MDC leader Nelson Chamisa speaks on Coronavirus…

VP Chiwenga's favourite nephew, Desire, was found dead in Chegutu yesterday.

Family sources told ZimEye, he was fishing at the time of death. Chiwenga's former junior, Perrance Shiri sent a group of soldiers to investigate the death – More details to follow… pic.twitter.com/XvBbo0hJ43

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 22, 2020

By A Correspondent| Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s nephew who is the brother of the twins at the centre of the money transfer scandal in which they collectively implicated Chiwenga’s wife, Marry, has been found dead in Chegutu.

Family sources told ZimEye, he was fishing at the time of death.

Chiwenga’s former junior, Perrance Shiri has since sent a group of soldiers to investigate the death – More details to follow…

FIVE family members died while several others were injured in a road accident on Friday as they were on their way to bury another family member in Mtshabezi in Gwanda District, when the kombi they were travelling in burst one of its tyres and veered off the road.

The accident occurred just after the Danger descent on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Road. Member of Parliament for Umzingwane Retired Brigadier-General Levi Mayihlome was one of the people who visited the scene of the accident.

Matabeleland South police spokesperson Chief Inspector Philisani Ndebele, confirmed the accident, but said he did not have details of the crash as he had been in a workshop in Bulawayo.

“I can confirm that the accident did indeed occur and we lost five lives all from one family. They are from Mpopoma and they were all going to the funeral of another relative. Three of those people died on the spot while another one passed away at Esigodini District Hospital. The fifth person died while they were being transported to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) for further treatment.

“We got a lot of assistance from staff at Esigodini Hospital who moved swiftly to make sure that more lives were not lost. We are also grateful to police officers who were really helpful throughout this ordeal. The good news that we have received as of today (yesterday) is that all the other members that were injured in the crash are all out of danger,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Mayihlome.

The MP added that a district hospital was needed at Esigodini to handle cases of such magnitude.

“It’s about time a proper district hospital was built as Esigodini to cater for many travellers who use the Bulawayo-Gwanda highway. We also think speed humps should be erected in that stretch of the road (Danger) to make sure that motorists slow down.”

Mnangagwa's own pastor and uncle today held a large church meeting

Nehemiah Mutendi today held a meeting of over 200 people at their Belvedere building( Z.C.C Belvedere Wellness And Healing Centre, Harare, Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/B0gJLd1gc5

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 22, 2020

THE country runs the risk of seeing the rapid spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus), as healthcare workers do not have adequate knowledge on how to deal with potential cases while conspiracy theories about how the virus only attacks certain races had led Zimbabweans to act recklessly. 

In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, Mpilo Central Hospital clinical director Dr Solwayo Ngwenya said the lack of awareness and knowledge among healthcare workers was shocking, and instead of aiding in the fight against the virus, their actions could fuel its spread.  District hospitals, he said, were still rushing suspected Covid-19 patients to central hospitals instead of infectious diseases healthcare centres. Wilkins Hospital in Harare and Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital are the healthcare centres that are expected to handle Covid-19 cases. 

“With our situation, the problem starts with the ignorance of health workers. Health workers should not, for example at district hospitals, just put patients into the ambulance and move them to central hospital. That will cause a lot of mass infection. The ministry is working on ways of trying to separate the two. People that are infected should be taken to Thorngrove which is run by city health. Those people have all resources, test kits and gadgets to actually care for people with infectious diseases like coronavirus,” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said he was also alarmed by the actions of people who still visited sick relatives in large numbers despite the fact large gatherings had been discouraged by Government. 

“As I speak today, I say people should not visit their sick relatives in large numbers. May we have one or two visitors coming to see a patient,” he said.

Dr Ngwenya said people saying only white people contracted Covid-19 were misguided, as the virus did not care about colour or creed. He observed that if the virus could overwhelm healthcare systems in developed nations, it could bring greater death and suffering to African countries. 

“In Africa it is very pertinent that we emphasise very strong on prevention measures because we don’t have the equipment and manpower to confront this virus. On our side this is compounded by ignorance because people have their theories and so forth. 

“The scientific evidence is that this virus infects all races not just white people. This is very important. At first there are no cases, then there is one case and then even more cases turn up and then afterwards they start reporting deaths. As we speak in South Africa, they went through what we are going through. As of yesterday, there were 202 cases and in Zimbabwe there was one,” he said. 

Dr Ngwenya added that it was important for people to realise that Covid-19 was not spread like the normal flu. 

“The virus appears to be transmitted from not only the cough, sneezing and so forth. For example, in one sneeze a person emits 3 000 droplets and in temperatures under 27 degrees they last as long as up to two days. People come and touch those droplets. So, by touching your eyes you are actually inoculating yourself with the virus,” he said.

A MINISTRY of Mines and Mining Development mine supervisor has been arrested for allegedly accepting money from a client as a payment to process his papers for a mine claim.

Mhlanguli Mguni (30) who is based in Gwanda was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda magistrate, Mrs Nomagugu Sibanda facing a criminal abuse of duty charge. He was remanded out of custody to 22 April on $500 bail.

Prosecuting, Miss Faith Mutukwa said Mguni received US$120 from Mr Farai Mavhungwa on 17 July in 2018.

‘‘On 17 July 2018 Mr Mavhungwa and Mr Noel Ndlovu went to the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development office to notify the ministry of their intention to peg a mine at Gobathema area in Guyu. They were attended by Mguni who advised them to collect the co-ordinates of the area they intended to peg. He gave them a GPS machine and told the complainant to pay US$60 for the machine but did not issue a receipt.

‘‘Mr Mavhungwa later came back with the co-ordinates to Mguni who verified them and told the complainant to go ahead and peg his mine. On a date unknown to the prosecutor Mr Mavhungwa made a follow-up on the papers he had submitted and Mguni told him to pay US$60 for his papers to be processed and he complied but he wasn’t issued with a receipt. The matter was later reported to the police resulting in Mguni’s arrest,’’ she said.

In his submissions in court Mr Nqobani Sithole of Ncube and Associates who represented Mguni said the offence which his client is alleged to have committed occurred in 2018 and the complainant only made the report in March this year which shows that they were fabricated.

He said the complainant in his statement said he paid Mguni US$60 to process his papers which was an act of corruption.

Mr Sithole said the complainant then went to the police and willingly confessed that he had paid the accused US$60 which meant that he was involved in an act of corruption and also had to be arrested.

Officials in Zimbabwe have reacted indifferently to South Africa’s announcement that it planned to erect a fence along the border with its neighbour as part of measures to stem irregular migration and contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

“Some people build durawalls around their houses, fields or properties and some put up fences. This is a choice people make on how to show their boundaries,” Nick Mangwana, spokesman for Zimbabwe’s government, told Al Jazeera on Friday.

“The type of demarcation they choose is their sovereign right. The same applies to international boundaries.”

His comments came as Zimbabwe on Friday confirmed its first case of COVID-19, the highly infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus. South Africa has reported 202 cases to date.

The planned 40km (25-mile) fence is to be erected on both sides of the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry to “ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country”, Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s public works minister, said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the move could not be viewed as xenophobic.

“At the border post now, you’ve got health inspectors and you’ve got environmental professionals and they are doing the testing and screening at the border. But if somebody just walks over the border, there are no such facilities,” she said.

Thousands of Zimbabweans have for years been entering South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised country, via undesignated and other points along the border to escape a deepening economic crisis at home.

With unemployment hovering around 30 percent, South Africa has long been meaning to reduce what it perceives as irregular migration from Zimbabwe and a threat to local jobs – but it has been hesitant to take bold action on the issue.

Zimbabweans interviewed by Al Jazeera in the capital, Harare, were unperturbed by South Africa’s announcement.

“I don’t think there is a problem if they [South Africa] are trying to ensure that people use designated border points to enter,” Anesu Gutsa said.

“I think we will have a problem when they close the border completely to us. Should the border be closed, that could affect Zimbabweans in a big way. We rely on South Africa products as a country.”

In recent weeks, an increasing number of countries have been tightening controls at borders, or outright sealing them off, as well as banning travel from certain countries in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 271,000 people worldwide have been confirmed as having contracted the coronavirus and 11,280 have died, according to figures by Johns Hopkins University. Some 87,000 people have recovered.

The outbreak reached Africa later than other continents, but almost 40 countries have now confirmed cases.

In Zimbabwe, fears are rising that the country could descend into crisis amid a major outbreak owing to a lack of preparedness and a collapsing healthcare system. The country’s nurses and doctors have been striking since last year.

