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‘Recycling, the future of Zimbabwe’

Samuel Musarika
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‘Recycling, the future of Zimbabwe’

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – Lawrence Mashungu, Climate Change Mitigation Expert, for the government of Zimbabwe has envisaged recycling as the future of Zimbabwe.

Although the recycling industry is not that vibrant in the country as compared to other countries on the continent such as Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, initiatives of making the recycling industry more viable are already in motion.

“Recycling is the future and we have to maximise it fully. The Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) of Zimbabwe, identifies recycling as one of our key strategies for achieving the carbon future.

I am 100 percent for it and we have young people in Zimbabwe leading in this, talk of Ronny Mbaisa and Kudakwashe Dhliwayo showing great leadership on this front.

Moreso, Zimbabwe Sunshine Group in Harare and the TechVillage Innovation Hub in Bulawayo are doing very very well in this area and what we need is to scale up what these young people are doing,” said Mashungu.

In South Africa, recycling has so far created thousands of formal and informal jobs. The global recycling industry is worth over US$300 billion.

South Africa’s tourism relief fund runs dry

Samuel Musarika
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South Africa’s tourism relief fund runs dry

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Pretoria, South Africa – More than 100 000 jobs in the southern African country’s tourism sector are now hanging by a thread.

This is due to the country’s nationwide lockdown which was put in place on the 27th of March as a way of curbing the COVID-19 pandemic which has since hit the southern African country hard.

Although the government allocated US$12 million towards the sector which has since been used up as a relief package, many businesses didn’t benefit from the initiative.

“We could only give 4 000 companies the money. The money has run out we can’t do anything but to push for the opening of the sector.

However, we can’t be blind that there is a pandemic on our hands I would like to see the sector being opened but we can’t be blind that there is a pandemic on our hands.

Regardless, we do appreciate what the government has opened for us, accommodation for leisure being opened, safaris being opened, curfew being extended for restaurants, it will go a long way in helping businesses to say afloat. I know it’s a tough one in terms of regulations but we just have to adhere,” said the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.

The much anticipated July 31st protest flopped

Samuel Musarika
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The much anticipated July 31st protest flopped

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The much anticipated July 31 protests which were running under the Poverty Liberation Movement (PLM) have failed to take place.

Since morning, people are being driven out of major cities and roads have been barricaded and there is a huge police and army presence in most of the metros.

Dr. Shingi Munyeza, a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee said the government had not done much to alleviate the wellbeing of the citizens.

“I support any Constitutional right that supports citizens I also detest police brutality. However, the 2017 coup didn’t change the centre of power hence, the citizens are still suffering. The elites in our country including myself have stood on the sidelines and have used the masses it’s time we come to the centre of the cause,” said Dr. Munyeza.

Piers Pigou, Crisis Group’s Senior Consultant for southern Africa said the turmoil in the country was getting out of hand.

“The reforms are failing to get adequate traction. The repressive era of security forces is still continuing.

Yesterday the police raided the house of Zimlive editor, Mduduzi Mathuthu prior to that, we also witnessed the arrest of investigative journalist, Hopewell Chino’no due to corruption exposé. The law is used at containing and suppressing voices.

It would take severe violence and blood on the floor for SADC to take the issue seriously. The critique is largely muted, no one is going to come from outside to rescue Zimbabwe,” said Pigou.

Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson in US$7.4 million scam

Samuel Musarika
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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Johannesburg, South Africa – President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko, is currently embroiled in a US$7.4 million tender scam.

This comes after her husband amaBhaca king, Thandisizwe Diko, through his company Royal Bhaca Projects was allegedly awarded a US$7.4 million tender by the provincial Health department a couple of weeks ago to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

However, it was soon discovered that Royal Bhaca Projects was formed late last year and therefore, had no experience in procuring PPEs plus the fact that the Presidential spokesperson was the partner of the king.

The province’s Health Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) Dr. Bandile Masuku and his wife Loyiso Lugayeni-Masuku who is also a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) of Corporate and Shared Services in Johannesburg have also been implicated in the scam.

