Farai Dziva|The country’s main opposition party, MDC defeated Zanu PF in a by-election held at the weekend.

Read below an article published by a state run newspaper:

The opposition MDC led by advocate Nelson Chamisa won the Chegutu Ward 2 by-election that was held on Saturday.

The MDC candidate Mr Machekera attained 240 while the ZANU PF candidate Mr Prosper Mtongerwa garnered 184.

The variance almost mirrors the gap that differentiated the MDC and ZANU PF candidates in 2018. In the 2018 harmonised election, Zanu PF attained 228 votes against MDC-Alliance’s 416 votes.

Mtongerwa’s chief election agent Elijah Jabangwe said that the ruling party accepted the outcome but was not happy with the voter turnout as the total number of votes cast was less than the total number of those registered to vote.

Jabangwe recommended voter education for the electorate to know the importance of voting.

Meanwhile, ZANU PF Central Committee member Webster Shamu said that there was great potential in the ward.

He added:
What is more important is to have viable, authentic and effective party structures; this should guarantee a win for us. If we work hard as a party I am sure we will have a landslide victory come 2023.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been accused of instructing banks to block his estranged wife Marry Chiwenga ‘s accounts.

The matter came to light in a letter sent to CBZ and VP Chiwenga’s lawyers, Marry’s lawyers threatened to sue the CBZ and FBC Bank for blocking her from accessing her account.

Mubaiwa’s lawyers wrote:
…The only conclusion that she has come to is that the decision not to process her transactions is synchronised and has been taken by the bank.

We advise that your conduct is unlawful and should cease forthwith as there has been no form of due legal process to bar our client from transacting on the account.

We are instructed that Mr Moyo duly complied with the unlawful instruction, in complete disregard of all banking ethics and procedures.

Our client was surprised when FBC Bank denied her the right to withdraw money from her account and she was advised that the ‘bosses’ would get in touch with her, which they had not done at the time of the writing of the letter.

Chiwenga and Mubaiwa are locked in a nasty divorce whose details have headlined for the past 3 months.- The Insider

Farai Dziva|The government has confirmed the death of Zororo Makamba, the second person to be diagnosed with Coronavirus in Zimbabwe.

“The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obediah Moyo has confirmed the death of Zororo Makamba, who was the second person to test positive for Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

Zororo Makamba was son of businessperson, James Makamba,” ZBC tweeted.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care
@MoHCCZim
has confirmed the passing on at Wilkins Hospital of one of the two confirmed cases Covid-19 in the country.”

“It’s a very sad day for us,” Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry Dr Agnes Mahomva said.

Chief Svosve and Mai Nico perform a nightwatch across Zimbabwe.

VIDEO LOADING BELOW…

1. Eat a healthy & nutritious diet, which helps your immune system to function properly.
2. Limit your alcohol consumption & avoid sugary drinks.
3. Don’t smoke. Smoking can increase your risk of developing severe disease if you become infected with
4. Exercise.
   World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 30 minutes of physical activity for adults, and 1h/day for children.
5. Look after your #mentalhealth. It’s normal to feel stressed, confused and scared during a crisis. Talking to people you know and trust can help. #HealthyAtHome #COVID19 #coronaviruszim

• Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom

Where there is leadership vacuum, we step in to provide vision and direction.

No time is spared for detractors and failures.

We have dispatched a team that shall work with all Councils to cage the pandemic, give medication to patients, educate our people and update nation at all times.

By Simba Chikanza| Below is the exact narration by businessman James Makamba on how his son, Zororo died this morning, as told family friend Mutumwa Mawere on Monday.

The journalist was one of the victims admitted at Harare’s Wilkins Hospital and diagnosed with COVID-19.

ZimEye had a one to one interview soon after the sad news. ZimEye also verified from an audio recording that this is truly James Makamba’s account –

He always wanted to see his friends and wind up a few things…So last Wed he was feeling fluish, then he drove to Wilkins for testing, and you know they just admit you.Then it just got worse and worse and worse & about 20min ago he got out to try and walk about, and collapsed

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 23, 2020

“He always wanted to see his friends and wind up a few things…

“So last Wednesday he was feeling fluish, then he drove to Wilkins for testing, and you know the just admit you.

“Then it just got worse and worse and worse, and about 20min ago he got out to try and walk about, and collapsed, and they failed to resuscitate him. He died in the last 30 minutes.”

https://www.facebook.com/pg/ZimEye/reviews/

video loading below:

Mr Zororo Makamba, the son of Mr James Makamba has passed on. MHSRIEP. I have just learned of this tragic loss of life due to the virus. A giant with so much potential has fallen. Corona is real. Let us pause and reflect. Life is too precious. – Mutumwa Mawere

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has just addressed the nation on the Coronavirus following the death of Zororo Makamba today.

He has introduced a number of measures. Borders have been closed, no one is allowed to leave the country except for those returning to Zimbabwe.

Gatherings have been reduced to 50. Bars have been banned. People encouraged to reduce movements. Markets will open but with strict monitoring. There will be strict monitoring of public transport.

“The sad passing on of our own as well as spilling death worldwide calls us to review our measures,” he said.

Watch Mnangagwa’s Full address in the video downloading below:

https://youtu.be/j3ynLgbX05U

As the coronavirus continues to take a toll on virtually every sector, the Zimbabwean justice system is the latest to issue preventative guidelines, with the most drastic being the cancellation of court weddings.

Instead, Chief Justice Luke Malaba said those who had booked for their weddings would need to rebook after two months.

In addition, Malaba said trials and non urgent hearings must be postponed for a period of no less than two months except for urgent matters such as bail and initial remand hearings.

The superior courts will also not conduct any hearings in chambers.

“In instances where hearings are held, these should be confined to parties involved in the case and their legal practitioners,” Malaba said.

“Those not involved in the case are discouraged from attending or coming to court.”

The Chief Justice further added that those coming to courts should be sanitised when going in and out of courts, maintain a distance of at least two metres from each other and that every surface that is used should be disinfected.

So far, the government has announced two cases of coronavirus and one fatality, that of broadcaster Zororo Makamba.

A number of measures have been announced to curb the spread of the disease, but so far, many have not heeded to those directives.

Among the measures announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa where that weddings should not go ahead.

For more statistics on the number of global coronavirus cases, you may visit this link

The Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association (ZHDA) has proposed that hospitals scale down to emergency mode and the cessation of all routine outpatient departments operations, as they decried the lack of preparedness at public hospitals in dealing with the novel coronavirus.

In a statement, ZHDA president, Tawanda Zvakada said doctors were vulnerable to the disease, also known as COVID-19, as they dealt with high risk professionals.

“The lack of clear direction and training has resulted in overcrowding at entry points to health facilities and left frontline medical personnel attending to patients without the bare minimum of personal protective equipment (PPE),” he said.

“As such strict measures must be put in place to protect us and the nation at large.”

The doctors warned that if their concerns were not addressed, they would not be able to “continue conducting our duties, exposing ourselves and risk spreading the virus to our loved ones at home”.

Already, nurses have issued a similar threat, raising the spectre that if Zimbabwe were to suffer a widespread breakout of the disease, the country would be devastated.

The measures are:

• Hospitals must scale down to emergency mode with immediate effect
• Adequate PPE to be availed to all healthcare workers at highest risk
• Mandatory screening ar all points if entry to include purpose of visit to limit traffic as well as provide adequate distancing of patients and visitors to the health institution
• Separate entry and exit points for health workers
• Clean water and sanitisers to be readily accessible throughout the hospitals
• Patients requiring emergency services to be accompanied by at most one other person
• Suspension of visiting inpatients to avoid crowding in wards and corridors
• Specialised trained task force to attend to suspected corona (sic) cases
• HCW compensation to be discussed in a transparent manner to allay the current fears of health worker

So far, Zimbabwe has officially reported two cases of the coronavirus.

Another patient is suspected to have been infected with the novel coronavirus, but the government says the person’s test results were inconclusive.

For more statistics on the number of global coronavirus cases, you may visit this link

ZIMBABWE faces the grim prospect of failing to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) after it emerged yesterday that the country’s health professionals were yet to receive the requisite training and protective clothing to handle the pandemic which has so far globally recorded 13 671 deaths and 318 228 confirmed cases.

To date, the country has officially recorded two cases with the third undergoing further tests, according to the Health and Child Care ministry.

Local nurses’ union, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) yesterday gave government a 24-hour ultimatum to train its members and provide protective clothing, failing which they would down tools for their own safety.

Zina president Enock Dongo told NewsDay that since COVID-19 was a new disease, there was urgent need for government to provide specialised training and equipment to avoid exposure of its members to infection.

