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Cricket returns to South Africa after Covid-19 lockdown

Samuel Musarika
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Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Pretoria, South Africa – Cricket South Africa (CSA) will try a new format of cricket that will see three teams competing in a single 36 over match.

Captains AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada will lead teams of eight players who will bat for a total of 12 overs, six per innings, during which time they will face both opponents in the field.

At the fall of the seventh wicket, the last remaining batsman can carry on, but only score in even numbers, twos, four or a six. The team with the highest aggregate total at the end of the game will be declared the winner.

 “It’s been quite some time since the South African public and fans of cricket worldwide have been able to consume the game we all love.

I know that the players are itching to get back into action as well. It’s a thrilling new format and a match that is working towards a greater good,” said Graeme Smith, CSA director.

The inaugural match will take place on the 27th of this month at the Supersport Park in Centurion, Pretoria. It will be played in an empty stadium.

Return of Zimbabwean football still a mystery

Samuel Musarika
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By Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) as well as the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are still mum on the resumption of football in the southern African country.

Countries like Tanzania and South Africa have already resumed their football activities with Tanzania having opened up its entire football leagues last weekend and South Africa allowed to conduct training.

However, this is despite the fact that the two countries have more COVID-19 confirmed cases as compared to Zimbabwe which has less than 500 COVID-19 cases.

Many players have been left without an income due to the suspension of the PSL. Last week some players of one of the PSL’s top flight teams, CAPS United, demonstrated at the club house demanding to be remunerated.

Regardless, ZIFA has since said its waiting on the government to give it the nod and also said it was not aware of any players who were not paid their dues.

“We are guided by government policy and we haven’t received any complaint yet,” said ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela.

Nevertheless, Mark Harrison, the former Highlanders coach who is currently in England also concurred with ZIFA citing that football was only supposed to resume when it was safe to do so.

“Football can only start up again when it’s truly safe to do so, remember clubs in Europe are testing their players and staff daily,  I don’t think any clubs in Zimbabwe have that capability to do so and therefore keep their employees safe,” said Harrison.

Harrison further added that once football resumes he would prefer going back to Highlanders, “I am hoping to return to Highlanders once things normalise.”

Triangle United coach, Taurai Mangwiro also supported the move to wait on government’s instructions before contemplating about resuming football.

“We have fewer COVID-19 cases than all the countries that have resumed their football but I think it’s best to wait on the government’s instructions to avoid unnecessary repercussions.

The Triangle United coach further added that despite football not being allowed to resume his team was keeping fit nevertheless, “we as a team have been conducting training through virtual platforms so as soon as the government gives the nod we will be ready to go.”

The MDC is not fit for purpose, Zimbabwe deserves a better opposition party

Samuel Musarika
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The MDC is not fit for purpose, Zimbabwe deserves a better opposition party

Opinions from The Zimbabwe Daily

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has been Zimbabwe’s main opposition party since its formation in 1999. The MDC was formed by former trade unionists who were at odds with the government over its treatment of workers. The MDC’s agenda for change in the country resonated with many of the disgruntled Zimbabweans and for that they enjoyed successive electoral victories. They managed to penetrate into former Zanu PF strongholds, which threatened the very existence of Zanu PF and led to panic within the Mugabe regime. Many believed that the MDC would inevitably form a new government that would lead Zimbabwe into the promised golden age.

Unfortunately, the MDC has failed to dislodge the Zanu PF government after multiple attempts. There have been allegations of electoral fraud. Some of the allegations are well founded but then the are some allegations that are far-fetched such as the science fiction ballot paper made in Israel. Unfortunately, some folk in Zimbabwe have very basic reasoning so they believe ridiculous assertions, be it from Zanu PF or MDC. However, this opinion piece is not about the gullibility of Zimbabwe folk but about the failure of the MDC.

The MDC finds it easy to blame the ruling elite for their own failures instead of looking each other in the eye and accept that their own failures are a creation of their own. Currently, the MDC is tearing itself apart as the Chamisa and Khupe camps fight each other for the crown of the party. Their sole focus as it stands is who will be victorious but they are not thinking at what cost. The story of how we came  to this goes back to the early day of the MDC and the subsequent splits. The recurring theme in all these has been one of not accepting responsibility but laying the blame squarely at Zanu PF. Every time there has been a fight and or a split within the MDC, Zanu PF has been the prime candidate for blame. However, you don’t need special reasoning capabilities to realise that the MDC is destroying themselves. Of course, Zanu PF is exploiting the situation to its own advantage but they did not create this situation, the MDC did.

