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Farai Dziva|Police details have literally camped at the MDC offices in the capital, Harare, it has emerged.

“The police have now sealed our offices. 4 riot police trucks are parked right in front of our offices,” tweeted MDC Secretary General Charlton Hwende.

“Ms Khupe has just announced that the Supreme Court judgement will be issued at 3pm…

Her supporters already celebrating and have attempted a hostile takeover of the MRT Building this morning.

All Courts are supposed to be closed #COVID19 & our lawyers have not been informed,” argued Hwende.

Farai Dziva|The MDC Youth Assembly says it will resist attempts by Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government to “seize the people’s project.”

“Nelson Chamisa is in charge and we the people are happy to keep him charge!

The people’s choice, Nelson Chamisa the people’s President,” declared MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Tererai Obey Sithole.

“Any attempt to destabilize the People’s project will be thwarted,” said MDC youth organising secretary, Godfrey Kurauone.

By Jane Mlambo| Police have announced that they arrested 19 people on day one of the 21-day lockdown including a Chitungwiza resident who stoned a police vehicle.

The police said about 200 people in Highfields tried to force their way onto a market, pelting the police with stones before they were dispersed.

Below is the full police statement signed by Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police applauds Zimbabweans who took heed of the Government’s call for a 21 day lockdown in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Generally, people have complied with the call to stay home, only those offering essential services and those with exemptions are allowed to move from one point to the other.

Of concern are some acts which been handled by the police resulting in the arrest of 19 people for operating shebeens, a bar, public drinking and various traffic offences.

In Highfields, at Lusaka Produce market, 200 vendors tried to force their wat into the market pelting police officers with stones but were later dispersed. In Chitungwiza, police dispersed 70 people who had gathered at Unit H Shopping Centre. In the process Luckson Rukainga (28) was arrested for stoning a police vehicle.

We urge members of the public to continue complying with lockdown measures and to cooperate with police officers as the country strives to curb the spread of this deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

MDC-T President Thokozani Khupe

I’ve just received a call from my lawyer @ProfMadhuku informing me that the SC, judgement will be handed down today @ 3pm. I call upon our members & supporters to remain calm & accept whatever the outcome of judgement is. In unity let’s renew & build our great Party and Country!

MDC Secretary General: Charlton Hwende

Ms Khupe has just announced that the Supreme Court judgement will be issued at 3pm today. His supporters already celebrating and have attempted a hostile takeover of the MRT Building this morning. All Courts are supposed to be closed #COVID19 & our lawyers have not been informed

We don’t know why Ms Khupe is celebrating when she is not a member of MDC. Our Lawyers as at 11:45 had no knowledge of this judgement and are now busy checking with the Court.

Political Commentator Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya

When I got news of the @nelsonchamisa Vs Khupe ruling in the morning to be deliver at 1500hrs from an informant who appears to know the outcome, I argued with him. He logged off and says LATER. If what he tells me happens which is that Khupe won case, then JUDICIARY is in chaos

The judgement today will have an huge impact on the judiciary in Zimbabwe. Politically @nelsonchamisa won this case and what ever the regime does is inconsequential. This is a political matter that the masses, MDC members will determine not a court of law, NEVER

Former Zanu PF Politiburo Member Professor Jonathan Moyo

Your post criminally betrays your advance knowledge of the brutum fulmen judgment. You last used this account in April 2018 before your congress where you became MDC-T President, today you’re MDC-T Acting President, again. #Coronavirus lockdown or not, judgment changes nothing!

Journalist and Documentary Producer Hopewell Chin’ono

If this is true, then it shows how Zimbabwe’s judiciary & the State are thoroughly irresponsible & reckless! To issue a judgment with political connotations when we are fighting Covid-19 is stupid. The State will be responsible for anything that happens thereafter! It is madness!

By Farai D Hove| ANALYSIS | At a time when it is illegal to open the courts, Luke Malaba panel judge, Bharat Patel is this afternoon delivering the verdict set to destroy MDC President Nelson Chamisa forever, as legal projectors allege.

Last year Thokozani Khupe’s lawyer Prof Lovemore Madhuku told ZimEye he is confident of a victory against Chamisa. By this morning, Khupe had already tweeted a celebratory message saying she is ready to build the country and the party.

The development comes as Zimbabwe is on day 2 of its 21 Day Lockdown following confirmations of coronavirus in the country which claimed son to Zimbabwean telecommunications mogul and businessman James Makamba’s son Zororo.

The ruling, was reserved on October 23 2019 following a decision by Justices Paddington Garwe, Antoinette Guvava and Bharat Patel in a matter in which Chamisa is accused of having grabbed power illegally.

Chamisa ascended to the MDC leadership in February 2018 when party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai was on his deathbed in South Africa, leading to a fallout between his then co-Vice President colleagues Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri.

Both parties to the matter have been called to the Supreme Court this Tuesday at 2.30pm, and Senator Morgen Komichi is tipped to address the media immediately after the ruling, according to impeccable sources.

In May last year, the High Court ruled that breakaway politician and MDC founder Thokozani Khupe was the legitimate head of the country’s main opposition.

The High Court decision followed a challenge filed earlier by a Gokwe-based party activist, Elias Mashavira.

Aggrieved by the High Court outcome, Chamisa and his then deputy, Morgen Komichi appealed the ruling through the Supreme Court.

He cited as respondents, Mashavira, Elias Mudzuri and Khupe,

Mudzuri was appointed co-Vice President by Tsvangirai in 2016 while Khupe was elected during a party congress in 2014.

Komichi was the elected chairman in the 2014 congress, and has recently been sidelined by Chamisa, leading to him pinning his hope on the Supreme Court ruling which according to sources will go against Chamisa.

“It’s a done deal; the Chamisa camp will he out of the Harvest House by end of today,” a source close to the developments revealed Tuesday morning.

The ruling, a lawyer told a local publication, will also see Chamisa’s camp losing party assets as well as.

Douglas Mwonzora, who was the party’s Secretary-General after defeating Chamisa at the October 2014 congress, is also set for a dramatic comeback after having been relegated to the back seat of the party when Chamisa transitioned to power.

By A Correspondent- A Supreme Court judge Justice Bharat Patel  is set to hand down a ruling this Tuesday afternoon that could forever change the power matrix in the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC.

The development comes as Zimbabwe is on day 2 of its 21 Day Lockdown following confirmations of coronavirus in the country which claimed son to Zimbabwean telecommunications mogul and businessman James Makamba’s son Zororo.

The ruling, was reserved on October 23 2019 following a decision by Justices Paddington Garwe, Antoinette Guvava and Bharat Patel in a matter in which Chamisa is accused of having grabbed power illegally.

Chamisa ascended to the MDC leadership in February 2018 when party founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai was on his deathbed in South Africa, leading to a fallout between his then co-Vice President colleagues Thokozani Khupe and Elias Mudzuri.

Both parties to the matter have been called to the Supreme Court this Tuesday at 2.30pm, and Senator Morgen Komichi is tipped to address the media immediately after the ruling, according to impeccable sources.

In May last year, the High Court ruled that breakaway politician and MDC founder Thokozani Khupe was the legitimate head of the country’s main opposition.

The High Court decision followed a challenge filed earlier by a Gokwe-based party activist, Elias Mashavira.

Aggrieved by the High Court outcome, Chamisa and his then deputy, Morgen Komichi appealed the ruling through the Supreme Court.

He cited as respondents, Mashavira, Elias Mudzuri and Khupe,

Mudzuri was appointed co-Vice President by Tsvangirai in 2016 while Khupe was elected during a party congress in 2014.

Komichi was the elected chairman in the 2014 congress, and has recently been sidelined by Chamisa, leading to him pinning his hope on the Supreme Court ruling which according to sources will go against Chamisa.

“It’s a done deal; the Chamisa camp will he out of the Harvest House by end of today,” a source close to the developments revealed Tuesday morning.

The ruling, a lawyer told a local publication, will also see Chamisa’s camp losing party assets as well as.

Douglas Mwonzora, who was the party’s Secretary-General after defeating Chamisa at the October 2014 congress, is also set for a dramatic comeback after having been relegated to the back seat of the party when Chamisa transitioned to power.

By Jane Mlambo| MDC-T President Thokozani Khupe has urged his party supporters to remain calm and accept the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling which will be handed down at 3pm today.

Khupe throws a celebratory while calling on people to build "the country" – seems she already knows the verdict is against @nelsonchamisa https://t.co/cWUSh6MN88

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 31, 2020

The Supreme Court is set to hand down the ruling in an appeal filed by the MDC led by Nelson Chamisa on the disputed party leadership.