Zimbabwe’s economy plunged in the aftermath of its controversial land reform exercise at the turn of the new millennium to correct what the government of the late Robert Mugabe viewed as historical imbalances on land ownership.

Norman Matara, secretary of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, expressed dissatisfaction over the country’s COVID-19 preparedness, saying only 16 people have been tested to date.

Commenting on South Africa’s announcement, Matara said its decision “could be informed by the fact that there are no diagnostic kits at Beitbridge border post”.

“By limiting people coming into the country, the South African government is trying to protect their own people. That is the mandate of any government.”

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS

THE early closure of schools for the first term will not change the rest of the school calendar unless there are other circumstances that might need to realign it.

The Government last week announced that schools and tertiary institutions will close on Tuesday, a week-and-a-half early for schools as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus (Covid-19). Parents and teachers are worried that the early closure of schools might affect the school calendar and pupils especially those who are writing in June and the Grade Seven public examinations.

Deputy Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Edgar Moyo told said that all the school programmes have not yet changed but Government will assess the situation and make appropriate announcements if need be.

“What only changed is the closing of schools, the other programmes are still on course. The opening date remains unchanged despite that we have closed early. Changes will only emanate depending on the circumstances that will be there when we are opening.”

Moyo said the decision to close schools early was taken in line with the directive to prohibit gatherings of people that exceed 100.

By Joana Ruvimbo Mamombe, MP Harare West

The people’s President Advocate Nelson Chamisa has encouraged us the elected officials to raise awareness on Coronavirus in our communities.

It is our responsibility as leaders to spread awareness about #COVIDー19.

Myself and ward 16 Clr Denford Ngadziore visited our disabled friends @ Paraplegic centre in Mabelreign to hear from them on what measures they are taking to prevent the virus.

We also donated walkers, food hampers and soap for them to wash their hands.

Let’s remember to wash our hands all the time please!! We also took time to visit the vendors at Mabelreign shops to raise awareness on #Covid19. #ZimLoc

ZANU PF legislator for Gwanda North, Madoda Sibanda has survived attempts to suspend him from the party over the party regalia that was allegedly found dumped in his constituency.

Party insiders told The Standard that a provincial leadership meeting was convened to investigate the matter.

One of the insiders said:
It is at the meeting that Sibanda’s rivals started pushing for his suspension, but the push to suspend him did not sail through.

Interestingly, after further investigation, it was uncovered that the regalia was instead not at Sibanda’s constituency, but in Gwanda Central after further checks on constituency boundaries.

The meeting reportedly observed that Sibanda was a victim of factional fights in the province, with those reportedly angling for his constituency allegedly behind the incident that happened over two weeks ago.

Sibanda confirmed the matter saying that the regalia was not found in his constituency. He however but refused to comment further.-The Standard

Zimbabweans aboard a cross border bus reportedly harassed a Chinese National whom they accused of avoiding airlines due to the stringent coronavirus testing process.

In the video below, a woman is heard shouting to the bus crew not to allow the Chinese national into the bus as it was dangerous for them.

People on a bus from I assume SA to Harare demanding that a Chinese National disembark. They argue that people are only taking the buses to avoid getting tested for COVID & the required quarantine. pic.twitter.com/ejYkws9tfi

— Chipo Dendere (@drDendere) March 22, 2020

MDC leader urges nation to unite in the battle against Coronavirus…

Self-distancing might be a little less hard to deal with now that DStv has made five extra channels available to packages all the way down to Access.

These include new channel Africanews (channel 417), CNN (channel 401), Da Vinci (channel 318), Nickelodeon (channel 305) and SuperSport 7 (channel 207). 

What’s more, some of the channels that feature on online streaming service DStv Now will be accessible to everyone – DStv customer or not.

This incredible service is to ensure that the whole country has easy access to accurate information about COVID-19.

The great thing is that DStv Now can be accessed from your smartphone, tablet, smart TV or laptop. 

The channels that can be viewed for free are: BBC World News; CNN; Sky News; eNCA; SABC News; Newzroom Afrika and Euronews. In addition, you will be able to view People’s Weather;  SuperSport Play; PBS Kids; Channel O and TBN, as well as episodes of some of South Africa’s best-loved soapies for free, including Igazi, The River, Isibaya, Binnelanders, Suidooster and Die Ware Naarheid.

-News24

By Jane Mlambo| Government spokesperson and permanent secretary in the ministry of information, Nick Mangwana has bemoaned the church’s defiance of aban on public gatherings of more than 100 warning that such actions will result to devastating deaths if people continue to do so.

President Emmerson Mangagwa last week issued a ban of any gathering with people numbering over 100.

“A quick survey around town shows a lot of religious activity above 100 people . Let’s be responsible, tinopera. Tigoenda Gehena futi!” Mangwana warned through his Twitter account.

By A Correspondent- Zupcohas announced that it is set to increase local travel bus fares to from $1 to $2 effective tomorrow.

Said a notice from ZUPCO:

“WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE THAT ZUPCO FARES ARE INCREASING WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW 23 MARCH 2020. BUS FROM $1 TO $2 AND COMBI FROM $2 TO $4.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT”

By A Correspondent- Nigeria on Wednesday issued a travel ban on citizens from 13 countries worst-hit by coronavirus.

The announcement came as authorities confirmed five new virus cases, bringing to eight the number so far tested positive in Africa’s most populous nation of 200 million people.

The government said on Twitter it “is restricting entry into the country for travellers from… China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, Norway, US, the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland. These are all countries with over 1,000 cases domestically.

Nigeria said issuance of visas would be suspended to nationals of these nations, and Nigerians arriving from these countries would be quarantined for 14 days. It also advised Nigerians to avoid travelling to the affected countries.

It said the restrictions would come into effect from Saturday and could be reviewed after a month. The central bank announced further measures to bolster the country’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil exports, as the price of oil plummeted over fears the virus could lead to a global recession.

Nigeria has also banned government officials from travelling out of the country until further notice. The government has suspended a major national sports event, advised against public gatherings and stressed the need for public hygiene to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had already approved a $135-million fund to support businesses hit by impacts of the virus. In addition, the bank said it would give double that amount to the country’s health authorities, “to ensure laboratories, researchers and innovators work with global scientists to patent and or produce vaccines and test kits in Nigeria.”

“Given the continuing impact of the disease on global supply chains,” the bank said, it would also release one trillion naira ($2.7 billion) to help boost “all critical sectors of the economy”.

The petroleum ministry said President Muhammadu Buhari had approved reducing prices at petrol pumps. -Online

By A Correspondent- As a precautionary measure, the government has ordered that all schools in the country, to include tertiary institutions, will close on Tuesday, March 24.

In a statement, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said:

“Government has thought it prudent to err on the side of caution, more so in respect of teaching institutions where human concentration and contact is expectedly high”.

He said the decision is part of the general precautionary measures the country is taking in light of the worldwide outbreak and rapid spread of the coronavirus.

IF YOU or your doctor suspects you may have COVID-19 (Coronavirus) infection, follow the advice below until your doctor or the public health unit advises that you no longer need to be in isolation.

Monitor symptoms

Whilst you wait for your results, if your illness gets worse, you should call the doctor who cared for you or the emergency department where you were assessed.

If it is a medical emergency (e.g. shortness of breath at rest or difficulty breathing) you should call Ministry of Health and Child Care on 0774 112 531.

Tell the ambulance staff you are suspected to have COVID-19.

Stay at home

You should restrict your activities outside your home, except for seeking medical care. You should not go to work, school/childcare/university, the gym, or public areas, and should not use public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares, until cleared by your doctor.

Separate yourself from other people in the home

If you are sharing the home with others, as much as possible, you should:

• remain separated from others
• wear a surgical mask when you are in the same room as another person
• use a separate bathroom, if available.
• avoid shared or communal areas and wear a surgical mask when moving through these areas.

Make sure that you do not share a room with people who are at risk of severe disease, such as elderly people and those who have heart, lung or kidney conditions, and diabetes.

People who do not have an essential need to be in the home should not visit while you are in isolation.

Wear a surgical mask

You should wear a surgical mask when you are in the same room with other people (even if they are also in isolation) and when you visit a healthcare provider.

Make sure your surgical mask covers your nose and mouth at all times, and avoid touching your mask unnecessarily.

Cover coughs and sneezes

You should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve/elbow. Used tissues should be placed in a bin, and hands immediately washed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Wash your hands

You should wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if your hands are not visibly dirty.

