PARLIAMENT OF ZIMBABWE

Wednesday, 28th July, 2021
The National Assembly met at a Quarter-past Two O’clock p.m

HON. T. MLISWA:  On a point of clarity Hon. Speake online, wait to be recognised. We have the last supplementary, so there is no room for any further supplementary questions.
Hon Minister, will you clarify, there appears there is confusion between trauma and mental health.
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: Mr. Speaker Sir, it is very difficult in terms of semantics because what I tried to say is whatever happens which disturbs your mind, I am defining it as mental health – whatever might have caused it. In this case, we are talking about stress that might have been caused by the issue of COVID. As I said, we have enough policy – we do not want our people to be stressed. Issues to cater with psychological services are also with clinical psychology, it is there in our ministry. In terms of policy presence, it is there. The issue on whether we are doing enough given the amount of stress we are having is what we should be positively working on. In terms of legal instrument, we have enough legal instruments. We are not short of them.
r. I want to thank you for the response.  You made a detailed response pertaining to the issue in terms of the welfare of Members of Parliament.  Mr. Speaker Sir, you clearly hit the nail on the head.
The truth of the matter is really beyond you but it is the Minister of Finance and Economic Development who, for many times has not been able to do what is expected of him by passing the budget.  We are guided by the budget. When we ask for these figures, it is not coming from our heads.  It is the budget that we pass in this House and for as long as we pass a budget and there is no seriousness in the execution of the budget, then it renders the budget useless and not only that, it is incumbent upon him to review the figures according to inflation.  We hear him talking about the inflation coming down but we do not also see the results on the ground.
The Information Centres were a result of the budget and for me to also talk about offices that are not there and Information Centres, I then commend that in the next budget, Hon. Members, there is no point in applying for Information Centres because the structures are not there.  Unless you actually turn your cars into Information Centres but with what was given by the Hon. Speaker, we must also review our demands.  You cannot have an Information Centre if you have no structure, so we need to review how we present.
Mr. Speaker Sir, in terms of the medical aspect, you were right to say that, yes PSMAS does help and you have reviewed that.  How great it is to review other sectors but the welfare of the Hon. Members is never reviewed.  The Hon. Minister has not come to tell us the review of that and as a result, people will default in payment because our remuneration has not been reviewed – I have not heard him.  It goes hand in glove, you cannot be increasing things and then at the same time you are not giving people what is supposed to be done in terms of review.  So may the Minister of Finance and Economic Development review everything?  You cannot review things piece-meal. The National Budget requires him and I am pretty serious about this because I have put my mind to it, that a review of the National Budget requires him to come here and tell us that I have failed to do A, B, C, D because of this and that but he does not respect this House. When it comes to issues of monies which he then comes to seek condonation to, if that money is available. When it comes to the Drax money for the drugs and everything, the money is available. This money, through the Auditor-General’s office, has also been attacked that due diligence is not followed. The Auditor-General has been very clear on how Government is supposed to handle its funds–
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, are you seeking clarification or you are debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker, as you can see, each point is seeking clarity.
THE HON. SPEAKER: No, you are debating.
HON. T. MLISWA: I will stop debating and just say finally, it is the same as the devolution funds. The Hon. Minister J.D. Moyo is the only Minister who gets devolution funds and determines where it should go. He can take it to Vungu or wherever, devolution funds are for everyone. He cannot decide who to give it to. At times you give it to ZANU PF aligned councils then leave out the opposition. Devolution funds come in once and must be disbursed at once. Unfortunately, he is not here. It is a matter that I have asked him that why are you disbursing funds without following the Constitution in terms of how the structure should be?
So, he is never here and like I said, he behaves like a Prime Minister and maybe he is a de facto Prime Minister, I do not know but him being a senior Minister must lead by example. Even the former Minister Chombo, one thing you can give to him is that he would come and answer questions despite whatever. This becomes the worst Cabinet ever, some of them in terms of their performance, the Auditor General’s office and from the people point of view; from the constitutional view, they have let the President down and the people and they have let the Constitution down, shame on you.
THE HON. SPEAKER: Right Hon. Member, next time, learn to ask questions for clarification – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] – No, you were debating. I was very indulgent in future, I shall not be indulgent. The first part of your question on review, I thought you were following newspaper narratives that the Hon. Minister of Finance and Economic Development is going to give us a review tomorrow. You might have missed that in the newspaper but he is doing that tomorrow and you will have the opportunity to ask questions accordingly, some of which are quite pertinent –
Hon. Togarepi having stood up
Hon. Member, I am speaking. Be procedural – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjections.] ­– Hon. Mliswa, I thought you were expecting my response and therefore, you should be silent. Some of the issues that you raise will be, I think, clarified tomorrow when the Hon. Minister gives us his budgetary review statement. The question of the amounts allocated to the PCICs, the responsibility is ours here in the National Assembly in terms of ensuring that the figures that may meet the requirements of the construction of such information centres and constituency offices are also met. It is a matter that can also be raised tomorrow to see to what extent the Hon. Minister is thinking ahead along those lines.
The question of assigning funds to the health sector, I think everybody must believe that our health is a number one priority and from what has been said by the African Centre for Disease Management, Zimbabwe is number one in dealing with COVID-19 and Government must be appreciated for that – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – Some of the developed countries cannot match what Zimbabwe has achieved in terms of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines. So, chakanaka chakanaka mukaka haurungwi. Yes, we have done much better than some of the developed countries in Africa and outside Africa for that matter. Thank you.

HON. T. MLISWA: I am happy this is a Parliament of records. This question was asked to the Deputy Minister of  Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement before harvesting  time on how well prepared they were logistically.  He said they were prepared and now I am shocked to know that they are not prepared. Why are you not following your plan in calling Grain Marketing Board?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order Hon. Member, you did not listen carefully to the Hon. Deputy Minister’s response.  The Hon. Deputy Minister indicated that as you are the representative of the people, if you have specific areas where there is a problem, please bring that information to the attention of the Ministry.  As far as the Ministry is concerned, payments are done within 72 hours.
HON. T. MLISWA: Mr. Speaker Sir, I totally agree with him but the onus is for them to check with GMB if that is being done because it is a national issue.  The issue of payment, I have discussed with the Minister….
THE HON. SPEAKER: Hon. Mliswa take your seat. If you have got farmers who have been affected according to what Hon. Kwaramba is saying, please bring that issue to the attention of the Minister – [HON. T. MLISWA: Inaudible interjection] – Order Hon. Member, bring the list and we will know.  You are politicking in reverse gear, just bring that list Hon. Mliswa and say here is what I have been talking about, Minister can you explain and then from there if there is any prevarication you will raise the issue of politicking.  I thank you.

