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355 | FACTSHEET: WOMEN IN THE NINTH PARLIAMENT - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
September 17, 2018
ZIMBABWE’S ninth Parliament was sworn in on September 5, 2018, following the July 30 general election. In total, Zimbabwe’s two houses of Parliament, the National Assembly and Senate, have 350 seats broken down as follows:
210 directly elected National Assembly members
60 party list Female Members of the National Assembly
60 party list Senators
18 Senator Chiefs and
2 Senators representing people living with disability
A total of 121 females made it to Parliament through the various systems of election.
Here is the full list of female Members of Parliament:
CONSTITUENCY MPs:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WOMEN’S QUOTA [PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION]:
FEMALE SENATORS:
SENATORS REPRESENTING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | September 17, 2018 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-women-in-the-ninth-parliament/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
356 | Factsheet: “You have a right to see the voters roll” - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 9, 2023
Zimbabweans have been debating on social media on whether they can access the voters’ roll as part of their democratic rights ahead of general elections expected by August this year. Legislators from rival political parties sparked the latest debate when they demanded that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) hands over the voters’ register for their proper analysis of the Preliminary Delimitation Report, defining boundaries of parliamentary constituencies and council wards. But the legislators still proceeded with their analysis of the report without the rolls.
Who can access the voters roll?
The Zimbabwe Electoral Act describes the voters roll as a public document which “shall” be open to inspection by the public, free of charge, during ordinary office hours at the Office of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) or the registration office where it is kept. All voters have a right to inspect the register to ensure that their details are correctly captured.
Where can the registers be inspected?
The law says ZEC shall keep at least one copy of every voters roll at its head office; and (b) at least one copy of each ward and constituency voters roll at all the Commission’s offices within the constituency concerned.
Is it true that only contesting candidates and parties can get copies?
It is not true that the provision of the voters’ roll is only limited to candidates and political parties.
Section 21 (3) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] says ZEC shall provide any person with a copy of the voters’ roll, either in printed or in electronic form, upon request and payment of a prescribed fee. As detailed in Statutory Instrument 145 of 2022 (Electoral (Voter Registration) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 (No. 1), voters can access both full or part of the voters’ roll.
How much does it cost?
The current fees for electronic copies are:
• polling station costs ten (10) United States dollars;
• ward costs fifteen (15) United States dollars;
• constituency costs fifty (50) United States dollars;
• provincial costs one hundred and fifty (150) United States dollars;
• national costs two hundred (200) United States dollars;
A hard copy of a monochrome copy of the voters’ roll shall be one $1 United States dollars per page of the national voters’ roll, a polling station voters’ roll, a ward voters’ roll or a constituency voters’ roll, whichever one is sought.
How long does it take to get a copy?
Section 21 (3) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] does not specify the period one should get the voters’ roll after making a request. The section says that ZEC should provide the roll within a reasonable period of time.
What if ZEC has no offices in a constituency?
In cases where ZEC a has no office in the constituency concerned, the constituency registrar shall have charge and custody of the ward and constituency voters roll for his or her constituency; and (c) shall keep at least one copy of a consolidated national voters roll at the ZEC head office.
What information is contained in a voters roll?
ZEC says the voters roll shall have the names of all registered voters who may vote in a ward and constituency with the voter’s first and last names, date of birth, national registration number and sex; the place where the voter ordinarily resides; and such other information as may be prescribed or as the Commission considers appropriate.
Are political parties entitled to get copies of the voters roll?
Yes, they are. ZEC has a responsibility to provide political parties contesting in elections with a copy of the roll for the prescribed fee, but only after an election has been called.
Who else is entitled to the voters roll?
ZEC is obliged, within a reasonable period of time, to provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee, with a copy of any ward or constituency voters roll, either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.
When should ZEC furnish the roll to candidates?
Section 21 (6) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] says within a reasonable period of time after nomination day in an election, the Commission shall provide-
(a) free of charge, to every nominated candidate, one copy in electronic form of the voters roll to be used in the election for which the candidate has been nominated; and
(b) at the request of any nominated candidate, and on payment of the prescribed fee, one copy in printed form of the voters roll to be used in the election for which the candidate has been nominated
What are the offences associated with the voters roll?
Section 21(9) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] says any person who, having been provided with a voters’ roll in terms of the section—
(a) alters the voters’ roll, that is to say, excises any name from, adds any name to or otherwise alters the voters’ roll with intent to misrepresent to any person that the altered voters’ roll is the authentic voters’ roll for any election; or
(b) without the prior written consent of the Commission, makes use of the voters’ roll for commercial or other purposes unconnected with an election shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level ten or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such a fine and imprisonment.
13. What is the penalty for offences?
Voters roll offences attract penalties of fines, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or both such fine and such imprisonment.
Sources
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
Zimbabwe Electoral Act
This factsheet was compiled by Bridget Mabanda, an intern at ZimFact and the deputy news editor of a college fact checking club at Harare Polytechnic initiated by ZimFact.
For more information, follow on Facebook @ZimFact, Twitter @ZimFact.
Related
Fact Check: Preliminary Delimitation Report numbers on Mashonaland East don’t add up
Factsheet: Mapping constituency, ward boundaries for 2023 elections
ELECTIONSFEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 9, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-you-have-a-right-to-see-the-voters-roll/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
357 | Factsheet: Youth organisations in Zimbabwe - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 3, 2024
Zimbabwean youths make up more than half of the country’s population, according to the national statistical agency Zimstats.
Programmes targeting this demographic section is largely coordinated by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training (MYEDVT).
The ministry’s mandate includes youth policy formulation and implementation, development and as well as empowerment to achieve sustainable and equitable development. According to Zimbabwe’s Constitution, youths are grouped between 18 and 35 years. This is a factsheet on some of the country’s organisations dealing with youth affairs.
Focus areas: Serves Zimbabwe’s young people through creating platforms for youth empowerment and participation.
Address: 6th Floor Coalhouse, Corner. Nelson Mandela Avenue and Park Street, Harare
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Umbrella body of youth organisations working in Zimbabwe addressing challenges faced by youths.
Contacts: +263 8644121604
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: youth reproductive health
Address: 24 Jefferson Road, Logan Park, Hatfield, Harare
Contacts: +263 242 571184, 571190, +263 772 146 247/9, +263 782702 886
Focus area: Girls and young women’s rights
Address: 570 Hay Street, Bindura
Contacts: +263 785 651 276, +263 718 290 301
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Advocacy, skills training, child and human rights education, referral services for young women and girls
Address: 926 New Zengeza 4, Chitungwiza
Contacts: +263 777 469 107
Focus area – Skills training, career coaching, building emotional and mental health, girls empowerment
Address: Avondale, Harare
Contacts: +263 787 360 337, +263 772418652
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Child and youth rights, peace and security
Address: 134 Herbert Chitepo, Mutare
Contacts: +263 776 778 368
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Promoting peace through educational interventions in communities
Address: 27, 10th Avenue, Mutare
Contacts: +263 20 62530
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Conflict prevention, youth development, peace education, human rights, dialogue and mediation
Address: 58 Greendale Avenue, Greendale, Harare
Contacts: +263 715 793 814, +263 782 049 797
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: conflict prevention and early warning, peace education, transitional justice and reconciliation
Address: 7 Capri Road, Highlands, Harare
Contacts: +263 242 496889
Focus area: Youth empowerment
Address: PO Box 561 Nyika Masvingo
Contacts: +263 773 548 894
Email: [email protected]
Focus area: Empowerment of young girls
Address: 24 Van Praagh Road, Milton Park, Harare
Contacts: +263 774 666 401
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: girls and young women’s rights, education, peace, gender-based violence, sexual reproductive health rights
Address: 52 Glamorgan Road, Belvedere, Harare
Contacts: +263 242 782264
Focus areas: Supporting young people to be leaders
Address: 1 Adyllin, Marlborough, Harare
Contacts: +263 242 300811/19
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Youth empowerment, health promotion
Address: Mzilikazi Youth Centre, Bulawayo
Contacts: +263 773 380 694
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Youth empowerment, conflict prevention
Contacts: 6 Armagh Rd, Eastlea, Harare
Focus areas: Youth education and employment creation
Address: 23 Connaught Rd, Avondale
Contacts: +263 8677111889
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: youth empowerment
Address: 66 Jason Moyo Ave, Harare
Contacts: +263 774 099 571
Focus areas: Sexual and reproductive health and rights, girls and young women’s empowerment, child and youth participation in governance
Address: 3I Field Road, Mabelreign, Harare
Contacts: +263 242 331 630, +263 867 7106 728
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Sexual and reproductive health rights, ending child marriages
Address: 1 Torwood Community Hall, Redcliff
Contacts: +263 776 799 169
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Youth Advocacy
Address: 30 St Patrick’s Road, Hatfield, Harare
Contacts: +263 772 327 027
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: youth empowerment, ending child marriages
Address: 3974 Ngoni Township Norton
Contacts: +263 772 419 312
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: youth empowerment
Address: 618 New Adyllin, Westgate, Harare
Contacts: +263 242 313293
Focus areas: Health, children and youth with rare diseases
Address: 3 Sable Street, Mandara, Harare
Contacts: +263 777 510370
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Empowering girls and young women
Address: 7 Capri Rd Highlands, Harare15 Flametree Road, Rhodene, Masvingo
Contacts: +263 39 226 1452
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Empowerment, education and advocacy for the betterment of all youths in Africa and beyond
Address: 90 Scott Rd, Hatfield, Harare
Contacts: +263 717 074 649, +263 775 892 124
Focus areas: Bring human dignity and self‐sustained empowered youths in communities
Address: 23C Maribou Close Rd, Tynwald, Harare, Zimbabwe
Contacts: +263 773432834, +263 777 546 787
Focus areas: Empowerment and advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Address: 5 Chesterfield Road, Avonlea, Harare
Contacts: Toll Free: 08010134
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Youth empowerment, skills building, advocacy, training on conflict sensitive programming
Contacts: +263 773 860 960
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Focusing on capacity building for young journalists
Contacts: +263 777 945 142
Focus areas: Mentorship for student journalists
Contacts: +263 774 401 384
Email: [email protected]