If the ruling goes the Khupe way, she will assume the position of Acting MDC President pending a congress.

MDC President Nelson Chamisa has called on the government to provide safety nets and provisions for the vulnerable as the country face twin evils of poverty and Covid-19. He also said the country should stand firm and unite against this global pandemic.

For the first time, President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his rival, Chamisa, have agreed on something: a 21-day lockdown of Zimbabwe.

Mnangagwa said during his state of the nation (Sona) address on Friday night that, with effect from Monday, only essential services would be operational.

He said it was “time to put political differences aside” in the face of the coronavirus and the respiratory illness it causes, Covid-19.

Chamisa, who praised President Mnangagwa’s declaration of a total shutdown for 21 days beginning tomorrow, said there was a need for a raft of measures to assist those running small-scale businesses to survive the disruptions.

Chamisa told The Standard in an exclusive interview that Zimbabweans must rise above politics and mobilise international support needed to avert a disaster.

“We have to deal with exposed companies, small businesses and I know people will ask where the money comes from, but that is where there is need for mobilisation of international packages and that is why the ability to unite beyond politics is key because it will unlock new energy for the country and fresh impetus for the direction of the country,” Chamisa said.

“We need a raft of measures and mechanisms to cushion our vulnerable people, the unemployed and the elderly.

“It is important to have this lockdown and it must be used to reflect on a number of issues to build our capacity and continue isolating the disease and also cushion groups without jobs like vendors and the informal sector so that they survive.”

Mnangagwa had come under attack from Zimbabweans for delaying announcing the full lockdown. His latest decision got a buy-in from health practitioners.

-Online

UK: family announces Zimbabwean Pastor has died during #COVID plague pic.twitter.com/s4lzcnv3gp

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 31, 2020

Student journalist, Tatenda Julius who is attached at Pungwe News (New Ziana) was yesterday arrested while taking pictures of lockdown in Dangamvura.

Police accused him of practising journalism without a press card.

According to MISA Zimbabwe, efforts by both the Newspaper to prove that the student journalist works for the publication proved fruitless as the police were adamant that the courts should free the reporter.

By A Correspondent- Great Zimbabwe University responds to Covid-19 crisis through the manufacture of hand sanitizers for use in the fight against the deadly COVID-19.

This comes a day after Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) unveils its first locally made ventilator. Local solutions to fight the COVID-19 virus will go along way in helping communities through affordable sanitizers.

‘We are going to comment after we have made enough supply ‘ said Great Zimbabwe

A picture posted on Open Parly Twitter account shows a busy Mbare suburb with kids playing soccer in defiance of a government order to stay home and keep social distance.

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.

He urged couples to observe peace during lockdown and to resolve their conflicts peacefully.

“We expect couples to behave responsibly and avoid violence during the 21-day period,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

“If anyone turns violent, we will move in and ensure the law takes its course.”

Asst Comm Nyathi urged people queuing for liquefied petroleum gas and other products to observe the recommended social distance to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

-State media

By Jane Mlambo| The number of confirmed cases in Zimbabwe have increased by one to eight as the country enters day two of the 21-day lockdown announced by government to contain the deadly pandemic.

According to the ministry of health and child care, four of the eight cases were reported in Mashonaland East where a 52 year old male who returned into the country from Dubai infected three other persons.

One person has died as a result of COVID-19.

Zimbabwe has tested only 241 people amid calls for mass test exercise to ensure the lockdown completely deals with the pandemic.

THE value of the United States dollar against the Zimbabwe dollar on the parallel market has nosedived due to a drop in demand, economists have said.

The depreciation comes hardly a week after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) reintroduced the use of foreign currency for local transactions in addition to abandoning the managed floating exchange rate as part of the central bank’s measures to deal with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Parallel market rates for the US dollar, which had gone up to as high as 1 US$ to $41 for electronic transfers and US$ to $32 in cash last week, have since tumbled to as low as US$ to $34 for electronic transfers and US$ dollar to $25.

Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, economist Gift Mugano said the tumbling US$ rates on the parallel market was not surprising because there has been a drastic drop in demand due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

“The drop in rates is the function of demand. Demand is now very low because of the Covid-19 lockdown and there is a significant decline in the number of people who need US dollars considering that there is no significant production in industry,” Mugano said.

He added that there was no guarantee that the Zimbabwe dollar would remain in use post-lockdown.

“This development has two end possibilities. After the lockdown, the Zimbabwean dollar might be wiped out for good because the economy would have dollarised on its own.The government might have been too embarrassed to admit that the local currency has failed and are hiding behind Covid-19. It is very possible that after this lockdown, retailers would have dollarised,” Mugano said.

RBZ re-introduced the use of foreign currency for domestic transactions in a bid to tap into private foreign currency savings as the country gears up for the battle against the novel coronavirus nine months after the government outlawed the use of foreign currency as legal tender.

Mugano said if the Zimbabwe dollar remains in use after the lockdown, it would lose value dramatically when demand for the US dollar shoots up as expected.

“If we do not have enough US dollars after the lockdown, we might be forced to continue using the Zimdollar and the US dollar parallel market rate will shoot up due to huge demand.However, chances are that the Zimbabwean dollar has no possibility of holding fort,” he said.

Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) executive director Janet Zhou told the Daily News that there was currently little or no demand for US dollars due to the lockdown.

“I doubt that we will do away with the Zimdollar, but we may continue with the multi-currency system because the Covid-19 impacts are not just short term; there are long term economic impacts to grapple with. I do not think the government is in a position yet to pay its employees in US$ hence completely wiping out the local currency may not work at this stage,” Zhou said.

Daily News

Own Correspondent|Activist and former Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association leader Dr Peter Magombeyi has jumped the gun and declared that 5 people have died from coronavirus in Zimbabwe.

Magombeya who is currently living outside the country ignored the new Coronavirus Regulations set up by government and criminalise anyone other than government officials from giving Coronavirus information.

The activist who was last year kidnapped in Harare by suspected state security agents and was later found alive and disoriented, dumped about 33 km out of Harare in a placed called Nyabira, says he has evidence to prove his claim.

Magombeya is alleging that the Ministry of Health is leaving some details which they are not telling the public about the Coronavirus statistics in the country.

There has been so much rumour about the government giving false numbers of the victims of this deadly disease. Many believe there are more deaths than the two deaths the government is claiming so far.

Check the picture below

Government has set aside over $600 million to cover one million vulnerable households under a cash transfer programme for the next three months, to mitigate the impact of Covid-19, which has seen Government ordering a 21-day total lockdown to contain its spread.

The Social Welfare Department will use its structures to identify the beneficiaries under the facility.

Treasury has already provided $500 million to fight Covid-19 and is ready to attend to more requests.

Critically, Government has provided a further $50 million to Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) to prepare for Covid-19 and to cater for the health requirements of civil servants who are the majority of the Society’s members.

Additional resources will be provided when required, while productive sectors of the economy will get some tax incentives to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on their operations in particular, and the economy in general.

This was said by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in a statement yesterday.

“Vulnerable groups in our society are the most exposed under this Covid-19 crisis,” he said. “Accordingly, Treasury has set aside resources to cover one million vulnerable households under a cash transfer programme and payment will commence immediately.

“Treasury will initially be availing an amount of $200 million per month under a cash transfer programme over the next three months and both the amount and duration of payments will be reviewed as necessary. The Social Welfare Department will use its usual mechanisms to identify the beneficiaries.”

The intervention follows the realisation that some people in urban areas survive on vending, which they cannot do at this point given the lockdown.

Prof Ncube said they were engaging the Health Services Board and the Public Service Commission to urgently put in place a comprehensive insurance cover for all Government employees whose nature involves direct interaction with Covid-19 patients, in line with international best practices.

He said to augment resources required to alleviate the impact of Covid-19, they were redirecting capital expenditure allocations under the 2020 National Budget towards health-related expenditures, including water supply and sanitation programmes.

Prof Ncube said they will mobilise more resources, with the bulk required in forex, and they will work with the central bank in mobilising the resources.

In the initial stages, Treasury availed US$2 million for urgent and immediate-health related imports and will continue to mobilise and ring-fence the necessary foreign currency required for additional imports for the short to medium-term.

Government will continue to implement selected priority programmes and projects to sustain the economy, which include roads and dam construction, irrigation and water and sanitation projects.

Further, the 2 percent intermediated money transfer tax (IMTT), which is ring-fenced for social protection and capital development projects, will be channelled towards Covid-19 related mitigatory expenditures.

