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Gaths Mine hospital staff sent on forced leave

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Gaths Mine hospital staff sent on forced leave
Great Zimbabwe Hospital formerly Gaths Mine Hospital
Clayton Shereni

The
staff at Gaths Mine Hospital, which was taken over by Great Zimbabwe University
(GZU) and turned into a Covid-19 isolation center, were recently sent on forced
leave effective July 1, 2020.

The
Matron in Charge and other senior workers were all sent on forced leave and no
communication has been given by the authorities as to when they would be back
to work.

One
of the workers who spoke to TellZim News confirmed being sent on leave but
referred further questions to Doctor Jefferson Makoni, who is said to be the
one in charge of the hospital operations.

“Yes
we have been sent on forced leave starting July 1, 2020 but you can talk to Dr Makoni
he is the one who can tell you what you need to know,” said one of the staff on
condition of anonymity.

Dr
Makoni refused to comment on the matter and directed all questions to SMM
Holdings top management.

SMM
Holdings Human Resources manager Catherine Nyambiya said she didn’t want to comment
on the matter stating that she wasn’t authorized to speak to the media.

“I’m
not authorized to speak to you. I’m not the employer so I won’t give you any
comment, you can go on and write what you want,” said Nyambiya.

Chirandu
Dhlembeu, SMM Holdings CEO refused to comment on the issue saying his workers
have to make use of internal channels of communication.

“My
workers do not come through the newspaper, we have a formal channel of
communication. If there are issues they want to clarify with us they can make
use of that,” said Dhlembeu.

Sources
have however, alleged that the staff which have been sent on leave will not get
any salaries and ruled out any possibility of the workers getting back to work
since GZU had taken over the hospital.  

The
move has been heavily criticized with former mine workers who said that this
will leave the community vulnerable since the hospital was a referral centre
for the Mashava catchment area.

Hundreds
of people in Mashava are at the verge of defaulting their monthly
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) after the only hospital which was serving the
Mashava community was recently turned into a Covid-19 isolation facility and
the hospital staff sent on unpaid leave.

One
of the hospital workers who is also a victim of the forced leave, spoke to
TellZim News on condition of anonymity and said there are hundreds of former
mine workers, their spouses and children who risk not getting treatment.

“We
have a lot of people on ART and this will leave them vulnerable because they
were collecting their treatment so with the current situation where the
facility now focuses on COVID-19 issues only and turning away locals, this will
turn out nasty if nothing is done to cater for these people,” said the worker.

SMM
Holdings and its employees have been at loggerheads in recent years over unpaid
salaries and wages which date back to 2012 but the company has reportedly gone
bankrupt.

 

 

Zanu PF’s Zizhou stands up for Chivi South

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Zanu PF’s Zizhou stands up for Chivi South
  Zanu PF aspiring Chivi South candidate Munyaradzi Zizhou in scarf
TellZim Reporter

After
Zanu PF fired Killer Zivhu and recalled him from Parliament, Chivi South
constituency has been left vacant with prospecting candidates jostling to win
popular appeal in the face of a crippling economy and a devastating coronavirus
pandemic.

Zivhu
had become a darling for the people of Chivi South and it would seem difficult
for any candidate to fill his shoes but the 32-year-old Munyaradzi Zizhou, born
under Chief Nemauzhe in Mandiva Village, seems ready to carry on the torch.

With
age on his side, Zizhou has hit the ground running implementing various
projects and lending a helping hand to the people of Chivi South.

In
the face of the coronavirus pandemic Zizhou has launched a programme to
sanitise Chivi South in which he targets to give hand sanitisers to every
household as a preventative measure against the deadly pandemic.

When
Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) undertook to construct Tugwi Mukosi
Secondary School using devolution funds, Zizhou who is into construction,
offered his construction vehicles to carry river and pit sand for the whole
project.

Zizhou
also pledged to pay all the builders for the project, taking the load away from
the shoulders of the community as Chivi RDC could only help with all the
construction material leaving the community with the responsibility over the
builders.

