PRICES SPIKE AGAIN IN ZIM

A NEW wave of price hikes, triggered by the plummeting
local currency on the parallel market, has thrown many consumers off balance.

As of yesterday, the local currency was trading between $1
800 and $2 100 to the greenback on the black market against…

A NEW wave of price hikes, triggered by the plummeting local currency on the parallel market, has thrown many consumers off balance. As of yesterday, the local currency was trading between $1 800 and $2 100 to the greenback on the black market against the official rate of $1 021. The majority of workers earn in local currency, which they have to sell on the black market to obtain the greenback

WHO Zimbabwe Press Release

Source: WHO Zimbabwe Press Release – Zimbabwe | ReliefWeb Harare, Zimbabwe – Vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective and successful public health interventions, saving millions of lives while preventing disabilities and suffering for many. From 24-30 April 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Zimbabwe join the […]

Source: WHO Zimbabwe Press Release – Zimbabwe | ReliefWeb

Harare, Zimbabwe – Vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective and successful public health interventions, saving millions of lives while preventing disabilities and suffering for many. From 24-30 April 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Zimbabwe join the rest of the continent to mark the African Vaccination Week (AVW), commemorated every last week of April.

The week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of vaccines and promote vaccination across the life course, reducing mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases. The theme for this year, “The Big Catch Up”, highlight the need to intensify efforts to reach all children with vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation services. This can be done through routine immunization programmes and catch-up vaccination campaigns targeting the hard-to-reach communities.

While a significant number of children are vaccinated every year in Africa, far too many are being left behind. An estimated 33 million children will need to be vaccinated between 2023 and 2025, to put the African region back on track to achieve the 2030 global immunization goals.

In Zimbabwe, the vaccination coverage rate is currently at 90% and well in line with the WHO recommended target. However, several districts nationwide are still performing below target, posing a risk of outbreaks. Regrettably, those unvaccinated, mainly children, are prone to preventable, life-threatening diseases like measles.

“UNICEF congratulates the Government of Zimbabwe, on the continuation of the integrated immunization campaigns, offering several antigens and more opportunities for children to be vaccinated. The Africa Vaccination Week is an important reminder to the key messages that (1) Vaccines save lives and (2) Primary Health Care is a cost-effective approach to reach every child,” said Dr Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative to Zimbabwe.

To scale up and bring the country back on track to achieve global goals, heightened political commitment and multi-stakeholder collaboration to reach to underserved communities is urgent. The recent measles and polio outbreaks in neighboring countries have highlighted the urgency to intensify vaccination efforts for both COVID-19 and routine immunization. Furthermore, the ongoing cholera outbreak presents Zimbabwe with an opportunity to improve coverage for the oral cholera vaccine, as well as enhance the provision of safe water and sanitation.

Increased investments in primary health care will bring services closer to communities, making it easier to reach the marginalized. Investing in human resources for health, surveillance and improvements in health information systems is also critical. Multi-stakeholder collaborations to deal with misinformation, build and sustaining community demand while addressing gender barriers will increase coverage, prevent diseases, and save lives.

UNICEF and WHO applaud efforts by the Government of Zimbabwe in promoting access to vaccination at various levels of care and continue to encourage scaling up routine immunization services to significantly reduce the chances of outbreaks.

UNICEF and WHO continue to support the Government of Zimbabwe to raise awareness of the importance of vaccines and immunization together with Vitamin A supplementation to protect eye health and boost immune response, providing technical and financial support to deliver high-quality immunization programmes.

We also call on other stakeholders, including the donor community to continue supporting the Government of Zimbabwe to make vaccination a priority. Now more than ever is the time to make sure all Zimbabweans, particularly children, receive the full benefits of vaccination.

“The progress made so far is really commendable, and we need to build on that by removing barriers particularly for the vulnerable communities to make them more accessible,” said WHO Zimbabwe Representative Professor Jean-Marie Dangou.

