Masvingo General Hospital renal unit equipment stolen

…. Five hospital staff, Makurira Clinic under investigation

Itai Muzondo
Renal Unit equipment donated to Masvingo General Hospital by the Zim - Chinese Project last year has been stolen.
The renal unit, situated close to the female medical ward, lost its dialysis circulation pump, float switch and Ultra Violate (UV) light in a daring grand theft that implicates corrupt officials.
Masvingo Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Amadeus Shamu confirmed the development and said they have since reported the matter to the police.
"Three equipment parts are missing from the unit and we are not yet sure if they were stolen or not. The matter has been reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and they are helping us with investigations. We are not sure when investigations will be finished but the issue is being swiftly taken care of. I cannot state the cost of the missing equipment since it was donated," Dr Shamu said.
The equipment went missing during the festive holidays and it was only realised a fortnight ago.
Sources said the equipment was yet to be commissioned and its disappearance has caused immense jitters, with Human Resource Officer; Shadreck Zangairai assigning an investigating team to probe the circumstances behind the theft.
A four-man investigating team comprising Micheal Chirenje, Tafadzwa Chikombingo, Humphrey Chimedza and a Makuze is understood to have discreetly visited Makurira Memorial Clinic after suspicions were raised that equipment used to build the private clinic's own renal unit could have been stolen from Masvingo General Hospital.
A source in the investigative team said they were eager to find out the paperwork of the equipment at Makurira clinic.
"We went to Makurira Memorial Clinic where we saw one Sithole and questioned him where they got equipment for their renal unit. We actually wanted to find out whether they have paper work for the imported equipment so that we could remove them from our list of suspects but Sithole was not open enough," said the source.
Upon hearing the incident, Dr Shamu quickly assigned his investigating team led by Public Health Services Administrator; Never Chingosho.
Other suspects who are being questioned by the PMD's office in connection with the matter are understood to be Hospital Administrator; David Sithole, Human Resources Officer Zangairai, Chief Hospital Equipment Maintenance officer Micheal Chirenje and his assistants, Mortuary Attendant Kandson Dube and Senior Hand Masepa Jenika.

'Drunk' doc in trouble over botched operation

Itai Muzondo
A Gutu Mission Hospital medical doctor, Henry Harry Mushuku is in soup after conducting a cesarean session allegedly under the influence of alcohol resulting in Locadia Mbinda's death two weeks ago.
Gutu District Medical Officer (DMO); Dr Tapiwa Mupepe confirmed there was a death of a mother due to what he called 'delivery complications' but referred all questions to Masvingo Provincial Medical Director (PMD) Dr Amadeus Shamu.
Dr Shamu, however, confirmed that a woman had died under cloudy circumstances and that Dr Mushuku was under investigations.
"We have heard of the issue though I cannot disclose much as of now since investigations are still underway. I will be in a position to give further details and action to take when the investigations are over," said Dr Shamu.
When contacted for comment, Dr Mushuku professed ignorance over the matter and threatened to kill this reporter.
"Ndiwe wakafa here iwe? Wakafa ihama yako? Manje rega ndikuudze unofira mahara chinyora nyaya yacho tigoona. Unofira mahara mufana (Are you the one who died from the botched operation? Are you related to the deceased? Anyway, go ahead and write your story and see what will happen)," said Dr Mushuku.
Mbinda's baby boy however, survived the operation. She has since been laid to rest in Masvingamashava under Chief Nhema in Zaka.

Tipping scales – Hunger defeats laws to end child marriage

Itai Muzondo

Wide spread hunger has been a challenge facing Zimbabwe for almost a decade now and Chivi district in Masvingo province has been recorded as one of the most affected areas.

 To save her family from the striking hunger, Faith Mundere (not real name) was forced to return 'favours' her father got from Operation Maguta officials who gave him maize meal time and again in exchange for love

Little did she know she would get pregnant at 15.

"I thought my love affair was just meant to facilitate presence of food in our home. My parents had no problem with my relationship because they received food. We depended on farming but with the recurring droughts, we were exposed to hunger" said Faith.

