(24 May to 2 June)
Campaign diary day 6: 29 May 2010
By the end of day 5, at least 2.9 Million children had been vaccinated against measles and 985,154 had received Vitamin A supplements. Sending of immunization data to the national level has improved, and now sees from 73-100% of all district vaccination centres reporting. Provincial medical directors are being encouraged to ensure all centres report daily to enable the national taskforce to gauge which areas need additional support and provide it immediately.
Community mobilizers are being urged to increase the already considerable effort put into social mobilization to ensure no eligible children remain un-immunized against measles or other vaccine-preventable diseases. In particular, hard-to-reach groups in cities, pockets of religious objectors in various provinces and people living in remote areas shall be the focus for the coming days. Provinces have devised different ways to take care of these groups, including but not limited to door-to-door campaigns, after-hours vaccination at clinics, outreaches at church gatherings and in remote areas. At community level, mobilization has been carried out through head masters, ward councillors, kraal heads, village headmen, village health workers, apostolic faith leaders and church leaders. Printed media (newspapers, posters, banners, and leaflets), radio and television have been used to reach members of the public as well.
Logistics teams continue to provide support, ensuring vaccines and diluents are distributed or redistributed to the centres needing them.
For more information, please contact:
Wendy Julias
World Health Organization
Harare, 28 May 2010. 1 281 629 children were vaccinated by day 3 of the on-going national measles immunization and child health days. This was said by the Honorable Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera during a press conference he held with the WHO and UNICEF Representatives to update the public at the half way point of the campaign.
Dr Madzorera said many vaccination centres are experiencing huge turn outs with long and winding queues being the order of the day. ‘We would like to encourage all parents and care givers to continue taking all eligible children for vaccination until the end of the campaign on 2 June,” said Madzorera
In his press statement, Dr Madzorera also acknowledged the overwhelming support by members of the apostolic churches. This, he said, shows that everybody, including these traditional objectors, is committed to child health. Many apostolic women have been bringing their children, many of whom have never been immunised before, to the various immunization points.
The Honorable Minister also acknowledged the support his Ministry has received from donors and partners in the wake of the measles outbreak. “With partnerships like this, Zimbabwe will soon be focusing on measles elimination,” said Minister Madzorera. He also promised that every dollar raised will be accounted for
Speaking at the same occasion, Dr Peter Salama, the UNICEF Representative said this ongoing campaign is a major engine to revitalise routine EPI. If routine EPI is strengthen outbreaks of measles and other vaccine preventable diseases will be more manageable and easily contained before spreading to all provinces, Salama said. WHO Representative Dr Custodia Mandlhate echoed the same sentiments. She said measles isone of the diseases that had been targeted for eliminaton, but because of the collapse of the health system, all the gains were reversed.
Addressing the issue of expired vaccines, the Honorable Minister said no expired or experimental vaccines are being given. “The vaccines procured in Zimbabwe are pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO), procured through the UNICEF chaand registered and assessed in terms of quality before distribution by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ),” said Madzorera, who was echoed by the WHO Representative Dr C. Mandlhate. He also said teams of international, national, as well as local health officials have and continue to check the vaccines and the cold chain status, and no reports of expired vaccines have been received, and to date there are no cases of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) but health care workers are on high alert, and systems are in place to monitor and deal with them. He encouraged all parents and care givers to take their children to the nearest health centre if they develop adverse actions after immunization.
The Honourable Minister also took the opportunity to clear the air about expired anti malaria drugs and rapid test kits that are allegedly being used in some parts of the country. Minister Madzorera said Zimbabwe has one of the strictest regulatory authorities on medicines and drugs. He said no hospital is using expired drugs and test kits, and that the most probable explanation is that the drugs were given a new expiry date by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
Health Action in Crises
World Health Organization
VOA news
Benedict Nhlapho & Ntungamili Nkomo | Johannesburg/Washington31 May 2010
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter called Zimbabwe a "tragedy still waiting to be resolved," but cautioned that it would be premature for the country to try to organize new elections until a number of measures have been taken
Following a meeting in South Africa, the group of Elders voiced their great concern on Monday at the slow pace of implementation of the Global Political Agreement for Zimbabwean power sharing more than a year after the formation of the chronically troubled national unity government in Harare.
