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US provides 20 ventilators for Zim’s Covid-19 response

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US provides 20 ventilators for Zim’s Covid-19 response

 

US Ambassador Brian A. Nichols (left) and part of his staff at the handover ceremony

TellZim Reporter

HARARE – The United States of America (USA), through the U.S.
Agency for International Development (USAID), has today, January 21, donated 20
brand-new, state-of-the-art ventilators to Solidarity Trust Zimbabwe to help
Zimbabweans fight Covid-19.

The handover was done by US
Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Brian Nichols in Harare.

“We are pleased to deliver 20
ventilators, which complement Zimbabwe’s efforts to combat Covid-19 and
demonstrate the United States’ ongoing commitment to supporting the people of
Zimbabwe through this crisis and beyond,” Ambassador Brian A. Nichols said at
the handover.

Produced in the US, the
ventilators reflect cutting-edge technology customized to Zimbabwe’s needs and
requirements.

Their compact and
easily-deployable design provides medical professionals with flexibility in
treating patients affected by the virus.

The ventilators are critical
especially to for individuals who develop respiratory complications due to
coronavirus infection.

In addition to the ventilators, USAID
will provide a tailored package of support, including installation, training
for healthcare workers, and a one-year service agreement for regular
maintenance.

This donation brings the United
States’ response to the pandemic in Zimbabwe to over $20 million, building on
previous investments to strengthen clinical care, disseminate health messages,
increase laboratory capacity, improve disease surveillance, and provide
humanitarian assistance.

In Zimbabwe, the United States
has provided US$3.5 billion in assistance since 1980, including $1.2 billion in
health assistance for diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

For decades, the United States
has been the world’s largest provider of bilateral assistance in health.  Since 2009, American taxpayers have
generously funded more than $100 billion in health assistance and nearly $70
billion in humanitarian assistance worldwide.

 

‘Mentally-unstable’ man attacks, damages two cars in town

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‘Mentally-unstable’ man attacks, damages two cars in town

 

The number of homeless mentally-challenged people is rising in Masvingo

…as
authorities ignore mentally-ill people

Perpetua Murungweni

A
man who is suspected to be mentally unstable recently appeared before Masvingo
Magistrate Grace Tupiri facing charges of malicious damage to property as
defined in Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter
9:23.

The
magistrate ordered that Richard Kamusikira be examined by two doctors to
confirm his mental and physically health.

This
was because the accused had behaved bizarrely and weirdly in court; cursing and
shouting at everybody at the top of his voice.

It
was the State’s case that Kamusikira had behaved in a disorderly manner at
Chifen Engineering comapny in Masvingo where he needlessly insulted company
employees and went on to use bricks to damage two motor vehicles.

One
of the employees, Lot Kweme then made a report to Chifen Human Resources (HR) manager
Elijah Mupenzauswa.

The
accused, in an explicable fit of rage, attacked Mupenzauswa’s Toyota Hilux vehicle
(Reg No AFG 4219) using a half brick. He went on to use a full brick to hit the
passenger-side screen of another vehicle, a Toyota Vitz (Reg No ABK 2432).

A
police report was made by Elijah leading to the arrest of Richard Kasimusikira.

The
total value of the damaged was put at $24 300.

The
number of mentally-challenged people is rising in Masvingo and authorities seem
not bothered, with the State-run Ngomahuru Psychiatric Hospital south of the
city woefully underfunded.

Late
last year, a mentally-challenged man attacked the glass doors of TV Sales &
Home, causing enormous damage to property.

 

Covid 19: Chief Charumbira dispels death rumours

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Covid 19: Chief Charumbira dispels death rumours

 

TellZim Reporter

Reports that began circulating on social media earlier today that prominent traditional leader Chief Fortune Charumbira was dead are
false, TellZim News can report.

The wild rumours began circulating on WhatsApp in the
morning that Chief Charumbira had died of Covid-19 but there was no authoritative voice to authenticate the report.