"Before end of 2008, I was pregnant. Little did I know I would get in a fix to protect my lover from getting arrested because he fed my family? I simply told people from his area he was my uncle. I was hurt inside but I had no choice because my parents were benefiting and content of the arrangement," she added.

Faith, now 23, had therefore involuntarily entered a marriage to serve her family from the ravaging hunger and told this publication that if she could turn back the hands of time, she would.

In a 2016 study carried out by UNICEF, 34 -30 percent of women in Zimbabwe aged between 20 – 24 years old were married or in some union before they were eighteen years old.

According to the 2012 census, 56 799 children aged 15-17 years were married, with a greater proportion of girls having been married than boys.

Many families in Zimbabwe consider girls as a source of income. The practice of early marriages has subjected girls to acute poverty and the risk of health challenges.

"We never really thought of her future. We were forced to override the law because of hunger. Now she is not the daughter I dreamt of. I curse myself every time I look at her. I do wish her the best now that she has been dumped by that man," said Faith's mother before bursting into tears.

"We knew it was illegal to hand over a girl below the age of 16 for marriage. It was however our one way ticket to evading hunger. Neighbours asked, but we simply told them the gentleman was my brother and we sent her away from Chivi when she got pregnant so that neighbors would not recognize anything. That way, he was protected," she added.

Another victim of early child marriages, Emmaculate Pinda (25) was barely 16 when she got married. She is now a mother of five.

Also coming from Chivi, Pinda said that as a young woman, her marriage was not out of choice. She said she was pushed into the marriage by poverty.

"I eloped to become a second wife after the man convinced me that he would take care of me and my family.

"The marriage was not rosy because polygamy has its own challenges. My husband died when I was carrying our fifth baby," she said.

"My late husband's relatives wanted me to remarry one of my husband's brothers as a fifth wife and I refused."

She was then chased from the homestead and her life became even worse.

"I then left my late husband's homestead and started vending as a way to make living but I am failing. My children are not going to school, and public events are an opportunity for us to eat decent meals," she added.

Education can help protect against child marriage, but research shows that many girls drop out of school and get married because their families cannot afford school costs. Nearly all the child brides, according to Human Rights Watch, were not able to continue their education after marriage, either because of their financial situation, their husbands would not permit it, or they had to care for the baby.

Many indigenous apostolic churches also forbid girls to continue education after marriage. One church elder in the Johane Marange apostolic church in Masvingo once said: "Formal education is not important because the church will teach her the necessary skills to work with her hands and provide for her family. Skills like weaving baskets and mats to sell."

Human rights defenders have however criticised such practices.

"Such situations are still visible in societies we visit discouraging child marriages. The areas include Mwenezi, Chivi and Chiredzi. We have since urged communities to join hands with law enforcers and report any suspected case of child marriages.

"We have also observed that most girls will be running away from the raging hunger and some are pushed to marry by their parents as solutions to acute socio-economic challenges," said My Age Zimbabwe director, Onward Chironda.

"Parents are not hesitant to break the law by having their under-age children married as long as it brings food to their tables. The high levels of poverty we are facing as a nation have led to people sacrificing the law for the stomach," added Christian Voice International – Zimbabwe President, Pastor Tafumanei Zenda.

A 2016 action plan towards ending child marriages by UNICEF also notes that most women who got into early marriages escaping poverty had short-lived happiness as they would see themselves in the same mess within a short time. 

"…it is also worrying that 4 159 children aged 15-17 years had divorced/separated, whilst 456 were widowed. Rural areas had a higher proportion of married children, than urban areas. The proportions of married children increased with age, with 17 year olds having the highest proportions," the action plan reads.

Beatrice Nyamupinga, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Gender, says a lot needs to be done if child marriages are to be combated.

"We have done research on causes of child marriages and poverty, unemployment and a harsh economic environment were other contributors to the challenge. We are however looking forward to push government to enact strict measures that will make people desist from having even sexual relationships with children below 18. This should be accompanied by combating acute poverty," said Nyamupinga.

Zimbabwe joined the AU Campaign to end child marriages in mid-2015. The Ministry of Women's Affairs, Gender and Community Development with support from UNICEF, UNWOMEN, UNFPA, the Child Rights and Women's Rights Coalitions has been working on a National Action Plan to End Child Marriages and its related communication for development activities. The Constitutional Court ruling of January 2016 has been an impetus to move the agenda forward.   All these efforts are part of the global campaign to end child marriages.

