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Corona virus hits Zimbabwean golfers hard

Staff Reporter
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Corona virus hits Zimbabwean golfers hard

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous effects towards the country’s golfing fraternity.

Local and international  tournaments have either been cancelled or postponed which has left many golfers without an income.

“COVID-19 has disrupted the sport in a huge way. Firstly, there was no golfing activity for almost 2 months which left the golf clubs without any significant revenue in that period yet the costs of maintaining the golf courses remained the same.

Furthermore, professionals who earn their money from coaching where also severely affected. All the tournaments have been indefinitely postponed amongst them the prestigious Zimbabwe Open which usually attracts a lot of foreign players into the country.

However, the government and other  stakeholders have been very supportive during this pandemic, what is important to understand and appreciate is that this is a unique situation which nobody anticipated and in the whole process some mistakes will be made.

I believe we are all working towards one goal which is to ensure that the sport can be played with minimal risk to participants and support staff. The process might be viewed as taking long by others but eventually things will return to some form of normalcy when it is safe to do so.

On the issue of resuming the sport, currently the safety and health of everyone is the number one priority, that being said, golf is one of the safer sports that can be played in this pandemic as it allows for social distancing. Currently it has been classified as low risk and has been allowed to resume for training purposes only.

However, the association will be guided by the government and medical experts on the next steps forward,” said Mufaro Chivonivoni, president of the Zimbabwe Golf Association.

Why Education Helps Advance Your Career

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Why Education Helps Advance Your Career

You may be on the fence about whether to pursue further education, however a degree is a major step in life that could open doors. During a higher-level education course, you’ll gain the skills, expertise and experience needed to succeed both professionally and in your personal life.

According to a study, gaining a degree will also help you feel much more confident in your future job roles due to the knowledge and skillset you have picked up along the way. In this guide, we’re going to look at just a few of the reasons as to why education may be able to advance your career.

1. Gain knowledge

Those who are about to start on their first-ever career path are doing so for one vital reason – to gain more knowledge in their desired career. Being aware of how an industry works and keeping up to date with the latest trends throughout your course will allow you to become an impressive candidate in the job market.

Within your degree, you may also be required to take on practical experience which will also set you apart when it comes to applying for future jobs. Having a vast amount of experience and valuable skills under your belt is sure to serve you well, regardless of the industry you plan on working in. When applying for sporting scholarships from asmscholarships.com, for example, you’ll be combining both practical and theoretical knowledge to understand the key requirements of a professional sportsperson.

2. A good work ethic

No college degree comes easily. It takes hours and hours and a great deal of determination to get a qualification, in which you will likely have had to make sacrifices to complete the course throughout the duration. Adding a higher-level education qualification to your resume is something that all employers are looking for as it proves that the candidates have a good work ethic. They should be willing to focus, expand their knowledge and work independently which are all valuable qualities for any company.

3. Boost your skillset

Throughout most degree courses, you’ll be equipping yourself with a vast majority of skills that can be used in the real world of work. Some skills that you’re likely to gain throughout your course, include the likes of:

  • Critical thinking
  • Time management
  • Written and verbal communication
  • Problem-solving

While some people don’t necessarily understand the advantages of education, those who have undergone years of study will come out the other side with attributes that cannot be learned elsewhere.

4. Grow your network

During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and interact with students from all walks of life. While you may not have considered the idea that you may have a limited way of thinking, meeting others and discussing topics in a classroom setting will certainly open your mind to new ideas and potentially even change your viewpoints. Expanding your network both in-person and online throughout your course will provide you with an abundance of additional knowledge that should potentially advance your career.

South Africa’s liquor traders cry foul over the alcohol ban

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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Johannesburg, South Africa – A number of liquor traders are crying foul over the suspension of the distribution and sale of alcohol.

This follows Sunday’s announcement by the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who emphasized the need of implementing the suspension so as to avoid burdening the country’s trauma and ICU units.

“This sector employees more than 1 million people and what’s going to happen to their families.

The government never consulted us, the industry has an annual turnover of R130 billion and contributes an annual tax fee of R50 billion, we are not happy with the decision,” said Lucky Ntimane, Convenor of the National Liquor Traders Council of South Africa.

However, Professor Charles Parry, Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Research Unit at the Medical Research Council of South Africa said the suspension of the sale and distribution of alcohol was essential considering the fact that the country is about to reach its COVID-19 peak.

“We did some modeling when we were at level 5 and realised that some of the country’s trauma units were receiving between 42 000 and 43 000 alcohol related cases per week and that was before the suspension of the sale of alcohol.

So from level 5 the suspension of alcohol really assisted in decongesting our trauma units, we have also realised that 40 percent of trauma cases are alcohol related,” said Professor Parry.

South Africa is now the 8th country in the world with the highest number of COVID-19 cases which are now nearing the 300 000 mark.

