“As at yesterday, only 36 283 frontline workers had been
vaccinated with Sinopharm against a target of 100 000 people, with the majority
said to be sceptical of the efficacy of the drug donated by China,” reported
News Day.
To reach head immunity, Zimbabwe must vaccinate 10 million out of
its 15 million population. The fact that it is struggling to get the first 100
000 to come forward to take the vaccine speaks volumes of the public’s confidence
in the Sinopharm vaccine being offered. The vaccine has yet to be approved by
WHO.
Zimbabwe accepted Sinopharm vaccine because it was a free gift.
There are many other vaccines with WHO seal of approval on the
market. Zimbabwe should have sourced and paid for these vaccines. It seems the
country is totally reliant on free vaccines? You accept whatever you are given,
beggars are not choosers.
Why are we a nation of beggars?
The country is losing US$1.2 billion per annual to gold smugglers.
Two weeks ago, the nation learned V P Chiwenga unveiled his new “White House”
mansion.
“The cost of the new house runs into millions of dollars. The
source of Chiwenga's wealth remains a mystery,” reported The News Hawk.
“The breath-taking property was constructed in recent months by
Chinese nationals who fitted it with the latest technology to bolster the
security-conscious vice-president's safety.
“Dubbed "the White House", the awe-inspiring double-storey
mansion has a spectacular structure and the finest finishing; transcendental
decorative texture and optics all built by the Chinese.”
Of course, we know the source of VP Chiwenga’s wealth, his close
relationship with the Chinese dates back to his days in the army. The Zimbabwe
Defence Forces; together with the Police, CIO and a few others; was one of the
institutions to be issued the diamond mining concession in Marange and
Chiadzwa.
The concession allows the holder and their partner, the Chinese in
this case, to mine for diamonds and share to spoils without ever declaring
their earnings or paying any tax – no wonder the concessions have been dubbed “Open
licence to loot!”
VP Chiwenga and the top brass in the army were the beneficiaries.
And when he retired from the army to become VP arrangements were made to make
sure he continued to receive his share of the looted wealth.
VP Chiwenga is doubling up as Minister of
Health and therefore is aware the country has been slow in purchasing the corona
virus vaccines, assuming it has bought any, ostensibly because it did have the
money. And yet he was splashing millions of dollars, most of it in foreign
currency, on “latest technology and
finniest fittings” for his mansion.
"Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered to
Zimbabwe. These vaccines help minimise risk of infection and are being
administered all over Zimbabwe free of charge. So, get vaccinated now,” argued
President Mnangagwa.
“This is our stand against covid-19. Together,
we will conquer. Get vaccinated now."
He still does not get it!
Zimbabweans are as keen as anyone else the
world over to get the corona virus jab but not so keen to get this Sinopharm
vaccine only because it is yet to get WHO approval. Meanwhile, government
should be offering the people the other approved vaccines!
Zimbabwe is a wealthy nation; just needs to
stamp out corruption and other wasteful activities; and should not be rely on
begging, especially on critical matters like the corona virus vaccines. Why are
these common-sense arguments so alien and incomprehensible to this Zanu PF
regime!!!!
It is the stuff of nightmares to have a
corrupt, incompetent and utterly useless government during good times but when
there is a crisis like the corona virus pandemic the nightmare becomes a
catastrophe of Biblical proportion. Zimbabwe will be very lucky to reach the 10
million head immunity on donated vaccines by end of next year, 2022. Until
then, the country will be susceptible to a one wave after another of the corona
virus outbreak and God knows the economic and human price we will pay with each
pass.
6 comments:
MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA IS ABSOLUTELY GEARED TO CONVERGE FOR THE CHANGE THAT DELIVERS#AGENDA2021
MDC was launched in 1999 with the promise to deliver democratic changes, as the party name implied. To date, 21 years latter with 5 of which it was in the GNU, the party has failed to deliver even one token democratic change. Why has MDC members failed to take the party leaders to account on this?
