Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has become one of the first musicians to release a song that educates and conscientize society on the global pandemic that has ravaged the world causing thousands of deaths.
In the video below, Bobi Wine reinforces the message that has been repeated over and over again by WHO and other health experts that is washing of hands, self quarantine while encouraging people that though everyone is a potential victim, everyone is also a potential solution.
MDC President Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer, advocate Thabani has threatened to take a radical step against the establishment of an elite only Coronavirus Hospital by ZANU PF top shots.
In an emotional social media statement, Mpofu said he will strip open the proposed hospital and make it open for the poor to get treatment.
Below is his statement:
“I will March to this private looters clinic and open its doors to the masses.
We have had enough of this nonsense and the time to put it to an end is now. Corona is more dangerous than a bullet.
Join me as we liberate our people, I will lead.”
By Dr Masimba Mavaza| COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It’s caused by a virus called coronavirus. It is called corona because it is shaped like a crown. The bacteria causing the virus can not be seen by our naked eyes This virus is not a joke. The world has been confused. The big super powers with all their inflated ego have failed to understand the virus. For the first time in our life time the world has been attacked by a very minute unseen virus. This virus knows no boundaries it does not respect any one. It attacks Frm the pope to the thief in prison from a president to the minister of health in England.
Mr Gadzikwa is a resident of Corby in the Midlands of England. Corby os a beautiful town between Leicester and Northampton a very small but vibrant town. Mr Gadzikwa is a male nurse and has four children and a beautiful wife. One Sunday morning Mr Gadzikwa woke up with a high temperature he was feeling hot to touch on his chest or back. He did not need to measure his temperature to realise that he was having a very high temperature.
He struggles to sit up on his bed. He then started having a new, continuous cough he was coughing a lot for more than an hour. He had never felt such a cough before. His chest was burning from the cough he was having. If there is a person who is afraid of a sickness on earth is any one in a medical field. Mr Gadzikwa reaches for some cough mixture and gulped some without even measuring the quantity. He started feeling dizzy and felt his nose blocking. Initially he dismissed it as a cold.
He decided to pay his doctor a visit. He gathered himself and got in his car as he started the ignition he felt a heavy pressing force on his chest. He started struggling for a breath. He could not breath. He just put his head on the hooter and a loud continuous hooting pushed his wife off the bed. She rushed to the drive way only to see the husband slummed on the steering. She straight away called for help from her neighbours. The two neighbours from both sides rushed to the house and without any questions they helped each other to carry Mr Gadzikwa back in the house. The wife was in tears confused and not knowing what was happening. One of the neighbours called for an ambulance and within ten minutes the ambulance had arrived.
Mr Gadzikwa was rushed in the ambulance and he was put on oxygen to help hi breath. Within few minutes the ambulance was wailing Mr Gadzikwa to hospital.
Mrs Gadzikwa followed behind in another car. She had called a friend and arrange to meet for lunch at the hospital It’s unseasonably springlike, so they choose a place with outdoor seating, which seems like it should be safer. As usual, they took all reasonable precautions: They used hand sanitizer, sat a good distance from other customers, and try to avoid touching their face, though that last part is hard. A part of her suspects that this whole thing might be overblown. She never thought her husband could have been diagnosed with Corona Virus.
What she didn’t know was that ten days ago, her husband was at a church board meeting where he caught the novel coronavirus from the elder of the church. Three days after that, he coughed into his hand before opening the door of his apartment to welcome his son home. The saliva of COVID-19 patients can harbor half a trillion virus particles per teaspoon, and a cough aerosolizes it into a diffuse mist. As the neighbour walked through the door he took a breath and 32,456 virus particles settled onto the lining of his mouth and throat. Oblivious of all this the doctors came out with the bad news. Gadzikwa was diagnosed of the Corona virus.
Viruses have been multiplying inside his body ever since. And as he talks, the passage of his breath over the moist lining of his upper throat creates tiny droplets of virus-laden mucus that waft invisibly into the air over tables. Some settle on the as-yet-uneaten food on the plate, some drift onto fingers, others are drawn into nasal sinus or settle into throats. By the time they extend their hands to shake good-bye, their bodies was carrying 43,654 virus particles. By the time they are done shaking hands, that number is up to 312,405.
The doctors told Mrs Gadzikwa that she cannot see he husband she has to go back home and exercise self quarantine.
As she drove back home in tears she remembers all those who have been in contact with his husband a very freezing chill ran down her spine. The whole street was infected. But the doctors told her not to reveal it to any one because it will cause panic.
She was told that there was no cure for the virus. It will either kill itself or it will kill you.
It was such a heavy moment to realise that the man you left in the hospital might not come back alive. Every second which ticked away was like a year. Any call which comes in made it difficult to pick. You will never know which calls will tell you the dreaded but the expected news.
She started thinking about herself, maybe One of the droplets got drawn into her branching passages of her lungs and settles on the warm, wet surface, depositing virus particles into the mucus coating the tissue. Each particle is round and very small; if you magnified a human hair so that it was as wide as a football field, the virus particle would be four inches across. The outer membrane of the virus consists of an oily layer embedded with jagged protein molecules called spike proteins. These stick out like the protrusions on a knobby ball chew toy. In the middle of the virus particle is a coiled strand of RNA, the virus’s genetic material. The payload.
As the virus drifts through the lung’s mucus, it bumps into one of the cells that line the surface. The cell is considerably larger than the virus; on the football-field scale, it’s 26 feet across. A billion years of evolution have equipped it to resist attackers. But it also has a vulnerability — a backdoor. Protruding from its surface is a chunk of protein called angiotensin converting enzyme 2, or ACE2 receptor. Normally, this molecule plays a role in modulating hormone activity within the body. Today, it’s going to serve as an anchor for the coronavirus.
As the spike protein bumps up against the surface of the lung cell, its shape matches that of the ACE2 so closely that it sticks to it like adhesive. The membrane of the virus then fuses with the membrane of the cell, spilling the RNA contents into the interior of the lung cell. The virus is in. The virus is deadly.
As she gets into the house waiting for the dreaded call she was captured by a news heading saying a hundred people have died in England and still counting. The infection rate is so fast and heartbreaking. It is surely frustrating.
The viral RNA gets busy. The cell has its own genetic material, DNA, that produces copied fragments of itself in RNA form. These are continuously copied and sent into the main body of the cell, where they provide instructions for how to make the proteins that carry out all the functions of the cell. It’s like Santa’s workshop, where the elves, dutifully hammering out the toys on Santa’s instructions, are complexes of RNA and protein called ribosomes.
As soon as the viral RNA encounters a ribosome, that ribosome begins reading it and building viral proteins. These proteins then help the viral RNA to copy itself, and these copies then hijack more of the cell’s ribosomes. Other viral proteins block the cell from fighting back. Soon the cell’s normal business is completely overwhelmed by the demands of the viral RNA, as its energy and machinery are occupied with building the components of countless replica viruses.
As they are churned out, these components are transferred on a kind of cellular conveyor belt toward the surface of the cell. The virus membrane and spike proteins wrap around RNA strands, and a new particle is ready. These collect in internal bubbles, called vesicles, that move to the surface, burst open, and release new virus particles into your body by the tens and hundreds of thousands. Before you know it you are overcome by the virus.
Mrs Gadzikwa switched of the television in disgust. Then her phone burst into a ring. A voice from the other hand cracked through. It split her heart in two her face became so pale. She sat down with buckets of-sweat flowing down her face. She opened her mouth but nothing came out of her mouth. Her eyes turned red tears flooded out with such pressure. She clasped her head between her hands. She threw the phone away as if it has Corona.
Mr Gadzikwa has died. Worse still there will be no funeral. There will be no body viewing. There will be no closure to a life they had started together.
Another thought came who will tell the neighbours that they might be infected too. No cure for the affliction.
Corona virus is not only a myth. It is not only for the whites as some had speculated. It is for everybody. For now it has no cure. Life is like dew it is seen in the morning but melts into the abyss.
Meanwhile, to the neighbours spike proteins that haven’t been incorporated into new viruses embed themselves directly into the host cell’s membrane so that it latches onto the surface of an adjacent cell, like a pirate ship lashing itself to a helpless merchantman. The two cells then fuse, and a whole host of viral RNA swarms over into the new host cell.
All up and down their lungs, throat, and mouth, the scene is repeated over and over as cell after cell is penetrated and hijacked. Assuming the virus behaves like its relative, SARS, each generation of infection takes about a day and can multiply the virus a millionfold. The replicated viruses spill out into the mucus, invade the bloodstream, and pour through the digestive system.
Within a day the whole living street is turned into a funeral parade.
This virus is vicious and it is real. It kills and it spreads so fast. It is a virus which needs your cooperation. It needs your understanding. Very few have come back to share their stories. Some will never have a decent burial. Corona virus is rude stubborn and indeed dangerous.
Only God in heaven can stop this. We do not know when he will stop it. But for now let’s stay safe. This virus is real
Our thoughts goes to the Gadzikwa family and thousands world wide who have lost battles against this virus. It ugly head is seething through the peaceful hearts of the people. Only God can do something as for you please take this very serious and stay away from groupings. You and me have a part to play to defeat this virus.
The biggest problem is you don’t feel any of this. In fact, you still feel totally fine. If you have any complaint at all, it’s boredom. You’ve been a dutiful citizen, staying at home to practice social distancing, and after two days of bingeing on the Fast & Furious franchise, you decide that your mental health is at risk if you don’t get outside. But hey boredom does not kill but Corona kills. Please be safe. Self isolate.
Together we will defeat this virus. God bless you all.
THE Criminal Investigations Department headquarters was Tuesday morning evacuated after a coronavirus scare.
The incident happened when staff reportedly saw a sickly female colleague sleeping on the carpet on the fifth floor and everyone, fearing for their lives, scurried out of the nine-storey building.
“When people saw her sleeping on the floor, they claimed she had collapsed as a result of the coronavirus. So word started spreading in the whole building and people dashed out,” a source in the police force said yesterday.
“Now the building has been evacuated and no one has returned there. Actually, there are people spraying the whole building, decontaminating everything if at all there had been any contamination. Each and every square inch is being decontaminated.”
The source said no one had returned to the building by end of day yesterday, but everyone had been “ordered to report for duty next week Monday”.
A Zimbabwean man Rashid Salimu resident in Mutare, a city in the Eastern parts of the country, has posted on Twitter narrating how Hospitals in the city refused to treat his wheezing son.
He said his son has always had the condition but the health institutions thought he was exhibiting coronavirus symptoms.
My son had a history of wheezing, got into an attack this morning 0230 hours. We called in an ambulance and took him to his traditional hospital Netlife in Mutare and they refused to attend to him; they said they were closed thus not taking in any new patients.
Meanwhile, the ambulance crew was nebulising him. We had to move to the next hospital Murambi and they too were not taking in any patients. Left with no choice we went to Mutare General Hospital where he literally received no attention at all. They advised us to come back later.
He was somewhat better after being nebulised by the ambulance crew so we took him back home. Unfortunately, around 0530 hours he got into another attack and we were helpless knowing what we had gone through earlier. We called Seventh Avenue Medical Centre who said we could come.
Upon arrival wet paid the required amount; they called in the doctor but he refused to come once he knew our son was wheezing. They ended up refunding us. A friend then gave us Dr Mhlanga’s contact of Uptown Clinic and we explained our situation and he asked us to bring him in.
Only then did he get to be attended to. Surely is this the way we are handling thus #COVID2019 situation as a country? By turning away patients? Worse still one who is a traditional patient with a problem you already are aware of.
It is so heartbreaking to go through what we did this morning as a family, as a parent, as a father. Being so vulnerable and so helpless.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Ace Ambulance crew for the professional service and for the medical team at Uptown Clinic for reaching out in our time of need
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich.
We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal.The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic. Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped. We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers. Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions. Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lock down to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other care givers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so
especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of
water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy
them to fight the pandemic.
•Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal
to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer
as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa and the whole World.
GroundUp Media|Former members of the Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries in Cape Town have accused the church of scamming them out of money they invested in housing and other projects
Founded in 2012 by Walter Magaya, Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance Ministries is one of the controversial prosperity gospel churches in southern Africa that have lured a multitude of followers. The ministry has branches in Zimbabwe, Durban, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Zambia and Australia.
The disgruntled members had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a subsidiary of the church’s investment arm, giving them rights to a residential stand in Zimbabwe, but the company has neither delivered the stand nor reimbursed their money as promised.
The agreements were signed with Planet Africa, or with its subsidiary Yadah Connect. Planet Africa is described in the MOU as “the investment arm of the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries”.
The MOU says “Planet Africa in 2016 launched housing projects around Zimbabwe to give effect to PHD Ministries’ Redemption Program, whose objective is to see every partner of PHD Ministries owning a house of their own”.
The MOU, of which GroundUp has copies, recorded an offer by “partners” to purchase a residential stand “in any area in Zimbabwe where the seller has acquired and is developing and subdividing the land into individual residential stands, upon completion of such subdivision”. The seller (Yadah) accepted the offer “subject to availability” in the location chosen by the partner.
The price of each stand was to be determined later, depending on location and size.
Meanwhile the “partners” undertook to pay a deposit of $1,000 as a “commitment fee”.
The church promised to allocate the residential stands after the land had been subdivided by the municipality. Meanwhile “partners” were to make further payments over two years, according to what they could afford. In the MOU they acknowledged that the land was not yet subdivided but that they would nevertheless start making payments.
The MOU also states that Yadah had to “service the land within a reasonable time from the date of signature of this MOU” and in any event not later than two years. If the partner did not keep up the payments during the two years, 80% of his or her investment was to be refunded. If, on the other hand, Yadah failed to subdivide the land within the time frame, the company was to pay the investor “the full amount paid” plus 20%.
More than three years later, the members say, the church has failed to deliver a residential stand or to refund their money. GroundUp has not managed to reach the church for comment, in spite of repeated attempts.
Kanonhuwa Daniel is owed $4,000 (about R70,000 at current exchange rates). He invested in the housing project after he sold his cows in Zimbabwe. On 8 November 2019, he was stabbed and hospitalised for about two months. He then requested a refund to buy his family food and pay rent. He claims the Cape Town officials said they could only pay him R23,000. Since then he has been battling to get any money at all.
Another former member, who did not want to be named, said she had invested $5,000 (approximately R86,000 at current exchange rates) in 2016.
Section 6 of the housing project MOA she signed in 2016 states: “In fulfilment of the terms of this mutual understanding the seller shall service the land within a reasonable time from the date of signature of this MOA, which in any event shall not extend beyond a period of two years from the date of signature.” Clause 9 states, “The duration of this MOA shall be 24 months of the date of signature of an agreement of sale for a specific, fully described residential stand.”
She said in December 2018 she went to Zimbabwe for a meeting with Magaya at the Yadah Hotel in Harare, planning to get her money back. She said the meeting was attended by a huge crowd of other investors.
At the meeting some people pulled out of the investment deal but were paid in Zimbabwean bond notes, not in the US dollars they had invested. Zimbabwean bond notes are banknotes in circulation in Zimbabwe released by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. They have replaced the Zimbabwean dollar since the collapse of the economy in the past decade. 1 US dollar is equivalent to 361 bond notes.
Those who had paid $1,000 were reimbursed in 1,000 bond notes, said the former member.
“I desperately wanted my money but didn’t claim it back because I wanted my $5,000, not bond notes.”
Since then she has been trying to get her money back, without success.
Another former member, who refused to be named, paid Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance Ministries $4,400 (R76,000) in instalments between 2016 and 2017. GroundUp has seen the receipts. He has not been given a residential stand and he too is battling to get any of his money back.
The member said the church had breached clause 10 of the housing project agreement which reads:
“The MOA shall be terminated if the seller fails to subdivide its land within the stipulated time frames of twenty four months from the date of signature of the MOA. The purchaser shall be entitled to cancel the agreement and reclaim a refund of the full amount paid by the purchaser plus 20%”.