Focus areas: Enhancing young people’s full participation in governance process
Contacts: +263 714 112 932
Email: [email protected]
https://www.zimbabweyp.com/category/Youth_Organizations/city:Harare
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | April 3, 2024 | {
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358 | FACTSHEET: Youth organisations in Zimbabwe - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 18, 2021
1. Students and Youth Working on Reproductive Health Action Team (SAYWHAT)
Focus areas – youth, reproductive health
Contacts – 24 Jefferson Road, Logan Park, Hatfield, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 242 571184, 571190 mobile +263 772 146 247/9, +263 782702 886
2. Institute for Young Women’s Development
Focus areas – girls and young women’s rights
Contacts – 570 Hay Street, Bindura
Tel numbers – +263 785 651 276, +263 718 290 301
[email protected]
3. Youth Advocates Zimbabwe
Focus areas – advocacy, skills training, child and human rights education, referral services for young women and girls
Contacts – PO Box 502 Chitungwiza
Tel numbers – +263 774 800 552, +263 777469 107, +263 242 772105
4.Ignite Youth
Focus areas – skills training, career coaching, building emotional and mental health, girls empowerment
Contacts – Avondale, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 787 360 337, +263 772418652
[email protected]
5. Young Women’s Forum for Good Governance
Focus areas – child and youth rights, peace and security
Contacts – 134 Herbert Chitepo, Mutare
Tel numbers – +263 776 778 368
[email protected]
6. Youth Alive
Focus areas – promoting peace through educational interventions in communities
Contacts – 27, 10 Avenue, Mutare
Tel numbers – +263 20 62530
[email protected]
7.Youth for Peace and Development
Focus areas– conflict prevention, youth development, peace education, human rights, dialogue and mediation
Contacts – 58 Greendale Avenue, Greedale, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 715 793 814, +263 782 049 797
[email protected]
8.Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT)
Focus areas– conflict prevention and early warning, peace education, transitional justice and reconciliation
Contacts – 7 Capri Road, Highlands, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 242 496889
9. Youth Empowerment Satellite Organisation (YESO)
Focus area– youth empowerment
Contact – PO Box 561 Nyika Masvingo
Tel numbers – +263 773 548 894
[email protected]
10. Mwanasikana Wanhasi
Focus areas– Girls empowerment
Contact – 2 Brenschin Drive, Marlborough, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 774666401
[email protected]
11. Tag a Life International (TaLI)
Focus areas– girls and young women’s rights, education, peace, gender based violence, sexual reproductive health rights
Contact – 52 Glamorgan Road, Belvedere, Harare
Tel number – +263 242 782264
12. National Association of Youth Organisations
Focus areas– umbrella body of youth organisations working in Zimbabwe
Tel numbers – +263 8644121604
[email protected]
13. Restless Development
Focus areas– supporting young people to be leaders
Contacts – 1 Adyllin, Marlborough, Harare
Tel number – +263 242 300811/19
[email protected]
14. Dot Youth
Focus areas– youth empowerment, health promotion
Contacts – Mzilikazi Youth Centre, Bulawayo
Tel numbers – +263 773 380 694
www.dotyouth.org.zw
15. Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ)
Focus areas– youth empowerment, conflict prevention
Contacts – 6 Armagh Rd, Eastlea, Harare
16. Education Matters
Focus areas– youth education and career opportunities
Contact – 23 Connaught Rd, Avondale
Tel number – +263 8677111889
[email protected]
17. Young People’s Programme Zimbabwe
Focus areas– young people’s empowerment
Contact – 66 Jason Moyo Ave, Harare
Tel number – +263 774099571
18. Regional Network of Children and Young People Trust
Focus areas– sexual and reproductive health rights, girls and young women’s empowerment, child and youth participation in governance
Contact – 3 Ifield Road, Mabelreign, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 242 331630, +263 8677106728
[email protected]
18. Youth for Life Zimbabwe Trust
Focus areas- sexual and reproductive health rights, ending child marriages
Contact – 1 Torwood Community Hall, Redcliff
Tel number – +263 776 799 169
[email protected]
19.Youth Engage
Focus areas – youth advocacy
Contact – 30 St Patricks Road, Hatfield, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 772 327 027
[email protected]
20. Simuka Africa
Focus areas – youth empowerment, ending child marriages
Contact – 3974 Ngoni Township Norton
Tel – +263 772 419 312
[email protected]
21. Hope for Adolescents and Youth
Focus areas – youth empowerment
Contacts – 618 New Adyllin, Westgate, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 242 313293
22. Child and Youth Care Zimbabwe
Focus – health, children and youth with rare diseases
Contact – 3 Sable Street, Mandara, Harare
Tel number – +263 777 510370
[email protected]
23. My Age
Focus areas – empowering girls and young women’s
Contacts – 7 Capri Rd Highlands, Harare
15 Flametree Road, Rhodene, Masvingo
Tel – +263 39 226 1452
[email protected] | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 18, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-youth-organisations-in-zimbabwe/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
359 | Factsheet: ZANU PF 2023 General Elections Prospective Representatives - National Assembly, Senate and Women’s Quota - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
June 22, 2023
Here is a full list of ZANU PF’s candidates whose nomination papers were submitted ahead of the August 2023 general elections. The list includes names of party representatives for National Assembly, Senate and Women’s Quota elections.
Sources
ZANU PF National Command Centre
Related Content
ELECTIONSFEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | June 22, 2023 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zanu-pf-2023-general-elections-prospective-representatives-national-assembly-senate-and-womens-quota/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
360 | Factsheet: ZEC final list of candidates for Zimbabwe 2023 elections - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
June 30, 2023
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) published a final list of candidates for Zimbabwe’s 2023 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council elections on Friday, June 30, in an Extraordinary Government Gazette.
Sources:
Extraordinary Government Gazette, June 30 2023
Related Content
ELECTIONSFEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | June 30, 2023 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zec-final-list-of-candidates-for-zimbabwe-2023-elections/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
361 | FACTSHEET - Zim parties have committed to promoting women in elections. The number of female by-election candidates suggests otherwise - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 17, 2022
Zimbabwean political parties say they are committed to promoting gender equality, including the participation of women in national and local council elections. But the number of women candidates in the forthcoming by-elections shows there is still a long way to go in achieving that aspiration.
Below is a table with the number of both men and women contesting in the by-elections.
Gender aggregation for vacant seats
Source : Zimbabwe Electoral Commission website, Political Parties | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 17, 2022 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zim-parties-have-committed-to-promoting-women-in-elections-the-number-of-female-by-election-candidates-suggests-otherwise/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
362 | Zimbabwe 2018 Government list - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
September 17, 2018
FOLLOWING the July 30, 2018 general election, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed his ministers, while Parliament also elected its presiding officers for the next five years. Below is a list of newly appointed ministers, deputy ministers and parliament’s presiding officers:
DEPUTY MINISTERS:
John Chamunorwa Mangwiro
Health and Child Care
MINISTERS OF STATE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVINCIAL AFFAIRS:
PARLIAMENT PRESIDING OFFICERS:
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | September 17, 2018 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-2018-government-list/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
363 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe and inflation - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 31, 2021
Zimbabwe’s official year-on-year inflation for May 2021 was reported at 161,9% by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat). This was the fourth straight month of a slowdown in inflation.
Zimbabwe is enduring its second phase of high inflation, after the first peak of 500 billion percent, according to IMF figures, in September 2008. That hyperinflation phase ended when the country dollarised in 2009.
The current phase was triggered by the re-introduction of a local currency in 2019.
In the current phase, inflation reached a high of 837,5% in July 2020.
The sustained slow down in the rate of inflation since July 2020, with only one increase in January 2021, has puzzled many who wrongly interpret this to mean prices should be decreasing.
This fact sheet seeks to dispel some misconceptions about inflation.
What is inflation?
Inflation is broadly defined as the ongoing increase in the general price level of goods and services in an economy over time. It is normally reported over a period of a month and/or a year.
Year-on-year inflation compares the inflation rates for one period to the same period the previous year. The month-on-month rate compares inflation between the current month and the previous one.
What is hyperinflation?
Hyperinflation is when prices rise rapidly, by about 50% per month according to Phillip Cagan,an American monetary economist widely considered to be an expert on the matter.
In his 1956 paper, “Monetary Dynamics of Hyperinflation”, Cagan wrote: “I shall define hyperinflations as beginning in the month the rise in prices exceeds 50%.”
If inflation is declining, why are prices still rising?
Although Zimbabwe’s year-on-year inflation has been falling since July 2020, it is still among the highest inflation rates in the world. Prices are still rising, but at a slower rate compared to last year.
Zimstat uses speed to explain.
“Speed takes stock of change in distance over time, likewise inflation rate takes stock of the pace at which the general price level of goods and services changes over time. Thus, inflation could be taken as a moving object, that at one time was moving at 837.5km/hr (read 837.5% y-o-y inflation rate for July 2020),” Zimstat director general Taguma Mahonde wrote in a May 11, 2021, note.
“A braking system is then applied to this moving object (read monetary and fiscal policies that retard inflation), and the object decelerates from 837.5km/hr to 194.1krn/hr (194.1% being y-o-y rate of inflation for April 2021). Although the speed of 194.1km/hr shows deceleration from 837.5km/hr, the object is still in high speed and moving forward. The same goes for the y-o-y inflation rates which are decreasing while prices are increasing. This development is termed inflation deceleration.”
This slowdown in inflation is also called disinflation, which is often mistaken for deflation.
What is deflation?
This is a fall in the general level of prices over a sustained period of time, reflected in a negative rate of inflation. To use the speed analogy, the car would not just have slowed down, but would be in reverse gear. Economists warn that deflation is as bad as inflation because it is characterised by declining consumer spending, leading to a slowdown in economic activity and job cuts.
How does Zimstat measure inflation?
Statistical agencies, including Zimstat, collect the prices of a large number of goods and services. This makes up a basket of goods and services that reflect the items consumed by households. While the basket does not contain every good or service, it has to be a good representation of both the type and quantity of items households typically consume.
It is this basket that Zimstat uses to come up with a price index – a measure of the rice level compared to that of a specific base period. In Zimstat’s current case, the base is February 2019, when Zimbabwe formally re-introduced its currency.
Zimstat’s basket is made up of 495 products and services. About thirty-five thousand price observations are collected throughout the country within a five-day data collection period.
More than four thousand retail outlets in both rural and urban areas are surveyed throughout the country. These include supermarkets, general dealers, departmental stores, liquor stores, open markets such as the Mbare farmers market, fuel retailers, hotels and restaurants, fast food outlets, bus and taxi companies, hair salons, pharmacies, communication service providers, government and private hospitals as well as rural and urban district councils.