“Our concerns are genuine, the COVID-19 is a new disease and the current nurses have never learned about it. Our government is very slow in responding; the nurses have no information on the virus except reading the guidelines on social media and newspapers. We are giving the government 24 hours to address our concerns or else we will withdraw our services because we cannot put our members at risk.

This is a deadly disease that needs protective
measures more than anything else,” Dongo said.

“When people fall sick, they come to the hospital and they expect us to help them, but as of now, we do not know how to handle the affected person. The pandemic has claimed thousands of lives and we are exposed on a daily basis since we do not have any protective clothing to handle the COVID-19 patients.”

He added: “If nurses attend to a COVID-19 patient without protective clothing, they can be affected by the virus and after getting the virus they board a Zupco bus where they will infect other passengers and the disease spreads. So we are saying give us protective clothing before it’s too late,”Dongo said.

Zimbabwe’s development partners among them, the People’s Republic of China and United Kingdom last week gave US$26,388 million, while President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government contributed ZWL$20 million towards upgrading of key infrastructure including hospitals, clinics and isolation centres.

The funds are supposed to go towards logistics, procurement, planning, monitoring, risk communication, community engagement, surveillance, rapid response, case investigation including at points of entry, national laboratory system, infection prevention, control and case management, among others.

Dongo said despite putting aside a war chest, nothing on the ground shows the nation is prepared to take on the virus.

Health secretary Agnes Mahomva confirmed that health professionals were yet to be trained or provided with protective clothing.

“Yes, we are aware of the problems they are facing, but as a government, we are working on that since COVID-19 is a priority at the moment,” Mahomva said.

In Italy, latest figures show that healthcare workers make up 9% of the country’s COVID-19 cases.

Italy, the current global epicentre of the pandemic, yesterday had recorded 53 500 cases and over 4 800 deaths.

Health experts in Zimbabwe have been urging government to impose strict travel restrictions, especially from high-risk countries to minimise the spread given the country’s decayed public health system.

Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said he was worried that Zimbabwe continues to receive visitors from high-risk areas.

“COVID-19 is spreading rapidly throughout the world. We are worried by the seemingly lackadaisical nature at which the government is dealing with the virus and yet other countries with well-functioning health systems have announced total lockdown to combat the spread of the disease. We are concerned that Zimbabwe continues to welcome visitors from high-risk countries as if things are normal. Why should Zimbabwe wait until there is a complete crisis to take drastic travel measures?” Rusike asked.

Zimbabwe Association for Human Rights Doctors secretary Norman Matara said: “We need to implement travel restrictions just like what other serious governments are doing. We have a weak health system which will not be able to respond to a full-blown outbreak of this virus. Our best and cheaper option is preventing an outbreak in the country.”

In a related matter, Bulawayo City Council’s acting health services director Charles Malaba has advised residents to immediately bury bodies of people who would have succumbed to coronavirus to avoid cross-contamination.

“When it comes to disposal of bodies, we deal with the body just like any other infectious diseases where the burial should be done immediately and all the other rituals that are done like body viewing and taking the body home will not happen,” Malaba said.

“We take the corpse to the cemetery and there is supervised burial from our environmental health practitioners and at the cemetery we do not have designated places for that. We will bury the bodies at cemeteries where we bury all other people. What we do is we disinfect the grave using chloride and then we make sure the burial is supervised all out.”

In Masvingo, most rural district councils (RDCs) have suspended mobile open markets where traders travel around the province selling their wares to thousands of villagers. The open markets, popularly known as Bacossi, which are held once every month throughout the province attract thousands of villagers.

Zaka Rural District Council was among the first to issue a ban on open markets following Mnangagwa’s decree last week banning all gatherings with more than 100 people after declaring the scourge a national disaster.

Zaka RDC chief executive officer David Majaura issued a circular banning all mobile open markets in the district. Bikita, Mwenezi and Chivi RDCs later followed suit.

However, both Chiredzi rural and urban seem to be lagging behind as the open markets were held this weekend.

Acting Chiredzi RDC chief executive Mikia Majatame said they had a technical service meeting with councillors where they agreed to disseminate the message on preventative measures.

In Chiredzi urban, all-night church gatherings were still being held, while Chigarapasi which is probably the biggest council bar in the province, was still being frequented by hundreds of patrons.

In Harare, it was business as usual in the city centre, Magaba, Mupedzanhamo and Mbare Musika where most informal traders ply their trade. A trader at Mbare Musika, who preferred anonymity, said some customers wore masks and traders avoided unnecessary contact with customers and each other.

Hatcliffe and Domboshava’s Showground markets were on Saturday packed with traders and customers who were oblivious of the imminent threat.

State Media|PARLIAMENT has called for an urgent investigation into the purchase of a consignment of US$900 000 hospital equipment after doctors at Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) complained that up to 80 percent of it was obsolete, with missing parts. 

The equipment was allegedly purchased from Narula Exports of New Delhi, which is not known as a manufacturer of medical equipment.

Doctors said it was miraculous that patients were not dying in large numbers as they could not treat them without proper machinery.

The parliamentary portfolio committee on health while touring Bulawayo hospital on Friday said more investigations should be launched into the deal which saw ministry of health officials procuring ‘obsolete’ refurbished 2006 models for various medical purposes.

Most of the machinery is said to be so old it cannot be used and some of it has gone out of production such that spares cannot be secured.

The scandal was initially exposed by the Senior Hospital Doctors’ Association (SHDA) representatives, Shingai Nyaguse (president), Raphael Makota (vice-president), Aaron Musara (secretary-general), Bothwell Anesu Mbuwayesango and Nomaqhawe Moyo who are all specialist doctors at a parliamentary portfolio committee on health meeting in Parliament in January. 

However, doctors said nothing had been done to this day. 

Doctors at two of the country’s biggest public health referral institutions in the country, on Thursday told the Dr Ruth Labode-led committee that the condemned consignment included theatre equipment, incubators, ventilators and beds that can only sustain weights of “light” people, below 65kgs.

Most adults in the country weigh more than 75kg.

At Mpilo Central Hospital it was estimated that about 80 percent of the equipment was non-functional.

Giving oral evidence to the parliamentary committee at Mpilo Central Hospital, one of the surgeons who was assigned to receive the equipment from Harare, Mr Allan Ngulube, said the equipment was obsolete.

He said even companies that manufacturethe equipment were no longer manufacturing the spares for the machines as they areoutdated.

“I was not part of the procurement team but was just asked to go and receive it. So as young surgeons we have been here for some years and have not been operating because there are no anaesthetic machines basically there is a lot of missing equipment,” he said.

“Imagine our disappointment when we opened the equipment here and it was set up to try and use it lo and behold, they were a lot of missing parts. So, we couldn’t use it. It was not the latest in terms of the brands. As a hospital that had nothing, we said half a loaf is better than nothing at all. But even the half loaf is not usable at all. So, the equipment isstored in a storeroom somewhere because it has missing parts.”

Mr Ngulube said there was confusion as the Indian technicians came to set up the equipment and they failed to assemble it as well. 

At the United Bulawayo Hospitals, UBH CEO Ms Nonhlanhla Ndlovu said 62 percent of the hospital’s equipment was dysfunctional. 

Part of the non-functioning equipment includes adult ventilators, an electric theatre table which cannot be adjusted, hydraulic theatre tables which have no foot pedals to adjust the tables, electroencephalography machines which could not be assembled as they had missing parts, three incubators which need spare parts, seven continuous positive airway pressure machines which came with missing parts, colonoscopy/gastroscopy machines which have poor image quality, and came with no manual and with control buttons written in Japanese.

The Committee said a proper investigation must be done on what happened that led to the procurement of “archaic” medical equipment.

“Someone must be held accountable for the loss. You cannot have the president donating funds for purchase of vital medical equipment, and then somebody goes to buy used and archaic equipment. You also cannot afford to have a situation where it is just talked about without action. 

“Someone must own up to it, there needs to be clarity on what happened. Someone cannot fly to India on taxpayers’ money to bring this,” said Dr Labode. 

One of the specialist doctors who spoke at the meeting said doctors were not consulted when the “irrelevant” equipment was bought. 

“We were never involved in the procurement process and were not even consulted. We know what is vital in hospitals as we work there every day. We know what we can do without and we know what a hospital needs to prioritise. 

“But here we have someone going to buy equipment as if they are furnishing a museum, collecting antiques for all archaic materials. 

“These things, even the 38 percent that is working, when they break down it will be difficult to fix them because manufacturers are making modern machines and these lines of production stopped in 2006, where would you get the spares 15 years after a product line was discontinued,” said one of the specialist doctors at UBH during the meeting.

