The inclusion of lactating mothers, pregnant women and children aged 14-17 still remain in the hands of Medicines Control Authority in Zimbabwe (MCAZ), a month after government announced plans to include these groups.
MCAZ is reportedly carrying out clinical trials to determine whether these groups are safe for vaccination or not.
Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) Public Relations Officer Donald Mujiri said the ministry is still waiting for MCAZ to give them a directive to start administering the jab.
“As a Ministry we get authority from MCAZ to use any drug or dose. Right now, we are waiting for them to finish clinical trials so that we can start vaccinating lactating mothers, pregnant women as well as children from the age of 14-17,” said Mujiri.
He however, said there are no exact dates for commencement of these groups’ vaccination since they are awaiting authority from MCAZ.
“We do not have a date as to when these groups will start receiving their jabs since the trials are scientific and they take time to be completed. However, MCAZ is doing the work right now, so we hope they will be done soon and we commence the vaccination program,” Mujiri added.
Barely two weeks after schools were ordered to reopen; a surge in Covid-19 positive cases have been recorded at schools in Masvingo, Midlands and Manicaland provinces.
The cases were recorded mostly at boarding schools and the virus is spreading to teachers and other staff.
Last week the Secretary for Public Service Commission (PSC), Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe said government Ministries would help personnel who missed opportunities to be vaccinated so that they can report for work.
Chipinge ward 4 residents have raised concerns of neglect by council amidst worries over poor service delivery that is currently rocking most local authorities in Zimbabwe.
The ward’s councilor Raina Madenyika was a victim of MDC power struggles that saw her recalled by the Douglas Mwonzora led MDC-T on August 6, along with three other Chipinge councillors allegedly aligned to MDC Alliance president, Nelson Chamisa.
However, the unexpected recall of four councilors in Chipinge has left many areas wanting in terms of service delivery since no one is representing their concerns.
This came out during the HowFar? Ward feedback meeting organized by Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) and TellZim News in Ward 5, where councilors and residents met to discuss the state of service delivery in Chipinge.
One of the participants who reside in ward 4 said there are acute water shortages and no alternative clean water sources since some of the infrastructure was stolen.
“We are not getting council tapped water in ward 4 for quite some time. Some of the boreholes where we were getting domestic water from are no longer functional since pipes were stolen.
“We are walking long distances to get water and we are at great risk since we are living in the Covid-19 pandemic which needs consistent supply of clean water,” said the participant.
Another resident said they heard that council bought a refuse compactor for ward 4 but they never saw it leading to the proliferation of illegal dumpsites.
“We only heard that we have a refuse compactor in our ward but we never saw it coming to collect refuse. We end up dumping refuse at an illegal dumping site which is a health ticking bomb since children play there,” said the resident.
Chipinge Town Residents Association (CTRA) Chairperson, Simoyi Mhlanga said council is still lagging behind in its services especially sewage management since people who were working on maintaining drainages withdrew their services.
“There is need for improved service delivery here and mostly sewage remains a problem since those who were working on maintaining drainage systems withdrew their services,” said Mhlanga.
Ward 5 Cllr Haruchineyi Nhengu who is doubling as the interim ward 4 councillor professed ignorance over refuse collection and water shortages but promised that if there is such a crisis, the local authority and other stakeholders will move in to address it.
“We are not aware that some households do not have water supply. We will go and report the issue in our council meetings and there are plans in place by council and Plan International to improve access to clean water,” said Nhengu.
“There is a refuse compactor which collects refuse every Tuesday in ward 4 and it is very unfortunate that part of ward 4 extension is being overlooked. We will monitor those responsible so that they cover the whole area,” added Nhengu.
The state of service delivery in Zimbabwe has been a cause for concern of late as most local authorities have been accused of neglecting the welfare of ratepayers while others are accused of misplaced priorities in their budgets.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) recently issued a statement accusing Shangaan people of violating children rights by fueling child marriages through some of their cultural practices.