The MDC politicians are cowards who only care about their political careers than the population they claim to be serving. I doubt that throughout their fights, they have stopped to think about the people who put them in those positions of prominence. Add to that, the MDC does not seem to have anything to offer to Zimbabwe apart from their desire to replace Zanu PF. I fear that if any of the MDC formations are given the opportunity to lead the country, sooner or later, they will end up just like Zanu PF.

What Zimbabwe needs is a credible opposition, an opposition that will challenge Zanu PF and can rally the people behind them for real change. An opposition party does not need to be in power to deliver change, an opposition party can successfully lobby the government to deliver some of the much needed change in the country. However, the MDC is a one trick pony that only believes being in power is what will change things for the country.

Like many Zimbabweans who have been sitting on the side lines, I have come to realise that the MDC is not fit for purpose. Zimbabwe deserves a better opposition party that will help deliver the country from the abyss it currently sits in.

Add your voice by sending your post to opinion@thezimbabwedaily.com

Tanzanian government to open up schools and wedding ceremonies

Samuel Musarika
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Tanzanian government to open up schools and wedding ceremonies

Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Dodoma, Tanzania – Tanzanian schools as well as wedding events are set to resume operations by the end of this month after three months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

“As a result of the reduced cases of Coronavirus in the country, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the reopening of all remaining schools, and all social activities that were restricted like wedding celebrations should also resume, life must go back to normal,” said the country’s President John Magufuli.

Earlier this month, the President declared Tanzania COVID-19 free as a result of divine intervention.

However, the President has been criticized for not implementing strict measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Tanzania has confirmed 509 COVID-19 cases, with 21 deaths, according to the data from Johns Hopkins University.

Last weekend, the country became the first African country to resume a national football league which was suspended during March because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Angola, UAE boost cordial relations

Samuel Musarika
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Angola, UAE boost cordial relations

Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Luanda, Angola – Angola and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have ratified their tax agreement to avoid double taxation and tax evasion.

According to the director of the press office of the Angolan General Tax Administration, Braulio Assis,  the tax agreement will ensure a greater flow of investment between the two countries.

“Trade between the two countries has become intense in recent years due to the strong existing trade relations, which led the two governments to sign a protocol to alleviate the tax burden of companies operating in their respective economic territories,” said Assis.

The director also added that the agreement wiil help boost the country’s economy, prevent resident entrepreneurs of both countries from paying taxes and rule out the possibility of tax evasion.

Moreover, the agreement is expected to aid in cross-checking details on values, accounting and tax declared in both countries, and improve the overall pay balance. The initial period of validity of the tax agreement is expected to begin on the first of January 2021. 

Campaigners demand the legalisation of abortion in Namibia

Samuel Musarika
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By Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Windhoek, Namibia

Namibia is currently facing a shortage of contraceptives and this has prompted some members of the civil society to advocate for the legalization of abortion.

The Popular Democratic Movement Women’s League (PDMWL) feels the shortage of contraceptives in public health facilities across the country is life threatening. 

“This news is not only shocking and bad for the people of this country, but is life threatening because contraceptives are aimed at reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions, as well as facilitating family planning or spacing of births.

It is unacceptable that a country of more than two million people does not have enough contraceptives,” said Loide Iipinge, PDMWL’s secretary general.

However, human rights activist Rosa Namises said legalizing abortion would allow women to make decisions about their own bodies. 

“Women are given contraceptives, such as a chip in their bodies, but nobody properly explains the effects thereof on their bodies.

It would be a choice given to women and it would also be a health and safety measure to prevent backyard abortions.

I don’t think women will line up every six months to abort, because that is not what it means. It means a woman is given the opportunity to decide about the pregnancy,” said Namises.

Under Namibia’s Abortion and Sterilisation Act of 1975, abortions are illegal for women and girls, except in extreme cases such as rape, incest, or when the mother or child’s life is endangered. 

Civil societies across Africa bemoan Malawian President

Samuel Musarika
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By Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Lilongwe, Malawi

Civil societies across the African continent have joined hands in condemning Malawi’s Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda’s forced early retirement.

 Last week the government told the Chief Justice to take time off until his retirement next year, citing he had accumulated more leave days than his remaining work days.