Price data is collected around the 15th of every month, covering about 35,000 price observations throughout the country over a five-day data collection period.
The inflation data for the month is now published on or around the 25th of that particular month.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 31, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-and-inflation/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
364 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe and ivermectin use for COVID-19 - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
June 29, 2021
On June 28, 2021, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), which regulates the approval and registration of medical drugs in the country, announced it had approved the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19, as part of what the regulator called “operational research.”
What is ivermectin?
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug developed by Japan’s Kitasato Institute and pharmaceutical multinational Merck & Co in the 1970s. Ivermectin is a broad spectrum drug, meaning it is effective against a wide range of diseases.
What does it treat?
Ivermectin is used in animal health against a range of internal and external parasites. It is also approved by the World Health Organisation for the treatment of river blindness and scabies, among other ailments.
Ivermectin and COVID-19
The WHO’s guidance, issued on March 31, 2021, states that:
“The current evidence on the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients is inconclusive.”
Until more data is available, the WHO recommends that the drug only be used within clinical trials.
In many jurisdictions, including the United States, authorities are against the use of ivermectin for COVID-19.
The US Food and Drug Administration warns against the use of ivermectin against COVID-19.
“While there are approved uses for ivermectin in people and animals, it is not approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19,” the FDA says.
“Any use of ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 should be avoided as its benefits and safety for these purposes have not been established.”
However, an April 2020 research article by Australian scientists said laboratory tests had shown that ivermectin “is an inhibitor of the COVID-19 causative virus.”
The scientists, however, urged further investigations into ivermectin.
Divided expert opinion
In Zimbabwe, as in many other countries, ivermectin has divided expert opinion.
On January 8, 2021, the MCAZ issued a statement warning against the use of veterinary ivermectin.
On 20 January, 2021, the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (MDCZ), a statutory body regulating the practice of medicine and dentistry in the country, issued a statement warning against the use of ivermectin.
“There has been widespread advertising on social media by some medical practitioners claiming to be able to treat COVID-19 using ivermectin, doxycycline and nanosilver,” “We would like to make the record straight that ivermectin is an old drug used to treat parasitic infections and is not currently registered by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe for the treatment of COVID-19 patients,” the council said.
“There are several ongoing studies looking at the safety and effectiveness of this drug in COVID-19 treatment. So far, no evidence has come out to warrant its registration and widespread use to treat COVID-19 patients.”
But a 24 January, 2021 letter by the College of Primary Care Physicians asked the government to allow the use of ivermectin, and nanosilver, for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
“Due to our constant perusal of the medical evidence we noticed the signals around ivermectin in August 2020, largely in third world countries like ours. We feel comfortable using this drug which has been around for 40 years, is on the WHO essential drugs list and has an excellent safety profile,” the 23 physicians wrote.
“We understand that it is currently not registered in Zimbabwe but we will fill out Section 75 forms for non-registered drugs all the time in the course of our practice. We heard from colleagues in South Africa who were using ivermectin with excellent results, although they too were losing occasional patients who presented late.”
Zimbabwe’s latest position on ivermectin
The MCAZ says it has not allowed wide-spread use of ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. Rather, the regulator is giving a qualified nod to health professionals, within a strict framework, to prescribe, procure and dispense the drug.
“The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe is aware of media reports suggesting that the Authority had issued a blanket approval for the widespread use of ivermectin human formulations for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Several critical studies are still being undertaken to evaluate ivermectin’s safety and efficacy in treating the COVID-19 infection in vivo (in human bodies, as opposed to in vitro, in labs), but there has been no conclusive evidence yet to support its use,” MCAZ said in its 28 June, 2021 statement.
“In an effort to add more options to the list of medicines with potential evidence-based therapeutic value in the prevention and or treatment of COVID-19, the Authority sought approval from the Secretary for Health and Child Care to establish a framework that would provide guidance on the use of ivermectin in COVID-19, in the form of operational research.”
Under the framework, only authorised pharmaceutical wholesalers will be allowed to import and supply ivermectin to authorised health facilities, medical practitioners and pharmacies.
“Members of the public are strongly urged to desist from self-prescribing and sourcing unapproved medication from unapproved sources,” the MCAZ added.
The authority will also gather information on whether patients are realising clinical benefits from the use of ivermectin, while also monitoring for any side effects.
COVID-19FEATUREDIVERMECTIN | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | June 29, 2021 | {
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365 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe battles rising drug abuse problem - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 14, 2023
Zimbabwe police have launched a crackdown against drug abuse, smuggling and trafficking which health authorities say is rising and seriously wrecking the lives of the country’s youth population.
This ZimFact factsheet addresses some information around a problem which has turned into a crisis almost overnight.
The Zimbabwe authorities did not publish any figures ahead of the crackdown launched in the capital Harare on February 3.But drug rehabilitation centres are full, and unable to cope with rising demand to accommodate new patients. The centres are estimated to be holding or treating about 5,000 people at any time, with tens of thousands others either not coming forward for, or getting any assistance.
Zimbabwe only has a dozen plus “big” institutions providing drug and substance abuse rehabilitation services, largely a reflection of how recent the crisis is for the country.
With the rising problem, some private medical and voluntary organisations are now also offering services. But the number of these new service providers is hard to pin down.
The latest police campaign against abusers, smugglers and traffickers shows that drugs are being pushed across the country but mostly in urban districts in both small-scale and industrial quantities by petty traders and organised criminal syndicates.
The drugs are being smuggled into the country from abroad but mostly through Zimbabwe’s land borders with Mozambique and South Africa, which are also facing drug trafficking problems.
Authorities say some small amounts of illicit drugs, concoctions and alcohol are also manufactured in townships in Zimbabwe’s major towns like Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare.
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) 2019 report, Zimbabwe has the highest rate of 15 to 19-year-olds engaging in heavy “episodic drinking” in Africa, with 70.7 percent of males and 55.5 percent of females participating. Unfortunately, this age group is also heavily involved in drug dealing and use.
Drugs are essentially poisons, and the amount taken determines the effect. A small amount can act as a stimulant, while a greater amount can act as a sedative. If taken in excessive amounts, drugs can be fatal.
Many drugs tend to distort a user’s perception of reality, leading to irrational and destructive behavior. They medical experts say drugs block off both desirable and undesirable sensations, providing short-term relief from pain but also wiping out alertness and muddying one’s thinking.
Commonly used substances in Zimbabwe include:
Codeine; Methamphetamine (crystal meth, commonly known as meth, speed, mutoriro, Chalk, Ice, Crank, Guka); Glue; Bronclee (Bronco); Solvents – Fembo and Genkem; Chlorpromazine – Maragado; Mangemba; Cane spirit; Cocaine, Cannabis/Marijuana/Mbanje (which is mostly abused or traded under a variety of Street names such as – Mbanje, Ganja, Dope, Weed, Blunt, Grass, Pot, Boom, Spliff, Mary-Jane, Skunk, Kiff)
According to https://drugfreeworld.org many young people take drugs for a number of reasons, including to:
ZimFact prepared a factsheet on the Drug and Substance Abuse situation during the Covid-19 pandemic that you can find on the link https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-drug-alcohol-abuse-problem-under-covid-19/
The Ministry of Health and Child Care has identified certain substances as major contributors to risky sexual behavior, cardiovascular and neurological disorders.
Substance abuse can lead to a range of short and long-term psychiatric complications, such as addiction, stress, depression, anxiety, suicide and even psychosis.
This addiction can have a devastating impact on communities, resulting in increased violence, robberies, unemployment and the need for more rehabilitation centers.
Drug abuse is illegal under Zimbabwean laws and punishable by fine or prison terms, and a drug rehabilitation programme.
Zimfact compiled the factsheet you can find on the link below of all the Rehabilitation Centers that one can get assistance from if they have a drug addiction.
Related Content:
Zimbabwe’s drug, alcohol abuse problem under COVID-19
FACTSHEET: Where can you get help to manage a drug problem?
Sources:
Ministry of Health and Child Care
https://africa.ocindex.net/country/zimbabwe
https://drugfreeworld.org
This Factsheet was compiled by Dylan Dzenga, an intern at ZimFact and editor of the University of Zimbabwe’s student fact-checking club initiated by ZimFact
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 14, 2023 | {
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366 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe Cholera vaccination campaign - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 29, 2024
The Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care launched a Cholera vaccination campaign on Monday, January 29 2024, targeting multiple hotspots districts badly hit by the latest cholera outbreak.
Zimbabwe is among a handful of southern African countries battling an outbreak which began a year ago, but has seen a big jump in suspected Cholera cases in the last couple of weeks.
By January 24, health authorities had recorded 20,446 suspected Cholera cases, 2,324 confirmed cases, 19,711 recoveries, 71 confirmed deaths and 381 cases of deaths suspected to have been caused by the disease.
The Ministry of Health said Zimbabwe had secured about 2.2 million doses of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) from the International Coordinating Group (ICG) led by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Here are some basic facts about the vaccination campaign:
The vaccine will be given orally to everyone above the age of one year.
No, the vaccination campaign is not compulsory but the Ministry of Health and Child Care is encouraging people to get vaccinated.
One dose will be given and it will last for six months.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care
WHO
UNICEF
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 29, 2024 | {
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367 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe coronavirus status - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 16, 2020
The Zimbabwe government says it is gearing itself to fight a Coronavirus pandemic which has shaken the world, but still has to outline a comprehensive plan on how the southern African state will confront a disease which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called the biggest international health challenge in a generation.
How many confirmed cases does Zimbabwe have?
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe had no confirmed case of Coronavirus as of March 16 2020.
Does the absence of confirmed cases mean there is no Coronavirus in Zimbabwe?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the absence of confirmed cases does not mean there is no Coronavirus in a country as this could be because the testing systems in place would not have captured the cases.
WHO is advising all countries to adopt a wide range of measures and to assume that it is a matter of time before the pandemic hits those states which have not recorded and confirmed any cases as yet.
How many cases has Zimbabwe tested and proven negative since the Coronavirus outbreak?
By March 15, government statistics indicated a total of 14 suspected cases had been tested in the country, 12 at Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare and one each in Bulawayo and Masvingo.
How many people/ potential cases are being monitored?