HON. T. MLISWA: Before I ask my supplementary question, let me appreciate the role played by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, led by the capable Vice President and Minister of Health and Child Care Hon. Rtd. General Dr. Chiwenga; his Deputy Minister, Hon Dr. Mangwiro and Permanent Secretary Rtd. Air Commodore Chimedza. I say this because in Norton, the programme was excellent. The PED, DMO, the District Nursing Officer at Norton itself in no time when I communicated with the Permanent Secretary that we needed more vaccines, I am proud to say in the rural of Norton, there were vaccines put there and the health staff of these institutions in Norton…
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order, whilst the commendation is good, you can only do so as a matter of national importance. Please ask your question.
HON. T. MLISWA: My supplementary question is: what policy do you have for those people who have suffered COVID post COVID, because there is a lot of trauma that they go through and I think that is the biggest problem we have. What mechanism have you put in place for the people who suffered COVID and now are off it because even my own personal assistant has suffered a lot mentally. What have you done to try and rehabilitate those?
HON. PROF. MURWIRA: I wish to thank Hon Mliswa for the supplementary question on post traumatic stress that might result from having COVID. We have our Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare who are mainly responsible for that welfare but we are also responsible for mental health. Our mental health statutes are very clear on what we can do with people that have problems mentally as a result of some trauma that might have happened to them. In terms of the presence of policy – whether it was caused by COVID or by something else, we have enough legal backing.
We are saying that we have enough policy on mental health. Government policy on mental health is very clear and in terms of looking after people who have post traumatic stress, maybe as a result of COVID or anything else, we have a mental health policy as a country. That is what I just wanted to say.
HON. T. MLISWA: On a point of clarity. Mental health and post traumatic stress are different –[HON MEMBERS: Inaudible interjections]- The professor is good at that but his explanation was not that of a professor. He is a man I admire but today vanzvenga. Mental health, is it going to Ingutsheni or not? If there are no such centres, may you start telling us so that people can get counseled?
THE HON. SPEAKER: Order! Hon. Members

HON. T. MLISWA: My point of order is: can the Minister furnish us with the dams which are increasing and what you have done. Can you give us documentation showing statistics of dams that you have rehabilitated and the letters you refer to? Can we get that because it is a point on oversight and dam rehabilitation. Can we get statistics, constituency by constituency?
*HON. E. MOYO: Thank you Hon. Mliswa. We can bring the statistics to Parliament. The letters are coming from the people in appreciation of what we will have done but we can also bring and read them here in Parliament.
*THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon. Minister, as requested by Hon. Mliswa, you can make available the detailed statistics or documentation showing which dams have been rehabilitated.

THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Please may you unmute your gadget Hon. Ndebele.
HON. TOGAREPI:  Madam Speaker, point of order.
HON. T. MLISWA:  Point of order chief whip.  You are not the Speaker.  The Speaker is there.  You have been standing there attacking the Speaker.  You cannot.  I am protecting the Speaker.  Sit down and she will recognise you.  I am now going to whip you because your party cannot.  You were not elected by the party to be a chief whip, you were appointed.   That is where your problem is.  You sit down and the Speaker will choose who she wants.  Thank you very much.
You belonged to G40 and you moved around with Mrs. Mugabe.  You were G40 original.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Togarepi, you cannot raise a point of order on top of another point of order – [HON. T MLISWA:  Inaudible interjections.]- Order Hon. Members!
HON. NDEBELE:  I am on the floor Madam Speaker.
THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER:  Hon. Ndebele, please may you approach the Chair.
*HON. T. MLISWA:  Hon. Togarepi you were a member of G40 while I was working with Hon. Mutsvangwa and Chriss Mutsvangwa. I know the history.  We are the original Lacoste from 2004.  You came in going to Mrs. Mugabe and moving around in Mazowe.  You used to move around with Mazowe orange crush saying we will crush you.
Questions Without Notice were interrupted by THE HON. DEPUTY SPEAKER in terms of Standing Order No. 67.

On the motion of HON. TOGAREPI, seconded by HON. MPARIWA, the House adjourned at Seventeen Minutes past Five o’clock p.m.

Former Bikita West legislator Munyaradzi Kereke serving an effective 10-year jail term for raping a juvenile relative at gunpoint was yesterday granted $500 000 bail, coupled with stiff conditions by the Supreme Court, pending his appeal against both the conviction and the sentence.

Kereke, who was convicted of rape in July 2016, had 20 months to go before he was due for release after time off for good behaviour when he got the greenlight to prosecute his appeal out of custody.

His first appeal against conviction and sentence by a regional magistrate was dismissed on 29 May 2019 by the High Court which declined to grant him an automatic leave to appeal from the first appeal to the Supreme Court.Kereke then applied to the Supreme Court for leave to appeal and last month he was granted leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. He then filed his appeal and so returned to the Supreme Court yesterday now seeking bail pending that appeal.

After hearing arguments from his legal counsel and the private prosecutor for almost three hours, Justice Mwayera found merit in Kereke’s application and granted him bail, with the reasons for her decision to follow later.

Professor Lovemore Madhuku and Advocate Tawona Nyamakura appeared for Kereke while private prosecutor Mr Charles Warara acted for the guardian of the relative he was convicted of raping.

The defence lawyers proposed tough bail conditions to strengthen their case for bail. The defence team also noted that Kereke had served the bulk of his sentence and has only 20 months to go. They implored Justice Mwayera to weigh Kereke’s prospects of success on appeal against the time already served.- The Herald

HALF a million dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire on Tuesday when a couple at a house in Hillside in Bulawayo had a heated quarrel, culminating in the wife setting the property alight.

