Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Four-fold surge in cholera cases puts tens of thousands of children at risk -Newsday Zimbabwe

TENS of thousands of children in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique are at risk of cholera as the 2024 cyclone season threatens to bring more floods, potentially worsening the region’s worst disease outbreak in decades, said Save the Children.

 Save the Children analysed data from the World Health Organisation and national governments, which showed that cholera cases surged more than four-fold in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique between 2022 and 2023.

 The number of cases jumped to about 95,300 from about 26,250 including over 1,600 deaths in the three countries, making it one of their worst cholera outbreaks in decades.

Already 2024 is threatening to be another devastating year for cholera in the region as warmer weather and unusually heavy rains and storms in southern Africa have fuelled the disease’s spread.

Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi have reported more than 13 000 cases of the disease so far in 2024.

In Zimbabwe, children aged under 15 account for about three in 10 cholera cases while children under five account for one in six cases, according to the UN.

In Malawi, which has counted over 160 cases so far this year, about four in 10 cases are children and young people under 19, according to the Ministry of Health.

Adults and children can contract cholera, but cases in children are more likely to lead to severe illness or death, with children under five especially vulnerable.

Cholera, a highly contagious disease, spreads quickly through contaminated water.

 It can also spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage, flooded areas, and areas without safe drinking water — all issues that can be exacerbated by flooding from tropical cyclones.

Last year, cholera cases surged in Malawi and Mozambique following Cyclone Freddy, the longest lived cyclone in history,  that traversed the southern Indian Ocean for more than five weeks in February and March.

In Malawi, over 200 children died in the cholera outbreak which began in 2022 and ended in mid-2023.

Save the Children said that the three countries, which have been worse-hit by cyclones in recent years amid climate change, are currently battling their biggest cholera outbreaks as the peak of another cyclone and rainy season approaches.

“Children in Malawi faced repeated tragedies last year having battled the worst cholera outbreak on record, as well as the devastation of Cyclone Freddy.” Save the Children’s Malawi country director Ashebir Debebe said.

“While the number of cholera cases in Malawi in 2024 are not at the levels seen in some other countries in the region, with the peak of this year’s cyclone season fast-approaching there’s a real risk that heavy rains and floods could lead to a repeat of last year’s deadly outbreak.

“With the destruction and displacement that cyclones bring, it’s not difficult to imagine a worst-case scenario for the spread of diseases such as cholera and malaria if we are not prepared and ready to respond.”

Save the Children’s country director for Mozambique, Brechtje van Lith, said the situation was worse for the country.

“Mozambique is being hit from all directions as the country grapples with conflict, food insecurity, a cholera outbreak on a scale that it has not seen in decades – and all as it braces itself for another cyclone season,” van Lith said.

“Any extreme weather event has the potential to cause cholera in the country to spin out of control.

“A malnourished child is at eleven times greater risk of dying from cholera than a healthy one. As with so many crises, it is young children who tend to bear the brunt of the disease.”

Save the Children’s country director for Zimbabwe, Bhekimpilo Khanye, said access to safe, clean water and sanitation is critical to control the transmission of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

“… additional funds must be mobilised to support restoration of basic services, including water and sanitation and structural support to help communities absorb and recover from the impact of cholera and climate and weather-related disasters,” Khanye said.

Save the Children has stepped up its preparedness efforts in the region to help mitigate the risk of diseases such as cholera and malaria spreading out of control during the cyclone and rainy season.

In Malawi for example, Save the Children has prepositioned chlorine to disinfect dirty water, mosquito nets and buckets, while it is also supporting families with cash for food and weather-resistant crops.

In Mozambique, the organisation is working with local governments to provide soap, water purifiers and other items to facilitate access to safe water.

In Zimbabwe, Save the Children is implementing a programme which aims to enhance access to clean and safe water for more than 60,000 individuals by installing solar-powered water schemes.

Save the Children has been working in Malawi and Zimbabwe since 1983 and in Mozambique since 1986, working on education programmes, child protection services, health and nutrition, child rights governance, climate adaptation projects and humanitarian responses.

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BULAWAYO Mayor David Coltart has distanced himself from claims by his Harare counterpart Jacob Mafume, [...]

Source: Zim, Belarus strengthen relations –Newsday Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE and Belarus yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to fostering closer ties between the two countries currently facing global isolation.

“Zimbabwe and Belarus [relations] have continued to grow at an exponential rate as illustrated by the frequent exchange of high-level visits and continuous engagements by our two presidents at various fora,” Foreign Affairs minister Frederick Shava said yesterday during the first session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation between Zimbabwe and Belarus.

“We in Zimbabwe consider these high level visits to be a testament to the excellent relations between the two countries, as well as a reflection of our mutual interest to further deepen and expand these relations.”

Last year, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko visited the country for talks with his counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa in what analysts said was an attempt by the two leaders to “diversify” their diplomatic ties.

Lukashenko’s trip followed a 2019 visit by Mnangagwa to Minsk, after which Belarus opened an embassy in Harare.

Since then, some deals have been signed.

In 2022, a decision by the government to acquire firetenders from Belarus on behalf of local authorities at inflated prices, however, torched a storm.