Khomba practice is a Shangaan cultural activity where boys and girls are purportedly initiated into adulthood through sexual related practices.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission Legal and Investigation Manager, Tinashe Larry Mazani said Khomba practice should not be done by minors as it allegedly stimulates child marriages that are skyrocketing.
“There should be strict enforcement of the age limit for initiation by local and traditional leaders. In order to avert child marriages, minors should be barred from Khomba cultural practice,” said Mazani.
However, Mazani highlighted that there is need for awareness in HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) since minors are now experimenting what they are taught at Khomba initiation ceremonies.
“There is limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, so there is need for extensive awareness specializing on HIV and AIDS in order to stop further engagement in risky sexual behavior such as the infamous ‘magate’, which affects marital relations and sexual health of the community,” said Mazani.
Vimbai Mutendereki from Shamwari yeMwanasikana said Shangaan cultural practices violates children’s rights and needs urgent probe.
“Khomba and Magate cultural practices should be looked into closely. There should be a joint venture amongst various stakeholders since it is not an individual thing to decide what intervention measures can be employed,” said Mutendereki.
Zimbabwe National Council for Welfare of Children national director, Rev Taylor Nyanhete said traditional leaders are custodians of law and should jealously protect the girl child.
“There is room for readdressing these issues and traditional leaders should be trained to safe guard the girl child. On issues of child marriages, there should be inclusion of local gatekeepers and traditional leaders,” said Nyanhete.
When a girl starts to have her menstrual cycle, she is considered ripe ‘akomba’, and she will start her Khomba lessons.
A Ward 7 Chiredzi Constituency village head Phelomon Magezani indicated that Khomba is part of their culture and every girl and boy should take part in it.
“This is what define us as Shangaan people, mostly boys and girls aged 18 years take part in this practice even elderly women take part in this initiation. When a girl reaches her puberty stage she is advised to take part in the practice,” said Magezani.
However, women’s rights pressure groups have alleged that older men are abusing the girl child soon after these lessons and getting away with it.
CHIREDZI – Chiredzi duo, Esnath Mutuki (61) and Phanuel Kudiwa (48) recently appeared before Chiredzi Magistrate Misheck Brian Munyarardzi after being found in possession of Crocodile and Zebra skins worth US$19 500.00, TellZim News can report.
They were charged with contravening section 128 of the Parks and Wildlife Act Chapter 20:14 which prohibits the removal of any animal or part of animal from any land or from one place to another on any land without permit.
The two nabbed by the detectives from the Minerals, Fauna and Flora Unit (MFFU) together with ZimParks officials, were remanded out of custody to September 30 2021 for continuation of trial.
The state represented by Tafumanei Homera told the court that Mutuki of House Number 1794 Javangwe Street and Kudiwa (48) of House Number 850 West Road, Chiredzi were arrested on August 06, 2021, by police detectives who pretended to be buyers of hides.
The police officers acting on a tipoff approached Kudiwa who led them to Mutuki’s place of residence where the hides were kept.
It is alleged that after introductions and negotiations Mutuki proceeded to another room where she brought a sack with one Zebra hide.
She was then asked for more and proceeded to another room at the back of the house and brought two sacks which had one Crocodile and five Zebra skins.
That is when the detectives identified themselves leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
…wife wants protection order from ‘abusive’ husband
Thabiso Nxumalo
MASVINGO– A Mushagashe 43 year-old man, Adam Mushipe recently went on a frenzy and brutally assaulted his five year-old daughter for losing two cigarettes that he had sent her to buy at a shebeen.
Lucia Mushipe mother to the child said she left the young girl with her husband on September 27, 2021, while she ran some errands.
The father then sent the girl to buy cigarettes for him at a shebeen but she delayed to return prompting him to follow her.
Lucia alleges that he followed and intercepted her along the way and noticed that she had lost the cigarettes.
Adam then started flogging her all over the body using a stick leaving visible marks all on her back and stomach.
Efforts by Lucia to get help from the police have hit the brick wall as law enforcement agents continue to refer her from one office to the other.