This was confirmed by Bulawayo Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Linos Phiri yesterday, who told Southern Eye that when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was raging and the roof of the house had already collapsed.

“The fire could be seen from as far as Matopo Road. It was spreading from the front of the building to the back and the roof structure had collapsed and almost all rooms were on fire,” Phiri said.

Phiri said a 5kg gas cylinder was recovered at the scene.

He said there were no injuries, adding that the estimated property loss was valued at $500 000.

Witnesses said the couple, only identified as Chirisas, had a long standing dispute which resulted in the wife torching the husband’s clothes and other valuables.

The husband (Chirisa) confirmed that he had a dispute with his wife identified as Mildred Goba, saying this led her to burn valuables, among them clothes and sofas.

He said it was suspected that the fire was ignited when Chirisa left for the police station.

Phiri said a witness, Bongani Ngwenya, who lived in the same house told them that she saw Chirisa and Goba fighting, with the latter burning valuables.- NewsDay

Half a million dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire on Tuesday when a couple at a house in Hillside in Bulawayo had a heated quarrel, culminating in the wife setting the property alight.

This was confirmed by Bulawayo Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Linos Phiri yesterday, who told Southern Eye that when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was raging and the roof of the house had already collapsed.

“The fire could be seen from as far as Matopo Road. It was spreading from the front of the building to the back and the roof structure had collapsed and almost all rooms were on fire,” Phiri said.

Phiri said a 5kg gas cylinder was recovered at the scene. He said there were no injuries, adding that the estimated property loss was valued at $500 000.

Witnesses said the couple, only identified as Chirisas, had a long standing dispute which resulted in the wife torching the husband’s clothes and other valuables.

The husband (Chirisa) confirmed that he had a dispute with his wife identified as Mildred Goba, saying this led her to burn valuables, among them clothes and sofas.

He said it was suspected that the fire was ignited when Chirisa left for the police station.

Phiri said a witness, Bongani Ngwenya, who lived in the same house told them that she saw Chirisa and Goba fighting, with the latter burning valuables. -NewsDay

ZRP statement on rising murder cases

The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with murder cases which are emanating from petty family, friends, and beer drinking disputes in the country.

In some of the cases, people will be contravening the Government’s COVID-19 national lockdown restrictions and safety measures.

On 31st July 2021, a 38-year-old man was fatally assaulted by a suspect only known as Mosquito after a misunderstanding during a beer drinking spree, at an open space in Unit L, Seke, Chitungwiza.

On 2nd August 2021, a Chikuti man (42) was fatally struck once on the head with a brick by his friend after a quarrel over US$60 he borrowed from the suspect. The victim was referred to Mtala Clinic where he was pronounced dead on admission.

On the same date, and at a certain bottle store in Zaka, a 35-year-old man struck a male adult aged 72 with a wooden chair once on the head, after his token of appreciation request, for assisting the victim to rescue his trapped cow, was turned down by the victim.

On 28 July 2021, at around 0900 hours, a 92-year-old man was attacked by a suspected mentally challenged man (29) who wrestled him and took away his walking stick before striking him once on the head for unknown reasons. The victim was referred to Shamva Hospital where he died on 1st August 2021.

The suspect was arrested and has since appeared before Bindura Magistrate Court where he was remanded in custody.

In a related case, Police are investigating an attempted murder case which occurred on 1st August 2021, in Dete, where a 20-year-old man struck the complainant once on the head with an axe over allegations that the complainant and her husband were denying him groceries bought by his mother who is in South Africa. The suspect has since been arrested.

Meanwhile, Police have arrested Duncan Xolani Hadebe (35) in connection with a case of attempted murder that occurred on 31st July 2021, in which the suspect fired two live rounds with an EN rifle towards the complainant after a land dispute.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges Zimbabweans to value human life and resolve differences through peaceful means.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.

Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.

Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:

“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.

Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.

Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”

She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.

“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.

We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill.
We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.

. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”

“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.

@BvondoChidziva
. We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has challenged Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots to quit or risk ruining their reputation.

POLAD members have been pampered with motor vehicles by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

On Tuesday Madhuku defended his decision to join POLAD.

Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of using taxpayers’ money to please his political allies.

“As a nation we want 2 know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from.

There ws no such appropriation in the last national budget. So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used 2 buy those vehicles.

We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust…

I totally agree with
@daddyhope
that men and women of integrity must quit the thing called POLAD.

Not leaving POLAD only but those in the so called Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) must quit as soon as possible.

Murume anonzi Mnangagwa anosvibisa to be anywhere near him,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|Popular Zimbabwean musician, Rockford Roki Josphat has literally ruined his illustrious career as his collaboration with Congolese rhumba music giant Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java is crumbling.

In a new song featuring Roki and Koffi Olomide the latter chants “ED Mnangagwa is Number One” much to the chagrin of citizens who feel the two are glorifying the Zanu PF leader who is responsible for their suffering.

Angry Zimbabweans have accused Java of smuggling political ambitions into a noble project.

Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono observed:

The song died before it was even heard.
It is probably the most expensive music production in Zimbabwe, but because one name was mentioned in this song, yatofa yakarodha.

More importantly, it shows you how citizens hate tyranny and Corruption.

Folks are suffering
As for Rockford and his career, it might be the real because you can’t take part in a song that praises a man who has caused so much pain to citizens and expect those same citizens to embrace that song.

Only if they are insane!

https://fb.watch/7a96zA_SnX/

HALF a million dollars worth of property was destroyed by fire on Tuesday when a couple at a house in Hillside in Bulawayo had a heated quarrel, culminating in the wife setting the property alight.

This was confirmed by Bulawayo Fire Brigade acting chief fire officer Linos Phiri yesterday, who told Southern Eye that when the fire fighters arrived at the scene, the fire was raging and the roof of the house had already collapsed.

“The fire could be seen from as far as Matopo Road. It was spreading from the front of the building to the back and the roof structure had collapsed and almost all rooms were on fire,” Phiri said.

Phiri said a 5kg gas cylinder was recovered at the scene.