Ensure you wash your hands or use a hand sanitiser:

• before entering an area where there are other people
• before touching things used by other people
• after using the bathroom
• after coughing or sneezing
• before putting on, and after removing, gloves and masks

Avoid sharing household items

You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items with other people in your home.

After using these items, you should wash them thoroughly with soap and water or use a dishwasher/washing machine.

Isolation requirements for people who have tested negative

If you have been tested for COVID-19 and the result was negative you must still remain in isolation if:

• you have been identified as a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 while they were infectious – you must isolate yourself for 14 days after your last contact with that person
• you have been overseas in the last 14 days – you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the day you arrived back.

If you develop additional symptoms or your current symptoms get worse please call your doctor, or the emergency department, where you were assessed.

If you were referred by the Health team at the airport for COVID-19 testing and tested negative for COVID-19, then you may continue your journey directly to your home/hotel using public transport, taxis or ride-sharing, or continue on onward flights.

However, you must wear a surgical mask while travelling. Upon arriving at your home/hotel you must isolate yourself as outlined above.

You no longer need to remain in isolation if your COVID-19 test is negative and:

• you have not been identified as a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 while they were infectious
• you have not been overseas in the last 14 days.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE, CONTACT THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD CARE ON 0774 112 531.

Prevention steps for caregivers and household members of suspected cases

There should only be people in the home who are essential for providing care for the person who is under isolation and those who cannot find alternative accommodation.

Caregivers and household members should follow the below advice to reduce their risk of infection.

Wash your hands

Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if your hands are not visibly dirty.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Always wash your hands before putting on and after taking off gloves and masks.

Wear a surgical mask

Wear a surgical mask and disposable gloves when you are in the same room as the person with suspected infection, or when you touch or have contact with the person’s blood, body fluids and/or secretions, such as sweat, saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine, or diarrhoea.

• Make sure your mask covers your nose and mouth at all times
• Throw out disposable surgical masks and disposable gloves after use
• Wash your hands immediately after removing the surgical mask and gloves.

Clean household surfaces

Clean all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, at least once a day wearing disposable gloves. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, body fluids and/or secretions or excretions on them.

• Read labels of cleaning products and follow recommendations on product labels. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of the cleaning product including precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves or aprons and making sure the areas is well ventilated when using the product.
• Use a household disinfectant or a diluted bleach solution on hard surfaces. To make a bleach solution at home, add 1 tablespoon of bleach to 4 cups of water.
• Wear a surgical mask and disposable gloves while handling soiled items. Wash your hands immediately after removing gloves and masks.
• Wash laundry thoroughly
• Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have blood, body fluids and/or secretions or excretions on them.
• Read and follow directions on labels of laundry or clothing items and detergent. In general, wash and dry with the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label.
• Dishes should be washed in a dishwasher where possible

ALSO ON ZIMVOICE:Zimbabwe to deport travellers from coronavirus-hit countries

Disposing of contaminated items

Place all used disposable gloves, surgical masks, and other contaminated items in a lined waste bin before disposing of them with other household waste. Wash your hands immediately after handling these items.

Tips for you and your family to help cope with home isolation

Being in home isolation can be frightening, particularly for young children. We’ve put together some tips for coping:

• Talk to the other members of the family about COVID-19 to reduce anxiety.
• Reassure young children using age-appropriate language.
• Keep up a normal daily routine as much as possible.
  • Arrange with your employer to work from home, if possible.
  • Ask your child’s school to supply assignments, work sheets and homework by post or email.
• Think about how you have coped with difficult situations in the past and reassure yourself that you will cope with this situation too. Remember that isolation won’t last forever.
• Keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media.
• Exercise regularly at home. Options could include exercise DVDs, dancing, floor exercises, yoga, walking around the backyard or using home exercise equipment, such as a stationary bicycle, if you have it. Exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression.
• Ask your family, friends or other members of the household to pick up your groceries and medicines for you. If this is not possible, you may be able to order groceries and medicines (including prescription medicines) online or by telephone.
• Treat isolation as an opportunity to do some of those things you never usually have time for, such as board games, craft, drawing and reading.

Still have questions or need support while in isolation?

Call the Ministry of Health and Child Care on 0774 112 531.

By A Correspondent- Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died on Saturday after being hospitalised with coronavirus.

Sanz, 76, was president at the Bernabeu from 1995-2000, a period in which Real won the Champions League twice.

“My father has just died,” wrote Sanz’s son Lorenzo Sanz Duran on Twitter. He did not deserve this end in this manner. One of the best, most courageous and hard-working people I have seen in my life. His family and Real Madrid were his passion.

Sanz signed players such as Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf and Davor Suker during his time in charge of the 33-time Spanish champions

He lost the 2000 presidential election to Florentino Perez, which sparked Real’s big-spending ‘Galatico’ era. Sanz’s son Fernando, 46, played for Real Madrid from 1996-1999 before spending the final seven years of his career at Malaga.-Online

By A Correspondent- Former Higher, Tertiary, Science and Technology deputy minister Godfrey Gandawa has said the proper application of the rule of law in the country will boast the country’s economy through establishment of the multi billion dollar industries.

His remarks come at a time when the country’s economic free fall is blamed on bad policies that are viewed as gross violation of the rule of law and rights.

“Zimbabwe has it all. Gold, platinum, lithium, diamonds, gas, chrome and at least 50 other minerals are to be found in abundance. Establishing the rule of law, property rights and policy consistency will transform our mining sector into a multi-billion dollar industry,” Gandawa said.

“Beneficiation should not be compelled by force of law but through economic incentives. Where value should be added, it is the role of govt to legislatively engineer such economic incentives which include the right of first refusal for first-mover value addition operators.”

He said once feed supply is guaranteed, it will be fairly easy to persuade processors into the country, in the process creating jobs and additional value.

“This cannot be done when a govt changes policy every few months. Instability is our great challenge. While large scale mining projects are welcome, there is a need to promote small-scale mining which has the potential to give birth to a new generation of millionaires. Govt must work to empower and professionalise the industry,” he said.-B24yo

By A Correspondent- Former Zanu PF cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi has urged the Chairperson of Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Busisa Moyo to ban ZANU PF from exhibiting  at the prestigious platform.

Posting on Twitter, Mzembi said:

“I pray your first act is to rebrand ZITF, long overdue,and& send Zanu PF packing , it has no business being part of this exhibition , and commandeering prizes to itself , if you succeed on just this one you will be my hero !”

Mzembi asked Moyo to be strict on government departments who were using the platform as a means of siphoning money from government through allowances.

“Secondly there are many defunct State Enterprises, which have long stopped performing their statutory mandates that carry huge delegations to ZITF just for prizes , bring this up through PAC they too must come under scrutiny.

“Third is Government Departments clearly with no mandate in trading or promoting anything that close shop for two weeks , burn fuel , air tickets , hotel accommodation and stipends in wasteful sojourns unrelated to ZITF , make this exhibition a business one.”

Busisa Moyo is adviser to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In 2019, ZANU PF won he Best Zimbabwean Exhibit and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs), awards at the exhibition and in 2018 it also won the Best Exhibitor’s award.

During the run up to the 2018 elections, the party spent nearly $500 000 setting up a stand at ZITF to recruit and register about 100 000 new supporters .

The party started exhibiting at the ZITF in 2015.

By A Correspondent- A suspected Guruve thief was bashed to death on Thursday by an angry mob while his accomplice is battling for life at Guruve hospital.

Onismo Muzika (16) of Muzika village Guruve died on the spot after an angry mob allegedly meted instant justice on him after he broke into  tuckshop where he stole 83 can spirits and a packet of zapnax with his accomplice George Chaurika.

Chaurika is currently battling for life in hosptital,  the duo was assaulted using wires, wooden sticks and unknown sharp objects.

According to Mashonaland Central police spokesperson Inspector Milton Mundembe they have managed to arrest one suspect Grace Chihota (56) of Gezi village in connection with the murder case.

“I can confirm that we have arrested Chihota in connection with the murder case, three more suspects are at large,”Mundembe said.

Witnesses allege the duo broke into Monica Kondo’s (42) shop and stole can spirits which they drank with a pack of zapnax.

The suspected thieves were caught by Chihota who teamed up with other villagers and tired the duo with a wire before assaulting them heavily.

“The duo was assaulted by Chihota and other villagers and were left motionless. Muzika died on the spot while Chaurika was rushed to Guruve hospital when he was unconscious,” said  a witness.