“I went to report the case at Masvingo rural police station where I was asked to go and get a medical report. I was told that there was no doctor to assist me. I then asked police to open the case but was referred to different offices and I ended up leaving,” said Lucia.
Lucia also tried to get a medical report at Masvingo Provincial Hospital but failed since doctors were said to be out of office.
The wife at some point in time dragged her husband to court that granted an order to get maintenance from Adam but did not receive anything.
“I once sought for a restraining order against my husband but he does not stop abusing me and my kids. I applied for maintenance and he is supposed to be paying me ZW$3 500 for the two kids every month but he has not paid even a single cent,” added Lucia.
The man is said to be very abusive, beats up his wife, and even disowns the two children he sired.
“I am looking for help, I have reported him a number of times but nothing has changed. He physically and emotionally abuses me and the kids telling them that he is not their father. I am ready to go for DNA to prove the paternity,” alleged Lucia.
When contacted for comment, Adam confirmed to have beaten the child saying she had stolen his US$1 and accused his wife of misrepresenting facts.
“I just beat her up for stealing money and it was not something out of the ordinary. It was just punishment that any other child gets for misbehaving.
“The mother is fabricating the story against me and misrepresenting facts because of a little misunderstanding that we had,” said Adam.
Ndau Community radio Trust together with Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) CEO Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka and a team of engineers on September 23 and 24 conducted a broadcasting workshop as they geared up to penetrate the air-waves.
The two-day workshop held at Checheche growth point graced by full force of BAZ engineers and Ndau community radio chairperson Donald Kumbana, staff and various stakeholders focused on the training and official hand over of studio equipment to the newly licensed radio station.
Radio station chairperson Kumbana thanked Ministry of Information, Media and Publicity that gave the minority Ndau community voice to participate on a global platform and they are forever grateful to BAZ who donated broadcasting equipment and skills.
He said they currently do not have network and as a result resort to use of MOVITEL, a Mozambican network service provider hence having an operational radio means they will first get a transmission base which will rid them of network nightmares.
Their project is community funded and rely on residents for voluntary labour hence he said the only challenge they currently have is financial constraints to finish studio building.
“I just wish everyone could experience the joy we have in this part of the country. We have been neglected for so long but finally the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has remembered us.
“We are excited and happy for the brand-new equipment handed over to us by BAZ; we will take good care of it and fully utilize using the skills they have imparted to our staff. The only challenge we face at the moment is funding for our building which is approaching knee-level and as such we are appealing to sponsors and well-wishers either in cash or kind to finish this historic journey,” said Kumbana.
BAZ CEO Engineer Matthias Chakanyuka confirmed the equipment handover and workshops saying he wishes they would go a long way in the radio’s broadcasting journey.
He also said BAZ’s aid was in form of equipment presented but also financially struggling newly setup radio stations can approach government for aid and further advised that government is working hand-in-hand with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in availing help to media organizations.
“I have faith that this equipment will be the building block on Ndau radio’s journey but we are well aware that there is a lot to be done that needs cash hence in that case they can approach government as it has partnered UNESCO to attend to such cases,” said Chakanyuka.
Well-wishers can assist through these channels: NAME OF ACCOUNT: NDAU COMMUNITY RADIO TRUST. BANK: CBZ Checheche Branch. Account Number and type Nostro (FOREX and USD): 10925716190024 or contact 0773 270 731
NYANGA- It has never been all rosy for teen superstar, Makanaka Mawere who only had less than 90 days to recover from a career threatening injury that she suffered in Egypt in June as she defied the odds at the just ended Bonaqua Africa Triathlon Cup (ATU) in Nyanga, Troutbeck.
Born in 2004, the 17 year old Hellenic High pupil is a rare gem and if her current exploits are anything to go by, the young girl will surely conquer the world.
Mawere also a professional tennis ace went into this year’s 14th edition of the prestigious African showpiece that attracted triathletes from as far as Luxemburg with a mountain to climb as she was not fully fit.
