checks your temperature and makes a decision whether you should be quarantined or not. Large-scale testing of the population is particularly important but ZIMBABWE has no kit. It would seem that the nation finds it easy to buy cars for the chiefs but not testing kit.
The virus shakes the whole nation and it’s ripples will be felt in the long future. The identification of each case can save multiple lives but our ministry of health is actively suppressing the figures. Surrendering to the pandemic and hiding the figures simply is not an option. It only downs the spread reality of the virus, rather than taking the steps needed to halt it entirely. The predictable overcrowding of places will soon expose the folly of such complacency.
On the economic front, a severe recession in Zimbabwe can no longer be avoided, and some economists are already calling for government to introduce measures to shore up aggregate demand. But that recommendation is inadequate, given that Zimbabwean economy has been suffering from an unprecedented supply shock. People are not at work because they are sick or quarantined but because there are no jobs. In such a situation, demand stimulus will merely boost inflation, potentially leading to stagflation (weak or falling GDP growth alongside rising prices), as happened during the 2008 when everybimportant production input was in short supply.
Worse, measures targeting the demand side could even be counterproductive, because they would encourage interpersonal contact, thus undermining the effort to limit transmission of the virus. What good would it do to give People money for shopping trips, when the government closes the shops and forces everyone to stay at home?
What is really needed are fiscal measures to save companies and banks from bankruptcy, so that they can recover quickly once the pandemic is over. Policymakers should be considering various forms of tax relief and public guarantees to help firms borrow if necessary. But the most promising option is a short-time work allowance. Better yet, it costs hardly anything, because it prevents the losses that would follow from increased real unemployment.
Believe it or not ZIMBABWE is going to be in a very precarious predicament with this virus. If the virus comes with the vigour and harshness it has now ZIMBABWE will bury tens of thousands more than those killed by cholera.
The aftermath of the Corona virus will call for the overhaul of the whole ministry of finance. On the same hand the ministry of Health must take the bull by its hands and push for a budget which must cover the construction and renovating of hospitals.
Zimbabwe’s health system resembles a dog’s breakfast and must be corrected now. All what we can do now is to put the whole nation before God and only have faith in Hod for no human being can save the nation from the ravaging virus.
It will be unwise to blame any one for this virus. It came without any fault of the human but it is beyond humanity.
Let us all brace for the hard times. Yes hard times do not kill but it is indeed hard.
BY DR MAXWELL SHUMBA ZIMFIRST PRESIDENT | Zimbabwe has been groaning under the pains of corruption cronyism and relentless looting by ZANU PF and its vampires. As Zimbabweans we hoped for a land of milk and honey managed by ourselves for our selves Alas the liberators became the oppressors who only wanted to see their families and their stomachs fed. They have taken ZIMBABWE back into Stone Age. In 2020 ZIMBABWE is the only country with no electricity no running water and no legitimate government.
Zimbabweans had hoped for a change through MDC but the death of Tsvangirai saw the death of purpose in MDC. The new crop who took over became engrossed in self aggrandising projects introducing internal power struggles and completely forgetting their purpose of existence.
Zimbabwe cannot suffer under these blood sucking perverts for long. In the new dispensation ZIMBABWE hoped to see criminals surrounding Mugabe to be brought to book. But sadly ZIMBABWE saw the criminals surrounding Mugabe taking the throne and surround themselves with merciless criminals who are ten times criminal than the ones they pushed away.
Your tears Zimbabwe have reached the hearts of your children. Now ZIMFIRST has come to wipe away all tears. We have come to put ZIMBABWE back on track. We have come to restore the lost glory. We have come to regain the lost pride of Zimbabwe. On this purpose ZIMFIRST begs you to stand up and be counted. You are the builders of the walls of Zimbabwe. ZIMFIRST calls you to join the ranks of those dedicated to give ZIMBABWE its shining armour.
Zimbabweans are now servants in places you had never dreamt of. Zimbabweans are being treated very bad in their own country by the Chinese and a number of foreign bosses. The nation has been sold by the corrupt leadership.
Your freedom must be watered by your blood and sweat.
For that reason ZIMFIRST says. ZIMBABWE IS PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE ARE ZIMBABWE. Therefore it is our duty you and me to free ourselves from the bondage of the evil regime full of corrupt menacing vampires.
As ZIMFIRST we value
HONESTY:
Enact safeguards to ensure a government that focuses on programs that guarantee economic prosperity and democratic freedom, rather than pursuing personal arbitrary agendas.
Provide a government which communicates to its citizens on all matters that affect them.
ACCOUNTABILITY:
Enact democratic and electoral reforms to ensure that our government is accountable for the decisions it makes.
Create checks and balances to ensure that the country’s resources are only used to benefit the nation and not a select few privileged individuals.
Put in place control systems which curb abuse of power by those high offices.
UNITY
Promote the disuse of hate language in political discourse.
Promote diversity in all areas of life that Zimbabweans engage in.
Promote an ideology that places the people and the country first.