However, Diko has since taken a leave of absence pending the investigation. Earlier on today the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) through its provincial secretary for Gauteng, Jacob Khawe, issued out a presser on the party’s stance in relation to their accused members.

“We follow engagements we don’t rush to issue press conferences. However, the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) has to immediately resolve the issue for the benefit of the people of Gauteng, the Premier has to pressure the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) about the procurement.

In addition, we also realise that the ANC is losing the trust of the people due to corruption, the case has now been subjected to the Provincial Integrity Committee (PIC) which will take between two to four weeks.

Moreso, we have also noted the leave of absence taken by Cde. Diko however, we have also decided that the Health MEC and the MMC should take a leave of absence for the duration of the investigations,” said Khawe.

Commenting on the issue, Prof. Mcebisi Ndletyana, a political analyst said the move taken by the ANC was the right one.

“The PIC has a fairly good history of probing cases. The province is carrying on with its ethos of clean governance.

It’s also good news for the President since he doesn’t have a firm grip on Lithuli House, that proves people are listening to him,” said Prof. Ndletyana.

However, another political analyst, Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke said there wasn’t really anything to celebrate about.

“This should have never happened there isn’t anything to celebrate besides the SIU doesn’t have a good track record,” said Prof. Maluleke.

Meanwhile, Gauteng’s MEC for Public Transport and Roads  Infrastructure, Jacob Mamabolo, is now the acting MEC of Health.

South Africa townships face indefinite power cuts

Samuel Musarika
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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Johannesburg, South Africa – Most of South Africa’s townships will have to brace for more erratic power cuts from the country’s electricity supplier, Eskom.

The erratic power cuts are due to illegal connections which according to Eskom are damaging their equipment.

“Due to illegal connections and meter tampering we have to continue instigating load reductions.

Well, load reduction happens if the load exceeds the threshold so in that case we limit the load not to damage the equipment then load shedding is put in place when we are not producing enough electricity.

However, we apologize to the customers who are being affected we are working with municipalities to solve the issue,” said Monde Bala, Eskom’s group executive for the distribution division.

In addition, when Eskom initiates load reduction it uses a blanket approach which in turn affects everyone residing in that particular area.

Armed forces urged to join July 31 protests

Samuel Musarika
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Armed forces urged to join July 31 protests

Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The MDC Alliance Youth Assembly is calling upon members of the armed forces to join tomorrow’s nationwide protests.

Although the government has deemed the much anticipated nationwide protests as illegal, the protests will go ahead as envisaged by the Poverty Liberty Movement.

“It is public knowledge that you, our esteemed members of the police force and the army are earning peanuts.

Let it be known to you that your situation is not natural but a deliberate creation of an evil system that is corrupt.

We know that most of you are young people who joined the uniformed forces for the love of the country and to serve your people.

Moreso, we also understand that besides serving your country, you deserve food on your table for the upkeep of your families.

We want to make it clear that we feel your pain and abuse at the hands of a corrupt regime.

It is against this background that you as young people must stand with the people on 31 July.

Let us speak the same language with the people against corruption and be on the right side of history,” said Stephen Chuma, national spokesperson of the MDC Alliance Youth Assembly.

Vagina rings to curb HIV, the new normal

Samuel Musarika
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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

With more than 40 million people living with the Human Immune Virus (HIV) worldwide, the International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) has come up with an ingenious way of curbing the spread of HIV.

Dr. Zeda Rosenberg the founder and chief executive officer of the IPM has been working on a four year project on how women can help in curbing the spread of the virus.

Vagina rings embedded with antiretroviral drugs are expected to assist in limiting the spread of HIV since close to 60 percent of all adults living with HIV are women.

“Vagina rings are the new method of preventing HIV. So the vagina ring stays in the vagina for one month within that time it will be releasing antiretroviral drugs.

Apart from filling the HIV modality gap the vagina ring reduces HIV by 35 percent. It’s a wonderful prevention method although many women are still fearful, it is safe.

Most women who have used the vagina ring said it’s comfortable and doesn’t affect them during sex and their partners were comfortable with it.

