Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Consultations on new youth policy begin | The Sunday Mail 24 MAR, 2019

Sharon Munjenjema

Government has begun consultations on a new national youth policy that dovetails with the Second Republic’s vision to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy in the next decade.

The current youth policy was developed in 2013 and Government will use part of the $53,5 million budgetary allocation from Treasury to drive the new framework for youths.

Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry told The Sunday Mail that the policy formulation process would be inclusive.

“We don’t want it to be a rushed document. It must be done properly and in a consultative manner with young people, stakeholders and other line ministries,” she said. Various platforms, said Minister Coventry, will be used to engage youths.

“There will be different ways of engagement. From this youth indaba, we have created different social media platforms as well, where we will be delivering messages; asking questions on certain points within the policy, as well as at district and ward level,” she said.

“We will also be using some of our partners; UNICEF has offered to help. We have had other partner organisations here that have offered to help to go out and ask questions and give us feedback.”

It is believed that the new policy will also be guided by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Further, in line with Government’s commitment to empower young people, the new policy will focus on job creation for youths.

Minister Coventry added: “We really want it to be an entire process, not just (focus on) specific points. We will look at it holistically and see how we can move forward,” she said.

The Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Ministry this month hosted a two-day inaugural youth indaba where young people from various sectors interfaced with President Mnangagwa and other senior political leaders.

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Source: New HIV viral load testing technology on the cards | The Sunday Mail 24 MAR, 2019

Dr Obadiah Moyo

Sunday Mail Reporter

Government will soon adopt new effective and efficient point-of-care HIV viral load testing machines that process results within an hour, it has been learnt.

Previously, blood samples had to be taken to central laboratories for analysis.

The new machines — called m-PIMA HIV — ½ VL — were developed by US-based Abbott Laboratories and are able to establish the effectiveness of antiretroviral treatment.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo told The Sunday Mail that Government was “keen” on the new device.

“PEPFAR (US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) has the machine in our system and they have been researching on it. We all want evidence-based outcomes these days. They (Abbott Laboratories) have indicated that they will come and talk to us and we are waiting for them,” he said.

PEPFAR was formed by the US government in 2003 to offer services to countries affected by the HIV and Aids pandemic.

Dr Moyo said new machines will help manage the disease.

In 2014, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV ands Aids and its partners launched the UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets, whose aim is to diagnose 90 percent of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) for 90 percent of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90 percent of those treated by 2020.

The global target is to eliminate HIV and Aids by 2030.

Abbott director of medical and scientific affairs Dr Kuku Appiah said the new point-of-care device would go a long way in containing HIV.

“Our device is a miniaturised lab which can be placed inside the clinic. It works using a battery and can be transported to the most remote areas.

“Everything that it needs is compacted together, so what this means is that a patient can have the test, get results in just over an hour and know whether to change their treatment or not,” she said.

Dr Appiah emphasised the importance of assessing the viral load of HIV positive patients adding that this was key in managing the pandemic.

“The aim of ARV’s is to stop the replication of the virus. We measure how effective ARV treatment is by measuring the viral load, which is the measure of the number of copies of the virus in the blood.

“When a person is on ARV treatment, the ultimate aim is that the viral load should be undetectable, meaning that the treatment is suppressing the replication of the virus,” she said. The device is expected to be approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) soon.

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Former deputy minister of Information, Bright Matonga, is up in arms with his ex-girlfriend, Thombizodwa Choto, who has petitioned the High Court seeking an order to compel him to present himself at the American Embassy [...]

Source: Fuel relief for business…Rebate processing begins…Move to impact on prices | Sunday Mail

Kuda Bwititi
Chief Reporter

Government will now refund businesses for extra costs incurred in buying fuel at new prices that became effective on January 13, raising expectations that this might positively impact on prices, it has been learnt.

The rebates for excise duty on fuel — which cover the manufacturing, agriculture, mining and transport sectors — were announced through Statutory Instrument (SI) 72 of 2019 on Friday.

They will be backdated to January this year.

Government hiked the price of fuel by 150 percent in order to prevent arbitrage, where fuel was offloaded on the parallel market, and to tame the disproportionate demand for the commodity.

The new provisions prescribe deterrent penalties for fraudulent claims.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe said the new law is “a step in the right direction”.

“This is something that we had been waiting for. Discussions on this matter started in January when we engaged with Government on the impact of the fuel hike on industry. This is certainly a step in the right direction and a very welcome move for the manufacturing sector,” he said.

“During our meetings with Government, it was emphasised that the fuel hike would only marginally contribute to price increases. So it would make sense that if manufacturers benefit from the rebate facility, they can also reduce their prices, albeit marginally.”

Transport operators also said development provides scope for companies to reduce fares.

Zimbabwe Transport Organisation chair and director of CAG buses Mr Samson Nhanhanga said the main challenge was ensuring that fuel becomes readily available.

“We welcome the rebate, but the ball is now in Government’s court. If fuel is readily available for our buses, we will effectively make use of the refunds and transmit the reduction of costs to the consumer. However, the problem is that we are experiencing challenges in fuel supply.”

Criteria

SI 72 limits refunds to beneficiaries that do not have outstanding tax liabilities, and in instances where such tax liabilities exist, Zimra will deduct the debt and refund whatever amount would be left.

Furthermore, application for rebates — which will be made through Form Ex FRF 2 — will only be made by companies that are duly registered and have tax clearance certificates, invoice or receipts from fuel suppliers, and documented proof or productive use of the fuel.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) will insist on serialised numbers and dates on which receipt or invoice is issued, name and address of the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) licence number and address of recipient of the fuel, quantity of fuel supplied and vehicle registrations.

In addition, the reimbursement claim for fuel “must be submitted by the 10th day in the month following that of purchase of the fuel”, while “the validity of the invoice shall fall within the period of claim”. But those who try to cheat the system will be punished heavily.

“Any person who provides false information in connection with the provisions of these regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 7 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both such a fine and imprisonment,” reads part of SI 72.

In January, President Mnangagwa noted that the rebate system, which was meant to insulate industry from the fuel price hike, would prevent wanton price increases.

“Cognisant of the need to prevent generalised price increases for goods and services in the country, with the attendant hardships which that will entail, especially to the commuting workforce, Government has decided to grant a rebate to all registered business entities in manufacturing, mining, commerce, agriculture and transport sectors,” he said.

Similarly, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga recently told The Sunday Mail that the intervention would prevent businesses from raising prices of basic commodities and critical services.

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