SADC urged to intervene in Mozambique’s Islamist dilemma

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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Pemba, Mozambique – They are now several calls for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in Mozambique’s Islamist insurgencies which have since left more than 1 000 people dead.

Many are worrying that if the insurgencies are not controlled now, they might spiral into other SADC states similar to the scenario of Boko Haram in West Africa.

“The massacres, beheadings, torture and violent conflict engulfing towns in northern Mozambique cannot be left as an island unto itself for the government of Mozambique to handle.

Now that the problem poses a threat to the regional peace and security of the southern African region, the onus is on all regional governments to become part of the solution.

This week, the Islamic State threatened that if South Africa puts forces on the ground in Mozambique then it would open fighting fronts within the borders of South Africa. This makes military involvement by South Africa in the counter-insurgency campaign a huge risk.

There will be no quick-fix to this problem given that the conflict is complex, multilayered and asymmetrical. The region needs to devise a co-ordinated response and a common front. 

In order to defeat the insurgency, the region will have to have a clear understanding of who they are fighting against and what is driving them. The insurgency has gained in strength and confidence since it pledged allegiance to Islamic State last year, which started taking responsibility for attacks.

While material deprivation, marginalisation and poverty remain root causes of the restiveness, religion has been a key factor. Muslims have been radicalised by extremist preachers from Kenya and Tanzania over many years. Kenyan Islamist militants had sought refuge in Tanzania, and when they were repressed there, they moved on and settled in Northern Mozambique.

Moreso, the movement began in 2007 as a religious sect which locals called al-Shabaab, which rejected the secular state and wanted to impose Sharia rule. They tore down Christian crosses and statues of Mozambique’s independence leaders Eduardo Mondlane and Samora Machel. 

Now that the group has pledged allegiance to Islamic State and is formally part of the Islamic State of Central Africa province, these outside forces will heavily influence the group’s strategy, tactics and targeting. This has hugely complicated the trajectory of the conflict, and a regional force will have to carefully strategise on how best such a motivated fighting force can be defeated with Mozambique’s porous borders and an unpatrolled coastline.

However, time is against the SADC and Mozambique, as the longer the insurgents have to mobilise forces, from within the region and to attract foreign fighters, and the more finances and weaponry they are able to accrue, the harder it will be to defeat them,” said  South Africa’s Shannon Ebrahim, Independent Media’s foreign editor.

Police brutality havocs MDC Alliance

Staff Reporter
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Police brutality havocs MDC Alliance

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The MDC Alliance’s Youth Assembly is crying foul over the nature of police brutality some of their members are experiencing.

Moreso, the national Youth Assembly has accused the ruling party as the one behind the brutalities.

“Yesterday, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimate regime once again illegally arrested one of our MDC Alliance Youth chairperson, Sekai ‘Muchaina’ Marashe who is our chairperson for the Midlands province.

Meanwhile, six heavily armed thugs suspected to be state agents raided MDC Alliance’s Youth deputy Treasurer General, Judith Tobaiwa’s residence where they made a break in and harassed her mother.

After failing to find Tobaiwa, the 6 poured unprintable polemic attacks on her mother before smashing windows.

It is very clear that the corrupt and illegitimate Emmerson Mnangagwa regime has now resorted to unorthodox means to quell the impending 31 July nationwide protests.

We shall not relent even in face of unjustified persecution and illegal arrests,” said Stephen Chuma, MDC Alliance’s Youth Assembly national spokesperson.

More warnings for Mnangagwa

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More warnings for Mnangagwa

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – Poverty Liberation Movement (PLM), which encompasses various stakeholders including some members of the public, civil societies, and some opposition parties amongst others have warned the country’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa against continued human rights violations.

The PLM is set to conduct a nationwide demonstration against the administration of the country’s President come July 31 2020.

“Illegal arrests and unscrupulous night antics of the regime on government critics is not going to be tolerated.

As PLM, we have noted with disgust and detest the unjust persecution of dissenting voices by state machinery ahead of the 31 July protests.

Within just a week, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s panic stricken regime besieged homes of Hon. Job Sikhala and ARTUZ president Obert Masaraure, in the wee hours of the night in a foiled bid to abduct the duo. The duo’s only crime is speaking on behalf of the suffering masses.

As PLM, we would like to state it clear that any further harassment through night shinenigans by state actors on citizens is not going to be tolerated.

Abductions and illegal arrests can never solve the poverty question but can only fuel public wrath ahead of 31 July.

As PLM, we are going to retaliate in full force at the persecution of citizens’ leaders,” read a statement issued out by the PLM.

Growing concerns over Zambian President infringing the freedom of expression

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Growing concerns over Zambian President infringing the freedom of expression

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Lusaka, Zambia – Some members of the opposition parties are blaming the country’s President, Edgar Lungu for infringing their freedom of expression.