ZimFirst Party:
Rejects the current policy of partisan distribution of productive land to ZANU PF members. The land reform process primary focus is to reduce food insecurity and should reward existing commercial farmers, as well as help new farmers.
Reconstituted Ministry of Land Reform will oversee a program of fair and equitable land redistribution.
Embark on ambitious Agrarian Revival program to commercialize all arable agricultural land and build village cities to create markets for produce and new jobs for the revitalized processing industry.
All individuals who illegally acquired property from dispossessed farmers will be solely responsible
for compensating the loss of property at market value adjucated to the courts.
Government will support new farmer:
Setting up infrastructure before resettlement
Facilitate issuance of title deeds for land tenure
Facilitate easy access to affordable loansto finance agricultural related activities.
The two main political parties which dominate Zimbabwean politics, at all levels, now faces a continuing challenge from ZIMFIRST. Such alternative to the main parties, however, have been a long-standing feature of the political landscape at both national and local levels. Yet, little is known of the way in which smaller parties and independent politicians contribute to politics and government and the impact they have on the functioning of democracy and institutions’ governance. Moreover there is an absence of a conceptual framework within which to assess and understand the world of small party and independent politics.
ZIMFIRST is a party of persons organized to acquire and exercise political power and free ZIMBABWE from the bondage of slavery brought upon us by ZANUPF. We therefore ask you to join us today. This fight is for your future your children your great grand children. You and me have work to do. Join us today we will together change ZIMBABWE.
Let us come together and recognise ourselves as a people who deserve better.
ZIMFIRST comes to you because without you we will not get anything. You and me are the missing gap in the freedom of Zimbabwe and your freedom.
As of now do not worry about what you can do for Zimbabwe just join ZIMFIRST.
ZIMFIRST calls you you are very important to us. You and me have a job todo.
The MDC Youth Assembly would like to state it categorically without fear of contradictions that Mr Mwonzora and Mr Morgen Komichi have automatically lost their positions in the MDC after deciding to join Thokozani Khuphe’s Zanu PF project.
The two know very well that they cannot speak on behalf of the party when there are organs responsible for that.
They went on without the people’s mandate to tarnish the image of the party by addressing members of the media and announcing some imaginary standing committee leadership outside that of the 2019 elected leaders.
Our President is Advocate Nelson Chamisa
This behavior amounts to indiscipline and we as the Youth assembly have the moral and political responsibility to defend our movement from such captured elements.
While due process is being taken, MDC members should not interact or communicate with these sellouts and modern day Morison Nyathi’s of the Zimbabwean struggle.
The duo is therefore barred from visiting and meeting our party structures and entry at any of our offices including our Headquarters Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House.
We wish to reiterate that the captured judiciary cannot purport to give us a leadership. Our party’s leadership comes from the people and we held our Congress in May 2019, which elected President Nelson Chamisa and the rest of the people’s leadership.
It has been a pleasure working with you and we wish you all the best. .
UNITED KINGDOM based, famed radio personality Ezra Tshisa Sibanda has started a crowd funding campaign for Thorngrove Infectious Disease Hospital.
The campaign has so far raised US$5 600 of the targeted US$22 000 which will go towards capacitating the hospital with beds, linen and personal protective equipment (PPE) for medical staff.
“The Covid-19 situation in Zimbabwe requires the efforts of multiple players as the need on the ground is greater than anyone can comprehend.
We can have as many organizations or individuals as possible fundraising for the same cause, no problem at all with that and must be welcomed because the biggest winners at the end of the day will be our health institutions.
“We are fundraising as a team for Thorngrove Hospital, the only infectious disease hospital covering five provinces.
The hospital is in bad shape and needs everything from testing kits, protective equipment to beds,” Sibanda wrote on his Facebook timeline.
He said the initiative was above board as they were in communication with hospital authorities and the Mayor of Bulawayo Solomon Mguni. Sibanda appealed to well-wishers to donate.
”We encourage you, in your own community or networks, to help us fundraise for Covid-19 response in our beloved City of Bulawayo.
POLICE have warned people illegally setting up shebeens in the country’s suburbs during the 21-day lockdown, saying offenders will be arrested.
The lockdown, a principal measure announced by President Mnangagwa in his address to the nation on Friday, comes as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has risen to seven and claimed one.
To ensure compliance, police deployed officers across the country.
Police national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday hailed citizens across the country for heeding the directive.
He said police had gathered intelligence that some individuals were planning to illegally operate shebeens.
“Generally, the public has complied with the directive throughout the country,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“However, we have received information that some people are planning to set up shebeens in the country’s two major cities.
Those people are warned against breaching the lockdown directive and they risk being arrested.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said mechanisms were already in place to monitor the situation.
He said some isolated incidents of defiance were recorded in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane and Cowdry Park suburbs, but people who were walking aimlessly were peacefully dispersed.
“We will continue to monitor the situation across the country and we urge everyone to comply with the directive so that we can overcome this challenge in a peaceful manner,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.-State media
