Raisedon Baya: Simba Makoni was a scam. Prominent Zimbabwean artist Raisedon Baya has described the 2008 Presidential campaign by former Finance Minister Simbarashe Herbert Stanley Makoni as a political scam.

“Simba Makoni was a political scam. I remember his rally at White City where rumours that Mujuru and Dabengwa were soon to join him in the leadership of Mavambo Dawn. Simba was young, at least compared to Mugabe, and for some months we believed new dawn was coming. Scam!” Baya posted on Saturday.

Makoni resigned form ZANU PF a few months before the 2008 elections and, together with the late ZPRA Intelligence Supremo Dumiso Dabengwa, they made a pact with then Professor Arthur Mutambara led MDC. Simba Makoni promised that top ZANU PF shefs will join him in the campaign for the Presidential elections.

His project suffered a stillbirth after the late Zimbabwe army commander General Vitalis Zvinavashe withdrew from supporting Makoni causing the late ZANU PF power broker to suspect he was about to be played out politically if he supported Makoni.

Source – Bulawayo24 News

In other news – New clause for unmarried but live-in couples

New clause for unmarried but live-in couples. This will mean that when the partnership dissolves, the property will be divided or distributed in terms of the Matrimonial Clauses Act, which has hitherto applied only to those in registered unions who are divorced. This has led to suffering, especially among women, who are dumped penniless when they split with their partners.

Couples living together on a genuine domestic basis, with neither married to anyone else, but who have not entered into a civil marriage or into a formally solemnised or…continue reading.

Political analyst: The only option left is to take up arms or else we are buried for good. It’s now a public secret that the judiciary system of our once beloved country is captured. So what’s next? Putting too much trust in these controlled courts is a wastage of time. What happened yesterday shows that ED wants a one-party state.

It’s amazing one judge says MDC Alliance is a party & can sue & be sued, another says it is not a party & therefore can not sue or be sued, we wonder how these judges are interpreting the law, yet it’s the same law they studied.

I’m reliably informed that Douglas Mwonzora has already written some letters, to recall councillors. He was waiting for yesterday’s judgment. It is now high time people should rise and fight this rotten system. The democratic space of our Country has been closed.

It is high time we should remove our jackets and be on the same level. Let us forget about being Councillors, member of Parliament, lawyers, teachers, doctors…and be fighters of our dear Zimbabwe.

We need a better Zimbabwe. With jobs, real money not bonds, better education system, better health system, leaders who respect human rights and with leaders chosen by the people not courts and junta.

Political power comes from the people. We are the people so let us fight for our Country or else we are buried.

Source – Bulawayo24 News

In other news – New clause for unmarried but live-in couples

New clause for unmarried but live-in couples. This will mean that when the partnership dissolves, the property will be divided or distributed in terms of the Matrimonial Clauses Act, which has hitherto applied only to those in registered unions who are divorced. This has led to suffering, especially among women, who are dumped penniless when they split with their partners.

Couples living together on a genuine domestic basis, with neither married to anyone else, but who have not entered into a civil marriage or into a formally solemnised or…continue reading.

Chamisa not losing sleep over the loss of court battles. This is after the MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s bid to bar the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T from further recalling his legislators from Parliament hit a brick wall yesterday after High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi ruled that the youthful opposition leader was improperly before the courts as his party was not a juristic person capable of suing or being sued.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere said they would not lose sleep over the loss of court battles.  “The outcome of the court application is, it (the court interdict) was dismissed. We are going to continue focusing on fighting for Zimbabweans and championing the issues that Zimbabweans face.

The party is not going to be reduced into focusing on a sterile debate about people’s individual political ambitions, which is what this court case is about,” she said. The long-standing battles in the MDC formations have taken several twists and turns as Khupe and Chamisa fight over control of the country’s main opposition movement.

Meanwhile, MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora said the ruling had vindicated his and Supreme Court position that Chamisa was not the legitimate party leader.

“It is not our intention to victimise anyone, it’s not our intention to recall people just like. Those people who will be recalled are those people who would have committed offences and the offences are there, well-documented in our constitution. We will be measured in our response.

We will not be retributive. We are not a vindictive leadership, we do not exist to victimise MPs. We exist to deliver the people of Zimbabwe from poverty and misery,” Mwonzora said.

Source – Bulawayo24 News

In other news – New clause for unmarried but live-in couples

New clause for unmarried but live-in couples. This will mean that when the partnership dissolves, the property will be divided or distributed in terms of the Matrimonial Clauses Act, which has hitherto applied only to those in registered unions who are divorced. This has led to suffering, especially among women, who are dumped penniless when they split with their partners.

Couples living together on a genuine domestic basis, with neither married to anyone else, but who have not entered into a civil marriage or into a formally solemnised or…continue reading.

Tragedy as woman stabbed and clings on robbers’ car bonnet, dragged for 60 metres. In a typical movie style, the woman Ms Lasta Nkala (39) could not stomach letting the suspected robbers who had snatched her laptop, cellphone and jacket let go and instead jumped onto the bonnet with blood dripping from her hip and tightened her grip on the wipers of the windscreen of the car before the suspects sped off. The incident occurred at around 4pm outside a fast food outlet near Pick n Pay TM Hyper and a Sunday News reporter witnessed the incident.

A brave Bulawayo woman is admitted to a local hospital after she was stabbed on the hip and instead of capitulating, she clung onto the bonnet of a getaway car of suspected criminals who had robbed her and was dragged for more than 60 metres in the city centre on Friday afternoon.

Realising that the woman was adamant, the speeding driver of the gateway car, a white Honda Fit, only stopped after about 60 metres when he was blocked by another motorist and together with his peers disembarked and started running away with members of the public in hot pursuit.

When the driver of the car jumped out of his vehicle he was brandishing an okapi knife, but that did not deter members of the public who still chased after him. When he made the move towards a nearby meat wholesale outlet, a shopper who was waiting to get in to be served kicked him with a safety shoe. The suspected robber stumbled and tried to change course, running towards Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street.

The mob then swarmed on him and the okapi knife slipped from his hands as he was getting kicks from the crowd. He then fell to the ground and the mob used every weapon at its disposal to beat him up. However, when the mob thought he had succumbed to its beatings and turned its attention to Ms Nkala who was still under the car after falling off, the alleged robber jumped into the car and sped off.

