Category: zimbabwe

Jonathan Moyo praises Mnangagwa

Exiled former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has congratulated President Emmerson Mnangagwa for declaring corona virus […]

Exiled former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo has congratulated President Emmerson Mnangagwa for declaring corona virus [...]

Shurugwi cops arrested over bribe

Source: Shurugwi cops arrested over bribe – NewsDay Zimbabwe BY Richard Muponde A SENIOR police officer and his subordinate were arrested in Shurugwi on Saturday after they released a gold ore theft suspect nabbed during the ongoing Operation Chikorokoza Chapera. According to a leaked police memo, one Inspector Banga and his junior, Constable Zhou were […]

The post Shurugwi cops arrested over bribe appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Shurugwi cops arrested over bribe – NewsDay Zimbabwe

BY Richard Muponde

A SENIOR police officer and his subordinate were arrested in Shurugwi on Saturday after they released a gold ore theft suspect nabbed during the ongoing Operation Chikorokoza Chapera.

According to a leaked police memo, one Inspector Banga and his junior, Constable Zhou were on assignment on Saturday at Show Mining Claims in Shurugwi.

During the operation, they arrested Patrick Maredza who had fled from them in an earlier raid driving an unregistered Honda Fit car.

They searched him and his vehicle and discovered 200kg of gold ore and ZW$4 000. Their boss, Chief Superintendent Tom ordered Banga and Zhou to escort Maredza to Show Business Centre and the impounded vehicle.

The pair, together with other police officers Constable Chipato and Kabvundura escorted him to the business centre.

On arrival, Zhou advised Banga that Maredza was offering a ZW$10 0000 bribe for his release.

Banga allegedly ordered him to facilitate the release.

Zhou is said to have advised his colleagues to offload the gold ore which was in Maredza’s vehicle and put it in Banga’s vehicle.

Maredza handed US$300 to Zhou and was released.

The offence came to light when Tom returned to Shurugwi Police Station and wanted to account for Maredza and the impounded vehicle.

He phoned Banga to inquire about Maredza and the vehicle’s whereabouts.

However Banga in turn texted him back allegedly advising him that his share of the bribe was ready for collection, leading to their arrest.

The US$300 was recovered and Maredza re-arrested.

The post Shurugwi cops arrested over bribe appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

‘Don’t blame anyone for Covid-19’ 

Source: ‘Don’t blame anyone for Covid-19’ | The Herald President Mnangagwa Herald Reporter President Mnangagwa, in a formal statement, has stressed that coronavirus responsible for the global outbreak of Covid-19 is a purely natural phenomenon, is no one’s fault and needs scientific solutions to prevent its  spread. He expressed empathy, solidarity and support for all […]

The post ‘Don’t blame anyone for Covid-19’  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: ‘Don’t blame anyone for Covid-19’ | The Herald

‘Don’t blame anyone for Covid-19’President Mnangagwa

Herald Reporter
President Mnangagwa, in a formal statement, has stressed that coronavirus responsible for the global outbreak of Covid-19 is a purely natural phenomenon, is no one’s fault and needs scientific solutions to prevent its  spread.

He expressed empathy, solidarity and support for all countries already affected, and has strongly urged all Zimbabweans to follow strictly the medical advice already given while scientists work on solutions and the Government intensifies its already considerable efforts to prepare Zimbabwe to cope with any outbreak.

“This is the worst global pandemic in our lifetimes, perhaps the greatest threat to humanity since the great wars of the last century. We have all seen the news. We have all witnessed the tragic scenes in China, Iran, Italy and other countries around the world.”

He specifically urged Zimbabweans “to make sure that this is not our next Cyclone Idai”, referring to the last damaging natural phenomenon to hit Zimbabwe almost exactly a year ago when hundreds were killed, homes and infrastructure damaged and destroyed in Chimanimani and surrounding areas, and there was economic disruption whose effects are still afflicting the   country.

The Presidential statement comes in the wake of off-the-cuff and personal remarks made at the weekend by Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri that have circulated widely on social media and have been misinterpreted in some circles as reflecting the views of Zimbabwe, its Government and its people.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri was speaking at a Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association meeting in Chinhoyi on Saturday.

She said in Shona: “This coronavirus that has come are sanctions against the countries that have imposed sanctions on us. God is now punishing them now and they are staying indoors now, while their economy is screaming like what they did to ours by imposing sanctions on us. (US President) Trump should know that he is not God. They must face the consequences of coronavirus, so that they also feel the pain.”

But President Mnangagwa said: “We expect science to come up with solutions to this problem soon. Pandemics of this kind have a scientific explanation and like any other natural phenomena cannot be blamed on anyone and know no boundary. We send our condolences and our solidarity to all those who are already suffering; and strength and good health to those in need.”

Turning to Zimbabwe, he said the nation “must stand strong; strong and united; strong and vigilant”.

While Zimbabwe had so far been lucky, the nation had to act early, sensibly and could not rest on its laurels. The Government would prepare the health sector to the best of its abilities.

“We are working to ensure that our doctors and nurses have the necessary know-how and equipment to deal with this threat.”

The President appealed to every Zimbabwean “to look after each other and think especially about the weak and vulnerable”.

