BY VENERANDA LANGA

The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) yesterday said there was lack of urgency in dealing with problems in the health sector, resulting in costs dramatically rising with people now being charged in United States dollars despite earning RTGS dollars.

AHFoZ chairperson Stanford Sisya appeared before the Ruth Labode-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, where he disclosed that the only company supplying oxygen to hospitals in the country, BOC Gases had also upped charges.

He said patients on dialysis, a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when kidneys stop working properly, now fork out US$200 per session which is way out of reach of many Zimbabweans.

“Fuel queues are treated with urgency, but when it comes to healthcare, people are suffering and dying at hospitals or homes, and right now, we only have one source of oxygen and the
company supplying that is charging for its cans which they never used to charge for the oxygen container,” Sisya said.

“Now patients are asked to pay ZWL$28 rentals per cylinder for oxygen and the costs have gone up.”
Chinhoyi MP Peter Mataruse (Zanu PF), a member of the committee and a medical practitioner, said while Feruka was producing oxygen, BOC Gases was monopolising the supply of oxygen to hospitals because the infrastructure for oxygen at hospitals was theirs.

“BOC Gases owns the infrastructure at hospitals and so Feruka cannot go into their containers to supply oxygen,” Mataruse said.

The committee said it would be better for the oxygen supply companies to agree to share the infrastructure in order to assist sick people that are desperately in need of oxygen.

Sisya said AHFoZ has 29 members with 1,3 million Zimbabweans contributing to their different medical aid schemes (10% of the population). Some of the challenges experienced by members
were that medical services are charged in US dollars and if one cannot fork out hard currency they are charged using black market rates.

“For example, dialysis costs US$200 and it means in RTGS dollars, a patient has to fork out $1 600 per session when they need dialysis three times a week. Our members are not paid in US$ and as AHfoz, we propose that if the RTGS dollars is the official currency, then the US$ should be pulled off because it is causing distortions in the medical sector,” he said.

Sisya added that there were also cases of double-dipping by medical practitioners where, for example, they are reimbursed ZWL$35 by AHFoZ for consultation fees, but they also charge patients US$20 or US$35 as consultation fees.

Specialist doctors are said to be charging as much as US$250.

AHFoZ chief executive officer Shylet Sanyanga said it was sad that drugs for diabetes, for example, were going up with patients forking out US$53.

BY HENRY MHARA IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

MIDFIELDERS Thabani Kamusoko (pictured) and Butholezwe Ncube might have earned themselves tickets to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals after good performances in Zimbabwe’s 2-0 win over Comoros in the quarterfinals of the Cosafa Cup in South Africa on Saturday.

Impeccable sources told NewsDay Sport that the dreadlocked Kamusoko, who was voted man of the match against Comoros, has secured his spot in the final 23-man squad, while Ncube is charming the technical team as well.

Goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze who had a dream season with Baroka in the South African topflight league has also been impressing at training, and could be picked ahead of Talbert Shumba for the third goalkeeper spot in the final squad.

Three goalkeepers will travel to the Afcon, and first choice goaltender George Chigova and Edmore Sibanda seem to have automatic places on the plane.

“Thabani did well and the coach was convinced he is the sort of player that he needs to add some steel in midfield. He will definitely be on the plane to Egypt,” said the source.

“Butholezwe is likely to be picked. He is a very good player, and Mhofu (Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambga) likes his kind of play. He has one foot in, and so is Chipezeze. He is doing fantastic at training, and should be able to nudge Talbert out of the way.”

The trio did not participate in the Afcon qualifiers and are some of the few players likely to gatecrash their way into the travelling party.

Warriors assistant coach Rahman Gumbo confirmed that the bulk of the final 23-man squad are players that took part in the qualifiers.

“There is a squad that we have been working with from the beginning of the qualifiers, and to be honest it would be very unfair to drop somebody who has been there from the start unless there are injuries. But there are some players who have come in now and have given us some very good performances so much that they could be part of the Afcon squad,” said Gumbo.

Dr Rush, as Gumbo is affectionately known, will take charge of the Warriors in their Cosafa Cup semi-final clash against old enemies Zambia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium this evening.
Kick off is 7.30pm.