However, Ms Nkala’s efforts and that of the mob were not in vain either as one of the suspected thieves was caught, tied to a road signpost and members of the public meted out instant justice. Some men even removed their belts and gave him a thorough beating. He was only rescued after the police arrived at the scene.

However, Bulawayo police spokesman Inspector Abednico Ncube yesterday said he was still to get the report of the incident.

Sunday News visited Ms Nkala at the hospital and although the news crew could not talk to her, her husband Mr Justice Mahwiti said his wife lost property worth more than US$1 000 to the suspected thieves. He said his wife sustained bruises on the shoulder, face and ribs. He said the incident happened when she was about to drive off after buying a take away at the food outlet opposite Pick n Pay TM Hyper.

He said one of the thieves distracted her by opening the driver’s door while his colleagues opened the passenger’s side and took the loot. Mr Mahwiti said the robbers had blocked her exit with their vehicle and after grabbing the items they fled to their car and she followed but one of them stabbed her on the left hip to dissuade her from following them.

“She screamed at the same time jumped onto the bonnet and they sped off hoping to shake her off but she only fell when the wipers she was holding onto broke. The car then stopped and did not run over her, at which point the thieves jumped out of the car and ran away,” he said.

Mr Mahwiti said Nkala’s handbag which contained personal belongings was recovered at the scene but they are yet to locate the other goods.

He said the suspected robbers were six in the car and only one was apprehended by members of the public. A witness, said people were surprised when they saw a woman screaming while clinging onto the bonnet of a Honda Fit.

“Alerted by her screams, another car blocked the Honda Fit, forcing the driver to stop and that is when the occupants jumped out with all escaping on foot but one emerged with an okapi knife. After a while people focused on helping the lady as the left front wheel was nearly going over her, allowing the one holding the knife to get back into the car and escape with the vehicle but the other one was caught and severely beaten up.”

Source – Sunday Mail

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Bulawayo COVID-19 family recovers. As the winter dark clouds gather, threatening to confirm sceptics’ predictions that Zimbabwe might be overwhelmed by a spike in Covid-19 infections because of the cold weather, a silver lining emerged in Bulawayo following the recovery of four out of five family members who had tested positive to the virus.

The family of five, which has the youngest case of the coronavirus in the country — a three-year-old — (identified by the Ministry of Health and Child Care as case #19) is counting their blessings as they were given an all-clear by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) but unfortunately the mother, the first to test positive in the family is still Covid-19 positive.

However, the mother who was first taken away to an isolation centre in the city, has returned home to continue self-isolating. Sunday News visited the family yesterday and there was visible joy among the family members. Case #21, a daughter to case #16 was happy to express her joy.

“We were told we were negative on Sunday last week, that was after 41 days in quarantine at our home and with mum she is still going on and it’s her 48th day. The delay in our results came about as the laboratories (at Mpilo Hospital) had no reagents to carry out the tests, we had to just endure,” said case #21.

She said there was a lot of anxiety during the wait for the results as they were overdue.  “The anxiety of waiting was terrible, every car that was moving outside, we would run to check if it was the RRT guys that had come with our results, but all were just cars going to their destinations. The wait was painful,” she said her eyes welling up with tears.

She went on. “When the results came, we were not as excited as we were supposed to be because not all of us tested negative, my mum was still positive. She had to be moved to the quarantine centre for some days, that was a hard blow on our side because we didn’t know what was going to happen next, if she was going to come back or not. Instead of celebrating, we were now in deep sorrow, we began to pray even more, we questioned ourselves on what it was that we had not done correctly to have her coming out still positive,” she added.

She said her three-year-old daughter was hardest hit during the testing times because she experienced excruciating pain during testing and was later experiencing nightmares.

“She would cry at night assuming they are coming to test her again and the day the results came she saw the team and ran away screaming as she was scared of enduring more pain,” she said. Asked how she was feeling following the release of their results, case #21 said she was “still in the same situation”.

“As for me it’s like I am in still in the same situation, being negative but knowing that my mother is still positive. I understand the pain she is going through, I’m enduring the pain with her. It’s not an easy road, we have fear of what will happen to her, how long it will take for her to be cleared,” she said.

Case #21 said she understood though, their discorded results, that it was to do with the strength of one’s immune system and that with age it is more compromised than in the younger generation. Since results were revealed, she said nothing has changed as their routines were still the same. In an earlier interview, the family members said there were not taking any special medication.

“We still do what we had been doing, and mum had to be released from the quarantine centre because of certain circumstances and we are also at risk of reinfection too but we follow advice from health personnel so we still run away from getting it again. On our part, we still steam with various concoctions although to a lesser extent than when we first tested positive,” she said.

Case #21 said they were freed physically to reintegrate in with the community but still chained mentally.

“We are still locked in, we were freed to go out but we are all afraid to go out, we are afraid of the unknown maybe. We are scared of answering all sorts of questions that people may have when they see us roaming in the streets. My daughter even refused to go and buy bread at the shops, she has never gone against my commands but I understood her this time. I was equally scared to go out, I’m tired of having to explain myself and the pain we have endured as a family. With time we will go out I’m sure, but am I ready to go out and face the world? I don’t think so,” she said.

With the excitement of being “released”, she said, she went out to clean outside their house which also drew weird looks from neighbours.

“After being told we are clear, the next day I went to clean outside the yard. One of our neighbours really had to make sure it was me as she stared at me while I was cleaning, she must have been shocked to see me outside. That action made me more scared actually to go out more,” she said.

Case #21 said she was happy to be “clean” with her children as they await her mother’s recovery. Asked on the support she had received from well wishes, she said she was in awe.

“I would like to thank my community for their support as they were the first to hear our cry, we have been fed by people we know and some we do not. I discovered that we are all human beings, we had so many churches that came through for us.

“Companies have also reached out. Believe me, there is a lady from Gweru who called us every day for the 41 days just to pray with us over the phone. We would wait eagerly for her phone call each day and it kept us going spiritually,” she said.

She said various other people from all over the country and outside the country assisted the family during their difficult time.

“Saying thank you would not be enough to express what I am feeling. I am happy to say yes there were negative social media reports but when we were reported correctly in the mainstream Press, we got an overwhelming amount of assistance from far and wide and as a family we are thankful for that,” she said.