“Do not take unnecessary risks. Do not belittle this threat. And do not endanger your loved ones. My Government will do all in its power to protect the people. However, the ultimate responsibility lies with you, the people of Zimbabwe.”

He repeated the medical advice given around the world and in Zimbabwe.

“If you have a cough, a sore throat, a temperature, or if you feel unwell please stay away from crowds, please stay away from the elderly, and if you can, stay at home until all symptoms have disappeared. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly and maintain best hygiene practices.”

He noted that Zimbabweans have suffered the effects of climate change, struggled through economic downturns and have faced many challenges.

“As we all work to build a new Zimbabwe and a new future, let us start by getting the basics right. Protect your health. Protect your families. Protect your people. God bless you all.”

The post ‘Don’t blame anyone for Covid-19’  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Zim confronts coronavirus

Source: Zim confronts coronavirus | Newsday (News) BY VANESSA GONYE/PHYLLIS MBANJE/PRECIOUS CHIDA TWO Chinese nationals were yesterday admitted at Wilkins Hospital for coronavirus tests, while a tourist who visited the premier tourist resort of Victoria Falls tested positive soon after returning to the United Kingdom. A family in Bulawayo went into self-quarantine after visiting neighbouring […]

The post Zim confronts coronavirus appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Zim confronts coronavirus | Newsday (News)

BY VANESSA GONYE/PHYLLIS MBANJE/PRECIOUS CHIDA

TWO Chinese nationals were yesterday admitted at Wilkins Hospital for coronavirus tests, while a tourist who visited the premier tourist resort of Victoria Falls tested positive soon after returning to the United Kingdom.

A family in Bulawayo went into self-quarantine after visiting neighbouring South Africa to consult a doctor who later reported that one of his patients had tested positive to the virus.

“(On Sunday) March 15, 2020, the ministry received a report of a suspected case in Bulawayo. This suspected case involves a female traveller who travelled from South Africa to Zimbabwe on Tuesday March 9, 2020,” the Health ministry said in a statement yesterday.

“This traveller had sought medical
attention for other reasons from a
general practitioner in South Africa the previous day before she travelled to Zimbabwe. She later received a call from South Africa informing her that her doctor had been put on self-quarantine after one of the patients the doctor attended to had tested positive to COVID-19. This patient is now under self-quarantine together with those she stays with.”

The ministry also said it had received a report that a tourist who came to Victoria Falls on March 7, 2020 and departed on March 10 back to the UK had tested positive to COVID-19 and was being treated in her home country.

The ministry said it was investigating the people who have been in close contact with the tourist.

The ministry also said two travellers, who entered the country though RG Mugabe International Airport, were flagged by health officials after the thermo-scanners showed high temperature. “One came from Shanghai, China, aboard Ethiopian Airlines and the other from London aboard Kenyan Airlines. These two have been isolated at Wilkins and are awaiting results.”

However, Harare City Council health services director Prosper Chonzi told an online publication that the two were Chinese nationals.

“We have admitted two Chinese nationals, one lady who was just seen milling around Bishop Gaul Avenue in a state of confusion with her bags. (The hotel) where she was going to be booked, they were not comfortable, so we have picked her up and we want to assess her and do the tests and see if she does have the coronavirus or not,” Chonzi said.

“The other one we picked up from the airport is a 52-year-old male who is from Shanghai with a fever of 38.1. He meets our case definition and we will have to isolate him and do the tests.”

Zimbabwe has not recorded any confirmed case of the virus that has forced several countries to tighten border controls and close their borders as a way of preventing the spreading of the disease, South Africa included.

By March 15, government statistics showed that a total of 14 suspected cases had been tested in the country, 12 at Wilkins Hospital in Harare and one each in Bulawayo and Masvingo.
Zimbabwe’s health system is also monitoring over 1 000 people, according to Health minister Obadiah Moyo.

South Africa now has about 62 confirmed cases as the number of African countries to record cases rose to 26 yesterday. The global death toll has reached 6 500 from 170 000 infections.

The US embassy in Harare yesterday suspended processing of visas to people travelling to America through Europe, which was last week declared the new epicentre of the virus that originated from Wuhan, China.

The two Chinese nationals were brought to Wilkins yesterday afternoon, two hours before opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa toured the facility.

Speaking at Wilkins after a tour of the facility, Chamisa called for joint efforts in curbing the disease and urged central hospitals to take a leaf from the response system at the Harare City Council-run hospital.

“Let us not be partisan; we need to come together, businesses, churches and so forth, to reach out and do what needs to be done. This is not MDC or Zanu PF, this is Zimbabwe, let us set our differences aside,” he said.

Zimbabwe Council of Churches secretary-general Kenneth Mtata said since the disease has been declared a global pandemic, it was time for the churches to also take a firm stance to protect their parishioners by following the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

“It is very clear that COVID-19 has now been declared a pandemic and is spreading fast all over the world and faith communities are particularly vulnerable to the virus.”

Mtata said religious practices like baptism, handshakes, laying of hands, embraces, kisses of love were all physical and would put congregants at risk.

Archbishop of the Anglican Archidiocese of Southern Africa Thabo Magoba revised their guidelines after WHO declared the disease a pandemic.

The post Zim confronts coronavirus appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The post Zim confronts coronavirus appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.