Prof Ncube said Treasury will ensure that Zimra expedites processes on refunds and requests for extension of the time period within which tax is payable without accruing interest and penalties for companies that shall experience Covid-19 related cash-flow challenges.

To cushion companies, Zimra is working on a programme to expedite processing of VAT refunds from the statutorily prescribed 60 days.

In recognition of the significance of the health sector, Government has availed a number of tax incentives for production and importation of essential drugs and health related capital equipment, as well as other medical supplies.

To enhance preparedness to fight coronavirus and guided by the United Nations Covid-19 Medical Supplies, Treasury has suspended duty and tax on various goods and services related to testing, protection, sterilisation, and other medical consumables.

Zimra will, with immediate effect, allow duty-free importation of the goods, pending gazetting of the necessary legal instrument.

The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) has been directed to review its procurement regulations with a view of facilitating speedy procurement of essential goods and services necessary to deal Covid-19.

Prof Ncube said Government was engaging and supporting the local industry to identify capacity to locally produce within the shortest possible time, basic food stuffs, and pharmaceuticals and provide services as an import substitution measure.

Government is also ring-fencing resources earmarked for mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure achievement of planned activities.

Treasury has directed the utilisation of the existing National Disasters Accounts to serve the purpose of the Covid-19 crisis.

Critically, Treasury has agreed to unfreezing over 4 000 health sector posts and creation of an additional 200 medical posts with a view of scaling up the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) has developed a ventilator which it is testing before trials begin, with the potential of making 40 such gadgets per day, while other tertiary institutions are already producing sanitisers and masks, as they join the fight against Covid-19.

A number of European governments have rejected Chinese-made equipment designed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Thousands of testing kits and medical masks are below standard or defective, according to authorities in Spain, Turkey and the Netherlands.

Europe has reported hundreds of thousands of cases of coronavirus.

HIT Vice Chancellor Engineer Quinton Kanhukamwe said yesterday that a team of engineers at his institution were working on a ventilator, which they were now improving.

“It’s true that our university has developed a ventilator,” he said.

“Our team is moving at speed to do trials. Be rest assured, we have this innovation and just recently Prof Fanuel Tagwira, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science, Innovation and Technology Development and Mr Nick Mangwana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services visited us to see the work we are doing.”

Zimbabwe urgently needs a large number of ventilators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to help the country fight the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Researchers at HIT and a number of universities in the country are reported to be working on urgent and diverse projects in response to the Covid-19.

All this is expected to help support the country’s healthcare delivery system in the wake of the escalating Covid-19.

Ventilators are crucial to fighting the worst symptoms of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

They are used to deliver room air or oxygen – enriched gas into the breathing circuit to treat patients with conditions like pneumonia or during mass casualty events.

Globally, there is a massive shortage of ventilators and surgical masks due to the crippling impact of the Covid-19.

The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo has also been roped in by the Government to do laboratory testing for coronavirus specimens.

NUST will help the National Reference Laboratory in Harare to confirm tests.

Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has launched a sanitiser production project that will supply the entire Masvingo province.

Production of the sanitisers by GZU’s School of Natural Sciences started yesterday after the institution responded to President Mnangagwa’s call for local institutions of higher learning to be hotspots for solutions to the country’s nagging challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

The university joined the anti-Covid-19 fray after sourcing a donation of 600 litres of ethanol from Lowveld sugar producer Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe.

This development gave fresh impetus to the fight against Covid-19 here after the Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira announced the donation of 160 knap-sacks for spraying public places across the province.

Speaking during the handover of sanitizers manufactured by his institution at GZU’s main campus yesterday, Vice Chancellor Professor Rungano Zvobgo appealed for more donations of raw materials for production of more sanitisers to fight Covid-19.

“We are in a state of war, which must be fought in all fronts,” he said. “The manufacturing of sanitisers by our School of Natural Sciences is GZU’s attempt to deal with the Covid-19 virus.”

At Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT), shortage of labour has affected production of face masks at its production unit.

Speaking to The Herald yesterday, the university’s spokesperson, Dr Musekiwa Tapera said the university, which has the capacity of producing more than 12 000 face masks a week, is producing at least 3 000 marks per day shift with shortage of manpower affecting the production.

Dr Tapera said as of mid-day yesterday, 2 000 masks had been supplied to two clients.

Although the university could not readily provide the manufacturing and retail costs, Dr Tapera said the retail price was cheaper and affordable, as a measure to provide the nation with enough masks to protect against the virus.

The project, which has been established at the university’s Department of Clothing and Textiles, is the institution’s complementary role to the Government as it helps to curtail the deadly Covid-19.

Zimbabwe has seven confirmed cases of Covid-19, one of which resulted in death.

Government has gazetted the amended statutory instrument allowing the wider use of foreign currency in the country.

This follows the fixing of the official exchange rate to US$1:$25 by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) last week.

The amended Statutory Instrument, Exchange Control (Exclusive Use of Zimbabwe Dollar for Domestic Transactions) (Amendment) regulations, 2020 now captures payment for goods and services using free funds.

“In this section, free funds bear the meaning given to that term in Statutory Instrument 109 of 1996, and includes funds lawfully held or earned in foreign currency by any person. Not withstanding these regulations, any person may pay for goods and services chargeable in Zimbabwe dollars, in foreign currency using his or her free funds at the ruling rate on the date of payment,” reads part of the SI.

It further says the payments can be done electronically through a foreign currency account or in cash or through any electronic payment platform.

Regulations banning compulsory forex payments, however, remain in force.

To provide further relief to the public, the RBZ agreed with banks to suspend increases in charges for all electronic payments during the emergency and was now engaging mobile network providers to reduce their charges to promote electronic banking.

RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya said that the measures were part of Government interventions, in line with President Mnangagwa’s call on Monday for measures to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on Zimbabwe.

Dr Mangudya said the bank had made available an option to use free funds to pay for goods and services chargeable in local currency, taking into account limited forex resources negatively affecting balance of payments.

“The dispensation to use free funds will not only make payment for goods and services easier, but will also promote social distancing as banks will be able to provide digital financial services to their customers that include producers of gold, tobacco and cotton and recipients of diaspora remittances.”

State Media|Publication and communication of fake news concerning the Covid-19 pandemic will attract a jail term of up to 20 years.

This is contained in Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 titled Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) Order, 2020.

The SI was published by the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo in terms of the Public Health Act and in consultation with President Mnangagwa.

The SI was promulgated to give legal effect to the national lockdown restricting movement of people for 21 days, beginning yesterday up to April 19.

“For the avoidance of doubt any person who publishes or communicates false news about any public officer, official or enforcement officer involved with enforcing or implementing the national lockdown in his or her capacity as such, or about any private individual that has the effect of prejudicing the State’s enforcement of the national lockdown, shall be liable for prosecution under section 31 of the Criminal Law Code (“Publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State”) and liable to the penalty there provided, that is to say a fine up to or exceeding level 14 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 20 years or both,” reads the SI.

A number of fake messages concerning incidences of the virus in the country have been rife on social media.

The SI has four parts dealing with various issues that is provisions on the interpretation and scope of order, national lockdown and prohibition of gatherings, border closure orders and general issues.

Constitutional law expert Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the SI was important to ensure that Government conforms with the Constitution.

“The Constitution requires that anything that Government does it has to be done in terms of the law,” Prof Madhuku said.

“It was therefore necessary to have that SI to satisfy an act of Government that limits fundamental rights that are set out in the Constitution.”

He added that all countries that have declared lockdowns have had to pass legislation to justify their actions.

Another lawyer, Mr Obert Gutu concurred saying: “It wouldn’t have been legal to call for a national lockdown without providing for the necessary legal requirement of promulgating an appropriate SI.

“Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy and, therefore, every action of Government, if it will be legal and constitutional must, of necessity, be anchored on the laws of the country.”

The SI has four parts with Part I dealing with the title, interpretation and scope of order, Part II dealing with national lockdown and prohibition of gatherings, Part III providing for border closure orders and Part IV general issues.

According to the SI the lockdown that began yesterday will run until April 19.

During the period, individuals would be confined to their homes and may only leave to buy basic necessities at a supermarket or food retail store, or fuel or gas at a fuel or gas retail outlet, within a radius not exceeding five kilometres or the nearest establishments if those within the radius are closed.

However, only one person per household would be permitted to leave the house for the above purposes.

Individuals are also permitted to leave their homes to buy at pharmacies within a five kilometre radius or the nearest establishment if the first one is closed or does not have required medicines in stock.