Though TellZim News could not reach Charumbira on his own
mobile numbers, his wife Priscilla expressed concern that people had used social
media to spread malicious rumours.

“We are concerned by the rumours which are malicious. I have
no time commenting on them but they are false. I will pass the message to him
that you wanted to speak to him,” she said.

The National Chiefs’ Council president later spoke in the background
and dispelled the rumours that he was dead.

Chief Charumbira was elected vice president of the Pan-African
Parliament in October 2018.

 

Could Tugwi-Mukosi flood again?

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Could Tugwi-Mukosi flood again?

 

Clayton Shereni

In
2014, Masvingo Province received heavy rains which swelled the giant Tugwi-Mukosi
dam displacing over 3 000 families and destroying with it millions of dollars’
worth of property and livestock.

The current
rains being received in the province are a reminiscent of the chilling February
2014 downpours which caused the Tugwi-Mukosi national disaster as the dam has
now reached a record 86 percent and the rains continue.

The continuous
swelling of Tugwi-Mukosi dam over the past weeks has posed a threat to the
people living downstream prompting the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to be on
high alert.

The CPU
and Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) have reportedly alerted families
living downstream of the imminent danger as the rains keep pounding.

Tributaries
pouring into the dam are reportedly full to capacity and Muzhwi dam which is
upstream of Tugwi Mukosi is also spilling.

Speaking
to TellZim News, Masvingo’s Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC), Jefter
Sakupwanya said they were doing awareness with District Development
Coordinators (DDCs) in the areas likely to be affected in the event the dam
spills.

“What
is critical at this stage is to intensify awareness especially to communities
downstream because if the dam begins to spill they will be affected.

“This
is what we are doing with three DDC’S from Chivi, Masvingo and Chiredzi working
with traditional leaders so that we make people aware of the dangers of the
possible spilling,” said Sakupwanya.

He also
said that communities downstream should be re ready to move to safer places
which have already been identified.

“People
living downstream should be ready to evacuate those places and go to higher
grounds. We had already identified safe places to house during the alert of
Cyclone Chalane so we have places readily available,” said Sakupwanya.

Masvingo
province has been experiencing flash floods in recent weeks and many people
have lost valuable while some have been swept away.

A
family was marooned in Chiredzi, four lives were reportedly lost while some
families lost valuables in Chivi after the area received substantial rains
which prompted flooding of rivers and other areas with bad drainage.

Covid-19: Masvingo’s ICU centre stalls

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Covid-19: Masvingo’s ICU centre stalls

 

Masvingo Provincial Medical Director Dr Amadeus Shamhu

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – When
Vice President Kembo Mohadi, in his capacity as the chairperson of the national
Covid-19 taskforce, toured the Masvingo Provincial Hospital to assess the
progress being made in the construction of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for
Covid-19 patients in June last year, he was promised that the 21 bed structure
would be completed in no time but the project has stalled at window level.

The ICU
facility was said to be financed by Mimosa Mining Company while the army and
prisons services provided artisans.

During
the tour, Mohadi was told that the ICU would be the first of its kind in the
province and was to cater for severe cases of coronavirus patients.

By then,
Masvingo had recorded a few Covid-19 positive cases and there were no
fatalities but seven months later, the province has witnessed a surge in
positive cases with the latest provincial statistics as at January 18, 2021
putting Masvingo at a total cumulative cases of 1 310.

A total
of 43 people have succumbed to Covid-19 in the province and total active cases
stand at 349 as at January 18.

When
contacted for comment Masvingo Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Amadeus
Shamhu said the ICU centre was nowhere near completion as work had been stalled
by a number of issues mainly material.

“The
ICU centre will not be finished any time soon, there is a lot of material that
is not there for work to continue.

“If you
get in touch with the public works engineers they will tell you exactly why
there is no progress,” said Dr Shamhu.