He said there were no injuries, adding that the estimated property loss was valued at $500 000.

Witnesses said the couple, only identified as Chirisas, had a long standing dispute which resulted in the wife torching the husband’s clothes and other valuables.

The husband (Chirisa) confirmed that he had a dispute with his wife identified as Mildred Goba, saying this led her to burn valuables, among them clothes and sofas.

He said it was suspected that the fire was ignited when Chirisa left for the police station.

Phiri said a witness, Bongani Ngwenya, who lived in the same house told them that she saw Chirisa and Goba fighting, with the latter burning valuables.- NewsDay

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE ON THE PASSING ON OF VETERAN JOURNALIST MR CONWAY TUTANI

Information Ministry

It is with a deep sense of grief that I learnt this afternoon of the passing on of veteran journalist, Mr Conway Tutani, who collapsed yesterday evening at his home in Houghton Park. On behalf of the Ministry of Information. Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the media fraternity, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the Tutani family on this very sad loss.

At the time of his death. Mr Tutani was working for Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) newspaper stable. Ile held strong- opinions on current affairs, and he ignited the media landscape with his Saturday column that added to the diversity of opinion. characteristic of a media landscape with a plurality of voices.

Mr Tutani’s death is particularly saddening as it conics In a year where we have lost a number of journalists including Saul Ciwaktiha Ndlovu. Tawanda Gudhlanga, Sandra Nyaira and Samuel Mkithika Thebe, among others, the ranks of the more experienced senior journalists are diminishing, and the nation is poorer without them.

Mr Tutani boasts of an illustrious career in the media industry spanning 4 decades, beginning in 1981. Throughout this period, he distinguished himself as a meticulous proofreader, who would later evoke into a columnist of note. Before joining AMR where he ended up, he had worked for Zimpapers for 2 decades and later for ANZ.

Mr Tutani’s strong opinions should, however, never be mistaken for lack of patriotism, as he was a stout patriot who dedicated his sharp intellect to the enrichment of national discourse. There is much to glean and learn from his professional conduct, particularly for the new and upcoming journalists who are buffeted on all sides with compromise and prevarication. To the very end, he remained true to the values and ethos of pan-Africanism. He was indeed a rare breed of patriotic journalist.

His voice will be sadly missed. May his soul rest in eternal peace

Tinashe Sambiri|Popular Zimbabwean musician, Rockford Roki Josphat has literally ruined his illustrious career as his collaboration with Congolese rhumba music giant Koffi Olomide and Panganai Java is crumbling.

In a new song featuring Roki and Koffi Olomide the latter chants “ED Mnangagwa is Number One” much to the chagrin of citizens who feel the two are glorifying the Zanu PF leader who is responsible for their suffering.

Angry Zimbabweans have accused Java of smuggling political ambitions into a noble project.

Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono observed:

The song died before it was even heard.
It is probably the most expensive music production in Zimbabwe, but because one name was mentioned in this song, yatofa yakarodha.

More importantly, it shows you how citizens hate tyranny and Corruption.

Folks are suffering
As for Rockford and his career, it might be the real because you can’t take part in a song that praises a man who has caused so much pain to citizens and expect those same citizens to embrace that song.

Only if they are insane!

https://fb.watch/7a96zA_SnX/

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa hates everything that empowers young people, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.

According to Chuma, Mnangagwa is planning to embark on a massive campaign and mobilization programme under the guise of Heroes Day celebrations.

Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is accused of violating COVID-19 restrictions.

Read full statement below:

04-08-2021

With Covid-19 causing havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.

Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.

Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.

Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.

What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime does not value sport.

This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefits young people.

We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

FreeMako

DefyOrDie

RegisterToVoteZw

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa hates everything that empowers young people, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.

According to Chuma, Mnangagwa is planning to embark on a massive campaign and mobilization programme under the guise of Heroes Day celebrations.

Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is accused of violating COVID-19 restrictions.

Read full statement below:

04-08-2021

With Covid-19 causing havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.

Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.

Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.

Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.

What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime does not value sport.

This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefits young people.

We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

FreeMako

DefyOrDie

RegisterToVoteZw

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

By A Correspondent| Harare businessman George Katsimberis has torn into Pokugara Properties Chief Operations Officer Tatiana Aleshina saying she is a dark individual with a record of state capture.

Katsimberis is embroiled in a number of court battles with Pokugara Properties owner Kenneth Raydon Sharpe followed a botched deal in which he lost over US$1 Million dollars.

In his High Court application against provincial magistrate Letwin Rwodzi’s ruling in which she dismissed Katsimberis appeal to have his alleged ‘fraud’ case referred to the Constitutional Court.

“The aforesaid Tatiana Aleshina is a dark individual who has literally openly admitted in other proceedings to various forms of state capture.

“I attach hereto marked Annexure K2 the opposing affidavit that was filed by this woman Tatiana Aleshina in which she essentially admits state capture. I attach hereto marked Annexure H3 the answering affidavit filed by Rusty Markham in respect of which he bemoans the corrosive State capture by Tatiana Aleshina,” said Katsimberis.

Katsimberis filed cases of malicious damage to property and perjury against Sharpe and City of Harare officials after they connived to destroy a show house built as part of a joint venture agreement.

According to Katsimberis, the joint venture agreement was expected to develop over 160 housing units at Pokugara Estate in Borrowdale.

Sharpe later developed cold feet despite the fact that Katsimberis had invested over US$1 Million into the deal.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.

Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.

Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:

“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.

Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.

Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”

She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.

“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.

We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill.
We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.

. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”

“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.

@BvondoChidziva
. We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has challenged Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots to quit or risk ruining their reputation.

POLAD members have been pampered with motor vehicles by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

On Tuesday Madhuku defended his decision to join POLAD.

Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of using taxpayers’ money to please his political allies.

“As a nation we want 2 know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from.

There ws no such appropriation in the last national budget. So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used 2 buy those vehicles.

We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust…

I totally agree with
@daddyhope
that men and women of integrity must quit the thing called POLAD.

Not leaving POLAD only but those in the so called Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) must quit as soon as possible.