Members say the church is not following dispute procedures outlined in Planet Africa company agreements. Clause 6 states: “All disputes in connection with the terms of this agreement shall be resolved amicably, through the most senior officer at Yadah Connect from time to time. In the event that the dispute remains unsolved for 30 working days, the aggrieved party may refer the dispute to arbitration.”
“Instead, we are getting intimidated, threatened and mocked by the Cape Town office where we paid our money,” said Ephraim Shonhiwa, spokesperson for the group of disgruntled investors.
GroundUp met Shonhiwa in February at the offices of People Against Suffering and Oppression (Passop) where they were seeking help. He said people had been lured into investing in PHD’s housing and other projects through the church’s television station, Yadah TV. He and others had thought the projects were above board, he said, especially since the Cape Town office of the church had issued “receipts”. GroundUp has seen the receipts, which do not specify what the money was paid for.
He said Magaya could do what he liked with tithes and offerings from members of his congregation. “But we want the money we paid for business refunded.”
In an email to GroundUp on 3 March, Reverend Lionel Louw, Western Cape chairperson of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) encouraged the affected church members to lay charges with SAPS and to report the church to the South African Human Rights Commission.
“We in the SACC view with great concern the unfolding of the Prosperity Gospel events. We have to look afresh at the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as He identified with the poor and marginalised. These contemporary events contradict what we experience in Jesus Christ. We urge those who have fallen victim to financial scams to allow the law to take its course in respect of the perpetrators of these schemes. We encourage them to seek redress through the justice system.”
On 24 February GroundUp contacted Prophetic, Healing and Deliverance Ministries via email and attached receipts of the money paid by the complainants. The email was ignored. On the same day, a WhatsApp message was sent to the church’s spokesperson Admire Mango. He read the allegations but did not respond.
On 25 February GroundUp called three times on the office number listed on the church website [0717523715] which is said to belong to the Western Cape leader, Albertina but it was ignored. GroundUp then called Joy who works in the office when Albertina didn’t pick up. Joy listened to all the allegations till the end but instead of replying she dropped the call. When GroundUp attempted to call her for the third time in the late afternoon, she dropped the call again.
On 9 March when GroundUp saw that Mango was online, we asked for a response to our questions but he ignored the request. GroundUp called several times on his mobile number, but he didn’t pick up.
SAKUNDA Holdings and its associates have come up with a multi-million dollar initiative to resuscitate and equip Rock Foundation Medical Centre and St Annes Hospital as a way of complementing Government efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virus has so far claimed one person in Zimbabwe and President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been calling on the private sector to assist the government.
The two health facilities which have been identified by Sakunda Holdings have been idle for a long time and will be used for COVID -19 response only.
The company, which is currently undergoing several relevant processes, wants the medical facilities to be open to everyone contrary.
It is envisaged that if all proceedings are done on time, one of the facilities will be operational by Wednesday next week if the program goes according to plan.
Sakunda Holdings officials have already toured the health facilities and have so far moved their personnel at Rock Foundation Medical Centre after working with local medical experts and specialist to identify what is required while negotiations are currently underway with management at St Annes Hospital amid indications that the company is ready to foot all the refurbishment bills.
In Correspondence between Sakunda Holdings and government, the firm indicated its desire to complement government efforts when they wrote to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care seeking licenses.
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“The government of Zimbabwe has implemented a raft of measures to curb and control the outbreak of the disease albeit under tough economic circumstances.
“It is against this background that Sakunda Holdings (PVT) Ltd and its associates have come up with a private initiative to complement government efforts to curb this pandemic specifically in the provision of health facilities, equipment, training and vaccines. Sakunda has identified Rock Foundation Medical Centre as a facility in the fight against COVID-19,” said the letter signed by Everton Mlalazi in charge of Special Projects at Sakunda holdings.
The firm is requesting the government to facilitate the engagement with relevant bodies to expedite the process in view of the urgency required to deal with the pandemic.
“Licenses will be sought from the following bodies: MCAZ, Pharmacists Council, Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe, Medical and Dental Council of Zimbabwe and Health Professions Authority,” said Mlalazi.
Ministry of Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva wrote to St Annes Hospital Manager expressing satisfaction following a tour which officials from the ministry and executives from Sakunda holdings had at their health facility.
“The team was satisfied with what they saw during the tour and would like you to finalise our request. Please note that we have since identified Sakunda holdings (copied) to be our partner to work with us and yourselves to do all the remaining renovations and refurbishments necessary for the hospital to function in the shortest period of time.
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“Sakunda Holdings has confirmed that they have the resources and funding to do the work and hence refurbishments will not be at your costs. May you also note as discussed during the tour of your hospital our request to use this facility is for up to six months only for the COVID-19 response,” said Dr Mahovha.
Sakunda Holdings wants to use its resources and support government in the provision of health facilities, equipment, training of medical personnel and vaccines.
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge has suspended operations due to coronavirus
State Media|TOURISM operators and hoteliers in Victoria Falls have resolved to suspend operations to prevent spread of the deadly Covid-19 (coronavirus), which has seen the country recording three positive cases.
Lately, players in the industry have suffered massive cancellations of bookings resulting in room occupancy rate dropping to average two percent in some hotels while others are already at zero. Three quarters of jobs have since been lost after employers terminated contracts while some workers have been sent on forced leave or placed on half salary because of lack of business.
Africa Albida Tourism (AAT), a hospitality group with hotels, lodges and restaurants across Southern Africa yesterday announced that it will suspend operations at all its properties in Victoria Falls for the next three months starting on Tuesday next week. In a statement, the hospitality group’s chief executive, Mr Ross Kennedy, said the affected properties are Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Club, Victoria Falls Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges, The Boma Dinner & Drum Show. Operations will resume on July 1, subject to the prevailing health situation.
“After deep and careful consideration with our board, shareholders, works council and employees we have made the difficult but correct decision to temporarily cease operations at all our Victoria Falls properties for the next three months. Our last day of operation will be March 31, 2020,” said Mr Kennedy.
He said the group considered health and welfare of employees’ families, community and tourists.
“The plan is to commence operation on July 1 but this may be further extended or even shortened depending on the prevailing situation. This is a time of huge uncertainty in our country and across the world and we as AAT have to do our part to curtail the spread of the virus,” said Mr Kennedy.
The reservations office will remain open while a skeleton staff will be on standby to deal with affected clients. An official from the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe said operators had been told to follow suit.
“We have engaged the leadership and the industry that if we all care for all our staff we must follow suit and do what’s right. We can recover money but lives lost are lost for good and the families will have lost breadwinners,” said the official on condition of anonymity.
He said the tourism industry was facing shutdown as a result of coronavirus which has resulted in massive cancellation of trips and bookings worldwide.
Some small lodges in Hwange have also reportedly stopped booking people while some businesses and organisations have also closed shop.
Meanwhile, Victoria Falls municipal police fought running battles with Zambian vendors yesterday as residents expressed concern about laxity of authorities at the country’s ports of entry. The vendors cross through Victoria Falls border post every morning to sell vegetables, tomatoes, green mealies and other farm produce as well as clothes and return to their country in the evening.
Authorities at the border said they were waiting for official communication to close the border.
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has also said the industry is uniquely exposed with an estimated 50 million jobs set to be lost globally. WTTC appealed to governments to come up with tourism funds to support the industry.
State Media |THE shortage of various goods, services and cash has seen most people failing to maintain social distances as they spend long hours in queues where they risk contracting or spreading Covid-19.
Government banned the gathering of over 50 people but demand for certain goods and services outstrips supply hence members of the public are forced not to observe social distancing.
Social distancing and self-isolation are some of the measures that the public can implement to prevent the spread of coronavirus that has infected three people in Zimbabwe, killing one of the patients.
Over the past few days, there has been queueing and scrambling for $70 subsidised mealie-meal that is available in a few shops. The situation has been worsened by the blundering Bulawayo City Council (BCC) that has failed to supply residents with water since last Friday due to maintenance works.
Constant washing of hands is seen as a measure that the public can use to also minimise the spread of the lethal virus. Use of sanitiser, avoiding crowds as well as avoiding hugging or shaking hands are also recommended in fighting Covid-19.
However, scores of Bulawayo residents could not avoid crowds yesterday as they were fetching water at boreholes, vandalised hydrants and public institutions which had water.
There were also queues at financial institutions that include CABS, CBZ and Steward Bank in the CBD, something that started well before the outbreak of Covid-19.
At bus ranks, there were long queues and buses including those belonging to Zupco that were overloaded. Some people were packed in open trucks that are cheaper. No-one was being sanitised. Even for kombis, it was business as usual.
A Chronicle news crew observed that at Econet shops there are posters on walls educating members of the public about measures they should take to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but clients do not observe social distancing. Crowds, mainly people having challenges with the company’s Ecocash platform after their monies are deducted but the transaction is not successful, constitute the largest number of people visiting the shops.
Econet Zimbabwe media and corporate affairs executive Mr Fungai Mandiveni could not be reached for comment yesterday over Ecocash glitches that force people into desperation, hence exposing themselves to the virus.
A Chronicle news crew also noticed large gatherings of more than 100 people at cemeteries and market places, in defiance of the social distancing measures.
At Athlone cemetery at around 11AM, several buses and cars offloaded people burying loved ones.
At the market place along 5th Avenue it was business as usual as vendors sold their products without observing any social distance.
Even clients were not paying attention to the need to maintain the distances to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Residents who spoke to news crew said with the prevailing shortages of goods and cash they have no option but to queue.
Mr Jameson Phiri, who was in a mealie-meal queue, in the central business district said to stop the crowding of people in shops, the market should be flooded with the needed goods. “Most of us who are queuing here have been in different shops just following details of where mealie-meal has been delivered. Some of us have queued in more than three shops but we are still to get the mealie meal. If one of us gets coronavirus we will all contract it. We can’t be thinking of social distancing when we don’t have food in our homes. Do we die of hunger while protecting ourselves from coronavirus through social distancing and self-isolation?” asked Mr Phiri.
Another resident, Mrs Catherine Gava said they cannot afford mealie meal which is sold in black market in cash and queried why Government was not dealing with those who are causing the shortages.
Mrs Melita Mtikani said people have to queue for cash at banks because goods are cheaper when buying using it.
“We don’t need to be queuing for cash, they should find ways of ensuring that cash is available in the city without any hassles. If all those small things are attended to, we won’t see people in queues. But as it stands, we have no option but spend our time in queues despite the knowledge that coronavirus is spread through social contacts,” said Mrs Mtikani.
A resident who was fetching water at a water hydrant in Lobengula Extension suburb, Mrs Thandeka Thonsi, said following Saturday’s water cuts, they have been spending a lot of time queuing for water exposing themselves to both waterborne diseases and the coronavirus.
Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube urged residents to follow laid down isolation and self-distancing measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“I sincerely understand the plight faced by most citizens. But it is important that we also contribute in ensuring that the virus does not spread by abiding to recommendations made by Government. We should also not lose sight that we are still in a drought situation. Government is doing its part to ensure that there is mealie-meal in the country. We should also shop responsibly by stopping to hoard products,” said Cde Ncube.
BCC senior public relations officer Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said council was resource constrained to place sanitisers in boreholes to prevent the virus from spreading among those fetching water.
She said council was, however, also sensitising the public to on the need of maintaining social distances but residents should also play their part in ensuring its success.
“We are encouraging residents to pay for services using online platforms. Notices have been placed in various revenue halls across the city and in case one physically visits our offices we encourage them to maintain social distance. We are also waiting for Covid-19 resources from the central Government where resources are being mobilised from. We are also utilising our limited resources to buy sanitisers which we are gradually distributing to various departments that mainly deal with members of the public,” she said.
The news crew observed that at the Revenue Hall in the CBD, the council’s staff were educating the public about social distancing.
Football fans have been left in serious confusion after state run Herald Newspaper ran a back page headline story on Thursday claiming that Zimbabwe senior men’s soccer team is in Algeria for a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations encounter against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) postponed the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021, Africa’s main football competition over COVID-19 a fortnight ago.
In a statement, CAF said that “following the growing concerns of the COVID-19 virus and the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) describing it as a pandemic, CAF has decided to postpone the competitions until further notice”.
The matches postponed were scheduled to kick off from 25 to 31 March for Men’s qualifiers and 27-29 March for women’s Under 20 World Cup Qualifiers.
Women’s AFCON 2020 Qualifiers scheduled for 8-14 April were also postponed.
“Coronavirus has been declared as a pandemic by WHO. In Africa, only few cases have been reported, but the situation could evolve negatively. Several players, who are supposed to play the next Afcon qualifiers, come from countries which have been severely affected by the virus (Europe, Asia),” the statement read.
“Several African governments have taken strong restrictions on travels; lock down, quarantine for people coming from countries affected by the virus. Several clubs refuse now to release their players for the next international matches.
“For the above reasons and after studying carefully the current situation, Caf has decided to postpone the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2021 qualifiers, scheduled from 25 to 31 March 2020.”
The Herald through a story written by renowned sports writer Robson Sharuko who claims to be in Algeria with the team says that the match will be a stern test for new coach Zdravko Logarusic.
“Zdravko Logarusic is set to get a baptism of fire tonight, the toughest possible maiden assignment for any coach working in Africa, when his Warriors take on the defending champions in a 2021 AFCON qualifier here,” Sharuko wrote from Blida in Angola.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi
Police will fully support the medical and safety measures put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus and will arrest those breaching the bans on gatherings and certain types of business.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said those who defy orders compelling them to disperse will be dealt with in terms of the regulations and offenders of the laid down offences, basically a refusal to adhere to medical directives and bans, will be arrested.
State Media|WORK to upgrade Wilkins Infectious Disease Hospital is almost complete after Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe invested more than US$500 000 for the programme meant to boost efforts to control the spread of Covid-19.
China Africa, Economic and Culture Exchange Research Centre chairman Mr Zivanai Steve Zhao made the revelations in a telephone interview.
He said an additional US$150 000 had also been put together for the procurement of medical equipment, which includes an oxygen machine, breathing machine, test kits and protective suits, masks and other protective clothes for health workers.
“We are expecting some of the equipment to arrive in the country this week. We want Wilkins Infectious Disease Hospital to match international standards in combating the pandemic. The teams on the construction site are now working 24 hours to speed up the upgrading the of hospital,” said Mr Zhao.
In addition, he said the Chinese Embassy was also mobilising resources to combat the spread of coronavirus in Zimbabwe.
More Chinese doctors are also set to come to Zimbabwe to assist in containing the pandemic.
“As of now we have nine doctors from Wuhan in China. Those who are in the country are training local doctors to fight the pandemic. If the need arises more doctors from China will be coming to Zimbabwe to contain the spread of the pandemic, which is a global phenomenon.”
He urged Zimbabweans to follow the directives pronounced by President Mnangagwa by avoiding unnecessary gatherings to curtail the spread of the disease.
“That is how China managed to contain the spread of coronavirus. Now China is free from the pandemic. If Zimbabweans follow instructions, they will manage to contain the spread of the pandemic,” he said.
Jin An Corporation managing director Mr David Zhou Jin said his firm had three teams working on the water system, construction, electric lines and renewing the lights.
“Our guys are working 24 hours a day to upgrade Wilkins Hospital to install proper facilities for Covid-19 and renew it and we will also donate medicines and protective clothes for doctors and other staff members. We are more than ready to fight the pandemic,” said Mr Jin.
In a related development, Ethiopia has started distributing China’s donations of medical supplies to other African states. To fight the coronavirus pandemic, tens of thousands of test kits and protective suits will be delivered across Africa in the coming weeks.
The African Union already received 2 000 test kits from the Chinese government and is expecting another 10 000 of them along with other crucial medical supplies needed to fight the spread of Covid-19 across the continent.
The distribution of the medical equipment donated is centralised by the African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in Ethiopia.
Jack Ma, Chinese tech billionaire and co-founder of the Alibaba online shopping platform, has since promised to donate 20 000 test kits, 100 000 masks and 1 000 protective suits to each of the 54 African states via his foundations.