Zimbabwe’s health system is monitoring over 1,000 people, according to Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo.
On March 16, Moyo reported that officials had isolated Bulawayo woman, together with her family, after a doctor she had consulted in South Africa for a separate medical condition tested positive for the virus. The Government also reported that a British tourist who had left Zimbabwe on March 10, via South Africa, had tested positive upon his return to the UK. Health officials are now trace test all possible contacts for isolation.
Has Zimbabwe imposed any travel restrictions?
The government has not put out blanket travel restrictions, but has banned all government officials from travelling abroad. The government is, however, discouraging non-essential visits to what it has broadly called high risk countries such as China.
Can Zimbabwe screen
for COVID-19?
According to the African Union’s centre for disease control, the Africa CDC, Zimbabwe was among African countries that received both training and diagnostic kits in February from Africa CDC. The Ministry of Health and Child Care also says it has received additional kits from the WHO and the Government of China, although these remain inadequate.
Can Zimbabwe hide
positive coronavirus test results?
According to the WHO, Zimbabwe cannot and is not hiding any test results. WHO country representative for Zimbabwe, Dr Alex Gasarira, said on March 14: “Covid-19 by its nature is too rapid to be concealed by any country. By now, if Zimbabwe was concealing any case, they could have come out. While we grapple with containing it, the greatest challenge we face is misinformation, which is making it very difficult to contain the virus.”
CORONAVIRUSCOVID-19FEATUREDWHO | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 16, 2020 | {
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368 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe COVID-19 assistance - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 2, 2020
Zimbabwean officials receive a consignment of medical supplies donated by the Jack Ma Foundation in Harare on March 24, 2020
The Zimbabwe government has appealed for international and domestic assistance to help it fight the Coronavirus pandemic which has devastated the world and forced many countries to lock down residents at home.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging African states to mobilise all possible resources to fight Covid-19, fearing that countries, particularly those with dilapidated and dysfunctional public health systems, will struggle to stem the spread of the disease.
Below is a snapshot of some of the donations that Zimbabwe has received as of 30 March:
Tell us about the support initiatives in your areas, giving details of area and assistance mobilised.
COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection that is highly contagious and spreads through droplets (coughing, sneezing) and close personal unprotected contact with an infected person (touching, shaking hands etc).
Signs and symptoms are typically respiratory related symptoms and include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other flu-like symptoms. For more information about COVID-19 visit https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus and for daily updates from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Case visit http://www.mohcc.gov.zw | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | April 2, 2020 | {
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369 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe COVID-19 Health Card - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 27, 2020
Zimbabwe is facing the COVID-19 pandemic which is sowing sickness, death and fear around the world with a struggling economy and health system, raising serious questions over its capacity to fight a disease which is devastating even richer nations.
Below are quick facts on the status of the pandemic in Zimbabwe.
How many confirmed cases does Zimbabwe have?
Five as of March 26, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care. The number of positive tests could rise as the rate of tests increases.
How many deaths?
One death on March 23 of a 30-year-old Zimbabwean who had been to the U.S.A.
How many people have been tested?
According to a Ministry of Health update on Friday, March 27:
How many people are being monitored?
Health Minister Obadiah Moyo says more than 1,000 people were being monitored as at Thursday, March 26.
What has the government done so far?
The government has announced a 21-day lockdown, starting on Monday, March 30.
The government declared the COVID-19 crisis a “national disaster”, a move allowing it to commandeer State resources towards fighting the disease, to use emergency regulations and to deploy personnel for the same services.
It has set up an 11-member inter-ministerial committee to lead the management of the pandemic, identify gaps for corrective action, raise public awareness of the disease and to mobilise domestic and international financial support required for the programme.
Can the government enforce compulsory testing?
Yes.
Under emergency regulations gazetted on March 23 called Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) Regulations 2020, the Minister of Health and Child Care can order designated medical officers to compulsorily test, quarantine, isolate and treat anyone who is exposed to infection or is confirmed as infected.
The regulations are valid to May 20 but can be extended a month at a time, depending on the situation.
Are the compulsory testing powers applicable everywhere?
Yes, they apply to all administrative districts.
What else can the district medical officers do under the regulations?
They can order the evacuation, disinfection and closure of any building for up to 24 hours where those exposed to the risk of coronavirus infection may be gathered, and can order compulsory detention, isolation or quarantining of anyone there for 48 hours or until they have been tested and cleared.
How long is the quarantine period?
When confirmed as infected, a person will be quarantined for at least 14 days within their home, a hospital or designated isolation centre.
What happens if a person escapes from quarantine?
They can be arrested without the authorities needing a warrant.
What about refusing to be tested or quarantined?
The government says a person faces a “stiff fine” and a year in prison.
What rights do you have in quarantine?
The medical officer must ensure an infected person is provided or has access to “basic necessities to maintain an acceptable standard of nutrition and hygiene.”
A person might be released temporarily for access to these under specified conditions.
Cleaning to minimise the spread of Coronavirus
The Minister of Health can order local authorities to inspect premises and fix sanitary or other defects likely to further the spread of Covid-19.
He also has powers to order the disinfection, removal, destruction or restriction of merchandise likely to also lead to the spread of the disease.
Public traffic and movement through curfews
In consultation with the President, the minister of health also has powers under the emergency regulations to impose restrictions on public traffic and movement through curfews, order closure of schools, worship and church gatherings, bars and recreation facilities.
Public gatherings?
The government has banned large public gatherings, including for funerals, prayer and religious meetings, limiting numbers to 50, as of orders issued on March 20.
Schools and colleges?
School and colleges were closed on March 24 until further notice.
Closure of open vending markets
The Government announced on Friday that all markets, save for food stalls, would be shut down. The food markets will operate under the supervision of health officials.
Domestic travel and movement?
When he launched his government’s response plan to COVID-19, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged Zimbabweans to avoid “unnecessary travel” both locally and abroad.
On Friday, march 27, all public transport was banned. However, ZUPCO buses and Public Service Commission buses will remain in operation, although they will be required to observe social distancing and the requisite sanitation measures.
What about Air Travel?
Airlines from abroad have stopped flying into Zimbabwe, and the country’s own airline has suspended all flights.
CORONAVIRUSFEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 27, 2020 | {
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370 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe COVID-19 isolation and quarantine facilities - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 6, 2020
The recently refurbished Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare is the capital’s main COVID-19 isolation and treatment centre.
Is there a difference between an isolation centre and a quarantine centre?
Yes there is.
An isolation centre hosts a person with the contagious disease while a quarantine centre hosts and restricts the movement of people who were possibly exposed to the pandemic to see if they become sick.
The Zimbabwe government is establishing COVID-19 isolation centres around the country’s 10 provinces as part of the battle against the global pandemic.
Critics say the response has been slow and some of the facilities are ill-equipped.
On its part, the government team leading Zimbabwe’s fight against COVID-19 dismisses the allegations of inertia and says no country in the world was prepared for this crisis and its scale has badly stretched state resources.
The following are the Covid-19 isolation centres:
TOTAL Isolation Centres – 64
Source: MOHCC
COVID-19 Quarantine Centres
Zimbabwe has established quarantine centres for people coming into the country to be cleared of Covid-19.
The mandatory quarantine period is 21 days, with testing being conducted on the first, eighth and 21st days, according to the government’s latest testing plan for returning residents and international travellers.
Below is a list of quarantine centres in Zimbabwe by province
CORONAVIRUSCOVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 6, 2020 | {
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371 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe Covid-19 Vaccination Dashboard - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 12, 2021
Zimbabwe began its COVID-19 vaccination rollout in February. Here are the main facts about the programme.
When did Zimbabwe roll out its Covid-19 vaccination programme?
The vaccination programme was rolled out on February 18, 2021.
Who can be vaccinated?
The vaccination is open to citizens and residents in Zimbabwe — subject to medical stipulations by the vaccine producers and the World Health Organisation (WHO) — but available according to a priority list drawn up by the government. The first phase targeted healthcare workers and other frontline staff. The second phase targeted groups in the education sector, such as teachers, and other less at-risk groups. The third phase of vaccinations will be open to all.
What is the government’s vaccination target?
The government targets to vaccinate 10 million people (60 percent of the population for herd immunity), according to a rollout plan presented by the government to Parliament on February 16.
Has Zimbabwe met targets so far?
The rollout plan targeted to inoculate 60 000 people in Phase 1. This included 49,000 health workers employed by the Ministry of Health, 4 200 from the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, 500 health workers in the Zimbabwe Republic Police, and over 700 health workers in the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. In addition, Phase 1 targeted staff at the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the Department of Immigration, and agriculture extension workers. The rollout plan targeted to complete this Phase 1 within 10 days.
However, the start of Phase 2 was announced on March 10, when 35,761 people had been vaccinated. Zimbabwe therefore missed both its timetable and targeted inoculations for that phase.
What vaccinations has Zimbabwe approved so far?
Zimbabwe has so far approved four vaccines; Sinopharm and Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia and COVAXIN from India.
How are vaccines approved?
According to the government, all vaccines are verified by the Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials Committee before clearance by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. The Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials Committee is also responsible for monitoring safety and effectiveness of the vaccine during use.
Can private companies import vaccines?
Private companies, including medical aid firms, can now import vaccines. However, they can only procure the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Further, companies cannot import directly. Procurement is done on the behalf of companies through the National Vaccine Procurement Fund, managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Can private companies administer their own vaccines?
Vaccines imported by private companies are stored at the Ministry of Health facilities, distributed by the government, and administered solely by Ministry of Health staff. The Ministry alone can issue vaccination certificates which show that a person has been vaccinated.
Sources: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe Treasury Department, Cabinet Briefing, Parliament Hansard
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 12, 2021 | {
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372 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe dashboard - Covid-19 is still here - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
December 23, 2022
What is the current state of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe?
Covid-19 is still here.
The Zimbabwe health authorities have called on people to remain vigilant, saying it is concerned by a spike in both deaths and new Covid-19 cases the country recorded this month – December 2022.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has similarly warned that the Covid pandemic is alive globally, a message whose importance has been reinforced by a big jump of cases in China which recently relaxed some of its stringent Covid-19 management systems.
Should people still wear face masks?
The health authorities are advising people to wear face masks in crowded places, shops, indoor gatherings and public transport, and to follow hygienic guidelines of washing or sanitising hands frequently.
What about public gatherings?