The police have warned people not to take the law into their hands as that will put them into serious  trouble.

“We are warning members of the public not to take the law into their own hands as that will land them into trouble when the wrath of law descends on them,” Mundembe said.

“People should shun violence and complanaint should report to the police station for justice to prevail.”-Byo24

By A Correspondent- Chinese milling company based in Glendale has forced their workers to stay at the mine for 3 days in fear of the spread of Corona Virus.

Some workers were temporarily suspended from work for two months after they went out of the mine yard.

The company general manager only identified as Neyma or “Bigger boss” said they conducted a meeting with their workers who volunteered to stay at the mine in a bid to avoid mixing with different people who might be contaminated with Coronavirus.

“We put this preparatory measure as a was of minimizing the spread of the pandemic our workers volunteered as you have heard in South Africa the disease is already wrecking havoc so we do not want these workers to bring the virus here,”he said.

Quizzed on why the company suspended some of its workers Neymar said they will come back when the management decides on their fate.

“The management will decide on that matter but we did not fire them as alleged they are on suspension even the president of this country called for the closure of colleges and schools so our case is not a special one.”

Workers who spoke to this publication bemoaned the move and regarded it as abusive.

“We are being abused by these Chinese how can they put us in curfew yet the disease is wrecking havoc in their country not ours for the past three days we are being forced to sleep in a workshop and we are so crowded,”said one worker who declined to be named.

Another worker said he was suspended after he told the management that he wanted to have time with his family.

“I was suspended from work because l requested to see my family and they told me to choose between work and family so l decided to go to my family so this is an abuse,” lamented another worker.

Concession district medical officer Rachel Sosera said they have not recorded any case of Corona Virus in the district and she is not aware why the company has put that measure.

“We have not recorded any case of Corona Virus in our district so we are not aware why that company has put that measure,” Sosera said.-Byo24

By A Correspondent- The office of the Auditor-General has unearthed serious administrative issues at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) the local power utility.

The audit which was part of forensic audit findings by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) commissioned by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development and Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) in 2018 also observed malpractices at ZESA subsidiaries including ZETDC.

The audit reveals that ZETDC paid Zebra Contracting over US$1,4 million for trenching services when no valid contract existed between the ZETDC and Zebra Contracting.

PwC reported that Zebra did not have a copper harvesting contract but was awarded a year-long trenching services contract in 2016 and it was subject to renewal in line with procurement regulations.

PwC said:

However, when we inspected the list of transactions entered into by ZETDC with Zebra, we noted that there were transactions dating back to the year 2013.

The audit also observed gross violation of multimillion-dollar tenders which included the Dema diesel power project, prepaid electricity vending contract, transformer making deal with India’s PME Solutions, as well as abuse of Zesa’s vehicle policy and remuneration systems.

ZESA top officials are also reportedly leading luxurious lives when the power utility is reportedly broke.-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- Load shedding is expected to intensify following a break down at the country’s largest thermal power station in Hwange.

2 units in Hwange reportedly broke down yesterday knocking out 250MW off the national grid. This was revealed by the Energy Minister yesterday who spoke to the publication after a meeting with petroleum industry players and said:

Over the past weeks, there has been a general upward improvement in the supply of electricity so the trend is going to continue. However, we have had two units in Hwange that have broken down.

We are very hopeful that they are brought back online as soon as possible. Thereafter, we are targeting the time around June to completely do away with load shedding.-DailyNews

It is regrettable that we have somewhat regressed in the past few days but I believe we are completely on top of the situation,

Electricity has been in short supply in Zimbabwe due to the 2019 drought that left Kariba unable to generate enough power.

The Chinese television station, CGTN says 502 people are being monitored for Coronavirus and the Chinese embassy has told its own citizens not to travel to Zimbabwe. VIDEO:

CORONAVIRUS: Chinese Govt tells own citizens not to travel to Zimbabwe as 502 people are monitored for #COVIDー19 pic.twitter.com/e9UDMcTIAU

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 22, 2020

By A Correspondent- Some Chinese nationals were reportedly turned away at OR Tambo and went to Mozambique.

They were yesterday reportedly seen at Komatipoort Border Post which is between South Africa and Mozambique intending to enter into South by road.

This comes as South Africa is intensifying efforts to combat the novel coronavirus which emerged in China in December last year.

South Africa has the highest number of confirmed cases of the virus on the continent.

See the picture below….

By A Correspondent- Love appeared at the right age in the life of musician Tongai Gwaze (27) popularly known as Greatman with his perfect match Silibaziso Masara (24).

The love birds first met in the heart of the Central Business District of Harare at corner Julius Nyerere and Robson Manyika streets.

When love reigns, no one will be able to separate the two. People can talk whatever they like but for a heavenly made match, negative words can strengthen the bond between the love birds. Somehow it is more like adding fuel to the flame of love.

It was at the corner symbolising that Greatman’s marriage life was around the corner. As a busy man, he was singing to his audience some melodies which stroke Silibaziso’s heart on the tenderest spot.

In an interview with Saturday Herald Lifestyle, Greatman said they first met in the CBD about nine months back when he was doing what God sent him to do, music and was attracted by Silibaziso’s beauty.

“I first saw her in the CBD when I was singing and dismally failed to contain myself and kept on staring at her. “I tried to concentrate with my work but I kept on staring at her, it was love at first sight,” said Greatman.

His wife confirmed that. Greatman was given ten miles ahead close to winning Silibaziso’s heart due to the fact that, she was already in love with his music.

Eventually, the two exchanged phone numbers and started chatting the very day. Silibaziso kept on following him where he was performing as usual since she was one of Greatman’s biggest fans.-Online

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwean journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono has reportedly been marked by Facebook after he allegedly posted false information on the platform.

This was revealed by Twitter-based ZANU PF activist known as Mmatigari. Posting on Twitter, Matigari said:

Breaking News  Facebook flags Mbudziyadhura Hopewell Chin’ono for publishing & spreading fake news & falsehoods. Criminal behaviour.

The alleged development comes at a time when the abuse of social media in Zimbabwe has intensified recently.

Resultantly, the government has been urging members of the public to rely on official information for updates on the novel coronavirus.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF regalia bearing the face of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly been dumped at Gwanda North constituency, resulting in a push to suspend the area legislator.

Gwanda North legislator Madodana Sibanda faced accusations of being responsible for “dumping-Zanu PF-regalia”, but survived attempts to suspend him from the party.

It, however, emerged that Sibanda was a victim of factional fights in the province, with those reportedly angling for his constituency allegedly behind the incident that happened over two weeks ago.

It is understood a team of investigators led by Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister Abednico Ncube and Gwanda Central legislator Patrick Dube uncovered the dumped regalia, resulting in the holding of an urgent provincial meeting to discuss the matter.

“It is at the meeting that Sibanda’s rivals started pushing for his suspension, but the push to suspend him did not sail through,” a party insider said.

“Interestingly, after further investigation, it was uncovered that the regalia was instead not at Sibanda’s constituency, but in Gwanda Central after further checks on constituency boundaries.”

Sibanda, when contacted for comment, confirmed the regalia was found in Gwanda Central but refused to comment further.

“It was not in my constituency, but Gwanda Central, I have not been summoned,” he said. “ I have not heard anything of that nature. I have no comment.”

Zanu PF Matabeleland South chairperson Rabelani Choeni also refused to comment while Ncube was unreachable on his mobile phones.

Dennis Ndlovu, the deputy commissar for the province, said: “I cannot comment over the phone,” before promising to visit Sunday Southern Eye offices on Friday.

It is understood the youth league fought in Sibanda’s corner, but its chairperson Washington Nkomo was not forthcoming when requested to comment on the matter on Friday.

Late last year, Nkomo survived a vote of no confidence after he was fingered in a US$12 000 extortion scam involving a Shangaani miner using Mnangagwa’s name, resulting in the arrest of four party members.-Online

By A Correspondent- Load-shedding is expected to significantly ease within the next three months as the country is close to settling its debt with South Africa’s Eskom — one of the country’s major power suppliers — while payments to Mozambique continues, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Speaking to Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN), Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said the country intends to unlock additional power from both Eskom and Cahora Bassa of Mozambique.

“Yes, we are making them (payments) religiously. We have reduced the debt to about US$4 million thereabout. We are also working on further reducing our indebtedness to Mozambique,” said Minister Chasi. It is believed that as the country progressively reduces its debt to regional power suppliers, its creditworthiness, which makes it able to purchase additional electricity, is also improving.