Mnangagwa has also turned to Belarus for farm machinery.

Shava said the year 2023 was a significant year in the two countries’ relationship after a number of memoranda of understanding (MoU) and commercial contracts were signed.

“Among them was the Agreement on the Establishment of the Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation, which gave impetus to this inaugural session of the Joint Permanent Commission on Co-operation between our sisterly countries,” Shava said.

“It is my expectation that both sides will work towards the finalisation and signature of these draft agreements and MoUs in the not too distant future.”

“It is my belief that the ministries overseeing outstanding draft agreements and MoUs on both sides have taken advantage of this session to establish and address what has been stalling progress in their respective negotiations,” he said.

Beralus Foreign Affairs minister Sergie Aleinik said the relations between Minsk and Harare were beginning to bear fruit.

“The foundation of our co-operation is trusting relations between our two leaders and mutually beneficial partnership based on honest and time-tested relations,” Aleinik said.

“My brother Frederick made a very comprehensive overview of the history of our bilateral relations and it’s true that in recent years we have witnessed a significant increase of the contacts between Belarus and Zimbabwe at different levels, including the highest one.”

The two countries are under some degree of diplomatic isolation, with the two nations’ leaders and government officials under Western sanctions for mainly human rights abuses.

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Source: Report sexual offences: NPAZ –Newsday Zimbabwe

THE National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has urged the public to report sexual offences to the police in a bid to combat the rise of the scourge and bring perpetrators to justice.

In a statement, the NPAZ said it is troubled by the rise in rape cases at the magistrates courts, particularly among related individuals, adding that there is need for increased awareness, prevention efforts and support services to prevent familial abuse and violence.

“The (NPAZ) notes with concern that most of the rape matters that are prosecuted in the magistrates court across the country involve parties that are related or known to each other,” read the statement.

“This is particularly painful in the case of juveniles and mentally challenged people who are raped by family members such as their fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, brothers and uncles as these are the people that they trust and look up to for protection.”

According to a recent Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency crime situation report, Zimbabwe recorded a total of 182 427 offenders of sexual based violence last year.

“It is also regrettable that some families do not report rape matters involving juveniles and family members to the Zimbabwe Republic Police but choose to resolve these at family level or through the local leadership or community court. The NPAZ would like to urge the public to report all sexual offences to the Zimbabwe Republic Police particularly those involving juveniles and mentally challenged persons or any other vulnerable groups of people living with disability,” NPAZ said.

It said guardians and parents should be cautious in selecting caregivers for their children and must protect vulnerable individuals from sexual predators.

“Guardians and parents are reminded to be mindful of the people that they entrust with their children’s care and also to be vigilant when it comes to protecting children, the mentally challenged and any other vulnerable persons from sexual predators.”

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Source: Masisi insists Zim-Bots passport requirements should go -Newsday Zimbabwe

BOTSWANA President Mokgweetsi Masisi has said he sees the removal of passport requirements between Zimbabwe and South Africa in line with the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) guidelines and good neighbourliness.

Masisi said the move would reduce the increase in illegal movements between the two countries and will assist Zimbabweans who cannot afford passports.

Zimbabwean passports are the most expensive in the region with the cheapest pegged at US$150 although there is an additional mandatory US$20 required for the travel document.

In a budget response speech three days ago and whose video clip has gone viral, Masisi said some people living Botswana near its border with Zimbabwe or vice-versa had relatives in either country that needed to attend family functions.

“So, when such relatives want to visit their kin, given the expensive fee of the passport let alone prices of food why deny them entry using an ID (identity card)?” queried Masisi.

“Because they have to attend family events like weddings, parties, funerals, why do you say they should be denied entry at the border posts using their IDs.”

Masisi added: I am implementing the AU (African Union) and Sadc instruments I am signatory to in respect to easier migration and do take that into consideration. I don’t condone your segregatory attitude.  When we did that with Namibia you didn’t object but now because it is Zimbabwe you are looking down upon them, segregating them, adopting xenophobic tendencies.”

“You hate people, but I want to assure you, dare you even, if we were to check your phone contacts many of you have illegal Zimbabweans phone numbers because you are using them for all kinds of duties. I want to make sure there is legitimate entry,” Masisi said.

He was implying that superficially several Tswana lawmakers disliked Zimbabweans yet in real life they employ many of them illegally in that country for odd jobs.

“We will make sure to collect their full data at the border posts to create databases. We are trying to make them law abiding and its good governance. It’s good neighbourliness,” Masisi said.

He asked his fellow legislators not to undermine his decision and move he said was based on building good relationship with neighbouring countries.

Botswana and Namibia on February 22 last year removed the passport requirements making it easier for citizens of the two countries to cross the border using an ID.

“Precisely we used to be looked down upon by the Namibians and you have now adopted that bad attitude, who taught you that,” he asked some of his colleagues seemingly uncomfortable with the envisaged development.

“That attitude should stop forthwith. Do not ever repeat that derogatory name calling. You used to buy a lot from Zimbabwe.

“You might not like them, yes, but wait until you are in power then you can chase them away. I stand by my action. I am glad Kenny Kapinga, former Ambassador to Zimbabwe is agreeing with me. That is why he is nodding his head,” Masisi said.

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