Murume anonzi Mnangagwa anosvibisa to be anywhere near him,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri|The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa hates everything that empowers young people, MDC Alliance Youth Assembly spokesperson Stephen Sarkozy Chuma has said.

According to Chuma, Mnangagwa is planning to embark on a massive campaign and mobilization programme under the guise of Heroes Day celebrations.

Mnangagwa’s Zanu PF party is accused of violating COVID-19 restrictions.

Read full statement below:

04-08-2021

With Covid-19 causing havoc across the country, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime is hatching a plan to hold its rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

The announcement that only vaccinated citizens will be allowed to attend next week’s proposed Heroes Day celebrations stinks with deception and insincerity of the highest order.

Only some few weeks ago, the same regime banned all sporting disciplines on the pretext of Covid-19 regulations.

Despite following all the Covid-19 protocols including vaccination of players, the Premier Soccer League’s attempts to resume football was quashed by the government.

Juxtapose a football match of only 22 players with hundreds if not thousands of ZANU PF supporters that are going to converge at their upcoming rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

We know very that these so-called Heroes Day events have been reduced to ZANU PF rallies over the years. There is nothing national about those partisan events that are used as platforms to mock political opponents.

What is clear though is that Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime does not value sport.

This adds value to our already held view that Mnangagwa hates everything that benefits young people.

We demand for the resumption of sport under strict Covid-19 regulations and not some useless ZANU PF rallies disguised as Heroes Day celebrations.

FreeMako

DefyOrDie

RegisterToVoteZw

Stephen Sarkozy Chuma
MDC Alliance Youth Assembly National Spokesperson

Tinashe Sambiri|MDC Alliance vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has challenged Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots to quit or risk ruining their reputation.

POLAD members have been pampered with motor vehicles by Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa.

On Tuesday Madhuku defended his decision to join POLAD.

Hon Sikhala accused Mnangagwa of using taxpayers’ money to please his political allies.

“As a nation we want 2 know where the money that bought the POLAD vehicles was drawn from.

There ws no such appropriation in the last national budget. So can Mnangagwa tell us where he got the money he used 2 buy those vehicles.

We want full answers otherwise we will raise dust…

I totally agree with
@daddyhope
that men and women of integrity must quit the thing called POLAD.

Not leaving POLAD only but those in the so called Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) must quit as soon as possible.

Murume anonzi Mnangagwa anosvibisa to be anywhere near him,” Hon Sikhala wrote on Twitter.

Tinashe Sambiri| MDC Alliance spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere has slammed the ZUPCO monopoly because the buses are failing to cope with the number of urban commuters.

Thousands of commuters across the country are struggling to travel to and from work because ZUPCO buses are inefficient and insufficient.

Commenting on the transport chaos in urban areas Advocate Mahere said:

“Red circle -The ZUPCO monopoly must fall.

Red circle -ZUPCO buses have become super spreaders.

Red circle- The buses can’t meet public demand for transport.”

She also pointed out that the party would not be pushed by Zanu PF elements to lose focus and direction.

“We are a party that uses all platforms, media spaces, towns, villages, Parliament, the courts and all other tools available to us to hold the authorities accountable and articulate our alternative Zimbabwean dream.

We’ve tabled an alternative Electoral Amendment Bill.
We’ve engaged ZEC with a proposal to establish an all stakeholder platform to drive the electoral reform agenda.

. We have had to cover the voter education gap in various communities where ZEC had failed to do its job.”

“We have started already. We are implementing our rural mobilization campaign which is being led by Hon.

@BvondoChidziva
. We have earmarked every province for this program and we have covered significant ground.”

By Prince Njagu- Three years on, and the soldiers that the ZANU PF led regime unleashed on protesters in the aftermath of the stolen general elections, have since not been bought to justice.

At least six civilians were killed on this fateful day, scores more injured and put behind bars for exercising a constitutional right which now seems to be existence only on  paper.

In 2019 Muleya Mwananyanda, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said; despite the fact that the alleged perpetrators were identified through the media and social media videos and pictures, no one has been apprehended. It has been more than three years now and nothing has since been done.

If the Zimbabwean government was committed to human rights, the wheels of justice should have turned in the past three years, brings these perpetrators forward and making them answer for their heinous crimes. The ZANU PF led regime can still turn the wheels and bring the perpetrators to booking if there is any hope in the judicial system in the country.

Activist Sandra Bvungidzire said; “Justice delayed is justice denied”.

The fact that soldiers can actually be let loose to go and butcher unarmed citizens by a government shows how brutal the current ZANU PF crop is and how low the rule of law has disintergrated in the ountry.

Not even a single soldier has been put before the courts to answer for these heinous crimes, not even for firing live ammunition on unarmed civilians. The soldiers killed and brutally assaulted civilians who were exercising their constitutional right. Zimbabwean citizens can  take up to the streets according to the constitutional provisions.

Soldiers are there to protect civilians and not to be used as weapons to silence protestors when they are expressing discontent.

Only in a dictatorship would a government use soldiers to disperse demonstrators, and only during a war should they use live rounds.

And only in a dictatorship does a government not bring to justice soldiers that open fire on unarmed civilians exercising their constitutional rights.

Recent human rights violations in Zimbabwe show that these constitutional provisions are on paper, and they are meant to fool the international community.  If an activist or opposition member voices discontent, they are put behind bars, tortured or they vanish.

The ZANU PF regime will always mask its inhuman behaviors by preaching the gospel of democracy in the country, but such authoritarian behaviours point to dictatorship rule.

In recent months activist Makomborero was languishing in prison from April 2021, were he was serving a 14-month jail term. He was convicted of inciting public violence after he had demonstrated with colleagues demanding the release of ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore.

MDC Alliance National spokesperson Advocate Fadzayi Mahere expressed her discontent at the death of democracy in the country as she said:

I am disappointed that Mako’s liberty was unduly curtailed. He is innocent. It is not a crime to demand a better society.

Such arrests, tortures, killings and abductions are why Zimbabwe is being described by many human rights defenders and party colleagues as a blow to democracy.

MDC Alliance vice president Hon Lynette Karenyi-Kore paid tribute to the six civilians who were killed by the soldiers on August 1, 2018.