People are also being advised to avoid public gatherings, and to exercise social (physical) distancing if they find themselves in such circumstances.
What are the latest death and infection figures for Zimbabwe?
Since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, Zimbabwe has recorded 259,770 infections, 253,672 recoveries and 5,631 deaths, according to a statement issued by Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa after this week’s Cabinet Meeting on Tuesday.
The government had noted 12 deaths this month, and 211 new infections during the week compared to 203, she said.
What about Covid-19 vaccination figures?
For people vaccinated, the latest government figures indicate:
First doses – at 6,581,530
Second doses – at 4,949,555
Third doses – at 1,274,040
When did Zimbabwe roll out its Covid-19 vaccination programme?
The vaccination programme was rolled out on February 24, 2021.
What is the government’s vaccination target, and timeline?
The government says it wants 10 million people vaccinated (60 percent of the population for a herd immunity), but no comprehensive programme timeline is publicly available.
What vaccinations has Zimbabwe approved so far?
Zimbabwe has so approved the use of Sinopharm and Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia and Covaxin from India.
The government says all vaccines are verified by the Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials Committee before clearance by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.
Sources: Ministry of Health and Child Care,
Statement on Zimbabwe Cabinet Meeting of Tuesday, December 20, 2022 presented by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa.
World Health Organisation (WHO).
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | December 23, 2022 | {
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373 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe food aid and COVID-19 - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 20, 2020
At least half of Zimbabwe’s population was already facing food shortages before the world was hit by the coronavirus crisis.
Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted food distribution and supply chains, leaving a majority of both rural and urban poor exposed to serious food and nutrition insecurity.
This a snapshot of some of the initiatives by humanitarian organisations, the government and the private sector supporting communities facing food insecurity during the COVID-19:
***South Korea donated US$200 000 and the USAID US$113,7m to the WFP for Zimbabwe
***WFP recently made an additional appeal of US$21m, a funding shortfall on top of the existing gap of US$130m
*** Zimbabwe government cash transfer is about ZW$200, which is not enough to adequately feed the vulnerable in an inflationary environment (Exchange Rate 16.04.20. US/ZW$ official US$ – ZW$25, Black market rates US$ – ZW$49,3, Zimra rates US$ – ZW$46.5)
CORONAVIRUSCOVID-19FEATUREDWFPWHO | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | April 20, 2020 | {
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374 | FACTSHEET: How much basic food is consumed in Zimbabwe? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 7, 2020
CORRECTION – In an earlier version of this Factsheet – How much basic food is consumed in Zimbabwe – we stated that 1.8 million tonnes of maize were consumed annually. But official statistics from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement show this figure is for a group of cereals, which includes maize and small grains such as sorghum and millet. This is a corrected version.
Zimbabwe is facing severe food shortages this year which have led the World Food Programme (WFP) to launch an appeal for US$200 million to help sustain half the country’s 16 million people.
Here is a snapshot of some Zimbabwe’s food consumption figures:
Cereals
How much cereal does Zimbabwe require annually?
According to official government data, Zimbabwe required about 1.8 million tonnes of maize, sorghum, pearl millet and finger millet in 2018/19 for human consumption.
Wheat
Zimbabwe has in recent years produced an average 150,000 tonnes of wheat annually against national requirements of 450,000 tonnes a year, according to data from the state Grain Marketing Board (GMB).
Cooking oil
Zimbabwe needs 8,500 tonnes of edible oils per month and 10,000 tonnes of soya (bean) oil cake, used primarily for poultry feed. The Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe says about $20 million is required monthly for these oil imports.
Sugar
By 2019 Zimbabwe, was producing an average 500,000 tonnes of sugar annually and consuming 350,000, according to Commercial Sugar Producers Association (CSPA) and the country’s major sugar grower Tongaat Hullet.
Rice
Rice consumption has risen over the years, with Zimstats data showing that imports have been growing sharply from around 50,000 tonnes in 2010 to 154, 833 tonnes in 2017. Zimbabwe does not grow rice commercially.
Sources: Zimbabwe government statistical agency ZimStats, Grain Marketing Board (GMB), United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance, WFP data, Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe (OEAZ), Tongaat Hullet, Commercial Sugar Producers Association (CSPA). | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 7, 2020 | {
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375 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe general elections dashboard - key numbers - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 20, 2023
Zimbabwe holds its presidential, parliamentary and local government elections on August 23. The following are some key numbers sourced from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission:
*The winner of the presidential election must have at least 50 percent plus one vote
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 20, 2023 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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376 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe general elections dashboard - voting to results - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 17, 2023
Zimbabwe holds its presidential, parliamentary and local government elections on August 23.
*The winner of the presidential election must have at least 50 percent plus one vote
Source
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
Related Content
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 17, 2023 | {
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377 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe government ministers after 2023 elections - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
September 11, 2023
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa named his top Cabinet team and other government ministers on September 11 following a general election in August, which the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) dismisses as fraudulent but did not challenge in court in favour of demanding new polls supervised by pan-African intergovernmental organisations.
Constantine Chiwenga
Kembo Mohadi
(The two were sworn-in on September 8)
(Appointed on September 11)
Defence: Oppah Muchinguri
Deputy: Levy Mayihlome
Local Government: Winston Chitando
Foreign Affairs: Fredrick Shava
Home Affairs: Kazembe Kazembe
Justice: Ziyambi Ziyambi
Deputy: Obert Mazungunye
Information: Jennifan Muswere
ICT: Tatenda Mavetera
Deputy: Dingumuzi Phuthi
Mines: Zhemu Soda
Higher Education: Amon Murwira
Deputy: Simelizwezwe Sibanda
Primary and Secondary Education: T Moyo
Deputy: Angeline Gata
Public Service, Labour: July Moyo
Deputy: Mercy Maruva Dinha
Industry and Commerce: Sithembiso Nyoni
Women’s Affairs: Monica Mutsvangwa
Deputy: Jennifer Nomsa Mhlanga
Transport: Felix Mhona
Energy: Edgar Moyo
National Housing: Daniel Garwe
Deputy: Yeukai Simbanegavi
Lands, Agriculture: Anxious Masuka
Deputy: Vangelis Peter Haritatos
Deputy: Davis Marapira
Health: David Mombeshora
Youth: Tino Machakaire
Deputy: Junior Mupamhanga
Sports: Kirsty Coventry
Deputy: Emily Jesiah
Environment, Climate: Mangaliso Ndlovu
Deputy: John Paradza
Tourism: Barbra Rwodzi
Deputy: Tongai Mnangagwa
Presidential Affairs: Lovemore Matuke
Skills Audit and Development: Paul Mavhima.
Bulawayo – Judith Ncube
Harare – Charles Tavengwa
Masvingo – Ezra Chadzamira
Midlands – Owen Ncube
Manicaland – Nokuthula Matsikenyere
Mashonaland East – Apolonia Munzverengwi
Mashonalnd West – Mirian Chombo
Mashonaland Central – Christopher Magomo
Matabeleland North – Richard Moyo
Matabeleland South – Evelyn Ndlovu
Presidential statement on New Cabinet.
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | September 11, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-government-ministers-after-2023-elections/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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378 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe local authority candidates for Dec 9 by-elections - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
November 27, 2023
These are the local authority candidates for by-elections on December 9, which Zimbabwe is conducting following the recall of CCC councillors by Sengezo Tshabangu — who says he is the party’s secretary-general. But CCC leader Nelson Chamisa disputes that assertion.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | November 27, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-local-authority-candidates-for-dec-9-by-elections/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
379 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe media and COVID-19 - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 15, 2020
Zimbabwean journalists receive personal protective equipment donated by Sweden’s FOJO Media Institute, Denmark’s International Media Support and the World Association of News Publishers on May 3, the International Press Freedom Day. Photo:MAZ
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the COVID-19 pandemic as the biggest global crisis in a century, which has forced countries into lockdowns and devastated economies.
The media internationally has been largely focused on this life and death issue since early 2020.
What has Zimbabwe’s media been doing around the crisis, in terms of coverage or programmes? Here’s a snapshot of what different Zimbabwean media outlets are covering the COVID-19 health crisis:
An online survey commissioned by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) – the world’s largest organization of professional journalists – to figure out the journalism environment during the COVID-19 outbreak shows the following results:
The IFJ survey also shows that more than a third of journalists have shifted their focus to covering COVD-19 related stories. Zimbabwean media have not been spared the impact and effects of the pandemic.
There are questions over the media industry’s sustainability, and the future of jobs as companies might be forced to review their operations in an economy hit hard by the health crisis. Newspaper printing has been temporarily shelved or drastically reduced due to a lockdown ordered by the government to try to contain the spread of the disease.
Many newspaper publishers have shifted focus or migrated to digital platforms.
Background:
COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection caused by a newly emergent coronavirus that had not been previously identified in humans. It is highly contagious and spreads through droplets (coughing, sneezing) and close personal unprotected contact with an infected person (touching, shaking hands etc).
Signs and symptoms are typically respiratory related symptoms and include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and other flu-like symptoms. For more information about COVID-19 visit https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus and for daily updates from the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care visit http://www.mohcc.gov.zw
COVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 15, 2020 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-media-and-covid-19/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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380 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe Media, Communication and Journalism Academics - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 14, 2022
Zimbabwe has one of the largest media, communication and journalism training sectors in southern Africa with a pool of academics covering a wide range of research interests and specialisation areas.
The sector has hardly been used by the established mainstream media Industry, media development organisations or the emerging media initiatives for research or consultancies to help critique, grow and improve standards in media, communication and journalism in the country.
The following are some of the academics currently working in Zimbabwe. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 14, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-media-communication-and-journalism-academics/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
381 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe National Assembly Election Dashboard - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 27, 2023
TRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 27, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-national-assembly-election-dashboard/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
382 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe on high alert for cholera - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 16, 2023
Zimbabwe stands at high risk of imported cholera cases, and the country currently has 67 suspected and five confirmed cases of the disease, according to local health authorities.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care Cholera Situation Report of March 13 says the high human traffic across Zimbabwean borders and the nation’s position as a central transit route in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) means the risk of importation of cholera is very high.
Nearby Malawi is experiencing its worst cholera outbreak in two decades, with the World Health Organization recording 42,422 cases and 1,384 deaths as of 12 February 2023.
The Zimbabwean government is on high alert is encouraging people with symptoms to immediately report to their nearest health facility or call on the Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre for assistance.