“We cannot assume this continent of 1, 3 billion people will blissfully escape the crisis. The world cannot afford the unthinkable consequences of a COVID-19 pandemic in Africa,” he said in a statement.
Ma pledged a total of 1, 1 million coronavirus test kits, 6 million masks and 60 000 medical protective suits and face shields for the African continent. On Sunday, March 22, Ethiopia received 1,5 million test kits, 5,4 million face masks and tens of thousands of medical supplies.
Ethiopian Airlines will help distribute the equipment to each of its destinations.
Ma’s donations of medical supplies to fight coronavirus extended to the United States and a number of countries in Europe (Italy, France for example), Asia (Pakistan, Laos among others), Latin America (Brazil, Cuba and 22 more).
Although there are still fewer coronavirus infections in Africa than in other parts of the world, WHO figures show that the continent now has more than 1 300 cases of Covid-19 in 43 countries and 40 deaths across the continent. Italy has registered 5 476 deaths.
Egypt is the worst-hit with more than 294 cases and six deaths, followed by South Africa with 274 cases and Algeria’s 201 confirmed cases.
World Health Organisation (WHO) director- general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that official figures might not likely reflect the full picture.
“The rapid evolution of Covid-19 in Africa is deeply worrisome and a clear signal for action,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa.
Moeti said Africa could still change the course of this pandemic adding that governments must draw on all of their resources and capabilities and strengthen their response.
More worrying is that 12 African countries have recorded local transmissions. WHO urged governments to prevent local transmissions from evolving into a worst-case scenario of widespread sustained community transmission.
Such a scenario will present a major challenge to countries with weak health systems, as they do not have sufficient resources to cope with a large influx of patients needing isolation and intensive care.
“Across the region, nearly 26 million people are living with HIV. Over 58 million children have stunted growth due to malnutrition, so it is possible that younger people will be more at risk in Africa than in other parts of the world,” WHO’s Moeti added.
Zimbabwe and South Africa will at midnight jointly close Beitbridge Border Post to non-residents with only Zimbabwean residents allowed to travel north and South African residents to move south.
Cargo operations will not be interrupted.
Zimra has since announced streamlined processes at Beitbridge for clearing cargo shipments that rely on high level compliance and minimum human contact.
The Zimbabwean travel ban was announced by President Mnangagwa on Monday as part of a cocktail of measures to manage and contain Covid-19 while South Africa is going into a 21-day lockdown tonight, which includes travel restrictions.
To avoid confusion, the two countries have agreed to coordinate immigration policies on each side of the border.
The assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge in Zimbabwe, Mr Nqobile Ncube, said they had agreed in principle with the South Africans to synchronise operations for the next 21 days.
“What it means is that by Thursday midnight we are closing the border to non-essential human traffic and we have agreed to synchronise the compliance period with our South African counterparts,” he said.
“Only Zimbabweans travelling from South Africa and those foreigners who have valid permits to reside in the country will be allowed passage north at this border. The same applies to those leaving the country. It will be the South Africans and those who are residents of the neighbouring country who will depart.
“As per the Presidential declaration, we will allow the movers of freight to access the border to ensure that all the essential commodities are moved into either country.”
As of yesterday, people were seen on both sides in last minute trips, some of whom said they wanted to join their spouses in either country since schools have been closed.
Under normal circumstances, 14 000 people, 120 buses, 500 commercial trucks and 3 000 vehicles use Beitbridge Border Post daily. This includes people in transit to countries north of the Zambezi.
The parastatal said clearance procedures had been simplified and travellers were required to tender correct declarations for processing including the payment of any duties, taxes and charges due.
Modalities for Manifest Control, CTIPs, Release Desk and ECTS are reportedly being worked out and will be announced in due course.
Zimra said that at Beitbridge there would no longer be physical access to reception, doc ccheck and queries, including the queries window on the exit side and manifest control window on the entry side in line with the precautions stipulated by Government.
“Be advised that all doc check and queries issues, including formal correspondence, should be dealt with in the system or by way of email or telephone with the appropriate responses in the same way.
“All physical examinations have been suspended and any system initiated PEs will be waived by default until further notice.
“In addition, all permits and schedules required for mark off should now be submitted to and retained by Zimra in clearly marked and secure folders and all calculated duties, taxes, other charges and fines levied remain payable,” said Zimra.
However, Zimra says the foregoing dispensations do not preclude the need for future audits or review of all or any declarations selected for such future enforcement, including the physical examination of any available goods subject matter of such declarations.
“It is therefore peremptory that all declarations be correct in all respects and that any supporting documents attached be correct, valid and relevant to the declaration,” said Zimra.
At the same time Zimra has suspended clearing goods and vehicles under the immigration rebate scheme with those wishing to benefit allowed to approach Zimra in 21 days with certification proving they are clear of the coronavirus.
Forbes Border Post was yesterday open to commercial truckers with goods in transit, and returning residents only.
On the Zimbabwean side, truckers said they were taking up to five hours to complete processes.
The truckers were being screened as they entered Zimbabwe.
“We are being served here at Forbes although it is taking a long time for us to complete all processes. I travelled from Zambia and I am going to Beira, but I have not encountered any problems at all borders I crossed,” said Mr Lameck Mapundi, a truck driver.
Meanwhile, Sadc has urged all in the region to respect measures put in place by the member countries and has called for unity of purpose in the region in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was said by Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax in a statement to mark the Southern Africa Liberation Day, set for March 23 the 2018 summit.
“This year’s commemoration of the Southern Africa Liberation Day is coming at a time when the world at large, and all of us, are grappling with COVID-19, which has been declared a global pandemic and public health emergency by the World Health Organisation.
“I appeal to everyone to adhere to all measures being put in place by our Governments to avoid or minimise the spread of the virus.
“We shall not fail, let us cooperate and move in unity, everyone must play their part, a paradigm shift in the way we conduct ourselves and our businesses is a must,” Dr Tax said in the statement.
Sadc has since suspended face-to-face regional meetings following the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dr Tax also paid tribute to the men and women that sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the region.
President Mnangagwa completes Covid-19 temperature checks procedures before entering ZANU PF Headquarters for a Politburo meeting in Harare yesterday.
State Media|The Government and swathes of the private sector are slashing back on staff on active duty with all Government departments from tomorrow to be manned by a third of their normal workforce at a time with on-duty and off-duty staff being rotated fortnightly.
In his remarks at the 338th Ordinary Session of the Zanu PF Politburo in Harare yesterday, President Mnangagwa urged all companies to de-congest their workplaces whenever possible by releasing non-essential staff, or even essential staff whose services can efficiently be rendered from home. He said workers should be encouraged to take turns to come to work or serve from home.
So far as the Government was concerned, President Mnangagwa said with effect from tomorrow all Governments departments and ministries would be required to have just one third of their staff at work.
“As from Friday this week, all Government departments and ministries will only need one third of their staff at work for two weeks. The other two thirds will be at home and after two weeks the next third comes and the two thirds will remain at home. Even here at party headquarters I will ask the secretary general to make sure that only one third of the work force will be at work and the rest will go home for a period of two weeks,” said the President.
Cutting the number of duty staff gives more safety to those at home and ensures that those at work can be spread safe distances apart.
The President appealed to the citizens to exercise social responsibility.
“Those involved in the manufacturing and trading of essential commodities such as masks, sanitisers, among other items are dissuaded from charging exorbitant prices.” Government, the President said, had released additional resources towards the procurement of safety clothing.
“We are grateful to the many health services personnel who are at the frontline of addressing this pandemic. Their concerns and those of our nation have been noted and will be addressed.
I urge us to adjust our lives and the activities of our party accordingly in the face of lethal health threat. As Government will continue to ensure that there is a continuous supply of grain and other essential commodities,’’ he added.
The private sector has already started rotating staff on and off duty and seeing who can work from home although few have yet to match the Government’s moves.
Financial institutions continue to close temporarily some of their branches and reduce working hours while converting the few who still want personal banking to the electronic platforms already dominating their business.
Steward Bank said it had closed two branches in Victoria Falls and Gunhill in Harare.
CBZ group chief executive officer Dr Blessing Mudavanhu yesterday said branches at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, Victoria Falls International Airport, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport, Beitbridge, Kariba and Chirundu were closing temporarily. Cash withdrawals will be only through ATMs when cash is available and branches are offering limited services such as MTA remittances, cash deposits and FCA transactions. Working hours are cut from eight to six hours.
Nedbank has also temporarily closed branches at Avondale, Borrowdale, Msasa, Victoria Falls and Kwekwe.
First Capital Bank has temporarily closed its Belmont branch in Bulawayo, and in First Street, Harare Street and Borrowdale in Harare.
CABS, FBC and Standard Chartered want customers to use digital platforms to reduce physical contact in queues.
Lawyers are now mostly working from home with only urgent services still in law offices. Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) executive secretary Mr Edward Mapara confirmed the closure of several law firms.
“Yes, many law firms have closed while others will be partially open to attend to emergency issues. Most of them will be operating online and through telephones,” he said.
A Louisiana church -in the United States of America -disregarded the official advice on social distancing and welcomed 1,800 people through its doors.
Despite the rampant coronavirus outbreak, over the weekend Life Tabernacle Church had 26 buses transport crowds of worshippers down to church for Sunday Service.
The shocking act of defiance came despite a grave warning from the state’s governor and a plea for churches to temporarily cease operations.
“I would urge that faith leaders and all faith leaders to heed this directive and not necessarily engage in mass gatherings where this coronavirus can spread,” Gov. John Edwards said this week, as he issued a comprehensive “stay at home” order.
However, Life Tabernacle’s Pastor Tony Spell said he would be openly defying the advice and believing God for the protection of his flock.
“That is our command. ‘They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover,'” Spell told WGMB.
“When the paramedics can’t get there, when the law enforcement can’t get there, the holy ghost can get there it will make a difference in someone’s life.”
If anyone in his congregation becomes infected with the COVID-19 virus, Spell insists that he will simply invoke the healing of the Holy Spirit . “I’m going to address that by laying hands on them and praying for them and depending on God to heal their body,” he said.
Louisiana is one of the worst-affected states in the US, with almost 1,400 confirmed cases and 46 deaths.
According to CNN , at a news conference Sunday, Edwards said that his state was dealing with one of the fastest infection rates in the world.
Within the space of just a week, Louisiana has jumped from logging less than 100 cases to more than 1,000.
“That’s a ten-time increase in seven days,” Edwards said. “In the last two weeks, our growth rate has been faster than any state or country in the world.”-CNN
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s driver has been spared jail after he was ordered to perform 315 hours of unpaid work for stealing a cellphone handed to the President as a gift when he recently hosted a field day at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe.
Chamunorwa Tapa (45) was initially sentenced to 14 months in jail after he admitted to stealing the President’s $2 400 gift when he appeared before magistrate Ms Joy Chikodzore charged with theft.
Ms Chikodzore set aside five months of the jail term on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
The remaining nine months were set aside on condition that Tapa performs 315 hours of unpaid work at Mabvuku Police Station starting today.
Prosecutor Mr Benjamin Chikerema had recommended that Tapa be jailed for 12 months with half of the term being set aside on condition of good behaviour.
He said Tapa’s actions were out of greed and proved that his moral blameworthiness was also high considering that he was working in the country’s highest office.
Tapa begged for leniency from the court, saying he was married with two wives and had children at university for whom he was paying fees.
In sentencing Tapa, Ms Chikodzore said his moral blameworthiness was high, which called for a heavy punishment.
It was the State’s case that on March 12 this year, President Mnangagwa hosted a field day at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe.
At the field day, President Mnangagwa was presented with gifts by various companies, including the cellphone worth $2 400.
It was then discovered the following day that the cellphone was missing during reconciliation of the gifts at Zimbabwe House, leading to an investigation.
Tapi was arrested at State House on March 23 at around 6pm.
He led detectives to Mabvuku where the cellphone was recovered from one Jonathan Magaya.-State media
Emmerson Mnangagwa’s driver has been spared jail after he was ordered to perform 315 hours of unpaid work for stealing a cellphone handed to the President as a gift when he recently hosted a field day at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe.
Chamunorwa Tapa (45) was initially sentenced to 14 months in jail after he admitted to stealing the President’s $2 400 gift when he appeared before magistrate Ms Joy Chikodzore charged with theft.
Ms Chikodzore set aside five months of the jail term on condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
The remaining nine months were set aside on condition that Tapa performs 315 hours of unpaid work at Mabvuku Police Station starting today.
Prosecutor Mr Benjamin Chikerema had recommended that Tapa be jailed for 12 months with half of the term being set aside on condition of good behaviour.
He said Tapa’s actions were out of greed and proved that his moral blameworthiness was also high considering that he was working in the country’s highest office.
Tapa begged for leniency from the court, saying he was married with two wives and had children at university for whom he was paying fees.
In sentencing Tapa, Ms Chikodzore said his moral blameworthiness was high, which called for a heavy punishment.
It was the State’s case that on March 12 this year, President Mnangagwa hosted a field day at his Precabe Farm in Kwekwe.
At the field day, President Mnangagwa was presented with gifts by various companies, including the cellphone worth $2 400.
It was then discovered the following day that the cellphone was missing during reconciliation of the gifts at Zimbabwe House, leading to an investigation.
Tapi was arrested at State House on March 23 at around 6pm.
He led detectives to Mabvuku where the cellphone was recovered from one Jonathan Magaya.-State media
Farai Dziva|Vibrant Harare West MP Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe has said Health Minister Obadiah Moyo must resign with immediate effect.
Mamombe accused Moyo of misleading the nation on Coronavirus.
“The Minister of Health and Childcare, Mr Obadiah Moyo MUST be arrested for misleading this Nation that the Gvt is prepared to deal with Covid19.
He should resign, why mislead the whole Nation??
I am so furious, I had to revisit the online Parliament Hansard of Wednesday the 18th of March to read the Minister’s Statement where he was talking about how prepared Zimbabwe is to deal with Coronavirus,”argued Mamombe.
Farai Dziva|Vibrant Harare West MP Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe has said Health Minister Obadiah Moyo must resign with immediate effect.
Mamombe accused Moyo of misleading the nation on Coronavirus.
“The Minister of Health and Childcare, Mr Obadiah Moyo MUST be arrested for misleading this Nation that the Gvt is prepared to deal with Covid19.
He should resign, why mislead the whole Nation??
I am so furious, I had to revisit the online Parliament Hansard of Wednesday the 18th of March to read the Minister’s Statement where he was talking about how prepared Zimbabwe is to deal with Coronavirus,”argued Mamombe.
Farai Dziva|MDC president, Nelson Chamisa has said government hospitals must be equipped with essential equipment to deal with Coronavirus.
See full statement below:
24 March 2020,
Fellow Zimbabweans,
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich. We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal. The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic. Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped.
We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers. Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions.
Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lock down to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other care givers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients.
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing.
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy them to fight the pandemic.
• Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse.
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa and the whole World.
Thank you.
Nelson Chamisa
President
Movement For Democratic Change
Farai Dziva|MDC president, Nelson Chamisa has said government hospitals must be equipped with essential equipment to deal with Coronavirus.
See full statement below:
24 March 2020,
Fellow Zimbabweans,
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich. We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal. The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic. Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped.
We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers. Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions.
Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lock down to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other care givers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients.
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing.
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy them to fight the pandemic.
• Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse.
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa and the whole World.
Thank you.
Nelson Chamisa
President
Movement For Democratic Change
Farai Dziva|Former City of Harare Mayor, Ben Manyenyeni, has said movements within Zimbabwe must be restricted as nation intensifies efforts to deal with the deadly Coronavirus.
See Manyenyeni’s statement :
Urban dwellers must NOT go to the rural areas until COVID-19 is under control.
Urban population density means infections are already high – though untested.
Urban is still business-as-usual in many high-risk spots
Rural ‘sparsity’ means ‘de facto’ isolations are already in force and this can be extended.
Chiefs and Rural/District Councillors must close off entry into your districts and villages.
No more buses out of towns.
Be decisive – LOCK US OUT.
You’re Zimbabwe’s best bet for COVID-19 loss control.
