Monthly Archives: April 2020

By staff reporter

The GOVERNMENT has come out with new allegations, accusing some of the 65 returning citizens who returned from the UK last Monday of being MDC Alliance activists determined to sabotage the country’s COVID-19 fight by attempting to score cheap political points.

The allegations follow allegations that one of the returnees, housed at Belvedere Teachers College in Harare, was among the hordes of MDC Alliance activists who attacked Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo during the latter’s visit to London last July.

Moyo had traveled to London at the time with other senior government officials as part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to re-engage with the international community after years of global isolation due to its poor record on human rights and its inability to implement economic and political reforms.

According to state media, the alleged assailant is Mary Nyandoro, a well-known MDC Alliance activist and one of the people who resisted the mandatory quarantine at Harare Middle School citing “bad conditions”, preferring to be hosted in a hotel.

Deputy Social Affairs Minister Lovemore Matuke also confirmed her presence at the teacher training center, adding that the government noted with concern that some of the British returnees were in fact MDC Alliance activists who attacked the Minister Moyo.

“Ms Nyandoro is one of a group of 26 British returnees who are complaining about the college facilities,” Matuke said.

However, 65 confirmed returning citizens at Belvedere Teachers College came on the same Ethiopian Airlines plane, and not 26 as Matuke claims.

State media accuse Nyandoro of being part of the crowd seen dousing the Zimbabwean delegation led by Moyo with bottled water in London.

“She was holding a labeled sign; “TROO TT TO TAKE OFF SANCTIONS”, referring to the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by some western countries which have affected the economy, “he said.

Matuke went on to accuse the MDC Alliance of trying to score cheap political points.

“Now is not the time to score cheap political mileage as the government, along with the rest of the world, is making frantic efforts to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These people are attention seekers with a political agenda. Now is not the time for politics, the pandemic is serious. We cannot risk their families because they have their own motivations. Activists are trying to politicize COVID-19 and try to destabilize the spirit of unity that currently prevails in the country.

“We will only be able to pay attention to such behavior after we have successfully brought the pandemic under control. “

State media also dismissed allegations of a deplorable situation in the isolation center as inaccurate.

He claimed the training center had an uninterrupted supply of electricity and running water for bathing, while bottled water was provided, with the group enjoying three-course meals a day.

In fact, and for the avoidance of doubt, I am one of the returning residents who came via an Ethiopian airline yesterday (Monday).

I don’t want to tire you out with a long read. So I’m going to get right to the point. Yesterday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Nick Mangwana, tweeted that we returnees abroad were asking for hotels. No, this is an outright lie! We did not request hotel accommodation.

I was shocked when I read the tweet that many Zimbabweans believed in, including those claiming to be frontline human rights defenders.

And the Fourth Estate, too, has been deceived. Here is the reverse side of the coin. Like any other Zimbabwean citizen with rights, including access to shelter, water and health, among other basic amenities, we asked to be accommodated in a decent facility.

Decent on basic health as defined by health organizations in the wake of the coronavirus. By basic facilities we meant at least one room with a bed and blankets; toilets with running water and clean bathrooms,

Belvedere, a facility provided by government authorities does not have all of these. And the government image specialists led by Mangwana want all Zimbabweans and the rest of the world to praise the government for a job well done when in fact what they are doing is exposing returning residents. in COVID-19, a pandemic government claims to be trying to stop.

The fact that hundreds of desperate students live in slums like Belvedere without complaint doesn’t make it a habitable place.

The fact that other citizens returning via the Plumtree and Beitbridge ports of entry have agreed to be accommodated in dirty, stinky and cholera infested facilities is also not correct and does not indicate at all that the Zimbabwean government cares about its citizens.

If this treatment of citizens by the Zimbabwean authorities has anything to show, it is that the authorities who have presided over poor infrastructure, including hospitals, do not care at all about protecting their citizens from COVID-19.

While we understand this is an abnormal situation, a time of crisis, no self-righteous Zimbabwean should praise the government for treating its returning citizens like animals.

When we got to Belvedere we thought the authorities had already assessed the place and certified it habitable. While we didn’t expect anything flashy given that this is a temporary emergency quarantine facility, we didn’t expect to be thrown into a place that does not have the necessary health care facilities. basic amenities such as running water.

