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:

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.

Zimbabwe’s Justice Minister Ziyambi was Saturday humiliated in Chegutu when he arrived at a pollingstation at tried to take the presidingofficer to his c

r. This angered the masses & he was stopped from doing this. | WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS UP TO?

This evening, Friday 20Th March 2020, the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital confirmed that a suspected case of COVID-19 has tested positive.

This is the first case of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.

The patient is a 38-year-old Caucasian male resident of Victoria Falls, who had travelled to Manchester, United Kingdom on the 7th of March 2020 and returned to his home in Victoria Falls on the 15th of March 2020 via South Africa.

After arrival he put himself on self-quarantine at home as per our advice to all travellers coming from COVID-19 affected countries.

On realising that he was not feeling too well, he contacted his General Practitioner by telephone advising him that he had a persistent cough and sneezing.

The GP alerted the local COVID-19 Rapid Response Team who immediately went to assess him and recommended that he continue self-isolation at home. Specimens were collected and ferried to the Reference lab for testing.

He continued with self-isolation at home and is showing signs of recovery after supportive management at home.

As a result of our preparedness, we managed to identify this first case in a timely fashion and ensure that he was appropriately managed.
Our teams are now engaged in contact tracing and are being assisted by the patient himself.

We call for the nation to be calm as we deal with this first case of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.

In the meantime, let us continue with good personal hygiene.

– Wash hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol-based hand-rub,
– Cover your nose and mouth with tissue paper or flexed elbow when coughing and sneezing

– Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick, coughing or sneezing
– Avoid all unnecessary travel to and from countries with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Finally, I want to appreciate the professionalism which has been displayed by our medical teams.

The Clerk of Parliament would like to advise the public that in line with the COVID 19 mitigation strategies adopted by Cabinet, Parliament has suspended most public activities until further notice.

In this regard, Parliament has adjourned to 5th May 2020 and all Public Hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 2 Bill [H.B. 23, 2019], which were scheduled to start on Sunday 29th March to Saturday 4th April 2020, have been cancelled.

Members of the public will be advised of the new dates in due course.

Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.-Kennedy Chokuda, Clerk of Parliament

A Victoria Falls man who allegedly stabbed a hooker three times with an okapi knife for refusing to have sex with him has been charged with attempted murder and the woman has been hospitalised.

Simosenkosi Moyo (26) of Chinotimba suburb allegedly hired a woman who cannot be named to protect her identity for sex at Busi Business Centre.

The two ended up having a misunderstanding after they failed to agree on payment.

Moyo was not asked to plead when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa.

He was remanded in custody to March 30.

For the State, Mr Arnold Moyo said Moyo met the woman at Busi Business Centre at midnight and the two agreed to have sex at her place of residence where he later stabbed her three times.

“On Saturday just after midnight, Moyo met a woman at Busi Business Centre and asked to have sex with her. They proceeded to the complainant’s place of residence and upon arrival, the woman demanded payment upfront before they could have sex,” said the prosecutor.

A misunderstanding ensued between the two resulting in the woman ordering the accused to leave her house.

The court was told that Moyo complied and left but returned after a few minutes.

 He knocked on the door and allegedly punched her once after she opened the door.

The accused person left the scene and then waited at a distance.

He allegedly ambushed her as she left home intending to go to the nearby police base to report the matter.

Moyo allegedly pounced on her and stabbed her once on the back, head and left arm, the court was told.

Police officers manning the nearby base rushed to the scene and rescued the woman after she screamed for help.

Moyo was arrested at the scene and the woman was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital where she is admitted. 

-State Media

South Africa has confirmed that positive Coronavirus cases have reached 240, eNCA reports.

According to the publication, Eastern Cape recorded its first case today and Gauteng recorded 16 new cases while Western Cape recorded 18 new cases while KZN has 3 new cases.

Meanwhile, South African authorities have urged the general populace to treat each other with respect and respect human rights in the midst of the pandemic.

Most South Africans are in quarantine following their president’s address last week when the cases were still around 51.

-eNCA

Three days and two nights on the same little six-seater aeroplane at Lanseria, three days in the same clothes, no shower, no bath, scheduled visits only to a toilet under armed police guard – and then gagged by the department of home affairs after the plane owner spoke to Saturday Citizen.

This was the situation yesterday morning on the runway at Lanseria Airport, where three people were kept on the plane after travelling around southern Africa for a few weeks and then finally entering this country from Zimbabwe.

This was after they had received approval for their flight plan from a senior home affairs official.

By late yesterday evening, the three had been released from a “desperate situation” on the plane – which didn’t have enough space for people to stand in or to recline the seats – issued three-day visas and kicked out of the country.

Greg Thornton, the owner of the plane, doubted if the three would ever return after the terrible experience they had had, beginning with one “obtuse” immigration official.

“It was one person not doing their job, not given the right briefing or the right training or the right understanding.

“Don’t send a document out that nobody understands,” said Thornton, the exasperation evident in his voice.

Recounting the traumatic experience, Thornton said his wife was South African and was permitted to leave the airplane when it landed, as was he when by “a complete fluke” he showed the immigration officials his Irish passport.

His pilot, on a British passport, wasn’t so lucky, however, and neither were the other passengers.

“None of us have been near the United Kingdom for weeks and weeks.

“We’ve been doing a tour in my aircraft.

“We’ve been to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and two-anda-half weeks around South Africa before we even left the country,” said Thornton.

The pilot had been out of the UK since the middle of January, Thornton added, and had been to Australia and Hawaii before arriving in South Africa.

Thornton noted a directive at Lanseria immigration stated “travellers from” high-risk countries would be refused entry.

However, the party had come from Zimbabwe, which was not on the list.

It was one person not doing their job

“We got landing permission and presented all our passports before even receiving permission.

“We waited a day and half in Zimbabwe, sitting there waiting to leave,” said Thornton.

“We went from a confined, unable to leave environment in Zimbabwe to an imprisonment situation in South Africa.”

Thornton said the British Embassy had not been able to assist because of the many people trapped on a ship in Cape Town, who were now illegally in the country because none of them had visas, which were now required under the new promulgated travel regulations. The call between Saturday Citizen and Thornton was interrupted by another call from home affairs, who Thornton later confirmed had attempted to gag him.

Thornton showed the permit to fly to South Africa to Saturday Citizen, signed off by the deputy director at home affairs for licensing and permits, Mashupjwe Ntanjane.

Home affairs did not respond to a request for comment, nor did the Presidency, which had also been a port of call for a desperate Thornton.

Thornton revealed how a home affairs official told him the local civil aviation authority had been spoken to by a member of the department of transport and “civil aviation would look the other way if they wanted to return to Zimbabwe”.

Except Thornton’s pilot hadn’t slept properly over the past three days and had far exceeded his permitted time allowed to fly without sleep. Thornton warned the matter wasn’t over yet, as the three would be returning to Britain with a lot of photographs and documentation to present to a rabid British media.

– The Citizen

Outspoken former cabinet minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has castigated health minister Dr Obadiah Moyo for ‘endangering the lives of Zimbabweans’ by suppressing confirmed cases to protect the interest of the Chinese.

Posting on Twitter, Jonathan Moyo accused government of witholding a case of a Chinese man who came into the country from the United States of America, a case that was confirmed by Wilkins Hospital in the morning today.

“Obadiah Moyo, who is not a doctor, has announced one #COVID19 case of a Zimbabwean & withheld another of a Chinese man who came to Zimbabwe from the US; yet both were confirmed by Wilkins hospital this morning. He’s pandering to Chinese interests & endangering Zimbabwean lives!,” said Moyo.