Karenyi-Kore called for a minute of silence in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives on this fateful day.

“I call upon all Zimbabweans , to pause for a minute of silence in remembrance of those who fell victim on 1 August 2018,” said Lynette Karenyi-Kore.

August has become a difficulty month for many Zimbabweans as it earmarks the beginning of the Emmerson Mnangagwa led dictatorship which resumed with the spilling of unarmed civilians blood.

The ZANU PF regime has remained silent and fails to acknowledge its failings in as far as upholding the basic requirements of a democracy.

The soldiers that killed and tortured civilians should have been bought to justice. The person who authorised the unleashing of terror on the streets should have been held accountable.

Amnesty International in August 2019 said, “The tragedy of the post-election shootings is compounded by the fact that no one in the army suspected to be responsible for the bloodshed has been held to account for these brutal killings”.

If ZANU PF is a democracy they should under no circumstances allow further impunity and cover ups for the killings. No one should be untouchable in Zimbabwe if the country wants to become a human rights respecting society, especially for violating human rights

THE Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill, passed without debate in Senate last week, was revoked after it was discovered that it had an error and the Bill must now go through the committee stage and then the third reading again in the Senate so the errors are corrected before it can be safely signed into law.

If signed into law, it will provide for the investigation and collection of evidence for cybercrime and data breaches, allowing the admissibility of electronic evidence by courts.

This Bill is especially important given that data breaches or abuse disregard several fundamental human rights and could lead to many unforeseen challenges if treated carelessly . However, a provision to criminalise false information has generated debate although what the law desires in this area is regulation of the use of internet and social media to curb computer crimes such as distributing pornography and electronic financial fraud.

Last week, deputy president of the Senate, Michael Nyambuya, announced that the Bill had been referred back to the committee stage in the Senate for further debate as there was an error.

Amendments have to be proposed, debated and passed for any legislation in the committee stage, which is between the second and third readings.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa Zimbabwe recommended that the Bill be broken up into three separate laws on cyber security, electronic transactions and data protections since these three areas were so different it was difficult to have a coherent single law covering all three areas.

In its submissions to Parliament on the Cyber Security and Data Protection Bill, Misa Zimbabwe said the proposed law constituted several complex issues that should not be addressed as a single law.- State media

CONDOLENCE MESSAGE ON THE PASSING ON OF VETERAN JOURNALIST MR CONWAY TUTANI

Information Ministry

It is with a deep sense of grief that I learnt this afternoon of the passing on of veteran journalist, Mr Conway Tutani, who collapsed yesterday evening at his home in Houghton Park. On behalf of the Ministry of Information. Publicity and Broadcasting Services, the media fraternity, and indeed on my own behalf, I wish to convey my deepest condolences to the Tutani family on this very sad loss.

At the time of his death. Mr Tutani was working for Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) newspaper stable. Ile held strong- opinions on current affairs, and he ignited the media landscape with his Saturday column that added to the diversity of opinion. characteristic of a media landscape with a plurality of voices.

Mr Tutani’s death is particularly saddening as it conics In a year where we have lost a number of journalists including Saul Ciwaktiha Ndlovu. Tawanda Gudhlanga, Sandra Nyaira and Samuel Mkithika Thebe, among others, the ranks of the more experienced senior journalists are diminishing, and the nation is poorer without them.

Mr Tutani boasts of an illustrious career in the media industry spanning 4 decades, beginning in 1981. Throughout this period, he distinguished himself as a meticulous proofreader, who would later evoke into a columnist of note. Before joining AMR where he ended up, he had worked for Zimpapers for 2 decades and later for ANZ.

Mr Tutani’s strong opinions should, however, never be mistaken for lack of patriotism, as he was a stout patriot who dedicated his sharp intellect to the enrichment of national discourse. There is much to glean and learn from his professional conduct, particularly for the new and upcoming journalists who are buffeted on all sides with compromise and prevarication. To the very end, he remained true to the values and ethos of pan-Africanism. He was indeed a rare breed of patriotic journalist.

His voice will be sadly missed. May his soul rest in eternal peace

Tinashe Sambiri|In a video footage that is circulating on social media, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is fully aware of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intention to obliterate the alternative voice.

In the footage President Chamisa describes POLAD as a farce.

According to MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba, President Chamisa will never betray the suffering people of Zimbabwe:

On Polad and government stipends: President
@nelsonchamisa
levels of clarity and consistency remain unmatched.

Comrades here is a man who has stood with his word when some thought he will waiver & betray our people.

He remains Zimbabwe’s young political crusader with a vision.#Lead:

On Polad and government stipends: President @nelsonchamisa levels of clarity & consistency remains unmatched. Comrades here is a man who has stood with his word when some thought he will waiver & betray our people.He remains Zimbabwe's young political crusader with a vision.#Lead pic.twitter.com/01X3VZjTm2

— Gift Ostallos Siziba (@Cde_Ostallos) August 3, 2021

Cabinet yesterday resolved that schools must remain closed as the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education prepares for safe reopening of learning institutions.

 

Government postponed the reopening of schools in June following a spike in Covid-19 cases. 

 

 

Covid-19 cases still remain high as Zimbabwe battles with a third wave of Covid-19 infections caused by the fast-spreading delta variant. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is assessing schools’ preparedness for reopening. 

 

 

Cabinet also took a position to accelerate provision of internet in schools as it implements the national e-learning strategy.

The country has connected 400 schools to the internet and an additional 180 rural learning institutions are expected to be connected by the end of the year.

Cabinet observed that while schools have been connected to the internet most of them are struggling to pay for broadband and will be allocated free data for a nine-month period.

Government has joined development partners in the roll out of the e-learning strategy to ensure that pupils regardless of their geographical location can access e-learning.

During a post-Cabinet media briefing, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said Government has taken a position that no pupil should be left behind in e-learning.