Minister
of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira, who is
also the provincial chairperson of the Covid-19 taskforce could not be drawn
into comment as his mobile went unanswered but in his previous interview with
TellZim News, Chadzamira said that they were facing challenges to buy the
required material but the money was there.

Presently,
Masvingo is relying on a 10 bed isolation centre which was born out of Rujeko
Clinic.

 

 

Firing of councillors affects service delivery, says Mutare mayor

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Firing of councillors affects service delivery, says Mutare mayor

City of Mutare mayor Blessing Tandi

 

…as
Mwonzora fires deputy mayor, six others

 

Felix
Matasva

City of Mutare mayor Blessing Tandi has
said the firing of seven councillors by then MDC-T secretary general Douglas
Mwonzora in December last year has impacted service delivery in the border town
as seven wards have been left vacant without council representation.

Mwonzora fired seven councillors
including the deputy mayor for supporting MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.

Ward 4 councillor Edson Kalulu, Ward 5 councillor
Simon Mapuvire, Ward 8 councillor Sophia Gwasira, Ward 9 councillor Chrispen
Dube, Ward 17 councillor John Nyamhoka, Ward 18 councillor and Deputy Mayor
Kudakwashe Chisango and Ward 13 councillor Monica Mukwada were all chopped in
the recent purges by Mwonzora in his last act as the secretary general.

Tandi said they had built a team and
the recent purging disrupted all the activities leaving huge gaps that have a
bearing on service delivery.

“It has been over two years of working
together and we had made a solid team which was working to ensure that the
people receive the best services.

“It is sad that the team has been
destroyed by the firing of seven councillors among them the deputy mayor. What
this means is that the team is now incomplete and as a result service delivery
suffers.

“Who will be hearing the voices of the
people in the seven wards? It is quite unfortunate but we have to wait until
there are replacements through by-elections,” said Tandi.

City of Mutare has a total of 19 Wards.

Mutare has been recognized as one of
the best run cities in the country in terms of service delivery but Tandi said
the firing of the councillors would put a strain on the remaining councillors
who would have to cater for the orphaned wards.

City of Mutare recently lost its Town Clerk, Joshua Maligwa, who succumbed to Covid-19.

US$2.5 million heist crew member shot dead in Zaka

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US$2.5 million heist crew member shot dead in Zaka

 

Clayton Shereni

A 32-year-old man allegedly
linked to the recent US$2.5 million in-transit-cash heist was yesterday
(January 14) shot dead in Masvingo at Ndanga Business Centre, Zaka district, at
around 18:00hrs, TellZim can reveal.

The man who has been identified
as Andrew Zigara was on the run after some of his other accomplices were nabbed
by the police on allegations of taking part in the heist.

Zigara was gunned at Ndanga
Business Centre while trying to run away from Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) Harare homicide section officers who had tracked him.

It is alleged that he was shot in
the abdomen and died upon admission at Ndanga Hospital about 30 minutes later.

Zigara was hiding in the area, which
is reportedly his home area, after he realized that he was wanted by the police
in connection with the heist.

The CID officers also managed to
track the deceased’s long-time friend identified only as Jefias who was then taken
for since questioning.

National police spokesperson, Ass
Commissioner Paul Nyathi said more investigations were under way.

“Police is investigating the
case of the US$2.7 million ZB Bank cash-in-transit heist. I can confirm that
one of the suspects was yesterday shot at Ndanga where he was hiding. He tried
to flee, resulting in him being shot and unfortunately he died upon
admission at Ndanga hospital,” said Nyathi.

It is alleged that the deceased
had given Jefias US$50 000 to buy two houses in Rujeko C and Mucheke B, which
he bought and registered them using his name (Jefias) and that of Zigara’s
wife.

The exact amount recovered from
the operation is yet to be known.

Other suspects in the Gwebi heist
have since appeared before the courts while some are still at large dodging the
long arm of the law.

On November 30, 2020, other armed
robbers got off with US$300 00 at Chivi growth point after staging a daring
heist targeting cash delivery to a Mukuru money transfer agency booth .

