Byo Citizen 10 December 2021

Inside P4

Friday 10 -16 December 2021 RTGS 100.00 Est: 2015

A division of Community Newspapers of Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd

The Town
Clerk said a
team from the

city's
department
of Health was
dispatched to
investigate

the cases.

The outbreak
was first

reported in
Tshabalala
Extension.

The city is
now

engaging
various

partners for
support.

Full story on page 8 COVID-19 Hits
Bulawayo
hospital

Full story on page 5

No. 1 Bedford Properties, Gweru, Bulawayo Office: 29, 4th Street, Bulawayo Cell: 263 714165677

2. Byo Citizen 10 -16 December 2021

By Bulawayo the cases.

Correspondent Dube said the team
The city of Bulawayo has
been hit by a diarrhoeal started off by checking
outbreak with a total of 157
people having been records at Tshabalala clinic
affected by the outbreak
which was first reported on where records showed that
28 November 2021.
the number of diarrhoea
Confirming the
outbreak, the city's Town cases had exceeded the
Clerk, Christopher Dube
said the outbreak was first thresholds, thus
reported in Tshabalala
Extension. Confirming the outbreak.

"The City of Bulawayo "The Council team
received a report from a
Tshabalala Extension further visited some
resident on the 28th of
November 2021 of a households and found the
possible diarrhoeal
outbreak and that some affected residents who were
residents had started
experiencing diarrhoea and advised to report at
vomiting," said Dube
Wednesday. Ts h a b a l a l a Clinic.

Following the report, Engagements were also
The Town Clerk said a
team from the city's made with the local
department of Health was
dispatched to investigate leadership advising them to nurses were sent from other He said the city is now
centers to beef up staffing. engaging various partners
encourage the affected A tent has been pitched to for support. working in the area to clear
accommodate more any chokes.
residents to seek treatment patients. A medical doctor is The affected area has also
also stationed at the clinic been exempted from water The city is currently
at the clinic as the treatment to assist. shedding while the city is under a 72 hour water
also now carrying out shedding regime and during
for diarrhoea is for free in "As at 30 November regular flushing of the water this time there is possible
2021, a total of 157 patients system until the situation ingress of impurities into the
the city," he said. had been attended to. All water lines when water has
age groups seemed to be normalizes. been closed.
The Town Clerk said on affected," said the Town In addition a dedicated
Clerk. sewer contractor is also now The town clerk advised
30 November, the council residents to boil all water for
potable use.
further sent out two sets of

teams into the community to

further identify the affected

and advise them to report to

the clinic.

"At the clinic, more

ByoCitizen

10 -16 December 2021 Byo Citizen 3.

By Owen Mandovha
Industry has welcomed the
clearance of foreign currency
allotments backlog on the Reserve
Bank of Zimbabwe foreign
currency auction system.

A press statement outlining the
Monetary Policy Committee
resolutions of the committee’s
meeting held last Friday has
revealed that the Reserve Bank of
Zimbabwe has cleared the foreign
currency allotments backlog on the
auction system which had built up
over months.

President of the Confederation of
Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) Mr
Farai Matsheza noted that though
more refinements are required the
clearance of the backlog gives
industry boost for their operations.

“We applaud the Reserve Bank

Tinashe Manzungu, ZNCC President Byo Citizen

of Zimbabwe for a job well done as
per their promise however we appeal
for faster settlement in terms of the
T plus 2 principles,” he said.

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe
(RBZ) has roped in captains of
industry into the foreign currency
allocations committee to improve
efficiency in allotments.

“Clearing the backlog is
fundamentally key in addressing
foreign currency shortages and this
is a positive development,” said Mr
Manzungu, ZNCC President.

So far over close to US$2 billion
has been disbursed through the
auction system, which has provided
industry a huge impetus for growth.