Zanu PF members have followed the party blindly like sheep and have repeatedly failed to take Mugabe and the rest of the leadership to account even over such matters as the Gukurahundi massacres. Are we not fighting to end the Zanu PF dictatorship only to create another with the same blind followers?
MDC did not fail to deliver even one meaningful democratic change these last 21 years because the party was not “absolutely geared to converge for the change”. The members and the nation at large were geared for change but not the leaders and it is high time these leaders are held to account.
It is also high time that blind followers are held to account!
The blundering incompetence with which Zanu PF has handled the corona virus pandemic has caused many virus infections and deaths. The official covid-19 cases and deaths are one thing and the real figures are another.
The regime’s failure to procure the corona virus vaccine is one blunder that is set to cost the nation greatly in terms of the economic disruption by the corona virus lockdowns, virus cases and deaths.
Ordinarily, Zimbabwe would have received a lot of donor assistance for both corona virus requirements such as PPE, test kits, ventilators and other materials including the vaccines plus financial assistance. Donors are pissed off to see Zimbabwe’s ruling elite building mansions and driving posh cars – proof this is very rich nation whose problem is corruption.
There is really no excuse why we, the people, have allowed such scourges as corruption to become such a serious problem. None! And now the nation is paying dearly for it, we are losing out from the looted wealth and from the disillusioned donors!
MDC leaders who were the 2008 to 2013 GNU should not condemn POLAD members for being greedy since they are the ones who did nothing during the GNU precisely because Mugabe had bribed them.
The real reason why Chamisa and his MDC A friends did not join POLAD is because they wanted a hell lot more from Mnangagwa. Chamisa et al wanted Mnangagwa to create the Leader of Opposition and Shadow Cabinet positions complete with the ministerial limos, generous salaries and perks just as in the GNU days for him and his close friends.
Chamisa and his MDC A friends are hypocrites who want to pretend they care about the people and not about enriching themselves. They all participated in the July 2018 elections knowing fully well Zanu PF was rigging but also that Zanu PF would be giving away a few gravy train seats as bait for participating.
Chamisa and the rest in the opposition camp are all gearing to contest the 2023 elections, fighting each other for the bait gravy train seats, knowing doing so will give Zanu PF legitimacy. Chamisa and company are as much sell-out as those in POLAD asking for farms, cars and diplomatic passports!
MDC Alliance which is led by Nelson Chamisa says it is surprising that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) suspended holding of electoral processes such as by-elections and yet they are want to proceed with delimitation.
ZEC suspended electoral processes using the COVID-19 regulations which imposed limitations on gatherings.
This development has seen some Parliamentary constituencies and local authority wards going without representatives for more than six months.
There are currently there are about 17 Parliament and 45 local authority vacancies that need to be filled following death or recall of holders.
Nelson Chamisa is a hypocrite, a confused hypocrite at that!
In his Zimbabwe 2021 Agenda, last week, Chamisa reiterated the need to political dialogue leading to the implementation of comprehensive reforms, the holding of free, fair and credible elections and an end to the culture of disputed elections. MDC A is clearly itching for the by-elections to be held and cannot wait for the 2023 elections.
With no reforms in place, Zanu PF will rig the by-elections and the 2023 elections and Chamisa will be the one disputing the results and calling Mnangagwa illegitimate.
We all know why MDC A and everyone else in the opposition camp participated in the July 2018 elections with no reforms and knowing Zanu pf will rig; they also knew Zanu PF was giving away a few gravy train seats as bait. Whilst the rest of the opposition opportunists accepted the July 2018 rigged elections, Chamisa and his MDC A have complained of Zanu PF rigging – as if they did not know this would happen!
Zimbabwe is stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and murderous Zanu PF dictatorship because MDC leaders sold-out on reforms during the 2008 to 2013 GNU. And since the GNU, because MDC participated in flawed elections giving Zanu PF legitimacy.