The body of the dead suspect

Of Masvingo’s scofflaws and surge in Covid-19 cases

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Of Masvingo’s scofflaws and surge in Covid-19 cases

 



Clayton Shereni

With the
country under a strict 30-day-long national lockdown which the authorities
believe will help to flatten the Covid-19 pandemic curve, many Zimbabweans were
caught unprepared as they came from the festive season.

The
festive season is usually a time of merry-making and spending, with families
reuniting with those returning from the diaspora.

The
movement of people during the festive season caused a huge surge in Covid-19
cases and deaths since the first cases were recorded in March last year.

Since
March last year, the country has been on different levels of the Covid-19
induced lockdown. At some point, the pandemic seemed largely contained, but
only for the nation to be surprised by a second wave which has proved to be
deadlier.

Masvingo
province had only two active cases as of July 09, 2020, but is now getting
overwhelmed, with authorities blaming unlawful acts as the major contributor to
the recent sharp spike in the infection rate.

As of
January 11, 2021, a total of 27 585 arrests had been made while 11 183 cars had
been impounded across the province for failing to adhere to the lockdown regulations
since March last year.

The
province has recorded a total of 1 491 cumulative cases and 34 deaths, 546
cases remain active while recoveries stand at 911 as of January 13, 2021.

January
05, 2021, saw a return of a much intense level four lockdown across the country
amidst a great surge in the number of infections.

From
January 05 – 11, Masvingo recorded 1 672 arrests while 373 cars have been
impounded. The new level four lockdown came with a host of conditions
including; closure of beer halls, bottle stores, banning of gatherings, 6pm to
6am curfew among other stringent measures.

However,
the police have been busy enforcing the measures with significant arrests being
made across the province and most of them coming from the urban areas.

Police
have been out in full force making arrests and using minimal force on those
caught on the wrong side of the lockdown laws.

Provincial
police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa said they were out in full
force to make sure the regulations are being followed and warned defaulters
that the law will take its course.

“From
our assessment, we are seeing a positive response. The police are on high
alert, enforcing the set regulations and people have seen that disobedience
isn’t paying because lawbreakers are being arrested. We are talking very loudly
about compliance,” said Dhewa.

He also
warned those engaging in illegal activities that contradict the set rules that
the police will pounce on them and that they will answer for their actions.

 “We want to warn those operating shebeens and
beer halls to stop forthwith. Our thrust is to stop the spread of the pandemic
not to punish them but if they don’t take heed of what the government
directives, they give us no option but to make arrests. Even those who are
moving unnecessarily and after the stipulated curfew hours will be arrested,”
added Dhewa.

However,
some have blamed law enforcers not only in Masvingo but across the country for
selective application of the law even at roadblocks where alleged corruption
can give travellers the right of passage.

Critics
also say law enforcers must also avoid touching exemption letters and any form
of exemption being used by the public on roadblocks as this may be a
super-spreaders of the virus.

The
provincial Covid-19 taskforce is, however, concerned with the level of
ignorance in high-density suburbs where people are moving around without
properly wearing facemasks.

Masvingo
Province Covid-19 taskforce spokesperson, Rodgers Irimayi said the compliance
was fair but bemoaned that the high-density areas were a cause for concern as
residents are roaming around without face masks.

“Generally
in our province, people are trying to comply but some think these measures were
put in place for those in cities only. We have also noted that in residential
areas people are moving without face masks.

“One of
our major problems is revelers who are unscrupulously finding means to meet and
drink alcohol. Some are operating shabeens and we are unleashing the police to
make arrests so that we contain this pandemic,” said Irimayi.

Some
are rather wearing masks when they meet law enforcers and some don’t bother to
wear the masks even at boreholes where they will be jostling for water.

With
service delivery on its knees in the country, Masvingo has also experienced a
service delivery catastrophe especially when it comes to water supply and this
has prompted meandering and long queues, handling of the borehole without
proper safety measures being followed and maximum contact.