“We call upon the executive branch of the government of Malawi to respect the independence of the judiciary, especially at this time when Malawi is heading towards the re-run of the Presidential election,” read a statement from 42 African lawyers and civic organizations.

Nichole Fritz CEO of South African based civil society group, Freedom Under Law said the executive was not supposed to interfere in the manner in which the judiciary executes its duties.

However, the judiciary has disputed the government’s estimate of the number of leave days due to Chief Justice Nyirenda and said he will continue to discharge his duties. It also challenged the government’s right to interfere in the workings of the courts.

The country’s High Court also issued out a statement against the move, “once a judge is appointed, all other matters relating to welfare and discipline fall within the exclusive province of the judiciary.

After the appointment thereof, the executive is not involved in the internal affairs of the judiciary. The Chief Justice shall continue to discharge his functions as per his constitutional mandate.”

Chief Justice Nyirenda led the court that annulled President Peter Mutharika’s election victory last year and ordered a re-run which is scheduled for the 23rd of this month.

COVID-19 regulations hindering Zimbabwe’s sex workers

Samuel Musarika
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COVID-19 regulations hindering Zimbabwe’s sex workers

By Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The current lockdown regulations that the country has imposed have taken a huge toll on many sex workers in the country.

Nancy Chabuda, programs coordinator of Katswe Sistahood said the current lockdown regulations were having a severe impact on the wellbeing of sex workers.

“Sex workers usually survive on money from hand to mouth so with the lockdown they are not working because sex work is work. They are not getting clients, and when they do they are charging less because their clients are also on lockdown so they are not getting money to pay for sex workers’ services hence, they are not getting money to cater for their needs and for feeding their families.

As Katswe, we have been having  online meetings with sex workers trying to give them information about the Coronavirus and how they should  protect themselves from the virus if they get clients. We have also been giving them online referrals to clinics for contraception, HIV testing and counselling, STI screening and treatment among others.

However, there are many challenges linked to online platforms like shortages of money for data, electricity challenges and also some sex workers not having cell phones that can go online or that have WhatsApp.   

Moreover, moving around to access the various health care services they need has been quite problematic due to the lockdown and we have received cases of unsafe abortions and unplanned pregnancies as they have not managed to access the services to  protect themselves,” said the programs coordinator.

Talent Moyo a local sociologist, further added that there was urgent need for government to recognize sex work as a profession.

“The absence of an existing comprehensive social security system meant to buffer them from disasters such as COVID-19 has really affected them. Additionally, we must acknowledge sex work as a profession in order to help them,” said Moyo.  

Most of the country’s economists have warned that there is urgent need for the government to open up the country’s entire economy so as to avoid severe socioeconomic repercussions.

Belgium should apologise for past atrocities in DRC say Belgian princess

Samuel Musarika
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Belgium should apologise for past atrocities in DRC say Belgian princess

Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Brussels, Belgium – The Belgian government has been advised to apologise for the brutal killings of Congolese people by Princess Marie-Esmeralda, the youngest child of King Leopold III.

From 1885 to 1908 more than 10 million Congolese people died through  murder, starvation, torture and disease under the rule of Belgian King Leopold II.  

“I think it is very important that we raise the issue of apologies on behalf of Belgium to the Congolese people for the atrocities committed by our country during colonization,” said the Princess.

Belgian activists have since targeted statues of King Leopold II in Ghent, Antwerp, and Brussels, amongst other places. They are calling for the country to acknowledge its racist past and end the idealizing narrative around the King’s realm.

Other initiatives include a popular online petition demanding all his statues to be taken down by the end of June in honour of the Congolese prople’s 60th anniversary of independence. 

French mobile company Orange eyes South African market

Samuel Musarika
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0

Daniel Itai – The Zimbabwe Daily

Johannesburg, South Africa – France’s largest telecommunications group, Orange, is considering expanding its bandwidth to South Africa.

Orange’s CEO Stephane Richard said the company is considering an entry into the South African market within months.

“If one considers there are things to do, the time frame I am considering is rather a few months than a few years,” said Richard.

Across the continent Orange is currently in 18 African countries with 208 million subscribers.

The Middle East and Africa are the company’s fastest-growing markets, generating annual sales of about UD$5.5 billion.

Earlier this year, it merged all its businesses in the two regions to create a single entity. Orange reportedly plans to list the entity on international bourses.

Orange is set to provide leased lines and data transmission, mobile telecommunications, cable television, Internet and wireless applications, and broadcasting services, as well as telecommunications equipment sales and rentals.

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