The senior doctors also told Parliament that intensive care units at the country’s referral hospitals were in dire straits.

Deputy Minister of health and Child care, Dr John Mangwiro recently confirmed the procurement of obsolete equipment in parliament but however, defended the purchase saying the Indian technicians are to return to Zimbabwe with the ‘correct’ equipment during the course of this year and will operate the machines.

Mpilo Central Hospital and UBH serve the southern region which covers Bulawayo, Midlands, Masvingo, Matabeleland North and South.-

ZIMBABWE is set to tighten measures aimed at combating the spread of the deadly coronavirus with an expected cities lockdown and a further ban on travels between towns and rural areas among locals.

This comes after the country recorded its first death in just two cases of the world pandemic.

Zimbabwe recorded its first coronavirus (Covid19) death after a patient who was admitted at Wilkins Hospital in Harare died on Monday morning.

Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva confirmed the development on Monday afternoon.

The victim is Zororo Makamba (30) who had travelled to New York in the United States of America on February 29 and returned home on March 9 via Johannesburg.

Perhaps drawing lessons from countries which have seen the worst of the virus, President Mnangagwa insisted the country will not take any chances amid fears of a full-blown outbreak which could be tougher to control.

“We appeal to all Zimbabweans to restrict their movements,” Mnangagwa said weekend.

“We can only move for essential and critical reasons. Otherwise we recommend that our communities, both urban and rural, remain where they are and not travel.

“The spread of this pandemic is so quick and fast, so we are appealing to our people to avoid travelling. Let us keep at home and only move either to buy food or medicines.”

Government further placed a ban on all forms of public gatherings involving persons in excess of 100.

Weddings, church gatherings were also banned, coupled with the postponement of the annual Independence Day celebrations and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.

Zimbabwean schools are also set to shut down this Tuesday as some of the preemptive measures against the disease.

Since its outbreak in China December 2019, nearly 340 000 cases of the virus have been recorded worldwide with Europe emerging as the new epicentre of the disease.

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi claims that members of the opposition MDC supporters on Saturday assaulted him during a Chegutu ward 2 by-election.

According to Ziyambi, he went to a polling station to meet a Zanu PF polling agent, but rowdy MDC supporters confronted him and attempted to block his way before they hurled obscenities at the Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson.

“Pano hapana minister. Uri kuendakupi iwe? Ibvaapo (There is no minister here? Where are you going? Leave this place now),” the MDC supporters shouted at Ziyambi, charging towards him.
Ziyambi had to be whisked away to safety by his aides.

“I went to that certain polling station to meet our polling agent. When I arrived, I greeted the opposition supporters and kindly asked them to excuse us so that I could speak to our polling agent,” Ziyambi told the Daily News in an interview yesterday.

Ziyambi warned the opposition against political violence, adding that after the attack the MDC supporters went on social media to discredit him by claiming he had visit the polling station intending to speak to the presiding officer.

“They were blocking me from talking to our polling agent. After that they have gone on social media and started to spread a false narration that I was trying to speak to the presiding officer, which is totally hogwash.

“Their behaviour is not good; they have become a law unto themselves. I went to the polling station to see our polling agent in my role as Zanu PF chairman. Am I not allowed to see my polling agent? They are abusing social media, spreading false information. Democracy is not about attacking people, this violent behaviour must stop. I have since instructed those who were posting on social media to retract, failure to do that I will take legal action.”

Information ministry permanent secretary Nick Mangawana condemned the attack on Ziyambi.

“We hadn’t witnessed electoral violence in Zimbabwe in a while until yesterday in Chegutu when Hon Ziyambi, who is also Zanu PF Mash West chair, came face to face with aggression and aggravation from rowdy members of the opposition just for speaking to his party election agent. Why?,” Mangwana wrote on his Twitter account yesterday.

Contacted for comment, MDC secretary for elections Jacob Mafume said the supporters were questioning why Ziyambi came near the polling station without Zimbabwe Electoral Commission accreditation.

“He was not assaulted at all. There was a vigorous discussion on why he was in the polling station without accreditation. The rule states that Ziyambi should have been 300m away from the polling station without accreditation. So, he (Ziyambi) was leading the assault on the election process,” Mafume said.

Ironically, the MDC has been accusing Zanu PF of using State machinery to intimidate and beat people in previous elections.

This comes as the opposition is pushing for electoral reforms and they have written to the United Nations Electoral Needs Assessment Mission, which was recently in the country, to push the government to implement electoral reforms.

There has been accusations and counteraccusations of political violence between Zanu PF and the MDC since the formation of the opposition in 1999 and the leadership of trade unionist, the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa has expressed sadness at the passing of Zororo Makamba. Zororo was a popular broadcaster and son to businessman and politician James Makamba. He was 30.

“I have received the news of the passing on of Zororo Makamba with great shock, extreme sadness and deep sense of shock. He is a victim of the worldwide pandemic that is Covid-19”

“I extend my sincere condolences to the Makamba family as well as to relatives and friends of Zororo Makamba. Zororo will be solely missed”, she said.

Zororo succumbed to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) an infectious disease that causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.

Below is the full statement
I have received the news of the passing on of Zororo Makamba with great shock, extreme sadness and deep sense of shock.  He is a victim of the world wide pandemic that is Covid-19.

As the Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services I constantly and continuously worked with Zororo on his much watched and greatly appreciated State of the Nation program on Zimbabwe Television..

He was a young intelligent and dynamic man that infused talent and passion for his work with intense patriotic pride. He always exuded that confidence in the face of daunting challenges.  He  communicated with promise and hope in the economic prospects of his beloved Zimbabwe.

I extend my sincere condolences to the Makamba family as well as to relatives and friends of Zororo Makamba.

Zororo will be solely missed! MHSRIIP

As we mourn him the whole nation should take the threat of COVID 1 very serious. Let’s all follow due medical precautions as announced by Ministry of Health and by the World Health Organization.

Monica Mutsvangwa 
Minister of Information,  Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

Banc ABC Managing Director Lance Mambondiyani has said that the late Zororo Makamba who succumbed to Coronavirus visited BancABC’s Mount Pleasant Campus on Tuesday 17 March 2020 and had a meeting with four (4) staff members.

The staff members have since been quarantine and all their contacts being followed up.

We present BancABC’s statement in full below.

BancABC Update on COVID-19 (23 March 2020)

BancABC Zimbabwe would like to advise all our stakeholders that Patient No 2 (as confirmed by the Ministry of Health) visited our Mount Pleasant Campus on Tuesday 17 March 2020 at 11:30 am and had a meeting with four (4) of our staff members for a duration of approximately 15 minutes. The Bank was subsequently advised that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday morning and immediately activated recommended protocols in consultation with the City Health Department.

Out of the abundance of caution, all employees who interacted with the patient and their contact persons were immediately identified for further management. Whilst none of the affected employees have shown any symptoms, preventative measures which include a 14 Day Self-Quarantine, as per health officials guidelines, have been activated.

Further, as part of the Atlas Mara Group-Wide COVID-19 prevention measures across all countries, the Bank has already commenced a .nitization exercise of our Head Office and all our branches on an ongoing basis. Additionally, in adherence to recommended social distancing practices, a virtual workplace and remote working facilities have been initiated for the majority of our staff.

Corona Virus is a global pandemic which can potentially affect anyone anywhere. We take the health of our staff & customers very seriously. The Bank remains committed to creating a safe environment for all our stakeholders and has put together necessary interventions and resilient protocols to enable business continuity through this crisis. None of these preventive measures affects our ability to deliver service to our customers on an ongoing basis.

We would like to encourage all our stakeholders to take this epidemic seriously, to follow the guidelines of Health Officials by practising good hygiene, engaging in social distancing to limit the risk of infections and to protect each other as responsible private and corporate citizens. We thank you for your custom and solidarity.

Dr Lance Shingai Mambondiani
CEO – ABC Holdings Zimbabwe Limited 8 Managing Director – BancABC Zimbabwe
Fresh Thinking. Smart Banking

Below is the BancABC Full statement;

BancABC Zimbabwe would like to advise all our stakeholders that Patient No 2 (as confirmed by the Ministry of Health) visited our Mount Pleasant Campus on Tuesday 17 March 2020 at 11:30 am and had a meeting with four (4) of our staff members for a duration of approximately 15 minutes. The Bank was subsequently advised that the patient had tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday morning and immediately activated recommended protocols in consultation with the City Health Department.

Out of the abundance of caution, all employees who interacted with the patient and their contact persons were immediately identified for further management. Whilst none of the affected employees have shown any symptoms, preventative measures which include a 14 Day Self-Quarantine, as per health officials guidelines, have been activated.

