Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Confusion over 'fresh floods' | Daily News

CONFUSION is reigning supreme in government amid conflicting signals over fresh flooding fears in Burma Valley,  Manicaland.

Following reports that Manyera Dam wall in Burma Valley had weakened, and could give in to the high volumes of water, the ministry of Information issued a warning on Sunday — on behalf of the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) — to residents of the area to evacuate to higher ground.

Government also issued another warning to Masvingo residents to evacuate following reports of a possible volcano erupting in Bikita.
But before the end of day Sunday, the cautionary statements were withdrawn, with government saying the reports were misleading.

“Good news. We have been informed that checks by engineers have confirmed that both Witchood and Manyera dams are structurally safe. The earlier cautionary announcement is withdrawn. We thank the agencies for acting on this in a timely manner and avoided unnecessary disruption,” the ministry tweeted again.

The CPU also weighed in saying the volcano fears in Bikita were misleading as there was a rock fall in Mapadza Mountain which caused smoking.

According to the directorate, a large rock weighing 10 to 15 tonnes fell on Saturday causing some houses on the foot of the mountain to crack.

With regards Manyere Dam, the directorate said while the reservoir had been spilling ever since Cyclone Idai, the dam wall was intact and safe.
With the CPU and Information ministry frantically trying to retract their earlier statements, the ministry of Local Government has added to the confusion.

Local Government minister July Moyo said engineers from the ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement visited Manyere Dam and gathered that it had been partly damaged and that plans were underway to evacuate about 37 families staying on the downstream of the dam.
“We gathered that part of the dam wall was damaged, but reports indicate that water levels are now going down,” Moyo said.

“We are now in discussion with people responsible for planning and resettlement to organise that the families staying in the downstream area of the dam are moved upstream. Anything can happen in future and it is important to take the necessary precaution measures,” said Moyo.

The confusion has enlisted angry reactions from members of the general public who are accusing government of raising false alarm before verifying facts.

Former Higher and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo was scathing in his assessment of government’s reaction, describing it as irresponsible.

“As government, you must learn to look before you leap. It’s a criminal offence to shout ‘fire’ in a theatre when you don’t know for a fact that there’s a fire.

“On what basis did you make your original notification, calling on the community to evacuate to higher ground? Irresponsible!” charged Moyo on Twitter.

The post Confusion over ‘fresh floods’ appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Mayor storms out. . . as preacher heaps praises on ED | Daily News

Mayor Solomon Mguni stormed out of an interdenominational Cyclone Idai memorial prayer meeting held here on Sunday after one of the preachers poured scorn on Zanu PF’s rivals.

The youthful mayor felt offended by pastor Frank Kunda after he showered praises on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, while attacking opposition parties for inviting sanctions in the country — thus politicising the event.

The event, held at Harvest House International Church’s headquarters — was in line with Mnangagwa’s declaration of two days of national mourning for more than 300 people who lost their lives after Cyclone Idai struck Chimanimani in Manicaland, as well as parts of Masvingo.

The mayor who was seated with his delegation right on the front chairs, surprised many when he led the walk out.
Ward one councillor, Mlandu Ncube who also attended the event said Kunda described Mnangagwa as God-sent.

“Pastor Kunda said Mnangagwa was chosen by God and he is aware of the opposition parties who are enemies of the State and God. Opposition parties will tow the line even if they don’t want,” Ncube told the Daily News.
“That was unexpected from a senior pastor like him; Imagine he turned the emotional Sunday service into a Zanu PF praise rally.
“He praised Mnangagwa for ‘his visionary leadership and foresight’ which praise offended His Worship the mayor of the City of Bulawayo, Mguni and is delegation of seven councillors,” he added.

The mayor confirmed the incident saying it was unnecessary for a respectable man of God to politicise an interdenominational prayer event, worse coming on the background of hundreds having lost their lives in the recent deadly Cyclone Idai.
“The behaviour offends against the spirit of unity in diversity in the city and more particularly in that we had been invited to pray for victims of Cyclone Idai. There was, with respect, no need to politicise the process.

“It was a call to duty. It was a prayer service for the metropolitan province in view of the declaration of two days of mourning by Mnangagwa. People must distinguish a political party business from a government function,” said Mguni.

Kunda refused to comment, referring this reporter to the Harvest House Church’s founding leader, bishop Colin Nyathi.
“You will have to phone my senior pastor Nyathi, I am not empowered to speak to the media,” he said.
Nyathi could not be reached for comment.