ZBC Online

4. Byo Citizen 10 -16 December 2021

Farmers patiently work on their dry lands in anticipation of rains. Picture by Chris Tabvura even with limited rains.
“What we are seeing this
Plumtree – The continued The most recommended preparation in an effort to 2022 farming season told
hit wave that has hit drought resistant crops. eradicate poverty they felt Farmers Insight Africa that year is a complete disaster,
Zimbabwe, especially the Picture by Chris Tabvura during the lockdowns. they have resorted to small because rains are so erratic
Matabeleland region, is grains because they will be and the pattern that is
likely to plunge the country “We are in deep stress Mangwe district farmers assured of an adequate yield followed by the rain is not
into another poverty because without water our who have also done land hopeful because from what
season, as the rains that are livestock will drastically preparation for the 2021 to is happening, we are likely
characterizing the country reduce because many times going to have drought.
are just erratic, far from they die in mud in search of Byo Citizen
basic farming that can water. So in order to curb deaths
produce food. from poverty, we farmers in
Last year we lost Tshitshi, have decided to
Zimbabwe Commercial hundreds of both cattle and resort to small grains, which
Farmers Union National donkeys getting trapped in is our traditional staple food
Vice President Winston mud in search of water to crops.” Said Nkululeko
Babbage. drink. We are appealing to Bhidi a communal farmer.
Ministry of Agriculture to
The situation in Kezi and assist us with borehole Zimbabwe Commercial
Plumtree districts of drilling because our region Farmers National Vice
Matabeleland South is dry in most times,” said a President Winston Babbage,
Province is an explosive Madlambudzi Village Head has also advised farmers
poverty time bomb because and communal farmer from all walks of the country
the place is a dry area Vulindlela Vundla. to look out on timing in
already, that without water farming, and also to check
livestock is immensely Farmers patiently work their soils for verification on
affected and that can also on their dry lands in the correct crops to plant in
lead to a massive loss for anticipation of rains. Picture the fields.
both communal and by Chris Tabvura
commercial farmers, as Climate Change
they depend on the basic Bulawayo peri-urban Representative Ms Nomuhle
rains. farmers are also crying foul Nyoni, also advised all
over lack of rains, as they farmers around the country,
have done a massive land to take up small grains
farming for a positive yield.

She told Farmers Insight
Africa that traditional crops
were the only remedy to the
current predicament of a
looming drought, because
the crops are highly drought
resistant and can grow under
limited rains. Farmers
Insight Africa

10 -16 December 2021 The Citizen 5.

COVID-19 Hits Bulawayo hospital

Nineteen nurses, who work and Botswana recently. hospital, while all
in the same ward at the “About 19 members of
United Bulawayo Hospital symptomatic staff members
(UBH), tested positive for staff tested positive at UBH.
COVID-19 after admitting We are doing the standard are tested.
several patients infected by antigen COVID-19 tests,
the virus. and we haven’t done genetic “We have procured Bulawayo
sequencing to identify the provincial
Bulawayo provincial Omicron variant. personal protective medical director
medical director Maphios Maphios
Siamuchembu said the “In short we are not sure equipment for staff
hospital was still to ascertain which variant we are dealing
which COVID-19 variant with,” Siamuchembu said. members- NewsDay
infected the nurses.
“All people are screened “In short we
The new Omicron and sanitised at the hospital are not sure
variant of COVID-19 was entrance. which variant
discovered in South Africa
“All admitted patients are we are
sent to Arundel COVID-19 dealing with

Winky D’s fans who call penning down lyrics that
themselves MaGaffa open our eyes in these
nemaGaffaress have times where we have a lot
the of distractions blurring
petitioned
Zimdancehall chanter to our vision of reality.
This petition is to
release an album for the
appeal for a new album
summer season.
The petition that was that might as well give us
initiated by one Gaffa something fresh for our
Kusvika Ndafa had, as of ears to consume. We have
the time of writing, been enjoyed quite a number of
signed by 34 people out of tracks released during the
the required 100. Reads the course of this year from
other artists but igaroziva
petition:
This is a petition to kuti kana tapinda summer
Winky D and the time mowanzotipa
The Management and Staff of Mesclothing would like to management team Of the zvinyowani [you usually
join the Midlands Province and the entire nation in con- Vigilance brand. Firstly, we give us some music for
would like to thank you for Summer].
gratulating The Sun Newspaper for winning the best This hasn’t been a
Community dropping one of the best
albums in Zim Dancehall. great year, but your music
Newspaper of the year 2021 award. Many people doubted the can get us smiling thus,
You have worked hard for this award. impact it would make at the ending the year in a much
We hope you feel proud and confident in your ability to very first stages of its better mood. Saka isu
RESTrelease, but later on, tatimotipawo chero single
rise to your next challenge. everyone became zvayo yekuti titambise
conscious about the Kisimusi nayo [we are
Byo Citizen INmessage you were requesting that you

communicating to us. We release even a single song
appreciate your brilliance in for Christmas].
PEACE!STAY SAFE FROM COVID 19