Chidzambga was forced to abort this tournament and return to Harare on Sunday following the passing on of his father back home.

Gumbo said more players will be given a chance against Zambia to stake a claim in the team to the Afcon.

England-based striker Admiral Muskwe is expected to be given his first start, an opportunity which he will have to use to have a chance to make it to Afcon.

“So far these games have given us a clear indication of who is going to be in the final 23, but that will depend on how we will finish the Cosafa tournament.”

The Warriors face Chipolopolo for the third time in a row in this Cosafa competition, having played a thrilling final in last year’s edition when Zimbabwe had to come from 2 goals down to win the match 4-2.

“We knew that we might come up against one of the strong teams in the semi-finals, and we wanted that because it’s good for us in terms of Afcon preparations. At the same time it would be nice to defend the Cosafa Cup. We want to give all the players a run around so that they get game time and you might probably see some new players featuring in the game against Zambia.

“Zambia have always been one of our biggest rivals, but in the past two years we have had a good run against them and we hope to continue with that good run.

“This match is important in that we have not had many friendly games, so there is pressure on the team to do the preparation and at the same time try to defend our title,” the coach said.

Striker Evans Rusike has been ruled out of today’s match due to an injury he picked in the Comoros game.

The big striker suffered a soft tissue contusion on the chest wall, and although the injury doesn’t look too serious, the Warriors technical team does not want to take chances.

Young Walter Musona is also down with an ankle injury, and is out of the Cosafa tournament.

Mhofu will pick 18 players to travel to Nigeria on Thursday for a friendly match against the Super Eagles on Saturday, while the other group will remain behind to finish the Cosafa tournament.

BY BLESSED MHLANGA

THE main opposition MDC has accused government of putting the country under an undeclared state of emergency, with security forces virtually camped in cities and high-density suburbs
MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume yesterday said government had now become the biggest threat to peace and stability by wantonly arresting members of the civil society and staging hoax demonstrations in an effort to find an excuse to declare a state of emergency.

“Recent developments in the country have exposed a failed government that is running scared of citizens’ demands to be governed differently and effectively. The country is effectively on military lockdown. Soldiers have pitched tents in high-density suburbs and no reason of deployment have been brought to Parliament in line with constitutional requirements; there is also an unconstitutional attempt by the illegitimate government to ban demonstrations and industrial action,” Mafume said.

Through State-controlled media, government and police have warned of impending demonstrations, accusing the United States of America and civil society of being behind the plot to oust President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government from power because of its failure to arrest the economic decline.

Government has already put its security agents on high alert to deal with the alleged plots to topple Mnangagwa.

Facing a sharp rise in the cost of living, crippling fuel and energy shortages and wages losing purchasing power, workers have warned that they are left with no option, but to face government head on.

Home Affairs minister Cain Mathema on Monday warned that the threatened strikes would invite drastic action from security forces.

Mafume said this was only an excuse and avenue to justify military intervention to thwart peaceful demonstration by the people of Zimbabwe.

“All these developments are not just unacceptable, but undemocratic and a violation of basic human rights as provided for in the national Constitution. Just last night, suspected State security agents raided Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe (CiZC) chairperson Rashid Mahiya’s home, refused to identify themselves as they banged at his doors. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Mafume’s boss Nelson Chamisa has since said his party was prepared to push Mnangagwa and his government out of State power before his five-year term comes to an end.

Speaking at the just-ended MDC congress, Chamisa said his party would force Mnangagwa to the negotiating table to ensure elections are held well before 2023.

“I have already said that 2023 is too far. Why am I saying it’s far? We must make sure that we have a democratic election in this country as soon as possible. If they refuse we will force them for that democratic election to happen in this country,” he said.

In the past week, seven democracy activists among them Stabile Dewa, Farirai Gumbonzvanda, Gamuchirai Makura, George Makoni, Frank Nyasha Mpahlo, Rita Nyamupinga and Tatenda were arrested and are currently languishing in prison on charges of trying to subvert a constitutionally elected government.

The MDC said it was concerned by what it termed a “dictatorial attitude by the failed government and its incapacity to lead this nation in any positive direction”.