Chimanimani district in Manicaland was where Cyclone Idai last hit with intensity before blowing itself out.
At least 300 people are thought to have died as a result of the cyclone with latest official figures revealing hundreds more injured and up to 5 000 displaced.

Chimanimani district remains one of the least accessible with many roads completely wiped away for several kilometres.
Destruction in the region is on a huge scale and a lack of safe drinking water remains an issue, with many water pipes having been blown away.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’ team finally made access into the district on Thursday last week despite the heavy rock fall blocking roads and bridges having been completely washed away.

Many in the area have lost their homes and livelihoods as entire sections of towns were destroyed.
In an effort to rescue those affected, volunteer pilots, the armed forces of South Africa and Tanzania and international aid agencies on Thursday stepped up their activity in the areas.

The United States government also announced its military would join the effort while Britain has flown in tents and rescue kits as well as pledging £12m (€14m) for the humanitarian mission being mounted to feed and house hundreds of thousands who are now homeless.

MSF will also continue to provide assistance in the three countries.

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Source: SMEs to be taxed | Daily News

SMALL to medium enterprises (SMEs) will soon be remitting tax to the taxman, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has said.

In a bid to increase domestic revenue, the revenue collector sad they will soon incorporate the informal sector, which contributes about 60 percent of the country’s economy, into the tax system.
“We are in the processing of reviewing the tax system so that it accommodates the SMEs so that they contribute meaningfully to the economy but also with limited cost on their part.

“These are the very same people we are targeting for the taxpayer education we are rolling out as the authority,” Zimra executive assistant to the commissioner-general John Chakasikwa said.

He was delivering the speech on behalf of his boss, Faith Mazani at the training workshop on taxation and customs.
Chakasikwa said Zimra also seeks to nurture SMEs so that they can develop into large corporates with a full understanding of their tax responsibilities.

The escalation of the economic crisis in Zimbabwe has resulted in the closure of several companies, with those condemned into the streets seizing opportunities in the informal sector to make ends meet.

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Source: HIV PEP drug shortage hits hospitals | Daily News

HOSPITALS in Zimbabwe have been hit by a shortage of drugs that reduce the likelihood of HIV infection after potential exposure, otherwise known as post exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Zimbabwe Aids Network coordinator Taurai Nyandoro confirmed the shortage, saying it must be addressed immediately as many people were at risk of contracting the virus, especially rape victims.

“It’s an emergency because there are issues of rape and we need to administer PEP within 72 hours after exposure to risk. The shortages pose a risk to new HIV infections,” said Nyandoro.
PEP is a combination of HIV drugs that can stop the virus taking hold of the body.
It can be used after exposure if an individual has a risk of HIV transmission.

In order to work, Pep must be taken within three days after exposure to HIV.
Nyandoro said one way to avoid the shortage of PEP is to estimate the demand like what is done with ARVs.

“The challenge fuelling the shortage is quantifying demand for PEP. We haven’t been able to quantify the demand. At the same time, we can’t just keep stock without numbers because it will expire and we are supposed to be accountable for that,” Nyandoro said.

A sex worker, Primrose Kuvhambura who is also a member of Katswe Sistahood, said apart from the shortages another challenge is that of cumbersome procedures in accessing PEP.

She said sex workers encounter difficulties in accessing the drugs due to discrimination, especially when they fall victim to rape because not many health workers believe that commercial sex workers can be victims of rape.

“Sometimes girls become sex workers when they are young and get raped. PEP should be administered to them without asking them to bring their parents. PEP should be administered immediately and then other steps can be taken after the affected individual is safe,” Kuvhambura said.
This comes as the country has been facing drug shortages for a while now owing to foreign currency shortages.

To ameliorate the shortages, the National Pharmaceutical Company of Zimbabwe has been given a 48-hour ultimatum 48 to approach the local market to procure the required medicine and sundries using RTGS dollars to speed up the procurement process in the country.

Health and Child Care minister Obadiah Moyo said government is also engaging local companies to sell them drugs using the local currency instead of insisting on foreign currencies.

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Source: GMB urges millers  to stock up | Daily News

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) says it will conduct a five-day stock-take at its depots countrywide between April 1 and 5 that may affect its operations.

It therefore advised stakeholders such as millers to ensure that they have adequate stocks before the start of the stock-take to avoid disruptions in their business.

It also advised those wishing to do business with it during the period to contact their respective depot managers first before finding their way to GMB depots.

“We expect normal operations to resume by April 8,” reads part of a statement issued by GMB.

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