6. Byo Citizen 10 -16 December 2021

The MDC Alliance has councilor, Ronia Mudara in in councils particularly here
accused the Douglas in Bulawayo. We cannot
Mwonzora MDC -T led July this year. Following continue carrying the
Bulawayo council of cabbage of corruption,
engaging in corrupt and these developments, the nihilism and autocracy that
immoral activities, a is happening in this city.
development which the party is now left with only "People are asking us why
party says has adversely are rubbish bins not being
affected service delivery in six councilors in the city collected yet we are in
the city. council. People are also
A total of eight MDC after the majority defected asking why roads are not
Alliance councilors were being fixed. We have lost
recalled in Bulawayo by the to the MDC Alliance. control of council. We no
MDC-T. Before the longer have our members in
recalling, the Alliance used Addressing party's parliament. It is Zanu PF and
to control 28 wards while its acolytes led by
Zanu PF has one councilor. supporters last week during (Mwonzora) Douglas. The
There is also a vacant seat MDC led by Advocate
in the city following the the party's belated 22nd Chamisa has got no
death of ward eight responsibility of what is
anniversary celebrations in

Bulawayo, the party's

deputy national

spokesperson Ostalos

Siziba admitted that his

party has lost the battle to

control the country 's

second largest city.

"As I speak, there is chaos

in parliament, there is chaos

Douglas Mwonzora (Fadzai) Mahere, allow me
to communicate this
happening in local position to you here in
authorities," said Siziba. Bulawayo .Every councilor
The party 's spokesperson , every MP must address
also revealed that the party every assembly of our cadre
's standing committee has and make themselves very
resolved to audit all its clear on where they stand .
elected party officials with So in seven days, the
a view of expelling all those national chairperson has to
officials who have joined write to them so that we
Mwonzora's party. know who is with us and
"The standing committee not.
made a resolution so as the
spokesperson of the party
deputizing Advocacy

The Sun Online advert 2021 To advertise in
our weekly paper

Call our
marketing Dept

on
263 714 165 677

Byo Citizen

10 -16 December 2021 Byo Citizen 7.

By Lisa Masuku Party president
BULAWAYO is pinning its hopes Nelson Chamisa
of reliable water supplies on the
Gwayi-Shangani Lake, whose The MDC Alliance says there is Although we may belong to different divide.”
construction is progressing well. nothing that will stand in their way political parties, we must embrace Chamisa has been on a whirlwind
The completion of the Gwayi- and stop party president Nelson each other and have a shared vision
Shangani Lake is set to be a long Chamisa from visiting the Midlands of sustainable development of tour of the rural areas drumming up
lasting answer to the City of province. Zimbabwe.” support ahead of the 2030 elections.
Bulawayo’s perennial water
challenges. However, the party’s provincial Zhou added: “We are all citizens However, his “Meet the People”
spokesperson Takavafira Zhou said of Zimbabwe that must settle our tours have been disrupted in
“We are currently at about 59% social media reports circulating that differences in a rational and more Masvingo, Manicaland, and
complete. We were supposed to Chamisa would visit the volatile humane manner. Our ability to think Mashonaland West provinces with
have been at about 90% complete Midlands province this week were in a rational manner must separate his motorcade stoned while party
but we do have challenges. The untrue. us from thugs and animals, and supporters have been attacked by
foundations and the wall is collectively build our country Zanu PF members.
complete. It will be able to store “It’s mere speculative conjecture through tapping our human and
about 691 million cubic meters of that President Chamisa is coming to natural resources across the political Zanu PF leadership has accused
water,” said Engineer Paul Dengu, Midlands this week. But he will Chamisa of forcing villagers to
ZINWA Resident Engineer of the certainly visit the Midlands province attend his meetings.
Gwayi-Shangani project. soon,” Zhou said.

The Bulawayo City Council “We have also listened to audios
Deputy Director of Engineering that indicate there are plans to block
Services, Engineer Sikhumbuzo him. Such old stone age tactics are
Ncube also pointed out that plans not expected in a country that
are underway to establish a water constitutionally respects political
treatment plant to clean water plurality.
which will be received from the
Gwayi-Shangani Lake. “Thuggery, brutality, and
callousness are not hallmarks of a
“It is our hope that when the democratic society in the fast-
Gwayi-Shangani Lake comes on moving world of the 21st century.
board a water treatment plan will
be established. Discussions are
underway where we are going to
have a treatment plant for water
coming from the lake,” he said.

Pumping over 160 000 mega-
litres of water annually, the
Gwayi- Shangani lake will greatly
improve perennial water
challenges faced by the city of
Bulawayo.