Zizhou
told TellZim News that his desire is to see Zanu PF retaining Chivi South and
make sure that the name of President Emmerson Mnangagwa is heard and sung
across the constituency.

“In
Zanu PF we say iwe neni tine basa so we have to work hard so that we retain the
seat. We have to deliver the seat back to Zanu PF.

“If
Zanu PF and the people choose me to take the seat I will graciously accept. As
a youth, I do not do any projects without engaging our leadership because they
are the ones who guide us. Chivi South has a special place in my heart and I
will work hard to better the lives of our people.

“It
is the youth who have a lot of energy to campaign for the party so that when
2023 comes, Zanu PF and President Emmerson Mnangagwa will win resoundingly,”
said Zizhou

Shekinah Glory helps woman with fibrosis undergo surgery

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Shekinah Glory helps woman with fibrosis undergo surgery


Exsto
Makunzva

A Zvishavane woman suffering
severe fibroids was recently given a new lease of life after Shekinah Glory, a
charity organization, helped her undergo medical surgery at a cost of $40 000.

For a long time, Edna
Nyoni of Shonhai Village under Chief Mapanzure, had suffered from the fibroids
that were manifesting in several ways including an abnormally-protruded stomach.

Her tummy had grown so
big that she appeared as though she was heavily pregnant, while a continuous
flow of blood made the situation even worse.

Her relief came when
Shekinah Glory learnt about her predicament and began working on modalities for
her medical operation which was conducted at Gweru General Hospital on June 16.

Shekinah Glory was
founded by Bangladesh-based Juliet Bvekwa who also runs an orphanage centre taking
care of vulnerable children.

The organization is
assisting many people living with HIV and Aids under its Ndine Hanya (I Care) programme.

It is through this
programme that Nyoni got to meet Bvekwa to ask for help as she had heard that
Shekinah Glory could be in position to help.

After listening to
Nyoni’s story, Bvekwa was greatly touched by her plight and she set out to look
for ways to help her.

In an interview with TellZim
News, Nyoni, who is a 37-year-old mother of three, said she had almost lost all
hope.

“It was a tough time
for me. I used to stay with my husband in Mberengwa but when my situation
worsened in 2018, my husband took me to my parents’ place where he left me and never
returned. I suffered until the help I got courtesy of Shekinah Glory. My father
could not afford the money that was required for the whole process to get me
operated.

“I thank God for
sending me Juliet Bvekwa and her team at Shekinah Glory because I am now completely
healed with all the fibroids removed,” said Nyoni.

School fees for one of
her two daughters who attend Mabhazuli Primary is now being paid by a teacher
who felt sorry for the family’s dire circumstances.

Edna Nyoni before operation


Shekinah Glory
Children’s Home manager, Susan Magama said she was glad that the organization’s
efforts had paid off.

“We have to thank God
who helps the needy and vulnerable, and who also restores hope where all hope
has been lost. We have a good leader in Juliet Bvekwa who used her own salary to
pay for Edna’s treatment,” said Magama.

Her words were
supported by Shekinah Glory programmes coordinator Junias Chirongoma who said
the organization was doing a lot with very little resources.

“We are currently paying
fees for 177 children in various primary and secondary schools in Zvishavane. We
are also supporting five children at different universities with tuition and
some of their other requirements,” Chirongoma.

 

Mid-Year Budget Review ignores informal sector: VISET

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Mid-Year Budget Review ignores informal sector: VISET

TellZim Reporter

The Vendors Initiative for Social
and Economic Transformation (Viset) has criticised the Mid-Year Budget Review recently
presented by the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Prof Mthuli Ncube,
saying it pays lip service to the struggles faced by people in the informal
sector of the economy.

In a statement released in the
wake of the budget statement, the organisation criticised many aspects of the
budget review including failure to release money for disbursement to the most
economically vulnerable citizens.

“It is saddening to note that to
date there has been no meaningful disbursements of the cushioning allowance for
informal traders that was announced back in April. The Minister, in his
presentation, spoke only of a harmonised social cash transfer that is said to
be targeting the poor in 23 districts, with 63000 households benefitting.