Farai Dziva|Former City of Harare Mayor, Ben Manyenyeni, has said movements within Zimbabwe must be restricted as nation intensifies efforts to deal with the deadly Coronavirus.
See Manyenyeni’s statement :
Urban dwellers must NOT go to the rural areas until COVID-19 is under control.
Urban population density means infections are already high – though untested.
Urban is still business-as-usual in many high-risk spots
Rural ‘sparsity’ means ‘de facto’ isolations are already in force and this can be extended.
Chiefs and Rural/District Councillors must close off entry into your districts and villages.
No more buses out of towns.
Be decisive – LOCK US OUT.
You’re Zimbabwe’s best bet for COVID-19 loss control.
Ministry or Health and Child Care CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
UPDATE: 24 MARCH 2020
The Ministry would like to advise the nation that the second case of COVID-19 who deceased yesterday at Wilkins Hospital, was buried today under supervision by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in line with guidance from the Public Health Act [15: 171.
As of today(Tuesday), the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country is now three.
Today(Tuesday), the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested a total 15 specimens, the majority being from contacts of the deceased case. One male tested positive for COVID-19, more details to be provided later.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic.
The Ministry today received a consignment of commodities from the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundation through the African Union, to help strengthen and intensify surveillance, laboratory testing and case management of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.
The consignment included 20 000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100 000 medical face masks and 1 000 protective suits and face shields.
The Ministry is very grateful to the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations for their generosity and contribution to the National COVID-19 response and will ensure equitable distribution of this consignment so that they get to where there is the greatest need.
The Ministry would also like to inform the nation about the case of an adult, pregnant woman that was presented at Masvingo Provincial Hospital with a history of dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pains but no fever.
She had a history of having travelled to South Africa on the 28th February 2020 and returned on the 7th of March 2020.
The local Rapid Response Team went to assess her and advised that she be put under self-isolation at home. Specimens have been collected for COVID-19 testing and we will give an update of the results.
The Ministry would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant in the prevention of COVID-19 and practice good personal hygiene including.
Washing hands with soap and water frequently or use of an alcohol-based hand-rub,
Covering your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, coughing or sneezing.
Additionally, all non-essential travel is strongly discouraged.
If you suspect COVID-19 disease, or wish to obtain more information on this disease, you are advised to call the following Ministry of Health and Child Care TOLLFREE HOTLINE numbers for assistance: +263714 734 593 or +263774 112 531.
Ministry or Health and Child Care CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
UPDATE: 24 MARCH 2020
The Ministry would like to advise the nation that the second case of COVID-19 who deceased yesterday at Wilkins Hospital, was buried today under supervision by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in line with guidance from the Public Health Act [15: 171.
As of today(Tuesday), the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country is now three.
Today(Tuesday), the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested a total 15 specimens, the majority being from contacts of the deceased case. One male tested positive for COVID-19, more details to be provided later.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic.
The Ministry today received a consignment of commodities from the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundation through the African Union, to help strengthen and intensify surveillance, laboratory testing and case management of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.
The consignment included 20 000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100 000 medical face masks and 1 000 protective suits and face shields.
The Ministry is very grateful to the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations for their generosity and contribution to the National COVID-19 response and will ensure equitable distribution of this consignment so that they get to where there is the greatest need.
The Ministry would also like to inform the nation about the case of an adult, pregnant woman that was presented at Masvingo Provincial Hospital with a history of dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pains but no fever.
She had a history of having travelled to South Africa on the 28th February 2020 and returned on the 7th of March 2020.
The local Rapid Response Team went to assess her and advised that she be put under self-isolation at home. Specimens have been collected for COVID-19 testing and we will give an update of the results.
The Ministry would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant in the prevention of COVID-19 and practice good personal hygiene including.
Washing hands with soap and water frequently or use of an alcohol-based hand-rub,
Covering your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, coughing or sneezing.
Additionally, all non-essential travel is strongly discouraged.
If you suspect COVID-19 disease, or wish to obtain more information on this disease, you are advised to call the following Ministry of Health and Child Care TOLLFREE HOTLINE numbers for assistance: +263714 734 593 or +263774 112 531.
Parliament has suspended public hearings on the Constitutional Amendment Bill that were supposed to start this weekend, as part of measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
The suspension of the public consultations is part of a cocktail of measures adopted by Parliament to curb the spread of the contagious disease, which included suspension of sittings and international travel, among others.
“The public hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No 2) Bill scheduled to start at the end of March have been cancelled until further notice.
“The cancellation is part of the measures adopted by Parliament to give effect to the national effort to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus,” reads a notice from Parliament.
The portfolio committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs led by Makoni South MP Misheck Mataranyika (Zanu PF) was set to lead the public hearings.
Some of the issues in the Bill include a clause that repeal the concept of running mates, extends the women’s quota in Parliament with another two terms, and extend retirement age for Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges to 75 years.
Government has indicated that there was need to repeal a clause on running mates saying it was undesirable.-State media
HERENTALS have described their latest expulsion from the Premier Soccer League as a weird act which they claim exposes a hidden agenda to destroy their club.
Yesterday, the Students were slapped with an expulsion by the PSL disciplinary committee for taking football matters to the court.
The decision comes barely a week after the club won their appeal against a guilty decision, in a match-fixing case, delivered by the same PSL disciplinary committee.
PSL spokesperson, Kudzai Bare, released a judgment in which she said their disciplinary committee had expelled Herentals for not withdrawing their case from the High Court.
According to the judgment, Order 31.1.5, states that a club will be charged for an act of misconduct if:
“It fails to comply with, or contravenes any provisions of the constitution, and those orders of the Zifa Constitution and Rules of the Association, the Caf Statutes and the Fifa Statutes as well as laws of the game.
“It, inclusive of its officials, players, servants or duly authorised (expressed or implied) representative or supporters, commits any act or makes any statement, either orally or in writing, or has been responsible for conduct which is considered ungentlemanly, insulting or improper behaviour or likely to bring the game, sponsors any member, the league, Zifa, Caf or Fifa into disrepute.
“The club also breached Article 53.1 of the PSL Statutes which states that:
“PSL, its members, players’ officials and match and player’s agents will not take any dispute to ordinary courts unless specifically provided for in the statutes and Fifa regulations.
“Any disagreement shall be submitted to the jurisdiction of PSL, Zifa, Caf, and Fifa.
“The club pleaded guilty to the offence and the PSL DC noted that the club had not withdrawn the matter from the courts.’’
Yesterday, the Harare club were expelled from the top-flight league and fined $100 000.
But, club secretary Fainos Madhumbu, said the decision – which was reached at without a hearing – appeared to suggest the league were not pursuing a personal case against them.
“To us, this came as a surprise. They were waiting for the Zifa Appeals Committee to come up with this weird judgment,’’ he said.-State media
By Jane Mlambo| Nurses have downed tools demanding that their employer takes heed to their demands for protective equipment and coronavirus risk allowance among other demands.
In their letter, the nurses under the Zimbabwe Nurses Association said a letter they submitted to their employer demanding that they attend to their urgent needs, fell on deaf ears hence their decision to withdraw their services with immediate effect.
The nurses said they will only get back to work once their employer provides protective equipment, water and risk allowance.
THE United Kingdom (UK) has ordered its citizens to leave Zimbabwe in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the Daily News can report.
Posting on its Twitter account, the UK embassy said citizens who are on temporary visits must go home immediately.
“If you are a UK short-term visitor to #Zimbabwe you are strongly advised to make plans to return to the UK now.
“Please get hold of your airline or tour operator promptly and follow @FCO travel for updates,” the UK embassy posted.
UK ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson also said citizens must follow the directive.
“UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has advised all UK travellers to return to the UK now.
“If you’re a UK national on holiday in #Zimbabwe the time to go home is now. Please get hold of your airline or tour operator promptly, and follow @FCO travel for updates.”
This comes after Zimbabwe recorded its first known death from coronavirus after broadcaster Zororo Makamba succumbed to the disease at Wilkins Hospital in Harare on Monday.
This comes as health workers have said hospitals are ill-equipped to deal with the disease while experts said the government needs to do more to avoid the spread of the disease.
Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) secretary-general Norman Matara recently said due to lack of personal protective clothing and equipment, doctors were not willing to risk their lives working on coronavirus cases.
“We are currently receiving very worrying information from some doctors and health care workers who are saying that if there is a case of coronavirus and they are called to attend to it, they will not report for work because there is no sufficient personal protective clothing and equipment to shield them from the virus.
“Currently, there is a shortage of personal protective clothing, for example, N95 masks as well as protective suits, which places the lives of doctors, particularly those in district and provincial hospitals, at risk,” Matara said.
The doctors’ claim was buttressed by the Makamba family who revealed stunning details exposing on how ill-prepared the government is on dealing with the deadly coronavirus.
Zanu PF has postponed this year’s first Central Committee meeting which was scheduled for this week, as a measure to control the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking at the Politburo meeting at the party headquarters in Harare this morning, Zanu PF First Secretary President Mnangagwa said the Central Committee meeting which has been scheduled for this week has been postponed until further notice.
“As you aware, our party constitution obligates us to meet as the Central Committee at least three times a year, in Ordinary Session. The practice is that our meetings are held at the end of every quarter. Hence, this Politburo meeting would ordinarily be followed by the Central Committee meeting. However, due to the prevailing circumstances and the measures we have put in place to avert the spread of Covid-19, the scheduled meetings of the Central Committee stands postponed until further notice,” said the President.
He challenged the party leadership to lead by example in the fight against the spread of the pandemic. The Politburo meeting was held at the main hall instead of the usual boardroom to practice social distancing.
“As the party leadership we must lead by example by continuing to practice social distancing, it is in that spirit that we are holding this meeting in this hall as opposed to our usual venue,” said President Mnangagwa.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has suspended all electoral activities, including the holding of by-elections in line with the government’s measures to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a statement, ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the suspension means that the Chiredzi Rural District Council ward 16 by-election will no longer be held on 4 April 2020 as been scheduled, but at a later date to be advised. She said:
The suspension affects a byelection which was due to be held in ward 16 of Chiredzi Rural District Council on 4 April 2020 and the filling of any other vacancy which may arise during this period.
New dates for the conduct of any by-election will be notified in due course.
Zimbabwe has so far confirmed three cases of coronavirus, with one of the patients sadly passing away on Monday this week.
The government has hitherto been reluctant to put the country on lockdown but there are fears that the virus could spread rapidly and affect a lot of people-StateMedia.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe nurses have embarked on job action with immediate after authorities failed to address their concerns within 48 hours.
In a notice dated 25 March and addressed to members, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) said:
Following our letter that was presented to our employer 48 hours ago, informing them to urgently attend to our demands as frontline workers, it seems our concerns are not getting the urgency it deserves.
So, in that regard, all nurses are withdrawing their services with immediate effect until there is genuine action taken by the employer.
We will only get back to work once our concerns have been swiftly acted upon.
I pointed out the folly of ICT Minister’s move of spending US$40mil in acquiring 60% of a pvt Mobile operator at the expense of health services that are not attractive to FDI like Mobile Comms. Excerpt from ‘The Birth& Growth of a cartel or cabal in the ICT sector in Zimbabwe”. pic.twitter.com/eOC07fGCyT
Exactly 5 days after submitting the document, I was arrested on the instructions of then ICT Minister, working in cahoots with an equally corrupt former Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commissioner, ZACC. Despite his arrest later, ex-ICT Minister was corruptly ‘acquitted’ without trial. pic.twitter.com/rTjNTfrf6b
By A Correspondent- Revelations by the MDC deputy president Tendai Biti comes following a statement by the former Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni that something fishy going on at the Rock Foundation Medical Centre in Mt. Pleasant, Harare, where reports say top Zanu-PF elites are putting in place an exclusive, well-resourced facility for their own coronavirus treatment.
Manyenyeni said he knows the area very well as it is in his neighborhood, and he visited it to find out what was going on.
Reports surfaced on social media that following the death from coronavirus of Zororo Makamba on Monday, it emerged that the deceased came into contact with top officials in the Office of the President and Cabinet as well as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
The reports were corroborated by Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet in Charge of Presidential Communications, George Charamba, who told State-owned online television ZTN that indeed top Government officials were in isolation after coming into contact with Makamba.
Said Manyenyeni of the rumored medical facility in northern Harare: “I have just been to the former Rock Foundation Medical facility. I am still in my pyjamas and gown.
“I know the place well enough – it is in our municipal ward.
“They advised that they are not open – not operating.
“What they told me is very different from today’s body language of the place itself – that I know well enough and can state confidently.
“There’s stuff happening there! The message of a exclusive medical facility for the politically-connected (or the elites) does not not sit well with ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe especially at this point in time.
“That said, any life saved is a life saved and any new medical offering is a welcome addition to the unfolding crisis.”
Following Zororo’s passing on, there was anger as images showed that his hospital room at Wilkins Hospital was not well equipped. His family revealed that the facility had no ventilators and it had no sockets for certain machinery to be connected to save the deceased’s life.
Zimbabwe yesterday received its share of the donations from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, who founded e-commerce giant AliBaba. Zimbabweans on social media expressed fear that some of the donated material could end up serving ruling party elites at a secret facility, as airlines have been grounded and coronavirus patients are not allowed to land in any territory for treatment.
Rock Foundation Medical Centre was owned by now jailed former Zanu-PF legislator Munyaradzi Kereke.
It thrived when he was working as an advisor to the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Gideon Gono, but ran into financial deep waters after Kereke faced rape charges and was subsequently jailed for ten years in 2016.
By A Correspondent- With the world facing the Covid pandemic and Africa’s resources and readiness under the spotlight, another harsh reality of the dire economic situation has shown its ugly face.
This comes after 64 suspected illegal immigrants were found dead inside a sealed shipping container in Mozambique.
“The truck, transporting illegal immigrants from Malawi, suspected to be Ethiopians, was stopped at the Mussacana weight bridge in Tete, and 64 illegal immigrants were found dead. Only 14 survived,” the senior official, who asked not be named, told AFP.
The news has sent shockwaves across the continent as illegal immigration remains a big problem across the globe. More details on this will be made available. Late last week, South Africa announced that they would be erecting a 40km fence at the Beitbridge border post to curb illegal immigration and also the spread of Covid-19.
Relating to the fence, South Africa’s Public Works and Infrastructure minister Patricia De Lille said
“This is to ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country and vice versa, in line with one of the measures announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in that South Africa’s borders and ports are to be secured with immediate effect,” said De Lille.
The names of the 64 illegal immigrants could not be named as Mozambican authorities say most of them were undocumented and they faced a mammoth task of identifying their country of origin and contact details. The driver of the truck is believed to be under arrest as authorities investigate the case further. More arrests are expected.
By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has suspended all electoral activities, including the holding of by-elections in line with the government’s measures to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
In a statement, ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the suspension means that the Chiredzi Rural District Council ward 16 by-election will no longer be held on 4 April 2020 as been scheduled, but at a later date to be advised. She said:
The suspension affects a byelection which was due to be held in ward 16 of Chiredzi Rural District Council on 4 April 2020 and the filling of any other vacancy which may arise during this period.
New dates for the conduct of any by-election will be notified in due course.
Zimbabwe has so far confirmed three cases of coronavirus, with one of the patients sadly passing away on Monday this week.
The government has hitherto been reluctant to put the country on lockdown but there are fears that the virus could spread rapidly and affect a lot of people-StateMedia.
A 41 year old miner (Stephen Chizola) at Mimosa Mine in Zvishavane died after sustaining serious injuries from a rock fall yesterday, 263Chat Business has learnt.
The fatal incident is the second at the mine in just 10 months following a similar incidence that claimed one life in June last year.
Chizola who was a Face Preparation Supervisor was barring down in 36 Level North when tragedy struck.
In a statement forwarded to this publication, the company said investigations were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident.
“It is with deep regret that Mimosa Mining Company advises of a fatal accident at its mining location in Zvishavane. On Tuesday the 24th of March 2020, Stephen Chizola (41) was barring down in 36 Level North when a rock fell and seriously injured him in the process,” the company said in a statement.
