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OUTSPOKEN Norton MP, Temba Mliswa has accused Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi of unlawfully giving orders to Chikurubi Maximum Prison officials to allow jailed former Zanu PF MP Munyaradzi Kereke have sexual intercourse with his younger [...]

Zimbabweans — perceived to be hopelessly divided by race, class and politics — reached out to victims of Cyclone Idai in an unprecedented way as pictures of the storm-ravaged Manicaland overwhelmed living rooms and offices across the country. From churches to beer halls, radio stations to bus stations, efforts to help were underway, with both Zanu PF and MDC supporters, black people and white

Source: OneMoney debit card use rises | Daily News

NETONE’s mobile money platform, OneMoney, recorded a 32,7 percent increase in subscribers to 241 566 in the fourth quarter to December 31, 2018 from 181 990 in the previous quarter, latest data show.

OneMoney has become popular through its availability on the Zimswitch network of banks, drawing on the stringent advantages, creating ease of movement of funds across the country.

With Zimbabwe slowly transitioning to a cashless society, OneMoney has become a force to reckon with after the company recently activated its debit card nationwide.
The debit card is primarily there to provide an alternative payment solution for the subscriber, and complement the mobile financial platform.

According to the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) fourth quarter report, the total number of active mobile money subscriptions was 6 352 552 as at December 31, 2018, representing a 1,6 percent growth from 6 252 538 recorded in the third quarter of 2018.

An annual comparison of total active mobile money subscriptions shows a 35 percent growth from 4 706 778 recorded as at December 31, 2017. In the period under review, mobile money transactions increased by 2,2 percent to $1 425 618 090, while cash in transactions declined by 1,7 percent to $1 million.
“The decline in cash-in transactions is attributable to liquidity challenges in the economy.

“Cross-network transactions have been declining and this is attributable to the lack of comprehensive wallet to wallet interoperability amongst the three mobile money providers,” said Potraz.
Mobile money has become an important channel for effecting Person to Business transactions following cash shortages being experienced in Zimbabwe.
An annual comparison shows that airtime and merchant payments grew by 190,5 percent to record $4 715 934 785 in 2018 from $1 623 469 563 recorded in 2017.

Cash-In transactions grew by 146,5 percent to record $3 806 534 842 from $1 544 100 162 recorded in 2017. Cash-out transactions also grew by 105,6 percent to record $2 843 488 072 from $1 382 968 270 recorded in 2017, the report added.
On the other hand, cross-network transactions declined by 46,7 percent to record $683 732 from $1 282 318 recorded in 2017.

The post OneMoney debit card use rises appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Surgeries at Mpilo hit by machine shortages | Daily News

HUNDREDS of patients requiring urgent surgery at Mpilo Hospital have been left stranded by the shortage of anaesthetic machines at the biggest referral hospital in the country’s southern region.
This comes as it has been confirmed that at least 300 patients are scheduled to go for surgery at Mpilo.

However, many of these people cannot currently be assisted because the hospital only has four working anaesthetic machines at the moment.

Mpilo Hospital does not only service Bulawayo, it also caters for the whole of Matabeleland, the Midlands and Masvingo.
The hospital’s clinical director, Solwayo Ngwenya, told the Daily News yesterday that the lives of the affected patients were now at risk due to the shortage of the anaesthetic machines.

“This is a highly sensitive issue. We only have four anaesthetic machines and the hospital needs more.
“Patients’ lives have been put on the line.  As you know, Mpilo serves a large number of patients from Bulawayo, the two Matabeleland provinces, Masvingo and the Midlands.

“Patients awaiting surgical operations are having to wait for a long time, a situation that is endangering their lives.
“An anaesthetic machine is critical as it is used to put a patient to sleep and enables practitioners to carry out operations,” Ngwenya said.

However, he added, drug stocks at Mpilo had improved significantly, although the hospital was still struggling to get essential equipment and sundries due to the acute shortage of foreign currency in the country.

“The situation is now much better here at Mpilo. We are being supplied by NatPharm and what has also served us well is that we complement the government’s efforts by purchasing our own stocks.

“The biggest challenge though has been foreign currency which is needed to acquire these drugs,” Ngwenya added.
Government hospitals have, for a long time now, been beset by many problems which have frequently led to the suspension of critical services.

Essential medical staff have also regularly embarked on industrial action to press for better working conditions and adequate stocks at public hospitals.
Recently, the head of paediatric services at Parirenyatwa Hospital, Azza Mashumba, broke down in tears as she lifted the lid on the desperate situation confronting staff at most government hospitals.

Apart from having to replace old equipment, most State hospitals and pharmacies are struggling to stock drugs due to poor planning and failure to access foreign currency for the importation of critical medicines.

The availability of drugs and essential medicines has been further worsened by the troubles at the country’s once biggest pharmaceutical company, CAPS Holdings, which used to satisfy 75 percent of Zimbabwe’s needs.

The post Surgeries at Mpilo hit by machine shortages appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

NAMIBIA’S Home Affairs minister has slammed Zimbabweans and other foreign nationals who are in the tendency of entering into marriages of convenience with his compatriots in order to qualify for Namibian citizenship. Speaking during his [...]