To get out of this mess, we need to implement the reforms and the last thing we want is hypocrites like Chamisa saying one thing and doing the opposite! The 2023 elections must not go ahead without first implementing the reforms. If the elections go ahead then the result must be declared null and void. As for the by-elections, they are waste of time and resources!
Zimbabwe's parliament has gone to court to demand back vehicles issued to 19 former MDC Alliance MPs and Senators who were controversially expelled by the MDC-T party.
Also being sued with the MDC Alliance 19 is Zanu-PF's Killer Zivhu, who was expelled by the party and recalled from his Chivi South constituency. Zivhu received a Toyota Fortuner from parliament.
In summons now before the High Court, parliament says each vehicle costs US$50,000.
The MDC Alliance's former MPs and Senators facing withdrawal of vehicles are Eric Murai, Highfields East; Wellington Chikombo, Glen Norah; Ethenrige Kureva, Epworth; Dorcas Sibanda, proportional representation (PR) Bulawayo; Caston Matewu, Marondera Central; Lynette Karenyi-Kore, PR Manicaland; Concelia Chinanzvavana PR Mashonaland West; Susan Matsunga, Mufakose; Prince Dubeko Sibanda Binga North, Vunganayi Tarusenga, St Mary's; Meliwe Puthi; Nomathemba Ndlovu; Bacili Magaya; Annah Muyambo; Happymore Chidziva; Sinampande Herbert Madolo; Virginia Mutadzika; Tapfumanei Unganai and Amos Chibaya.
It is not clear if the list is exhaustive. The MDC Alliance says the MDC-T recalled a total of 31 MPs and Senators, and over 45 councillors including four mayors.
Parliament says none of the defendants had paid a penny towards the vehicles which are issued to MPs under a loan facility. Historically, few if any MPs ever paid back the loans.
As security for the loan, the lawmakers would pledge ownership of the vehicles until full payment of the loan. They also agreed that the agreement would be terminated if the defendants ceased to be legislators before expiry of their term, and parliament would be entitled to claim ownership or full payment for the vehicle.
Court papers show that the parties also agreed that the defendants would settle legal costs and any expenses that may arise in the recovery process.
There are some naïve and gullible individuals out there who did not want to believe David Coltart when he said MDC leaders participate in elections knowing the elections were being rigged but proceeded regardless out of greed. Well here is the evidence; a generous MP salary and allowance plus US$ 50 000 car loan “historically, few if any MPs ever paid back!”
MDC leaders have failed to implement even one meaningful reform to restore our individual freedoms and rights including the right to free, fair and credible elections. MDC leaders have sold-out, the question is how long are we going to let them pull wool over our eyes with such ridiculous claims as having strategies to win rigged elections to justify
Ngarivhume received a lot of praises on social media for fighting corruption.
"Yours is a noble cause. You are a true son of God and the soil. Keep fighting for the voiceless. Amandla..," reads Mhofu Yemukono's tweet.
Nicholas Sundire said," Never apologise for doing the right thing. You're a freedom fighter.
I think we must think through what we are doing!
There is no doubt that Jacob Ngarivhume, Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti, Job Sikhala, Fadzai Mahere and all the other opposition politicians who participated in the 2018 elections knew Zanu PF was rigging the elections and that their participation will give legitimacy to the flawed and illegal process. Still they participated because they also knew that Zanu PF was offering a few gravy train seats as bait.
One has to question the motive of people like Ngarivhume who have since the elections have been super critical of Zanu PF and yet they are the ones who gave the regime legitimacy. It is no secret that the same individuals are gearing to participate in the 2023 elections knowing the elections will be rigged and that participating gives legitimacy to Zanu PF. Of course, they are playing to the gallery.
They are super critical of Zanu PF for the sake of positioning themselves to win one of the gravy train seats. They do not give a damn that Zanu PF is rigging the elections and thus denying the rest of us our freedoms and rights including a meaningful vote. How long are we going to be taken for fools, is the real issue here!
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