“It was not all about the food parcels but a sweet phone call to hear how we were doing brought smiles to our faces. People would make an effort to hear about our well-being and sourced supplies for us, it helped in the healing,” added case #21.

Birthdays are always happy events but this year the family had to celebrate two birthdays while in isolation and it was not fun and games for them. Case #21, however, said Covid-19 showed her the warmth of Zimbabweans near and far who contacted them, giving assistance emotionally and materially as the family made new friends. She also had advice for citizens and those escaping form quarantine centres.

“I am seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases in the media, people must follow advice we are being given, work it out with a positive mind that you can fight this disease. I don’t know why people are running away from quarantine centres, they must be sympathetic to the next person as they can infect them too. How then can we contain the virus when we have runaways who may be positive? Those that are loitering just stay indoors and adhere to the set rules. Have a valid reason to go out and we will eventually fight this virus as a nation,” she said.

Case #21 and her three children who all had tested positive are testimony to the fact that every cloud does have a silver lining.

By Friday, the country had recorded 160 Covid-19 positive cases, with 29 people having recovered from the infection and four having succumbed to the disease. Nine new cases recorded on Friday included nine people who came back home from Botswana (two) and South Africa (seven). Two cases were local transmissions, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, which added that those who tested positive “were all in isolation”.

Source – Sunday News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Mthuli Ncube declares an all-out war on the black market. Cabinet last week summoned RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya to explain the alarming loss of value of the local unit. In the past week, the rate of the US dollar plummeted to as low as US$1 to $70 ZWL, leading to a spike in the price of basic goods as most businesses peg costs on the parallel exchange rate.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) is expected to further assert itself in overseeing mobile money transactions, as part of multiple measures to enforce discipline and deal decisively with illicit financial activities that have prompted the plunge of the local currency on the parallel market.

The impact of the galloping exchange rate has brought untold suffering for ordinary workers, most of whom pay for goods and services, including rentals, that are indexed to the parallel market rate. Authorities insist that the run on the local currency is not a result of genuine economic fundamentals but speculative tendencies, with mobile money giant EcoCash fingered for slackening on its duties to regulate illicit financial activities.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet last week vigorously recommended tougher action against the black market.

“Cabinet actually received a report on the state of the economy and expressed appreciation (for this report). There was a robust debate for about two-and-a-half hours, and all the challenges were looked at. There was an appreciation of the state of the economy from the report by the Minister of Finance and also by the Reserve Bank Governor who was called into Cabinet to explain the issues.”

With a dominant market share of over 95 per cent on the mobile money market, EcoCash has been in the cross-hairs of the RBZ as investigations by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) showed that its transactions did not support huge money movement on this platform.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said new measures, which will see the RBZ wielding more power on mobile money operators, will be announced soon.

“What we have in Zimbabwe is a typical case where the mobile platform is led by Telcos (telephone companies) and the banks follow. In other countries the model is bank-led, central bank regulates. The new measures that we are going to put in place will be sustainable measures because these are about regulating financial services. Whether the exchange rate is stable or not, our financial services need to be regulated better. What you saw playing out is an issue around the regulation, in this case, the absence of exchange rate regulations was fuelling the parallel market.”

The government already put regulations in place through Statutory Instrument 80 of 202, which, among other measures, state that “mobile money providers are deemed to be financial institutions in terms of the Banking Act”. The mobile money providers are also required to “open and maintain a bank account that is designated exclusively for mobile banking services” and to “allow the Reserve Bank read-only real-time access to its payment system”.

Pertaining to the black market, Professor Ncube said although it was common for the informal sector to emerge whenever any economy in the world is undertaking reforms, the activities in Zimbabwe had become too widespread.

“The idea is always to close this gap. There is always a tolerable spread, for example, if the spread was small it wouldn’t mean much. The wider the spread, the more problematic it is for policymakers. The black market is a typical feature of economic reform but our challenge is to make sure it is put under control and it stops causing so much pressure on the parallel front, which it is doing, leading to unjustifiable price hikes.”

He said informalisation of the economy was a contributory factor to the spiralling black market. “If an economy is this in formalised, 60 per cent informalisation, whenever you enact monetary policy at times it becomes a blunt instrument.

When you raise interest rates, you expect that to come down and lower consumption, because the price of money is now high and people borrow less. When an economy is in formalised it doesn’t quite work that way.”

Prof Ncube said Government had not enforced price controls but the moratorium with businesses had been done in good faith. He said there is further need to re-engage business in a “firmer” way to address price hikes.

“First of all this moratorium was a product of a handshake, moral persuasion. It was not price controls, because if it was, what is happening now (price increases) would not have happened. We still want to reach out to industries and shake hands again, perhaps a bit firmer. What has been happening is that there has been an immediate reaction to the parallel rate. We still need to have continuous dialogue with industry so that we can have this price moratorium.”
Last week the RBZ issued a new directive that limits transactions on the Zipit platform to $20 000 a day and $100 000 monthly.

The FIU noted that shortcomings in the Zipit system made it difficult for banks, regulators and law enforcement agencies to speedily identify counter-parties to a transaction or to identify multi-banked users.

Following the new directive, the local currency gained slightly on the parallel market rate and was trading at between US$1 to $50 and 60 ZWL as of yesterday. It is envisaged that the local unit will continue to make gains on the back of new measures that will be unveiled by authorities.

Source – Sunday News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

DJ Zinhle is serving us all the s.e.xiness we can handle right about now. She is killing it in the yummy mummy department.

She took Instagram to remind us all that she is THAT girl. In the picture she is wearing a Cowboy hat, a black bralette and boyleg shorts. She looks good but it was mostly her abs totally took us out.

In fact, after seeing DJ Zinhle’s body we are making our way to the gym as soon as lockdown is over.

The mom of one stays looking like a flame, check out some of our fave pictures of her flexing on the masses. Remember in January when she went to Mauritius, and got to serve some spicy looks in a bikini.

In other news – Khanyi Mbau gives away all her Shoes and it is a lot of pairs – Pictures

If you know Khanyi, you would know her taste for expensive stuff, and obviously, among those shoes she gave away are designer shoes which the recipient would feel really honored to be wearing them.