“. . . it is going to be pivoted on us having to be creditworthy and the first step is to make sure that you pay your bills and that is what we are doing.”

Minister Chasi also indicated that refurbishments of Hwange Thermal Power Station are nearing completion. “We have a number of units in Hwange which should be finalised in the next month or two,” he said.

However, work on expanding the thermal power station is being held back by the current coronavirus outbreak, as restrictions on global movements are also affecting experts working on the power plant.

Correspondent|Nelson Chamisa led Movement For Democratic Change -Alliance (MDC-A) which has been plotting a series of protests to force President Emerson Mnangagwa out has called off its planned anti-government demonstrations in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus in Zimbabwe.

Chamisa and his lieutenants have been holding meetings with party structures to organise protests to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa to the negotiating table.

Amos Chibaya, the MDC organising secretary, said the party’s provincial youth conferences that were supposed to be rolled out countrywide as part of a mobilisation strategy ahead of the “final push” had since been shelved.

“We had started some programmes, but now we are putting them on hold,” he said.

“However, it does not mean we are giving up in our fight against the dictatorship. We just want to allow the coronavirus to pass..

“As you are well aware, the people’s president Nelson Chamisa launched the Zimbabwe Lock Out Coronavirus programme otherwise known as the #Zim-lock campaign as part of our contributions to fight against the coronavirus.

“So, we are suspending party meetings until further notice.”

Chibaya said for now the party would play its part in ensuring that Zimbabweans were aware of the coronavirus and help prevent a deadly outbreak.

“We urge the nation to take all the safety precautions, including practicing hygiene wherever you are, and also urge family members to do the same,” he said.

“We will continue to give direction on the way forward in terms of our journey for change in this country.”

Besides the MDC, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has also been mobilising for a “national shutdown”s to protest against the falling standards of living.
Mnangagwa last week declared a a state of national disaster and banned gatherings of more than 100 people.

He also announced a number of other measures to stop the spread of the disease. Zimbabwe has two confirmed cases of coronavirus so far.

ZANU PF regalia bearing the face of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has reportedly been dumped at Gwanda North constituency, resulting in a push to suspend the area legislator.

Gwanda North legislator Madodana Sibanda faced accusations of being responsible for “dumping Zanu PF-regalia”, but survived attempts to suspend him from the party.

It, however, emerged that Sibanda was a victim of factional fights in the province, with those reportedly angling for his constituency allegedly behind the incident that happened over two weeks ago.

It is understood a team of investigators led by Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs minister Abednico Ncube uncovered the dumped regalia, resulting in the holding of an urgent provincial meeting to discuss the matter.

“It is at the meeting that Sibanda’s rivals started pushing for his suspension, but the push to suspend him did not sail through,” a party insider said.

“Interestingly, after further investigation, it was uncovered that the regalia was instead not at Sibanda’s constituency, but in Gwanda Central after further checks on constituency boundaries.”

Sibanda, when contacted for comment, confirmed the regalia was found in Gwanda Central but refused to comment further.

“It was not in my constituency, but Gwanda Central, I have not been summoned,” he said.

“I have not heard anything of that nature. I have no comment.”

Zanu PF Matabeleland South chairperson Rabelani Choeni also refused to comment while Ncube was unreachable on his mobile phones.

Dennis Ndlovu, the deputy commissar for the province, said: “I cannot comment over the phone,” before promising to visit Sunday Southern Eye offices on Friday.

It is understood the youth league fought in Sibanda’s corner, but its chairperson Washington Nkomo was not forthcoming when requested to comment on the matter on Friday.

Late last year, Nkomo survived a vote of no confidence after he was fingered in a US$12 000 extortion scam involving a Shangaani miner using Mnangagwa’s name, resulting in the arrest of four party members.

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has spent $7 million in conducting 27 by-elections since the 2018 Harmonised Elections, figures from the elections management body show.

Section 158 (3) of the Constitution provides for the conduct of a by-election for parliamentary and local authorities seats within 90 days after a vacancy occurs.

Regular by-elections exert unnecessary budgetary pressure on Treasury, and according to the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, they should either be harmonised and held bi-annually or scrapped altogether.

So far, four National Assembly by-elections have been conducted while the rest have been for local authority seats.

A total of 21 by-elections were conducted last year, while four local authority by-elections have already been conducted this year alone.

Responding to questions from The Sunday Mail, ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said: “Twenty-seven by-elections (have been conducted since 2018). The majority of challenges faced are limited resources as a result of financial constraints.”

In the TSP, Treasury proposes changes to the Constitution to allow for political parties to select replacements from within their ranks once a vacancy has occurred.

“The regular conduct of by-elections by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, in compliance with the constitutional provision, exerts budgetary and cashflow challenges,” reads the TSP in part.

“The Transitional Stabilisation Programme proposes amendment of the legislation to allow for either: the conduct of by-elections bi-annually resulting in the harmonisation of operations and costs; or instead of bi-annual elections, mandate political parties to select replacements, that way avoiding expenditures inherent in the processes of electing a new member.”

For the 2018 harmonised elections, ZEC was allocated US$153,9 million out of a bid of US$272 million, representing 56 percent of the commission’s budget.

Own Correspondent|Opposition MDC’s Rydes Machekera yesterday narrowly won the Chegutu ward 2 by election over a ZANU PF rival.

Machekera defeated Zanu PF’s Prosper Mutongerwa in the by-election after he polled 240 votes against Zanu-PF’s 184. This means the MDC polled just under 57% of the vote against Zanu-PF’s 43%, a close shave considering MDC’s stranglehold in urban areas.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chegutu district election officer, Godfrey Maisiri was the returning officer.

“Last time, we lost because some of our members had jumped ship to the People’s Rainbow Coalition which was led by Joice Mujuru and this time they are back in Zanu PF. Come March 22, ward 2 will have a new Zanu PF councillor,” he said last week, as Zanu-PF bigwigs descended on the ward to help give him support.

MDC chief election agent, Emson Mukandiwa, said that although it was a close shave, it was a happy moment for him and his team nevertheless.

“It’s a happy moment for the MDC family, as we fought hard to retain this seat. Many thanks to the team that put up a spirited campaign.

“We hope to increase our winning margins in the 2023 elections by working hard for the people. People of Chegutu ward 2 have shown confidence in Rydes Machekera who they want to be their Councillor, and also in the national leadership of president Nelson Chamisa.”

The seat fell vacant following the death of MDC councillor, Memory Banda in December last year.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Nelson Chamisa says President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government appears to be failing to follow protocols laid down by the World Health Organization in tackling the disease as the president is currently visiting Namibia without taking the necessary measures to protest himself and his entourage.

MDC director of communications, Luke Tamborinyoka, said Mnangagwa’s government has no clue in curbing coronavirus “as the president himself is not even observing some simple ways of preventing the spread of the disease like self-isolation and social distancing.”

But Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo defended the president saying he is on national duty in Namibia.

Mnangagwa attended the inauguration of President Hage Geingob’s second term, a few hours after his country reported two cases of coronavirus.

According to several international media entities, Africa’s cases of the coronavirus rose above 1,000 on Saturday while two heads of state appeared to defy their own travel restrictions to attend another president’s inauguration.

Angola announced its first cases, meaning at least 40 of Africa’s 54 countries are now affected. Congo reported its first death; Burkina Faso reported two new ones. Somalia said it’s lifting its ban on international flights for two days so stranded citizens can come home. And Ethiopia’s electoral authorities discussed the virus’ effect on a major national election later this year.

Angola closed its air, land and sea borders this week, but Namibian media showed President Joao Lourenco at the inauguration of Namibian President Hage Geingob. Also in attendance was President Mokgweetsi Masisi of neighboring Botswana, which this week suspended international travel by all government employees.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa also was there. He announced a national disaster even before his country confirmed its first virus case on Friday.

Burkina Faso now has the most virus deaths of any country in sub-Saharan Africa. The West African nation has one of the highest caseloads on the continent with 64.

Several government ministers in Burkina Faso have tested positive, including the minister of foreign affairs. On Friday, President Roch Marc Christian Kabore announced the country’s two international airports would close for two weeks with the exception for military and cargo.

Burkina Faso is one of Africa’s most fragile states with a growing humanitarian crisis caused by attacks linked to Islamic extremists. More than 130 health centers have closed, affecting more than 1.5 million people, the government and aid groups say.

According to a government response plan seen by The Associated Press, emergency teams aren’t trained for a respiratory disease outbreak and don’t have appropriate protective gear.