First aid was promptly administered and Chizola was evacuated from underground before passing away upon admission at the mine clinic.
“The Mimosa Board, management and staff would like to express their deepest and sincere condolences to Stephen’s family, his relatives and friends. A full investigation is now underway to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the accident. Mimosa continues to urge all employees to exercise maximum diligence and reiterates its commitment to attaining ZERO HARM in all its activities,” further read the statement.
Efforts to get in touch with the Zimbabwe Republic Police for a comment were futile.
Last year, the platinum miner confirmed a similar incident when its then face preparation supervisor, Tichaona Nedziwe (39) had succumbed to injuries sustained when a rock fell on him while barring down in a supported area at 22 Level South.
The development has raised concern over the mine workers safety with another deaths having recorded in 2016.
South Africans are rushing against the clock to make it to their home towns before midnight 26 March 2020, as it has been announced by the president this will mean that almost all citizens will be under the strict rules of the lockdown. But most people still have questions to what you can and can’t do during this time and that has been a very difficult thing to answer as the healthcare system is also trying to prepare itself to take care of only patients that only really need their help.
Here are a few things you will not be happening:
No fast food or any type of restaurants or pubs or clubs will be open.
No deliveries of any sort whether it is food or any type of products.
Public transport is suspended except for those with permits – No Ubers, taxis and buses.
No large gatherings or travelling across borders.
No working outside the house unless you are part of the essential workforce.
Here is what you allowed to do during this lockdown:
Take a walk around your neighbourhood but not in large groups.
Go to the bank.
Go to the clinic or hospital.
Buy groceries or licensed spaza shop.
Network providers will also be working to ensure people are connected.
Sakunda Holdings has teamed up with its associates to resuscitate Rock Foundation and St Annes hospital in a multi million dollar initiative aimed at complementing government efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Government has been calling on the private sector to assist in its efforts to fight the pandemic that has so far claimed one life in the country.
The two facilities identified by Sakunda Holdings have been idle for long and will be used for Covid 19 response only.
The firm, which is currently undergoing several relevant processes, wants the medical facilities to be open to everyone contrary to media reports that they will be open to Government and ZanuPF bigwigs.
It is envisaged that if all processes are done on time one of the facilities will be operational by Wednesday next week.
Sakunda Holdings officials have already toured the health facilities and have so far moved their personnel at Rock Foundation after working with local medical experts and specialists to identify what is needed.
Negotiations are currently underway with management at St Annes hospital amid indications that the company is ready to foot all the refurbishment bills.
In correspondence between Sakunda Holdings and government, the firm indicated its desire to complement government efforts when they wrote to the permanent secretary in the ministry of health and chikd care seeking relevant licenses.
“the government of Zimbabwe has implemented raft of measures to curb and control the outbreak of the disease albeit under tough economic circumstances. It is against this background that Sakunda holdings (PVT) Ltd and its associates have come up with a private initiative to complement government efforts to curb this pandemic specifically in the provision of health facilities, equipment, training and vaccines. Sakunda has identified Rock Foundation Medical Centre as a facility in the fight against covid-19” said the letter signed by Everton Mlalazi un charge of special projects at Sakunda Holdings.
The firm is requesting government in facilitating the engagement with relevant bodies to expedite the process in view of the urgency required to deal with the pandemic.
“Licenses will be sought from the following bodies: MCAZ, Pharmacists Council, Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe, Medical and Dental Council of Zimbabwe and Health Professions Authority,” said Mlalazi.
Ministry of Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary Dr Abigail Mahomva wrote to St Annes’ Hospital Manager expressing satisfactory following a tour which officials from the ministry and executives from Sakunda holdings had at their health facility.
“The team was satisfied with what they saw during the tour and would like you to finalise our request. Please note that we have since identified Sakunda holdings (copied) to be our partner to work with us and yourselves to do all the remaining renovations and refurbishments necessary for the hospital to function in the shortest period of time. Sakunda holdings has confirmed that they have the resources and funding to do the work and hence refurbishments will not be at your costs.
May you also note as discussed during the tour of your hospital our request to use this facility is for up to six months only for the covid-19 response,”,” said Dr Mahovha.
Sakunda Holdings wants to use its resources and support Government in the provision of health facilities, equipment, training of medical personnel and vaccines.
State Media|ONE of the pioneers of the country’s liberation war Clark Mpofu has died and the Zanu-PF leadership in Bulawayo has recommended that he been declared a national hero.
He was 81.
Mpofu succumbed to cardiac arrest at Mpilo Central Hospital where he had been hospitalised on Saturday.
Zanu-PF politburo member Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube said Mpofu was among the first liberation fighters to take up arms.
He said he trained in sabotage activities in China before returning into the country where with colleagues, he bombed the Tredgold Building and Bulawayo Post Office, when most blacks could not even imagine standing up to the settler colonial regime.
“Due to his contributions, we made a collective decision that he be declared a national hero and we have already submitted our recommendation to the party’s national leadership. He was once detained with President Mnangagwa at Khami Prison and was only released from jail after Independence due to his acts of sabotage. He remained committed to the people’s cause and we firmly believe he deserves a national hero status,” he said.
His son, Nhlanhla, said while the family is aware of his political activities, they mainly related to him as the family’s figurehead.
“To us he was really a pillar of strength. He really motivated us to be better people and encouraged that we pursue education as a source of empowerment. He also taught us a lot about the need to prepare for retirement and having a rural home. We might know about his political activities but to us he was really a father. His death is a serious blow for us,” said Nhlanhla.
He said Mpofu is survived by his wife, seven children, 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Historian Pathisa Nyathi described Mpofu is one of the pioneering liberation struggle cadres who changed the nationalist struggle from accommodating the settler minority but directly and radically confronting it.
His actions led to his arrest in 1965 and he remained in jail until ceasefire in 1979.
He attended Zinyangeni Primary School in Nkayi and later came to Bulawayo where he joined the National Democratic Party and became active in its Youth League within the Makokoba Branch where the likes of Jaison Ziyaphapha Moyo, Benjamin Madlela and Ethan Dube and others were active.
Mpofu excelled in the Sabotage Campaign where they operated under the command of General Chedu and Enos Chikowore.
After training in sabotage activities, he was part of the group that bombed the Bulawayo Post Office, Tredgold Building and Circus Grounds near the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre grounds.
Upon his arrest Mpofu was sent to Khami Prison where one of his inmates was President Mnangagwa.
He was moved to other prisons such as Whawha and Gwelo prison.
Mpofu was released from jail following the conclusion of the Lancaster House Talks in 1979.
Mourners are gathered at house number 4592 Nketa 9.
As Zimbabwe confirms its third Covid-19 infection, the infection has been declared a formidable epidemic disease in terms of the Public Health Act, allowing the Minister of Health and Child Care to make sweeping regulations to control the spread of the disease and to have designated medical officers order the compulsory testing, quarantining, isolation and treatment of anyone who is exposed to infection or is confirmed as infected..
The new Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations 2020 were gazetted on Monday and are valid until May 20, although they then may be extended a month at a time.
The regulations follow the confirmation last night by the Health Ministry that one of the 15 tests done yesterday came out positive. Those tested were mostly contacts of the second confirmed case and first death, Zororo Makamba, who was buried yesterday after succumbing to Covid-19 coupled with a pre-existing condition on Monday.
The new regulations partly overlap with orders already given by President Mnangagwa following the declaration of a state of national disaster, such as the ban on gatherings over the set limit. The Health Minister, after consulting the President and accepting Presidential directions, can issue the legal orders that enforce any Government action on gatherings, curfews, closure of premises and the like.
But they go into great detail for new powers given to the Chief Health Officer, who is the professional Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, the director of health services in every local authority, district health officers and every medical officer of health. These enforcement officers, who issue the instructions, are to be assisted by police officers, peace officers and members of municipal police forces who are explicitly given the authority to enforce the instructions from the medical professionals.
The medical enforcement officers may order compulsory medical examinations, including taking samples for testing, order compulsory treatment, order the sequestration or disinfection of baggage and personal effects, order the evacuation of any building for up to 24 hours where those exposed to the risk of infection may have gathered, and can order the compulsory detention, isolation or quarantining of anyone for 48 hours or until they have been formally cleared to be free of infection if this takes longer to do.
Once people are confirmed to be infected, they can be further quarantined for up to 14 days within their homes, a hospital or a place of isolation. If they are so quarantined the medical officer ordering the detention must ensure these infected people have access to or are provided with the basic necessities to maintain an acceptable standard of nutrition and hygiene and can be released temporarily under specified conditions.
Those who escape from where they have been ordered to be detained, isolated or quarantined, even if this is their own home, can be arrested without warrant.
The Health Minister can approve sites to be used for isolation and quarantine for those suspected or confirmed to be infected with Covid-19.
All those who disobey instructions from the designated health officers for testing, quarantine or isolation can face a stiff fine and a year in jail.
A second batch of clauses in the regulations gives the Health Minister, in consultation with the President and conforming to Presidential directions to: impose restrictions on public traffic and movement through curfews, close schools in any local authority, and close places and worship and restrict church gatherings, restrict or regulate places of entertainment, recreation and places where alcohol is served. This has already been done.
In the event of death the minister, acting again with the President, can make any inquiries into the cause, order post-mortems and exhumations, prohibit funerals in special circumstances until a medical officer has granted a certificate, and regulate burials.
To ensure that people cannot be infected by any other articles, the minister can regulate, restrict or ban removal of merchandise or articles in or out of any area, can facilitate the disinfection of any article by providing plant and equipment, or if necessary order that article’s destruction, authorise local authorities to inspect premises and fix sanitary or other defects likely to further the spread of Covid-19, and order the evacuation, closing, alteration or even demolition of premises which, if occupied, could render more difficult the eradication of Covid-19.
The health officers enforcing the regulations have to have certificates signed by the town clerk or other chief executive officer and must show these if anyone questions their orders.
The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus, Clarence House has announced.
Prince Charles, 71, is displaying mild symptoms “but otherwise remains in good health”, a spokesman said, adding that the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, has been tested but does not have the virus.
Both Charles and Camilla are now self-isolating at Balmoral.
Buckingham Palace said the Queen last saw her son on 12 March, but also “remains in good health”.
The Queen, the palace added, “is following all the appropriate advice with regard to her welfare”.
A Clarence House statement read: “In accordance with government and medical advice, the prince and the duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland.
“The tests were carried out by the NHS in Aberdeenshire, where they met the criteria required for testing.
“It is not possible to ascertain from whom the prince caught the virus owing to the high number of engagements he carried out in his public role during recent weeks.”
The prince’s last public engagement was on 12 March but has been working from home over the last few days.
The Press Association news agency reported he has had a number of private meetings with Highgrove and Duchy individuals, all of whom have been made aware.
According to the latest Department of Health and Social Care figures, there are now more than 8,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK – although the actual number cases is likely to be far higher. Some 422 of those patients have died.-BBC
In fear of the looming country’s 21 days lockdown on Thursday evening, most Gauteng residents decided to leave to their countryside homes and villages to quarantine there.
Scenes from Johannesburg Park Station showed a congested crowds of people who are waiting for their transport amid the lockdown developments.
Gauteng MEC David Makhura warned residents not to leave to their rural homes and this would impose danger and increase cases in homelands.
”We are urging the people of Gauteng to remain in the province for the duration of the 21-day National Lockdown. By not remaining in the Province you run the risk of not only infecting others unaware, but also getting infected with covid-19,” Makhura warned.
Gauteng is the most hit provide with over 360 cases as indicated by the department of health.
South Africans will be expected to quarantine for 21 days in their homes of face consequences from Thursday midnight.
Government advised that going out will only be tolerated for buying groceries, seeking medical assistance with an appointment and when accessing banking facilities.
Pharmaceutical companies, some retails companies , medical staff, security personnel including police will be operational during the lockdown.
President Cyril Ramaphosa — in his capacity as African Union (AU) chairperson – expressed his sadness at the death of migrants in transit in Mozambique.
Immigration authorities in Mozambique on Tuesday discovered 64 migrants stowed away in a truck.
According to media reports, 14 migrants survived the ordeal of being transported in an airless shipping container.
Ramaphosa said: “Amid the focus of our continent and the global community on the coronavirus pandemic, the death of a large number of migrants reportedly in transit from Malawi to Mozambique is a devastating tragedy for our continent.”
Ramaphosa added that this incident was a reminder of the continuing toll exacted by the movement of people across the continent and the danger they face while undertaking such journeys.
“We must redouble our efforts to secure peace, stability and development in all parts of our continent to create opportunities that will allow people to actualise their human potential, wherever they are in Africa.
“The desperate movement of people across our continent, or between our continent and other destinations, is a clear call on all of us to create and sustain economic opportunities that will change the fortunes of all Africans for the better,” he concluded.
The Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema slammed the announcement by Miniser Zweli Mkhize to allow walking dogs during the 21 days lockdown in South Africa.
The Health Minister said South Africans will be allowed to walk dogs, buy groceries during lockdown provided they are not crowded in one place.
Mkhize announced on Wednesday as part of the guidelines that should be followed once the country hit the lockdown on Thursday midnight.
Taking it to Twitter, Julius Malema dismissed the announcement as rubbish and one that cannot be tolerated.
”I hear some people will be allowed to walk dogs; just don’t try us, please. We support the government’s intervention, but rubbish won’t be tolerated.” the EFF leader tweeted.
The Red Berets have since calmed in recent days with more party statements clearly supporting the president moves.
Malema also tweeted the president after the announcement of lockdown on Monday evening assuring him that he supports and understand the measures.
Zanu PF has postponed this year’s first Central Committee meeting which was scheduled for this week, as a measure to control the spread of Covid-19.
Speaking at the Politburo meeting at the party headquarters in Harare this morning, Zanu PF First Secretary President Mnangagwa said the Central Committee meeting which has been scheduled for this week has been postponed until further notice.
“As you aware, our party constitution obligates us to meet as the Central Committee at least three times a year, in Ordinary Session. The practice is that our meetings are held at the end of every quarter. Hence, this Politburo meeting would ordinarily be followed by the Central Committee meeting. However, due to the prevailing circumstances and the measures we have put in place to avert the spread of Covid-19, the scheduled meetings of the Central Committee stands postponed until further notice,” said the President.
He challenged the party leadership to lead by example in the fight against the spread of the pandemic. The Politburo meeting was held at the main hall instead of the usual boardroom to practice social distancing.
“As the party leadership we must lead by example by continuing to practice social distancing, it is in that spirit that we are holding this meeting in this hall as opposed to our usual venue,” said President Mnangagwa.
THE United Kingdom (UK) has ordered its citizens to leave Zimbabwe in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, the Daily News can report.
Posting on its Twitter account, the UK embassy said citizens who are on temporary visits must go home immediately.
“If you are a UK short-term visitor to #Zimbabwe you are strongly advised to make plans to return to the UK now.
“Please get hold of your airline or tour operator promptly and follow @FCO travel for updates,” the UK embassy posted.
UK ambassador to Zimbabwe Melanie Robinson also said citizens must follow the directive.
“UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has advised all UK travellers to return to the UK now.
“If you’re a UK national on holiday in #Zimbabwe the time to go home is now. Please get hold of your airline or tour operator promptly, and follow @FCO travel for updates.”
This comes after Zimbabwe recorded its first known death from coronavirus after broadcaster Zororo Makamba succumbed to the disease at Wilkins Hospital in Harare on Monday.
This comes as health workers have said hospitals are ill-equipped to deal with the disease while experts said the government needs to do more to avoid the spread of the disease.
Zimbabwe Association for Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) secretary-general Norman Matara recently said due to lack of personal protective clothing and equipment, doctors were not willing to risk their lives working on coronavirus cases.
“We are currently receiving very worrying information from some doctors and health care workers who are saying that if there is a case of coronavirus and they are called to attend to it, they will not report for work because there is no sufficient personal protective clothing and equipment to shield them from the virus.