Zimbabwe suffered its worst cholera outbreak in 2008, which killed over 4,000 people from more than 90,000 cases – with most of the deaths being recorded in the capital Harare where water and sanitary systems in some of the major townships are in a sorry state of disrepair.
Related:
CHOLERAFEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 16, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-on-high-alert-for-cholera/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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383 | Factsheet – Zimbabwe on high alert for new Covid-19 variant - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 9, 2023
Zimbabwe remains on high alert for COVID-19 following the confirmation of a new variant in neighbouring South Africa, which health authorities say spreads very fast.
Ministry of Health and Child Care public relations and communications manager Donald Mujiri said they are continuing to encourage people to get vaccinated against the virus.
“The ministry has always monitored situations on the ground and continues to do so, we have not laxed on our response to COVID-19,” he said in response to questions on whether Zimbabwe had any specific approach to the new COVID-Omicron XBB variant which China is battling.The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is concerned about how quickly the XBB.1.5 subvariant spreads, noting that it is the most transmissible subvariant ever detected.
Currently, WHO does not have any data on the seriousness of XBB.1.5, but it says there is no indication that it makes people more sick than previous subvariants.
In the week to January 8, 2023, Zimbabwe recorded 29 Covid cases and no deaths – but not of the new variant.
In 2020 and 2021, Zimbabwe experienced four waves of COVID-19.
According to a 2022 study, after the first case of COVID-19 reported in March 2020, in October, more than 8000 cases and 243 deaths were recorded. The peak of the second wave was between November 2020 and January 2021, third wave was in July 2021 and forth wave was in December 2021.
Currently, the rates of new cases and deaths have eased but new cases are still being recorded.
Here are some facts on where Zimbabwe is with regards to COVID- 19 prevention and mitigation.
Related information
Covid is still here
Where is Zimbabwe on COVID-19
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 9, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-on-high-alert-for-new-covid-19-variant/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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384 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe Parliamentary Portfolio Committee Chairpersons - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
October 19, 2023
Zimbabwe’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committees (PPCs) are specialist oversight panels established under both the country’s national constitution and legislative guidelines to investigate specific issues on delegated authority from the lower and upper houses of parliament.
The powers of parliamentary committees are derived from the Constitution and Standing Orders and Rules of Parliament to consider and deal with all bills and statutory instruments. They monitor, investigate, and make recommendations relating to any aspect of the legislative programme, budget, policy or any other matter relevant to their assigned department.
Parliament of Zimbabwe
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | October 19, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-parliamentary-portfolio-committee-chairpersons/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
385 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe Polio Vaccination Campaign - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
October 9, 2023
Zimbabwe and six other countries in the region (Burundi, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia) is conducting a Polio vaccination campaign to protect children following an outbreak of the disease in some neighbouring countries in 2022.
The Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care’s fourth round of Polio vaccination programme is set for October in all the country’s 10 provinces.
Below is a snapshot of what you need to know about Polio.
What Is Polio?
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio, is a highly infectious disease that attacks the body’s nervous system and sometimes the virus can attack the nerves in the spine leading to paralysis.
How is polio spread?
Is Polio contagious?
Yes. Polio is a highly infectious disease spread mainly through close contact with an infected person.
What Are the Symptoms of Polio?
What happens if one is not vaccinated against Polio?
What is the primary way to prevent polio?
What are the secondary ways of preventing polio?
What is the target population for the polio vaccination campaigns?
Where will the vaccine be provided?
Sources:
Ministry of Health E-Programme on Immunisation (EPI)
Related Content
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | October 9, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-polio-vaccination-campaign/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
386 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe poll fees among highest in Africa - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
December 8, 2022
Zimbabwe’s election fees for presidential, parliamentary and council candidates are among the highest in Africa, with nominations charges for running for the country’s highest executive post topping those of several African states.
In Statutory Instrument (SI)144 of 2022 published by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in August this year, with approval of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, the national election management body hiked the nomination fees for presidential candidates by staggering 1,900 percent.
The following tables show Zimbabwe’s new nomination fees, and those of a number of African countries.
Nomination fees for Presidential Candidate
Nomination fee for Member of Parliament or Equivalent
Nomination fees for Local Councillor
For Local Councillors, South Africa ranks highest in the selected African countries followed by Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Botswana and other countries which do not require nomination fee for this position, including Zimbabwe.
References
https://veritaszim.net/node/5851
https://zec.org.zw/download/nomination-court-requirements/
https://www.elections.org.zm/2021/05/06/nomination-fees-are-paid-by-aspiring-candidates-before-their-nomination-can-be-accepted-by-the-commission-the-fees-are-set-against-each-category-of-elections-and-offer-specified-rates-for-males-fema/
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/politics/article/2001436251/uda-slashes-nomination-fees-for-women
https://www.iebc.or.ke/electionlaws/?Gazette_Notices
https://mec.org.mw/
Factsheet compiled by Dylan Dzenga, an intern at ZimFact and member of a fact-checking club at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare.
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | December 8, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-poll-fees-among-highest-in-africa/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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387 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe urges vigilance over Covid-19 - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 25, 2023
Zimbabwe Covid-19 cases have remained under 30 in the last couple of weeks, according to official data, but health authorities say they remain vigilant over a pandemic which has turned up in waves and different variants since it hit the world in 2020.
In 2020 and 2021, Zimbabwe suffered four waves of COVID-19 that resulted in thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths.
According to a 2022 study, after the first case of COVID-19 reported in March 2020, in October, more than 8000 cases and 243 deaths were recorded. The peak of the second wave was between November 2020 and January 2021, third wave was in July 2021 and forth wave was in December 2021.
Although the rate of new cases has eased in the last half a year, both the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are advising people to stay alert.
According to the Zimbabwe Covid-19 Situation Report published on January 23, 2023, there were 22 hospitalised cases, one new admission 4 asymptomatic, 13 mild to moderate, 2 severe and 3 in intensive care units. The report noted that among the 22 cases, 17 were vaccinated and 5 were not.
Here are some facts on where Zimbabwe is with regards to COVID- 19 prevention and mitigation.
Sources: Ministry of Heath and Child Care SITREP updates, https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8112/2/7/65/htm, https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/country/zimbabwe/, Statutory Instrument 169 of 2022 Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order, 2022 (No. 42)
COVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 25, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-urges-vigilance-over-covid-19/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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388 | FACTSHEET - Zimbabwe, Women and politics - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 13, 2022
Zimbabwe’s March 26 parliamentary by-elections recorded no movement in the number of women participating in political contests. According to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), statistics, only 15 percent of the candidates in the polls were female — the same figure as the July 2018 general National Assembly elections.
Women remain underrepresented in party political posts, parliament and in the cabinet despite efforts to achieve the 50/50 representation in politics, according to women rights watchdogs.
The 2019 Global Gender Gap report says the largest disparity in women’s political participation in Sub-Saharan Africa will take at least 135 years to close the gender gap based on current trends.
Official figures on Zimbabwean women’s representation in Parliament show that at their lowest women were at 9 percent and 22 percent at the highest. This is below the 30 percent minimum set out in the 1997 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Declaration on Gender and Development, and even further from the 50 percent benchmark set by the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development and Millennium Development Goal 3.
Regionally, Rwanda has surpassed the 50 percent mark with 56.3 percent women in its Parliament. South Africa followed closely behind at 45 percent after the 2009 elections. According to statistics from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, given the Sub-Saharan Africa regional average of 17.8 percent women’s representation in Parliaments, it will take some 25 years just to reach a critical mass of 30 percent and another 25 years to reach 50 percent.
Here is a list of some of the leading organisations in Zimbabwe that are pushing for greater women participation in politics.
Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC)
In 2020, the ZGC conducted a gender audit to establish representation of women within political parties. Findings were that no political party managed to achieve the 50/50 between men and women in 2018 elections. In efforts to improve women participation in politics, ZGC wants the Electoral Act to be amended. It says the ZEC should accept only party candidates’ lists of nominees that have a 50/50 gender balance.
Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE)
WALPE is a women’s political empowerment and leadership academy set up to advance knowledge and deepen the capacity of women who want to run public elected positions. It seeks to provide women with technical and practical trainings that empower them to run public offices.
Women In Politics Support Unit (WiPSU)
WIPSU has established community forums where women leaders and female constituents meet to discuss women’s issue in effort to encourage women participation in politics.
In 2003, WiPSU launched a campaign ‘vote for a woman’ to increase female representation. Again in 2009, it launched 50/50 campaign with the aim of motivating women not just to vote but also stand for political office.
Women Politicians’ Incubator Zimbabwe
It is a non-partisan training and mentoring establishment that develops women for political leadership. In 2017, they have been conducting and creating platforms for dialogue of female independent candidates.
Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (Wcoz)
It has been pushing for the strengthening of women’s rights for a sustainable tommorow. They have also encouraged female politicians to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to create their own space and agency by at community, state and international levels despite impacts of ICTs. In March 2022, Wcoz were awarded for being outstanding organisation in support of women. They are also calling for applications to prospective female independent candidates from Kariba for the 2023 elections.
GenderLinks Zimbabwe
It is a Non-governmental Organisation for justice and equality. It has been conducting meetings on women’s leadership and political participation in partnership with United Nations (UN) Women. It encourages political parties to support and nominate female candidates since women are only supported by their families and friends and not the parties they represent. It also organisers regional gender awards with categories such as Best Reporter on Women Political Participation
Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD)
A non-profit organisation which seeks to invest in building and strengthening power of women’s involvement in leadership and decision making, both in rural and urban communities of Zimbabwe. WILD conducts Leadership mentoring school target elections candidates as a move towards increasing the participation and representation of women in electoral process. On International Women’s Day, WILD launched the #GetTheBalanceRight campaign with the aim of increasing the participation of women as candidates in the just ended by-elections and the 2023 elections.
Women Development Association in Zimbabwe (WODAZ)
It acts as the voice of women both in social and political spheres. It seeks to contribute to the opening up, expansion and accessibility of space for women participation in decision making as well as in the country’s democratic processes.
WODAZ works with organisations such as WILD, CYDT (Community Youth Development Trust) and Tree of Life which also channel their strength and resources to advance women politically and economically.
United Nations (UN) Women
UN Women has been lobbying for closure of some gaps in women’s rights in Zimbabwe. It says the Zimbabwe government should organise periodical targeted activities on the prevention, protection and participation of women within all line ministries.
