“Cabinet wishes to inform that results of the genomic sequencing which was recently conducted indicate that the new SA covid-19 variant is dominating by 61%. The variant we were dealing with in 2020 has receded,” announced Nick Mangwana on twitter.
According to a BBC report, Zimbabwe is the first country outside of South Africa to report that the SA "501.YV2" variant is the dominant strain.
SA first reported of this 501.YV2 variant on 18 December 2020. It was known the variant was more contagious than SARS-CoV-2 the world had been dealing with up to this point.
According to a Wikipedia report dated 29 January 2021 Zambia to north, Botswana to the west and Mozambique to the West countries with less human traffic to and fro SA than Zimbabwe, all had reported cases of the SA variant. Zimbabwe had no reported case of the SA variant.
Indeed, until Nick’s twitter, Zimbabwe had no SA variant corona virus case or death! The twitter not only confirm that we do have SA variant corona virus cases and deaths but worse still the variant constitute 61% of the cases!
Nick Mangwana’s twitter raises a number of issues:
- The volume of human traffic, legal and illegal, between SA and Zimbabwe is such that whatever is happening in SA one must expect to happen Zimbabwe. SA had nearly 1 500 000 covid 19 cases (near 1 000 of whom were SA variant) and over 44 000 deaths end of January 2021. Zimbabwe, with 1/4 the population of SA should have 350 000 cases (250 SA variant) and 11 000 deaths. And yet officially Zimbabwe had 33 548 cases (0 SA variant) and 1 234 deaths - 10% of the expected figures.
- One explanation why Zimbabwe’s official corona virus cases are very low is because Zimbabwe has not been testing as diligently as it should. Just before the discovery of the SA variant the country was doing over 44 000 tests per day. Zimbabwe should have been doing over 11 000 tests and the most recent government report dated 15 February 2021 reported 1 481 tests per day carried out.
- By failing to test the country has missed out on the control measure of isolating those with the virus a particularly important when one is dealing with a contagious variant.
- Why was Zimbabwe not carrying the genomic sequencing until now when the country know since 18 December 2020 of the SA variant?
- There is no doubt that Zanu PF has deliberately kept the official corona virus cases and deaths low for the sake of giving the impression the regime has handled the pandemic well. There is growing evidence to show the real corona virus cases and deaths are a lot worse than what the regime would have believe.
- There is no doubt that by failing to realise the more contagious SA variant was spreading in the country until it was 61% of the cases has helped in the spread of the virus far and wide and fast. A timeous response would have save more Zimbabwean from the virus infection and, ultimately, save more lives.
- For a country whose health care services has all but collapsed test and isolate is the only effective way to contain the corona virus. Government must ramp up its test regimes to 10 000 tests per day.
- Government must provide all the necessary support to ensure those who test positive are able to go on isolation for the the stipulated period.
- Zimbabwe was slow in ordering the vaccines and it will probably be a year before the country can finally vaccinate enough to achieve head-immunity. It is tragic that the nation would have been spared amount of money, time and sweat, to say nothing of human suffering and deaths, spent of testing, isolating, etc. if only government had been quick off the mark and bought the vaccines. “Government was evaluating the efficacy of the various vaccine!” we were told! I hate it when someone who knows nothing pretends he/she knows, especially when other people end up paying dearly for it!
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Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing Tuesday, Mutsvangwa said it was time citizens became even more vigilant and adhere to control measures.
“Cabinet wishes to inform the nation that results of the genomic sequencing recently conducted indicate that the type of Covid-19 virus that the nation had in 2020 has receded,” she said.
“There is now a 61% dominance of the new South African variant of the Covid-19 virus which spreads faster and has a higher fatality rate.
“Accordingly, the nation now needs to be more vigilant than before and adhere to Covid-19 prevention and control measures.
“Security personnel have therefore been directed to intensify monitoring and enforcement in order to enhance compliance.”
Zimbabwe shares a busy border with South Africa, the worst affected African country in terms of Covid-19 infections.
We are only learning now that the SA covid-19 variant is spreading in Zimbabwe when it has already soared to be the dominant variant at 61%. SA reported of the variant 18 December 2020 and therefore we should have been on the look out for it. Why have we not been testing for it?
@ Weston Mugocha
“Zimbabwe was slow in ordering the vaccines and it will probably be a year before the country can finally vaccinate enough to achieve head-immunity." Which country in Africa was fast?
"It is tragic that the nation would have been spared amount of money, time and sweat, to say nothing of human suffering and deaths, spent of testing, isolating, etc. if only government had been quick off the mark and bought the vaccines." From where or from who when the vaccines were still under development.
"Government was evaluating the efficacy of the various vaccine!" we were told! I hate it when the foolish pretend they knows, especially when other people end up paying dearly for the folly!”