We recognize the technical and financial support from other partners, including the Gates Foundation, GAVI THE Vaccine Alliance, Crown Agents, John Snow Research and Training Institute (JSI), and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and many others in promoting improved access to vaccines for all in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe launching digital currency using R1.8-billion’s worth of gold

The central bank will rely on gold reserves, which it has been accumulating, to support the initiative and stem the local currency’s volatility. Source: Zimbabwe launching digital currency using R1.8-billion’s worth of gold Zimbabwe needs $100 million (R1.8 billion) of gold to kick-start its proposed bullion-backed digital currency, as the southern African nation makes another […]

The central bank will rely on gold reserves, which it has been accumulating, to support the initiative and stem the local currency’s volatility.

Source: Zimbabwe launching digital currency using R1.8-billion’s worth of gold

Zimbabwe needs $100 million (R1.8 billion) of gold to kick-start its proposed bullion-backed digital currency, as the southern African nation makes another attempt to stabilise its floundering dollar.

The central bank will rely on gold reserves, which it has been accumulating, to support the initiative and stem the local currency’s volatility, according to Persistence Gwanyanya, a member of the central bank’s monetary policy committee.

“Any amount around or less than $100 million will be able to deal with our challenge in a big way,” Gwanyanya said in an interview by phone on Monday from the capital, Harare.

“We expect the central bank to bring a respectable quantity that can stabilise the Zimbabwe dollar and boost demand.”

Zimbabwe has been struggling to stem a decline in the currency in the nation where the US dollar is the unit of choice.

The central bank has been building gold reserves as well as acquiring other precious minerals since the introduction of a policy last year that compels miners to pay part of their royalties in cash and metal.

It’s banking on the stash to help it with the latest plan.

State-owned media reported earlier this month that the country had 350 kilograms (12,346 ounces) of gold in reserves, citing John Mangudya, the central bank governor.

Zimbabwe targets a 14% increase in gold production to 40 tons this year.

It earned $377 million from gold production in the first quarter compared with $463 million a year ago, according to data provided by Fidelity Gold Refineries, the nation’s sole refinery.

The plan for a gold-backed digital currency was approved by the monetary policy committee last month.

Zimbabwe introduced gold coins last June as a store of value and to help support the local unit.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe is finalizing a date to start the gold-backed digital currency, according to Innocent Matshe, the central bank’s deputy governor.

“It’s a concept which is pretty straightforward, we tokenise the gold, we have the gold,” he said by phone.

“Every time we issue a coin, it is backed by real gold. We are still finalising the details, but most countries are asking us how we came up with that plan.”

Matshe declined to comment on the value of gold which will be used to back the digital currency.

Zimbabwe conducts a cholera simulation exercise to improve readiness and response 

Source: Zimbabwe conducts a cholera simulation exercise to improve readiness and response | WHO | Regional Office for Africa Kadoma, Zimbabwe – To improve capacities for adequate prevention, readiness, early detection and timely response to cholera at community level, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) conducted a cholera tabletop simulation exercise from 12-14 April […]

Source: Zimbabwe conducts a cholera simulation exercise to improve readiness and response | WHO | Regional Office for Africa

Kadoma, Zimbabwe – To improve capacities for adequate prevention, readiness, early detection and timely response to cholera at community level, the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) conducted a cholera tabletop simulation exercise from 12-14 April 2023. The table-top simulation exercise held in Kadoma, will contribute towards closing the gaps encountered by health workers in preparing for response to outbreaks in Zimbabwe. It provided a platform to develop, assess and test functional capabilities of emergency systems, procedures and mechanisms as well as update provincial emergency and response plans.

The meeting was attended by representatives from various government departments including the Department of Civil Protection, Local Authorities such as Harare City and Provincial Rapid Response Teams. Other partners include Higher Life Foundation, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), United States Centre for Disease Control (US CDC),UNICEF, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and World Vision.

“This exercise is one of the efforts to strengthen cholera response and address gaps and strengthen the readiness in high-risk cholera countries to quickly and effectively detect and respond to cholera, this inequity disease that can be easily prevented,” said MoHCC Epidemiology and Disease Control Director Dr Rudo Chikodzore.

Key issues highlighted include the importance of the multisectoral collaboration, community engagement; and access to safe water and adequate sanitation in preventing and managing cholera outbreaks. Close coordination between ministries and government departments was also highlighted as critical to ensure all aspect of preparedness and response are addressed, including an efficient and quick process for reallocating national budgets to facilitate pandemic response.