Gender Media Connect (GMC)
Gender Media Connect (GMC) works with women organisations and the media in a non-partisan manner to promote gender sensitive reporting and to advance the interests of women across sectors, including politics.
Zimbabwe Women Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC)
A body representing Zimbabwean women members of parliament, working across party lines, to promote gender equity and the contribution of women in politics and general development in the country.
Sources: ZEC, WALPE, ZWPC, Gender Media Connect (GMC), Act4Women database, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, Gender Links
GenderLinks Zimbabwe: https://genderlinks.org.za/barometer-newsletter/zimbabwe-women-in-politics-support-unit-2011-03-02/
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | April 13, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-women-and-politics/",
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389 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe women presidential candidates - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 21, 2023
On July 19, 2023, Elisabeth Valerio who is the leader of the United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA), became the first female presidential candidate for the August 23, 2023 general elections after winning her nomination case at the High Court. The court approved her bid to contest the poll, ruling that she was not responsible for the bureaucratic delays in the transfer of her nomination fees to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Meanwhile, the Electoral Court is also scheduled to hear on July 24 an appeal by Linda Masarira against the rejection of her candidacy by ZEC over a dispute over nomination fees. Masarira is the leader of the Labour, Economists and African Democrats (LEAD).
In 2018, four women candidates contested for the presidential seat. These were:
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 21, 2023 | {
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390 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe women's organisations - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 29, 2021
This factsheet has been compiled to serve as an easy reference point of organisations working around a wide range of women development programmes, political, social and economic issues in Zimbabwe.
Women constitute 51 percent of the national population, and Zimbabwe is a signatory to a number of regional and international protocols aimed at promoting gender equality.
The United Nations has earmarked March as Women’s Month.
The following are some of the women organisations in Zimbabwe:
Focus areas: Promoting programmes towards gender equality and the protection of the rights of specific groups who may be vulnerable as a result of their gender.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission
First Floor, Pax House
No. 89 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
Harare
Tel: +263 024 2701101 / +263 24 2250296
[email protected]
www.zgc.co.zw
Focus areas – gender and governance focusing on gender mainstreaming at the local level, gender and justice focusing on gender-based violence issues, women’s rights, gender and media
Contacts- 30 Samora Machel Avenue
Nicoz Diamond Building
Harare
Tel number +263 (242) 798600
Focus areas – gender and media policy advocacy, knowledge management and empowerment, advancement of women in and through the media, digital media skills training for women and girls in marginalized areas.
Contacts- Abigail Gamanya Director
8 Van Praagh Avenue
Milton Park, Harare
[email protected]
+263 776 728 735, 263 716 325 682
Focus areas – access, retention and completion of education by girls and young women, child safeguarding, psychosocial support, teacher capacity building, community mobilization and engagement, policy advocacy and gender responsive intervention.
Contacts – FAWEZI
Corner Brighton and Upper East Road
254 First Floor CDU
Mt Pleasant, Harare
Tel number +263 (242) 307793, +263 (242) 302925
[email protected]
Focus areas – empowerment of women and adolescents from apostolic churches to participate in social and economic developmental processes that affect them
Advance their rights
Child marriages, education, HIV/AIDS, maternal health
Contacts – Tendayi Gudo – National Director
22 Lanner Avenue
Vainona, Harare
Tel number +263 8677008840, +263 772700987
Focus areas – women and girls’ health, rights and livelihoods through training and awareness programmes, networking to advance the welfare of girls and women
Contacts – Rebecca T Chirenga – Executive Director
WICO Zimbabwe
30 Lalbagh Ave, Ridgemont
Gweru
Tel number + 263 772 358 569
www.wico.org.zw
Focus areas- women and health, economic empowerment, life-skills training, vocational training and economic literacy
Contacts – 189 Westwood Drive
Westwood, Kambuzuma
Harare
Tel numbers +263 772 236 886, +263 713 472 084
[email protected], [email protected]
Focus areas – feminism, peace-building, gender equality and equity
Contacts – 27 Chatsworth Road
Vainona, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 733 178 783, +263 773 376 460
Focus areas – elections, aspiring candidates, elected representatives, monitoring hate speech and sexual harassment in political parties, media monitoring, focusing on public and political participation of women
Contacts – Sakhile Siphelani- Ngoma – Executive Director
Tel number – +263 772 869 187
[email protected]
Focus areas – capacity building for women living with HIV, advocacy, leadership, treatment access
Contacts – Tendayi Westerhof – National Director
[email protected]
Focus areas – skills development, information dissemination, advocacy and lobbying, mainstreaming cutting across issues including gender equality, gender-based violence, HIV/AIDS
Child protection and psychosocial support
Contact – Melody Gwangwara
Zimbabwe Women’s Bureau
43 Hillside Road, Hillside
Harare
Tel numbers – +263 242 747809, +263 778202209
[email protected]
www.zwbonline.org
Focus areas – support women in and released from prison through economic projects, sexual reproduction health, sanitary wear
Contacts – Rita Nyampinga
104 Central Avenue, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 772809978, +263 (242) 499599
Focus areas – leadership development, mentorship, programmes to empower female students, women’s rights, women’s rights, advocacy, psycho-social support
Contacts – Evernice Muhando
5 Floor Kopje Plaza
Cnr Jason Moyo and Kaguvi Street
Tel numbers – +263 772 959 590
Focus areas – sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence
Contacts – 13 Walterhill Road
Eastlea, Harare
[email protected]
Focus areas – economic empowerment of women and girls with disabilities, advocacy, education, sexual and reproductive rights.
Contacts – Rejoice Timire
23 Clayton Road
Milton Park, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 712886860, +263 773287703
Focus areas – legal advice for female offenders especially those based in rural areas
Contacts – Sophie Matimba
113 B Corner Fife Avenue and 3 Street
Tel numbers – + 263 772 904 854, +263 773037308
Focus areas- provide information on gender-based violence, peace building, economic empowerment of women, peacebuilding
Contacts- Tabeth Ndoro-Chideya – Project Director
Tel number – +263 772 491 873
Focus areas – developing tools for women to claim and enjoy their rights
Contacts – 11 Lincoln Road
Avondale, Harare
Tel numbers – +263 (242) 308738
[email protected]
Focus areas – facilitating women farmers’ access to resources, information, finance, training and inputs
Contacts – Phides Mazhawidza – Executive President
3 Acacia Close
Bluff Hill, Harare
Tel number – +263 773 422 917
Focus areas – building a movement that champions young women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, protecting the rights of women in southern Africa
Contacts -22 Suffolk Rd
Strathaven, Harare
Tel number – +263 772 978 880
Focus areas- promoting a society where women are empowered and assert their rights
Contacts – 17 Fife Avenue Harare
Tel numbers – +263 (242) 708491, +263 (242) 706820
Bulawayo Office
Cnr J Tongogara and 14 Avenue
Tel +263 (9) 887186/88
Focus areas: Political skills, and promoting women participation in politics.
Contacts – Cynthia Chirinda – Founding Trustee
84 Broadlands Road
Emerald Hill, Harare
Contact number- +263 772438068
Focus areas – issues of violence against women and girls.
providing relief and shelter to victims of gender-based violence
Contacts – 64 Selous Avenue/Cnr Seventh Street, Harare
Tel number – +263(242) 706284.
Focus areas – building knowledge and promoting gender equality and women’s rights, challenging gender inequality and all forms of oppression with a focus on women’s empowerment.
Contacts – 288 Herbert Chitepo
Harare
www.zwrcn
Focus area: Promoting the contribution of women members of parliament towards Zimbabwe’s national development, and programmes towards gender equality.
Contacts: Parliament of Zimbabwe
Kwame Nkrumah & 3rd Street
PO Box CY 298
Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
[email protected]
Tel: +263 4 700 181 / 9, +263 4 252 936 / 55
Fax: +263 4 252 935 | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 29, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwe-womens-organisations/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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391 | FACTSHEET - Zimbabwe’s 10 major dam projects - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 24, 2022
Zimbabwean towns, including the capital Harare, have struggled with water supply problems for years. The governing ZANU-PF party and the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), which as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) controlled most of the urban authorities in the last two decades, blame each other for the poor service delivery woes. The water problem features prominently in every election campaign.
Dam construction is part of the big–ticket promises on infrastructure projects which ZANU-PF trots out routinely during vote campaigns, sometimes without detailed reference to previous promises. The Zimbabwe government has fulfilled some promises on the construction of dams while others have gone unfinished for decades. The dissonance between campaign promises and implementation remains a recurring theme as political campaigns go full swing.
In 2021, the government announced that it had set aside ZWL$10 billion for the development of 10 major dam projects as part of long term plans to support small-holder agricultural irrigation, boost food and agricultural production and to harness water for industrial and domestic use in major towns, cities and growth points.
The government says the dam construction drive also aims to climate-proof agriculture and reduce heavy reliance on rain-fed farming.
ZimFact lays out the facts for Zimbabwe’s 10 major dam projects under construction:
Kunzvi Dam (Estimated cost: US$109 million)
District: Goromonzi district (confluence of the Nora and Nyagui rivers)
Capacity: 158,4 million cubic meters
Projected use: Augment the capital, Harare water supplies
Contractor: China Nanchang Engineering
Start of construction: Planned since the mid-1990s, construction only started in 2021. Dam completion was initially set for 1996 and it was expected to start supplying water by 2000.
Promised completion date: Duration of project (39 months) 3-years three months
Status: 8% complete (Zinwa, Feb 2022)
Gwayi-Shangani Dam
The dam was allocated US$600 million in 2004, US$20 million in 2017 for initial works, as at May 2020 – US$122 million used under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). Cost estimate US$600m – US$1,2 billion excluding pipeline.
District: Lubimbi, Hwange District, Matabeleland North (Confluence of Gwayi/Shangani Rivers)
Capacity: 635 million cubic meters
Projected use: Water supply to Bulawayo, remainder for irrigation projects along water pipeline & generate 6MW of electricity
Contractor: China International Water and Electric Corporation, subsidiary of the giant China
Three Gorges Corporation (CTE)
Start of construction: Identified in 1912 as solution to Bulawayo water woes, abandoned several
times due to the high costs. Started 2004 by China International Water
Electrical, but abandoned due to lack of funding.