Struggle icon and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu said the Elders were disappointed that the Harare political accord underpinning a government including President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has not relieved the country's impoverished masses.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter called Zimbabwe a "tragedy still waiting to be resolved." Mr. Carter welcomed recent calls from two of the three parties to the unity government for elections to resolve the current impasse. But he said a number of measures remain to be taken to ensure such an election will be a successful one.
The Elders also said they did not take lightly rumors and threats circulating in South Africa as to a new wave of attacks against immigrants when World Cup of soccer concludes in mid-July.
Formed in 2007, the Elders comprises former heads of state, Nobel Peace Prize recipients and prominent defenders of human rights who seek to support peace-building and reduce human suffering through moral suasion.
Elsewhere in the region, the Southern African Development Community's Namibia-based tribunal will consider an application by a group of Zimbabwean white commercial farmers who are asking it to tell SADC to suspend Zimbabwe for ignoring tribunal rulings holding that Harare’s seizure of white-owned farms was discriminatory and illegal.
The application comes amid further farm takeovers around Zimbabwe. Christopher Jarret, chairman of the Southern African Commercial Farmers Alliance, told VOA that James Taylor and his son were arrested Friday for refusing to leave their farm in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North province. The two were released Monday, sources said.
The applicants want the tribunal to ask SADC to convene a special summit to discuss farm seizures. They want Zimbabwe suspended from the bloc for what the group charges have been “prosecutions, imprisonment and other measures of intimidation which serve to destroy the lives of farmers.”
Applicant Ben Freeth of the SADC Tribunal Rights Watch civic group told VOA Studio 7 reporter Ntungamili Nkomo that he and his co-applicants hope the tribunal will move the question to the level of SADC heads of state.
By TSHEGO LETSHWITI (AP) –
JOHANNESBURG — A group of international statesmen and women brought together by Nelson Mandela have expressed excitement but also some concerns at the prospect of the first World Cup being held in Africa.
The Elders include Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and the first woman president of Ireland, Mary Robinson.
Another member, Graca Machel, a human rights campaigner who is married to Mandela, said Africa is often portrayed negatively, and the World Cup is an opportunity for it to be seen in a positive manner.
"Sports can express some of the best values we carry as a human family," she said.
Robinson was concerned about small street vendors being pushed aside during the tournament, which starts June 11. Vendors and their advocates have complained that restriction on activity near stadiums established by FIFA, the international football body, make it difficult for hawkers to make a living.
Robinson also said the World Cup will draw attention to the problem of human trafficking. There have been concerns trafficking will increase during the World Cup because of the demand for sex workers and other workers.
The Elders also addressed crises in Zimbabwe and Israel. Jimmy Carter described Zimbabwe as "a tragedy waiting to be solved" and called for elections scheduled there next year should be fair and the outcome should be accepted peacefully.
Overnight, Israeli troops stormed at least one ship in a flotilla of vessels carrying 10,000 tons of relief supplies to Gaza.
The Elders strongly condemned the Israeli attack, saying the violence should draw the world's attention to the suffering of Gaza's 1.5 million people, of which most are children.
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press.
VOA news
Sandra Nyaira | Washington31 May 2010
Police said Lisben Maguwu prevented them from arresting Farai Maguwu, wanted in connection with a report he issued last week in which it was alleged that thousands of carats of diamonds were being smuggled out of Marange daily
A magistrate in the eastern Zimbabwe provincial capital of Mutare on Monday freed the brother of the director of the Center for Research and Development, which police raided late last week in apparent connection with its reporting on abuses in the controversial Marange diamond field of Manicaland province.
Magistrate Enia Ndiraya set bail of US$20 for Lisben Maguwu, brother of Center for Research and Development Director Farai Maguwu, remanding him to June 14 to face charges of obstructing justice. Authorities sought to detain Farai Maguwu for questioning last Thursday, but could not find him and arrested Lisben Maguwu instead.
Police said Lisben prevented them from arresting Maguwu, wanted in connection with a report he issued last week in which it was alleged that thousands of carats of diamonds were being smuggled out of Marange daily.
Police moved to arrest Maguwu soon after he met with Kimberly Process Certification Scheme Zimbabwe monitor Abbey Chikane in Mutare last week. Maguwu remained in hiding this week, sources said.