However, in terms of taking antiretroviral drugs and using the vagina ring at the same time it’s either one uses the pill or the vagina ring because we haven’t done the research on that.

Moreso, the vagina ring does not affect fertility so people need to take contraceptives however, it doesn’t have any hormonal effects,” said Dr. Rosenberg.

Although the vagina ring is not yet available in many countries due to regulations, Dr. Rosenberg also pointed out that the reduction of HIV can even be higher if it is used appropriately.

South Africa liquor traders bemoan alcohol ban

Samuel Musarika
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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Pretoria, South Africa – Following the suspension of the sale and distribution of alcohol by the government more than two weeks ago, much of South Africa’s liquor traders are now crying foul.

Prior to the suspension, the country’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, didn’t give a heads up like what he did with the first suspension. The suspension was instigated immediately after he announced it.

This has left many liquor traders in limbo especially the tavern owners who operate mainly in the townships.

“Most tavern owners rely on alcohol sales as this is their only source of income. Already 50 percent of the tavern owners have said they won’t be able to reopen their taverns when the suspension is lifted due to financial constraints.

Government is not caring it’s not listening to us COVID-19 is going to pass and people are going to be left without a source of income, government is not being considerate.

However, we have decided to raise R100 million (US$6 million) for our members since the government is not willing to assist us.

We hope to give each tavern owner a relief package of R20 000 (US$1 200) and groceries for three months,” said Lucky Ntimame, Convenor of the National Traders Council of South.

Prior to the suspension, many tavern owners had already stoke piled their liquor with some having had to borrow funds to purchase the stoke which has now left them in a huge financial impediment.

According to the government, the suspension of the distribution and sale of liquor is aimed at unburdening the country’s trauma and ICU units.

“All international games for Zimbabwe are off”

Samuel Musarika
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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

Harare, Zimbabwe – The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) has cancelled all its international games due to COVID-19.

“Most of our tournaments and International games are sponsored by World Rugby and Rugby Africa. These have all been cancelled. They are two tournaments which take place in December for the sevens in Dubai and Capetown and these have not been formally cancelled. At the moment all International games for Zimbabwe are off. 

However, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will get advise from our medical team led by Dr. Austin Jeans as well as the SRC. Should the situation  and funds permit, we may conduct a tour to the Netherlands at the end of the year for the Zimbabwe Sables or at the beginning of the year.

Moreso, we can only conduct local tournaments once the green light comes from the SRC. Should this happen, we will mainly conduct localized tournaments which will be confined to the provinces .

COVID-19 has put all our rugby developments on hold. It’s a major set back but we are not alone and all the other rugby playing nations in Africa face the same situation. We have applied to the SRC to at list begin education and training in the provinces. This has obviously been overtaken by the new lockdown rules. So we will have to wait for a more opportunistic time.

Our strengths and conditioning teams have been encouraged to give national players off season trainning schedules and we hope this can keep us warmed up and ready to begin playing when the time is right,” said the ZRU president.

Malaria threatens thousands of African lives

Samuel Musarika
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Staff Reporter – The Zimbabwe Daily

According to the CEO of Goodbye Malaria, Sherwin Charles, more than 800 000 people in Africa could lose their lives if stringent measures are not taken in curbing malaria.

Charles said too much attention was now being fostered upon COVID-19 forgetting that malaria is also another pandemic.

“More than 800 000 people could die from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa this year if we continue to channel all the resources towards COVID-19.

We thought we were going to end malaria by 2030 as evidenced by the progress being made in countries like South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe but COVID-19 has disrupted that.

Malaria is fully treatable and can be fully eliminated if the cause is fully supported like with the initiative that we are witnessing with COVID-19.

With the rainy season looming we need to show the world the same urgency needed in combating the epidemic like COVID-19,” said Sherwin.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) every two minutes a child dies of malaria and each year, more than 200 million new cases are recorded.

Globally, malaria is responsible for approximately two million deaths per year with 90 percent of the casualties coming from Africa and most of these are children under five years old.

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