BY SHARON SIBINDI

SOUTH AFRICA-BASED Zimbabwean promoters, Underground Entertainment have taken over Johannesburg’s Hillbrow Theatre as they intend to host live concerts for Zimbabwean musicians.

An official from Underground Entertainment, Phakama Nkomo, told NewsDay Life & Style yesterday that it was the love of art that inspired him to take over the place.

“I have been working on this project since 2017; it has been proposals back and forth. It looked impossible at some point, until early this year when I received a call from Gerald
Bester, the then centre manager, telling me my proposal had been approved,” he said.

“The agreement is straight forward; Underground Entertainment manages, runs and maintains the premises to the best interest of the people and users of the theatre. Meaning, from the first of June, Hillbrow Theatre is in our hands and responsibility.”

Nkomo said he wanted theatre to be readily accessible for bookings by the community, adding they would put up a restaurant and bar that would mainly serve African dishes, including
setting up a recording studio within the premises.

“The love of art made me to do this project, as it is not only about music events as many people think. Theatre is also for stage plays and movie screening. We will be doing that as well. People should expect more vibrant and lively theatre; more activities,” he said.

“We will conduct theatre-acting lessons and plays there ( Hillbrow Theatre). It will become an arts centre.”

Underground Entertainment has promoted shows such as Clash of the Titans, which saw Martin Sibanda and Charles Ndebele sharing the stage in Mzansi. The promoters have also hosted big names such as Jah Prayzah and Alick Macheso, among others.

BY WINSTONE ANTONIO

Tammy Moyo

AFRO-POP songbird Thamsanqa “Tammy” Moyo (pictured) is set for a litmus test tomorrow night when she puts up her own show, The Tamy Experience, at The Venue in Harare.

At a time when music concerts are failing to attract large crowds due to the punishing economic situation, Tammy’s pulling factor will be put to test tomorrow in her pathfinding expedition.

While the music industry, which is male-dominated in Zimbabwe, has seen a lot of women struggle to make it big and surpass the levels set by their male counterparts, Tammy has, however, managed to fuse various beats to come up with a sound that has attracted the attention of many music lovers.

Drawing inspiration from celebrated top artistes like South Africa’s songbird Zahara and American superstar Beyoncé Knowles, the talented and energetic Tammy is on record saying her compositions are mostly about what she experiences in life and also her expectations are a drive to some of her songs.

In an interview with NewsDay Life &Style yesterday, concert co-ordinator Dee Nosh said the stage was set for the show that will also feature Ammara Brown and Gemma Griffiths,who both will provide cover for Tammy.

“This is a big day for Tammy, alongside her friends in the showbiz, Ammara Brown and Gemma Griffiths, as they are set to hold their own at the concert. The trio has promised sterling performances,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tammy’s manager Pedzi Chimbwanda said the concert was set to prove that female artistes could hold their own on the big stage.

“Our female artistes are a stakeholder market who can do the same or even better on those big stages than their male counterparts,” he said.
Chimbwanda said at the concert, Tammy will give a lucky teenage sensation below 15 years the exposure to rub shoulders with her, Ammara and Gemma.

“At the concert, I will give a young girl the opportunity to open the show for Tamy. A lucky teenager was chosen from a social media contest that was run on our social media pages,
where we requested contestants to forward a 45 seconds to 60 seconds video on either Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #thetamyexperience,” he said.

BY FARAI MATIASHE

CARDIAC patients in the country face an uncertain future because private medical facilities are selling medical necessities such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECOs) in United States Dollars (USD) or in RTGS$ equivalent to the US dollar.

Cardiac patients are people with a cardiovascular disease which refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain or stroke, coronary artery disease, chest discomfort and congestive heart failure.

ECG and ECOs are pegged at US$240 and are required once a year for heart patients and regularly if one’s condition is unstable.

In Zimbabwe, cardiac tests in public hospitals are done only at Parirenyatwa, Harare Central and Mpilo Central hospitals against a population of more than 13 million, forcing many heart patients to seek services in private institutions and out of the country.

These patients came together and formed an association, Zimheart Trust established in 2017 and registered it in 2018, to source funds for those due for heart surgeries in countries like India and South Africa.