“Currently, there is a shortage of personal protective clothing, for example, N95 masks as well as protective suits, which places the lives of doctors, particularly those in district and provincial hospitals, at risk,” Matara said.
The doctors’ claim was buttressed by the Makamba family who revealed stunning details exposing on how ill-prepared the government is on dealing with the deadly coronavirus.
Botswana, one of the few countries in Africa without a confirmed case of coronavirus, has moved to secure its borders after neighboring Zimbabwe recorded its first coronavirus-related death on Monday. Soldiers will be watching border crossings, but authorities say Zimbabweans who use unauthorized entry points present a real challenge.
Botswana’s government announced Tuesday it was closing all border crossing points with immediate effect.
Botswana’s Vice President Slumber Tsogwane addressed the nation on state television.
“The movement of people visiting neighboring countries including Lesotho and Swaziland is restricted. His excellency the President recently undertook an emergency official trip to Namibia to seize the presence of other regional heads of state to discuss critical COVID-19 measures taken in respect of countries sharing borders with Botswana,” said Tsogwane.
The closures will remain in place until further notice. Citizens will be allowed to return home, but must submit to a 14-day quarantine.
The move came a day after Zimbabwe registered the region’s first coronavirus-related death.
Soldiers are being deployed to watch border crossings. However, authorities say it will be difficult to prevent all illegal entries. Many Zimbabweans coming into Botswana use unauthorized entry points.
Botswana Defense Force official Khumo Morwagabuse said Monday that the situation could undermine efforts to keep out the coronavirus.
In 2018, Botswana deported nearly 29,000 illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe.
Gaborone resident Khumo Tlhakane said Botswana should now move to curb illegal immigration.
“Now our greatest threat is the border jumpers. They do not go through the same screening process like everyone who comes into Botswana. Now the government should step up and increase their measures, the soldiers should do more patrols,” said Tlhakane.
Botswana also has to keep an eagle eye on South Africa, which had recorded more than 500 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday.
However, the number of border jumpers from South Africa and Botswana’s other neighbors is usually small.
MDC president, Nelson Chamisa has called for the immediate deployment of the army and police to help enforce strategies prescribed by government in the fight against the coronavirus within communities.
Chamisa made the plea while addressing journalists in Harare this week at the MDC Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, his party’s main headquarters.
“We need to have a radical shift in our police force and military. Their civilian obligation must be turned into an active mode so that they begin to do what they know best,” he said.
“The fact that when you look outside the window you see people going about their normal business, that shows we are not doing enough to educate the people, it shows we are not doing enough also to press the button of emergency and drive the country into a mode of extraordinary.
“You have seen political parties being buried in South Africa, and national interest becoming the common denominator,” said Chamisa.
He said in rural communities, the people were not aware of the coronavirus, putting their daily lives at risk.
“In the rural areas people do not even know about it. They actually think it some animal that is being talked about, almost like some fairy-tale.”
In January last year, the deployment of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to quell disturbances following wildcat demonstrations after President Emmerson Mnangagwa had increased, resulted in soldiers using force.
Over a dozen of people were killed while more were injured as the army used force against the citizens.
Farai Dziva| Star midfielder Marvelous Nakamba could have been exposed to the risk of contracting coronavirus after his teammate and goalkeeper Pepe Reina said he showed symptoms of the disease some time ago.
The Spaniard who is on loan from AC Milan revealed on Tuesday that he was unable to take a test but says doctors considered his symptoms to be consistent with Covid-19.
“They don’t give you a test here unless you’re feeling really ill,” Reina told Spanish radio station Cope.
“I spoke with doctors and the symptoms I had were consistent with this (the virus) but there was no official confirmation.
“It was a different sort of week as I had to take precautions to avoid infecting those living with me.”
Villa, a long with other EPL clubs, suspended all training sessions and urged their players to isolate themselves as to minimise the chances of contracting the virus.
Several players around the world have tested positive while Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta was the first notable figure in the EPL to contract the disease.
Farai Dziva| Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic’s salary has been revealed.
The 54-year-old Croat was unveiled as the senior men’s national soccer team coach by the ZIFA board at Cresta Oasis on the 13th of February but the the Felton Kamambo-led administration avoided questions on how much they would be paying the former Sudan coach.
According to The Herald however, Logarusic earns a monthly salary of US$7000, with the ZIFA board having offered him US$6500 initially.
The coach’s start to life at the helm of the Warriors has been marred by the outbreak of the Coronavirus epidemic, which has resulted in the cancellation of both CHAN 2020 and AFCON 2021 games.
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has made a donation of £920 000 (US$ 1,090,650) to a hospital in his native Barcelona to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus.
The deadly pandemic has sent the whole into panic mode, with Spain being one of the most affected countries in Europe as evidenced by the suspension of all football activity there indefinitely.
The hospital, Angel Soler Daniel Foundation confirmed the development via a statement.
“Pep Guardiola has made a donation of one million euros to the Fundacio Angel Soler Daniel for the acquisition and supply of health equipment to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The fundraising campaign led by the the Official College of Doctors of Barcelona and managed through the Foundation, is aimed at obtaining cash donations from doctors who are members of the college and the general population to buy health equipment which is currently lacking in hospitals in Catalonia,” read the statement.-Soccer 24
ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) hereby expresses its grave concern and displeasure at the gross violation of rights of a suspect by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
ZLHR strongly condemns the use of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment on any suspect.
It has come to our attention that on Tuesday 24 March 2020, at about 1500 hours, three members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police without a warrant arrested Munyaradzi Mawadze, from his home in Masvingo province. At about 2300 hours, Mawadze was transferred to Harare Central Police Station.
Of particular concern to us is reliable information that we have received to the effect that during his period of detention in police custody, he has suffered/ and continues to suffer the following violations;
#He has been denied access to his lawyers, despite the lawyers presenting themselves at Harare Central Police Station to represent their client;
#He has been subjected to acts of torture whilst in police custody. ZLHR is reliably informed that the acts of torture have been ongoing for the duration of his detention in custody. Mawadze has been assaulted with baton sticks and has also been subjected to other gross acts of torture that are indescribable and despicable;
#On demand, lawyers have not been informed of the criminal charges that Mawadze is facing.
ZLHR deeply regrets the conduct of the police which is a flagrant violation of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, in particular section 50 which provides for the rights of arrested and detained persons.
ZLHR wishes to advise members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police that are involved in the human rights violations, that they will be held personally liable and accountable for their violations of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
Section 53 of the Constitution prohibits torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
ZLHR reiterates that errant security personnel, who continue to perpetrate torture and other crimes, should be charged in mainstream courts of law and judicial officers should make these offences punishable by appropriate penalties, which take into account that this is, in addition, an international crime.
As an organisation that is committed to seeking justice for all victims of torture through litigation and other forms of redress, ZLHR calls upon;
• The responsible members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police to cease forthwith the brutal acts of torture;
• The Commissioner-General of Police to investigate the alleged acts of torture that are being perpetrated on Mawadze;
• The National Prosecuting Authority to prosecute those responsible for Mawadze’s torture and other ill-treatment;
Former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling has refused to rule out a return to Anfield and also expressed his undying love for the Reds.
The 25-year old who now plays for Manchester City made the claims during a Q&A on his agent – Colossal Sports Management’s Instagram account.
When asked if he will return to Liverpool, Sterling responded: “Would I ever go back to Liverpool? To be honest with you I love Liverpool.
“Don’t get it twisted, they are always in my heart. It’s a team that did a lot for me growing up so…”
The England star came through the academy with the Reds and broke into the first team in 2012. However, he acrimoniously left the club for the Etihad in 2015 in a £49million transfer.-Soccer 24
By A Correspondent- The leading mobile network operator Econet has closed down its Joina City Shop in Harare’s CBD “with immediate effect” after one of its staff members came into contact with a person who tested positive to coronavirus.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Econet said: “We have, with immediate effect, closed our Joina City Shop in Harare in the interests of public health and safety. One of our staff members from the shop voluntarily disclosed that they came in contact with a person who later tested positive for the Coronavirus.
“We have therefore immediately triggered our internal protocols to protect the rest of the staff and our customers, and to support the staff member in question at this time.
“We are working with the staff member, who has gone into self-quarantine with their family, to get tested for the Coronavirus, and we are supporting them to take all the necessary steps to ensure their safety and that of others.
“The shop is right now undergoing thorough sanitization and cleaning by professionals, including trained personnel from our Clean City sanitation sister business.
“The shop will remain closed to the public until further notice,” Econet said in the statement.
Econet said while the company has put in place stringent health and safety measures to combat the spread of the Coronavirus at its offices and customer service centres, it will continue to review those measures as the situation evolved to ensure absolute safety for its staff and customers.
The company has been leading a multipronged campaign to raise public awareness on how Zimbabweans can protect themselves from the COVID-19 epidemic, and how to prevent the spread of the virus.
Last week, it joined hands with the Harare City Council to disinfect some of the crowded hotspots of Harare’s Central Business District that include Copacabana, Market Square and Charge Office bus termini as the threats of coronavirus became real.
“I am in Chimanimani Village right now. One of the school children who went to China on social psycho support programme is said to be seriously ill prompting residents of the cyclone Idai struck area to speculate that it might be Covid 19,” revealed a ZimEye reader.
Watch the live video loading below for this and more……..
The development also comes amid indications that a Harare man, Mr Thomas Matosi has collapsed and died while serving customers at Colcom Butchery.
The mishap reportedly happened a few hours ago and close colleagues told ZimEye the man had been coughing while complaining that he is not feeling well.
Calls to the Colcom headoffice were not being picked up at the time of publishing.
It could not be immediately established if his death is due to Coronavirus.
At the time of writing, the family of Mr Thomas Matosi, had gone into mourning.
In another development, two women reportedly collapsed and died in Glen Norah Harare.
A ZimEye reader told the publication that the women died yesterday, Tuesday.
It could however not be immediately established where exactly the women died and the causes of their deaths.
This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates….
By A Correspondent- A prominent Bulawayo socialite who was allegedly robbed of nearly US$76 000 and 168 grammes of gold at gun point by four unidentified men was arrested while making a report at Kumalo Police Station, for possessing gold without a license.
Mike Marata (38) allegedly went to the police station to report his loss.
Officers allegedly asked him to produce a licence permitting him to possess gold but he failed, leading to his arrest.
He was not asked to plead to possessing gold without a license when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.
Marata was remanded to April 7 on his own cognisance.
Prosecuting, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said on Friday last week at around 1PM, Marata went to Kumalo Police Station where he reported a case of armed robbery.
“The accused person alleged that he had been robbed of US$75 545 and 168 grammes of gold by four unknown men. He said the money which was in the car was for buying more gold and the stolen gold had just been bought from one Stanley Mhembere,” he said.
The court heard that Marata was asked to produce a licence authorising him to possess gold but he failed.-StateMedia
Farai Dziva|Vibrant Harare West MP Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe has said Health Minister Obadiah Moyo must resign with immediate effect.
Mamombe accused Moyo of misleading the nation on Coronavirus.
“The Minister of Health and Childcare, Mr Obadiah Moyo MUST be arrested for misleading this Nation that the Gvt is prepared to deal with Covid19.
He should resign, why mislead the whole Nation??
I am so furious, I had to revisit the online Parliament Hansard of Wednesday the 18th of March to read the Minister’s Statement where he was talking about how prepared Zimbabwe is to deal with Coronavirus,”argued Mamombe.
Instead of leading by example and staying at home to reduce the risk of spreading #coronavirus infections, the ZanuPF politburo is meeting at the party's headquarters in Harare with its members wearing masks to protect Mnangagwa; in a display of unprincipled & selfish leadership! pic.twitter.com/bLl6JohVfj
Farai Dziva|Vibrant Harare West MP Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe has said Health Minister Obadiah Moyo must resign with immediate effect.
Mamombe accused Moyo of misleading the nation on Coronavirus.
“The Minister of Health and Childcare, Mr Obadiah Moyo MUST be arrested for misleading this Nation that the Gvt is prepared to deal with Covid19.
He should resign, why mislead the whole Nation??
I am so furious, I had to revisit the online Parliament Hansard of Wednesday the 18th of March to read the Minister’s Statement where he was talking about how prepared Zimbabwe is to deal with Coronavirus,”argued Mamombe.
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich. We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal. The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic. Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped.
We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers. Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions.
Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lock down to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other care givers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients.
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing.
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy them to fight the pandemic.
• Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse.
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa and the whole World.
Thank you.
Nelson Chamisa
President
Movement For Democratic Change
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich. We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal. The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic.
Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped. We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers.
Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions. Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lockdown to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high-risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other caregivers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients.
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing.
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy them to fight the pandemic.
• Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse.
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you. God bless Zimbabwe. God bless Africa and the whole World.
Thank you.
Nelson Chamisa President Movement For Democratic Change
Farai Dziva|MDC president, Nelson Chamisa has said government hospitals must be equipped with essential equipment to deal with Coronavirus.
See full statement below:
24 March 2020,
Fellow Zimbabweans,
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich. We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal. The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic. Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped.
We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers. Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions.
Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lock down to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other care givers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients.
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing.
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy them to fight the pandemic.
• Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse.
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa and the whole World.
Thank you.
Nelson Chamisa
President
Movement For Democratic Change
Farai Dziva|MDC president, Nelson Chamisa has said government hospitals must be equipped with essential equipment to deal with Coronavirus.
See full statement below:
24 March 2020,
Fellow Zimbabweans,
These are extraordinary times in and for Zimbabwe.
In such times, we cannot continue to do the ordinary nor can we afford to bury our heads in the sand like an ostrich. We cannot conduct public affairs in terms of the old normal when we are faced with a new normal. The new normal is abnormal.
The situation occasioned by the coronavirus is extraordinary, and it has resulted in a new and dangerous normal.
Against this backdrop, Our nation sadly notes the tragic death of Zororo Makamba. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Makamba family.
Our great nation is facing a catastrophic coronavirus pandemic that is threatening the lives of the people. Although the deadly virus has not reached a spike in the number of the reported infections, we cannot afford to complacent in our efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic.
We take note that some measures have been put in place to combat the coronavirus. Zimbabwe’s development partners and civil society have complemented government measures in a commendable way.
While these interventions have gone quite some considerable way to address the pandemic, much more still needs to be done by all of us working together with a common purpose to raise public awareness of the coronavirus; protect the health of the people and safeguard their livelihoods.
It has been brought to my attention that the extent of our health infrastructure is grossly inadequate to cope with the looming pandemic. Our Intensive Care Units are limited in number and poorly equipped.
We lack Personal Protective Equipment for our health workers. Our hospitals are poorly staffed, and medicines are in short supply at our health institutions.
Generally, Zimbabwe’s preparedness is awfully inadequate.
In the circumstances, it is clear that the country needs a systematic lock down to enable the adoption of drastic measures to deal with the coronavirus. In this regard, I recommend that we must:
• Immediately unite all Zimbabweans to fight the virus as Team Zimbabwe.
• Close all borders and have detection and testing mechanisms at all our borders.
• People arriving from high risk countries must go into a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Mandatory testing must then be undertaken.
• Avail urgent support for nurses and doctors who are already working long hours with little support. Tools for trade for our frontline healthcare workers and other care givers.
• Limit number of passengers in buses, ban all standing and order all public transport vehicles to have hand sanitisers.
• Equip and designate hospitals in all the provinces to handle coronavirus patients.
• Discourage all gatherings other than funerals.
• Call upon Mobile Network Operators and Internet service providers to assist by availing cheaper data and sms charges for effective information dissemination. Online platforms should be utilized optimally to enhance effectiveness of social distancing.
• We call on government to consider tax rebates and waive duties to enable Philanthropists to bring in protective clothing, hand sanitizers, ventilators and other critical equipment and supplies.
• Government must provide masks, gloves and sanitizers at subsidized prices and provide these for free where possible.
• Issue special incentives to enable corporates and well-wishers to provide water and other necessities to the poor and vulnerable.
• All employees that can work from home and in isolation must be allowed to do so especially those in non-essential services.