Today, Obadiah Moyo announced another COVID-19 case to make them including one from yesterday evening.

By A Correspondent- A Mthwakazi Republic Party member was allegedly tangled in a tribal confrontation last month after he approached his friend’s tenant and threatened to “chuck” him out if he didn’t vacate the house in four days.

Broz Makhalima (51) with two other accomplices allegedly approached Robert Maziyeyi (45) at his work place on 12 February where he reportedly introduced himself as the Mthwakazi Republic Party chairman responsible for the welfare of Ndebeles.

“He introduced himself as the chairman of the party responsible for taking care of Shona people that are abusing the Ndebeles in the region. He said I was abusing their people by refusing to vacate the place that I am renting at Entumbane,” said Maziyeyi.

The court heard that Maziyeyi hadn’t paid rent for five months and Mika Ncube (75), the owner of the house took the matter to court and Maziyeyi was given up to May to vacate Ncube’s premises in Entumbane.

“He threatened, pointing his index finger at me saying if I didn’t vacate the place by the following Sunday on 16 February I was going to face the consequences. He told me to make a wise choice or else my children were going to be left fatherless,” said Maziyeyi.

Maziyeyi said he was shaken by this threat hence he reported him to the police as he said he didn’t understand how Makhalima would go against a court order that stipulated he vacates the place in May.

State records showed that Makhalima was sent by Ncube’s son to confront Maziyeyi concerning the matter.

“When my father told me about Maziyeyi refusing to pay rent, I asked my friend Makhalima to go and talk to Maziyeyi about it. Makhalima then called me on 14 February saying he had spoken to him and he had agreed to move out. I didn’t see anything wrong with sending Makhalima because I saw it as a cultural procedure,” stated the son who identified himself as Ndebele.

Makhalima was charged with “Threat to commit murder” and he pleaded not guilty. Lawyer Vuyo Mpofu representing Makhalima said his client didn’t threaten anyone but only had a talk with Maziyeyi about his refusal to pay rent and vacate Ncube’s premises.

He was remanded out of custody by Bulawayo magistrate Lenia Khumalo for continuation of trial on 23 March.

21 March 2020 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing the Ward 2 Chegutu Municipality Local Authority by-election. The Chegutu Ward 2 seat fell vacant following the death of MDC Alliance councillor, Memory Banda in December 2019. The by-election is being held in accordance with Section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13). While ZESN acknowledges the importance of holding by-elections within the stipulated timeframes, ZESN is concerned with the holding of the by-election in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically local authority by-elections have not attracted queues of over 30 people at any given time during polling. However ZESN’s concern is that by-elections provide a reason for people to leave their homes at a time when movement should be restricted as much as practically possible, in order to limit exposure of citizens to COVID-19.   

ZESN observers reported that the political environment in the Ward had been reported to be tranquil with no incidents of violence or malpractices having been observed. Two candidates which are; the MDC Alliance’s Machekera Rydes Tinokura and ZANU-PF’s Mutongerwa Prosper are contesting in the by-election after having been duly nominated on Thursday 8 February 2020.

ZESN trained and deployed two volunteers to observe polling proceedings at the two polling stations and also deployed an observer at the Ward Collation Centre.

By midday, these observers had reported the following:

Displaying of the voters’ roll

ZESN observers reported that the voters’ rolls were displayed outside the polling stations to allow voters to check their names before polling day in Chegutu Ward 2 and this was done at least 2 days ahead of the by-elections.

Set up and opening of polling stations

The polling stations opened on time and all the essential polling materials such as ballot boxes, ballot papers, indelible finger markers, voters’ roll, the ZEC official stamp, were available at all polling stations where ZESN had observers. However, in view of the topical global pandemic COVID-19, there were no preventative measures put in place for voters, polling officials, political party agents and observers, such as hand sanitizers.

Polling officials

On average, each of the two polling stations had six polling officers at the time of opening. It is encouraging to see that both sexes were represented as polling officials including presiding officers.

Voting process and procedures

At all polling stations where ZESN is observing, voting has been proceeding well, with all polling procedures being duly followed in accordance with the law. Observers reported that there were no long queues at any given time. At Rifle Range polling station, one voter refused to place his finger on the table to get his finger marked with an indelible marker citing that it was unhealthy given the COVID-19 scare.

Political Parties’ agents

It is commendable to note that both MDC Alliance and ZANU-PF have comprehensively deployed party agents both women and men to track the polling process at the two polling stations. At Madhatter Pre-school polling station, ZANU-PF deployed two females and one male polling agents, while MDC Alliance deployed two males and one female. At Rifle Range Tent, there is one female and three male political party agents tracking the polling process on behalf of the MDC Alliance and ZANU-PF deployed two female party agents.

Assisted voters

The numbers of assisted voters are significantly low in the by-election. Of the approximately 250 people that had voted by 12 noon, in this by-election, one male had been assisted to vote at Madhatter Pre-school polling station. This visually impaired voter brought their own assistant. At Rifle Range Tent polling station, one elderly female and one visually impaired male also brought their own assistants to help them cast their vote.

Turned away and redirected voters

At Rifle Range Tent polling station 14 people; 13 males and one female were turned away due to various reasons, chief among them; bringing driver’s licences as identification particulars. Four people who were registered in a different ward, were turned away. At Madhatter Pre-school polling station, one male and one female were turned away for the same reason. Two females were redirected from Rifle Range Tent polling station to Madhatter Pre-school polling station.

Conclusion

ZESN will continue to observe and issue updates and a preliminary statement as well as a report of the by-election with appropriate recommendations. The Network urges all registered voters in Chegutu Ward 2 to exercise their constitutional right by going out to cast their vote in peace since voting is continuing until 1900 hours in the evening. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, voters are advised to take the necessary preventative measures when venturing into public spaces.

ZESN remains committed to promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe. 

South Africa based socialite and influencer, Zuva Habane, last Saturday hosted a divorce party to celebrate her emancipation from what she described as a 14-year-old circus marriage and the beginning of her new journey.

Habane hosted a small private party at a venue in Johannesburg that only had about 20 guests.

Zuva said she extended invitations to those who were close to her during the time of her divorce and healing period.

“The ceremony was a celebration of emancipation, a new me, no more living life for people, no more negativity, no more bad vibes, no more stigmatisation of being mvana resulting in me hanging on to a man.

“There is life after divorce,” She said.

She said the event was a reward for herself for being able to come out a victor after a phase of depression caused by her divorce and had nothing to do with her ex-husband Prince.

“The party had nothing to do with my ex but just me and overcoming the depression I went through because I was heartbroken.

“It was a celebration about the healing I have now and the coming of the new me, my freedom, my happiness.”

Habane revealed she went through a torrid time as she feared what the society would think about her after divorcing hence she hung on to her marriage for four more years after having initially divorced in 2015.

“Prince and I had been married since 2005 and we stayed together, we had our ups and downs just like a normal marriage.

“In 2015 I decided I can’t do this anymore so filed for divorce but two months after the divorce was finalized, I realised I love him and he still loves me so we continued to stay together but we were already officially divorced

“We stayed together till 2019 until I finally said I can’t do this anymore, it was pointless.

“The ups and downs persisted.”

She added:

“I was afraid of being a statistic, my image since I give advice on marriage and how this was going to look on my marriage but I was tired of living a lie because I became toxic.