“The national e-learning programme will be complemented by the UNICEF GIGA Schools Connectivity Project. The project, which is a response to COVID-19 pandemic by UNICEF and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), has the following pillars: raising funding for schools’ connectivity; mapping the connectivity status of every school; connecting the unconnected and poorly connected schools to the internet; and linking connected schools and young people to digital public goods that provide job skills and remote working opportunities, among other benefits. The overall objective of GIGA in Zimbabwe is to connect every school to the internet and afford every young person access to information. The GIGA project will be rolled out in all provinces,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

GIGA is an initiative to mobilise resources to connect schools to the internet.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet also resolved that Information Communication Centres would start providing free internet services to promote e-learning and e-commerce.

“In addition to the provision of free access to internet services at Community Information Centres and Community Village Information Centres, Government will meet all operational expenses, inclusive of staff remuneration. Taking into cognisance the financial hardships brought about by the Covid-19 outbreak, Cabinet wishes to advise the citizenry that all students, pupils and the general public using these facilities will enjoy free access to internet services at Community Information Centres and Community Village Information Centres for a period of nine months,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.

She said those intending to use services at community information centres will continue to pay for the other services such as printing, scanning and photocopying that are offered at these facilities.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) is expected to lead the capacitation of schools in the implementation of the national e-learning strategy. –Chronicle

Govt has barred unvaccinated officials from attending next week’s key national events, including Heroes and Defence Forces Day celebrations, to curb the spread of COVID-19 virus.

Cabinet has since barred unvaccinated workers from boarding Public Service Commission (PSC) buses. It has also threatened to scrap allowances for unvaccinated employees.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa, during a post-Cabinet Press briefing yesterday, said only 200 vaccinated people would be allowed to attend the Heroes and Defence Forces Day celebrations.

This came at a time when the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has declared all measures put in place to force people to be vaccinated “illegal”.

“The Defence Forces Day will be held on August 10 with the rest of the nation following on virtual platforms,” Mutsvangwa said.

“The Defence Forces and Heroes Day celebrations will only be attended by fully vaccinated persons. In addition, attendees will be subjected to testing for COVID-19 at the event. There will be small gatherings this year to mark the Heroes Day commemorations. The 2021 main Heroes Day commemorations, which will be held on August 9 at the National Heroes Acre, will be a hybrid event with a small gathering of 200 people.”

Mutsvangwa said to ensure the government achieves 60% herd immunity by year end, a number of strategies had been put in place, with the Health Services Board (HSB) recruiting retired nurses to help boost the vaccination programme.

Government is targeting to inoculate about 10 million people, representing 60% of the population, in order to attain herd immunity.

However, only about 700 000 people have received both doses while about 1,6 million have received only one jab since the country rolled out its vaccination programme in February.

“To accelerate the vaccination programme, the payment model of allowances for vaccinators is being reviewed so it can be based on the number of persons vaccinated,” Mutsvangwa said.

“The HSB has written to Treasury seeking concurrence to recruit retired nurses to help boost the vaccination programme.

But the ZHRC earlier said: “The commission acknowledges the initiative of testing and vaccinating frontline workers. However, a number of media platforms have raised concern over employers disregarding freedom of choice, integrity of the person, right to dignity and existence of underlying conditions.

“Some public institutions and private companies are allegedly prohibiting unvaccinated employees from accessing their premises or workstations and others are purportedly having their salaries deducted.”

The ZHRC added: “The government has taken a commendable policy position to allow free choice by individuals with regards to uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. It is, therefore, important for all stakeholders to avoid any coercive measures that directly or indirectly compel people to get vaccinated against their choice.

“It is important to be guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) guiding principles which posit that vaccination programmes must not be made compulsory, but should be a matter of choice.”

Several companies, including those owned by the government have placed unvaccinated workers on forced leave.

Health and Child Care deputy minister John Mangwiro on Tuesday told stakeholders during a vaccination event sponsored by Seed Co in Harare that everyone in the country should be vaccinated as it was the only way to deal with the deadly respiratory virus.

“People must stop spreading myths about the virus and the side-effects of vaccines. Some of the myths include that COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility,” he said.

Mangwiro said government was in the process of ensuring that everyone in the country gets vaccinated, including children. -Newsday

Tinashe Sambiri|Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa tried in vain to bribe MDC Alliance officials with cash and vehicles it has emerged.

According to MDC Alliance Secretary General Charlton Hwende , Mnangagwa relentlessly tried to bribe senior MDC Alliance officials with cash, gold mines and farms but he dismally failed to capture the people’s struggle.

Mnangagwa is spending sleepless nights trying to moot ways of destroying the MDC Alliance.

Political analysts say Mnangagwa is deeply concerned about President Nelson Chamisa’s rising influence.

“We have our own shortcomings as opposition leaders and human beings but President Morgan Tsvangirai taught us one thing: To Never Sell Out The People’s Struggle.

ED offered us millions of USD$, cars, offices, farms and gold mines in order for him to destroy the MDC Alliance but we refused. After the refusal he has gone after every business and employment opportunity that comes our way and the system has ensured that genuine opposition leaders don’t get any employment or business.

They have made it even difficult for our party to get a lease agreement to rent a place to stay or even open a bank account. But we march on until victory,” Hwende said in a statement.

 

Zimbabweans should ensure they always follow laid down Covid-19 prevention measures to avoid the introduction of deadlier strains of the disease in the country as the virulent Indian Delta variant now accounts for 79 percent of infections.
The Beta strain first detected in neighbouring South Africa accounts for 16 percent of the cases followed by the Alpha variant detected in the United Kingdom which accounts for 2,5 percent.

Illegal cross-border activities, failing to mask-up properly, crowding and visiting drinking spots are among activities that fuel mutations of the virus and bring new variants into the country.

A total of 462 Covid-19 related deaths were recorded in the past week. Over the past seven days the country recorded a total of 10 900 new Covid-19 cases and 462 deaths mostly from health institutions.

The Delta variant was first detected in Zimbabwe in June which prompted the Government to tighten lockdown conditions to avert new infections and deaths which have been on the upward trend since then.

Scientists have said that the Delta variant is 50 percent more contagious than the Alpha variant.As of August 2, Zimbabwe had 110 855 confirmed cases, including 79 420 recoveries and 3 635 deaths.