There’s also insufficient screening at borders. None of Burkina Faso’s 44 high-flow entry points have the needed personal protective equipment, and only 23% have coronavirus screening devices.

Jerry-Jonas Mbasha, cluster coordinator for the World Health Organization in Burkina Faso, said he was “much worried about what might happen in the next one week, two weeks from now.”

Most people only experience minor flu-like symptoms from the coronavirus and recover within a few weeks, but the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those who appear well. It can cause severe illness, including pneumonia, in some patients, particularly those with underlying health problems.

State Media|LOAD-SHEDDING is expected to significantly ease within the next three months as the country is close to settling its debt with South Africa’s Eskom — one of the country’s major power suppliers — while payments to Mozambique continues, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Some of the units that are presently being rehabilitated at Hwange Thermal Power Station are also projected to come on line “in the next month or two”. The debt owed to Eskom, which currently supplies the country with 50 megawatts (firm) and 350 megawatts (non-firm), has been reduced from US$33 million to US$4 million.

Speaking to Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN), Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi said the country intends to unlock additional power from both Eskom and Cahora Bassa of Mozambique.

“Yes, we are making them (payments) religiously. We have reduced the debt to about US$4 million thereabout. We are also working on further reducing our indebtedness to Mozambique,” said Minister Chasi.

It is believed that as the country progressively reduces its debt to regional power suppliers, its creditworthiness, which makes it able to purchase additional electricity, is also improving.

“. . . it is going to be pivoted on us having to be creditworthy and the first step is to make sure that you pay your bills and that is what we are doing.”

Minister Chasi also indicated that refurbishments of Hwange Thermal Power Station are nearing completion. 

“We have a number of units in Hwange which should be finalised in the next month or two,” he said.

However, work on expanding the thermal power station is being held back by the current coronavirus outbreak, as restrictions on global movements are also affecting experts working on the power plant.

“We want to come out of where we are now, we are expecting improvement in the next month or two. Sadly, the virus that has wrecked the world is now delaying our projects. Chinese personnel that were working on the Hwange project were locked down in China, but work has been progressing very well. So we might have a bit of a delay on account of that.”

Minister Chasi said if all goes well, there should be a 270-megawatt addition to the grid when the refurbishments are completed.

“That is a significant amount of power. If we pour that into our system, we should be able to get much greater relief, but the target is to say that by midyear we want as much as possible to do away with load-shedding.”

Government also expects Kariba Power Station to increase its power generation.

“We are encouraged by the inflows into the dam (Kariba Dam). I think the tributaries are getting more saturated, thereby enabling more water to flow into the dam. But we are in the mode of water conservation at the moment. 

“We are at about 12 percent. We had an increase . . . in the last month or two of about 2 percent. We do not want to use the water now. We want it to accrue to significant levels, and so both ourselves and the Zambians are not using the water, we are waiting for it to grow further and we remain hopeful that this is going to happen.” 

Improving electricity supplies, Minister Chasi added, are “clearly the efforts that our Government has been making”.

Zimbabwe has also hinged its economic growth prospects on stable power supplies.

The country’s leading mobile money platform has increased transaction limits for Ecocash subscribers, Techzim reports.

According to the blog, these are the new transaction limits:

Sending money (peer to peer)

The limit for sending money has been increased from $1 000 to $5 000 per transaction.

Merchant payment

Paying a merchant can now be done up to $10 000 in one transaction.

Bill payments

Bill payment limit is now $10 000 as well. The old limit was $2 000.

Daily limits

Debit card or a bank account can transact up to only $5 000 in any given day.

Customers who are linked to a debit card have their limits increased from $5 000 to $10 000.

Those with their EcoCash linked to a bank account can transact for up to $25 000.

There is now a new class of customers they are referring to as ‘Executive Grade.’ These customers are allowed to transact up to $30 000 in a day.

Monthly limits

Customers who are not linked to a debit card or a bank account are now allowed to transact up to $20 000 per month.

If linked to a debit card, customers will be allowed to transact up to $35 000 per month

Customers whose EcoCash wallet is linked to a bank account can now transact up to $150 000 in a month, up from $50 000.

The Executive Grade customers will transact up to a monthly limit of $250 000.

By A Correspondent- Warriors and Dynamos defender Partson Jaure was this Sunday morning involved in a car crash near Prince Edward school in Harare which left him seriously injured. ZimEye can exclusively reveal.

The talented defender was rescued by paramedics from the Harare City Council and rushed to Parirenyatwa Hospital.

Witnesses who spoke to ZimEye said the 29-year-old former University of Pretoria defender’s Toyota Runex crashed on a tree in the early hours of Sunday.

ZimEye is in possession of the pictures from the accident some of which cannot be published.

This is a developing story. Refresh this page for latest updates on this and more….

Own Correspondent|Matabeleland North Provincial Medical Director Dr Purgie Chimberengwa has told Zimbabweans not to over react following reports on the first confirmed Coronavirus case in the province.

Reacting to the news on the patient, Dr Chimberengwa said the patient was recovering well at home and Zimbabwe should not panic. His statement appears contradictory to the general world order where the outbreak of the virus has been taken as a serious emergency.

“He remains at his home and doesn’t feel any pain anymore as he has recovered. His family is safe and now part of surveillance system including their workers. We are following on their contacts and asking them to self-quarantine. We have been compiling a list of those he came into contact with and on Friday night, they had been phoned and notified.”

“There is no need to close shop. We must not overreact. We recommend people to appropriately wash hands with soap and running water or use hand sanitisers with an alcohol content of about 70 percent.

“In the ideal, when one is quarantined, he or she must be in a separate room with no contact with family or anyone. Where there are no enough rooms that’s when we recommend face masks but the best way is hygiene.

“We discourage people to use the same gloves and masks for the whole day because by so doing you are not protecting anything but actually you are at risk of becoming the hub of the virus. If an infected person coughs on you and you wear the mask the whole day you can imagine what happens. The face mask is recommended for the patient and health worker attending to cases,” said Dr Chimberengwa.

His sentiments were also echoed by the Minister of Health Dr Obadiah Moyo who appears not to be getting into overdrive on the Coronavirus possible outbreak.

Dr Moyo said Covid-19 response teams were engaged in contact tracing and as with the first case, were being assisted by the patient himself. In Victoria Falls, where the first case was confirmed, authorities said the patient was recovering but they were tracking the people whom he came into contact with.

More than 300,000 cases have been confirmed globally, including over 13,000 deaths, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. At least 92,000 people have recovered.

Own Correspondent|The Zimbabwean government insists that only a second person has tested positive for coronavirus this a few hours after it announced the first case of COVID-19 on Friday.

In a statement, Health Minister Obadiah Moyo dismissed opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s report that the correct figure is that three people have been affected.

A man identified as a Caucasian was the first person to test positive for coronavirus in Zimbabwe. He recently visited Britain and was quarantined as soon as he landed home in Victoria Falls. According to Chamisa, two more were confirmed in Harare.

Reports on the international count also indicate that Zimbabwe now has three confirmed cases. Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre website that gets reports from medical centres worldwide and keeps the most accurate minute by minute statistic of the virus indicates that zimbabwe now has three cases.

To get the most accurate count on Coronavirus figures in Zimbabwe and the world, follow the link below.

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

Own Correspondent|President Emmerson Mnangagwa has yet again failed to lead by example as he appealed to Zimbabweans to stay at home in the wake of the ravaging Coronavirus outbreak while he continues to do the opposite.

Speaking on his return from an unprecedented flight to Namibia on Saturday, Mnangagwa told Zimbabweans to stay where they are and not undertake any travels leaving the country confused on his Coronavirus warnings that he himself fails to abide with.

“We appeal to all Zimbabweans to restrict their movements. 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. I will discuss with my Minister of Health to hear the circumstances surrounding these two cases in order to take corrective measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.”

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Moyo had announced earlier the second case of Covid-19 after a man in Harare tested positive.

He said authorities have heightened surveillance and efforts to track and monitor all people suspected to have come into contact with those affected.

In a statement he said the latest case involved a 30-year-old male patient who is a resident of Harare who had travelled to New York in the United States of America on 29 February and returned home on 9 March via Johannesburg.

“Today (yesterday) the 21st of March 2020, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare confirmed yet another case of Covid-19 which brings to two the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“He started exhibiting mild symptoms (flue like illness) on the 12th of March 2020 which progressively got worse on 19 March 2020. He consulted his doctor who advised him to self-isolate at home.