Further, as part of the Atlas Mara Group-Wide COVID-19 prevention measures across all countries, the Bank has already commenced a .nitization exercise of our Head Office and all our branches on an ongoing basis. Additionally, in adherence to recommended social distancing practices, a virtual workplace and remote working facilities have been initiated for the majority of our staff.

Corona Virus is a global pandemic which can potentially affect anyone anywhere. We take the health of our staff & customers very seriously. The Bank remains committed to creating a safe environment for all our stakeholders and has put together necessary interventions and resilient protocols to enable business continuity through this crisis. None of these preventive measures affects our ability to deliver service to our customers on an ongoing basis.

We would like to encourage all our stakeholders to take this epidemic seriously, to follow the guidelines of Health Officials by practising good hygiene, engaging in social distancing to limit the risk of infections and to protect each other as responsible private and corporate citizens. We thank you for your custom and solidarity.

Dr Lance Shingai Mambondiani
CEO – ABC Holdings Zimbabwe Limited 8 Managing Director – BancABC Zimbabwe
Fresh Thinking. Smart Banking

By Jane Mlambo| Popular musician Mukudzeyi Mukombe, better known as Jah Prayzah has joined the nation in mourning promising broadcaster Zororo Makamba who succumbed to Coronavirus today.

Posting on Twitter, Jah Prayzah had this to say;

“R.I.P Zororo Makamba. You will be missed my brother. My sincere condolence to his family and the entire nation which has been robbed. To the rest of us, let’s try as much as we can to isolate and sanitize. Corona is real, play your part the rest we leave to God,” said Jah Prayzah.

Makamba became the second Zimbabwean to test positive to coronavirus after arriving back in the country from New York.

Farai Dziva|The government has confirmed the death of Zororo Makamba, the second person to be diagnosed with Coronavirus in Zimbabwe.

“The Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obediah Moyo has confirmed the death of Zororo Makamba, who was the second person to test positive for Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

Zororo Makamba was son of businessperson, James Makamba,” ZBC tweeted.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care
@MoHCCZim
has confirmed the passing on at Wilkins Hospital of one of the two confirmed cases Covid-19 in the country.”

“It’s a very sad day for us,” Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry Dr Agnes Mahomva said.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been accused of instructing banks to block his estranged wife Marry Chiwenga ‘s accounts.

The matter came to light in a letter sent to CBZ and VP Chiwenga’s lawyers, Marry’s lawyers threatened to sue the CBZ and FBC Bank for blocking her from accessing her account.

Mubaiwa’s lawyers wrote:
…The only conclusion that she has come to is that the decision not to process her transactions is synchronised and has been taken by the bank.

We advise that your conduct is unlawful and should cease forthwith as there has been no form of due legal process to bar our client from transacting on the account.

We are instructed that Mr Moyo duly complied with the unlawful instruction, in complete disregard of all banking ethics and procedures.

Our client was surprised when FBC Bank denied her the right to withdraw money from her account and she was advised that the ‘bosses’ would get in touch with her, which they had not done at the time of the writing of the letter.

Chiwenga and Mubaiwa are locked in a nasty divorce whose details have headlined for the past 3 months.- The Insider

By A Correspondent- Prominent businessman, James Makamba’s son, Zororo has died.

Zororo reportedly died this morning while taking a walk outside Wilkins hospital. He was Zimbabwe’s second confirmed coronavirus case according to social media reports which the Health minister Obediah Moyo dismissed as false.

This was revealed by his father’s friend Mutumwa Mawere in an exclusively interview with ZimEye.

Watch the live video loading below……

Police in Bulawayo arrested more than 700 suspected illegal forex dealers and vendors in a four-day blitz to restore sanity in the central business district of the city. 

About 80 percent of the suspects have paid admission of guilt fines of up $500.

The ongoing clampdown started last Tuesday. 

Police brought into the CBD a heavy deployment of officers on horseback, the canine section, plain clothes and uniformed officers to flush out defiant illegal forex dealers who had come back to the streets even after the first blitz on Tuesday. 

Illegal forex dealers, popularly known as osiphatheleni, had been problematic in the city and countrywide, plying their trade in broad daylight without making attempts to conceal the activity, despite its unlawfulness. 

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube in an interview yesterday said more sustained deployments were on the cards as police aimed to ensure that citizens complied with the law. 

“By Friday we netted over 700 vendors and osiphatheleni in the CBD. The operation is an ongoing deployment to ensure sanity in town. More than 200 police officers flooded Tredgold area Chicken Inn, Herbert Chitepo and 4th Avenue and many other areas targeting osiphatheleni, vendors and illegal fuel dealers,” said Inspector Ncube. 

“The officers included the Equine (horseback) Section, Canine (dog) Section, plain clothes and uniformed officers. All those arrested were taken to Bulawayo Central where more than 500 paid fines of up to ZW$500. More sustained deployments are on the cards and the best thing to do is for people to comply with the law,” said Inspector Ncube. 

There was mayhem at the area surrounding Tredgold during the week when police officers swooped on osiphatheleni and unlicensed vendors, in apparently random but sustained and intense raids.

“As promised, we are working to restore sanity in the city. This is an operation by a team under the command of Chief Superintendent Marshal Dube, of Bulawayo Central District. The team arrested more than 150 osiphatheleni and many others who were blocking the pavement,” he said. “We are going to sustain our raids. We believe Bulawayo people are reasonable and we hope that the message will be heard. We want to protect property and life. We must all make Bulawayo a better place. Such levels of lawlessness cannot be tolerated,” said Inspector Ncube. 

During a tour of Tredgold Buildings last week, Chief Justice Luke Malaba warned osiphatheleni and other people involved in illegal activities around the building which houses the Bulawayo Magistrates Courts, saying there was an urgent need for them to be permanently flushed out of the area.

At that time, police sealed off the parking area around the building but the operation was short-lived and illegal forex dealers made a triumphant return.

-State media

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care,  Dr Obadiah Moyo has confessed ignorance with regards to social media reports naming Zimbabwe’s second coronavirus patient.

The minister was responding to questions by a local publication who wanted him to validate or refute the claims which are awash on social media alleging that son to businessman James Makamba, Zororo is the second person confirmed to be coronavirus positive.

Technomag alleges that some parents phoned the publication asking why Makamba the son of a businessman and former ZANU PF MP, James Makamba was a patient at the Trauma Centre amidst reports that he had tested positive for the virus.

In response to Technomag questions, the Minister said all coronavirus patients were quarantined at Wilkins.

He said:

“All Our Covid 19 virus suspects and patients are only admitted at Wilkins hospital, this is the only place of screening and treatment and if you say this is what has happened, I’m quite surprised, it would be a lie if you publish that there is a patient with coronavirus at Trauma

I’m not aware of that, neither have I ever come across that name Zororo Makamba, all our corona virus patients are admitted at Wilkins, its a lie that anyone who has been recorded and confirmed to have corona is admitted anywhere, we only have 1 suspect from Victoria falls and one from Harare who was in New York and that’s the official position.”

By A Correspondent- The Health Ministry on Sunday confirmed 34 new additional cases of coronavirus in South Africa bringing the total number of Covid-19 cases to 274.

Of the 274 cases, 208 (76%) have a history of travel from an area where Covid-19 is circulating. The majority of those without international travel history have had recent contact with persons who have travelled internationally.

The Eastern Cape has recorded its second case. The majority of the new cases were reported in the Western Cape, 14, totalling 88 cases to date.