By 'Government' I think it must be clear and logical to everyone that it is our scientists carrying out these processes, not Minister of Finance or Information and Technology. Common sense is becoming less common with you Wilbert. That efficacy test can be outsourced from the private sector scientists by government and the gvt will have the right to say 'We' because that's what we call, taking responsibility.
You have just proven the point of the foolish who pretend to know! The British government bought hundreds of millions of the doses of the oxf/astra, Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and many other corona virus vaccines long before any of them had even completed the research stage. Some of the vaccines have never gone beyond the research stage and others have been tested and found effective. Many other nations across the globe did the same thing.
Naturally, those nations who paid for the vaccine at design stage will get it before those who waited until all the trials were successful completed. Other than the 200 000 vaccine donated by China plus the 600 000 government order I don’t know whether the government has ordered any more and when.
“Which country in Africa was fast?” Only a village idiot like you would ask such a foolish question! This is not a rat race to the bottom! It must be said a rat race Zimbabwe is winning and dragging the rest of the region with it!
Now that Zimbabwe has the SA covid-19 variant and it is spreading like a forest fire there is an ever present danger that a new Zimbabwe variant will emerge, more so given the vaccine roll out is going to be a protracted and chaotic affair - one none of the existing vaccines can stop!
@ Japajapa
“Chamisa and his MDC Alliance are a formidable opposition political cyclone that has caused Your Excellency's Zanu-PF government sleepless nights, to an extent of resorting to extra-judicial arrests and illegal detention of any dissenting opposition voices, including journalists.
Any slip up by Zanu-PF on the political arena will result in it being swept into oblivion by the MDC Alliance political juggernaut led by the young, energetic, strategic, visionary, well-educated, eloquent, rabble rouser, calculative God-fearing advocate Chamisa.
Zanu-PF must work 24 hours a day and seven days-a-week if it is to entertain any hopes of remaining in power beyond 2023.”
This is just the bubbling nonsense from one with no clue what he is talking about.
The only time Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies had sleepless nights were during the 2008 to 2013 when the party had signed the Global Political Agreement committing itself to the implementation of the democratic reforms designed to dismantle the Zanu PF dictatorship. Mugabe had gambled on bribing the MDC leaders and distract them from implementing the reforms.
Yes he can bribe some of the MDC leaders but to bribe all of the MDC leaders in cabinet and parliament? And the bribes had to work not just for a month or a year but for the whole five years of the GNU! To add to Mugabe’s worries were SADC leaders, especially SA’s Lindiwe Zulu who was constantly nagging MDC leaders to implement the reforms.
To say Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies were relieved when the GNU was over and not ever one reform had seen the light of day, is an understatement. They were beside themselves with joy!
Zanu PF offered a few gravy train seats to MDC to entice them to participate in the 2013 elections even when it was clear Zanu PF would rig the elections. Indeed, SADC leaders leaders warned Tsvangirai and company not to participate but the warning fell on deaf ears.
By participating in these flawed and illegal elections MDC are giving the vote rigging Zanu PF legitimacy but, of course, such subtleties are incomprehensible to a village idiot like Japajapa!
Sadly, Zimbabwe has more than her fair share of Japajapas and hence the reason the country is in such a mess. The spirit is willing but the intellect is noticeably lacking. As long as people like Japajapa continue with their foolish navel gazing the country will never got out of this hell-hole Zanu PF landed us in.
@ Mugocha
You are spot on there! Chamisa boasted "MDC has stringent measures to stop Zanu PF rigging the (2018) elections!" It was all hot air of course.
The claim that Chamisa won the 2018 elections is hot air too. Chamisa failed to produce all the V11 forms to support where his 2.6 million votes came from!
The ethos of MDC A is they do not mind that the elections are not free, fair and credible as long as they are declared the winner! A foolish premise given Zanu PF controls every aspect of the election and will always rig in its own favour!
ZEC did not have all the V11 forms to show where Mnangagwa got his 2.4 million votes and hence the reason ZEC had three different tallies of the votes. But that did not matter as long as Zanu Pf was declared the winner!
"As it is, the national roll-out plan is absent. There is no evidence that the Chinese vaccine has been approved by WHO. Yes, we believe the best solution to control the disease is through vaccination. The Health minister should issue a ministerial statement to the National Assembly.
"Our main worry is that why did government choose to get Sinopharm from China for an unapproved vaccine with a low efficacy rate of 85% or less leaving out such vaccines as-PFizer which has an efficacy rate of around 95%. We do not want approval from leadership, but scientists have to lead in this process," said Biti.
According to the legislator, the distribution plan and personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other logistical matters regarding storage facilities were not yet complete.
Vaccination will begin soon starting with health workers in three phases, a government statement revealed.