To make matters worse, the government officials who came to talk to us about our concerns were arrogant. This is the case, for example, when a senior official in the Ministry of Civil Service, Labor and Social Welfare threatened to unleash the police on us, to force us to occupy uninhabitable accommodation.

“If you do not comply, we will ask the police to enforce our orders,” told us the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs who should otherwise better know the government’s obligations regarding the care of vulnerable people, we including.

He added: “You can’t choose where to stay, we’ve chosen for you.”

This was after we asked to be quarantined at home or put in a decent facility. Alternatively, we have asked the government authorities to open one of the hotels so that we pay the living expenses ourselves while the government provides food.

We have also made it clear to government authorities that we are prepared to be quarantined like other returning citizens, but only if the minimum conditions are met.

To those who insulted returning residents, their full-time jobs during this ongoing crisis; Be aware that while we understand the importance of being isolated from the rest of the community now, the conditions that return residents face will spread the spread of COVID-19.

Although most of us come from coronavirus hotspots, we don’t necessarily have the disease, but due to our poor living conditions in quarantine, we are now more at risk of contracting the deadly disease than other citizens, but the government should protect everyone equally.

And while some of you lament, thinking that going home is the dumbest thing to do, remember that some of the returnees are students whose accommodation has been taken away by their universities in countries like the Kingdom. United and the United States.

And also remember that some of the returning residents are people who have just visited for shorter periods and therefore cannot live in these countries indefinitely.

After all, it is better to die in Zimbabwe where your family can bury you within 24 hours than to die elsewhere where your family cannot access your remains.

And by the way, returning residents also have homes where they can self-quarantine and provide basic services that our government fails to meet.

While most of us are ready to be quarantined, we also don’t understand why authorities are imposing 21-day isolation, instead of the 14 days approved by the WHO.

Why should a cash-strapped government seek to accommodate returning citizens for an additional 7 days at its own expense when it can use these resources to meet the needs of more vulnerable communities already bearing the brunt of the extended lockdown, with barely any food?

And while you, the naysayers, support the government for a blatant human rights violation in the name of fighting COVID-19, remember that the government you allow to abuse its returning citizens is not will not stop there.

After COVID 19, this government will continue to violate civil rights because you allowed it to do so during a crisis.

Last but not least, Mangwana, we appreciate your hard work in keeping the nation up to date on COVID-19, especially using real-time platforms such as Twitter.

But I just have one request: please stop releasing any information of public interest. It does not help your government and the citizens who should be making informed decisions during this unprecedented time.

And gullible Zimbabweans, please always take what government officials say with a pinch of salt. 99.9% of what they say is false or half true.

The worst you can get from government authorities is a single story. Find the other story before you decide on matters of public interest.

Quick updates:

There is still no running water in Belvedere.

Contrary to reports, the police did not guard Belvedere so that the returnees did not revolt or at worst escape. Three police officers came, spoke to returnees and then left after a friendly discussion.

No matter what the authorities say, we will not stay where we risk catching more viral illnesses in addition to the coronavirus.

We will fight for our rights until we are relocated to an establishment that meets the basic conditions: running water, single room, functional sanitary facilities, bedding and food.

Finally, let’s just say my name is Case # 0

health time

By Costa Nkomo

The GOVERNMENT has given in to requests for special accommodation from Zimbabwean doctors during the current period of their potentially dangerous experiences with Covid-19 patients.

This was revealed Thursday by Vice President Kembo Mohadi during a meeting with delegates from the Insurance and Pensions Commission in Harare.

Zimbabwean doctors who are training frontline soldiers against the current battle against the coronavirus have requested special accommodation away from home for fear of infecting loved ones with the dreaded disease.

Recently, a nurse at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo was infected with Covid-19 after unwittingly attending a coronavirus patient without any protective clothing.

The patient has since died.

The experience fueled requests for separate accommodation by medical staff through their representative, the Association of Senior Hospital Physicians of Zimbabwe (ZSHDA).

Mohadi revealed that hoteliers have agreed to house doctors during the fight against the pandemic.

“We had the Senior Hospital Doctors Association in that same room,” said the vice president.

“They told us they were very concerned about going home after treating patients. They would like to be isolated.

“They would like to be somewhere like a hotel where they don’t meet their families because they don’t want to pass the deadly disease on to their loved ones and we thought that was a positive thought.

“That done, we called the hoteliers and they came to that same room and told the situation that our frontline fighters would not want to go back to their families for fear of passing the disease on to their families. So can you give them this accommodation so that they can be isolated, and they have accepted that in principle. I’m sure they finalized it yesterday.