Prosecutor Simon Chabuka told the court that Lisben, 24, obstructed justice by preventing the police from arresting Maguwu last Thursday. But he did not explain how he did that.
Representing Lisben was Peter Tandiri, who stepped in to represent Lisben Maguwu after Blessing Nyamaropa, a member of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who was initially representing Maguwu, went into hiding after being harassed and threatened by police upon making inquiries about his client.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the Zimbabwe Peace Project and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition have condemned the alleged abuses by Chief Superintendent Crispen Makedenge and Detective Inspector Henry Dowa.
Nyamaropa told VOA Studio 7 reporter Sandra Nyaira that such police actions are intended to prevent human rights defenders from representing people who are considered enemies of the state.
VOA news
Patience Rusere | Washington31 May 2010
Though participation was high, authorities said one leader of an apostolic faith sect in Masvingo province threatened health workers with a machete, and a few families with religious objections took to the hills to avoid compulsory vaccination
Most Zimbabwean parents have been cooperating with an ongoing national campaign to immunize children between the ages of six months and 15 years against measles and other childhood diseases, with relatively few holdouts.
Authorities said however that the leader of an apostolic faith sect in Bhasera, Gutu district, Masvingo province, threatened health officials with a machete, and officials also confirmed that some families with religious objections to immunization had taken to the mountains with their children to avoid compulsory vaccination.
But by and large most families - including those belonging to such apostolic sects - have complied with the national directive to immunize children, said Blessing Chebundo, a member of Parliament’s committee on health.
Funded by the European Union at a cost of some US$8 million, the program was launched on May 24 by Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund and the World Health Organization.
Authorities noted that the current campaign concludes on June 2, and although there may be another “mop-up” round of vaccinations, parents were being urged to seize the opportunity on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Nearly 400 Zimbabwean children have died of measles since late 2009 as outbreaks of the disease have spread throughout the country, in part due to opposition to immunization by religious sects.
Business Report
* Cites liberalised gold trade, improving investment climate
May 31, 2010
Zimbabwe's Duration Gold expects to produce 100 000 ounces of gold per year by 2012, on the back of the country's liberalised gold trade and an improving investment climate, a company official said.
Duration Gold, a privately owned firm controlled by the Jersey-based Clarity Capital, bought up several Zimbabwean mines in 2006, which it kept under care and maintenance until 2009, when a power-sharing government was formed in Zimbabwe.
Duration Gold's chief executive Errol Smart told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a weekend mining conference that the group was pursuing an aggressive growth strategy for its Zimbabwean gold mines.
"We are currently producing 1 600 ounces per month from our three mines, but see ourselves hitting 5 000 ounces per month by year-end," Smart said.
"Our target is 100 000 ounces annually by 2012."
Zimbabwe's Chamber of Mines says the recovering gold sector, which is expected to produce at least 7 tonnes this year, could more than double to 20 tonnes over the next two years, rising to 50 tonnes in 10-15 years, if high gold prices hold and more investment is channeled to the sector.
Bitter rivals President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai set up a unity government in February 2009 and ushered in economic reforms, including adopting multiple foreign currencies and allowing miners to market their own gold, which was previously traded through the central bank.
Smart said Duration Gold's approach was to purchase existing small-scale mines and build them into clusters. The firm operates mines in the southern part of the country, with combined 5 million ounce reserves and employing 1 400 workers.
"We have invested $20 million so far in exploration and mine development. We will be building world-class mines as we firmly believe that Zimbabwe's mining will soon take off in a big way," he said.
Smart said Duration Gold was concerned by Zimbabwe's empowerment laws -- which seek to transfer majority control of all foreign firms to local blacks -- but the government appeared to be heeding the mining industry's proposals on the matter.
"Of course we are concerned, but the important thing is that Mugabe and the (mines) minister stood up at this conference to say: "This is the position on mines, you have no need to fear," Smart said. "That is the clarity we need."
Mugabe told the mining conference last week that his government would not expropriate mines and would consider the need to encourage investors to expand current production and promote growth in the capital intensive mining industry as it implemented the empowerment laws. - Reuters
20:10, May 31, 2010
China, Zimbabwe to cement inter-party ties
The Communist Party of China (CPC) and Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF will strengthen their inter-party relations in a bid to promote bilateral economic cooperation, a Chinese official said on Monday.