Of the new cases, the total provincial breakdown is as follows:

Eastern Cape

* A 22-year-old male who travelled to Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom

Free State Province

* A 49-year-old female with no international travel history

* A 26-year-old male with pending travel history

* A 58-year-old male who travelled to Pakistan and Dubai

Gauteng

* A 49-year-old male with no international travel history

* A 28-year-old female with no international travel history

* A 24-year-old male with no international travel history

* A 33-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom

* A 22-year-old male who travelled to Mauritius

* A 40-year-old male with pending travel history

KwaZulu-Natal

* A 39-year-old male who travelled to the United Kingdom, Austria and Dubai

* A 47-year-old male who travelled to France

* A 45-year-old male who travelled to Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria

* A 40-year old male who travelled to France and Austria

* A 44-year-old male with no international travel history

* A 55-year-old male with pending travel history

* A 68-year-old male who travelled to Austria

* A 49-year-old female with no international travel history

* A 32-year-old female who travelled to Italy

Mpumalanga

* A 25-year-old male who travelled to France, Germany and the Netherlands

Western Cape

* A 44-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom, Austria and Dubai

* A 33-year-old female with no international travel history

* A 24-year-old female with no international travel history

* A 53-year-old female who travelled to the United Kingdom

* A 57-year-old male who travelled to the United Kingdom

* A 30-year-old male who travelled to Italy and Switzerland

* A 28-year-old female who travelled to Italy and Switzerland

* A 62-year-old male who travelled to Switzerland

* A 30-year-old male with no international travel history

* A 71-year-old male who travelled to Portugal

* A 47-year-old female with no international travel history

* A 57-year-old male with no international travel history

* A 54-year-old male who travelled to Italy

* A 49-year-old female who travelled to Italy

The total number is cases in each province is as follows:

Eastern Cape: 2

Free State: 9

Gauteng: 132

KwaZulu-Natal: 36

Limpopo: 1

Mpumalanga: 6

Western Cape: 88

The Health Ministry also provided a breakdown of the age and gender of the 274 patients.– Nehanda Radio

By A Correspondent- Former Higher, Tertiary, Science and Technology deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa has expressed fears that the woman who had been cleared #COVID19 negative in Zimbabwe but later tested positive after she arrived in the UK may have infected many others who met her.

Gandawa through his Facebook post also said a German citizen tested positive in Namibia having just travelled from Zimbabwe and both may have infected those they were in contact with in Zimbabwe.

“Our limited testing capabilities mean we’ve been unable to roll out an aggressive testing campaign as in South Korea where 15,000 can be tested daily. The virus might already be here, only undetected. We must take drastic action even at the risk of arousing public panic,” Gandawa said.

“Waiting on govt would be irresponsible. The people must lead and take urgent steps to limit transmission. A friend’s 75-year-old father had four teeth removed over the weekend, he hasn’t visited for fear of infecting him. We need a similar consciousness.”

“Given our creaking health system, we need to go above and beyond in taking precautionary measures, primarily through aggressive social distancing and good hygiene. Schools that can close immediately should do so, those who can work from home must do the same. #DontDelay.”

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Saturday allegedly threw teargas canisters in Mbare to disperse a rowdy crowd who had gathered outside Zim dance hall chanter, Killer T’s birthday party venue.

With the ban on public gatherings in place, the chanter’s star-studded birthday celebrations were private and those who attended had been served with invitations. 

Controversial businessman, Genious ‘Ginimbi Kadungure, Freeman and Stunner were some of the stars who attended.

However, some of the musician’s fans were disbelief that they had been snubbed from the function and reportedly gathered outside the venue, forcing organisers to call the police.

According to reports, guests who attended the party had to scurry for cover after the tear gas canisters were thrown. Sources who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity confirmed the incident.

‘Ghetto youths could not accept being denied entry and they had to gatehr around. This resultd in the police coming in to disperese them and fired teargas canisters which resulted in chaos,’ said one of the sources.

Killer T’s manager, Kudzai Biston, told the publication that all went well despite the disturbances which arose after the gathering.

‘The birthday ceremony went on well only that there were some people who came and gathered around trying to cause problems. The police came in and helped us disperse people,’ said Biston.

One of the event coordinators popularly known as Mahwindo described the incident as an of Sabotage by people who hate the musician. She alleged that some of the mischief-makers were urging the police to stop the celebrations.-DailyNews

By A Correspondent- Zimbabweans have called upon Government to enforce strict social distancing procedures and reduce the maximum number of people allowed to congregate to a figure much smaller than the 100 announced last week by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The President last week declared Covid-19 a State of National Disaster and postponed major social events including the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the 40th Independence Day celebrations, religious and public gatherings of more than 100 people for the next 60 days.

While Mozambique which recorded its first COVID-19 case yesterday enforces a maximum number of 50 people, Zimbabweans who spoke to Zimbabwe Voice called for an even smaller number, saying it’s better to implement much tighter measures now – including a lockdown – than try to do so when the damage is already done.

“The thing about the 100-people crowd limit is that it does not say anything about the size of the space accommodating them. 100 people in a 50 square metre room is different from 100 people in a 500 square metre facility, so how does social distancing work in these different circumstances?” said a citizen asked by a local online publication over the weekend.

Others called for the public transport system to completely shut down, saying that the rules of social distancing do not apply once one is aboard a bus or commuter omnibus to work.

It is common to see snaking queues at ZUPCO bus termini, while the buses themselves have people packed in the aisles.

“Why do we have the ZUPCO buses and kombis still on the road, in any case?” Martin, another Harare resident, asked.

“This government tends to want to always react instead of being proactive. People are dying sad deaths in Italy and elsewhere, and we as sub-Saharan Africans have had ample time to prepare and learn from others. I just pray the worst does not befall us.”

Mrs. Alice Sibanda, a vendor in Silobela, said Government may not have manpower and financial resources to monitor strict adherence to

“It’s not about what the government thinks. It’s about you as an individual summing up what is being said by government and then protecting yourself and loved ones and society. I cringe at the sight of people lining up on their way to churches against advice. Do we have enough police resources to monitor every church?

“Sometimes we as adults should monitor ourselves. Humans can sometimes be their own worst enemy,” she said, speaking on Sunday as people streamed past her market stalls on their way to church.

Mrs. Sibanda also urged government to reconsider the decision to let schools run till Tuesday, adding that the coronavirus does not know deadlines and is already a clear and present danger.

Robbie Madziva, a cellphone dealer in Harare, was torn between going to work and staying home with no food for his family.

“I am unsure what to do. One thought says I need to go and work, another says if I get the virus and die, who will work for my family? If I stay home, what do I feed them either? We have tough choices to make, but I guess it’s safer to stay home and scrounge for help from relatives and neighbors.

“While we are on this, I want to understand why this magical figure of 100 persons? The figure 100 appeared a very big exponential one for me, especially given we work from public spaces in crowded streets. Is there any scientific ormedical reason for 100. Germany is saying two people maximum.”

Brian Mangwende, writing on social media, said: “Surely there has to be basis for the figure with the goal in mind. 100 is too big a number with regards to spreading of Coronavirus. It’s better to implement tight measures (lockdown) now than when the damage is already done. We know our medical facilities and personnel can’t cope.”

Meanwhile, police say they will be conducting patrols and spot checks to enforce the Covid-19-induced ban on large gatherings as Government deliberates on measures to encourage social distancing.

To stop the spread of coronavirus, officials are encouraging the public to practice social distancing — staying home, avoiding crowds, keeping two metres apart during gatherings and refraining from touching one another.

The country still has two recorded cases of corona virus cases and social distancing, experts say, is the best way to avoid new cases.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said complying with the regulations is meant to protect every citizen from contracting coronavirus.

Yesterday, some members of the country were lobbying for Government to totally ban all public gatherings regardless of size to minimise the risk of the virus spreading in the country.

This was observed after some religious organisations and bars defied Government’s directive that the gathering of 100 and more people be suspended.

Members of the public said as long as there were no punitive measures for those defying the directive, some citizens will continue to act recklessly.

“From what you are saying, that there are some churches who had 100 or more members for services today. We will conduct investigations and where appropriate the necessary measures will be put up. But what is important is for church leaders and other institutions to comply not for their own interest but the benefit of their members,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said cops are also on high alert to arrest border jumpers as they can also expose the country to unrecorded cases.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said Government is set to evaluate compliance to implemented measures before taking further action.

“This is a decision that needs to be done collectively. It cannot be announced by a single department.

We await, for further discussions that are led by the President. There will be appraisals of what has happened so far. But I thought when the President discouraged the gathering of more than 100 people it was going to be adhered to, because not doing so is very bad,” said the Minister.

Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva said her ministry as the technical department in addressing Covid-19, will take up public suggestions.

She said some of the suggestions would be forwarded to Cabinet for possible adoption. “That is what they are thinking and we like those suggestions as they come as wider as they might be. We look at them, we consider them, we give guidance and that technical guidance is taken up.

“Cabinet looks at it and comes up with final Government decision on what Zimbabwe will do. Again, it speaks to us working collaboratively as a team not the Ministry of Health alone.

“We are the technical arm of Government when it comes to health and its consolidated looking at other aspects. Those suggestions are very welcome they actually help us craft whatever guidance that is required that is looked at,” she said.

Dr Mahomva said other Government departments have to play their part to ensure that the public complies with directives meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“Once something is declared there is division of labour in terms of enforcing the rule of the law in Zimbabwe. So, there are other players who will look at that. We give technical guidance in term of what is needed to be done when it comes to public health disaster like this, as the President declared,” said Dr Mahomva.