“Cholera elimination requires multisectoral coordination incorporating all social service interventions through a strengthened Primary Health Care (PHC) platform, including surveillance, prevention and treatment/care at community level, lifesaving curative services at facility level, improved Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at household level, nutrition interventions, and linkages with related social services like education and protection services,” UNICEF Zimbabwe Health Manager Dr Jonas Mwale.

WHO, in collaboration with Higher Life Foundation, Médecins Sans Frontières and UNICEF continues to prioritize support to the Government of Zimbabwe on revitalization of the PHC platforms, capacity building for health workers amongst other key activities aimed at improving cholera outbreak response.

“The simulation exercise went beyond building capacities for health workers which was one of the key issues but allowed us to learn from experiences from past outbreaks for overall improvement of future outbreaks not just for cholera,” said WHO Emergencies Team Lead Dr Lincoln Charimari.

Cholera remains one of the significant public health emergencies in Southern Africa Region. Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia are currently grappling with one of the worst outbreaks of Cholera first reported in 2022. The recent outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe was first recorded on the 12 February 2023 with cases now reported in eight out of the ten provinces.  As at 13 April 2023, 436 suspected cholera cases had been reported, two (2) laboratory confirmed deaths, seven (7) suspected deaths and 88 confirmed cases.

A readiness assessment carried out in January 2023 showed that insufficient preparedness, limited resources and delays in declaration and notification and health workers not trained in Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) as areas that needed attention in preparing for an outbreak of cholera.

Buying banknotes to survive Zimbabwe’s sky-high inflation 

Soaring prices and widespread unemployment are forcing Zimbabweans to seek new ways to earn money. Source: Buying banknotes to survive Zimbabwe’s sky-high inflation – BBC News IMAGE SOURCE, KB MPOFU Noel Ngwenya exchanges damaged foreign currency notes for 50% of their value as well as selling fruit By KB Mpofu Reporter, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe “Everyone finds […]

Soaring prices and widespread unemployment are forcing Zimbabweans to seek new ways to earn money.

Source: Buying banknotes to survive Zimbabwe’s sky-high inflation – BBC News

Noel Ngwenya next to his fruit stallKB MPOFU
Noel Ngwenya exchanges damaged foreign currency notes for 50% of their value as well as selling fruit
By KB Mpofu
Reporter, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

“Everyone finds selling on the streets the easiest way to survive, but you have to be creative.”

Noel Ngwenya, 44, from Chivi District of Masvingo Province spends his working days in downtown Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city, with a loudhailer advertising a unique service.

He collects torn or soiled foreign currency notes that have been rejected by supermarkets and other traders – mostly US dollars or South African rand, which are both legal tender in Zimbabwe.

Mr Ngwenya pays his clients 50% of the value of whichever note they bring – so they get $1 for a torn $2 note or 100 rand for a torn 200 rand note.

“Things are worse after Covid-19, it’s like everyone is now on the road selling something since there is almost no formal employment in the industries,” he says.

Zimbabwe’s rate of inflation has been falling since August 2022 when it hit a staggering 285%. However, in March this year it was still running at 87.6%, forcing Zimbabweans to find creative ways to survive.

Hands holding a torn 50 rand noteKB MPOFU
Torn foreign notes like this one give Zimbabweans a chance to earn some money

A recent International Labour Organization Harare report says 76% of employment in Zimbabwe is now in the informal sector, in other words, selling goods or services without registering with the authorities.

The informal economy, massive bank charges and distrust of the banking sector mean Zimbabweans prefer to deal in cash or mobile money.

Mr Ngwenya describes himself as an agent for middlemen who have contacts in the US, South Africa or local banks, where they exchange the torn or soiled cash for good notes. They provide him with an operating float each time they pick up the torn notes and pay him a commission.

A married father-of-five, Mr Ngwenya supplements his unpredictable trade by selling fruit and roasted corn on the side. “Things used to be good but these days business is slow,” he says. “Sometimes you can be lucky and have someone bring you a torn $100, some days you have to make do with the $1 and $2 notes.”