“I was toxic to my lover, toxic to my friends and toxic to my kids.

“I had to emancipate myself because we keep breaking up and making up and got tired of the vicious cycle.”

She said now she is free and will not bash her ex for the wrongs he did and will also not reveal what she wronged her ex as they both had a hand to their marriage coming to an end.

She went on to say she is now dating someone new but cannot yet reveal who it is as it is still something new.

-State Media

Below is the embarrassing tweet which shows how ZANU PF President Emmerson Mmangagwa became the world’s only politician on Wednesday to hold a meeting of thousands of people exposing the public to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic in Manicaland. ZimEye is gathering statistics from the area to assess the health impact of Mnangagwa’s reckless actions, as he nears being reported as a COVID-19 Criminal.

By A Correspondent- A Bulawayo pastor has been hauled to court after he allegedly smuggled heroin, morphine and codeine weighing more than one kilogramme and worth $130 000, wrapped in a parcel that contained a small Bible, bottles of holy water and oil.

Fearless Chitiyo (41) of Nguboyenja whose church was not named in court, allegedly received the drugs from Israel after a Ms Florence Dube sent them to him.

Chitiyo was intercepted by the police at Courier Connect located at Corner 8th Avenue and Fort Street where he had gone to collect the parcel.

He was not asked to plead to possession of dangerous drugs when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.

Chitiyo was remanded on $1 000 bail to March 31.

He was warned not to interfere with State witnesses, continue residing at his given address and report once a week at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

Chitiyo is being represented by Mr Bruce Masamvu of Mutatu, Masamvu and Da Silva-Gustavo Law Chambers.

Prosecuting, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said sometime in October last year, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics in Bulawayo, received information from Zimra officials that they had intercepted a suspicious parcel from Israel addressed to Chitiyo.

It is alleged that the parcel was opened in Chitiyo’s absence and drugs together with other valuables were recovered.

“The parcel contained a small Bible, 3×300 millilitres of holy oil, 2×300 millilitres of holy water, four small bottles of holy water, yellowish-brown lumps coated with white powder, yellow brown granules and yellowish-brown lumps coated with pink powder,” he said.

Samples were collected from each of the three packets and taken to a Forensic Science laboratory for examination.

A report from the laboratory indicated that the packets contained heroin, morphine and codeine. Further analysis from Tripsitter revealed the packets also contained spores used to grow magic mushrooms. The evidence was enough to process him on the charges of magic mushroom cultivation and psilocybin possession.

On Thursday this week, detectives from CID drugs teamed up with Zimra officials and initiated a controlled delivery which led to the arrest of Selina Makate (37) of North End suburb at Courier Connect in the central business district who had gone to collect the parcel on Chitiyo’s behalf.

She was interrogated about the parcel and she allegedly revealed that it belonged to Chitiyo, her brother-in-law.

This led to Chitiyo’s arrest.

The drugs were weighed, it was established that they weighed 1,293 kilogrammes and are valued at $129 300.

Last year, a woman from Bulawayo and her boyfriend were arrested at Courier Connect for possessing 2kg of crystal methamphetamine, a dangerous drug in the same class as cocaine, worth more than $120 000.

The drug had been smuggled from India concealed under a batch of weaves.

By A Correspondent- Wilkins Infectious Deseases Hospital, the main isolation centre for the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Zimbabwe, has once again run out of protective clothing, at a time the government is yet to dedicate funds for the response and containment of the deadly virus.

The hospital, a fortnight ago, received a donation of protective clothing, including space suits that had been given to the country’s Health and Child care ministry by the World Health Organisation (WHO) supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID).

Sources at the infectious disease’s quarantine centre told the Zimbabwe Independent that they had only received about 20 space suits which since have run out.

“We have been getting a number of scare (suspected) cases, and we have been using those space suits and the rest dealing with those cases,” the source said.

Healthcare workers require space suits, gloves, gumboots and N95 respirators when attending to Covid-19 patients or suspected cases so that they do not get infected.

After attending to the patient, the clothing should be burnt to stop possible infection.The UK government, through its Department for International Development (DfID), supplied personal protective equipment, computers, data services and television monitoring equipment worth £100 000 (US$128 229).

The hospital is on lockdown and does a thorough screening before admitting or conducting tests for coronavirus. Wilkins Hospital, situated in Harare’s Milton Park suburb, has 35 beds, while Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo has 20 for the Covid-19 response, according to Health minister Obadiah Moyo.

City of Harare Health director Prosper Chonzi earlier this month said more room would be created at Wilkins using tents. Wilkins was also not equipped to deal with Covid-19, prompting the Chinese embassy in Harare to renovate the hospital to create an intensive care unit (ICU).

“They are far from finishing because every time we get a scare they stop. There was no ICU at the isolation unit so that is what they are trying to create,” the source told the Independent.

The Chinese embassy pledged to refurbish Wilkins Hospital to make it comfortable for patients.Wilkins hospital is also short-staffed, with health personnel working long hours.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday cancelled national events, such as Independence celebrations and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) so that the money can be diverted towards the Covid-19, response. Unlike other countries, Mnangagwa fell short of announcing how much the country was committing towards fighting the virus.

“Government has decided to postpone, curtail or cancel public events, gatherings and activities. In that respect, government has postponed the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, all national independence celebrations previously planned and pending international sporting fixtures until the threat of coronavirus recedes. All these activities will resume as soon as we are satisfied that our nation is no longer at risk,” Mnangagwa said while presenting his State of the Nation Address in Harare this week.

“Resources originally earmarked for these events will now be redirected towards strengthening our defences against the coronavirus and towards drought mitigation.” — Independent

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.-TellZim

By A Correspondent- A Zimbabwe high court this week delivered a landmark ruling that now gives fathers of children born out of wedlock the same rights as mothers.

The court ruled that the existing common law position discriminates against a child born out of wedlock by treating the child as if he or she had no father, save for the purpose of maintenance. Currently, Zimbabwean law favours women over men when it comes to the custody rights of children.

However, Justice Happias Zhou ruled that the treatment of a father of such a child, like any other third party in matters concerning access, custody and guardianship, shows that the child is regarded as “fatherless”, and deserving of no paternal care or attention save for the purposes of maintenance.

The ruling was given in a matter that pitted businessman Frank Buyanga against ex-girlfriend Chantal Muteswa, with whom he had been battling over the custody of their minor son, born in Johannesburg in 2014.

“The applicant [Buyanga] is hereby granted, together with the respondent [Buyanga] joint guardianship and joint custody of the child [name withheld to protect the minor] born on 14 August 2014,” ruled the judge.

“The applicant and respondent shall exercise their rights of guardianship in consultation with each other and if a decision of either parent on any matter relating to guardianship is incompatible with the other parent’s wishes and likely to affect the life, health and morals of the minor child, and the applicant and respondent cannot reach an agreement, either party may apply to a judge of the high court for a determination of the course which is in the best interests of the minor child.”

The flamboyant Sandton-based millionaire has been battling to bring his son back to South Africa after the mother claimed sole custody of the child and denied him shared custody. Buyanga had previously been barred from travelling with the child.  

Additionally, the businessman had been seeking the court’s directive to force his former girlfriend to have their son carry his name.

In the judgment, Justice Zhou said: “the common law rule that gives the mother of a child born out of wedlock sole guardianship and sole custody and denies the natural father of such a child parental power is inconsistent with sections 56(1), 56(3), and 81(2) of the constitution of Zimbabwe is invalid.”