Zimbabwe has received a total of 6 785 000 doses so far of the Indian Covaxin, Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac as well as Russia’s Sputnik V vaccines.

To date, a total of 1 674 710 people have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 798 880 have received their second dose. The country is targeting to vaccinate at least 10 million people to achieve herd immunity.

Statistics for the past two weeks also show that Zimbabwe is one of the five African countries that contributed to 80 percent of total recorded cases.

The other countries include South Africa, Tunisia, Namibia and Zambia.

Speaking during a fact checking training workshop hosted by the Gender Media Connect Zimbabwe (GMC), the World health Organisation Zimbabwe team leader Dr Lincoln Charimari said all viruses, including Covid-19, change over time through processes called mutations.

He said that some changes may affect the virus’ properties which include increase in transmissibility.

“These changes may also increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation, decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics,” said Dr Charimari.

He said viruses that have above changes are referred to as a Variant of Concern (VOC). “The Alpha (first detected in the UK) variant has been reported in 182 countries, territories or areas.

“The Beta variant first detected in South Africa has been reported in 131 countries,” he said.

“The Gamma variant (first detected in Brazil) was reported in 81 countries (three new countries); and The Delta variant (first detected in India) was reported in 132 countries (eight new countries).

“In Zimbabwe Delta is responsible for 79 percent of cases; Beta for 16 percent and Alpha for 2,5 percent. These proportions are dynamic and likely to change over time,” he said. Dr Charimari said it was important for people to continue to get vaccinated to reduce their risk of hospitalisation and developing severe symptoms.

“Not less than six vaccines have since received the WHO Emergency Use Listing (EUL) approval including the Sinopharm and Sinovac currently being rolled out in Zimbabwe. The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) recently approved the use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine in Zimbabwe. To date, over 1 million Zimbabweans have been fully vaccinated.”

Contacted for comment, health expert Professor Solwayo Ngwenya said if members of the public continue being complacent, they may attract worse off variants which is likely to lead to more deaths.

He said if nothing is done to change risky behaviours displayed by the public the more vicious variants like the Delta Plus could hit the country.

“Our people continue to disregard all the Covid-19 measures set by health experts and our Government although our deaths have continued to rise in an alarming manner. People are still attending funeral wakes, parties and even visiting each other,” he said.

“We now have a Delta Plus variant which is stronger and deadlier but still under investigation in other countries. There is another airborne variant still under investigation which may hit the country if we continue defying Government regulations.”

Prof Ngwenya called on the Government to continue monitoring these variants and how people are behaving so that the country is spared mass deaths and hospitalisations. -Chronicle

Tinashe Sambiri| Professor Lovemore Madhuku has literally conceded that he joined POLAD to get a motor vehicle.

The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa last week pampered POLAD members with brand new vehicles as he seeks to capture the opposition.

Addressing the media in Harare on Tuesday Madhuku claimed:

POLAD is the right platform for meaningful political debate. Winners must work with losers.

I love my country and I am not a sellout.”

Watch video below:

Government has set new fines for various offences ranging from $500 up to $500 000.

The new fines were gazette by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi and are contained in Statutory Instrument 209 of 2021. [CAP. 9:23 Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) (Standard Scale of Fines) Notice, 2021.

According to the schedule, for offences in level one, offenders will part with $500 while the highest amount of $500 000 is for level 14 crimes.- The Herald

Tinashe Sambiri|Former Chivi South MP Killer Zivhu has described former First Lady, Grace Mugabe as a principled woman who worked tirelessly to help disadvantaged children.

Surprisingly, Zivhu has remained mum on Mrs Auxillia Mnangagwa’s projects.

The controversial politician also mocked Professor Lovemore Madhuku and his POLAD compatriots for joining the platform to get freebies from government.

“Madhuku nezvivanhu zvishoma shoma zvakamuvhotera ndokutowana motor saka Chamisa uchawana Ndege . Ndasvika pa street ino izvozvi ingori motor , motor ndikati regai ndikandewo maswera seyi Guys…”

Zivhu added:
“Former First Lady vaindigonera ini ,pose pandaichema kuti kumusha kwedu Masvingo kwaita dambudziko vaiti huya ku State House uzotora rubatsiro. Munhu haaipiri vanhu vose kwandiri pabasa recharity yaiva simbi chaiyo.

2008 is coming back 2023 in Masvingo, corruption is now the order of the day in Masvingo.”

Tinashe Sambiri| Professor Lovemore Madhuku has literally conceded that he joined POLAD to get a motor vehicle.

The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa last week pampered POLAD members with brand new vehicles as he seeks to capture the opposition.

Addressing the media in Harare on Tuesday Madhuku claimed:

POLAD is the right platform for meaningful political debate. Winners must work with losers.

I love my country and I am not a sellout.”

Watch video below:

Tinashe Sambiri| Professor Lovemore Madhuku has literally conceded that he joined POLAD to get a motor vehicle.

The Zanu PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa last week pampered POLAD members with brand new vehicles as he seeks to capture the opposition.

Addressing the media in Harare on Tuesday Madhuku claimed:

POLAD is the right platform for meaningful political debate. Winners must work with losers.

I love my country and I am not a sellout.”

Watch video below:

Tinashe Sambiri|In a video footage that is circulating on social media, MDC Alliance leader President Nelson Chamisa says he is fully aware of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s intention to obliterate the alternative voice.

In the footage President Chamisa describes POLAD as a farce.

According to MDC Alliance Youth Assembly Secretary General Gift Ostallos Siziba, President Chamisa will never betray the suffering people of Zimbabwe:

On Polad and government stipends: President
@nelsonchamisa
levels of clarity and consistency remain unmatched.

Comrades here is a man who has stood with his word when some thought he will waiver & betray our people.

He remains Zimbabwe’s young political crusader with a vision.#Lead:

On Polad and government stipends: President @nelsonchamisa levels of clarity & consistency remains unmatched. Comrades here is a man who has stood with his word when some thought he will waiver & betray our people.He remains Zimbabwe's young political crusader with a vision.#Lead pic.twitter.com/01X3VZjTm2

— Gift Ostallos Siziba (@Cde_Ostallos) August 3, 2021