Visiting senior Chinese party official Wang Gang, a member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks when he was having a meeting with Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF National Chairman Jonathan Moyo and other officials at the Zanu-PF headquarters in Harare.
Wang said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the 30th anniversary of the ruling of Zanu-PF over the country. Under the leadership of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF, the Zimbabwean people have made great achievements in developing the economy and improving the living standards.
Wang made a four-point proposal to further develop the inter- party relations between CPC and Zanu-PF, namely, to strengthen high-level exchange, to enhance exchange in ruling experiences, to promote bilateral cooperation and to make efforts to promote folk or informal exchange between the two countries. By doing so, Wang said, the Sino-Zimbabwe relations can be developed in a comprehensive way.
Wang and Moyo also attended the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding of the inter-party cooperation and exchange between CPC and Zanu-PF.
Source:Xinhua
Copyright by People's Daily Online, All Rights Reserved
VOA
Gibbs Dube | Washington31 May 2010
Businessman Matumbwa Mawere told VOA that he will probably take the state to court as his businesses are controlled by an administrator under the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act
Zimbabwean businessman Mutumwa Mawere, whose business interests were specified or designated for confiscation by authorities in 2004 over alleged violations of foreign currency regulations, said Monday that his assets remain in the hands of the state even if they were de-specified last week.
Mawere told VOA that he will probably take the state to court as his businesses are controlled by an administrator under the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act.
Reports said authorities withdrew the specification of Mawere's interests along with those of Telecel Zimbabwe boss James Makamba and John Moxon of Kingdom Meikles Limited following the submission of a report to the co-ministers of Home Affairs by the police over allegations that the three stashed foreign currency in offshore accounts.
Among many other businesses, Mawere used to own Shabanie Mashaba Mines, an asbestos extraction operation, which is now on the verge of collapsing due to liquidity problems.
Mawere told VOA Studio 7 reporter Gibbs Dube that he will fight tooth and nail to recover his assets. “I should be in a position to directly challenge the seizure of my property now that the specification has been revoked.”
But London-based political analyst Brilliant Mhlanga said those seeking to reclaim de-specified assets may lose them if they seek to achieve this by taking legal action against the Zimbabwean state.
Blood Lily by Mason Cranswick is released in the UK: A sweeping tale of naivety, treachery, war and genocide, of love and friendship... and ultimately of hope and regeneration
Proudly supporting Zimbabwean Charities www.bloodlily.co.za/charity.htm
War and decay are transitory...
but the land is forever
Scott is facing bankruptcy amid the turmoil that grips the financial markets of 2008. He is saved when money is transferred to his account from an unexpected source. We flash back to war-torn 1970's Rhodesia where Scott is growing up as a privileged white boy alongside his best friend, Simba, a black boy, on his parents' farm ...
A sweeping tale of naivety, treachery, war and genocide, of love and friendship...
and ultimately of hope and regeneration.
Blood Lily by Mason Cranswick is released in the UK: A sweeping tale of naivety, treachery, war and genocide, of love and friendship... and ultimately of hope and regeneration
Film Clip: www.youtube.com/watch?v=thaIHAa2FBQ
Great Cause: www.bloodlily.co.za/charity.htm
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City of Harare’s Finance Director Resigns
...amid reports of rampant corruption
The City of Harare’s Finance Director, Cosmos Zvikaramba, has tendered his resignation amid reports of his involvement in shoddy and corrupt deals during his tenure of office. Zvikaramba, who was infamous for taking directives from Minister Chombo instead of being accountable to his superiors at Town House, resigned after having taken official leave for three months.