• Open more well-equipped testing and quarantine zones.
• Have central government allocating foreign currency to local authorities for purposes of water treatment and provision in all the residential areas.
In addition to all the above, we must reorganize government and state organs to ensure that they are organized effectively to respond to the crisis. We must with immediate effect implement the following:
• Refocus arms of government and departments into a business unusual mode and into an emergency mode. Our men and women in uniform must be in an active mode to do what they know best in their civilian obligations.
• Reorganize capacity to detect, test, track, isolate, quarantine and treat the disease.
• Engage the Private sector and business to do more in fighting the pandemic, including setting up an emergency response fund.
• Have an Independent fund and Budget reallocations to pool resources and redeploy them to fight the pandemic.
• Mobilise Food handouts to vulnerable members of our society who are facing food shortages who will be affected by a lock down.
•Small businesses and Vendors need a special support mechanism to prevent collapse.
•Constant information and communication through media briefings daily.
Given the parlous state of the economy, and in particular the scarcity of resources, I appeal to churches, civil society and the international community to assist this collective endeavour with all the necessary support to deal with this pandemic.
In the same spirit, I call upon our faith leaders and indeed the whole nation to unite in prayer as we fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Remember to always wash your hands!
God bless you.
God bless Zimbabwe.
God bless Africa and the whole World.
Thank you.
Nelson Chamisa
President
Movement For Democratic Change
By A Correspondent- Former Mayor of Harare, Bernard Manyenyeni has said there is something fishy going on at the Rock Foundation Medical Centre in Mt. Pleasant, Harare, where reports say top Zanu-PF elites are putting in place an exclusive, well-resourced facility for their own coronavirus treatment.
Manyenyeni said he knows the area very well as it is in his neighborhood, and he visited it to find out what was going on.
Reports surfaced on social media that following the death from coronavirus of Zororo Makamba on Monday, it emerged that the deceased came into contact with top officials in the Office of the President and Cabinet as well as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
The reports were corroborated by Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet in Charge of Presidential Communications, George Charamba, who told State-owned online television ZTN that indeed top Government officials were in isolation after coming into contact with Makamba.
Said Manyenyeni of the rumored medical facility in northern Harare: “I have just been to the former Rock Foundation Medical facility. I am still in my pyjamas and gown.
“I know the place well enough – it is in our municipal ward.
“They advised that they are not open – not operating.
“What they told me is very different from today’s body language of the place itself – that I know well enough and can state confidently.
“There’s stuff happening there! The message of a exclusive medical facility for the politically-connected (or the elites) does not not sit well with ordinary citizens of Zimbabwe especially at this point in time.
“That said, any life saved is a life saved and any new medical offering is a welcome addition to the unfolding crisis.”
Following Zororo’s passing on, there was anger as images showed that his hospital room at Wilkins Hospital was not well equipped. His family revealed that the facility had no ventilators and it had no sockets for certain machinery to be connected to save the deceased’s life.
Zimbabwe yesterday received its share of the donations from Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, who founded e-commerce giant AliBaba. Zimbabweans on social media expressed fear that some of the donated material could end up serving ruling party elites at a secret facility, as airlines have been grounded and coronavirus patients are not allowed to land in any territory for treatment.
Rock Foundation Medical Centre was owned by now jailed former Zanu-PF legislator Munyaradzi Kereke.
It thrived when he was working as an advisor to the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Gideon Gono, but ran into financial deep waters after Kereke faced rape charges and was subsequently jailed for ten years in 2016.
By Jane Mlambo| Nurses have downed tools demanding that their employer takes heed to their demands for protective equipment and coronavirus risk allowance among other demands.
In their letter, the nurses under the Zimbabwe Nurses Association said a letter they submitted to their employer demanding that they attend to their urgent needs, fell on deaf ears hence their decision to withdraw their services with immediate effect.
The nurses said they will only get back to work once their employer provides protective equipment, water and risk allowance.
Farai Dziva|Former City of Harare Mayor, Ben Manyenyeni, has said movements within Zimbabwe must be restricted as nation intensifies efforts to deal with the deadly Coronavirus.
See Manyenyeni’s statement :
Urban dwellers must NOT go to the rural areas until COVID-19 is under control.
Urban population density means infections are already high – though untested.
Urban is still business-as-usual in many high-risk spots
Rural ‘sparsity’ means ‘de facto’ isolations are already in force and this can be extended.
Chiefs and Rural/District Councillors must close off entry into your districts and villages.
No more buses out of towns.
Be decisive – LOCK US OUT.
You’re Zimbabwe’s best bet for COVID-19 loss control.
Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken cover of the country’s focus on the Corona crisis to promote cronyism by making a series of dubious appointments, including two appointments on the same individual.
Without questioning his credentials,Mnangagwa in succession has appointed Busisa Moyo to chair the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency(ZIDA) a few days after appointing the same man to the ZITF board in a similar capacity.
Even where competency is top notch, this cannot be right. Zimbabwe has many capable people of unquestionable integrity and there is therefore no reason to pile appointments on one individual who already seats on the PAC and the RBZ Boards, among other duties.
Media focus on the COVID-19 pandemic is no license to be surreptitious and to mischievously foist cronies on strategic institutions.
Ministry or Health and Child Care CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
UPDATE: 24 MARCH 2020
The Ministry would like to advise the nation that the second case of COVID-19 who deceased yesterday at Wilkins Hospital, was buried today under supervision by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in line with guidance from the Public Health Act [15: 171.
As of today(Tuesday), the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in the country is now three.
Today(Tuesday), the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory tested a total 15 specimens, the majority being from contacts of the deceased case. One male tested positive for COVID-19, more details to be provided later.
The Ministry continues to be on HIGH alert to the COVID-I9 pandemic.
The Ministry today received a consignment of commodities from the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundation through the African Union, to help strengthen and intensify surveillance, laboratory testing and case management of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.
The consignment included 20 000 laboratory diagnostic test kits, 100 000 medical face masks and 1 000 protective suits and face shields.
The Ministry is very grateful to the Jack Ma and Alibaba Foundations for their generosity and contribution to the National COVID-19 response and will ensure equitable distribution of this consignment so that they get to where there is the greatest need.
The Ministry would also like to inform the nation about the case of an adult, pregnant woman that was presented at Masvingo Provincial Hospital with a history of dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pains but no fever.
She had a history of having travelled to South Africa on the 28th February 2020 and returned on the 7th of March 2020.
The local Rapid Response Team went to assess her and advised that she be put under self-isolation at home. Specimens have been collected for COVID-19 testing and we will give an update of the results.
The Ministry would like to remind everyone to remain vigilant in the prevention of COVID-19 and practice good personal hygiene including.
Washing hands with soap and water frequently or use of an alcohol-based hand-rub,
Covering your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, coughing or sneezing.
Additionally, all non-essential travel is strongly discouraged.
If you suspect COVID-19 disease, or wish to obtain more information on this disease, you are advised to call the following Ministry of Health and Child Care TOLLFREE HOTLINE numbers for assistance: +263714 734 593 or +263774 112 531.
Own Correspondent| The Zanu PF politburo has proceeded with its weekly meeting despite the coronavirus pandemic currently hitting the world.
To avoid contaminating and spreading the deadly disease, politburo members have put into effect the social distancing recommendation while putting on surgical masks.
Many people have questioned the logic of the Zanu PF politburo meeting when the country is grappling to keep out coronavirus.
Below is the picture from today’s politburo meeting.
By A Correspondent- Zanu PF Masvingo provincial political commissar Jevas Masosota, is reported to have pulled a gun on a man whom he accused of impregnating his teenage daughter who is still in high school.
The drama is said to have happened in full view of Zanu PF provincial secretary for information Ronald Ndava, former Chiredzi Town Council Zanu PF chairperson Francis Moyo and former Chiredzi General Hospital medical superintendent Tungamirai Rukatya.
The three had a difficult time trying to restrain a raging Masosota as he bashed Dzingai and broke some household property which included a television set, a bicycle and dinner plates.
According to sources, it was Moyo who managed to calm Masosota down after Ndava had failed. When contacted for comment by TellZim, Dzingai confirmed the drama and said Masosota came to his home at 9pm in the evening without saying a word.
“It’s true. He came to my house at around 9pm driving a party vehicle and began to assault me using a chair before saying anything. He went on to destroy my some dinner plates, squeezed my two-year-old child against the wall before I retaliated.
“He was accusing me of impregnating his daughter, claiming that they had since aborted the pregnancy in Harare. He went to his car and brought a pistol which he threatened to gun me down with. He destroyed my plasma television, bicycle and other valuable property in my house as he stormed in,” said Dzingai.
However, Masosote denied the whole incident. “I never did such thing, it’s news to me,” Masosota said. A witness claimed that a drunk Masosota came and trashed Dzingai’s property at gunpoint as he accused him of impregnating his high school level daughter.
My name is Godfrey Tsenengamu. I am a young Zimbabwean politician and some of you could be knowing me from the past in so many different ways, good and bad.
After some critical reflections and introspection on my past political life and experiences, I have decided to come before you all to express myself in the best way possible.
It is my heartfelt desire that I open a new chapter marked by a new set of priorities, focus and direction dedicated to serving Zimbabwe and beyond.
Looking back at my past, I strongly believe that it is a reality that cannot be wished away hence the decision to take personal responsibility and ask for your forgiveness and find peace with my past.
Today, I humble and submit myself before you all my fellow countrymen, especially those Zimbabweans whose activities, views and opinions I would not appreciate, tolerate or accept and all the Zimbabweans in general, to say *I AM SORRY* for all the negative things I ever said, did or caused on you and your loved ones in any way that you may remember or have experienced.
It pains me to look back at my past and realise that so many a times I overlooked your happiness in an attempt to make myself happy, only to realize that my happiness lies in yours. I stand here to admit that a majority of times, I was selfish and self-centred and now feel ashamed of every negative thing I ever did, said or caused in my past. I haven’t got any excuses for whatever that I did, said or caused in the past. I take full responsibility for myself and my actions. I will not pawn this off on anybody. I am sorry it happened as I did hurt you directly or indirectly and in so many ways i.e. physically, emotionally or otherwise . Having taken this decision, I would like to reiterate that it is possible to turn from our selfish ways and refocus our energies to collectively building a Zimbabwe where our children are guaranteed of a prosperous future.
Personally, I have equally decided to take the conscious and deliberate decision to release my feelings of resentment, grudges, bitterness or vengeance towards those whom l felt offended me in any way in the past and I now feel relieved with my consciousness having been restored. I have realised that if I continue to hold on to hurt, pain, bitterness, resentment and anger, it harms me more than it harms those whom I feel offended me. I therefore decided to forgive those who offended me as this effectively brings healing and comfort to many of us as such a decision prevents and saves us from corrosive anger and negative emotions that may have a negative effect of polluting and defining us in the present and future.
I have learnt from my past and realised that any man who desires to revenge by killing another person should dig two graves as he will also die from his green wounds of bitterness and a stressful life. I therefore choose to live in the present where solutions will arise as I take lessons from my past experiences and commit to work and live in harmony with all progressive and peace loving Zimbabweans.
Once again, I am sorry Zimbabwe and continue to beg for your pardon though l may not deserve it. I know this might be a difficult proposition but I believe Zimbabwe stands to benefit more should we give chance and room to forgiveness, harmony, mutual tolerance, true love and mutual respect for each other.
I thank you.
Signed : Godfrey Tsenengamu (+263 77 551 9111) 25 March 2020.
The British palace says heir to the throne, Prince Charles (71) has tested positive for coronavirus.
Prince Charles – file
By Dorrothy Moyo| The British next heir to the throne, Prince Charles has tested positive to Coronavirus.
Clarence House confirmed in writing that the 71-year-old royal was diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease.
Charles is said to have displayed “mild symptoms” but “otherwise remains in good health.”
He has been self-isolating in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall, who has tested negative for coronavirus.
“The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus,” they said.
“He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.
“The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested but does not have the virus. In accordance with government and medical advice, the Prince and the Duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland.”
By A Correspondent- Veteran actor and radio drama presenter Emmanuel Mbirimi, who died on Monday, will be buried on Thursday at Zororo Memorial Park.
He was 65.
Mbirimi is survived by three children Tongayi, Tinashe and Chenai.
Mbirimi died in the late hours of Monday at Parkview Renal Facility, in Harare after battling kidney disease for years.
His first son, Tongayi, said the family was devastated.
“I am so devastated,” he said. “I came to see him from South Africa on Sunday. Baba died around 11pm on Monday. He was on dialysis machine and had a cardiac arrest as the kidney was affecting the heart. We have lost a father, an actor and advisor.”
Tongayi said the funeral wake was in Cranborne for a limited number of people.
“We were instructed to have 40 people at the funeral, including at the burial because of Covid-19,” he said.
“My brother and sister are not coming, they are based in the United Kingdom. We are managing the number sand we have sanitisers at the entrance. It is a very difficult time for us.”
Mbirimi featured in local films such as “Neria”, “Tanyaradzwa”, “The Poacher”, “Zvinhu Zvacho” and “The Letter”.
A former teacher who spent the better part of his life teaching English Literature at Heritage and Cranborne Boys High, Mbirimi was also a ZBC radio drama presenter back in the late 90s.
Film producer Joe Njagu who worked with Mbirimi on his last project, “The Letter”, said it was a great privilege working with the veteran actor who taught him a lot on acting.
“He was one of the most professional actors I have worked with in my career,” he said. “He was very humble. May his soul rest in peace. We have been robbed.”-StateMedia
By A Correspondent- Low cost airline, Fastjet Zimbabwe has revealed that it will suspend operations at the end of the week for 21 days as part of measures to combat Covid-19.
It becomes the latest airline to suspend flights into or from Zimbabwe, after Emirates announced a similar move two weeks ago over Covid-19. Fastjet Zimbabwe said its last flights will be on Thursday.
“Fastjet Zimbabwe announced (Tuesday) that as a result of the latest measures introduced in Zimbabwe and South Africa to control the spread of COVID-19, all Fastjet flight operations shall be suspended from Friday 27 March until Thursday 16 April 2020, both days fully inclusive,” it said.
It said it will offer free re-booking assistance to affected passengers, and there will be no fare increase.
By Dorrothy Moyo| The British next heir to the throne, Prince Charles has tested positive to Coronavirus.
Clarence House confirmed in writing that the 71-year-old royal was diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease.
Charles is said to have displayed “mild symptoms” but “otherwise remains in good health.”
He has been self-isolating in Scotland with the Duchess of Cornwall, who has tested negative for coronavirus.
“The Prince of Wales has tested positive for coronavirus,” they said.
“He has been displaying mild symptoms but otherwise remains in good health and has been working from home throughout the last few days as usual.
“The Duchess of Cornwall has also been tested but does not have the virus. In accordance with government and medical advice, the Prince and the Duchess are now self-isolating at home in Scotland.”
By A Correspondent- 19yr A Zimbabwean student at St. Andrews University in the USA has died after contracting the coronavirus (COVID-19), according to a family spokesperson, Takudzwa Mandaza.
Mandaza said his 19 year-old young sister, Mellisa Jacqueline, died yesterday.
He said the family is devastated by the death of Mellisa, whose mother lives in Michigan, USA.
Mandaza could not say when Mellisa will be laid to rest.
“Her dad passed on a while back and she was in Michigan with her mum and other siblings studying at St. Andrews University … She was asthmatic and she tested positive for the coronavirus and passed away yesterday in hospital,” said Mandaza.
He added that he will remember her cousin for her brilliance in her studies and her love for books as she was a bookworm like himself.
She is believed to be the second Zimbabwean to die of coronavirus COVID-19 following the death in Harare on Monday of Zororo Makamba, the son of former radio broadcaster and Telecel shareholder, James Makamba.
The Ministry of Health indicated that Zororo recently visited New York, which is recording high numbers of coronavirus COVID-19.
Before Zororo’s death, there were two people in Zimbabwe that tested positive for coronavirus.