People working in organisations providing essential services are also permitted to leave their homes to go to work including those working for foreign missions or agencies.

Foreigners, residents or protected subjects of a foreign nation visiting missions of countries they are citizens, residents or subjects are also exempted from the lock down order.

The SI also ordered the closure of every business except those providing essential services that include but not limited to pharmacies, laboratories, banking institutions, payment and money transfer services, supermarkets and food retail stores, fuel outlets and health care providers.

Other business operations that are exempted include those in transport services engaged in the carriage of staff for essential services, the carriage of sick persons to hospitals and other health care providers, and the transport of water, food, fuel, basic goods, medical supplies needed to combat Covid-19 and other medical supplies.

Public transport services, whether intra-city or inter-city, for the passengers shall be restricted to those provided by Zupco vehicles operated by or on behalf of the Public Service Association, the Police Service, the Defence Forces and the Civil Protection Authorities.

Commuter omnibuses and other passenger service vehicles operated or chartered by local authorities for their staff for essential services, the carriage of sick persons to hospitals and other health care providers, and the transport for provisions needed to combat Covid-19 and other medical supplies are also exempted.

“Every individual found outside his or her home shall have the burden of proving, to the satisfaction of an enforcement officer, that he or she is covered by any of the exceptions listed in subsection or is acting under demonstrably exceptional circumstances,” reads part of the SI.

Any person who contravenes the lockdown order would be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level twelve or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or to both.

The SI also bans gatherings of more than two people however, in circumstances where they are allowed to gather there should be not more than 50 people and should also observe social distancing.

Gatherings that are permitted include funeral services, people carried within a transport service vehicle provided the social distancing rule is possible and individuals in supermarkets, hospitals among others.

The SI empowers enforcement officers to disperse people breaking the rule on gathering or order gatherings to comply with the social distancing rule.

“Any person partaking at a gathering or convener there of who partakes in or convenes a gathering knowing that such gathering is prohibited refuses to disperse from a gathering after being ordered to disperse or refuses to observe the social distancing rule after being ordered to do so in terms of subsection shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fi ne not exceeding level 12 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year to both such fine and such imprisonment,” reads the SI.

Diplomatic visas, temporary residence permit or employment permit of every foreign national who, during the period of national lockdown, is permitted to be in Zimbabwe by virtue of that visa or permit is hereby extended so that the period of the national lockdown is not counted as part of the period during which they are permitted to be in Zimbabwe.

The SI also prohibits the hoarding at home or any other premises of medical supplies needed to combat COVID-19 and food in excess of what is needed to be stored for himself or herself and his or her family during the period

of the national lockdown.

People contravening the provision would be liable to a level 12 fine, a year imprisonment or both.

State Media|MPILO Central hospital was yesterday turning away patients as the out patients department is closed and the casualty unit is only attending to emergency cases.

When a Chronicle news crew arrived at the medical institution, security personnel were turning away prospective patients at the pedestrian entrance, telling them that the hospital was only attending to emergency cases.

This is despite the fact that guards have no expertise to determine whether a case is an emergency or not.

Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical Director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the security personnel turning away patients were acting on instructions.

He said the hospital was only serving people whose lives were under threat due to sickness.

Dr Ngwenya said people who could manage to walk to the hospital entrance were not classified as emergency cases.

“The guards were OK to turn away some people who came to the entrances. We were only taking emergencies as the situation is dire. And by emergency, we mean someone who is at a point of life and death and someone who can walk to the hospital entrance is surely not an emergency case. Emergency cases usually come by ambulance or are brought to the hospital by care givers. Even for those who will come by ambulance, we will still assess if they are indeed emergency cases, because some may take advantage and call an ambulance for a minor sickness,” said Dr Ngwenya.

Dr Ngwenya urged members of the public to bear with the hospital, which he said was understaffed and trying to protect patients admitted by limiting numbers frequenting the institution. “People must understand that this situation is different and we need to minimise numbers by all means. Already we are struggling as a hospital and we are understaffed. Imagine if we allow too much in and out movement and then we have this Covid-19 at Mpilo, it could be disastrous,” he said.

At the main entrance, the security personnel were screening people with some gaining entry while some people were turned back.

A number of people sat outside the hospital gates, seemingly contemplating their next move after failure to gain entry into the hospital grounds.

A woman who spoke to Chronicle, Mrs Sanele Nkomo, said she was turned away as she had come to get a growth on her foot checked.

“I have this growth on my left foot and it has been growing most of the time. There is no pain, but sometimes it gets painful especially if I wear closed shoes for some time. Someone advised me to seek medical attention as it could get cancerous. But when I arrived at the gate, the security guard said right now the hospital is only attending to life and death situations so I must come after this emergency decree is suspended,” she said.

At the United Bulawayo Hospitals, the news crew observed patients being allowed into the hospital.

My Fellow Zimbabweans
In life we all must face problems and challenges which are beyond our making; that have been forced upon us.

Currently Covid-19 is no longer a mere challenge in many countries around the world.

It is far worse than a mere challenge, an out of control problem, in fact a pandemic that is taking thousands of lives daily.

I say this not to induce fear in your hearts, but that you appreciate the gravity of the situation.

Thousands of lives, in some of the most advanced nations in the world; from East to West, have been lost.

We have an opportunity to ensure that this challenge, which currently exists, does not become insurmountable.

Many countries tragically reacted too late. And today they are facing the consequences.

As your President, I have chosen to tackle this challenge before it becomes a problem of insurmountable proportions.

I have declared a 21-day lockdown to stop the spread of this virus which has reached our land; the lockdown began today.

During these 21 days, Government will work tirelessly to make sure that we are ready to face all scenarios. We must make sure that our medical teams are equipped and protected, and that our hospitals are prepared. That our citizens are ready.

Let’s be clear, food suppliers and food stores will remain available and open. Medical supplies will remain open and available.

A list of vital industries will ensure that the lights remain on, and that the economy’s heart continues to beat, even if it is at a much slower pace.

I repeat, if you need to leave your homes to buy food and medicines, you will be able to.

The security services will be enforcing the lockdown with a listening ear. Their job is to help, to protect and to keep us all safe.

But my Zimbabwean brothers and sisters, all this is in your hands. I know it is not easy.

This 21-day lockdown is not a punishment, it cannot be avoided. It is an opportunity to save lives. We have 21 days right now to save thousands of lives. And how will we save those thousands of lives? By acting responsibly, and by staying at home. By washing your hands and by keeping at least 2 metres distance from one another.

Those who must work, please work responsibly, keeping your distance wherever necessary. Wear masks and gloves. Wash your hands thoroughly.

I want all of you to spend the next 21 days acting as if you already have the virus, as if YOU are a carrier. Would you want to infect your friends? Would you want to infect your families? Would you want to infect your countrymen?
Of course not.

So keep your distance — two metres away from each other. Don’t touch your face. Again . . . Wash your hands. Stay at home!

My Fellow Zimbabweans,
We have been witness to the tragedy unfolding before us, nation after nation. With the virus already here in Zimbabwe, we have no time to lose; we must act now.

For every day we do not act, for every day we continue our lives as normal, the virus will spread, infecting more and more people.

This was not an easy decision to make. But this is the right decision. Our economy will survive. Our economy will recover. But right now, nothing is more dear to me, nothing is more sacrosanct, than the lives of the people of Zimbabwe.

We can emerge from this a strong and healthy nation.

God Bless You!
And God Bless the Nation of Zimbabwe!

Farai Dziva|MDC president Nelson Chamisa has urged the nation to remain calm as lockdown begins.

See full statement below:
For many of us this lockdown is a decision between livelihood and health. The challenges we face are real but the threat of ignoring this virus will be catastrophic.

It remains our responsibility to provide safety nets and provisions for the vulnerable.

Zimbabwe faces twin evils of poverty and Covid-19.Many live from hand to mouth. Hunger might be what kills people first

We are living in difficult times. The entire world is engulfed by a pandemic – COVID19. This disease is real. It does not discriminate.

Public health systems across the world, including ours, are overwhelmed. This is why it is important to do everything we can to prevent the spread of the virus.

Given the essential nature of food markets, decentralised and monitored markets which allow informal traders to fend for their families while practicing social distancing and WHO hygiene protocols should be encouraged under the supervision of the assigned officials.

We continue to urge government to assist in ensuring food is reaching the most vulnerable communities. We must consider the existing fragilities of our society.

Those in the private sector that are chipping in to help, please do it for your country. We thank all those in the international community who have supported the people of Zimbabwe. We continue to need more support. I see efforts by fellow citizens fundraising for this great cause. We thank you.