“In the interests of
transparency, it would be proper to disclose the quantum that these households
are receiving and through what payment method given the restrictions on bulk
payments by mobile service providers,” Viset says in the statement.

The organisation also expressed
displeasure that the money that government claimed to have set aside for social
welfare grants back in April has not been reviewed upwards despite the ravages
of inflation.

“There was no revision to the
amount previously announced as a stimulus package for business of ZWL 18.2
billion despite the fact that inflation has already decimated this amount
before we have even heard of any disbursements having been done.

“In light of the Minister’s own
acknowledgment that all sectors of the economy will record declines in
production, with the manufacturing sector in particular recording a -10 percent
drop, it is folly that not more resources were channelled in order to boost
production and food security,” the statement reads.

“With regards taxes, the
Intermediary Money Transfer Tax (IMTT) free threshold was raised from ZWL 100
to ZWL 300, in total disregard of the inflation rate reported to be north of
750 percent. The pay as you earn tax free threshold was raised from ZWL 2000 to
5000 but will however be insufficient to boost disposable incomes,” it further
reads.

 

High Court grants Kurauone bail

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High Court grants Kurauone bail

Virginia Njovo

MASVINGO – The High Court today granted MDC Alliance national youth
organising secretary Godfrey Kurauone $1000 bail, ending his 10-day long
languish in remand prison.

Justice Neville Wamambo concurred
with defence lawyer Martin Mureri, who is acting on behalf of the Zimbabwe
Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), that Kurauone was not a flight risk.

The Masvingo Urban Ward 4 councillor
reported to the Masvingo police Law and Order Section on July 06 in the company
of Mureri and was immediately arrested for allegedly undermining the President.

He was taken to the Magistrates’ Court the next morning and was denied bail and spent all the following days at
Masvingo Remand Prison.

His arrest came in
the wake of the arrest of his alleged accomplices Ephraim Mutombeni and Godfrey
Mtimba on similar charges.

While Mtimba has been waiting to be informed about his court appearance date, Mutombeni was released
on bail on July 06 after languishing in remand prison for a week.

 

Police almost completely lockdown Masvingo

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Police almost completely lockdown Masvingo

Ratidzo Munembi

Residents in Masvingo today woke
up to an almost completely locked down city, with police mounting serious roadblocks
on the main roads leading into the CBD.

Close to Mucheke Bridge on the
main road leading to the high density suburbs, the police maintained a heavy
presence at Crafts Centre.

Many people were forced to
disembark and crossover into town on foot while some motorists simply turned
back in frustration.

The situation was similar along
all the other main roads getting into town, with police saying people should go
back home as only those providing ‘essential services’ were being allowed free
passage.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson
Chief Inspector Charity Mazula told TellZim News the heightened lockdown was to
discourage unnecessary movement into town in light of the rising cases of
coronavirus.

“This is being done to limit the
number of people getting into town. As we all know, cases of coronavirus are
rising in the country and we want only people with good reasons to move around
to do so,” said Mazula.

She dismissed rumours that police
were reacting to expectations of politically-motivated demonstrations in light
of the street protests that opposition parties and some activists have slated
for July 31.

 

 

 

Covid-19 positive woman gives birth to healthy baby

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Covid-19 positive woman gives birth to healthy baby

Virginia Njovo

A female Covid-19 case isolated at Rujeko Clinic in Masvingo on Sunday,
July 12 delivered a healthy baby boy with the assistance of a team of dedicated
City of Masvingo nurses, TellZim News has learnt.

The woman came from South Africa and she was quarantined at Masvingo
Teachers College with the last group before the college was decommissioned as
quarantine center at the beginning of June.

After testing positive to coronavirus, she was moved to the isolation
centre where she remained relatively stable under monitoring from health
authorities.

“Assist me in thanking the Masvingo City Matron and nursing staff for
safely managing the Covid-19 positive woman to deliver a bouncing baby,”
said City of Masvingo Town Clerk Edward Mukaratirwa in a statement.

Masvingo Provincial Information Officer (PIO) Rogers Irimayi said the nursing
staff had done their best to ensure the safe delivery of the baby.