“The doctor alerted the local Covid-19 Rapid Response team that immediately went to assess him and recommended that he continues with the self-isolation at home,” said Dr Moyo.

Prior to his travel to Namibia, both Zimbabwe and Namibia had declared national emergencies on Tuesday as the coronavirus began to spread in the region.

“The pandemic has reached our region and we have to escalate our response,” Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said in a speech in Harare, the capital.

Screening of travelers will be intensified and some borders will be closed, he said. Mnangagwa appealed to foreigners planning to visit Zimbabwe to postpone their plans for at least 30 days and “unnecessary” travel by Zimbabweans outside the country is prohibited.

The government has also postponed celebrations of the country’s 40th anniversary of independence, scheduled for the second-biggest city of Bulawayo, and banned gatherings of more than a 100 people by churches or at social events.

Namibia has closed schools for 30 days and banned all mass gatherings, imposed restrictions on all foreign travel by nationals and advised people who returned from abroad to self-quarantine.

A day after his address, Mnangagwa went on to gather thousands of his ZANU PF supporters for a rally in Manicaland province putting their lives on serious risk of the deadly virus.

ZIMBABWE’s premier tourist attraction, Victoria Falls is facing a massive knock on tourist arrivals as major international airlines that are key in bringing in tourists indicated they will either stop flying in or reduce frequencies into the resort town due to the continued threat of coronavirus.

The pandemic has affected most air companies and a majority of them have grounded their planes as passenger volumes decline after most governments across the world told their citizens to minimise travel and stay at home.

The resort town records an average of 200 000 tourists a year and during major holidays such as Easter, visitors to Victoria Falls are around 6 000 per day, according to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

The most affected will be hotels and other tourism service providers that rely on foreigners for business. South African Airways (SAA) and its sister carrier, Airlink as well as Air Namibia have suspended international and regional flights including to Victoria Falls, while Ethiopian Airlines has reduced frequency of flights into the resort town. British Airways/ComAir which had initially announced intention to stop flying into Victoria Falls last Friday, said it will now stop flying into the resort town from tomorrow.

Ethiopian Airlines reduced frequency to three times a week from everyday into Victoria Falls while Kenya Airways also announced it would stop flights into the country’s prime resort destination from yesterday.

In a statement on Friday, SAA said it suspended all international and regional flights until 31 May.

SA Express, which had daily flights to Bulawayo, also indicated on its website that it had suspended all its flights.

Fastjet, which had two flights between Johannesburg (South Africa) and Bulawayo everyday, indicated that it would now have a single flight.

The British Airways had daily flights into the country, Air Namibia had five flights per week, while South African Airlink was flying to Victoria Falls everyday except Saturdays.

“South African Airways has announced that it will immediately suspend all international operations until 31 May 2020 in response to a Government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of coronavirus.

“As a result of this suspension there was a drastic reduction of demand for African regional flights and therefore the suspension has resulted in the airline not being able to operate its normal network and regional flights not being commercially viable anymore.

Regional flights are also suspended due to the knock-off effect of decision to suspend international flights,” said the airline in a statement.

The suspended regional flights are to Accra in Ghana, Lusaka in Zambia, Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Windhoek in Namibia, Lagos in Nigeria and Entebhe in Uganda.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter chairman Mr Arnold Musonza said the tourism industry was hard hit by coronavirus whose death toll around the world has surpassed 10 000 people, with more than 244 000 infections.

“The industry is bleeding and we need all stakeholders to come on board to ensure survival. The hotel occupancy rate is now at 7,3 percent per day, down from around 45 to 55 percent, that is usually the case during this time of the year.

“We can not provide figures of how much business has been lost, as of now or how much we are going to lose, but it looks bad. We can only come up with how much money has been lost at a later stage,” he said.

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

By Farai D Hove| The Minister of Health Obadiah Moyo who has for weeks been hiding coronavirus statistics from the public, has shot at the opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa over announcing coronavirus related statements.

The development comes as his administration was criticised for suppressing statistics on the plague. Yesterday, Moyo who has for a while obfuscated bio data of Chinese patients, made an about turn when he for the first time revealed the ethnic identity of a patient who is a European Caucasian.

On Saturday, Chamisa announced that city of Harare officials have told him of two more confirmed cases of coronavirus positive diagnosis.

Speaking via a press release, a somewhat disturbed Moyo said he is the only coronavirus official channel of information. WATCH BELOW:

1. There's only one official channel of releasing information and this is through the Minister of Health… Yesterday the 20th we confirmed the one case, from Vic Falls, And today we have confirmed the other case, the 2nd from Harare…. pic.twitter.com/A5DDmoZQ1e

— ZimEye (@ZimEye) March 21, 2020

By A Correspondent- The pandemic has affected most air companies and a majority of them have grounded their planes as passenger volumes decline after most governments across the world told their citizens to minimise travel and stay at home.

Zimbabwe’s premier tourist attraction, Victoria Falls is facing massive knock-on tourist arrival as major international airlines that are key in bringing in tourists indicated they will either stop flying in or reduce frequencies into the resort town due to the continued threat of coronavirus.

The resort town records an average of 200 000 tourists a year and during major holidays such as Easter, visitors to Victoria Falls are around 6 000 per day, according to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

The most affected will be hotels and other tourism service providers that rely on foreigners for business. South African Airways (SAA) and its sister carrier, Airlink as well as Air Namibia have suspended international and regional flights including to Victoria Falls, while Ethiopian Airlines has reduced frequency of flights into the resort town. British Airways/ComAir which had initially announced intention to stop flying into Victoria Falls last Friday, said it will now stop flying into the resort town from tomorrow.

Ethiopian Airlines reduced frequency to three times a week from the everyday into Victoria Falls while Kenya Airways also announced it would stop flights into the country’s prime resort destination from yesterday. In a statement on Friday, SAA said it suspended all international and regional flights until 31 May.

SA Express, which had daily flights to Bulawayo, also indicated on its website that it had suspended all its flights. Fastjet, which had two flights between Johannesburg (South Africa) and Bulawayo every day, indicated that it would now have a single flight.

The British Airways had daily flights into the country, Air Namibia had five flights per week, while South African Airlink was flying to Victoria Falls every day except Saturdays.

“South African Airways has announced that it will immediately suspend all international operations until 31 May 2020 in response to a Government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of coronavirus.

“As a result of this suspension there was a drastic reduction of demand for African regional flights and therefore the suspension has resulted in the airline not being able to operate its normal network and regional flights not being commercially viable anymore.

Regional flights are also suspended due to the knock-off effect of the decision to suspend international flights,” said the airline in a statement. The suspended regional flights are to Accra in Ghana, Lusaka in Zambia, Harare and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, Windhoek in Namibia, Lagos in Nigeria and Entebhe in Uganda.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter chairman Mr Arnold Musonza said the tourism industry was hard hit by coronavirus whose death toll around the world has surpassed 10 000 people, with more than 244 000 infections.

“The industry is bleeding and we need all stakeholders to come on board to ensure survival. The hotel occupancy rate is now at 7,3 percent per day, down from around 45 to 55 percent, that is usually the case during this time of the year.

“We can not provide figures of how much business has been lost, as of now or how much we are going to lose, but it looks bad. We can only come up with how much money has been lost at a later stage,” he said.-Statemedia

Former ZANU PF Mashonaland East chairperson Ray Kaukonde has been dragged to the High Court by Total Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd after he allegedly refused to vacate its Service Station in Kariba following the expiry of their deed of settlement.

Kaukonde was supposed to vacate the property on February 28, 2020.

In its papers filed at the High Court, Total’s lawyers argued:
Defendant has no right at law to continue in occupation of the said property because the Marketing License Agreement that gave him the right of occupation expired.

According to Total’s declaration, the company entered into a Marketing Licence Agreement with Kaukonde where he was allowed to occupy and use the service station under the trade name and style of Total Kariba Service Station.

The termination date was agreed to by both parties during a mediation meeting that was held on July 18, 2019, in the presence of both parties’ lawyers but Kaukonde is now refusing to vacate the premises.-State media

Farai Dziva|Ruling party activists in Gutu West Constituency forced Chikwerengwe High School head to transfer to the Mwenezi District for allegedly disrespecting party members.

The party activists, with the help of Gutu West MP John Paradza, approached the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and demanded the removal of the school head, Maundu, from the school.

Gutu West Constituency is a traditional Zanu PF stronghold and the opposition is yet to win elections in the area because of rampant vote buying and intimidation of villagers.