Sources within Council have revealed that Zvikaramba cited that he was no longer wanted in Council as his reason for resigning. It has been revealed that Zvikaramba was not happy with the re-appointment of the City Treasurer, Mr. Mubvumbi. And felt that he was no longer of any use as most of his duties were now being done by Mubvumbi. However, Councilors who spoke to CHRA said that Zvikaramba had resigned because he was afraid that his corrupt activities would be exposed, especially after the release of the land audit report. There are allegations that the former Finance Director appended his signature for the unprocedural release of money from Council coffers for unclear purposes. The Councilors also revealed that Zvikaramba was implicated in the cattle scandal of 2008 where more than 150 Council cattle went missing. One of the Councilors actually admitted that Council had made a resolution to fire him a long time ago but Minister Chombo had insisted that he stays.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Council made a resolution to fire the Town Clerk but the Mayor, Mr Muchadeyi Masunda is reluctant to effect the decision of the full Council. A Councillor representing one of the wards in Mabvuku (name withheld) said that the Council had unearthed too many cases of corruption in which the Town Clerk was involved and hence the decision to relieve him of his duties.
The Council had at one time proposed to suspend the Town Clerk and carry out investigations into the accusations that were being laid against him but Minister Chombo rescinded the decision.
Residents have expressed deep concern at the continued in-fighting that is taking place at Town House; a situation which they say is compromising effective service delivery. Residents have said that the Minister of Local Government should stop interfering with the work of Councilors. Those who have been implicated in corrupt activities should be investigated without partiality so that they can face disciplinary action if they are found on the wrong side of the law.
Belvedere
There were no water cuts during the past week. Water bills are ranging from $40 to $50 a month.
Households in Lincoln Green went for three days without electricity and those close to the Harare Show Grounds experienced power cuts from Monday to Wednesday. The power cuts usually occur from 6am to 2pm in the afternoon. Electricity bills are ranging from $200 to $300. Residents of this area have said that the do not understand the criteria that is being used by ZESA to charge electricity bills because the charges are exorbitant.
Refuse collection was done on Thursday.
Milton Park
Milton park experienced power cuts on Monday ,Wednesday and Thursday during the week for at least 3 hours, the power cuts were usually in the morning from 6am to 10am .In areas near ST Giles Hospital the water pressure is low at night for example Divine road .
Cassa Banana
Cassa Banana has been in existence for over ten years with a population of over 500 residents. The situation in this area calls for urgent attention as it is a ticking health time bomb. The Harare City Council continues to collect its dues from residents of this area despite the fact that there are no basic social services to make it fit for human inhabitation.
The area does not have an automatic sewer system and they use a sceptic tank which has to be drained when full. However, the City Council has not been draining the septic tank for two years saying that it does not have the resources. Residents have had to manually drain raw human waste on their own using buckets and without protective clothing.
There are about four public toilets in this area which are no longer functioning properly because the septic tank is full. Sometimes human waste overflows into the toilets and bathrooms. Residents get water from a central point at one of the toilets. They receive individual bill statements and they make their payments at Kuwadzana district office. There are no boreholes in the area and water supplies have been disconnected due to fault at Inkomo barracks.
The Residents of Cassa Banana have said that it is only a matter of time before they are wiped away by diseases like Cholera and other hygiene related diseases. Cases of diarrhoea are on the increase. What makes matters worse is the fact that Cassa Banana does not have a clinic and residents have to travel to Norton, which is more than 30km away to seek medical attention.
Epworth
Residents still in contention over town budget
Residents of Epworth have expressed their disappointment at the way the Council is disregarding their views by implementing a budget that was rejected by residents. The 2010 budget formulated by the Epworth Town Council was rejected by residents, upon which Minister Chombo gave a directive that the Council should use the 2009 budget. However, the Council went ahead to effect the 2010 budget in disregard of the residents’ wishes. The residents took the Municipality to Court over the issues but the case has not been resolved to date. Residents have pointed out that the service charges are too high and beyond their affordability. Moreover, the Epworth Municipality is also failing to deliver the services for which it is demanding money; a situation that has greatly strained relations between the Municipality and residents.
The water situation is bad as water supplies are still erratic in most areas. Only Makomo Extension receives constant water supplies and the rest of the suburbs depend on borehole water. Women and girl children are the most affected as they have to wake up in the early hours of the morning to fetch water for their families. Sometimes the queues at the boreholes are so long that residents have to spend long hours queuing for water.
Most parts of Epworth do not get electricity supplies except for areas like Munyuki and Makoni Shopping Centre .Residents use firewood as an alternative whereby one needs a $1 to cook meals for the whole day.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Public instruction should be the first object of Government (Napoleaon Bonaparte)