“The baby was delivered during the night and I am pleased that both mother
and daughter are safe and sound. We thank everybody involved for the great work
done,” said Irimayi.

 

 

 

Activist Mtombeni further remanded

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Covid-19 starvation: Isolated woman gets aid after TellZim story

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Covid-19 starvation: Isolated woman gets aid after TellZim story

Moses Ziyambi

A coronavirus positive Bikita
woman who was on the verge of starvation has finally received food aid from the
local Member of Parliament (MP) after TellZim told her story.

A relieved Edith Chisirimunhu,
who has been in self- isolation at her homestead in Chirume Village under Chief
Mabika since the beginning of June, called TellZim News soon after Bikita East
MP Josiah Sithole and Ward 1 Councillor Teserai Makhado visited her on July 11.

She said she was grateful that
her story had been reported and shared widely on several platforms, resulting
in the response.

“I am probably one of several
people facing hunger in isolation but I am fortunate that you covered my story
and I received some help less than a week later,” said Chisirimunhu.

She received a 50kg bag of rice,
sugar, creamer, cooking oil, washing powder, bars of laundry soap, Mazoe
cordial and salt.

Sithole also called TellZim the
following day to express gratitude for helping to highlight what he described
as a desperate case which required urgent help.

“I am glad that we have all
played our part to help this Covid-19 positive case. I gave her what I obtained
using my own resources and I will work to source more food for her. In
parliament, I have asked the portfolio committee on social welfare to find a
way to cater for such cases,” said Sithole.

He said he was saddened by the stigmatization
that Chisirimunhu’s family was suffering in their community.

“I took time to discuss with them
the challenges they will always face and I encouraged Edith to remain strong
while helping to protect her family members from contracting the virus,” said
Sithole.

Read the original story here [ https://tellzim.com/2020/07/covid-19-woman-endures-starvation-in.html
]

 

 

  

 

 

 

Masvingo Hospital accountant accused of fleecing employer

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Masvingo Hospital accountant accused of fleecing employer



… takes payment through personal EcoCash number 

Brighton Chiseva

MASVINGO – Some patients who have been attended to at Masvingo
Provincial Hospital have alleged that an accountant employed at the institution
is stealing from his employer by using his own personal EcoCash number to
receive payment for hospital fees.

A number of patients confirmed
having been asked to pay the money into Semucle Ganyani’s EcoCash number.

“When I got to the accounts clerk
to pay for the services, I was told that the EcoCash POS machine was not
working but I could send the amount to his cellphone number and he will later
use his own bank card to make the payment to the hospital.

“He gave me a card with his
number and name and I transferred the money and he gave me a receipt. I was
suspicious of the receipt book though everything seemed normal at the surface,”
said one source

Another source said she also
experience a similar incident with Ganyani and was asked to pay the amount due
to his own EcoCash number on the pretext that the EcoCash POS machine was
faulty.

“I did not suspect anything until
many other people began to talk about it. Two other patients who shared a ward
also paid different amounts into his EcoCash number. One of the patients wanted
to pay half his bill amounting to $1 500 using a bankcard but he was asked to
rather use EcoCash as the hospital ostensibly did not allow half payments to be
made by card,” said the source.

When contacted for comment
Ganyani confirmed that he indeed asked some patients to transfer money in his
personal EcoCash wallet but said he only wanted to some mobile money so he
could conveniently buy airtime.

“Sometimes we have problems with
our POS machines and we cannot give receipts when the machine has not produced
proof of payment. So to help patients are in a hurry, I ask them to transfer
the money into my mobile money wallet which I use for airtime and I swipe for
them later,” said Ganyani.

However, a fellow employee said
the hospital had an EcoCash merchant code 74684 through which bills could be
settled even if the POS machine malfunctioned, with handwritten receipts given
once the patient has received the SMS notification with confirmation of the
payment.

When contacted for comment the
Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Julius Chirengwa said he had not yet heard
about the issue and referred further questions to General Surgeon Dr Noel Zulu who
could not be reached for comment by the time of writing.

 

 

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