The lanky athlete who raced in a star-studded lineup against some higher-ranked triathletes got a major boost of his career when he finished third settling for a bronze medal in the junior elite competition.
She finished behind South Africa’s Kira Ribbink who successfully defended her title while Anika Visser also from across the Limpopo finished second.
Mawere had a great start in the water but had a hard time on the track before she made use of her prowess on the bicycle.
On the clock she finished in 1hr27min31sec slightly one minute below her 2020 record of 1hr28min33sec that saw her occupy seventh position.
With a world ranking of 489, continental ranking of 19 and continental junior ranking of 5, Mawere still has age on her side to do better and add to her three podium finishes.
For the young woman who went into the competition carrying hopes of every Zimbabwean triathlon fan, the contest was a memorable one that made her go an extra mile to make her country proud.
“It was a tough race but I had to be mentally strong and keep telling myself not to give up. Otherwise I really enjoyed the race, it is challenging but fun and with everyone cheering it was a great race all together. I did exceed my own expectations,” said Mawere.
Although so many young teenage athletes shun the sport, Mawere took time to appeal to fellow teenagers to take up the sport, display talent and prove their menthol.
“I would say to other teenagers know yourself and be really honest with yourself and know where you think you could be good as a sports person. They should explore new things because you never know what you might succeed in. Explore outside your comfort zone,” added Mawere.
Wynn Green (far right in black) during the awards ceremony
However, on the other end of Elite women, it was 45 year-old Wynn Greer who proved that she still has something in her arsenal after finishing third behind Hannah Newman and Bridget Theunissen who finished first and second respectively.
Greer who was a major doubt for many due to her old age shocked triathlon enthusiasts with her consistency and endurance that lasted her till she reached the finishing line.
In 2006, Greer finished fourth on 2hr41min34sec but this time around she came back strong, fit and hungry for the title claiming the bronze medal with 1hr21min59sec on the clock.
Speaking to the media after the race, Greer said she had to force herself to finish the race to make her country proud although she was not fit for the race.
“I made the best of what I could, given what I started with. I would say half a tank because I did not have a full tank. I pulled through because my mission was to raise Zimbabwe’s flag high. It is an amazing feeling to have raced elite and for Zimbabwe,” said Greer.
Commenting on her age, she said that age was not a big deal but one’s ability matters the most when it comes to sport.
“It is not just about age but ability. I do not see age but I see what one has got on the start line but as of what is next, I think I am going to focus on cycling because that is where I would shine,” added Greer.
Despite most sporting disciplines in the country being male dominated, women have been urged to take sport seriously and break gender barriers.
Mawere and Greer’s performances come at a time when calls have been made for enforcement of the dictates of the Zimbabwe constitution that states that ‘the state shall promote the full participation of women in all spheres of Zimbabwean society on the basis of equality.
Mwenezi-A gang of armed robbers pounced on two shops at Neshuro Growth Point on the night of September 27, leaving one of the security guard critically injured before disappearing with an undisclosed amount of money.
The incident occurred at around 6:15 pm when shops were about to close for the day and the thieves robbed Shovorai Zizhou’s shop and Chingwanga Neshuro supermarket.
Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa confirmed the incident saying the gang is yet to be arrested.
“We have received information concerning that robbery and investigations are ongoing but so far no arrests have been made,” said Dhewa.
According to eyewitnesses three armed robbers who had a getaway car first entered Chingwanga supermarket, fied warning shots and ordered all the clients to lay down after shooting the shop’s security guard.
After getting away with undisclosed amount of money from the supermarket, the thugs proceeded to Zizhou’s shop were they also got away with some money.
Shop owner Shovorai Zizhou better known locally as kwa Mai Tina told TellZim News that two armed men entered her shop and got away with some money soon after they had robbed at Chingwanga supermarket.
“When the incident occurred there were about 12 clients who were in my shop. Two armed man entered and fired some shots. I am not sure about the exact amount of money which they got away with because we were yet to count but it could be something more than ZAR 1000 and 400 US,” said Zizhou.