It is our hope that
when the Gwayi-
Shangani Lake comes
on board a water
treatment plan will be

established.
Discussions are
underway where we
are going to have a
treatment plant for
water coming from

the lake,

MDC provincial spokesperson Takavafira Zhou

8. Byo Citizen 10 -16 December 2021

capacitating primary health they deserved. counterparts.
care to be able to handle Sibanda said the The ultra sound scanning
modern health care
problems," programme will increase services will initially be
antenatal visits at council's available at Nkulumane,
"Travel restrictions and clinics, a move which he said Pelandaba, Cowdray Park,
lack of funds have led to an would increase the number Pumula Old, Nketa, and
increase in maternal of women scanned. Northen suburbs clinics.
mortality rates as mothers
fail to access maternal health "Local clinic midwives Sibanda said the
services," said Sibanda. will be trained on pregnancy programme will be
ultra sound scanning," he subsidized with service fees
The Health Director noted said. ranging between US$7 and
that there is need for the US$11.
continuous improvement in The partnership came
health care systems so as to about after the realisation The city has 19 municipal
ensure that the city's that Zimbabwe's maternal clinics dotted around the
ratepayers received services mortality was higher than suburbs.
most of its SADC

Health Services Edwin Sibanda

The city of Bulawayo has births, which is one of the
partnered with a global highest mortality rates
health institution in globally.
providing ultrasound scans
to pregnant mothers in the Bulawayo director of
city, in a development set to Health Services Edwin
improve the city's maternal Sibanda said the initiative is
health services. a partnership between the
city and Fintum health
Maternal mortality in the solutions, a mobile health
country currently stands at social enterprise.
614 deaths per 100 000 live
"Our emphasis is on

EDITOR
Tendai Chifunyise

REPORTERS
Vimbai Nyamukutu

Makanaka Moyo
Thandikile Dube

PHOTO JOURNALIST
Jabulani Makuluni

PUBLISHER
Community Newspapers of Zimbabwe

Byo Citizen

10 -16 December 2021 Byo Citizen 9.

New party launched in Gweru

ZSD president Nkosikhona Ndlovu

A NEW political party, corruption.”
He said it was high time
Zimbabwe Socio-Economic
Zimbabweans began to fight
Democrats (ZSD) has been for good governance.

launched in Gweru and is “That is why our slogan
is Phakama/Simuka/Arise.
among several other political We have been too
comfortable, we need to
parties that are emerging stand up to a system that has
brought us here. We need to
ahead of the 2023 elections. be shareholders in the
distribution of our resources.
ZSD president The people of Marange
should benefit from
Nkosikhona Ndlovu, a diamonds, those in Kariba
should benefit from tourism
businessman, last weekend which is booming in that
area.”
told journalists in Gweru that
He said his party
his party was formed after headquarters would be in
Gweru, where it would fight
realisation that there was a for opportunities for the
working class.
leadership crisis in the
“There should be
country. affordable healthcare and
education as well as job
“Zimbabwe deserves opportunities for everyone,”
he said.
better leadership which can

champion job opportunities,

a living wage, better health

and education for all,”

Ndlovu said.

“We have three major

crises in the country — the

health sector crisis which is

worsened by COVID-19, the

economic crisis that has

triggered unemployment and

loss of production as well as

institutional decay caused by

We need to be

shareholders in the

distribution of our To advertise in our weekly paper

resources Call our marketing Dept on

263 714 165 677

Byo Citizen

10. Byo Citizen 10 -16 December 2021

Certain features of the news agency reported."We than the earlier Delta variant, matter of chance, he said. As all countries to increase
are now starting to see a it's still early days to draw surveillance, testing and
Omicron variant, including consistent picture of rapid any final conclusions, WHO studies of the latest COVID- sequencing, and to submit
increase in transmission experts have said. more data to the WHO
its global spread and large (rates), although for now the 19 variant are evolving, the Clinical Data Platform using
exact rate of increase relative According to Mike Ryan, an updated online case
number of mutations, to other variants remains executive director of the WHO says it still needs days reporting form.
difficult to quantify," he said. WHO's Health Emergencies
suggest it could have a major Program, although the or even weeks for global It's also still
"Emerging data from evolutionary nature of the premature to say
impact on the course of the South Africa suggest virus makes it more epidemiological data to that Omicron could
increased risk of re-infection transmissible as it mutates,
Covid-19 pandemic, said the with Omicron, but more data this doesn't necessarily make come in, be analyzed and result in a
are needed to draw firmer the virus less severe, as has significant
chief of the World Health conclusions," he added. been suggested by some then to draw any firm reduction in vaccine
"urban legends." Whether or effectiveness
Organization (WHO). While some evidence not a mutation turns out to conclusions.
might suggest that Omicron be milder or more lethal is a
With the Omicron variant causes milder symptoms It's also still premature to
Byo Citizen
now present in 57 countries, say that Omicron could result