Khanyi Mbau is an industry heavyweight as controversial as she might seem at times and we’d imagine how many fans of hers who would want to walk in her shoes. Well, she made it happen, Khanyi recently took to social media revealing she has given away all her shoes so that people can know what it’s like to walk in her shoes. continue reading

Source: News365

Dark future for Zimbabweans in SA and Botswana. In 2019, data from Statistics South Africa and the United Nations showed that the number of migrants from Zimbabwe living in South Africa was about one million, while thousands are based in Botswana. Botswana has already passed a law which comes into effect tomorrow where a number of business sectors have been reserved for locals only.

Thousands of Zimbabweans employed and running companies in neighbouring countries could find the going tough after the countries started promulgating laws that put their nationals first in terms of business opportunities and employment.

According to the country’s Industrial Development Act, manufacturing enterprises which shall be reserved for citizens include; bread and confectionery, ice making, meat processing, peanut butter, purification and bottling of water, traditional sour milk and sorghum.

Other manufacturing industries that would be reserved for Botswana citizens are bricks, burglar bars, gates and windows, candles, fencing material excluding gum poles, floor polishing, packaging, protective clothing, roof trusses, school furniture, school uniforms, screen printing and embroidery, signage, including electronic signage, traditional craft and traditional leather products.

Further, according to the Act businesses registration certificates shall be reserved for citizens or for companies wholly owned by citizens in the following sectors; agents, auctioneers, car wash, cellphone shops, cleaning services, curio shops, dry clean depots, florist, general dealers, general hire services, imported pre-owned motor dealer, internet café and copy shops and laundromat business. The bulk of these businesses used to house Zimbabweans, sources in Botswana said, without giving any figures.

In South Africa, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has hinted that the country must consider amending its labour market policies to favour unemployed South Africans.

“The new economy that we are getting into after the lifting of the lockdown must answer that question. Any establishment wanting to reopen must have a new labour market policy which prioritises South Africans but does not discriminate against (foreign nationals). The proportion of South Africans working in a restaurant must be greater than that of non-South Africans,” Minister Mboweni told the South African media.

In an interview with Sunday News, social commentator, Mr Steven Dhlamini said life after Covid-19 will not go back to normal with most Zimbabweans based in neighbouring countries being forced to come back home with the job market in both South Africa and Botswana no longer conducive for them.

“The Covid-19 pandemic finds Zimbabwe in an economic quagmire and it has exacerbated the economic malice on the average citizen whose economic sustainability had been pivoted on the informal sector. Thus, the influx of returnees — most of whom do not have formal education — will increase the size of unemployment and place significant pressure on the limited resources.

The Government will be under pressure to provide social welfare. The Government will be the most important engine for economic growth with agriculture and the whole food value chain being the fulcrum for economic growth and employment creation. Crime is going to be on the rise and a lot of people are at risk of serious food shortages,” said Mr Dhlamini.

South Africa-based academic, Dr Shepard Mpofu said Zimbabweans living in the neighbouring country were now hard hit as the South African government has started working on policies to benefit its citizens only. He said that “segregation” would be further felt whenever the lockdown comes to an end with various countries already promulgating laws that were to benefit their citizens.

“The post-lockdown world will be characterised by people who have been affected in various ways by the Covid-19 pandemic. What is more tragic is that those who have been pushed outside their countries of residence due to economic decline are going to return home and find themselves job searching again.

And during the pandemic, South Africa seems to have injected some money into the economy, and this injection seems to be targeted at helping citizens and local companies. The excluded non-South Africans have to go to their respective countries to start afresh,” said Dr Mpofu.

He said the danger was that the returnees might contribute to the unemployment rate in the local market and at worse, might also contribute to crime. “One thing for sure, they are likely to return to South Africa and Botswana where they are going to restart their lives, whichever way they deem fit,” said Dr Mpofu.

Source – Sunday News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Govt: University students to stay home a little longer. Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Professor Amon Murwira told Sunday News in an interview in Bulawayo yesterday that the 1 June date was only set to allow universities and colleges to start preparing for re-opening with students only allowed on campus once all necessary requirements had been met.

Students at the country’s institutions of higher learning will have to wait longer before they set foot on campus, as the stated date of re-opening tomorrow, does not mean that tertiary institutions will immediately open their doors to learners.

Prof Murwira also said universities and colleges being used as quarantine centres would also only reopen after the last of the quarantined returnees had left. The Government had last week announced that universities will reopen on 1 June, with final year students set to get first preference as part of the phased re-opening of tertiary institutions

“Universities, starting out first week of June are rolling out the programme of re-opening. It is not like we set the date saying as from 1 June things will be happening this way. It is a gradual programme of opening because as you know for example Lupane State University is still being used as a quarantine centre.

There is a day that the last quarantined person will leave. It is after that day that the university will then be able to have the presence of final year students. Otherwise, we are having blended learning. Blended learning is using online learning as well as face to face. When it comes to face to face our first priority will be the final year students,” Prof Murwira said.

He said 1 June was the date that universities would start implementing the blended learning programme, which is a mixture of online learning and face-to-face lessons for students that were in the final years of their programmes.

“Yes, we mentioned 1 June as the day that they will start rolling out the programme of opening up. But it is not a statement that says that every university on 1 June should do that. 1 June is the time that they started rolling out blended learning. All students that are not final year students will continue on e-learning platforms. We have measured the state of preparedness of our universities for e-learning purposes and they’re prepared. They started preparing from as early as February before any announcement was made because we knew where it (Covid-19) was going,” he said.

Prof Murwira said Government has realised that the biggest hurdle to online learning would be the unaffordability of data, hence they had entered into negotiations with telecommunications companies in the country. From those discussions, the government has managed to get a concession from the companies that e-learning services would be free for students, while data prices would be reduced for students and educators.

“The main challenge that we knew we had to solve was the issue of how our students would access e-learning platforms conveniently. So, we started talking to telecom companies and I am happy to report that Liquid Telecom, Econet and TelOne have responded. All that we are saying is that the websites will be like toll-free lines.

They are also going to reduce the cost of data for students as well as staff. So this is the way we are doing to make sure that as practically as possible, all our students are able to access e-learning in the best way possible because at the end of the day we have a constitutional obligation to make sure that we promote access to higher and tertiary education,” he said.