President Lungu is being accused of intimidating some politicians and infringing the movement of people.

Although the allegations have been denied, they are now growing concerns on the way the government is infringing the freedom of expression.

United States Charge d’ Affaires to Zambia David Young, is amongst one of the concerned who has since questioned the waywardness of the government.

However, MP, Bowman Lusambo, Lusaka’s Provincial Minister has since castigated the narrative of human rights violations.

“We only have a good President in Edgar Lungu, where we have reached with Edgar Lungu is at the highest. We will continue to tell the people what Edgar Lungu has done.

For me, President Lungu has given me a status, so when I am moving to South Africa or Dubai, they give me respect,” said the Provincial Minister.

Last month, in a statement issued by the Zambian Youth Charter, the youths stated that they were concerned with the increased levels of unemployment, grand corruption and infringement of human rights, amongst other issues currently affecting the country.

Mauritius boosts food production

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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Port Louis, Mauritius – Mauritius has decided to use the COVID-19 pandemic as a way of boosting its food production.

The southern African country is aiming at reducing its food imports through an intensive production of its own food.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the crucial need to boost local food production systems and strengthen food security so as to decrease reliance on imports. 

Mauritius is bestowed with fertile soil and favourable climate conditions for agriculture and planters should avail themselves of governmental facilities and consider the cultivation of tropical plants such as avocado and breadfruit

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered opportunities for us to strengthen food security and regain food sovereignty to help increase local food production to meet demand,” said Maneesh Gobin, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security.

The European Union has also pledged its support towards improving the agricultural welfare of Mauritius through funding and other initiatives that are geared towards boosting the country’s food security.

Russia Raids 110 Homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Largest in One Day

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Russian authorities armed with assault rifles raided 110 homes of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Voronezh Region on July 13, 2020, according to an official press release by the Voronezh Region Investigative Committee. This is the largest series of raids conducted in one day on Jehovah’s Witnesses in modern Russia. Preliminary reports from my colleagues indicates that at least two Witnesses were beaten.

Some Witnesses reported that when the officers stormed into their houses to conduct the searches, they would force people to the ground and press their faces to the floor. Additionally, the law enforcement officers did not wear masks or take any precautions against the spread of COVID-19.

Jarrod Lopes, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses, states: “This month, the total number of Witnesses’ homes raided has surged to over 1,000 since 2017. For reasons passing understanding, heavily armed officers—as if being deployed for combat—are storming into the homes of peaceful Christians, many of whom are elderly. Human rights advocates and international judicial bodies continue to publicly condemn Russia for targetting Jehovah’s Witnesses. We hope Russian leaders will halt the persecution and uphold the freedom of religion and belief that is enshrined in its Constitution.”

My colleagues are still gathering information on this mass raid operation. So far, we’ve confirmed with some 60 Witness families that their homes were searched. Our confirmation process has been slow because the authorities confiscated the Witnesses’ phones.

The previous record for the highest number of searches in one day was on February 10, 2020, when the authorities raided 50 Witness homes in the Transbaikal Region. Other notable mass raids were in Sochi (35 searches, October 2019) and Nizhny Novgorod (35 searches, July 2019). Since the 2017 Supreme Court ruling to ban our activities, over 1,000 homes of our fellow worshippers have been raided (this does not yet include the raids in Voronezh).

South Africa recording 500 COVID-19 cases per hour

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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Pretoria, South Africa – South Africa is now recording an average of 500 COVID-19 cases per hour, with an average of 12 00 COVID-19 cases per day.

To date, the country has recorded 276 242 COVID-19 cases making it the 10th highest in the world. It has also recorded 4 079 COVID-19 related fatalities.

Yesterday the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, read out the country’s COVID-19 update.

“We are now witnessing an exponential increase in the number of COVID-19 cases which has prompted the National Corona Command Council (NCCC) to make some adjustments.

The national state of disaster has been further extended to the 15th of August 2020.

We have also noted that our trauma and ICU sections are now being overburdened by alcohol related cases as such the sale and distribution of alcohol has been suspended with immediate effect.

Furthermore, there will now be a curfew which will start on Monday from 9pm to 4am,” said Ramaphosa.

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs as well as the chairperson of the NCCC said the decisions taken by the NCCC to curb the spread of the virus were spot on.

“The decisions taken by the NCCC are on point as they are helping in curbing the spread of the virus.

People should not act as if this virus is only supposed to be solved by the government, each and every individual has a responsibility that they should take in mitigating the spread of the virus.

Wearing of masks is now mandatory when one is in public places, let us all take the necessary precautions in avoiding this virus,” said the Minister.

Some of the country’s scientists have predicted that South Africa will reach its peak by the end of this month with between 40 000 and 50 000 COVID-19 related fatalities expected by the end of the year.

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