VP Mphoko Blames Migration As Source Of Conflict, Intolerance

 

By Itai Muzondo 

Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko on Thursday blasted the much criticised Kalanga denigration at a public lecture on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration which he presented at the Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo.

This was despite the state media’s passionate defense of President Robert Mugabe’s unprecedented Kalanga jibe,

The 91 year old leader recently proffered that the “Zimbabwean Kalangas in South Africa are uneducated and commit to petty crimes” as he addressed the media at the close of a SADC summit in Harare, thus sparking off sharp criticism from most sections of society including his own Zanu (PF) party as confirmed by disgruntled war veterans at a recent press conference.

Mphoko, who took exception at being referred to as second vice president  as he was being introduced by Senator Josaya Hungwe, directly contradicted Mugabe’s sentiments towards the minority group through a biblical allusion as he said, “Love has no boundary whether you are Kalanga, Tonga or whatever. God has no nephew; we are all God’s children. Hatred does not work in reconciliation”.

In his speech the former diplomat added that migration is a source of conflict which brings with it intolerance, which is the inability or unwillingness to accept each other. He further said intolerance manifests itself when parties to a conflict openly resist each other’s cultural norms, values, systems, beliefs and practices and regard these as foreign.

 

  Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko

“Migration by its nature brings with it intolerance, which is the inability or unwillingness to accept each other. Intolerance itself is when parties to a conflict openly resist each other’s cultural norms, values, systems, beliefs and practices and regard these as foreign.

“One group then seeks to alienate the other and the result is disharmony,” said Mphoko.

Mphoko further ironically reminded the gathering of President Mugabe’s speech on 4 March 1980 which attacked racialism, tribalism and regionalism as recently presented in the previous Kalanga ridicules by the president.

Mphoko read, “I urge you to…trample upon racialism, tribalism and regionalism and work hard to reconstruct and rehabilitate our society. Let us deepen our sense of belonging and engage a common interest that knows no race, colour or creed”.

Meanwhile, Mphoko repeated his often criticised mantra that the controversial Gukurahundi attacks had nothing to do with President Mugabe and said there is a hand of Western conspiracy which was meant to divide and rule. He has often been heavily criticised about the unfortunate era which is often compared with the Tutsi and Hutu genocide in Rwanda. Over 20 000 people were killed in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in what President Mugabe later described as a moment of madness.

“The President has nothing to do with Gukurahundi massacres. It is a simple Western conspiracy which is meant to divide and rule,” said Mphoko.

Radio VOP

Media practitioners continue to cry for press freedom in Zimbabwe

 By Itai Muzondo

“I wonder what reporters are doing here when what they shoot is never published or if published the beat is fine tuned to suit someone’s interests,” were the words of MDC – T leader Morgan Tsvangirai attacking a team of reporters who were covering his rally recently in Masvingo.

“Are you not ashamed,” he further questioned.

Tsvangirai highlighted a major setback towards media freedom, let alone media credibility which really need those who see beyond human scope to interpret as the question whether press freedom in Zimbabwe is progressing or regressing remains unmasked to many.

As Zimbabwe celebrates with fellow journalists globally the World Press Freedom Day today (Sunday May 3), many media practitioners have highlighted that the media in Zimbabwe is rather facing a regression than progression especially towards the situation that media houses are closing down and government reluctance in aligning the new constitution to the media laws that have for long been expressed as repressive and draconian.

Moreso, though Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe’s (MMPZ) media credibility index has shown an improvement of balanced and fair coverage, as of the 1 093 stories taken under research, 800 were good though media have been blamed of reportage that are  biased to the interests of the powerful.

The negatives towards press freedom however set aside from the MMPZ research that which states that digital media has advanced media freedom via digital media to a considerable level as they argue that the online platforms have channeled balanced feedback which is not questionable to the gate keeping processes.