Prof Murwira reiterated that the re-opening would be done in a gradual and cautious manner. “So, this is basically the translation of the policy pronouncement by the President into caution so that we are able to continue. This will be done in a gradual manner; it is not going to be abrupt. It’s going to be practical and gradual. There will be a lot of caution and thinking before anything is opened. What we are talking about is moving people that are using them as quarantine centres to other centres that are non-educational. This means we are already, gradually implementing that policy direction,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the country’s institutions of higher learning, Midlands State University (MSU) will start welcoming back final year students at its various campuses as from 22 June. In a letter, MSU’s registrar Mr Tinashe Zishiri announced the terms under which students will be welcomed back, with students that had paid their accommodation fees prior to the lockdown and closure of schools exempted from doing so again while those that had not done so would have to pay $800. Meals at the campuses will also remain at pre-lockdown levels, while strict health regulations would have to be observed. The orientation of first-year students for the August-December 2020 semester is set to commence on 31 August.

Source – Sunday News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Multi-talented rapper and TV personality Boity Thulo, has revealed that she expects her partner to check up on her every day, it is no secret that the power of love cannot be denied, but sometimes some peeps don’t like clingy partners who would call them every time, but Boity seemingly enjoys that.

The TV presenter was responding to Spitch Nzawumbi’s question who asked if peeps really expect their partners to call them every day. Responding to the question Boity said yes.

YES. https://t.co/4RcjvUYn63

— #OwnYourThrone👑 (@Boity) May 29, 2020

Whilst home-girl has not yet revealed the man who stole her heart tweeps reacted to her tweet. and expressed their opinions too.

obvious mara this one if your in a serious relationship pic.twitter.com/SaHVcOWGGP

— T_blah ✌ (@ErolMatsobane) May 29, 2020

Absolutely.

Like haosa foune the whole day, o assumer ke sharp??? Nonsense.

— IG:Katlego_Hl 🇿🇦 (@Skatiesss_s) May 29, 2020

OFCOURSE! pic.twitter.com/TPFsJKUYfT

— Wawa. 💕 (@Warona2000) May 29, 2020

In other news – DJ Zinhle shows off some Abs and she is looking hot – Picture

DJ Zinhle is serving us all the s.e.xiness we can handle right about now. She is killing it in the yummy mummy department.

She took Instagram to remind us all that she is THAT girl. In the picture she is wearing a Cowboy hat, a black bralette and boyleg shorts. She looks good but it was mostly her abs totally took us out. continue reading

Source: News365

Isolation centres a nightmare in Bulawayo. The two have now opted to self-isolate at home while the Bulawayo City Health Department is frantically working to identify an alternative isolation centre. Asymptomatic patients are those that have tested positive but are showing no symptoms.

Two Covid-19 asymptomatic patients are stranded after Elangeni Training Centre in Bulawayo, which was initially identified as an isolation centre was closed, it has been learnt. Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni in his weekly Covid-19 city update revealed that Elangeni had since been closed as an isolation centre for asymptomatic patients, a development that has created a crisis in case management in the city.

The other facilities which may be used as isolation centres but mainly for symptomatic patients are Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital and Ekusileni Medical Centre.  Thorngrove Infectious Diseases Hospital is still undergoing renovations while efforts are being made to raise funds that would see the eventual re-opening of Ekusileni Medical Centre. The city has five active Covid-19 cases with nine recoveries and one death.

“For the first 12 cases, a total of 668 contacts were followed up, of which 610 (91 percent) have completed the 21-day follow-up period. The Gene Xpert platform is being capacitated. At least 1 234 specimens have been sent to the laboratory for real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and 1 166 (95 percent) processed and only 68 results were pending.

“The city had nine new recoveries that is, they have had at least two RT-PCR respiratory specimens testing negative. Two cases are asymptomatic and the city is in the process of identifying an isolation facility for these cases.

“With Elangeni isolation/quarantine being deactivated for positive but not ill cases means there is an urgent need for the identification of a new isolation centre for asymptomatic cases,” said Clr Mguni. The mayor said the city was experiencing a limited ability to continue testing, with delays in receiving results hence the need to capacitate more laboratories to test for Covid-19 using PCR or GeneXpert.

“There is also inadequate human resources in the city, should the cases increase in numbers and for testing, which is why there is a need to expedite secondment of 15 nurses and laboratory staff to BCC.

“The Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have been active since February 2020 and have been following up rumours of possible suspected cases of Covid-19 and presently have followed up more than 355 cases.

“They have submitted specimens from 1 234 people that fit the case definition to laboratories for tests to detect the virus,” he said. Clr Mguni revealed that to date the number of travellers that came into Bulawayo to their homes was 2 764, of which 2 726 travellers had since been followed up by RRT teams in Bulawayo.

He said of the 2 764 travellers 874 were returnees from outside the country who passed through Bulawayo Polytechnic College (422) and the United College of Education (452).  “In Health Surveillance the implementation of protective factors to reduce the general risk of transmission is ongoing.

“These include activities such as active case finding, intensified shop inspections, health education on key messages that include self-isolation, social distancing, and hygiene practices; with special emphasis on the importance of staying at home.

“Shops in the Central Business District are still being monitored to encourage social distancing among customers, checking if sanitisers or that hand washing facility are available at entry points as well as to educate on the risks of contracting Covid-19,” said Clr Mguni.

Relating to the rehabilitation works at Thorngrove and Ekusileni hospitals, Clr Mguni said the council was still working at the sites with the outstanding works at Thorngrove including the electrifications to light internal roads and walkways, an extension of the laundry, among other aspects.

Source – Sunday News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Report: Mnangagwa’s top bodyguard lands lucrative COVID-19 supply deal. Jaji Investments, a company registered in Namibia, is one of a few handpicked firms connected to Zimbabwe’s first family which have scored contracts with the government during the virus outbreak. Two sources told this website on Friday that Valdano Brown, Mnangagwa’s trusted bodyguard, has an ownership interest in Jaji Investments.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s top bodyguard won lucrative contracts to supply Covid-19 equipment to the ministry of health without going through a competitive bidding process, ZimLive can exclusively reveal. The bombshell revelations came as the finance ministry, reacting to public outrage, said it was reviewing a US$1 million Covid-19 materials supply deal with a company connected to one of Mnangagwa’s sons, Collins.

Drax International, which got registered as a government supplier last year after claiming a Swiss address, inflated prices by 200 percent on coronavirus test kits and coveralls before leaked papers of the deal embarrassed the government into demanding a price review.