Mayibongwe Khumalo repairing a potholeKB MPOFU
Grateful or sympathetic motorists pay Mayibongwe Khumalo to fill in potholes

Decades of corruption and economic woes have led to the deterioration of the national and inner city road infrastructure. This presents an opportunity for Mayibongwe Khumalo, 25, from Cowdray Park, a sprawling suburb about 25km (15 miles) west of Bulawayo.

He is one of many people who patch up potholes around the city in return for small change from grateful or sympathetic motorists.

“We fill up potholes because we see them inconveniencing drivers. I’m broke and I wish I could get money but I don’t want to beg like a blind man,” Mr Khumalo explains.

“We have so many blind people in Bulawayo that motorists are no longer touched by their plight. I am an able-bodied person and no one is going to throw money at me.

“I believe by fixing the roads, those who see value in what I’m doing will give me something. On a good day, like today, I’ve made $9 (£7) and 100 rand ($6; £4) and hundreds of Zimbabwe dollars (ZWL$).

“It means I won’t go back home to my family empty-handed. My three children and wife are able to get by and tomorrow is another day.”

Mr Khumalo has worked as a minibus driver and a tout and occasionally dabbles in music as a backing dancer for a popular musician who performs tjibilika – fast-paced music influenced by Congolese rumba, accompanying songs about social issues.

Of Zimbabwe’s estimated 5.2 million traders in the informal economy, 65% are women. The government wants to formalise this growing sector of the economy as part of a national strategy to increase tax revenues. It is clamping down on small businesses, sending law enforcement officers to inspect trading licences and fine those who are non-compliant.

Sukoluhle Malima bending over bowls of ingredientsKB MPOFU
Sukoluhle Malima is struggling to raise the money to buy a licence for her restaurant

Sukoluhle Christine Malima, 36, runs a restaurant in an old caravan trailer at a public transport terminus in Bulawayo. She says it’s impossible to save enough money to register as a business, so she is often forced to pay $4 fines.

“My plan is to raise money for my trading licence but the constant arrests and increased competition have made things harder. Each time you set aside some cash, the police come to check for licences and you have to pay the inevitable fine.”

Ms Malima sells Sadza, porridge made from maize “mealie meal” or millet, and a piece of chicken stew for $1 per plate to minibus drivers and other vendors.

“I buy a broiler chicken for $6 and cut it into 12 pieces which produce 12 plates of Sadza and chicken, giving me $12 per day. From there I deduct $1 for a mealie meal, $1.50 for cooking oil and another $1.50 for tomatoes and onions, so my profit is around $2 or $1.50 per day, which I try and save for my licence. But then the police come again and I am back to square one.”

Ms Malima’s frustrations are shared by Mercy Tafirenyika, 51, who has been designing and sewing nurses’ uniforms in Bulawayo’s central business district since 1999.

Mercy Tafirenyika beneath her shop sign with a tape measure round her neckKB MPOFU
Mercy Tafirenyika makes nurses’ uniforms but she says competition is increasing and costs are rising

She says competition is increasing as other people turn to tailoring to earn extra money. The country’s worsening power cuts are reducing the number of hours she can work and the cost of raw materials is increasing.

Ms Tafirenyika operates out of a block of flats that has been converted into offices and shops for small businesses and sole traders. She says her business is registered and tax compliant, but Bulawayo City Council has told her shop licences are not valid in a flat, and she can’t afford to relocate.

“Earlier today, I was away at a funeral and the police picked up one of the ladies that I work with and demanded a ZWL$28,000 ($28; £22) fine in lieu of the shop licence.

“What bothers me is that they do not cooperate. The last time they were here I asked them to tell me what licence exactly they wanted, but instead of answering me they became aggressive and took me to the police station where I paid another fine.

“I am not trying to disobey the law, I simply want clarity on the licence issue but no one seems to give us satisfactory answers.”

Ms Tafirenyika doesn’t know what the future holds. As the struggle to survive gets harder, driven by sky-high inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and widespread unemployment, many Zimbabweans are increasingly despairing.

As the popular saying on Zimbabwean social media puts it: “The Zimbabwean dream is to leave Zimbabwe.”