“Zanu PF activists, with the help of the MP instructed the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to remove Mr Maundu from Chikwerengwe High School.

We understand he was instructed to transfer to a school in Mwenezi District.

Zanu PF activists accused him of being stubborn.They also accused him of refusing to attend party meetings.

Last year Zanu PF members attempted to remove him from the school but the Ministry of Education defended him,” a source told ZimEye.com

Paradza was not immediately available for a comment on the matter.

By A Correspondent- The under fire City of Gweru Town Clerk Elizabeth Gwatipedza could soon be smiling all the way back to work if cleared on corruption charges after the city council has finally finished paying for her brand new Toyota Land Cruiser VX car.

Gwatipedza was suspended in 2019 on incompetence and corruption charges but the local authority had started paying for her car in 2018 which cost residents US$176 000.

City of Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe said that the council has cleared all the money for the car to Toyota Amalgamated Motor Company (AMC) whom he said will deliver the car soon.

“The car was bought by the council and it remains council property. The payment was started in 2018 and it has been paid in batches.

“The council has now finished paying for the car and we now await delivery. It was bought for the Town Clerk who is on suspension pending a disciplinary hearing.

“For the benefit of residents let me make it clear that the vehicle was bought at a 1:1 rate while the bond was still equivalent to the United States dollars,” added Makombe.

Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) director Selipiwe Cornilia said the council is going out of its way to buy luxurious cars for the management when little attention is given to service delivery threatening a demonstration if the new car is not exchanged for an ambulance and other service delivery vehicles.

“As residents, it is our wish to see our officials driving dignified cars but it’s a challenge now if they buy top of the range cars for themselves while buying second hand vehicles for service delivery. That on its own compromises service delivery.

“Also our roads are not worthy for us to buy vehicles of US$176 000 because they are poor .If these cars break down it’s us residents who will ensure that they are serviced again.

“We urge the mayor and management to reconsider the car for exchange with an ambulance and other two service vehicles for the betterment of service delivery failure of which we will demonstrate,” added Cornilia.

Officials in Zimbabwe have reacted indifferently to South Africa’s announcement that it planned to erect a fence along the border with its neighbour as part of measures to stem irregular migration and contain the spread of the new coronavirus.

“Some people build durawalls around their houses, fields or properties and some put up fences. This is a choice people make on how to show their boundaries,” Ndavaningi Nick Mangwana, spokesman for Zimbabwe’s government, told Al Jazeera on Friday.

“The type of demarcation they choose is their sovereign right. The same applies to international boundaries.”

His comments came as Zimbabwe on Friday confirmed its first case of COVID-19, the highly infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus. South Africa has reported 202 cases to date.

The planned 40km (25-mile) fence is to be erected on both sides of the Beitbridge Land Port of Entry to “ensure that no undocumented or infected persons cross into the country”, Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s public works minister, said in a statement on Thursday, adding that the move could not be viewed as xenophobic.

“At the border post now, you’ve got health inspectors and you’ve got environmental professionals and they are doing the testing and screening at the border. But if somebody just walks over the border, there are no such facilities,” she said.

Thousands of Zimbabweans have for years been entering South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised country, via undesignated and other points along the border to escape a deepening economic crisis at home.

With unemployment hovering around 30 percent, South Africa has long been meaning to reduce what it perceives as irregular migration from Zimbabwe and a threat to local jobs – but it has been hesitant to take bold action on the issue.

Zimbabweans interviewed by Al Jazeera in the capital, Harare, were unperturbed by South Africa’s announcement.

“I don’t think there is a problem if they [South Africa] are trying to ensure that people use designated border points to enter,” Anesu Gutsa said.

“I think we will have a problem when they close the border completely to us. Should the border be closed, that could affect Zimbabweans in a big way. We rely on South Africa products as a country.”

In recent weeks, an increasing number of countries have been tightening controls at borders, or outright sealing them off, as well as banning travel from certain countries in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 271,000 people worldwide have been confirmed as having contracted the coronavirus and 11,280 have died, according to figures by Johns Hopkins University. Some 87,000 people have recovered.

The outbreak reached Africa later than other continents, but almost 40 countries have now confirmed cases.

In Zimbabwe, fears are rising that the country could descend into crisis amid a major outbreak owing to a lack of preparedness and a collapsing healthcare system. The country’s nurses and doctors have been striking since last year.

Zimbabwe’s economy plunged in the aftermath of its controversial land reform exercise at the turn of the new millennium to correct what the government of the late Robert Mugabe viewed as historical imbalances on land ownership.

Norman Matara, secretary of the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, expressed dissatisfaction over the country’s COVID-19 preparedness, saying only 16 people have been tested to date.

Commenting on South Africa’s announcement, Matara said its decision “could be informed by the fact that there are no diagnostic kits at Beitbridge border post”.

“By limiting people coming into the country, the South African government is trying to protect their own people. That is the mandate of any government.”

SOURCE: Al Jazeera News

VIDEO LOADING BELOW….

LANDS, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri yesterday cleared the air on Government’s recently gazetted Statutory Instrument 62, which was being interpreted as seeking to reverse land reform.

Minister Shiri said SI62 had generated misinterpretations with some people concluding that Government was reversing the land reform, which he said was irreversible adding that only indigenous farmers and those under the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs) would get the opportunity to have their land back.

By indigenous individuals, Government is referring to people of Zimbabwean origin who were previously marginalised before 1980 and had acquired land either through direct purchase or through Government commercial farm schemes before the land reform.

These farmers will either get their land back or get full compensation for both the agricultural land acquired and improvements that were done on the farms.

Section 295(1) subsection 2 of the Constitution also provides for the full compensation of persons whose agricultural land was acquired yet it was protected.

“The Land Reform Programme is final and irreversible. Any sentiments to the contrary are false and are to be disrespected with the contempt they deserve.

“It is false to say that there is an intention to return land to the previous white commercial farmers and reverse the gains of the land reform. It is equally false to state that the SI62 is designed to evade paying compensation to indigenous farmers; rather it creates an avenue for these farmers to exercise that option to acquire title deeds and continue with farming activities or opt for compensation,” he said.

The minister said some of the outspoken individuals who were suggesting that Government was reversing the land reform were latter day revolutionaries who were trying to be more revolutionary than Zanla and Zipra.

“They are the same people who are shedding crocodile tears. They are not genuine and need to understand the SI62. The ruling Zanu PF and Government never supported that land belonging to indigenous people be acquired,” he said.

He said a total of 440 farms belonging to indigenous people were acquired under the Land Reform Programme and 350 such farmers were still on the acquired land while 90 farms had resettled farmers.

Minister Shiri said the 350 farmers would have their titles re-instituted while Government would consider if the 90 farmers are interested in acquiring their farms.

These will apply to a committee that will consider the pros and cons of handing back the land.

For those farms where A1 farmers were resettled, the indigenous former owners can be given alternative land since it can be costly for Government to remove resettled farms.

Government has identified farms through the land audit, which can be used for resettling the indigenous farmers.

The development of the Statutory Instrument in question was guided by the following constitutional provisions:

“Section 72, which provides for the rights to agricultural land and the vesting of all agriculture land in the State, Section 289, which provides the guiding policy on agricultural land, Section 290 that provides for the continued vesting of agricultural land in the State, Section 293, which provides for the alienation of land by State including the alienation for value, transfer of ownership and lease of agricultural land and Section 295, which provides for the compensation of indigenous Zimbabweans whose agricultural land was acquired and person whose agricultural land was protected by a Government to Government agreement at the time of acquisition,” he said.

A committee will be put in place to deal with all applications for compensation and considerations will be made in line with the SI.

The committee will decide whether or not there are individuals settled by Government on the farms. It will also consider whether or not the applicant is in occupation of the farm or part of it, whether granting the application would be contrary to the interests of defence, public safety public order, public morality, public health, regional and town planning or the general public interests and whether the State in its own discretion prefers to pay monetary compensation.

“The alienation of land in lieu of compensation is not an automatic right and each applicant will be considered on case by case basis. The alienation or disposal will only be recommended in cases where it is reasonable and appropriate to do so. The SI only expands the options open to Government in the compensation of the mentioned two categories. The people of Zimbabwe are empowered by the supreme law of the land to reassert their rights to ownership of their land,” he said.

For BIPPAs, Minister Shiri said Zimbabwe was living in a global village and had to be predictable as a Government.

“When we sign agreements, we should honour the agreements. If we are in the habit of changing goal posts no government will still do business with us,” he said.