“We will continue encouraging other ministries that we are working with to also ramp up what they need to do. Working to ensure that we are working in collaboration, supporting each other because it’s a national issue. As long as it’s a national issue, it means the task goes beyond the Ministry of Health and Child Care.”

Two coronavirus cases have been recorded in the country so far with the first patient testing positive in Victoria Falls on Friday and the other in Harare on Saturday.

In the Ministry of Health and Child Care daily update yesterday, Dr Mahomva said the two confirmed Covid-19 patients are recovering in a stable condition.

“As was previously reported, the first case is showing signs of recovery and is being managed under self-isolation at home. The second case continues to be managed under isolation at Wilkins Hospital and is stable,” said Dr Mahomva.

“Seven contacts of the second case have so far been identified and followed up, and the remaining 11 are still being followed-up. Samples have been collected from the seven contacts identified so far and 4 results received so far have tested negative for Covid-19. The Ministry will continue with intensified surveillance to detect any potential cases early and limit further spread of Covid-19.”

Globally, the deaths from coronavirus stand at over 14,700 while total infections top 336,000. Nearly 100,000 have recovered from the infections.-StateMedia, Online

I am afraid if there is no PPE the already failing health system might be crippled again!. @MoHCCZim @edmnangagwa it's time to avail the PPE u promised. @ZimEye @daddyhope @NewsDayZimbabwe #NoPPENoWork pic.twitter.com/7tWFkn2BHX

— Dr Peter Magombeyi (@DMagombeyi) March 23, 2020

By A Correspondent- Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi went into self-quarantine on Sunday, a day after he attended the inauguration of President Hage Geingob of neighbouring Namibia.

In a statement, the Botswana government said the director of health services had placed Masisi “on self-isolation for a period of 14 days starting March 21 following his trip to the Republic of Namibia”.

“During the time of self-isolation, His Excellency will be tested for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) prior to being cleared,” the statement said.

It said Masisi would be “working from his official residence but quarantined away from his family.”

“The Director of Health Services has extended the same impositions to the rest of the entourage that travelled with His Excellency the President to Namibia.”

Masisi was one of three southern African heads of state who graced the inauguration of Geingob on Saturday. Others were Angola’s President João Lourenço and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.

Namibia has registered three cases of coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease.

Botswana is one of the few African countries that has not yet reported a single coronavirus case.-Online

The self-isolation by Masisi comes in the wake of an outcry by the Botswana Nurses Union on Sunday that the president’s decision to travel to Namibia was ill-informed and endangered the lives of Batswana.

The union called on Masisi to self-isolate for the mandatory 14 year in case he got infected during the Namibia visit.

By A Correspondent- Zapu was responding to an opinion piece published in the state-controlled media written by Zanu-PF secretary for administration and former Umguza legislator Obert Mpofu.

In the article titled: Dr Joshua Nkomo happy with ED, Mpofu claimed Mnangagwa had honoured the late Zapu leader by allowing the holding of Independence Day celebrations in Bulawayo, a first since independence.

The opposition Zapu has said the late vice-president Joshua Nkomo could be turning in his grave because of the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom it accused of persecuting the veteran nationalist in the 1980s, leading to him fleeing the country to seek refuge overseas.

The celebrations have since been postponed because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mpofu claimed the celebrations would have honoured Nkomo’s legacy.

Zapu southern region communications director Patrick Ndlovu, however, argued the late vice-president could not be happy with his tormentors who are refusing to acknowledge their “evil deeds” which led to Nkomo fleeing the country.

Nkomo was accused of trying to overthrow the government after an arms cache was allegedly found at one of the properties owned by his party. The veteran nationalist, who also survived an assassination attempt at his Pelandaba house in 1983, was forced to flee the country fearing for his life as government unleashed vicious violence, killing thousands of civilians after the “discovery” of the arms cache.

“As a party, we are surprised that someone who defected from Zapu to join Zanu can now speak on behalf of the party,” Ndlovu said. 

“They do not have any legitimacy to speak on behalf of Zapu, let alone Nkomo whom they persecuted in life.

“It is an insult to Nkomo; he died a bitter man; they never apologised and continue to refuse to do so over the Gukurahundi killings….” Nkomo, who was born on June 7, 1917 died on July 1, 1999 at the age of 82.

The late former president Robert Mugabe claimed huge amounts of arms had been uncovered on farms owned by Zapu for use to ostensibly overthrow his government to justify the deployment of the Fifth Brigade.

After the “discovery” of the weapons, Mugabe fired Nkomo, Josiah Chinamano and Joseph Msika (all late), Transport minister and Natural Resources minister respectively, from the government on charges of plotting to overthrow his government, culminating in the Gukurahundi massacres which led to the killing of thousands of civilians.

However, despite all the persecution and suffering at the hands of the government, Nkomo returned home from exile in Britain and subsequently signed the Unity Accord with Mugabe in 1987.-Online

SADC has urged member states to cooperate and move in unity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has affected over 271,000 people worldwide

The virus has spread to at least 164 countries and territories. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic.

The call was made this Monday, in a statement on commemorations of Southern Africa Liberation Day which is celebrated annually on the 23rd of March by the SADC bloc.

SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax emphasised that as member states celebrate this day paying tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives a for the liberation of the SADC region it is of great importance to adhere to measures which have been enacted by the respective governments as a way to curb the spread of the global pandemic.

Secretary @nickmangwana how come your Ministry's @InfoMinZW Twitter Handle has been restricted due to "unusual activity from the account"? What unusual activity has your Ministry been up to? pic.twitter.com/tlh0leuiKL

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) March 23, 2020

By A Correspondent- Fadzayi Mahere, a prominent Zimbabwean lawyer and politician has revealed that the country’s health delivery system has run out of COVID 19 testing kits.

Mahere said the information she was sharing had been received from an unidentified doctor who commented on the coronavirus testing situation at one of the major referral hospitals in Harare.

From the conversation that Mahere shared, she alleged that the Harare Hospital is saying the kit to run Covid’19 tests cost around 2k USD.

“Additionally, if you open it you will have to discard it because they are not reusable which is very costly.

It is said that last time they could not test a pregnant woman who was admitted to the ward because they wanted to wait for other samples so as to reduce the cost.

It seems that in the meantime there are no adequate  Coronavirus testing kits in hospitals and authorities have kept quiet about this.” 

No passenger planes will be allowed to land in Uganda or leave. Only cargo planes and their crew members will be allowed in the country. Meanwhile, those sneezing should keep away from the public. #COVID-19 #M7Address. pic.twitter.com/SaiLIDofYr

— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) March 21, 2020

His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa will address the nation this evening on the corona virus pandemic . At that stage the President would have finalized measures to be undertaken to mitigate impact of the virus to our people and the economy .

— Minister Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) March 23, 2020

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe Government spokesman warned people against flocking to church Sunday in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, and even claimed that worshippers risked going to hell.

“A quick survey around town (in the capital Harare) shows a lot of religious activity above 100 people,” the government spokesman Nick Mangwana said on Twitter.

“LET’S BE RESPONSIBLE. ALL OF US WILL DIE. AND THEN GO TO HELL,” HE SAID.

The Zimbabwe government has banned gatherings of more than 100 people to ward off the spread of the new coronavirus and even declared state of national disaster even though it had no confirmed cases.

Zimbabwe, whose healthcare system has been eroded by two decades of economic decline, has so far recorded two cases of Covid-19.

Harare resident Joyce Ndlovu said her church had staggered masses so that none would exceed 100 faithful.

“Not going to church on Sunday is not an option,” she said. “So we have decided to not all go at the same time.”

Meanwhile around 40 cars were seen in the carpark outside a Methodist school frequented by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, an AFP correspondent said.

Mnangagwa last Tuesday declared the new coronavirus pandemic a “national disaster” as he banned gatherings of more than 100 people.

But the next day he held a political rally in the east of the southern African country attended by several hundred people.

Also, despite ordering his ministers not to travel abroad, a ban he said applied to himself, the president travelled to Windhoek for the inauguration of his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob.

Angolan and Botswanan presidents Joao Lourenco and Mokgweetsi Masisi were also present at the event attended by several hundred people.

Botswanan civil servants have been ordered not to leave the country, while in Angola, Lourenco decreed the closure of land borders and banned commercial flights as well as gatherings of more than 50 people.-Online

By A Correspondent- Fear-struck Zimbabweans were recently caught on camera chasing a Chinese national outside a bus after suspecting that he had Coronavirus.

This comes after Zimbabwe recorded its first cases of COVID-19 which originated in Wuhan, China, and has infected over 338,092 and killed over 14,456 globally.