Please support these efforts. Every dollar counts.

This is an opportunity for Zimbabweans to UNITE and for all players to come together to provide localised solutions.

Zimbabweans do not have to make the impossible choice of whether to stay indoors or feed their families.

We must be good neighbours and good neighbours look after each other.

Small businesses will also need strong stimulus packages to keep them viable and protect those they employ.

There are no winners in times of crisis, there are only men and women who stood firm and sacrificed in the short term for a chance to preserve the future.

Fellow Zimbabweans, this is our opportunity to tackle this virus before it tackles and consume us. Let us stand firm and unite against this global pandemic. It cannot be business as usual. We have to change our ways.

We have a duty not just to ourselves but to every person around us. Let us unite and close ranks. It’s not time to play the blame game.Citizens and corporates all hands on deck!

Let us practice basic hygiene. Let’s wash our hands regularly.

President Nelson Chamisa

#PrayForZimbabwe

Farai Dziva|Soccer Legend Peter Ndlovu has urged Zimbabweans to stay at home during the 21-day lockdown to combat the spread of Coronavirus.

“It is indeed difficult times for all and everyone throughout the world in tackling the coronavirus.

As we begin the lockdown for 21 days in our country, as announced by His Excellency President Mnangagwa,
I would like to thank in advance the Doctors, Nurses, Police and Army, not forgetting those at the garages and food stores who will be rendering service to us during this time.

We will survive as long as we people respect the call to stay at home, distance ourselves from social gatherings. Sanitise and keep washing our hands on a regular basis.

This way we can limit the spread and affirmatively promote the theme of Be safe and protect each other,” Ndlovu told Sunday News.

Farai Dziva|Masvingo based Chronicle correspondent, Walter Mswazie has died.

Mswazie passed on at a private hospital in Masvingo on Monday.

“Walter Mswazie, a Chronicle correspondent for Masvingo has passed on today.He has not been feeling well for sometime.Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course,” a senior Masvingo based journalist told ZimEye.com.

More to follow. ..

Farai Dziva|Masvingo based clergyman, Isaac Makomichi has said the formation of an inclusive government that includes Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnanganwa, MDC president Nelson Chamisa and G-40 kingpin Saviour Kasukuwere is the solution to the country’s economic crisis.

Makomichi said the three men should unite to enable the process of nation building to begin.

According to Makomichi, it is practically impossible for Chamisa to push Mnanganwa out of office while Mnanganwa needs the support of the youthful MDC leader and former Zanu PF Political Commissar, Kasukuwere in his bid to revive the economy.

” President Mnanganwa can fix the economy but masanctions anomutadzisa uye it seems like anogona kutadza kumabvisisa saka economy icharamba yakaoma..uye Chamisa kupinda mu government kunogona kumunetsa even achidiwa nevanhu,uyewo Kasukuwere ane support from business people or ma ideas,saka kuti zvifambe ngavakoshese vanhu kudarika kufuma kwavo or kutonga kwavo.

Saka vakabatana Zimbabwe ichaita the richest country in the world and I’m ready kuvabatanidza.

Vanhu vakakosha kudarika kuva mu office,” said Makomichi.

Farai Dziva|Outspoken Masvingo based clergyman, Isaac Makomichi, has claimed credit for causing national unity in the fight against the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.

Makomichi, the leader of Calvary Prayer Group, told ZimEye.com in an interview on Sunday, national unity against Coronavirus came as a result of his incessant intercession programmes.

Makomichi further claimed God revealed to him how Emmerson Mnangagwa, MDC leader Nelson Chamisa and Saviour “Tyson” Kasukuwere would come together to fight Coronavirus.

On Saturday Chamisa described the decision by Mnangagwa to lockdown Zimbabwe for 21 days as “wise and necessary.”

Makomichi described Kasukuwere as an industrious political figure who worked relentless to empower youths in the country.

He said he hoped Mnangagwa would appoint Kasukuwere as one of his advisors.

“Kasukuwere is an energetic political figure and the nation needs his brains.”

“A few weeks ago I indicated that God spoke to me about the need to invite Mr Nelson Chamisa and President Mnangagwa to a sacred prayer mountain.

“The two men are in agreement.This is what we saw as we were praying for the nation.

This unity against Coronavirus is a result of our prayers,”said Makomichi.

He added:”People don’t believe what we say but these are direct results of our prayers.We pushed for national unity in the spiritual realm.

Do not underestimate the prophetic power. More prophecies on Coronavirus and the nation are coming.”

“As you know Chamisa and Kasukuwere have already endorsed the lockdown on Twitter- this is the beginning of grand national unity.”

SA based business tycoon, Simon Madzana has also suggested senior government officials should donate their salaries for three months towards the fight against Coronavirus.

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Farai Dziva|The media fraternity has been plunged into mourning following the death of Masvingo based Chronicle correspondent Walter Bekithemba Mswazie.

Mswazie passed on at Makurira Memorial Clinic in the ancient city of Masvingo on Monday.He was unwell for some time.

Journalists and community leaders described Mswazie as a dedicated, composed and likeable character.

Community Working Group on Health has said Mswazie will be remembered his unwavering commitment to health matters.

“The CWGH is deeply saddened by the passing on of a Dear Friend and Colleague Walter Bekithemba Mswazie.

Walter joined CWGH Chipinge in 1999 as a Young Community Health Activist before relocating to CWGH Chimanimani, CWGH Bulawayo and later on CWGH Masvingo.

Even when he later on became a Journalist, Walter continued to support Community Health Programs and was passionate about Public Health, Primary Health Care and Universal Health Coverage.

He will be sadly missed.”

Former Masvingo Mirror reporter, Batsiranai Ngugama said:

“Shame, Mswazie my dear. You fought a good fight.

I know you endured the pain on that bed for quite some time. It was really painful to watch you feeling the pain. You were such a clergyman.

I worked with you very much positively. We were indeed close Mswazie. I will try to revisit all the news reports you did for our dear city.

Great man you were! May your dear soul rest in eternal peace.”

A TOTAL of 10 people were tested for Covid-19 in Matabeleland North province after they came into contact with the 38-year-old resident of the resort town who was the first to test positive of the virus almost a fortnight ago.

Health authorities traced all his possible contacts and specimens were collected from those reached.

Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Purgie Chimberengwa said the man remains the only confirmed positive case in the province after the other 10 tested negative.

He however bemoaned longer turnaround periods caused by suspension of airlines as the province now sends specimens by road to Harare.

“The first confirmed case in Zimbabwe was reported on a resident of Victoria Falls who had visited United Kingdom. He had a mild respiratory symptom and was put on symptomatic treatment and is recovering well from the illness.

“Contacts of the confirmed case were identified and specimens were collected from them.  The province managed to send 11 specimens to National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) in Harare and 10 came out negative including the ones that had been sent by road,” said Dr Chimberengwa.

The last two specimens were sent by road to Harare on Thursday and results came back negative on Saturday, said Dr Chimberengwa.

“The turnaround period for getting results will be longer as airlines have suspended flights into Victoria Falls.  We used to fly the specimens when airlines were still available but now, we send them by road. We preserve them in triple packaging for safety before sending,” he said.

He said Hwange District is the epicentre of Covid-19 in the province because of tourism activities in Victoria Falls and construction at Sino Hydro in Hwange where there are scores of Chinese.

“All the specimens were from Hwange District which is why most of our efforts are focused on the district.

Dr Chimberengwa said Hwange district has a designated ambulance and has been allocated 50 percent of disinfectants received a few days ago from Government and its partners, with the other six districts in the province sharing the remaining half.

Travelers are being screened at ports of entry with those requiring follow-up being monitored.

Dr Chimberengwa said the current challenge is non-disclosure of correct information by travelers possibly due to fear of being quarantined.

He said health teams are working flat out to follow-up on those put on self-quarantine.

“As a province we have competent staff that is collecting specimens which we are sending for processing. Currently we are left with two viral culture and transport media in Victoria Falls and we are in the process of getting more from the head office.

“We received some disinfectants and PPE that we have started distributing to all districts and of these, 50 percent will go to Hwange while the other half will be shared by other districts,” highlighted Dr Chimberengwa.

He said efforts are being made to capacitate the NMRL at Mpilo Central Hospital supported by the National University of Science and Technology to do testing for Covid-19 in Bulawayo and improve laboratory turnaround time than to continue sending specimens to Harare for laboratory confirmation and tests.