He ruled that it is unfair discrimination to deny a child the benefits of associating with his or her biological father, which is an aspect of parental care, on the mere ground of marital status of the parents at the time he or she was born.

Justice Zhou added: “The right to family and parental care, which is enshrined in the constitution, includes the child’s right to be cared for by both natural parents. Care means more than just channeling monetary maintenance to the child through the mother.”

The Zimbabwe court cited the South African constitutional court ruling in a case Fraser vs Children’s Court, which held that the discrimination against fathers in non-Christian marriages is no longer permitted. -Online

By A Correspondent- Country music legend Kenny Rogers who had a series of hits, including Coward of the County and The Gambler, has died at the age of 81.

Sky News reports that the Grammy-winning star, whose career spanned six decades, “passed away peacefully at home from natural causes under the care of hospice and surrounded by his family”, his representative said in a statement.

Rogers, who also enjoyed success in partnership with Dolly Parton, had announced a farewell tour in 2015 but had continued performing until 2017.

The Houston-born singer, known for his trademark husky voice and silver beard, sold tens of millions of records and broke through into the world of pop.

He also gained fame as an actor, starring in TV movies based on The Gambler and other songs, making him a superstar in the 1970s and 80s.

However, despite his crossover success, he always preferred to be thought of as a country singer.

Speaking in 2015, he said: “You either do what everyone else is doing and you do it better, or you do what no one else is doing and you don’t invite comparison.

“And I chose that way because I could never be better than Johnny Cash or Willie or Waylon at what they did.

“So I found something that I could do that didn’t invite comparison to them. And I think people thought it was my desire to change country music. But that was never my issue.”

His background was a real rags-to-riches story, befitting of a country singer, having been brought up in public housing together with seven siblings.

Striking out on a solo career in 1974, his first big hit was with the sad country ballad Lucille, in 1977, which crossed over to the pop charts and earned Rogers his first Grammy.

The Gambler, which came out in 1978, became his signature song with the refrain: “You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.”

The song spawned a hit TV movie of the same name and several more sequels featuring Rogers as professional gambler Brady Hawkes.

One of his biggest successes was Lady, written by Lionel Richie, which topped the charts for six weeks straight in 1980.

While he often worked with female duet partners, his most memorable pairing was with Parton, who he toured with around the world.

They last performed together at his all-star retirement concert, held in Nashville in 2017.

Although by the 1990s his chart hits had faded, he still remained a popular live entertainer with regular touring.

As well as being a keen photographer that led to several books, he was also a successful businessman, owning a chain of restaurants called Kenny Rogers Roasters.

He had a brief chart come back in 2000, with the hit Buy Me A Rose, which event earned him his first No 1 country song in 13 years.

Rogers’ family is planning a private service “out of concern for the national COVID-19 emergency”. A public memorial will be held at a later date.

By A Correspondent-The month of March marks the annually celebrated Women’s History Month, an observance of the incredible accomplishments of women throughout history.

But the case of a Mbembesi woman from Matabeleland North will apparently put a dent on that after she told her harrowing story of being violently attacked and sexually assaulted by her scorned ex-lover.

The woman whose name is being withheld for ethical reasons claimed her ex-lover Nkosikhona Majola from Mbethe Village, Mbembesi was angry when he discovered that she had moved on with her life and had been impregnated by another man.

She said as punishment against her, the ex-lover would on several occasions when she was heavily pregnant “kidnap” her, holding her against her will inside his home where he forced her to have sexual intercourse with him. 

She claimed when she refused to sleep with him, her daring ex-lover would threaten her with death.

The woman’s terrifying ordeal is captured in court documents obtained at the Bulawayo Civil Court where she was seeking an interim protection order against her violent and abusive ex-lover.

“Nkosikhona Majola of Mbethe Village is my ex-lover. We separated in 2017 due to his abusive tendencies. He is disturbing my peace as he continues to be abusive towards me even after we have separated. 

“He has been stalking me and forcefully taking me to his home while dragging me through the bush. This has happened several times the latest being in January this year while I was eight months pregnant. He was bitter why I had moved on and impregnated by another man,” she stated.

She said Majola would subject her to the harrowing experience whenever he met her walking home alone.

“When he forced me to go with him to his house, he would force me to sleep with him and threaten to kill me if I disobeyed his orders. I am no longer feeling safe as he also breaks into our house when my family is not around,” she said.

She, however, appealed to the court to grant her an interim protection order claiming her life was in danger at the hands of her ex-lover.

We have noted with concern that central government wants to proscribe local authorities from going public about cases of Covid-19.

Local authorities and councils are at the coal face of primary health care across the length and breadth of the country and in the urban areas.

There is nothing anomalous about councils going public about cases of Covid-19 in the health facilities under their jurisdiction, considering that we have before us a dire challenge that has not only become a threat to human lives but has stretched the capacity of health care systems across the world Zanu PF should know that this is no longer a partisan issue but a matter of life and death that knows no race, region. tribe nor party card.

The same government that insists that it be informed first took three days to respond to Cyclone Idai.

We have also not forgotten that it is the same government that killed people on August 1 2018 and in January 2019, not to mention the slow genocide taking place under its watch in our hospitals because we have in charge a regime the simply doesn’t care about the sanctity of human life.

We cannot politic around an issue of human lives.

Zimbabwe Lock Out Corona

MDC Communications

By A Correspondent- Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana has rebuked opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa for rushing to announce two new cases of coronavirus in Harare before Health Ministry officials have done so.

Posting on Twitter on Saturday morning, Mangwana encouraged community leaders and ‘even political leaders’ to exercise self-restraint in making announcements on coronavirus. 

He wrote:

In times like this, let every community leader, every institution leader and even political leaders exercise self-restraint in making #Covid19 announcements so the Nation can be given accurate information by the Ministry of Health and Child Care. Let’s play our appreciable role by taking these measures.

Chamisa had earlier used the same microblogging platform to confirm two more cases of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe.

He said:

I have just been informed by City authorities that we have two new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Harare this morning.

Please take preventive measures and exercise extreme caution wherever you are. We must together ACT to stop the virus from spreading. Remember to always wash your hands.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health confirmed on Friday that a 38-year-old Caucasian male who had travelled to Britain earlier this month tested positive to COVID-19 on his return to Victoria Falls, to become the first officially recorded coronavirus case in the landlocked Southern African country

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- An Australian-Chinese woman is facing deportation for breaking quarantine rules in Beijing, after China put stringent measures in order to contain the coronavirus.

The woman who was identified as Liang is said to have contravened the quarantine rules  after returning from abroad then going out jogging without wearing a mask.

In a footage released by the Chinese state controlled media, the woman is seen ignoring police officers’ directives to go home after being caught outside without a mask.

Liang also lost her job at the German pharmaceutical giant Bayer after the viral videos showed her confronting Beijing police while breaking home quarantine.

“Instead of staying at home for the two-week observation as required, she was found running outside without wearing a mask, and did not listen and even shouted “help” when a community staff member tried to persuade her to go home,” the newspaper reported, adding that she did not obey until the police arrived and gave her a warning.

The Beijing municipal government announced that all people entering Beijing from overseas were to be transferred to designated quarantine venues for 14 days and cover the financial costs themselves.

The directive said that even people who stay alone are not allowed to take home quarantine except for some special cases such as minors, the elderly, and high risk groups.