In the undated video that is making rounds on social media, passengers in a suspected cross border bus went beserk and barred a Chinese national from entering whilst accusing him of deliberately wanting to infect them with COVID-19.

Some of the passengers were heard shouting and accusing the Asian man of using road transport instead of air travel to evade COVID-19 screening at the airport. At the time of publishing the video, this publication had not yet established where the incident occurred.

By A Correspondent- The United States’ Senator Rand Paul confirmed on Sunday that he has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) becoming the first U.S. Senator to do so.

Paul said that he had not exhibited any symptoms and had not been in contact with any known carriers of the novel coronavirus but was tested out of an “abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events”.

Posting on Twitter, the Kentucky Republican said:

Senator Rand Paul has tested positive for COVID-19. He is feeling fine and is in quarantine.

The Senator’s office began operating remotely ten days ago, so it affirmed that “virtually no staff” had been in contact with him.

New York state on Friday had nearly 16,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, up from 5,100 while the United States has more than 33,000 confirmed cases, with more than 400 confirmed deaths, 117 of them in New York state.

Meanwhile, health experts have indicated that the coronavirus can remain viable and infectious in droplets in the air for hours and on surfaces up to days.-Studio7

By A Correspondent- The Government has managed to track down seven out of 18 people who got into contact with one of the two people who tested positive to Covid-19.

Health officials were by yesterday still following up the 11.

The seven had samples taken and tested and four came out negative while results for the three people are yet to come out.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care last night said it was managing well the two who posted positive, with one being managed from home while another is still at Wilkins Hospital.

Both are being managed in isolation.

“The ministry would like to advise the nation that to date Zimbabwe has recorded two confirmed cases of Covid-19.

“Seven contacts of the second case have so far been identified and followed up and the remaining 11 are still being followed. Samples have been collected from the seven identified and so far, four results received have tested negative for Covid-19,’’ said the ministry in a statement.

The ministry said both patients are stable.

“The ministry will continue with intensified surveillance to detect any potential cases early and limit further spread.

“As we previously reported, the first case is showing signs of recovery and is being managed under self-isolation at home. The second case continues to be managed under isolation at Wilkins Hospital and is stable.”

As of yesterday, more than 270 000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and more than 12 000 deaths have been reported from 161 countries, globally.

In Africa more than 1 000 cases have been confirmed. This includes cases from 10 Sadc countries — South Africa, Eswatini, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia, Seychelles, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, Beitbridge Border Post has seen incoming travellers drop significantly daily as increasing numbers heed advice to avoid unnecessary trips.

Part of the decline is attributable to more people avoiding or postponing shopping trips and leisure travel.

On average, 14 000 people and 70 buses used to pass through Beitbridge daily in both directions and the number increases to a combined 38 000 travellers and 120 buses in both directions in peak times.

Though he could not give figures, the assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube confirmed that the number of people being cleared, especially on the entry side, was on the decline.

“I cannot give you any statistics at the moment, but yes we have noted a decline especially on people coming into the country,” he said.

As a way of intensifying operations at the border, Government has moved the port health centre to a checkpoint near the New Limpopo and the Alfred Beit bridges to ensure no-one can evade routine screening.

Buses and vehicles are dropping off people at the screening point before proceeding to the main border arena.

The checkpoint is manned by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army. Since the last fortnight border authorities made the screening of travellers coming into the country mandatory.

When travellers arrive at the border they first go to the port health point for screening and only when they are cleared there can they proceed to immigration formalities.

After being screened, if they have no signs of illness, they are given a tag to tender along with their passports at immigration.

In addition to that the travellers are required to sanitise their hands before handing over their passports to immigration officials, who have gloves and face masks and also sanitise their hands to reduce their risks.

VICE President Constantino Chiwenga’s estranged wife, Mary Mubaiwa, has accused the retired army general of directing two leading banks to block her from accessing her accounts.

Through her lawyers, Mubaiwa has threatened to sue Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) and FBC Bank for acting illegally by taking instructions from someone who is not a signatory on her accounts.

“The only conclusion that she has come to is that the decision not to process her transactions is synchronised and has been taken by the bank,” says a letter sent to Chiwenga’s lawyer, Wilson Manase, and the manager of CBZ’s Borrowdale branch, Mernard Moyo.

“We advise that your conduct is unlawful and should cease forthwith as there has been no form of due legal process to bar our client from transacting on the account,” say Mubaiwa’s lawyers.

The letter accuses Manase of instructing Moyo to provide him with statements relating to Mubaiwa’s accounts and those of companies, including Matfield Investments, of which the former model is a director.

“We are instructed that Mr Moyo duly complied with the unlawful instruction, in complete disregard of all banking ethics and procedures,” it says.

Mubaiwa claimed FBC Bank did not explain why she had been denied access to her account.

“Our client was surprised when FBC Bank denied her the right to withdraw money from her account and she was advised that the ‘bosses’ would get in touch with her, which they had not done at the time of the writing of the letter,” her lawyers write.

Both banks declined to comment, saying they could not discuss client matters.

In December, when their divorce proceedings began, Chiwenga sued Mubaiwa for US$245 428 that was allegedly in her FBC bank account.

The Vice-President claimed the money was his and had been paid into her account as proceeds from his hunting concessions.

Mubaiwa’s CBZ account is linked to alleged externalisation of close to US$2m between last April and October.

The money was used to buy property in Pretoria and two top-of-the-range Range Rovers registered in South Africa.

In December, Chiwenga initially wanted to take the houses and cars, even though the money used to buy them was the subject of a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigation he was accused of pushing for.

Chiwenga’s lawyers said Mubaiwa’s claims that the Vice-President had blocked access to her bank accounts were “rubbish” and “delusional”.

If anyone had directed the accounts to be frozen, they said, it could have been ZACC investigators.

“It is denied that Mr Manase ever visited the said bank for purposes mentioned or any other at all,” the lawyers’ reply said.

“While Moyo is known to him as an officer of the bank, no communication took place with regards to what your client alleges. If the investigators from ZACC did visit the bank, it is within their right and mandate.”

Last week, Mubaiwa told journalists she was preparing for a life “in and out of jail” because her husband, who led the coup against the late Robert Mugabe in November 2017, was a ruthless man.

She has lost an appeal for custody of their children.

Chiwenga and Mubaiwa have been wrangling since December, when the former army commander filed for divorce.

Mubaiwa was then arrested and charged with attempting to kill her former husband while he was in hospital in South Africa.

She was also charged with externalising foreign currency, money laundering and fraud.

She has denied the charges, saying they were fabricated and claiming Chiwenga invented the murder plot in a bid to force her hand in the divorce proceedings.-Zimbabwevoice

Denver Ncube an Anatomist and a PhD Neuroscience candidate at the University of Oregon Institute of Neuroscience has said that individuals resident in Zimbabwe are more exposed to the novel coronavirus due to increased environmental exposures in the country. We post Ncube’s full Twitter thread below.

Environmental exposures that can exacerbate COVID-19 effects include pollution. With the frequent power outages and people resorting to using firewood and generators daily are our people safe? Has anyone cared to check on general lung health? Can our people afford to get checked?

The failure of Gvt to guarantee the most basic things for citizens puts many in mortal danger. This is the cost of power retention as a sole objective without leadership. Gangsters whose only mission is to brandish power without concern or sense of stewardship towards citizens.

We are truly alone, leaderless, abandoned by those who daily squeeze the life out of us. There is no proposition that makes such a callous, perfidious, insensitive, psychopathic and cruel bunch of individuals fit for purpose. We can’t change their hearts, they have to go.

State Media|POLICE will be conducting patrols and spot checks to enforce the Covid-19-induced ban on large gatherings as Government deliberates on measures to encourage social distancing.

To stop the spread of coronavirus, officials are encouraging the public to practice social distancing — staying home, avoiding crowds, keeping two metres apart during gatherings and refraining from touching one another.

The country still has two recorded cases of corona virus cases and social distancing, experts say, is the best way to avoid new cases.

President Mnangagwa recently declared Covid-19 a State of National Disaster and postponed major social events including the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the 40th Independence Day celebrations, religious and public gatherings of more than 100 people for the next 60 days.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said complying with the regulations is meant to protect every citizen from contracting coronavirus.

Yesterday, some members of the country were lobbying for Government to totally ban all public gatherings regardless of size to minimise the risk of the virus spreading in the country.

This was observed after some religious organisations and bars defied Government’s directive that the gathering of 100 and more people be suspended.

Members of the public said as long as there were no punitive measures for those defying the directive, some citizens will continue to act recklessly.