 This is also another area that can be a
breeding place for the virus and washing of hands and sanitization should be
regularly done.

With
the economy on its knees and the majority being informal traders, law
enforcement agencies have been engaging in running battles with vendors in
high-density suburbs who are trying to make ends meet but rather end up getting
carried away and forget about Covid-19 preventative measures.

 As cases surge, it is a public secret that
there is a need for the general populace to start thinking straight and accept
that this pandemic is real and deadly.

The
surge is also a wake-up call for law enforcers to genuinely enforce the
regulations and also the need for continuous awareness campaigns

Masvingo mayor takes charge of fired Cllrs’ wards

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Masvingo mayor takes charge of fired Cllrs’ wards
Collen Maboke

Wayne Ncube

City of
Masvingo Mayor Collen Maboke has said that he will be in charge of four wards
which were left vacant after the councillors were fired by then MDC-T secretary
general and now president Douglas Mwonzora.

Masvingo
Urban’s wards 3, 4, 5 and 7 were left vacant and without council representation
after their councillors Tarusenga Vhembo, Godfrey Kurauone, Daniel Mberikunashe
and Richard Musekiwa respectively, were expelled for belonging to another
party.

To
ensure that service delivery continues and people’s concerns are taken to
council, Maboke said he will be the one taking over the responsibilities left
by the expelled councillors.

“We
have lost four councillors who have been fired by their parties. As the mayor
and leader of the councillors, it is my job to take over and make sure that the
people do not feel orphaned.

“If
residents in the affected wards have any issues they wish to be addressed, they
should not hesitate to contact me and I will be there to address the challenges
and take them to council,” said Maboke during a recent press conference.

Mwonzora
said has said fired Vhembo by mistake and he will make sure that he got
reinstated.

Service
delivery in Masvingo has plummeted with uncollected garbage, deplorable roads
and erratic water supplies being the new normal.

Maboke
can be reached on 0774035444

 

 

 

 

I never resigned from Zanu PF— Bhasikiti

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I never resigned from Zanu PF— Bhasikiti

 

Upenyu Chaota

After
announcing that he was dumping MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa arguing that
his party no longer exists, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti has been accused of trying to
trace his footsteps back to the ruling Zanu PF party but the former Mwenezi
East legislator has hit back at his critics saying he never resigned from Zanu
PF.

Bhasikiti
was kicked out of Zanu PF in 2014 on allegations of trying to remove the then President
Robert Mugabe from power together with the Gamatox faction led by former vice
president Joyce Mujuru.

Bhasikiti
told TellZim News that people should understand that he never resigned from
Zanu PF but he did from the MDC Alliance.

“I was
not kicked out of the MDC Alliance but I had to quit after realising that I could
no longer belong to a party which does not exist. I supported Chamisa but since
he no longer has a party, I decided to leave him.

“Now
people are attacking my person saying I want to go back to Zanu PF but I want
to tell them that I never resigned from Zanu PF.

“Everyone
likes the old Zanu PF which believed in the politics of gutsaruzhinji.
Unfortunately the current Zanu PF has derailed from that principle and if they
mend their ways I would support them.

“What I
wanted was for MDC Alliance to become ideologically like Zanu PF during
its founding days but they have refused,” said Bhasikiti.

He said
he was quitting politics and will focus on agriculture at his farm in Mwenezi
where he says he is doing very well in maize seed and mango production.

“I am
now doing politics of production. The people need to eat at the end of the day
and I have decided to take it upon myself to feed the nation.

“We are
now looking beyond politics and we want to utilize the land we were given. I am
into maize seed and mango production. Our mangoes are being sold on the local
market and we have exported some,” said Bhasikiti.

After
the 2017 military coup of 2017 which downed Mugabe, Bhasikiti tried to find his
way into Zanu PF after pleading with the Zanu PF Masvingo Provincial
Coordinating Committee (PCC) for readmission but he was turned down.

 

 

 

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