“As the first gateway safeguarding the capital, the Beijing Capital International Airport is facing mounting pressure from growing numbers of inbound passengers. Since February 29, 2,417 people with suspicious symptoms have been transferred to medical institutions after being screened by the airport customs, 127 per day on average. The number peaked on Wednesday with 479 people,” they said

China has embarked on what it calls ‘strict vigilance” against a re-seeding of the virus from abroad.-Online

By A Correspondent- A sex worker who plies her trade in Victoria Falls was hospitalised after a prospective client brutally stabbed her after dispute over payment.

The hapless lady of the night whose identity has been withheld is reported to have sustained life-threatening wounds after her client stabbed her for allegedly refusing to have sex with him because he had refused to make a payment before the sexual encounter.

The matter came to light before the magistrates’ court where the assailant, Simosenkosi Moyo (26) appeared facing attempted murder charges.

Prosecuting the case, Mr Arnold Moyo revealed that Moyo hired the sex worker at Busi Business Centre before proceeding to her place of residence where he later stabbed her three times.

‘On Saturday just after midnight, Moyo met a woman at Busi Business Centre and asked to have sex with her. They proceeded to the complainant’s place of residence and upon arrival, the woman demanded payment upfront before they could have sex,’ said the prosecutor.

After being asked to make payment for the services, a seemingly cashless Moyo went ballistic, forcing the woman to throw him out of her house. The court heard that Moyo complied and left her house. To the woman’s surprise, Moyo then returned a few minutes later and briefly assaulted her soon after she opened the door.  After the incident, a jilted Moyo then left the scene and allegedly waited at a distance.

He allegedly pounced on the woman as she left home intending to go to the nearby police base to report the matter. Moyo allegedly stabbed her once on the back, head and left arm.

Police officers manning the nearby base rushed to the scene and rescued the woman after she screamed for help. Moyo was arrested at the scene and the woman was rushed to Victoria Falls Hospital where she is admitted.

Victoria Falls magistrate Ms Lindiwe Maphosa presided over the case.

Moyo was remanded in custody to March 30.-StateMedia

By A Correspondent- The father of Tawana Musimurimwa, the teenager who disappeared while swimming at Blouberg Beach has said that he wishes to find his son, regardless of the condition he may be in.

Tawana was swept out to sea by a rip current on Saturday, March 7, 2020, and his body is yet to be recovered.

First responders from the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), City of Cape Town lifesavers, the Health Department and Fire and Rescue Services embarked on the search for Tawana but could not find him.

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Melkbosstrand station commander Peter O’Hanlon said the teen was swept out to sea by a rip current. 

“On arrival on the scene, an in-depth sea, air and shoreline search commenced, together with rescue swimmers deployed into the surf conducting free dive sweeping line search efforts, ” said O’Hanlon.

“Despite the extensive search, no sign has been found of the 14-year-old male, who reportedly got into difficulty in the surf while swimming and was swept out to sea by rip currents before disappearing in the surf line,” said O’Hanlon according to the Daily Voice.

Tawana’s heartbroken father, Munyaradzi Musimurimwa has said that all he wants is to find his son. 

“We received a call at around 4 pm telling us what had happened. We went there, and the rescue team and helicopters were searching, but they didn’t find anything,” he said.

“It’s very difficult, especially for his brother who saw everything. I am also worried about his mother she hasn’t been eating. I wish I could find my son, in any condition,”

Tawana’s uncle Lloyd Madhinha, 37, said the Grade 9 pupil from Parow High was born in Zimbabwe and had come to Cape Town at eight months old. Lloyd said that the family was still in shock over what had happened. 

“We are still in shock and waiting for them to retrieve his body,”-Statemedia

By A Correspondent- President Emmerson Mnangagwa is set to attend the inauguration of Namibia’s third President after the country attained self-rule from South Africa in 1990.

President Hage Geingob will be sworn in for a second consecutive term on Saturday, 21 March 2020.

In a media invite sent out by Namibia’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, President Mnangagwa will arrive in Namibia at 9:30 this morning and will leave the country for Harare at 4:30 PM (3:30 PM Zimbabwean Time).

The media invite reads:

20 March 2020

MEDIA INVITE

SUBJECT: ARRIVAL OF H.E EMMERSON DAMBUDZO MNANGAGWA, PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWEYOU MAY LIKE

Dear Editor/Manager

His Excellency Mr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, will arrive Saturday, 21 March 2020, at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) to attend the inauguration of His Excellency Dr Hage G. Geingob, as President of the Republic of Namibia for a second consecutive term of office on Saturday, 21 March 2020, at State House.

The arrival of H.E. Mr Emmerson .D. Mnangagwa is as follows:

DATE: 21 March 2020 (Saturday)
TIME: 09h30
VENUE: HKIA

The Departure of H.E. Mr Emmerson D. Mnangagwa is as follows:

DATE: 21 March 2020 (Saturday)
TIME: 16h30
VENUE: HKIA

In view of the above, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO) kindly invites a representative from your media institution to cover the event.

We trust in your usual co-operation.

ISSUED BY:
Selma Ashipala-Musavyi
Executive Director

By A Correspondent- The Nyamira county administration in Kenya has ordered residents to bury their dead in a day to prevent crowding during vigils and activities associated with funerals.

Governor John Nyagarama said only close family members will be allowed at the interment of their loved ones.

“This is to limit mass interactions, hugging and shaking of hands, that have been found to spread the coronavirus,” Nyagarama said in a statement.

The county has also ordered the immediate closure of all mortuaries as part of efforts aimed at stemming the spread of Covid-19.

Kenya has confirmed seven cases so far, all in the capital Nairobi. Most of them are citizens who checked into the country from foreign destinations.

The administration will help families enforce the directive on burials, the county chief said.

The governor also banned prayer vigil in churches commonly known as kesha and other forms of night partying including disco matanga.

Food hawking across the region has also been prohibited for 30 days, Nyagarama said.

Also closed are all open-air markets in the county among them the Miruka market which attracts hundreds of traders.

Other markets closed include Ting’a, Keroka, Mosobeti and Ikonge as the country continued to upscale surveillance.

None of the two Gusii counties (Kisii and Nyamira) has recorded any case of infections.

Governor Nyagarama said nothing will be left to chance as his administration moves to protect residents from contracting the disease.

He has also suspended games and other sporting events where youth often gather for recreation.

“We have suspended all manner of sports, pool games and gatherings in video halls in the next 30 days,” Nyagarama said.

All youth who had plans to get married this month would also have to wait for a month as the government monitors the situation.

The administration has further ordered hotels in the region to register details of visitors lodging at the facilities including their movements in the last two weeks.

“Any guest exhibiting sudden bouts of headache, fever, coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath should be reported to the health authorities,” the governor said.

The directives will remain effective for 30 days and an announcement will be made after a review.

At least 7,900 people, mainly in China, Italy, Iran, USA, France and UK have died of the virus.

Chinese regional city of Wuhan which was the initial epicentre of the pandemic remains the worst hit.

Authorities have however begun to report a decline in deaths even as other countries in Europe and America grapple with the pandemic. Some 35 African countries have recorded cases.

In Kisii, health authorities said they have limited hospital visits.

Health county executive Sara Omache said all main markets in the region will also remain closed to traders as part of the efforts to address the new health challenge.-Online

By A Correspondent- Zimbabwe on Saturday morning recorded two new coronavirus cases in Harare, according to Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Chamisa posted on microblogging site Twitter that he was informed of the development by City of Harare authorities.