The disease has killed thousands of people in China, Italy and other nations.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced a raft of measures that include sealing off the country’s borders in an effort to control the spread of the infectious disease.-VOAZim
By A Correspondent- Stanbic Bank and First Capital Bank have closed some of their branches as the financial institutions intensify efforts to help contain the spread of coronavirus in the country.
This comes as ZB also announced plans yesterday to close some of its branches over the same reasons.
Some financial institutions — as part of measures to contain the disease — have also started rejecting all hard copy transactions, advising their customers to make all their payments through online platforms that eliminate human interface.
Said First Capital in a notice to customers:
“To protect clients and staff from the spread of Covid 19, we are reducing our branch network by temporarily closing Belmont (Bulawayo) Borrowdale, Harare Street and First Street branches (all in Harare) from the 24th of March.”
ZB Financial Holdings chief executive officer Ron Mutandagayi, said the banking group has started sending some of its employees’ home, while at the same time discouraging customers to come to the branches.-Online
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has donated 1m euros (£920,000) to fight the coronavirus outbreak in Spain.
Guardiola, who is at his home in Barcelona, has been working with his lawyers over the past few days to work out the best way of using the money.
It will go to a campaign being promoted by the Medical College of Barcelona and the Angel Soler Daniel Foundation.
Spain is one of the worst affected countries in Europe.
Official figures on Tuesday showed that 2,696 people had died in the country and close to 40,000 are infected.
The money will be used to help purchase medical equipment and protective material for the hospital staff involved in treating those admitted to hospital.
The Catalan region is one of the areas in Spain which has the most concentrated number of cases.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both reportedly donated 1m euros to coronavirus campaigns this week.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona forward Messi has donated a total of 1m euros to two hospitals, one in Barcelona and the other in his native Argentina.
Juventus and Portugal star Ronaldo and his agent Jorge Mendes have donated 1m euros to three intensive care units for patients suffering from coronavirus at hospitals in Lisbon and Porto.
Last week Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski donated 1m euros to fight the coronavirus pandemic in Germany.
By Own Correspondent| Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) workers at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe airport have downed tools citing possible exposure to COVID-19 due to their employer’s failure to abide by WHO recommended health guidelines.
In a letter below, the workers said they were exposed to possible hazard after the late Zororo Makamba passed through and was served by ZIMRA workers.
The workers also said there has not been any testing and quarantine of workers who were in contact with Makamba despite him being confirmed COVID-19 positive.
By A Correspondent- A man from Epworth has been jailed 30 years for robbing and killing a soldier.
Besta Masaya, who was charged along with Tonderai Rupiya, denied killing Innocent Majuta who was in army uniform in November 2018, near a footbridge linking Domboramwari and Maseko residential suburbs, when he appeared before High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi, but was convicted after a full trial.
According to a post-mortem report by two Government doctors, Majuta died of severe brain and head injuries.
Justice Chitapi last week convicted Masaya of murder with constructive intent, in view of the circumstantial evidence and his statement to the police confessing to being an accomplice to the murder.
He sentenced him to 30 years’ imprisonment. However, Rupiya was acquitted at the close of the State case.-StateMedia
Good morning Batswana, I wish to personally thank all of you for having done a splendid job so far keeping Corona Virus at bay. If we maintain these same levels of discipline and stick to advise from professionals we have a real chance of escaping without a recorded case. pic.twitter.com/f6qMRlPRja
— Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi (@OfficialMasisi) March 25, 2020
Yesterday, Our Vice President, His Honor. Slumber Tsogwane shared with you additional restrictions on travel to and from countries within the region considered risky. We have moved to restrict travel and only allow movement of goods into our country;
— Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi (@OfficialMasisi) March 25, 2020
we have also made quarantining of all returning citizens mandatory.
These set of additional measures are not the last; we shall keep observing the situation and adjusting our interventions as and when is necessary.
— Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi (@OfficialMasisi) March 25, 2020
When necessary, we will not shy away from instituting economic measures to sustain our businesses and people.
Let’s each play our role in fighting this pandemic: unless it’s absolutely critical that you step out, please stay home.
— Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi (@OfficialMasisi) March 25, 2020
By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa continues to misfire and showing little understanding of the magnitude of the coronavirus problem as he has gathered his party politburo members for a meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters.
Mnangagwa this week reviewed downwards to a maximum of 50, the number of people allowed to gather as part of measures to combat the coronavirus that has so far claimed one life in Harare.
He also banned beerhalls, pubs, gymnasium and many other meeting places but surprisingly the politiburo is meeting today.
Last week soon after issuing a ban on public gatherings, Mnangagwa held a rally in Manicaland which was attended by thousands of party supporters.
He further flew out of the country to attend the inauguration of Namibian President, a move viewed by many as showing his lack of seriousness in dealing with the pandemic before the world.
By A Correspondent- The City of Harare is taking precautions to decongest workplaces revealing that some of its staff will now work from home save for critical workers.
The City advised that the changes are effective Thursday, 24th March 2020, and will continue indefinitely subject to the developments in future as the nation grapples with what looks set to be a pandemic of huge proportion.
“Council with effect from Thurs 25 March decongest workstations. Critical service delivery employees to report for duty. Some management staffers will work from home.
“Support staff given special leave. District offices remain open with skeletal staff until further notice,” said the City of Harare in a statement.
Zimpapers and other large organisations have since announced similar procedures of operation, while banks have also had to shut down branches across the country to curtail the spread of the pandemic.
By Wednesday mid-day (GMT + 2), coronavirus had infected over 428,000 people across the world, with 19,100 deaths. About 109,000 have recovered from the infections, while the rest are still ill.
Zimbabwe currently has three confirmed cases of the coronavirus, but cases are expected to rise as some who were exposed are yet to be tested or to realize they are at risk.-StateMedia
Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals are now only attending to emergency cases while all admitted patients who can cope will be discharged, measures which will remain in place until Covid-19 is no longer a threat.
All non-emergency operations are also being cancelled while the elderly have been advised to limit their visits.
Mpilo Central Hospital Clinical Director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya yesterday said they were trying to decongest the hospital as there were fears of the virus spreading in the country.
Three positive cases have already been reported in Victoria Falls and Harare. One patient has since died while the Government is yet to provide details on the third patient who was mentioned in a national update yesterday.
Dr Ngwenya said the elderly should by all means stay away from hospital grounds and confine themselves to their homes as they were vulnerable to the virus due to a weakened immune system associated with aging.
He urged the elderly running out of chronic illness medication to try and send relatives to hospital for supplies.
“The situation is bad and as way of protecting our patients and the rest of the public, we are trying to control the numbers at our hospitals. We will now be attending to emergency cases only and have closed the Outpatient Department. All non-emergency operations are suspended with immediate effect. This virus is deadly and we realise that people seem to be very relaxed as if they assume to be immune from it. The public must practice social distancing and avoid public spaces unless if it is necessary,” said Dr Ngwenya.
“We will have to discharge all our stable patients as we try to lower the numbers here in the hospital. Everyone with serious flu like or Covid-19 like symptoms must not come to the hospital or go to a clinic. They must call the rapid response team on their hotline to avoid possible infection of other people as they are in transit to hospital. The Covid-19 team will come to you.
“The world is faced with the fast spreading Covid-19 pandemic and everyone is at great risk of catching this highly infectious disease. Mpilo Central Hospital must take measures to reduce the risk of spreading the deadly virus.”
Asked what constitutes an emergency, he said: “A lot of situations, incidents and conditions can constitute an emergency. However, we advise patients that if someone is feeling unbearable discomfort, or excruciating pain, or can see that they are taking care of a person who has taken very ill, then that is an emergency. Emergencies can be accidents, burns, asthma attacks, strokes, diabetes related collapsing and coma, very low or very high blood pressure or sugar levels and many more. This list is not exhaustive but the bottom line is that if it’s an emergency you will be treated.”
Dr Ngwenya said those that are not very sick and cannot be listed under emergency cases will not be attended to at the hospital and said they can only come after the Covid-19 situation had been contained.
He advised such patients to receive care at home until the hospital can attend to them.
“Our Out-patients departments are closed till further notice. All elective operations are cancelled till further notice. We should enforce the One (1) visitor per patient as continued in SI 77 of 2020. We should encourage people not to make unnecessary visits to the hospital.
“All suspected cases of Covid-19 and their accompanying relatives should be assessed by the Rapid Response teams from Mpilo Central Hospital and Bulawayo City Health Department. Protective clothing for staff is reportedly on its way and soon the Government will send us supplies. Meanwhile, practice personal hygiene and social distancing.”
When Chronicle arrived at the hospital, scores of people, patients and accompanying relatives were being turned away as hospital staff informed them that the outpatient and causality departments had closed to the public and were only attending to emergency cases.
“We have been here since 8am. it’s now way past lunch time. We have not been served and are sitting in benches. We need our medication for hypertension and diabetes and we cannot opt for the pharmacies in town because it is too expensive. We hope that they attend to us today since they are saying tomorrow, they will not be taking any patients,” said Gogo Esther Mdlongwa (74).
United Bulawayo Hospital Chief Executive Officer Mrs Nonhlanhla Ndlovu could not be reached for comment yesterday on the phone. When Chronicle news crew arrived at the hospital, she was said to be in a meeting. However, the hospital was also limiting patients and advising the public that it would only attend to emergency cases only as a result of the Covid-19.
The UBH has also implemented the one visitor per patients per day programme policy and kas also reduced visiting sessions to one 30-minute visit per day.
Meanwhile, travellers are still accessing Zimbabwe and South Africa via Beitbridge Border Post pending the finalisation of a border operational plan but the number of travellers has been going down since last week.
As of yesterday, people were seen going to either sides of the border and some of them said they wanted to join their spouses in either country since schools had closed.
The assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge (Zimbabwe), Mr Nqobile Ncube said traffic started declining at the port of entry as many travellers started complying with travel and preventative measures from regional countries. He said they were waiting for a comprehensive operation plan that will spell out the cut off period of access by human traffic at the border. “As you are aware there has been a Presidential declaration on the new border operations and everyone is willing to understand when it takes effect and also how and who exactly is affected by that declaration,” he said.
Your Excellency President Xi Jinping, I am writing this open letter to plead with you for the People’s Republic of China to assist the people of Zimbabwe to attack COVID19 with aggressive and targeted tactics in a manner similar to how you successfully fought the pandemic.
I am making this plea to you directly as the nephew of President Mugabe who worked directly with him as a senior national official of ZANU PF within the Central Committee and the Politburo for 15 years from 2003 till when he left ZANU PF and government in 2017.
I was a Member of Parliament for 8 years. I also served as a Government minister for 5 years serving as Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Development, as Cabinet Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, and finally as Cabinet Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare .
I hope and pray that my appeal will find favour with you based on the very special relationship you had with President Mugabe and how President Mugabe regarded the People’s Republic of China highly. President Mugabe always described the relationship between China and Zimbabwe as that of all weather friends. Can you please honour and remember President Mugabe by directly assisting the people of Zimbabwe in their hour of special need.
Your Excellency, can the People’s Republic of China assist the people of Zimbabwe to implement the recommendation made in a tweet by the Director-General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on 23rd March 2020 when he said, “We need to attack the coronavirus with aggressive and targeted tactics – testing every suspected COVID19 case, isolating and caring for every confirmed case, and tracing and quarantining every close contact”. Whilst Zimbabwe may have the basic physical infrastructure and some of the people to be able to start on such a programme, the nation still requires specialist equipment, processes and systems for it to be effective.
Your Excellency, I would like to appeal to you for The People’s Republic of China to help in establishing and equipping 73 testing centres through-out Zimbabwe in 4 zones of the Metropolitan Province of Bulawayo, 6 zones of the Metropolitan Province of Harare, and the country’s 63 rural districts. The testing centres can be housed in physical infrastructure that currently house either the Government’s Composite District Offices or the local authority and council offices.
These areas are manned by senior level district officials from several government departments such as District Medical Officers and District Nursing Officers, as well as District Joint Operations Command (JOC) officials such as District Police Officers (DisPol) and DIOs from intelligence.
With adequate training, safe conditions of service, such as personal protective equipment, and decent remuneration, I am confident that these fine Zimbabwean men and women will make an appreciable difference.
With the district as the focal point for intervention, it is also necessary to institute and establish interventions at both higher and lower levels. At the higher level and in line with the WHO Director-General’s recommendation,
I would like to appeal for the People’s Republic of China to assist in establishing isolation, care and treatment centres for all confirmed cases in each of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces. Zimbabwe has physical infrastructure which include Public Service Training Centres in some of the provinces, as well as teacher training centres, technical college and/or universities buildings.
This infrastructure can be rapidly pivoted to form the core and basis for isolation, care and treatment centres. Similarly, senior level provincial officials, including Provincial Joint Operations Command (JOC) officers, can assist in coordinating the operations of both the provincial isolation, care and treatment centres and the district testing centres within their respective provinces. I am requesting for the People’s Republic of China to assist in retrofitting infrastructure, equip the 10 isolation, care and treatment centres, and train the necessary staff.
Finally, Your Excellency, I am appealing to you for the People’s Republic of China to assist in establishing mechanisms for tracing and quarantining every close contact in each of Zimbabwe’s 1,958 local authority wards. I suggest that local infrastructure such as schools in those wards be used as the core and foundation of the ward quarantine centres. Public sector personnel such as nurses, police officers and even teachers and agricultural extension officers can assist in tracing and quarantine processes. Should there be need for extra personnel within the wards, officers who were retired can be recalled to assist based on their extensive knowledge of the communities, local conditions and local terrain. Such retired officials include retired nurses, teachers, village health workers, community development officers and ward coordinators.
As Zimbabwe’s former cabinet minister responsible for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, I am certain that provided with appropriate education and training, requisite tools and conditions of service including personal protective equipment, and reasonable allowances and remuneration, Zimbabwe has fine men and women who will stem the coronavirus.
I thank you in anticipation, Your Excellency.
Asante Sana. Iwe Neni Tine Basa. Umsebenzi lo Umkhulu.
By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) workers at the Robert Mugabe International airport have downed tools following the death of broadcaster Zororo Makamba who was diagnosed with coronavirus.
In a statement on Tuesday, the workers said Makamba used the airport and was served by the ZIMRA staff which exposed them to the virus.
The workers said they will only report for duty when measures are put to mitigate them from any more danger.
By A Correspondent- Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo has said government will not force President Emmerson Mnangagwa into self-quarantine following a trip to Namibia at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Information Ministry Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana has dismissed as false, reports circulating on social media that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has gone into self-isolation following his controversial trip to Norway and Belgium early this month.
Ncube was in Europe despite a ban on foreign travels by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for government officials in a bid to curb the coronavirus spread.
However, Mangwana dismissed claims that Ncube had gone into self-isolation as a precautionary measure.
“He is not,” Mangwana told NewZimbabwe.com Tuesday.
“He is actually in Cabinet (meeting). However, some officials from the ministry are in precautionary self-quarantine because they had been in contact with the late Zororo Makamba.”
Some officials in the Ministry of Finance last week came into contact with the now late Makamba at the ministry’s offices.
He at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital on Monday from coronavirus after his return from the US.
However, Mangwana said he could not shed more on the Finance Ministry officers now under self-quarantine as this was against their health privacy status.
“I can’t give that information without their consent as it pertains to individual health issues,” he said.
Zororo, son to prominent businessman and former Zanu-PF top official, James Makamba, is also understood to have visited a number of places and met different people including government officials, a class of media students at the Midlands State University’s Harare campus and BancABC officials, among other places in Harare.
By Jane Mlambo| Manicaland Senator Douglas Mwonzora has called for unity of purpose in fighting the novel coronavirus saying that politicization of the pandemic will not help the situation.
Posting on Twitter, Mwonzora said most people seemed not to take enough precaution to deal with the pandemic.
“Drove through Harare CBD yesterday. Sadly most people dont seem to be taking enough precautions to deal with Covid 19. The pandemic is too serious and calls for all people to unite in fighting it. Politicization of the disaster is clearly unhelpful,” said Mwonzora.