Biti demanded answers on why Finance minister Mthuli Ncube failed to budget for vaccines during the 2021 national budget.
"There was no cent budgeted for drugs last year. What happened to the COVAX programme by WHO and AU where other countries are purchasing approved vaccines. As Parliament, we want assurance of application of Covid-19 vaccines from reputable health bodies such as WHO's Covax programme," said Biti.
Zanu PF rigged the 2018 elections and by participating in the flawed and illegal elections Tendai Biti and the rest of the opposition gave the regime legitimacy. The opposition participated because they were after the few gravy train seats Zanu PF was offering as bait. With its 2/3 majority in parliament Zanu PF has done as it pleased.
Ever since the failed 2008 to 2013 GNU, Zanu PF has hit on a winning formula - it will rig the elections to secure the 2/3 majority in parliament and senate plus the presidency. And let the opposition win the 1/3 to entice them to participate in the elections regardless how flawed and illegal and thus guarantee itself legitimacy.
Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because the country has been stuck with this corrupt, incompetent, vote rigging and tyrannical Zanu PF dictatorship for 40 years and counting. Tendai Biti and a few of his opposition friends are in parliament but only as a token, they will never change anything of substance.
What the country needs is a serious commitment to implementing the reforms and the holding of free, fair and credible elections as the only guarantee for good governance. Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence in the handling of this corona virus pandemic has once again highlighted the critical importance of good governance.
Tendai Biti and company sold out in failing to implement even one reform during the GNU and have since been selling out by participating in flawed elections for the sake of a few gravy train seats! This must be stop!
Analysts at Morgan&Co have forecast significant rises in black market exchange rates, which could hit US$1:ZW$200 by the end of the year, from the current range of around US$1:ZW$112.
The official system has been struggling to meet local demand by business and government.
The Zimbabwean dollar has also depreciated on the foreign currency auction system, where it is currently trading at US$1:ZW$83,37 from last year's US$1:ZW$81 rate.
Inter-Horizon Securities this week said while a good agricultural season may calm market jitters, heavy rains may affect yields in key export crops and undermine projected foreign currency inflows.
The RBZ stuck to the 7,4% gross domestic product growth announced in December.
"Notwithstanding Covid-19 related challenges, the bank remains optimistic that the expected economic growth of 7,4% in 2021 is achievable," Mangudya said.
Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic ruled by corrupt and incompetent thugs who believe they have the divine right to rule and loot. After 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption the country is in economic ruins and only a fool would see economic recovery much less prosperity coming out of the ruins!
Analysts at Morgan&Co have forecast significant rises in black market exchange rates, which could hit US$1:ZW$200 by the end of the year, from the current range of around US$1:ZW$112.
The official system has been struggling to meet local demand by business and government.
The Zimbabwean dollar has also depreciated on the foreign currency auction system, where it is currently trading at US$1:ZW$83,37 from last year's US$1:ZW$81 rate.
Inter-Horizon Securities this week said while a good agricultural season may calm market jitters, heavy rains may affect yields in key export crops and undermine projected foreign currency inflows.
The RBZ stuck to the 7,4% gross domestic product growth announced in December.
"Notwithstanding Covid-19 related challenges, the bank remains optimistic that the expected economic growth of 7,4% in 2021 is achievable," Mangudya said.
Zimbabwe is a Banana Republic ruled by corrupt and incompetent thugs who believe they have the divine right to rule and loot. After 40 years of gross mismanagement and rampant corruption the country is in economic ruins and only a fool would see economic recovery much less prosperity coming out of the ruins!
ZANU PF central committee member Madeyi Maswi has died from complications associated with COVID-19.
She was 54.
Her son and family spokesperson Takundwa Maswi confirmed the death.
"She died yesterday at St Anne's Hospital after she tested positive to COVID-19 and was hospitalised for more than a week," Tatenda said.
She was tested and no doubt all were close family and friends have been tested to be sure they did not get the virus. The same is not done for the ordinary people. Even when someone has all the covid-19 symptoms they will be very lucky to be tested.
Zimbabwe has one of the lowest tests per capita in the region and all for the purpose of keeping the official covid-19 cases and deaths down!
By failing to test, Zimbabwe has not been isolating infected people and thus help in the spread of the virus!
The total number of Covid-19 related deaths in Zimbabwe now stands at 1 432 while the national recovery rate stands at 89,7percent. A total of 1 436 PCR tests were conducted yesterday and the positivity was four percent.
"As of February 20 2021, Zimbabwe, has now recorded 35 768 confirmed cases, 32 096 recoveries and 1 432 deaths," reads the statement.
"One hundred and twenty-four new recoveries were reported and the national recovery rate stands at 89,7 percent and active case go down to 2 240 today."