Simultaneously, finance ministry permanent secretary George Guvamatanga announced that they had cancelled a US$40 million drugs supply deal signed with the company, and suspended another worth US$20 million as the broke government tries to limit its debts.

Jaji Investments and Drax International’s opaque dealings with the government have provided a rare window into official corruption at the heart of government, as companies connected to Mnangagwa get favoured through sidestepping procurement rules.

Leaked documents seen by ZimLive show that Jaji Investments started supplying the state drugs firm, NatPharm, with Covid-19 equipment in March. On March 16, the company delivered 4,449 Covid-19 test kits to NatPharm worth US$66,375. The money was apparently paid to the company’s Namibian bank account held with Standard Bank.

ZimLive has seen documents which show that in April, the freewheeling health minister Obadiah Moyo instructed his permanent secretary then, Agnes Mahomva, to purchase another 4,500 test kits. Mahomva was mysteriously removed from the position in April.

In a handwritten note with a date stamp of April 14, 2020, Moyo says the kits are “available locally from China”, but then adds that “also used in Namibia” – an apparent nudge on Mahomva to return to Jaji. Moyo assured Mahomva that “finance are ready to purchase for us”, while urging the secretary to “please process, copying Minister (Mthuli) Ncube and myself.”

A day later, Mahomva – apparently ignoring procurement procedures – wrote to Guvamatanga. She had settled for Jaji. Attaching an invoice from Brown’s company, she wrote to Guvamatanga: “Attached please find an invoice for the rapid response test kits for purchase from Namibia. Your assistance in this regards (sic) is greatly appreciated.”

The invoice was identical in price from the one back in March, totalling US$66,375. It was not clear if Jaji delivered on the new order. If they did, the ministry of finance would have paid the company US$132,750 in March and in April.

Source – Bulawayo24 News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Mzansi’s power couple Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung, woke up feeling generous again this morning. The couple is known for its kind gesture amongst its fans and it is heartwarming to see them doing their bit to help others, during these trying times.

Somizi posted a tweet and said they are looking for 10 people to bless with an Ewallet of R500 each. This is part of their foundation’s outreach work.

Tweeps wasted no time and headed the call by sending in their numbers, to make sure that they are part of the 10 people.

Good morning…..myself amd my husband @mohale_motaung wud like put a smile on the faces of the first ten ppl to inbox their numbers so we cud ewallet R500 each through our foundation @SomhaleF making the world a better place one person at a time….good luck

— somizi somGAGA (@somizi) May 30, 2020

Many hailed the couple for their kind gesture.

Few days ago #SomiziMustFall but manje nigijimela ama fafahandred, mamenemene bhedengu pic.twitter.com/yIOcDvdVOY

— Tolo, Mchenge🇿🇦🇿🇦 (@OscarKidoski) May 30, 2020

Dankie Som Gee!♥️

— Doubting Thomas (@Ncumisa_Tatani) May 30, 2020

🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/5XPnnhL69V

— Nomthandazo Mashele (@snomteeee) May 30, 2020

In other news – DJ Zinhle shows off some Abs and she is looking hot – Picture

DJ Zinhle is serving us all the s.e.xiness we can handle right about now. She is killing it in the yummy mummy department.

She took Instagram to remind us all that she is THAT girl. In the picture she is wearing a Cowboy hat, a black bralette and boyleg shorts. She looks good but it was mostly her abs totally took us out. continue reading

Source: News365

Rumours: Khupe and Mwonzora conduct rituals at Tsvangirai’s grave. Smaller MDC faction leader Thokozani Khupe led a delegation of senior party officials on Saturday to visit the grave of the party’s late founding president Morgan Tsvangirai which is located in Humanikwa Village, Buhera District of Manicaland Province

The delegation included Morgen Komichi, Elias Mudzuri and Douglas Mwonzora. Khupe is said to have prayed to Tsvangirai saying, “We are going to work together. We will remain united and solid like a rock and we would like to promise you that we will not let you down.

“We are going to continue with the job that you left… we are going to continue with your spirit and we will make sure that Zimbabwean people have a better life. That is why we are here, I and my colleagues…”

Source – Bulawayo24 News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Mnangagwa advisor reveals how ZANU PF can be removed from power: Video. In a fiery message titled shall a nation be born once, Munyeza said Harare understands the language of violence, elections, courts, and demonstrations. He said if Zimbabweans do the above, they will always lose the battle.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor Shingi Munyeza has urged Zimbabweans to change the method of confronting the Harare system.

Munyeza said Zimbabweans must approach the system with love, virtue, and prayer because the system does not understand that language. He added that the reason why he is not afraid to confront Harare was that his message was full of virtue.

Watch the video below:

Source – Bulawayo24 News

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Security tightened up at isolation centres. Last night, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Government has been working on a number of measures which include heightening security to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Security at designated Covid-19 isolation centres, especially those situated in border towns, is set to be upgraded to prevent quarantined returnees from escaping. “It has been the Government’s position that security be heightened so that we reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Government is even working on introducing drones so that we increase security measures in border areas,” she said.

The Sunday Mail understands that additional police officers and other security agencies are set to be dispatched to quarantine centres, with border towns, which recorded highest number of escapees, being prioritised.

The government will also ensure test results for returnees are released in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health and Child Care is set to introduce guidelines on how quarantine centres will be managed and protected. Zimbabwe has 56 isolation centres countrywide.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare chief director Mr Clifford Matorera said security will definitely be beefed up. “We have not received the additional forces yet, but we are beefing up on security,” he said. “We will be having additional police at other centres and working closely with other ministries to ensure minimal escapes from the centres.”

More than 118 people have bolted from isolation centres since the lockdown began. Of these, 27 escaped from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Hotel in Beitbridge, while five others absconded from Rupangwana Isolation Centre in Chiredzi. Two of the Chiredzi escapees have since been arrested, while three are still on the run.

By yesterday, 23 returning escapees had been arrested. Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said additional police officers had already been deployed to 55 Covid-19 isolation and quarantine centres. He urged the community to report returnees who evade Covid-19 screening processes.

“It is correct that the Zimbabwe Republic Police has tightened security and deployments at 55 Covid-19 isolation and quarantine centres in the country. However, due to security reasons (we) cannot reveal the total number of police officers who have been deployed at the centres,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.