After pouncing on the two shops the robbers reportedly fled with their getaway car along Matibi Mission road.
By the time of writing, Chingwanga security guard shot in the stomach was in the theatre where he was being attended to at Neshuro District Hospital.
Cases of armed robbery have been on an upward trend around the country of late.
Mutare -The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has been challenged to make probes and investigate security companies before issuing them gun operation licenses as guards have developed a gun-trigger free attitude resulting in increased numbers of fatal killings of people.
Judge Justice Isaac Muzenda made the remarks on September 27, 2021, as he sentenced Lazarus Dapira (54) a security guard of Roscommon Estate to five years imprisonment for culpable homicide two of which were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Speaking after the court judgment, Judge Justice lsaac Muzenda said there is need for reforms on the issuing of gun licenses to security guard companies and police should investigate them and make sure that the companies’ guards undergo proper trainings on how to handle the firearms.
“I call upon the police to change the manner in which they handle out firearms licenses to security companies as cases of unnecessary shooting involving guards which is leading to loss of human lives is on the rise in the country. Law enforcement agents should also see to it that all the guards employed by security companies are trained on how to handle the guns so as to avoid unnecessary loss of human lives,” said Muzenda.
Dapira was initially charged with murder.
The State represented by Tafadzwa Katsiru alleged that on September 14, 2017, Dapira accompanied by a police officer and four other security guards caused the death of Benson Mazvierengwi by shooting him on the head with a 12 Bore optima Shotgun allegedly for crimes committed at the Estate.
The accused’s defense line was that the gun discharged accidentally while fighting the deceased who was trying to disarm him.
Of late the integrity of Roscommon security guards have raised question from the general public as this is not the first case involving their employees causing unnecessary loss of life after last year Nicolas Bere from the same company fatally discharged his fireman at walking villagers at night in the process killing one and was convicted of murder
His defense line was that he thought that the villagers where a mob coming to attack him.
Cases of reckless loss of life involving security guards shooting have been on the rise in Mutare and Zimbabwe at large.
Earlier this month police in Harare arrested a 35-year-old security guard who fatally shot and killed a 22-year-old female ZUPCO conductor believed to be his estranged girlfriend.
The police even recovered a 38 Astra Revolver belonging to his security firm that he used to commit the heinous crime.
A cloud of uncertainty hovers over the resumption of football lower leagues as there are no specific dates set for commencement though government gave the go ahead for sporting activities.
Disappointments, failures and happy moments that form part of the beautiful game have been ruined for lower league stakeholders, as Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) remain adamant that only topflight league should be played.
ZIFA Head of Communications and Competitions Manager, Xolisani Gwesela told TellZim News that they have not settled for any date yet.
“I do not have answers as for now and specific dates, but I will get back to you when I do have them,” said Gwesela.
However, some lower league teams mostly Division One sides have now began training in anticipation of a go ahead to resume action from the football governing body.
With the return of Premier Soccer League (PSL) that resumed this week, pressure is mounting on Zifa to let other leagues commence.
PSL action started with the resumption of Chibuku Super Cup with major highlights being Harare Giants Dynamos edging tricky Yadah Fc 1-0 at National Sports Stadium in Harare while new boys Tenax CS lost 2-0 to army side Black Rhinos at Sakubva Stadium.
Meanwhile the Zifa Eastern region has settled for October 2, 2021, to hold their much-awaited Annual General Meeting.
Sources told this publication that the meeting will be held in Masvingo and one major highlight of the meeting will be filling vacant posts.
“We have settled for this Saturday as the day when we will hold the AGM. Ofcourse, we are yet to get a go ahead from Head Office but all is in order now. Vacant posts need to be filled in both the region and province so we will make that our priority,” said the source.
The top post of Regional Administrator will be one of the most contested post since it is deemed the powerful post in the region.
The post became vacant when veteran administrator Thaddeus Machawira retired in 2019 after a long spell at the helm of the region.