Addressing a Zimheart get-together event in Harare recently, physician Golden Fauna said there was need to provide support to people diagnosed with heart problems from the people who would have passed through such a situation other than doctors.

“There are certain things that health care professionals cannot do and one of them is to regularly communicate with patients in a clear manner such as patient-to-patient.

“Often when us doctors tell a patient about diagnosis a lot is lost in translation because our understanding of a medical condition is different from a patient. This is the role this organisation will play,” he said.
Fauna urged Zimheart Trust to provide support to people who are affected with heart diseases and to provide guidance in terms of how to approach certain decisions and processes towards treatment.

“Apart from providing a supportive role, I hope that this trust is going to be a key stakeholder in health care policy formulation, in advising especially giving a perspective in what challenges people with heart problems are facing,” Fauna said.

Zimheart Trust co-founder Farai Chirikure said after their interactions with heart patients and guardians they created the formal organisation to share their experiences and lobby for assistance.

“We have so far assisted several people with counselling and a little bit of funding. Our main objectives are to develop programmes and strategies to enable, empower, motivate and develop medical professionals and health care providers in the public and private sectors in the pursuit of objectives of this trust,” he said.

BY DANIEL NHAKANISO IN CAPE TOWN

BRENDAN Dawson, a mainstay of rugby in Zimbabwe for nearly three decades, says what he has seen during the country’s participation in the SuperSport Rugby Challenge gives him confidence that the future of the game is bright.

Dawson is coach of the local team playing in South Africa’s tier two competition under the name Zimbabwe Academy.

The team, which has been based here in Cape Town since April, is yet to register a win in its debut season despite putting on some encouraging performances in some of their games against South African provincial sides.

Before their final game against Eastern Province Elephants at Villagers Rugby Club on Saturday, the Zimbabwe Academy suffered defeats to Border Bulldogs, Western Province, Sharks,
Free State Cheetahs XV, Boland and SWD Eagles.

Results, though, are not something Dawson read too much into.

“I really do believe that the team has done exceptionally well, I believe that they have followed what I wanted and I’ve got out what I wanted to get out of this whole tour,” said Dawson.

“The main focus of this whole tour was about growth and development. Results were not the most important thing to me in the sense of the final score lines, all I wanted to see is players growing with every single game. I really and truly believe that they have grown.”

The former Zimbabwe captain, who is now tipped for another tenure as the national team’s coach following the sacking of former Springbok mentor Peter de Villiers, doesn’t lack the ambitions to cause an upset or two in the SuperSport Challenge.

“Yes we’ve had a few disappointments; the last two games didn’t go according to plan,” conceded Dawson.

“I believe that the youngsters that have come through the system have learnt a tremendous amount from our participation in this competition.”

Dawson, who has ex-Springbok winger Tonderai Chavhanga as his assistant coach, said due to the support from various sponsors who made the tour possible, they have tried to embrace a professional approach in preparing for matches.

The ex-Sables loose forward reckons this will lay a solid foundation for the team as the Zimbabwe Rugby Union look to build a squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“We’ve tried to incorporate a professional approach in the way we do things from our gym and training sessions and the guys got better and performed. They are in the most professional set-up that they can ever better. We go to the gym and train every morning; we’ve also had supplements for the players. This has all been made possible through support
from the sponsors, which has been phenomenal and without them we would never be here. They’ve really taken local rugby to the next level, so at the end of the day if we can do this and continue to grow by exposing as many youngsters as we look to rebuild for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, we can do it,” he said.

BY CHARLES LAITON

HOME Affairs minister Cain Mathema and Commissioner-General of police Godwin Matanga have been taken to the High Court by the family of an artisanal gold miner who was shot and killed by a retired police officer at Chiadzwa diamond fields last month.

The family is seeking a court order to compel the law enforcers to conduct a post-mortem on their deceased relative and release the body for burial.

According to the court papers, the now deceased Terrence Masendeke was on May 15, 2019 allegedly killed by one Dulula Chinamano in full view of his colleagues as he attempted to flee an area where police were raiding illegal miners in the protected Chiadzwa diamond fields.

Masendeke’s uncle, Richard recently filed a court application seeking a court order to compel Matanga, Mathema and officer-in-charge for Marange Police Station to conduct a post-mortem to establish the cause of death although it is apparent that he was shot and killed at point blank.