WHO Director-General in a significant reduction in

Tedros Adhanom vaccine effectiveness,

Ghebreyesus warned at a according to WHO Chief

press briefing that it can Scientist Soumya

spread more rapidly than Swaminathan.

previous variants, Xinhua The WHO has called on

Byo Citizen01 - 07 October 2021 Byo Citizen 11.

Brazil legend Pele Brazilian soccer legend was now "continuing" his
Pele has been hospitalised treatment.
Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi inspire for a colon tumor treatment,
PSG to Champions League rout Sao Paulo's Hospital Albert Regarded as one of the
Einstein said on Wednesday. greatest footballers of all
Kylian Mbappé and Lionel watch the final group stage Champions League history time, Pele has suffered from
Messi put on a show as match, Mbappé had put the to reach 30 goals. The three-time World Cup a series of health issues in
Paris Saint-Germain beat host ahead after just 70 winner had surgery to recent years. He had
Club Brugge 4-1 in the seconds of the match, firing Stunned by the ferocious remove a colon tumor in prostate surgery in 2015
Champions League on home after goalkeeper opening 10 minutes, the September, with the hospital after he was admitted to
Tuesday. Simon Mignolet parried a Belgian visitors began to saying at the time that he hospital for the second time
shot. grow back into the game would also need to have in six months, and he was
With the French club but always looked chemotherapy. admitted again for a urinary
already through to the The 22-year-old then vulnerable to PSG's infection in 2019.
knockout stages, this was doubled his tally with a frightening counterattack The hospital in its medical
largely an opportunity for wonderfully crafted volley in and it wasn't long before bulletin on Wednesday said Pele is Brazil's all-time
PSG to flex its muscles, and the seventh minute after Messi got in on the act. the 81-year-old was in a leading scorer with 77 goals
its stars certainly helped to Angel Di Maria had chipped stable condition and would in 92 games and one of only
do that. a pass over the defense. READ: Manchester be discharged in the next few four players to have scored
United's former wonderkid days, a BBC report said. in four World Cup
Before supporters could Mbappé is now the on life after leaving the tournaments.
even settle in their seats to youngest player in Premier League It also added that Pele

Pelé was born Edson Arantes do
Nascimento on 23 October 1940, in
Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil,

the son of Fluminense footballer
Dondinho (born João Ramos do
Nascimento) and Celeste Arantes. He
was the elder of two siblings. He was
named after the American inventor

Thomas Edison.

Byo Citizen

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Norman Mapeza is one of the most celebrated Zimbabwean
footballers to have played for the Warriors. He is the head
coach of FC Platinum which plays in the Zimbabwe Premier

Soccer League where he won two league titles with the
platinum miners. He also had a fruitful stint with Turkish

giants Galatasaray as a player.

In September 2021, Mapeza was appointed Warriors interim
coach.

FC Platinum coach Norman officially retained as the in the interest of teamwork.
Mapeza has been reappointed national team coach. Mapeza who was in charge
as the head coach of the
Warriors and will lead the Gwesela added that of the Warriors’ last four
squad at the Africa Cup of Mapeza was given the World Cup qualifiers, has
Nations finals in Cameroon. discretion to choose his own been working with Mandla
assistants. Said Gwesela: Lulu Mpofu, Taurayi
The appointment was Mangwiro and Energy
done after consultations and In consultation and with Murambadoro who was the
guidance from the Sports and guidance from the Sports and goalkeeper’s coach.
Recreation Commission. Recreation Commission,
coach Norman Mapeza will Mapeza had initially been
In a brief note, ZIFA continue as Head Coach and appointed as a caretaker coach
acting chief executive officer will guide Warriors to the following the dismissal of
Xolisani Gwesela said the Cameroon Afcon finals. The Zdravko Logarusic after a
former Warriors midfielder coach has been given latitude series of poor results.
and captain Mapeza has been to come up with his assistants

We need to all keep making
COVIDSafe

choices to help stop the spread.