Those that will try to evade security checks, he said, will be brought to book. “We are aware that Government is attending to the challenge of porous fences, lighting systems and some damaged durawalls at some of the centres to enable police officers to provide security effectively,” he said.

“We appeal to the community to put their safety, health and security first, and report all returnees who evade the required Covid-19 screening processes to curtail the spread of the pandemic.”

Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo said the new guidelines emphasised security at isolation centres as escapees pose a risk to the entire population and the country’s efforts to contain the virus. “One thing that we are emphasising is the beefing up of security at all our quarantine centres.

“We are also working on having rapid response test kits that take less time to show results,” said Dr Moyo. The number of confirmed Covid-19 positive cases jumped to 174 yesterday, with over 87 new cases being recorded from quarantine centres housing returning citizens and residents.

Meanwhile, Government has begun moving with speed to test all returning residents being quarantined in various isolation centres across the country to ensure that they do not stay in the facilities beyond the 21 days stipulated by the law.

Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said Government centres were running smoothly. “I have not received details of the disturbance, but what I can say is that our centres are running quite smoothly,” he said.

“Among other necessities, we are providing food and even clothes when necessary. But, of course, there are some isolated cases where there are emergencies which need urgent attention.”

Government has battled with people escaping quarantine centres since the beginning of the lockdown. Over the past few weeks, Zimbabwe has received close to 6 000 returnees from around the world, with the bulk being mostly from South Africa and Botswana.

China aviation turns down Air Zim. The local airline had secured a contract to ferry Covid-19 health material, from Beijing to Johannesburg, for a South African company. The Sunday Mail understands that Air Zimbabwe last week returned US$1 million, to the South African company.

Air Zimbabwe feels ‘side-lined’ from a deal, which had promised to give it a lifeline after Chinese aviation authorities declined to grant it over-flight and landing rights into Beijing from Johannesburg.

Sources in the aviation industry said: “After weeks of trying to comply with several, supposedly regulatory demands, presumably because Air Zimbabwe was applying to operate a commercial flight between South Africa and China, the South African company decided the process was taking long and it was losing business, hence a request for a refund.”

There are reports, however, that what was seen as a lucrative long term business for the airline is being taken over by a new joint venture air cargo company.

It has been gathered that the new company, jointly owned by South African and Chinese businesses, was now targeting to give the deal to South African Airways. The South African national airline fleet is currently grounded, due to viability and the coronavirus crisis.

The sources added: “There are reports giving credence to the rumours about the joint venture that it was opting for South African Airways as one of four airlines to uplift multi-billion dollar Covid-19 cargo on behalf of Zimbabwean communications mogul, Mr Strive Masiyiwa.

“The other three are Ethiopian Airways, Air Botswana and Air Senegal.” Ethiopian and SAA, said the sources, would do the long haul flights between Addis Ababa and Beijing and Johannesburg and Beijing respectively.

Air Botswana and Air Senegal would fly the regional feeder routes, added the sources. The Sunday Mail understands that Air Zimbabwe officials feel hard done.

Last week, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Namibia, Ms Rofina Chikava tipped the national airline about the plight of more than 120 Zimbabwean cruise ship workers at Walvis Bay who were supposed to be airlifted to Harare.

Source – Sunday Mail

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Govt trying to tackle fuel crisis. In the past week, there have been severe shortages of diesel and petrol, as authorities were caught flat-footed by increased economic activity, a result of more relaxed Covid-19 national lockdown measures.

The National Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC), Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) are making concerted efforts to resolve the biting fuel crisis, which threatens to paralyse the economy.

Companies and individuals have had to contend with the shortages, which saw motorists spending several hours in winding queues — sometimes at dry service stations. NOIC chair Engineer McKenzie Ncube said his office together with the RBZ and Zera had put their heads together to solve the crisis.

He said the RBZ was allocating financial resources to pay for the fuel. Said Eng Ncube: “We are working tirelessly to resolve the fuel problem in the country. The RBZ is making foreign currency allocations and the situation will soon stabilise.”

Zera acting chief executive officer Mr Eddington Mazambani said when the national lockdown was reviewed and relaxed, allowing more companies to operate, demand for fuel increased exponentially.

“The fuel which we had as more people went back to work, was not enough, but Government is allocating more foreign currency to improve the situation,” he said. RBZ Governor Dr John Mangudya could not be reached for comment.

Mr Mazambani said as of Saturday May 23, the national fuel drawdown stood at 3,4 million litres of both diesel and petrol per day, against the average normal daily fuel demand of 2,5 million litres (diesel) and 1,5 million (petrol).

He said of the four to five million litres of daily national fuel consumption, 50 percent of it feeds Harare, while the remainder is divided among other parts of the country.

“There is adequate fuel at the Msasa, Mabvuku and Mutare depots, which can be released by international traders as soon as payment is done. Government is making huge strides in releasing the money to buy the fuel,” said Mr Mazambani.

“We want to go back to the situation where we were before the coronavirus lockdown (in March). Although there was a shortage, most service stations had fuel.”

He warned unscrupulous dealers diverting NOIC fuel to the black market, saying such retailers face the wrath of the law. “There are people who want to take advantage of the situation to make a killing, but we will be on top of the situation,” said the Zera boss.

Energy and Power Development Permanent Secretary Engineer Gloria Magombo said she could not comment on the phone, preferring that questions be sent to her instead. However, she

had not responded by the time of going to print. Figures obtained from NOIC show that from May 1 to 28 2020, fuel traders took delivery of 94,1 million litres of diesel and petrol against a monthly demand of about 150 million litres.

Fuel traders collected 62 242 091 (diesel), 30 020 210 (petrol), 1 719 470 (ethanol) and 121 598 (JET A1). Indigenous Petroleum Association of Zimbabwe (IPAZ) chairperson Mr Aaron Chinhara blamed fuel shortages on lack of foreign currency allocations from the RBZ.

He said the central bank last issued letters of credit on March 14 2020, thereby crippling the fuel traders. “The RBZ should stop subsidising fuel and allow private players to buy and sell fuel,” said Mr Chinhara.

“The other challenge is that if we buy fuel in US dollars we are charged excessive duty. We appeal to the government to review the duty on fuel. “I bought 358 000 litres of petrol at US$150 000 and was charged US$169 000 duty. That is too steep and it affects the fuel supplies.”