In the court application, Richard also cited clinical director for Mutare General Hospital and Health permanent secretary as co-respondents.

Masendeke said he feared that his nephew’s body would decompose since the police had indicated that it could only be examined by a pathologist on June 25, 2019 due to the shortage of specialist doctors in the country.

“We are dissatisfied with how the State is failing to provide doctors to carry out the post-mortem. The deceased’s body is decomposing making it increasingly futile to carry out the post-mortem. We fear foul play given Chinamano’s close relations with the police as he worked with them to secure the prohibited area,” Masendeke said.

“…We are traumatised by the ongoing delay in carrying out the post-mortem because it means we cannot bury our nephew. Family members have come from afar to bury him and want to go home having buried their relative.”

In his founding affidavit, Richard said on the day in question and at around 10am his late nephew was with a group of miners in the Chiadzwa area when security guards and police officers approached and dispersed them claiming they were close to a prohibited mining area.

“The now deceased tried to run away, but was shot in the back and leg several times by Chinamano and died on the spot. His body was taken into the custody of police at Marange Police
Station and Chinamano was arrested,” Richard said.

“However the police have not kept us, as family members, informed with regard the current status and or outcome of any criminal proceedings against him (Chinamano). I fear that they may
be rushing the case without all relevant witnesses being called to give evidence.”

The matter is pending.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has challenged church women and students to be entrepreneurial and work hard in order to provide for their families.

Speaking at the just-ended Zimbabwe Christian Church (ZCC) Zuva Romweya gathering in Chegutu, Mnangagwa said there were many examples in the Bible where women were as enterprising as they were prayerful.

“There is great potential for income generation through the castor bean oil seed production, fish farming, poultry projects, market gardening, among others to be undertaken by women and youth clubs in many ZCC parishes,” she said

ZCC leader, Nehemiah Mutendi commended the role being played by the First Lady in helping the needy.

“She also does some pastoral work, going into hospitals helping the needy. We will always support you on that, but if you decide to fight with each other, you go alone,” Mutendi said.
The ZCC Zuva Romweya day is an annual celebration held in Chegutu to commemorate the genesis of the church founded in 1913 by Samuel Mutendi.

The First Lady was accompanied by various government officials, among them Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Environment minister Prisca Mupfumira and Minister of State in Vice-President Kembo Mohadi’s Office, Davis Marapira.

EDITORIAL

WE earnestly and whole-heartedly pray that what Labour minister, Sekai Nzenza has told us is not going to happen, especially given that Zimbabwe is reeling under a debilitating socio-economic and political crisis.

“There is a new Bill that is going to be introduced soon, and is known as the Tripartite Negotiating Forum (TNF) Bill, which will assist government in ensuring that there are no stayaways before negotiations between the government and its workers. This Bill will be signed by President (Emmerson Mnangagwa) on Wednesday (today), and it is a new initiative introduced so that workers and the government first engage in negotiations alongside the Apex Council. Workers, therefore, can no longer engage in stayaways before engaging other TNF stakeholders,” Nzenza has told us matter of factly.

For a nation whose workers have for years waited for the TNF to be enacted, to then wake up to a situation where one party to the negotiations has suddenly drawn out their AK-47 assault rifle and placed it on the negotiating table before the negotiating has even started, is barbaric, to say the least.

The minister and government’s declared position, we are sorry to say, is brazenly confrontational. This new development is grossly crude given that for the past six months the government and employers have been playing hide and seek with workers. If the clause mentioned by Nzenza is, indeed, part of this new Bill – although it works perfectly well for government and employers, it is not only unconstitutional as the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has already said, but it will embitter the TNF relations.

What, for instance, are the workers supposed to do when either the government or employers, or both, drag their feet to the negotiating table? Further still, what are the workers supposed to do in the event that there is a deadlock at the negotiating table?

In fact, did our lawmakers actually pass this Bill, with such a clause, as good for our troubled nation? Does Nzenza and company really believe they are helping the situation by holding a gun to the head of the workers? This clause is fit for the archives of draconian rulers. This is a piece of law which some of us least expected from our beloved “new dispensation”.