In their research report, MMPZ said, “The internet has played a big role in democratizing the access to information and the participation by the Zimbabwean public, particularly ordinary citizens in public debate. The emergence of internet technology has undeniably broken down many boundaries that hinder media freedom in terms of participation

Rather than being limited to a few selected comments on the ‘letters’ pages of newspapers, or commentators on current affairs or phone – in programmes on radio and television, social media does not restrict the number of commentators and rarely limits the number of words one wants to use (with the exception of Twitter, which restricts tweets to 140 characters),” revealed the research.

MISA national chairman Kumbirai Mafunda

Veteran journalist and producer, Tafuma Machakaire said the country is still lagging behind in terms of media freedom though he applauded the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) for bringing more players in the broadcasting fraternity.

“Basing on the current IMPI document, our media is still a lap behind when it comes to media freedom. I therefore urge the government to take the document seriously as it has since been submitted to them from the media practitioners themselves. At this point, the whole media fraternity actually pins their hope on them that necessary recommendations will be taken to improve the media environment from which we operate from.

“I would however want to acknowledge and thank BAZ for granting more licences to radio stations bringing more players to the broadcasting fraternity,” said Machakaire.

The national chairperson for Media Institute for Southern Africa, Kumbirai Mafunda said the state of press freedom in the country is disturbing as he blamed the government for failing to align the laws to the new constitution which saw the survival of the much criticised media laws survive to this time.

“The state of media freedom in Zimbabwe is quite worrying. I say so because government has failed to align the media laws to the new constitution which is a clear point that the environment we operate under as media practitioners in Zimbabwe is still harsh and unfriendly.

This has consequently led to the closure of big players in the print media industry being the Southern Eye and Zimbabwean Mail. Such setbacks which are caused by draconian and restrictive laws further makes the nation’s unemployment rate exceed existing numbers as graduates will continue roam the streets as because jobs will not be readily available. Besides the employment situation, access to information is limited as channels of information decrease by the wake of each day,” said Mafunda.

Meanwhile, UNESCO is running this year’s world press freedom day under the theme, "Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, and Safety in the Digital Age".

Tell Zimbabwe

"Democracy Is A Game For The Dead" – Ngwena

By Itai Muzondo

Masvingo-When Supa Mandiwanzira’s Zi FM Stereo started co – hosting reggae Judgement Yard Disc Jockeys, it took the entertainment stage by storm but maybe no one really thought beyond the lines when it comes to their style of deejaying which spreads powerful messages in a Jamaican patwa style.

Their words, ‘When injustice becomes a right, resistance becomes a duty’ would make sense to an audience that critically interpreted Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s episodes of the Traibabilus train bombing with his companions whom are still known until day as the ‘Ngwena Crew’ during the genesis of the Zimbabwean liberation war struggle in 1964.

As Mnangagwa also known as Ngwena after the guerrilla group which he was part of explained the happenings, for which he was still young, energetic and with a zeal of liberating the nation from political bondage at the age of nineteen, one could easily see how proud he was that he was part of the youths that ‘resisted’ the colonial rule that thwarted their interests as people full of potential.

He said that the time they would get a chance to attack and kill the whites, they referred to it as Christmas and so were the circumstances when he bombed the Traibabilus train which almost saw him facing the death sentence.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa

“We were put into regiments of which we were supposed to attack the imperialists and I got into the Ngwena crew which comprised of William Ndangana, Phebion Shonhiwa, Lawrence Svosve and Mathew Malowa among others who were my fellow revolutionaries. 

“As a revolutionary group , we came across a train and my friend simply whispered to me, ‘kisimusi yako’ (your Christmas), which was a symbol that I had green light to attack the white owned train for which I blew it to ashes. That is the liberation war incidence which saw me being sentenced to death, only to be served by age as I was 19 then I alternatively served 10 years imprisonment at Khami prison,” narrated Mnangagwa who later foresaw Operation Chinyavada to flush out rebel elements in the early 1980s.

Activists however said such spirit of resistance is absent in the new breed of  cowardly revolutionaries.

A question however arose as different civic organisations told Radio VOP that if the current leaders could rise and resist, then why is today’s generation is silenced and deprived of their efforts to be heard peacefully and in manners that are even supported by different charters and national governing laws.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President, George Nkiwane said, it is surprising that the ruling party youths disturb demonstrations which are meant to emancipate them and added that the police are biased towards uncritical demonstrations with no visible impact when giving clearence for activities.