Last week the nation learned that 61% of the corona virus cases in Zimbabwe were due to the SA variant. Up to that point, the nation did not even know of a single case involving the variant because we have not been testing and tracking as WHO recommended and common sense dictates.
SA has ramped up its testing to over 44 000 test per day. Zimbabwe with 1/4 SA’s population should be doing 11 000 tests per day and yet we are still doing 1 436 PCR tests per day. This is just madness! By failing to test and isolate the nation is risking more and more people getting the virus and even more people dying from the virus!
@ Golden Guvamatanga
“The reality is that the sanctions are targeted at ordinary Zimbabweans in order for them to rise against their Government. This is where Britain maybe losing the plot in as far as its politics on Zimbabwe is concerned. Here is why.
The brutal reality check is that whereas in 2000, the Land Reform was maligned as mere political gimmick, in 2021, the same programme is showing signs of a resounding success, with other sectors showing similar positive results.
Herein lies the problem with Britain. While the sanctions were meant to punish the people of Zimbabwe, they have instead emboldened them so much that the country can go it alone in terms of development as shown by the progress that has been recorded thus far.
On the other hand, Britain will have to search for new sources of raw materials which are in huge demand from friendly nations which have stood with Zimbabwe since the days of the liberation struggle. And already it has made a false start to post-Brexit "strategy".
A January 28 2021 report by Reuters titled, "First flashes of Brexit trade trouble appear in UK data" brings to the fore the many challenges that will confront Britain going forward.
"Manufacturers and services firms have been hit hard by supply chain and export disruption, according to data company IHS Markit," reads the report in part.”
Ever since the time the targeted sanctions were first imposed Zimbabwe has boasted of the country doing well regardless of the sanctions. The look east policy was presented as the panacea to all the country’s problems. And yet again and again Zanu PF has blamed the sanctions for all the country’s problems.
The truth is Zimbabwe’s myriad of problems are caused by the gross mismanagement, rampant corruption and rank lawlessness. The regime has used sanctions as a scapegoat.
Sanctions have helped highlight the regime’s failure to uphold human rights including the failure to hold free and fair elections. Zimbabwe will never address the misrule problems without first resolving the problem of rigged elections and for that reason, sanctions must stay!
@ Mbofana
Zanu PF was very slow off the mark in buying the corona virus vaccines, it will be a year and half, at the earliest, before Zimbabwe can start a significant vaccination roll-out. By then the world will have a hell lot more data on the efficacy of each vaccine and the up take will be better.
Zimbabwe has only received 200 000 doses out of the 20 million required to reach head immunity. The country will be very luck to get enough vaccines to to 20% of the population this year and do not believe the country will have any problem finding 20% willing to take the vaccine especially one approved by WHO.
Zimbabwe does not have the expertise to access the efficacy of any of the available corona virus vaccine and therefore so rely on the recommendation of WHO. We are a poor nation but that does not mean we are guinea pigs to be experimented upon. No one should ever be coerced into taking the vaccine, especial one with no WHO approval.
Mnangagwa is making a mountain out of a molehill, very few Zimbabweans will be vaccinated in 2021 because there is no vaccine and not because the people did not want to take the vaccine.
There will be no need to force any Zimbabwean to take a covid-19 vaccine that is not there! This is our modern day Don Quixote riding his skin and bone donkey changing at the imaginary windmill!
President Emmerson Mnangagwa made a national address today as he was updating and informing on the partially lifted lockdown regulations.
Curfew has been adjusted from 10pm to 5am in the morning, industry to open while adhering to Covid 19 regulations and informal market to resume as well.
Intercity travel to resume, funerals gathering remain attended by 30 people and other gatherings to have 50 people.
Schools have been urged to prepare for opening while bars, gyms, and nightclubs remain closed.
There is no scientific basis for any of these decisions. None!
Zimbabwe has never carried out enough tests to meaningful say it was tracing and tracking the corona virus. When SA was carrying out over 44 000 tests per day and Zimbabwe, with 1/4 the population, should have been testing 11 000 plus; the country was doing 1 500 max!
Whilst other nations have lifted the lockdown restrictions under one or more of the following conditions;
have a robust test, trace, track and isolation system (Zimbabwe is not testing and so the other measures are not applicable)
vaccinate as many people and as quickly as possible to reduce the chance of another serious outbreak. (Zimbabwe has received 200 000 vaccines and God knows when it will get the 20 million needed to reach head immunity; end of 2022, if we are lucky)
ensure the health care can cope with another outbreak. (Zimbabwe’s health care is so poorly equipped, just a few thousand cases are enough to overwhelm the service)
Dare President Mnangagwa to reveal the science behind his decision and name just one scientist who reviewed the data! There is no scientific data just as there is no sound economic basis behind the regime’s economic policies. Everything is voodoo and guesswork! Kiya kiya!
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