All districts in the province have been tasked are to identify temporary isolation facilities specifically for Covid-19 suspected cases before they are referred to an appropriate isolation facility. Each district needs a designated ambulance, it has been recommended.

Two provincial facilities have been identified in Victoria Falls for isolation and case management Covid-19 at ZAP Building and Mkhosana Clinic.

A Victoria Falls Taskforce team made of up private sector players and chaired by the municipality has been put in place to mobilise resources and raise awareness among residents as well as prepare the two sites.

Sensitization of communities is ongoing across the province while information, education and counseling material on Covid-19 including in vernacular, were distributed to all districts, said Dr Chimberengwa.

The first case of Covid-19 was reported in China’s Wuhan province on the 30th of December and the deadly virus has spread to every continent.

At State House where HE @edmnangagwa is set to brief the Nation on Day 1 of #LockdownZim pic.twitter.com/EUgpa4AnIe

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) March 30, 2020

Harare — “We are already ruined. What more harm can coronavirus do?” Irene Kampira asked as she sorted secondhand clothes at a bustling market in a poor suburb of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

People in one of the world’s most devastated nations are choosing daily survival over measures to protect themselves from a virus that “might not even kill us,” Kampira said.

“It’s 50 – 50 to die of coronavirus in the streets and 100% certain to die of starvation staying at home.”

Even as the country enters a “total lockdown” over the virus on Monday, social distancing is pushed aside in the struggle to obtain food, cash, cheap public transport, even clean water. The World Health Organization’s recommended virus precautions seem far-fetched for many of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people.

“It’s better to get coronavirus while looking for money than to sit at home and die from hunger,” Kampira said, to loud approval from other vendors.

The southern African nation has few cases but its health system is in tatters, and the virus could quickly overwhelm it. Hundreds of public hospital doctors and nurses have gone on strike over the lack of protective equipment. Many Zimbabweans are already vulnerable from hunger or underlying health issues like HIV, which is present in 12% of the population.

Last year a United Nations expert called the number of hungry people in Zimbabwe “shocking” for a country not in conflict. The World Food Program has said more than 7 million people, or half the country, needs aid.

Harare, like most cities and towns across Zimbabwe, has an acute water shortage and residents at times go for months, even years, without a working tap. Many must crowd communal wells, fearing the close contact will speed the coronavirus’ spread.

“If the taps were working we wouldn’t be here, swarming the well like bees on a beehive or flies on sewage. We are busy exchanging coronavirus here coughing and spitting saliva at each other,” said 18-year old Annastancia Jack while waiting her turn.

The government has closed borders and banned gatherings of more than 50 people while encouraging people to stay at home.

But the majority of Zimbabweans need to go out daily to put food on the table. With inflation over 500% most industries have closed, leaving many people to become street vendors. Zimbabwe has the world’s second-largest informal economy after Bolivia, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Police in recent days have tried to clear vendors from the streets, in vain. As in other African countries where many people rely on informal markets, a lockdown could mean immediate food shortages.

Once-prosperous Zimbabwe was full of renewed promise with the forced resignation in late 2017 of longtime leader Robert Mugabe. But President Emmerson Mnangagwa has struggled to fulfil promises of prosperity since taking power. He blames the country’s crisis in part on sanctions imposed on certain individuals, including himself, by the U.S. over rights abuses.

Daily necessities in Zimbabwe make social distancing an elusive ideal. In downtown Harare, hordes of people congregate at banks for cash, which is in short supply. Others pack public transport.

“We are the only ones practicing social distancing, we sit in our cars all day,” said Blessing Hwiribisha, a motorist in a fuel line snaking for more than a kilometer in the poor suburb of Kuwadzana.

“Look at them,” he said. He pointed at a supermarket across the road where hundreds of people shoved to buy maize meal, which has become scarce due to a devastating drought and lack of foreign currency to import more.

“What is happening in Zimbabwe is very scary. It’s like we are playing cards. Its either you win coronavirus or you win starvation,” said Tinashe Moyo at the supermarket. “I am very scared.”

Few health workers are available as doctors and nurses strike.

“There is a difference between being heroic and being suicidal,” said Tawanda Zvakada, president of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association.

Health workers described a lack of disinfectants, sanitizers and even water at hospitals.

And yet Health Minister Obadiah Moyo repeatedly says Zimbabwe is “well prepared” to deal with COVID-19 cases.

But frightened health workers cited the death of a prominent broadcaster at an ill-equipped isolation center specifically reserved for COVID-19 cases.

“They didn’t have a ventilator to help him,” Zvakada said. “The inability of our system to manage one patient is worrying. What about when there are 50 patients?”

Zimbabwe has has less than 20 ventilators to help people in severe respiratory distress, he said. He said the country needs hundreds to adequately deal with the virus.

“We see a situation where Zimbabwe can become a graveyard if we are not careful,” said Itai Rusike, director of the Harare-based Community Working Group on Health.

Associated Press

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

In the community we don't recommend the wearing of masks unless you yourself are sick, and as a measure to stop onward spread from you if you're ill. The masks that we recommend are for use at home if you're sick, and for those individuals whore taking care of those who're sick pic.twitter.com/iU7SZH8SYy

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 30, 2020

The people most at risk from this virus frontline health workers, says @WHO @WHO_Zimbabwe | #COVID19 @MoHCCZim pic.twitter.com/RFhRwKlpqo

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 30, 2020

Recognising that this #ZimLockdown will result in some households experiencing hardships. Govt has set aside money for cash payments to about a million households in Urban Areas. The rural food relief programs remain in place @ProfPMavima pic.twitter.com/cJhR0FK91x

— Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) March 30, 2020

Farai Dziva|Soccer Legend Peter Ndlovu has urged Zimbabweans to stay at home during the 21-day lockdown to combat the spread of Coronavirus.

“It is indeed difficult times for all and everyone throughout the world in tackling the coronavirus.

As we begin the lockdown for 21 days in our country, as announced by His Excellency President Mnangagwa,
I would like to thank in advance the Doctors, Nurses, Police and Army, not forgetting those at the garages and food stores who will be rendering service to us during this time.

We will survive as long as we people respect the call to stay at home, distance ourselves from social gatherings. Sanitise and keep washing our hands on a regular basis.

This way we can limit the spread and affirmatively promote the theme of Be safe and protect each other,” Ndlovu told Sunday News.

Farai Dziva|Masvingo based Chronicle correspondent, Walter Mswazie has died.

Mswazie passed on at a private hospital in Masvingo on Monday.

Efforts to establish the exact cause of death were fruitless at the time of writing.

“Walter Mswazie, a Chronicle correspondent for Masvingo has passed on today.He has not been feeling well for sometime.Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course,” a senior Masvingo based journalist told ZimEye.com.

More to follow. ..

By Dorothy Moyo| The 21 day lockdown imposed by South Africa which has now been copied by Zimbabwe, was on Monday morning criticised as a scheme for the rich which only they can fulfil. In street interviews carried out by ZimEye at the weekend, people scoffed at Mnangagwa’s order saying they find it impossible to observe.

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https://youtu.be/6X89oHxf9Ig

https://www.facebook.com/ZimEye/videos/501869980480427/

At least in South Africa they say it as it is and the army does not abuse citizens during a lockdown- people sharing a one roomed house are not going to stay inside: a mzanzi man explains to SkyNews today, “we have got a one roomed house that has got about six people or so it’s still the same, you can’t have 6 people stuck in side one room for the whole day.” WILL THE LOCKDOWN WORK THEN? WATCH VIDEO BELOW ..

By Parliamentary Affairs Reporter| Government officials who for 8 weeks to date have been publishing gross falsehoods on COVID-19 information, have said they will sentence anyone who propagates fake news on coronavirus during the upcoming national lockdown.

The Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri earlier this month claimed that the CoronaVirus is God’s punishment on ‘governments that have put sanctions on us.’ Barely days later, she is now heading the CoronaVirus Committee as Deputy Head.

1/2 -Oppah: This Coronavirus is a result of sanctions. These are sanctions brought by nations that impose sanctions on us. God is punishing them. They’re now trapped inside their houses. Nowhere to go. Their economies are now screaming,
the same way they are making ours suffer. pic.twitter.com/SbzEB8cXMA

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 14, 2020

The legal instrument is S.I 83 of 2020 and it comes as the government was deliberately twisting information on Coronavirus statistics. Their tampering of evidence has included the masking of identity details and as well, effecting soft treatment of Chinese patients so to appease the Asian country’s government – as Health Minister Obadiah Minister Obadiah Moyo said, ‘because the Chinese have been nice to us.’