"It is shameful that most people who disturb demonstrations are the youth as we discovered in the most recent demonstrations we staged nationwide. In Masvingo, Chinhoyi and Mutare, youths disbursed fliers claiming that demonstrations have been cancelled and you really wonder how they can conquer in a revolution which seeks to emancipate them from mental and political slavery.

"Police are also biased towards uncritical risings when clearing for demonstrations so the situation we are operating in is repressive, regardless of the fact that we were finally cleared for our demonstrations recently after a long struggle," said Nkiwane.

Political activist, Tawanda Chimhini said that it was the young people that liberated Zimbabwe and so should the current generation do.

“If you go back to the liberation struggle a lot of the people who went to war from Zimbabwe were young people, the majority of them were leaving school and going to pick up a gun and fight for Zimbabwe, that was taking their future into their own hands, taking control of their destiny, so if the youth of the 70’s were able to do that, what stops the youth of our generation from doing the same,” said Chimhini.

To echo Chimhini’s sentiments, an activist, Fungai Tichawangana of ZIMBOJAM said that, “In every challenge that we face as a country, young people need to be seen and resist all injustices along the way."

Grace Chirenje gives her comment from a feminist point of view as she says most role models to resistance for a better nation feel that national issues are handled in opposition to what women suggest making the system segregatory.

“Young women feel that what they vote for, what they predicted, what they want to see is not necessarily what takes place. I therefore urge all to rise and fight as depicted by the current activism work in America where women are peacefully advocating for a woman figure to be put on the US$20 note for which we can achieve in unity,” said Chirenje.

Mnangwagwa however makes it crystal clear that the government has no intentions to build a democracy as he said leave democracy to the dead.

“I can encourage you that democracy is nothing but a game of the dead. I say so because it is proposed by many. If you want to see a place where many belong to nowadays, it is the graveyard. Bishop Mutendi can confess with me here that only a few living are found in the churches and do not postulate for democracy but only the many who to this point I believe are found in the graveyard,” said Mnangagwa.

Radio VOP

“We Shall Rule and Rule As MDC-T Boycotts Elections” Says Mnangagwa

By Itai Muzondo

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that the opposition MDC-T is depended on the Zanu (PF) government on all policy issues.He was launching a water augmentation project in Masvingo on Friday

Speaking at the poorly attended event-cum rally of less than one thousand people, Mnangagwa said that if oxygen was paid for as water is done, MDC-T would only survive on the revolutionary party’s mercy as they hold no power in policy making. The crowed however showed disgruntlement as Mnangagwa went on to mock MDC-T for boycotting the forthcoming by-elections.  

“If this air we breathe was paid for as water services to council, MDC would be surviving at our (Zanu PF’s) mercy as they have no policy making positions.

Vice President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa

“"They have nothing to offer the people... all they do is to boycott elections while we continue to rule. They (MDC-T) have no legacy without calling for election boycott. We shall rule...and rule... and rule while they continue to boycott the elections," said Mnangagwa.

Meanwhile, in an ironic turn of events, Mnangagwa after recently acknowledging the importance of keeping productive white commercial famers, today applauded and thanked the donor community for bringing development in various parts of the country and further urged donor partners in Zimbabwe to remain accountable or they risk having resources pulled out.

“I thank the various Western countries for raising money through Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust Fund (Zim-Fund) which was channelled towards water argumentation for many Zimbabwean cities and rural areas. The projects would go a long way in the supply of clean water to the generality of Zimbabwe thereby reducing chances of water-borne diseases such as cholera.

“I also urge all donor partners to be accountable for all funds channelled towards them because if the funds are misused, we simply risk having our supportive partners withdrawing their assistance,” further said Mnangagwa.

Also present at the event was Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Lars Ronnars, ministers of Finance Patrick Chinamasa, Environment, Water and Climate,Saviour Kasukuwere, Masvingo Minister for Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa and MDC-T  appointed Masvingo Mayor Hubert Fidze.

Radio VOP