“From what you are saying, that there are some churches who had 100 or more members for services today. We will conduct investigations and where appropriate the necessary measures will be put up. But what is important is for church leaders and other institutions to comply not for their own interest but the benefit of their members,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

He said cops are also on high alert to arrest border jumpers as they can also expose the country to unrecorded cases.

Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said Government is set to evaluate compliance to implemented measures before taking further action.

“This is a decision that needs to be done collectively. It cannot be announced by a single department.

We await, for further discussions that are led by the President. There will be appraisals of what has happened so far. But I thought when the President discouraged the gathering of more than 100 people it was going to be adhered to, because not doing so is very bad,” said the Minister.

Health and Child Care Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Agnes Mahomva said her ministry as the technical department in addressing Covid-19, will take up public suggestions.

She said some of the suggestions would be forwarded to Cabinet for possible adoption. “That is what they are thinking and we like those suggestions as they come as wider as they might be. We look at them, we consider them, we give guidance and that technical guidance is taken up. Cabinet looks at it and comes up with final Government decision on what Zimbabwe will do. Again, it speaks to us working collaboratively as a team not the Ministry of Health alone. We are the technical arm of Government when it comes to health and its consolidated looking at other aspects. Those suggestions are very welcome they actually help us craft whatever guidance that is required that is looked at,” she said.

Dr Mahomva said other Government departments have to play their part to ensure that the public complies with directives meant to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“Once something is declared there is division of labour in terms of enforcing the rule of the law in Zimbabwe. So, there are other players who will look at that. We give technical guidance in term of what is needed to be done when it comes to public health disaster like this, as the President declared,” said Dr Mahomva. “We will continue encouraging other ministries that we are working with to also ramp up what they need to do. Working to ensure that we are working in collaboration, supporting each other because it’s a national issue. As long as it’s a national issue, it means the task goes beyond the Ministry of Health and Child Care.”

Two coronavirus cases have been recorded in the country so far with the first patient testing positive in Victoria Falls on Friday and the other in Harare on Saturday.

In the Ministry of Health and Child Care daily update yesterday, Dr Mahomva said the two confirmed Covid-19 patients are recovering in a stable condition.

“As was previously reported, the first case is showing signs of recovery and is being managed under self-isolation at home. The second case continues to be managed under isolation at Wilkins Hospital and is stable,” said Dr Mahomva.

“Seven contacts of the second case have so far been identified and followed up, and the remaining 11 are still being followed-up. Samples have been collected from the seven contacts identified so far and 4 results received so far have tested negative for Covid-19. The Ministry will continue with intensified surveillance to detect any potential cases early and limit further spread of Covid-19.”

State Media|Beitbridge Border Post has seen incoming travellers drop significantly daily as increasing numbers heed advice to avoid unnecessary trips.

Part of the decline is attributable to more people avoiding or postponing shopping trips and leisure travel.

On average, 14 000 people and 70 buses used to pass through Beitbridge daily in both directions and the number increases to a combined 38 000 travellers and 120 buses in both directions in peak times.

Though he could not give figures, the assistant regional immigration officer in charge of Beitbridge, Mr Nqobile Ncube confirmed that the number of people being cleared, especially on the entry side, was on the decline.

“I cannot give you any statistics at the moment, but yes we have noted a decline especially on people coming into the country,” he said.

As a way of intensifying operations at the border, Government has moved the port health centre to a checkpoint near the New Limpopo and the Alfred Beit bridges to ensure no-one can evade routine screening.

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Buses and vehicles are dropping off people at the screening point before proceeding to the main border arena.

The checkpoint is manned by members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the Zimbabwe National Army. Since the last fortnight border authorities made the screening of travellers coming into the country mandatory.

When travellers arrive at the border they first go to the port health point for screening and only when they are cleared there can they proceed to immigration formalities.

After being screened, if they have no signs of illness, they are given a tag to tender along with their passports at immigration.

In addition to that the travellers are required to sanitise their hands before handing over their passports to immigration officials, who have gloves and face masks and also sanitise their hands to reduce their risks.

The Government has managed to track down seven out of 18 people who got into contact with one of the two people who tested positive to Covid-19.

Health officials were by yesterday still following up the 11.

The seven had samples taken and tested and four came out negative while results for the three people are yet to come out.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care last night said it was managing well the two who posted positive, with one being managed from home while another is still at Wilkins Hospital.

Both are being managed in isolation.

“The ministry would like to advise the nation that to date Zimbabwe has recorded two confirmed cases of Covid-19.

“Seven contacts of the second case have so far been identified and followed up and the remaining 11 are still being followed. Samples have been collected from the seven identified and so far, four results received have tested negative for Covid-19,’’ said the ministry in a statement.

The ministry said both patients are stable.

“The ministry will continue with intensified surveillance to detect any potential cases early and limit further spread.

“As we previously reported, the first case is showing signs of recovery and is being managed under self-isolation at home. The second case continues to be managed under isolation at Wilkins Hospital and is stable.”

BULAWAYO – Chief Justice Luke Malaba was suspended and subsequently transferred from Bulawayo to Masvingo for obstructing the police while working as a magistrate, ZimLive can reveal.

Malaba was a regular patron at unlicenced residential bars known as shebeens in Bulawayo, and routinely clashed with police sent to clear the illegal joints in the early 1980s.

The then magistrate was required to make this disclosure before becoming a High Court judge, and when he attended public interviews to become Chief Justice – but there is no evidence he did.

Our revelations today will raise fresh questions about the 68-year-old’s fitness to hold office.

Malaba, then a 32-year-old magistrate, was suspended in October 1984 by the provincial magistrate for Matabeleland, Phil Finch. It was announced at the time that Malaba and another magistrate had been “prohibited from duty… in terms of the Public Services Regulations”, and that the matter was “being dealt with administratively”, according to a report in The Chronicle newspaper unearthed by this website.

A source who was a police officer at the time, and now works in government, disclosed that although the reasons for Malaba’s suspension were not publicly shared, the decision followed repeated police complaints about his conduct.

“The allegations against Malaba were initially raised by junior police officers who had been tasked with raiding shebeens in the suburbs of Bulawayo, especially Mpopoma,” the source said, after securing guarantees they would not be named for professional reasons.

“The officers complained that they repeatedly clashed with Malaba, who was a permanent patron in shebeens. It was alleged that Malaba made it impossible for the police details to discharge their duties as he would threaten them with the fact that he was a magistrate. The officers felt that at any rate it would be awkward arresting shebeen patrons who would ultimately appear before Malaba. They eventually decided to report the matter to the provincial magistrate.”

Finch, the source said, “took the view that Malaba’s conduct was indeed unworthy and constituted obstruction of the police in the exercise by them of their duties.”

Malaba was immediately transferred to Masvingo by Finch as punishment.

“The thinking was that he would then be charged for obstructing the course of justice. This did not happen for reasons that are not immediately apparent, but which smack of corruption,” the retired police officer said.

Malaba was handpicked to become a judge of the High Court and eventually that of the Supreme Court, but when he became Chief Justice and went through public interviews as required under the new constitution, he was required by the constitution to make full and frank disclose of all occurrences that potentially affected his ascension to the highest judicial office.

Evidence on hand shows that he did not disclose his suspension years earlier for obstructing the police.

Malaba, who became Chief Justice in March 2017, is due to retire in 2022 when he reaches the age of 70 – the top cap for judges.

Questions left for Malaba through the Judicial Services Commission had not been responded to, while Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi was not reachable at the time of publication.

Zimlive

THREE people died on the spot while 11 others were injured in an accident that happened along the Rutenga-Zvishavane Road last week.

Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Ethel Mukwende confirmed the accident which occurred at the 128km peg along the Rutenga-Zvishavane highway at around 7pm on Monday. She said the injured were admitted to Zvishavane District Hospital.

“I can confirm that we are investigating a fatal road accident which occurred at the 128km peg along the Rutenga-Zvishavane Road on 16 March at around 7pm,” said Insp Mukwende.

She said Sheunopa Mashavidze (35) from Makwasha, Zvishavane was driving a Toyota Fun Cargo towards Buchwa Mine with five passengers on board.

“Upon reaching the 128km peg he encroached onto the opposite lane, resulting in a head on collision with another Toyota Fun Cargo which was being driven by Milason Shava (44) of Mataga who had eight passengers on board,” said Insp Mukwende.
She said three people died on the spot while 11 were injured.

“Tamudaishe Sibanda (53), Rachel Mashavidze aged one year five months and an unknown male adult died on the spot and eleven other passengers were seriously injured,” said Insp Mukwende.

The matter was reported to the police who attended the scene.

Insp Mukwende said police were appealing to drivers to be cautious on the road to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.-State media