Statistics of many people who have died from symptoms clearly described by the World Health Organisation have been avoided. They include that of a Colcom worker who collapsed and died while at work during the week as even officially confirmed by the company itself.

The S.I 83 imposes a sentence equal to that of treason on anyone who spreads “fake news” It reads:

“For the avoidance of doubt any person who publishes or communicates false news about any public officer, official or enforcement officer involved with enforcing or implementing the national lockdown in his or her capacity as such, or about any private individual that has the effect of prejudicing the State’s enforcement of the national lockdown, shall be liable for prosecution under section 31 of the Criminal Law Code (“Publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State”) and liable to the penalty there provided, that is to say a fine up tour exceeding level fourteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years or both.”

FULL TEXT BELOW:

(5) A magistrate or justice of the peace may issue a warrant contemplated in subsection (4) if it appears to him or her on oath or affirmation by an enforcement officer that any person is reasonably suspected of hoarding medical supplies needed to combat COVID-19.

(6) Any person taking advantage of the national lockdown to profiteer, or raise prices of goods or services or rents, shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by law for contravention of the appropriate statutory provisions.

Local authorities to make land or premises available for isolation and quarantine 13. By written order addressed to any local authority the Minister may require such local authority to set aside and malce available during the period of national lockdown any land or premises adequate for the quarantine or isolations of more than fifty (50) persons at a time who are infected with or suspected of being infected with COVID-19, and to comply with the directions of any specified enforcement officer for the management of such land or premises.
False reporting during national lockdown

14. For the avoidance of doubt any person who publishes or communicates false news about any public officer, official or enforcement officer involved with enforcing or implementing the national lockdown in his or her capacity as such, or about any private individual that has the effect of prejudicing the State’s enforcement of the national lockdown, shall be liable for prosecution under section 31 of the Criminal Law Code (“Publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State”) and liable to the penalty there provided, that is to say a fine up tour exceeding level fourteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years or both.

A journalist was arrested in Gweru on the first day of a 21-day coronavirus national lockdown on Monday, drawing condemnation from unions.

Freelance journalist Kudzanai Musengi was held at a checkpoint in the Midlands city and detained at Gweru Central Police Station after producing an expired press card, colleagues said.

He was released following the intervention of the information ministry, said government spokesman Nick Mangwana.

“The 2019 press cards are valid proof that one is a journalist, until after the lockdown. Letters have gone (to police and military commanders) asserting that position,” Mangwana said.

Local and foreign journalists working in Zimbabwe have yet to be accredited for 2020, after the government delayed in publishing new fees.

A statutory instrument containing the new accreditation fees was only published on March 27 – at the start of a weekend and just three days before the lockdown. The Zimbabwe Media Commission’s offices were closed Monday.

The Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) condemned Musengi’s arrest and called on the government to take greater steps to protect journalists doing their work.

“ZINEF is appealing to the government to ensure journalists’ safety during the lockdown. Journalists have been rightly exempted from movement restrictions because the government accepts that they are offering an enabling essential service in the fight against coronavirus,” ZINEF coordinator Njabulo Ncube in a statement.

Foster Dongozi, the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, said Musengi’s arrest was a “ridiculous development, very absurd.”

“We are in the middle of a global pandemic and here you have people worried about a journalist’s accreditation card which expired through no fault of his own, but that of the establishment that now locks him up,” Dongozi fumed.

“They said they were reforming media laws, and in the process delayed gazetting new fees for accrediting journalists and media houses, which was done only a few days ago.

“We have formally sent a protest to Rtd Major Anywhere Mutambudzi, the director of media services in the information ministry, who has assured us that they have advised security forces that journalists are using 2019 press cards. We have similarly engaged the national police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who says a radio has since been sent to all provinces indicating that journalists are using expired press cards. Our hope is that they get the message so that no other journalist suffers a similar, undeserved indignity.”

-Zimlive

Senior journalist Kudzanai Musengi was arrested in Gweru Central Business District this morning in the course of his official duties. Police accused him of practising as a journalist without valid accreditation.

Through our Legal Officer, Ms Nompilo Simanje, MISA Zimbabwe managed to communicate with Kudzanai Musengi who verified the position and highlighted that the police officers had been detaining him at Gweru Central Police Station since around 8:00 am only to release him around 10:45 am without charging him. Communication with a police officer at the station also confirmed the position.

It is a cause for concern that this journalist was arrested despite the existence of a directive by the Zimbabwe Media Commission which was released in January 2020 authorizing journalists to continue their operations using the 2019 accreditation until further notice. SI 79 of 2020 was only released on the 27^th of March 2020 with the new fees for accreditation of journalists.

As in our communique issued yesterday, in view of the COVID-19 lockdown, MISA Zimbabwe is appealing to the government, the police and other state security agents, to allow journalists covering the coronavirus situation in the country to be allowed to conduct their lawful professional duties without hindrance pending renewal of their accreditation cards in line with the new fees.

We, therefore, condemn in no uncertain terms the arrest of journalists who are exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights under section 61 of the charter.

MISA Zimbabwe also reminds media practitioners to utilise the MISA JournoSOS App as well as the MISA Panic Button App in the event of any violations. MISA Zimbabwe staff is also on standby to assist media practitioners injured or arrested in the line of duty.

Pictures below shows Zimbabwe’s second largest city on the first day of lockdown.

Residents have heeded the call to stay at home as part of measures to contain the deadly coronavirus.

Picture credit: CITE

1/10 The countdown to the lockdown is over but the govt remains clueless about how to fight the #coronavirus. This is because it’s in denial & ignorant about how the virus is spreading in Zim. To the govt, the lockdown is about “keeping up with the Joneses”; everyone is doing it! https://t.co/A0ZbVoZ482

2/10 Sadly, but not surprising, the govt is treating the lockdown as a law and order operation. Yet it should be a medical lockdown defined & visible by medical interventions to stem the spread of the #coronavirus backed by measures to safeguard livelihoods & protect the economy!

3/10 Evidence of govt’s ineptitude is scandalous. For example, @MoHCCZim, the presumed lead agency in the fight against the #coronavirus, has started the first day of the lockdown with an update that govt has done only 194 #COVID19 tests to date & that no test was done yesterday! https://t.co/lAMMIcI3ni

4/10 A medical emergency, meant to stem the spread of the #coronavirus pandemic, has been scandalously turned into a law & order operation to quarantine Zimbabweans in their homes when, sadly, the majority of them have no homes & live in overcrowded dwellings or in the streets!

5/10 Evidence that the lockdown is now a law & order operation is everywhere. Statutory Instrument 77 of 2020, the #COVID19 SI, lists police officers first, as “enforcement officers”. Medics, the real first responders, come second. The police & the information minister are happy! https://t.co/FHLJCOUb4F

6/10 Govt’s claim that “staying at home is the best remedy to #COVID19” is true for the elite; not for the homeless masses in informal settlements & those who live in crowded rooms in townships & in farm or mining compounds where the required social distancing is just impossible! https://t.co/KM1wyJ0uL0

7/10 Hard as this might be for the govt to stomach, there’s a clear & present need to enforce social distancing by quarantining in schools, colleges or hotels, the homeless in informal settlements & those who live in overcrowded rooms in the townships & farm or mining compounds!

8/10 Quarantining in public shelters the homeless & those in crowded spaces for the next 21 days would require the govt to feed them & cater for their medical needs. This would be real social distancing in the Zim context & would stem the spread of the #coronavirus & save lives!

9/10 In addition to lacking a social distancing strategy, the lockdown has no testing & treatment strategy. It’s criminal that as of 29 March, there were only 194 #COVID19 tests done. This alone is enough to show that the law & order lockdown is about keeping up appearances!

By Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa| Zimbabwe tonight will go on a countrywide lockdown following a worldwide outbreak of Covid -19 pandemic, an illness caused by the novel human corona virus.
The pandemic first emerged in China before spreading to all continents rapidly. Over 600 000 confirmed infections have been reported, with over 30 000 fatalities worldwide.

Many governments around the world have been undertaking mitigatory measures to cushion their respective countries from the adverse effects of the outbreak. Some were taken by surprise and found flat footed while some, quite many, were afforded a grace period to prepare for the marauding virus.

Among those countries that were given grace to prepare is Zimbabwe and indeed many African countries, with some yet to record any infections. However, as evidence shows, Zimbabwe was and still is not prepared for this pandemic that threatens to wreck havok in the southern African country whose healthcare infrastructure is destroyed and lies in comatose. In his words, President Mnangagwa, unashamedly remarked recently that the virus did not warn him and his government and as such, they are not prepared to deal with it. This is despite the fact that the disease first emerged late last year, November to br precise and only got to the southern parts of Africa in February and March.