Source – Sunday Mail

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

NAC planning to give ARVs 6 months in advance. The plan is being worked on by the National Aids Council (NAC) and partners. This comes in the wake of scaled-up support from the PEPFAR Zimbabwe programme sponsored by the United States.

Plans are underway to give people living with HIV and Aids a six months’ supply of anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) protect them from contracting the coronavirus Covid-19 through regular visits to health centres to stock up.

Scientists have managed to prove that the novel coronavirus is claiming the lives of people who have underlying health conditions such as HIV. NAC communications officer Mrs Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa said it was also in the best interest of HIV clients to collect the drugs in large quantities to enable them to save on transport costs and user fees.

“The National Aids Council and its partners have been communicating that people on ART can collect a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months supplies of ARVs,” she said.

PEPFAR Zimbabwe reportedly plans to scale up clinical services, particularly by targeting various groups of people vulnerable to HIV and Aids.

The aid agency will soon roll out an electronic health record system. “Zimbabwe will also focus on the development and roll-out of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system,” said US Embassy spokesperson Mr Sizani Weza.

“The EHR captures patient demographics, registers services provided and monitors the follow-up of patients with conditions such as HIV and Aids and TB.

“EHR will help build sustainability into current programmes. “The country will continue to move clients from three to six month dispensing of antiretroviral medications, a strategy to keep HIV-infected clients healthy and away from crowded clinics during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

PEPFAR Zimbabwe is presently investing in a comprehensive package for HIV treatment and prevention in 44 districts in the country. About 1,2 million people living with HIV and Aids in its next fiscal year are being targeted.

“A prevention programme for adolescent girls and young women called DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-Free, Mentored and Safe) will expand from six districts to 16 and will reach over 160 000 girls and young women,” Mr Weza said.

“DREAMS beneficiaries will receive HIV prevention packages that include pre-and post-exposure prophylaxis.”

PEPFAR Zimbabwe is also collaborating with the Global Fund in its support to people living with HIV and Aids in the country. The PEPFAR Zimbabwe programme is this year channelling US$230 million towards the country’s HIV and Aids initiatives.

Source – Sunday Mail

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.

Jah Prayzah’s Hokoyo rated: Strong on quality and puny on content. After years of struggling with a genre identity crisis, creating content and polishing his discography for Africa’s consumption, Jah Prayzah had to make his 10th album special.

It is an aesthetic compilation of voice and instruments. Just to show how delicate the situation was for the man they call JP, “Hokoyo” was re-released twice: firstly as a video mbira session, then as an official video.

Whether it was a case of testing the waters or simply a lack of faith in his own product remains a matter of conjecture. The title track “Hokoyo” speaks of a father warning his child on how harsh the world can be even if one lives a straight life and does good for others. In the song, a father gives his son a life manuscript full of dos and don’ts.

The message is accompanied by the most colourful video you can imagine. Shot in Uzumba and Vumba, the whole setup is ancient rural. And what is a JP video without dancers and dancing? The video and the audio become the perfect foundation for the album.

On this album, Jah Prayzah collaborates with a choral group. Titled “Miteuro”, JP and Zimpraise’s song talks about the devastating 2019 Cyclone Idai, which ravaged Chimanimani and surrounding areas, killing and displacing thousands.

The song is touching. It is a conversation between the artist and God, where he narrates the plight of an ordinary person. JP asks God to hear his cry and receive his prayers.

But kudos to JP and his team for showing their prowess in cross-composition and managing to keep the song within his brand of music. He adopted working concepts that have won hearts across the local music industry and made his own interpretation of those approaches. “Donhodzo” is the track that would have been a club hit.

Unfortunately, it might just end up being danced to in people’s living rooms and cars as nightclubs remain closed due to Covid-19 lockdown regulations. With a township funk beat in the same line as “Tsviriyo” and “Eriza”, the track, which was produced by the young and talented Rodney Beats, will make one feel the urge to get on the dance-floor.

Accompanied by hot visuals shot at Genius “Ginimbi” Kadungure’s mansion(s), it features a United Kingdom-based lady nicknamed “cookiedough”. The video vixen is not only eye candy but she has a body to match and packs some authentic ancient Jerusarema dance moves.

It remains to be seen if Zimbabwe’s national broadcaster, ZBC-TV, will air the video as the sensual dances and skimpy dressing left nothing to the imagination. But if one is looking for a track to get them through this lockdown, they really need to have this track on the playlist.

“Kana Ndada” is an international collaboration that has South African diva, Zahara, singing Shona. It is a conversation between lovers who last saw each other long back. Zahara brought her A-game to the track — displaying her vocal prowess in Zulu and in Shona.

Haters are not spared either as JP tackles several themes in his tenth offering. The song “Eriya” does just that. It is an apostolic infusion with deep lyrics about how people hate him (Jah Prayzah) because of his God-given talent. While the song is good — Mambo Dhuterere’s touch would have added the much-needed oomph to the track. However, it is also one of the cleanest albums ever released, sonically.

Further, JP managed to show how he has matured as an artiste and how seriously he takes his sound and work in general. His relationship with Blaqs has birthed creativity that continues to push Zimbabwean music on the global stage.

But I would also like to see him balance his traditional mbira music, which now seems to be getting diluted by Afro-fusion beats. One of Jah Prayzah’s strengths is playing mbira, an instrument recently singled out for recognition and celebration by Google through Google Doodle in the lead up to Culture Week.

He needs to retain that authenticity and please a huge chunk of the Zimbabwean market which still loves the traditional beat. The mbira and traditional sound is a sure avenue to break into the international arena.

That would be his unique identity on the international scene as the mbira instrument continues to be celebrated and identified with Zimbabwe and its artistes by the likes of Nas, an internationally acclaimed American rapper.

I would also love to see him engage more regional producers on his works so that he gets a virgin Afro sound.

Source – Sunday Mail

In other news – Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video

Passion Java flies alone in a whole plane to America: Video. The controversial self-proclaimed Prophet has made a statement again as he always does. The flamboyant prophet who is behind the #GaraMumbaIwe online concert that has been powering the shows.

The reports we receiving were that the self-proclaimed man of God is stuck in Cape Town. The Prophet who has built quite a reputation for his many antics posted a video in which he liberally dishes out bedroom advice saying that he…continue reading.