He wrote:

I have just been informed by City authorities that we have two new Covid-19 cases confirmed in Harare this morning. Please take preventive measures and exercise extreme caution wherever you are. We must together ACT to stop the virus from spreading. Remember to always wash your hands.”

By A Correspondent- Aston Villa and Zimbabwe international footballer Marvelous Nakamba has launched the Marvelous Nakamba Foundation back home.

The Hwange-born midfielder also revealed that the Foundation has so far paid tuition and exam fees for 1 000 young people and will continue to offer various kinds of support. The Foundation’s objective is to help and support local people who are in need and to improve the livelihood of young people.

He said:

 Great News! I have successfully launched the Marvelous Nakamba foundation in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the Foundation is to help and support our people in need and improve the livelihood of the young generation.

Through the Foundation, we have managed to fund 1 000 young people with their Education tuition and exam fees. We will continue to reach out to more young people who can benefit from this support.

Earlier this month, Nakamba reportedly applied for land from the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to build a facility that will develop young talent and share life skills with youths.

Although details on the initiative were sketchy, the development came after Nakamba last year told BCC that he believed his move to England will help inspire young Zimbabwean footballers to aim higher.-Wires

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has said two of the five armed robbers killed in a shoot-out with police along Glenara Avenue in Harare on Thursday were South Africans, while the other three who were captured alive were Zimbabweans.

However, the gang leader and most wanted suspect, a hardcore criminal named Musa Taj Abdul (alias Musa Mahommed), managed to escape.

In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi corrected earlier media reports that claimed Abdul, who has been on the police wanted list since 1999, was among those shot dead. Said Nyathi:

Musa Taj Abdul alias Musa Mahommed is not among the arrested or shot gang members. He is still on the police wanted list.

The three dead Zimbabweans have been identified as Dennis Stanley Dube alias Dingola (29), Taurai Chitepo (36) and the other one only identified as Johnson.

The three survivors have been identified as Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Prince Zakeo (25) and Maxwell Stanley alias Dennis Mateta (25). They were all arrested on nine counts of armed robbery and are expected to appear in court this Saturday.

The deceased South African criminals’ identities are yet to be established and ZRP has since asked Interpol for help.-Statemedia

ZIMBABWE United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) workers has called for improvement of working conditions in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national disaster and called for strict measures to contain the spread of the virus.

President Mnangagwa in his speech on Tuesday said gatherings of more than 100 people, including those for purposes of worship and weddings stand suspended for the next 60 days after which the suspension will be reviewed.

A ZUPCO driver who plies the CBD-UZ route Johannes Gezi said they were bound to do their job which is to transport the commuters no matter the situation but they were at risk since there were no sanitizers at ranks and in the buses while they ferry more than 100 people in most cases.

“I ferry 80-85 passengers but some go to 100 to meet their targets. We heard about the new development but there is nothing we can do. All the people you are seeing outside want to go to their respective destinations and my job is to take them there,” he said.

Asked if he had any information about the virus, Gezi said:

“We are just hearing people talking about it. We don’t have an idea on how we are going to avoid it. We work with the public day in day out.

“Like now that they are getting into the bus; we don’t have any hand sanitizers; we don’t have anything to keep us safe from this virus but we still just have to work. There is no way we can run away from it.”

He said he always moves around with a tablet of soap that he uses to wash his hands after work.

He also believes there is need for the ministry of healthy to educate the masses.
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“I think the Ministry of health has to chip in and do awareness in our buses because most of us we don’t have enough information of what is really happening out there since we spend most of our time on the road.”

Another driver who spoke on condition of anonymity said:

“We are just trying to make a living here. We are afraid that if there is an outbreak in Zimbabwe we will be the first to be affected because we don’t have protective measures. We are just going to pray because we don’t know who has it and who doesn’t.”

A ZUPCO conductor said they would appreciate if they get hand sanitizers to use before and after they have collected the bus fares.

“The money is being exchanged as usual; we haven’t changed our operations so maybe we would want to have some sanitizers.”

Meanwhile, some commuters have called on the government to increase the number of ZUPCO buses.

They believe once there are enough buses they will be able to maintain the hygiene being called for by the president.

“Maconductor acho anga achitoti itai back to back munhu wese akwane mubhazi, tatouya takapirana musana,” said a commuter who spoke on condition of anonymity

“We will be more than 100. That’s why we are asking for more buses because I know we will just be less than 80 sitting passengers.

“Once we have more busses there won’t be any problem. Just like how the commuter omnibuses operate. Munhu anongosvika opinda mubhazi hapasisina zvekuita pressure.”

A PASTOR from Bulawayo allegedly smuggled heroin, morphine and codeine weighing more than one kilogramme and worth $130 000, wrapped in a parcel that contained a small Bible, bottles of holy water and oil.

Fearless Chitiyo (41) of Nguboyenja whose church was not named in court, allegedly received the drugs from Israel after a Ms Florence Dube sent them to him.

Chitiyo was intercepted by the police at Courier Connect located at Corner 8th Avenue and Fort Street where he had gone to collect the parcel.

He was not asked to plead to possession of dangerous drugs when he appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Adelaide Mbeure.

Chitiyo was remanded on $1 000 bail to March 31.

He was warned not to interfere with State witnesses, continue residing at his given address and report once a week at Bulawayo Central Police Station.

Chitiyo is being represented by Mr Bruce Masamvu of Mutatu, Masamvu and Da Silva-Gustavo Law Chambers.

Prosecuting, Mr Terrence Chakabuda said sometime in October last year, detectives from CID Drugs and Narcotics in Bulawayo, received information from Zimra officials that they had intercepted a suspicious parcel from Israel addressed to Chitiyo.

It is alleged that the parcel was opened in Chitiyo’s absence and drugs together with other valuables were recovered.

“The parcel contained a small Bible, 3×300 millilitres of holy oil, 2×300 millilitres of holy water, four small bottles of holy water, yellowish-brown lumps coated with white powder, yellow brown granules and yellowish-brown lumps coated with pink powder,” he said.

Samples were collected from each of the three packets and taken to a Forensic Science laboratory for examination.

A report from the laboratory indicated that the packets contained heroin, morphine and codeine.

On Thursday this week, detectives from CID drugs teamed up with Zimra officials and initiated a controlled delivery which led to the arrest of Selina Makate (37) of North End suburb at Courier Connect in the central business district who had gone to collect the parcel on Chitiyo’s behalf.

She was interrogated about the parcel and she allegedly revealed that it belonged to Chitiyo, her brother-in-law.

This led to Chitiyo’s arrest.

The drugs were weighed, it was established that they weighed 1,293 kilogrammes and are valued at $129 300.

Last year, a woman from Bulawayo and her boyfriend were arrested at Courier Connect for possessing 2kg of crystal methamphetamine, a dangerous drug in the same class as cocaine, worth more than $120 000.

The drug had been smuggled from India concealed under a batch of weaves.

Own Correspondent|PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa, who recently banned foreign travels for all his lieutenants and civil servants and discouraged unnecessary travel by citizens is himself jetting out of the country.

Mnangagwa Is this Saturday expected to fly out of the country to Namibia to attend the inauguration of that country’s leader Hage Geingob.

Mnangagwa also assembled thousands of party followers to a Zanu PF rally in Nyanga, a day after he decreed a blanket ban on all gatherings of more than 100 people.

Zimbabwe on Saturday morning recorded two new coronavirus cases in Harare, according to Nelson Chamisa, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Chamisa posted on microblogging site Twitter that he was informed of the development by City of Harare authorities. He wrote:

WILKINS Infectious Deseases Hospital, the main isolation centre for the coronavirus (Covid-19) in Zimbabwe, has once again run out of protective clothing, at a time the government is yet to dedicate funds for the response and containment of the deadly virus.