To make matters worse, there is absence of leadership in Zimbabwe, with the governing party only concerned with consolidating power while the main opposition is in a race to replace the ruling party while maintaining the evil governance systems that have not only impoverished our socio political space but also destroyed a jewel of an economy in less than fifty years. The system has sown divisions, hatred that have seen the country being polarised with no hope of closing the gap.

Double standards and evidence of an opposition in a race for relevance at the expense of citizens are vivid from the photo expedition that was embarked on by its president at Wilkins Hospital, after which he gave thumbs up to the state of preparedness at the centre which he boasted his party owns and controls, only for tbe centre to fail yo provide the most basic of medical equipment needs such as a respirator and an electric wall socket to plug the appliance. Patient died due to this and in usual fashion, the same party disowned Wilkins and sought to blame central government for tbe horrible state of the hospital.

They had, previous to the Wilkins debacle, suddenly disowned Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo whose state is even more deplorable tban Wilkins. Member of Parliament for Bulawayo Central Nicolla Watson was at pains apportioning both responsibility and blame for the blatantly dismal failure to maintain infrastructure at Thorngrove to government. This has become the escape route the party takes whenever they are called to account in municipalities they control.

The corona virus pandemic finds Zimbabwe in this state in as far as leadership is concerned, with the two parties feeling too entitled to sharing power only between themselves, which they have agreeably done right at the expense of the poor people of Zimbabwe. Evil birds of a feather is the best description of these two, whose modus operandi has been patronage and ethnic politics.

Lies have been manufactured and extensively propagated using tbe media over which they have monopoly and domination. They have used lies to cover their collusion in many selfish agendas especially in parliament, where they literally are looting the legislature that is funded by the impoverished taxpayer and sharing the proceeds.

The other instance they are colluding is now, right in tbe middle of a world pandemic threatening to take millions of lives. The lockdown is as a result of collusion between Zanu PF and Mdca, not for tbe benefit of Zimbabweans but for them to furtber consolidate their stranglehold on the state.

The two know for certain the virus has exposed their ineptitude and failure, each in respective area they are expected to deliver. Zanu PF, as party in government, presided over the destruction of the countrys healthcare system since 1980. They presided over economic destruction for as long a period. The Mdca, on tbe other hand, presided over decay of major metropolitan municipalities, with service delivery eroded, infrastructure decay going unabated and taking Zimbabweans back to the stone age way of life in urban areas. The two achieved these embarrassing milestones through corruption, nepotism, looting and sheer incompetence to lead.

Now fearing the virus could cause a revolution in Zimbabwe, which it will, the two have come up with a way of suppressing dissent, popular disapproval and anger by calling for a lockdown when they know prety well Zimbabwe cannot afford one.

The first and most visible tale tell sign is the unexplained change of guard at the national Covid-19 Taskforce with ailing Vice President Chiwenga taking over from the clueless minister of health, its chairmanship right after landing from China, where he was seeking medication in the corona virus hotspot country. He did not have time to self isolate, of course, for reasons we all know. The inclusion in the task force of Oppah Muchinguri, who proudly and unashamedly displayed her lack of understanding of the pandemic also explains that the efforts are totally divorced from fighting the pandemic but is an operation to consolidate power and creating a reason to unleash the military into the streets.

Our unemployment rates are at over 96%, with the informal econony forcing citizens to live one day at a time and from hand to mouth. Our people have to work one day at a time to have a days meal. Our people can not afford to stock up food reserves for 21 days because they cannot afford that. However, where power consolidation is prioritized, none of the above matter, and as usual, the two did not disappoint. disappoint
They grabbed an opportunity to self entrench with both hands. As a result, we have a lockdown when we could have explored other ways of mitigating against the spread of the disease, that has mainly come to our shores as import from Europe and America through the airports. These could entail partial isolation of affected areas that make hotspots for easier tracing and tracking as well as isolating and treating the infecred. This would have allowed other parts of tbe country that are not affected to continue functioning and provide a buffer zone to the country’s broad economy.

The only reason why we have a lockdown and the military is out in the streets once again in a short space of time since 2017 is to prevent popular uprising and a civillian coup. No one in their right sense of mind can quarantine or lockdown a hungry population.

People do not have enough food to last them 3 weeks and the two parties know this is recipe for widescale civil unrest if the army is not deployed as a deterrent in the streets. As I speak there is a scramble for the scarce basics, with unscrupulous businesses hiking prices. President Mnangagwa, in his usual lack of wisdom has announced a closure for informal markets, where the basics are found. 10kg pack of mealie meal at $130 cannot be found anywhere except in his, finance minister’s and mealie meal commission hallucinations, while in the informal market it’s going for $250 and is readily available to those who can afford the price.

The Zimbabwean state, unlike other pro people governments around the world, has not and does not intend to provide any social nets to cushion the econonically vulnerable against hunger and starvation. There is no economic nets as well to cushion the informal sector businesses against effects of this pandemic. Is this not evidence their main aim is not to control the spread but control and suppress the masses? The big question is why would a government be so resolute in controlling a people while at the same time is not prepared to cushion them against effects of a rapidly changed livelihood where incone is suddenly cut by halted economic activity?

Energy and water are scarce, with Bulawayo in day ten with no water supplies in many suburbs. This is while the government and local authorities are heard every minute they open their ever lying mouths urging people to wash hands and maintain high degrees of hygeine. Some councillors and former councillors in Bulawayo have been caught selling borehole water from council boreholes doted around the city to desperate residents. Corruption is endemic and as always, goes unpunished but rewarded as long as it consolidates power and entrenches the opposition party at City Hall. So, where is the water to wash our hands with? For the lack of a better word, this is arrogance of the highest order.

The above is evidence enough to prove that the 21 day lockdown in Zimbabwe, which was first called for by Mdca president soon after South Africa announced one south of Limpopo, has nothing to do with mitigating spread of Covid-19 but has everything to do with entrenching two parties in power.

The fear of a popular uprising by pretenders whose lies and misrepresentations have been exposed by the state of healthcare system and economy scares the hell out of them and they have since devised ways of detering the public. It is however too late. The people have seen that the king is naked and this pandemic will be defeated, togethet with Zanu PF and Mdca. A peoples revolution can not be stopped and it is time for the pretenders to run. No amount of repression and suppression will quench the flames of the inevitable public anger and will by the people to reclaim their lives and dignity.

Iphithule Thembani kaMaphosa is National Secretary for Information Publicity and Marketing at Zimbabwe African People’s Union-ZAPU. He can be contacted on ijekwane@gm

Here is a list of the activities you are allowed and not allowed to do during the lockdown:

• You are not allowed to go to work, most businesses have been shut down except very important businesses and manufacturing companies
• If you work in one of these you are allowed to go to work but you have to use either private transport or get on a ZUPCO
• Only two passengers are allowed in a private car, the driver and one passenger
• You are not allowed to make long-distance travel
• You are only allowed to travel within a radius of 5 km from your home and in any case such travel has to be essential travel such as to go buy food
• Supermarkets will be open so you are only allowed to visit one within your 5 km radius but if you live in areas where there is none within the radius (Glen Lorne perhaps?) you are allowed to breach this limit and get to the nearest one
• There will be roadblocks everywhere so you will have to prove your visit is essential at every one of these roadblocks
• You are also allowed to go out to buy medicine for yourself or others in your care
• You are allowed to visit those who are in your care if they need help, for example, your mother or father in another suburb if they are sick
• You are allowed to go out to buy and deliver medicine to them
• Intercity travel is most probably impossible anyway since there will be not many, if any buses, to transport you. Even if you use private transport one of these many roadblocks is likely to turn you back
• Hospitals are open but these are Zimbabwean hospitals
• You cannot order fast food, fast food chains are closed anyway
• You are allowed to go and stand at a bus stop provided there are not already 50 people gathered there
• You are not allowed to go to the bank, you can only use electronic payment methods and cash is strongly discouraged.

More; ZimPrice Checks

The current bank exchange rates for the ZWL$ today are as follows:

• USD to ZWL$: 25.0000
• ZWL$ to RAND: 0.6973 (Friday’s rate)

Data according to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Black Market Rates:

• OMIR $55.32
• USD to ZWL$ zimrates.com  $40
• USD to ZWL$  zwl365.com $39.2
• USD to ZWL$ bluemari.info $37
• USD to BOND: zimrates.com $29.2

More: marketwatch.co.zw