“So everyone is on board. We are in the same boat. We left no one behind. “

Old Mutual, a leading life insurer, has also partnered with government, among other stakeholders, by offering doctors life insurance for six months a package that can also motivate doctors during the fight against Covid- 19.

Lillian Mbayiwa, Head of Marketing and Innovation at Old Mutual Group, also attended the meeting with the ministerial working group chaired by Mohadi.

Mbayiwa said, “First and foremost, our wish and desire is to make sure that they are protected (the doctors) and that any deaths should be avoided.

“We put them under life insurance. Life coverage will cover all medical personnel fighting on the front lines against Covid-19 and coverage will be free for all health workers for six months. “

The government’s decision may also have been influenced by a High Court order on Tuesday directing the government to provide healthcare workers with protective gear and deploy mass tests against the deadly coronavirus.

An association of human rights doctors brought the case to force the government to strengthen the protection of public hospitals and health workers.

The government has bowed to requests for special accommodation from Zimbabwean doctors during their potentially dangerous experiences with patients with COVID-19.

This was revealed Thursday by Vice President Kembo Mohadi during a meeting with delegates from the Insurance and Pensions Commission in Harare.

Zimbabwean doctors who are training frontline soldiers against the current battle against the coronavirus have requested special accommodation away from home for fear of infecting loved ones with the dreaded disease.

Recently, a nurse at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo was infected with COVID-19 after unwittingly attending a coronavirus patient without any protective clothing.

The patient has since died.

The experience fueled requests for separate accommodation by medical staff through their representative, the Association of Senior Hospital Physicians of Zimbabwe (ZSHDA).

Mohadi revealed that hoteliers have agreed to house doctors during the fight against the pandemic.

“We had the Association of Senior Hospital Physicians in that same room,” said the vice president.

“They told us they were very worried about going home after treating patients. They would like to be isolated.

“They would love to be somewhere like a hotel where they don’t meet their families because they don’t want to pass the deadly disease on to their loved ones and we thought that was a positive thought.

“That done, we called the hoteliers and they came to that same room and told the situation that our frontline fighters would not want to go back to their families for fear of passing the disease on to their families, so can you give them this accommodation so that they are isolated and that they have accepted this in principle, I’m sure they finalized it yesterday.

“So everyone’s on board. We’re in the same boat. We haven’t left anyone behind.”

Old Mutual, a leading life insurer, has also partnered with government, among other stakeholders, by offering doctors life insurance for six months a package that can also motivate doctors during the fight against COVID- 19.

Lillian Mbayiwa, Head of Marketing and Innovation at Old Mutual Group, also attended the meeting with the ministerial working group chaired by Mohadi.

Mbayiwa said: “First and foremost, our wish and desire is to make sure that they are protected (the doctors) and that any deaths should be avoided.

“We have put them on life coverage. Life coverage will apply to all medical personnel fighting on the front lines of COVID-19 and coverage will be free to all health workers for six months.”

The government’s decision may also have been influenced by a High Court order on Tuesday directing the government to provide healthcare workers with protective gear and deploy mass tests against the deadly coronavirus.

An association of human rights doctors brought the case to force the government to strengthen the protection of public hospitals and health workers.

KITCHENER – Grand River Hospital now rents hotel rooms for staff to accommodate workers who do not feel comfortable returning home to their families.

Hospital officials say the hotel spaces are not intended for workers in self-isolation or those who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“They may have family members at home who are immunocompromised, which could create some anxiety at home that we didn’t want to have,” says Jennifer O’Brien, HRM vice president of human resources.

The hospital rents a total of 75 rooms at the Inn of Waterloo and DoubleTree in Kitchener.

O’Brien said Thursday 23 staff would stay there that night. The hospital has received around 40 requests to stay in hotel rooms so far.

“There is no risk that these people will stay at the hotel,” said O’Brien.

“They have their usual cleaning routine that they would have in any other room.”

Any employee can access housing.

As the province seeks to improve hospital capacity, hotels are also seen as a future location for patients.

“Some hospitals have chosen to increase their capacity by leasing hotel space. The Grand River Hospital is the one proposing to do so,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said at a press conference on Thursday. .

O’Brien says that with the current number of patients, this is not a requirement, but an option the hospital is pursuing as an alternative if needed.