The hospital, a fortnight ago, received a donation of protective clothing, including space suits that had been given to the country’s Health and Child care ministry by the World Health Organisation (WHO) supported by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DfID).

Sources at the infectious disease’s quarantine centre told the Zimbabwe Independent that they had only received about 20 space suits which since have run out.
“We have been getting a number of scare (suspected) cases, and we have been using those space suits and the rest dealing with those cases,” the source said.
Healthcare workers require space suits, gloves, gumboots and N95 respirators when attending to Covid-19 patients or suspected cases so that they do not get infected.

After attending to the patient, the clothing should be burnt to stop possible infection.The UK government, through its Department for International Development (DfID), supplied personal protective equipment, computers, data services and television monitoring equipment worth £100 000 (US$128 229).

The hospital is on lockdown and does a thorough screening before admitting or conducting tests for coronavirus. Wilkins Hospital, situated in Harare’s Milton Park suburb, has 35 beds, while Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo has 20 for the Covid-19 response, according to Health minister Obadiah Moyo.

City of Harare Health director Prosper Chonzi earlier this month said more room would be created at Wilkins using tents. Wilkins was also not equipped to deal with Covid-19, prompting the Chinese embassy in Harare to renovate the hospital to create an intensive care unit (ICU).

“They are far from finishing because every time we get a scare they stop. There was no ICU at the isolation unit so that is what they are trying to create,” the source told the Independent.

The Chinese embassy pledged to refurbish Wilkins Hospital to make it comfortable for patients.Wilkins hospital is also short-staffed, with health personnel working long hours.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Tuesday cancelled national events, such as Independence celebrations and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) so that the money can be diverted towards the Covid-19, response. Unlike other countries, Mnangagwa fell short of announcing how much the country was committing towards fighting the virus.

“Government has decided to postpone, curtail or cancel public events, gatherings and activities. In that respect, government has postponed the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, all national independence celebrations previously planned and pending international sporting fixtures until the threat of coronavirus recedes. All these activities will resume as soon as we are satisfied that our nation is no longer at risk,” Mnangagwa said while presenting his State of the Nation Address in Harare this week.

“Resources originally earmarked for these events will now be redirected towards strengthening our defences against the coronavirus and towards drought mitigation.” — independent

Correspondent|SECESSIONIST Mthwakazi Republic Party (M11RP) has embarked on a bid to secure 20 000 signatures in the next month to petition the government, the African Union and United Nations to allow the restoration of the Mthwakazi kingdom.

The party also intends to petition neighbouring countries, the British government as well as the Queen of England.

Speaking at the launch of the petition at the Bulawayo Media Centre Monday, party president Mqondisi Moyo said the controversial move was inspired by UN resolutions minority groups must be afforded their autonomy and self-determination.

He said the UN position called for self-determination of all minority groups whose human rights were being denied and their dignity trampled on by majority ethnic groups anywhere in the world.

“We are a proud and law-abiding nation Kingdom that was established by King Mzilikazi Khumalo bringing together many ethnic groups and creating a sense of singular nationhood amongst them, that he then called Mthwakazi kingdom state.

“The colonisation of our state was never associated with that of Mashonaland or Zimbabwe as we were still a sovereign state at the time this region of Southern Africa was colonised in 1890.

“Therefore, our decolonisation could not have synchronised and associated with that of Mashonaland or Zimbabwe,” reads part of the petition.

Moyo accused the British government of fighting against the Mthwakazi Kingdom’s restoration cause.

“The British Crown also legalised the continued occupation of our kingdom state illegally by proclaiming the Matabeleland Order-in-Council on the 19th of July 1894 where it was claimed that our kingdom has been broken and replaced by a better system. Such a declaration was racist and false,” the petition also reads.

Moyo said the party intends to have secured the signatures by the end of April this year.

“We will be moving door to door securing the signatures from our membership. So far, we have already secured 1 504 signatures from our members in the diaspora. We are confident that we will reach our target,” added Moyo.

According to Moyo, the Mthwakazi kingdom is made up of Aba-Thwa, San, Asians , Chewa , Nyanja, coloureds, BaKalanga, Karanga of Mthwakazi , Nambya , Nguni , Shangwe , Dhombe Sotho, Tonga , Tswana, BaVenda, BaLemba, BaSankwe , BaHlengwe, White African and Xhosa tribes.

State Media|Two of the five armed robbers killed in a shoot-out with police along Glenara Avenue in Harare yesterday were South Africans, while the other three who were captured alive were Zimbabweans; but the gang leader and most wanted suspect, the notorious Musa Taj Abdul (alias Musa Mahommed), managed to escape.

Abdul, who is believed to be the chief architect of a spate of robberies committed in Zimbabwe between August last year and this month, has been on the police wanted list since 1999.

He was initially reported to be among the five dead robbers, but it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

“Musa Taj Abdul alias Musa Mahommed is not among the arrested or shot gang members. He is still on the police wanted list,’’ said national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi in a statement.

The three dead Zimbabweans have been identified as Dennis Stanley Dube alias Dingola (29), Taurai Chitepo (36) and the other one only identified as Johnson.

Three survivors of the shoot-out — Godfrey Mupamhanga (27), Prince Zakeo (25) and Maxwell Stanley alias Dennis Mateta (25) — were arrested on nine counts of armed robbery and are expected to appear in court today.

Police believe the gang was based in South Africa, just coming north to conduct its Zimbabwean raids.

The South African pair is yet to be identified and the Zimbabwe Republic Police has since asked Interpol to help establish their identities.

Assistant Commissioner Nyathi said investigations were linking the gang to the nine robberies.

“The police have successfully linked the gang to the nine cases of armed robbery. Some of these include the armed robbery which occurred on December 20 last year at Wessel Shop in Msasa, Harare, where they disarmed a security guard and stole a special Amadeo Rossi revolver, $160 000 and an Isuzu KB240 single cab vehicle.

“On February 5 this year, the gang went to Makoni Shopping Centre, Chitungwiza, armed with pistols, an AK47 rifle and robbed unsuspecting complaints of US$19 000, $30 000, cellphones and a Toyota Allion vehicle, which was later found abandoned in Glen View,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

He said on February 26, the gang robbed another person in Harare of US$40 000, jewellery, several pairs of shoes, a laptop, cellphones, a star pistol and Hyundai vehicle. The gang proceeded to the victim’s workplace and robbed him of US$227 250 and R28 000 but police have so far recovered US$10 000.

At the scene of the shoot-out on Thursday, police recovered a 9mm CZ pistol, a Star pistol, Bruno pistol, .38 special Amadeo Rossi revolver, FN Browning pistol, 20x9mm rounds of ammunition and 4×7.65mm live rounds.

President Mnangagwa yesterday launched Zimbabwe’s US$26 million preparedness and response plan for coronavirus aimed at building an integrated and coordinated strategy on preventing the spread of the virus causing Covid-19 and mitigating its effects.

He said coronavirus was almost certain to reach Zimbabwe, hence the need for a detailed plan to minimise its effects and spread.

“It is no longer a matter of if or but when our country will have these cases”.

The total budget will be spent in eight areas identified by the Ministry of Health and Child Care with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO). The areas and their allocations are:

• Planning, monitoring and coordination US$1 424 100;
• Risk communication and community engagement US$1 098 500;
• Surveillance, rapid response and case investigation US$4 159 890;
• Points of entry US$112 440;
• National laboratory system US$3 119 454;
• Infection prevention and control US$238 850;
• Case management US$4 090 540; and
• Logistics, procurement and supply management US$12 144 606.

The plan was crafted by the Ministry of Health and Child Care with technical support from other partners based on eight pillars set by the World Health Organisation.

Launching the plan, President Mnangagwa said no country was immune to the disease and Government was committed to stopping Covid-19 in its tracks.

He said given the fast rate at which coronavirus was spreading, Zimbabwe could no longer afford to continue with a “business as usual approach” and so should step up its efforts to be prepared.

“As Zimbabwe, we cannot continue with business as usual approach, as it is no longer a matter of if but when our country will have these cases,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Around 200 000 people have tested positive to the coronavirus globally and around 7 000 have died due to the disease worldwide. Closer home, around 30 or more African countries have confirmed cases of Covid-19 and in our region, seven out of 16 Sadc countries have confirmed cases.

“Considering the scale and magnitude of the spread of this virus, it is very clear that no country is immune from the disease and its impact. With our HIV prevalence of 14 percent in Zimbabwe or slightly below and malnutrition and other non-communicable diseases, especially among children, we are deeply concerned about the impact Covid-19 could have in Zimbabwe.

“This situation is a real threat to the citizens of our mother country. My Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care has put in place and continues to enhance measures to minimise the import of COVID-19 into the country and ensure health safety of citizens of our country.”

President Mnangagwa said the world over, Governments had activated emergency modes, as the number of cases, the number deaths and the number of affected countries had increased significantly.

He said although Covid-19 was first reported in China, the total number of cases and deaths outside China had now overtaken the total number of cases in China with Europe now being the epicentre of the pandemic.

Said President Mnangagwa: “The national emergency preparedness and response mechanism and surveillance and early detection of any possible cases was activated and will remain active until after the World Health Organisation has removed the global health alert. Our preparedness measures have been stepped up through heightened surveillance systems at national, provincial and district levels with special focus on all ports of entry throughout the country with mandatory screening of all visitors having already started and all our Government buildings and infrastructure should be screened with immediate effect.

“In addition, active surveillance and follow ups continue to be done to minimise the spread of the Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“As of March 13 2020, around 10 000 travellers had been screened at our ports of entry and put on surveillance. All our hospitals remain on high alert for the Covid-19. Work is in progress to strengthen the capacity of identifying isolation centres that are able to manage severe cases throughout the country.

“There is no confirmed case yet in Zimbabwe but considering the volume of traffic and other countries in the region and internationally, we need to step up and enhance our preparedness and response to the scourge.”

The launch of the Zimbabwe preparedness and response plan at State House was also attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Cabinet Ministers, United Nations officials and diplomats affiliated to the country.

Zimbabwe last night confirmed its first Covid-19 case, a foreigner living in Victoria Falls who appears to have been infected in Britain but who acted responsibly on his return to Zimbabwe this week by quarantining himself as a returning traveller from an affected country and then continued isolating himself when he felt ill.

Minister of Health and Child Care Obadiah Moyo announced the first confirmed case saying the foreigner had travelled back into Zimbabwe from Manchester, United Kingdom but that the patient had been identified in timely fashion.

He urged the nation to remain calm and practise best hygiene as his Ministry continued tracing all contacts.

“Today, 20 March, 2020, National Microbiology Reference Laboratory at Sally Mugabe Central confirms that a suspected case of Covid-19 had tested positive. This is the first case of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“The patient is a 38-year-old Caucasian male and resident of Victoria Falls who had travelled to Manchester, United Kingdom on 7 March and returned to his home in Victoria Falls on 15 March via South Africa.

“After arrival he put himself in self quarantine at home as per our advice that all travellers from Covid-19 affected countries. On realising that he was not feeling too well he contacted his medical practitioner by telephone advising him that he had a persistent cough and sneezing.

“The general practitioner alerted the local Covid-19 rapid response team from the Ministry of Health and Child Care who immediately went to assess him and recommended that he continues with self isolation at home.

“Specimens were also collected and ferried to reference laboratory for testing and continued with self isolation at home and he is showing signs of recovery after some positive management at home.

“As a result of our preparedness we managed to identify this first case in a timely fashion and ensure that he was appropriately managed. Our teams are now being assisted by the patient himself. The nation be calm as we deal with this case of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe.

“Let us continue with good personal hygiene,” he said.

Watch video downloading below:

State Media|Government will invoke the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act to fight high-profile corruption cases as part of a cocktail of measures to combat graft, legislators have heard.

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said conviction of high profile individuals has not been easy because most of them had the means to fight back.

He said invoking the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act was one of the easiest routes to fight graft because it places the onus on the accused person to prove their source of wealth.

Minister Ziyambi said this in the National Assembly on Wednesday while responding to questions from legislators during the Question and Answer Session.

Proportionate Representative MP, Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC-T) had asked why there was not much conviction of high profile cases.

She said legislators were beginning to doubt the seriousness and political will of Government to fight corruption.

In response, Minister Ziyambi said Government was committed to fighting corruption, but there were many legal processes involved.

“What we also have to appreciate is that those that are termed ‘high profile’ are people with means that can use every available legal recourse at their disposal.

“So we would find that in most of the high profile cases, several court applications are made by the accused and that is legal because those processes are allowed,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said they have noted the need of close working relations between the arresting details and the prosecution to avoid premature arrests.

However, Minister Ziyambi said he was happy that the National Assembly had passed an amendment to the anti-money laundering law to have a provision for asset forfeiture.

Said Minister Ziyambi: “This is an easy route to follow where the onus is on the person to prove where they got the wealth from and if they fail, then those assets are forfeited to the State.

“So we are going to use several avenues to ensure that we deal with corruption cases, but indeed, corruption cases are not very easy to prosecute as they involve people with means and those people will use every available legal process to ensure that they stall the process.”

Norton MP Mr Temba Mliswa also asked Minister Ziyambi to respond to comments attributed to Prosecutor-General Mr Kumbirai Hodzi that some State institutions were captured.

But Minister Ziyambi said Mr Hodzi had told him that he had been quoted out of context.

“The first thing that I want to say is that the Prosecutor-General never said that ‘the prosecution is captured’.

“Secondly, the Prosecutor-General believes that he was quoted out of context. Thirdly, Mr Speaker, if I am captured, it does not translate to the Prosecutor-General being captured.

“As an individual, I am answerable for my own deeds, so if I do some misdemeanors, perhaps that is what the Prosecutor-General referred to, but in conversation with him, he believes that he was misquoted and what was reported which is what the Honourable Member is quoting — he was misquoted because they did not take in context what he was saying,” said Minister Ziyambi.

Jane Mlambo| The MDC has written to ZEC Chief Election Officer Utoile Silaigwana complaining over the disqualification of their candidate for Umzingwane ward 14 candidate whose name was allegedly changed to another ward.

According to MDC Secretary General Charlton Hwende, Nkululeko Sithole was the party’s ward election candidate in the 2018 elections but his name has since been moved to another ward.

“It has come to our attention that our candidate for Umzingwane ward 14 Nkululeko Sithole, Identification Number *** has been discovered to be from another ward,notwithstanding that he stood for the same ward 14 in 2018.

“The officers at Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) have now indicated that they discovered he belongs to another ward. One of the many ways that ZEC seeks to assist Zanu PF in these elections,” said Hwende.