Promised completion date: 2019 deadline missed, pushed to December 2022
Status: 59% complete (Zinwa Dec, 2021)
Semwa Dam (allocated ZLW$750 million in 2021 & total estimated cost is ZLW$3.4 Billion)
District: Mt Darwin (Ruya River)
Size/ capacity: area 4 500km2, full supply capacity of 260 million cubic meters
Projected use: Irrigation, small hydro power plant & water supply to Rushinga and Chimhanda
growth points
Start of construction: Tender awarded in 2006 to China Nanchang, construction work halted
during the hyperinflationary period. Work Resumed 2019
Promised completion date: 2023
Status: (40 percent complete, Zinwa Report 2020)
Silverstroom (Mbada) Dam (Estimated cost US$171 million)
District: Centenary, Mashonaland Central (Musengezi River)
Size/ capacity: 140 million cubic metre capacity
Projected use: Irrigation, water supply –Centenary & Muzarabani, power generation (800 kilowatts)
Contractor: Nancheng Engineering
Start of construction: 2019
Promised completion date: 2022
Vungu Dam (estimated cost US$87 million)
District: Zibagwe, Midlands Province
Size/ capacity:118 million cubic meters
Projected use: irrigation, water supply
Contractor: Grindale Engineering (Private) Limited
Start of construction: 2022, Tender awarded in January 2022
Promised completion date: estimate 2023
Ziminya Dam (Shangani River) estimated cost (US$132 million)
District: Nkayi district, Matabeleland North province
Size/ capacity: 98 million cubic metre
Projected use: Irrigation, livestock, fisheries, water supply to rural service centres
Contractor: Fossil Contracting (Private) Limited
Start of construction: Initially proposed in 1912, Tender awarded January 2022
Promised completion date: estimate 2023
Bindura Dam (estimated cost US$84 million)
District: Bindura District, Mashonaland Central province (Mazowe River)
Size/ capacity: 100 million cubic metres
Projected use: water supply to Bindura, mines & irrigation
Start of construction: Mooted years ago, 2004, suspended due financial constraints, works resumed 2018.
Promised completion date: 2023
Status: (38 percent complete, Sept 2020 – Zinwa)
Dande Dam
District: Guruve, Mashonaland Central (Dande River)
Size/ capacity: 160 million cubic metres
Projected use: Irrigation, water supply Guruve & Mbire, livestock, wildlife, fisheries, 3,6 megawatts.
Contractor: China International Water and Electricity (CIWE)
Start of construction: project started in 2000, stopped for years due to funding constraints, resumed briefly around 2016 and stopped, further works commenced in 2019.
Promised completion date: estimate 2023
Chivhu Dam (estimated cost US$192 million)
District: Chikomba district, Mashonaland East province (Sebakwe River)
Size/ capacity: 26 million cubic meters
Projected use: Irrigation, water supply Chivhu town,
Start of construction: 2019
Promised completion date: 2021 but rolled over to 2022
Status: 83 percent complete (Zinwa Dec 2021)
Tuli-Manyange (Estimated cost US$38 million)
District: Gwanda District, Matabeleland South province
Size/ capacity: 35 million cubic metres
Projected use: Water supply for rural service centres, irrigation and livestock
Contractor: China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE)
Start of construction: Mooted 1960s, project only started in 2006, works suspended for several
years due to financial constraints, resumed again in 2019
Promised completion date: 2022
Sources: Zimbabwe government budget statements (2000-2021), Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), Auditor-General Reports (2005-2015). Cabinet statements. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 24, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-10-major-dam-projects/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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392 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's climate change goals - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
November 9, 2021
Zimbabwe has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 as part of a global effort to combat climate change.
The country’s targets are detailed in its latest Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) report, a requirement under the Paris Agreement.
NDCs are commitments by individual states towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change adopted by 196 Parties at the COP 21 climate summit held in Paris, on 12 December 2015.
The agreement’s main goal is to contain global warming below 2°C, preferably to 1.5 °C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century.
Zimbabwe ratified the Paris Agreement in 2017.
LOW EMISSIONS, HIGH VULNERABILITY
Zimbabwe is among the lowest emitters in the world, but is ranked the 12th most vulnerable to the effects of climate change out of 182 countries assessed by the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative.
The government’s climate change models show that Zimbabwe will experience “a progressive reduction in precipitation, increase in temperatures, increasingly volatile weather events, and less dependable seasons.”
Zimbabwe could experience an average annual temperature increase in excess of 3 degrees celsius by 2050 and a 10% decrease in average rainfall, according to government projections.
WHAT DOES ZIMBABWE PLAN TO DO?
Zimbabwe’s climate change mitigation efforts focus on four broad areas – Agriculture (including forestry and other land use), which is the biggest emitter followed by Energy, Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) and Waste.
Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU)
The sector accounted for 54% of Zimbabwe’s total emissions in 2017, according to the government’s latest NDC report.
The major drivers of emissions and removals in this sector include deforestation due to agricultural expansion, fuelwood gathering, increased livestock, commercial logging, veld fires, harvesting construction timber, illegal settlements and mining, tobacco curing and charcoal making.
Planned mitigation measures are:
Energy:
The government says the energy sector accounted for 33% of Zimbabwe’s emissions in 2017. Thermal power generation is the single biggest emitter under this segment.
Mitigation measures include:
Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU)
Industrial processes accounted for 3.3% of emissions in Zimbabwe in 2017, according to government data.
Ferrochrome smelters were the main emitters, accounting for 37% of all industrial emissions, followed by followed by cement production (32%), the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs, 25%) mainly in refrigeration and air conditioning and chemical production (6%).
Mitigation measures include:
Waste
Population growth and increased urbanisation, coupled with municipalities’ inability to efficiently manage waste have resulted in increased emissions from this sector.
Mitigation measures include:
HOW MUCH WOULD ZIMBABWE’S CLIMATE PLAN COST?
In its latest NDC report, the government estimates the cost of its mitigation plans at US$4,8 billion. International financial support, which Zimbabwe has not been able to access for over two decades, would be vital if the country is to meet its targets.
The government says not all of this investment would be new, considering that some projects, such as those in the solar energy segment, are already underway.
CLIMATE CHANGEFEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | November 9, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-climate-change-goals/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
393 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's COVID-19 dashboard - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
June 21, 2021
On June 14 the government reintroduced tighter measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 after noting a surge in infections arising from general public complacency in social distancing, public gatherings and the wearing of masks.
In the week leading up to June 14, weekly cases had more than doubled to 596 from 226 and the new measures were aimed at helping Zimbabwe from falling into a deadly third wave. In the week following the tightened restrictions, a cumulative 1,702 infections and 37 deaths were reported. June 18 saw the highest daily infections, 408, since January 24.
What are the key components of the new measures?
gatherings, including religious ones; strict enforcement of public transport protocols of sanitising vehicles and drastically reducing passengers; no sit-down but take-away services for restaurants; localised lockdowns for COVID-19 hotspots.
Hotspots
As of June 14, Kwekwe, Kariba and Hurungwe had been declared COVID-19. By June 20, Karoi, Chirundu, Magunje, Mhangura, Chinhoyi and Chidamoyo, all in the Mashonaland West province, had been added to the list. Also classified as hotspots are Masvingo district and Chiredzi. Bulawayo’s Nkulumane, Emakhandeni and Northern Suburbs, as well as Mount Darwin in Mashonaland Central, have also been designated as COVID-19 hotspots.
How many people have been vaccinated so far?
Ministry of Health and Child Care statistics show that 703,065 people have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines, while 435,668 people had been fully vaccinated by Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Which hospitals and health centres have vaccines?
According to Zimbabwe health officials, most of the major hospitals around the country are offering vaccines to the public. But there have been widespread complaints that some centres have run out of vaccines, with people seeking second doses having to move from centre to centre looking for vaccines.
When did Zimbabwe roll out its Covid-19 vaccination programme?
The vaccination programme was rolled out on February 18, 2021.
Who can be vaccinated?
The vaccination is open to citizens and residents in Zimbabwe — subject to medical stipulations by the vaccine producers and the World Health Organisation (WHO) — but available according to a priority list drawn up by the government. The first phase targeted healthcare workers and other frontline staff. The second phase targeted groups in the education sector, such as teachers, and other less at-risk groups. The third phase of vaccinations will be open to all.
What is the government’s vaccination target?
The government targets to vaccinate 10 million people (60 percent of the population for herd immunity), according to a rollout plan presented by the government to Parliament on February 16.
Which vaccines has Zimbabwe approved so far?
Zimbabwe has so far approved four vaccines; Sinopharm and Sinovac from China, Sputnik V from Russia and COVAXIN from India.
How are vaccines approved?
According to the government, all vaccines are verified by the Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials Committee before clearance by the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe. The Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials Committee is also responsible for monitoring safety and effectiveness of the vaccine during use.
Can private companies import vaccines?
Private companies, including medical aid firms, can now import vaccines. However, they can only procure the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Further, companies cannot import directly. Procurement is done on the behalf of companies through the National Vaccine Procurement Fund, managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
Can private companies administer their own vaccines?
Vaccines imported by private companies are stored at the Ministry of Health facilities, distributed by the government, and administered solely by Ministry of Health staff. The Ministry alone can issue vaccination certificates which show that a person has been vaccinated.
Sources: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe Treasury Department, Cabinet Briefing, Parliament Hansard.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | June 21, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-covid-19-dashboard/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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394 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's COVID-19 management regulations - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 25, 2020
Zimbabwe’s government has, since March 2020, issued a series of regulations as it bids to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The first set of regulations, issued on March 28, 2020, just over a week after the country’s first confirmed coronavirus infection, announced a 21-day national lockdown. The lockdown measures were subsequently extended and are now in place for an indefinite period of time.
As of August 24, 2020, Zimbabwe had recorded 6070 COVID-19 cases, 4950 recoveries and 155 deaths, according to the health ministry.
How many COVID-19 statutory instruments does Zimbabwe have so far?
The Zimbabwe government has published 17 statutory instruments since March 2020 regulating the management of COVID-19, including national lockdown rules aimed at slowing down the spread of the respiratory disease.
Where are Statutory Instruments published?
A Statutory Instrument, commonly called an “SI”, is published in a weekly Government Gazette carrying government legal notices or as a special notice in an Extraordinary Government Gazette.
What issues do the COVID-19 Statutory Instruments cover?
The Statutory Instruments cover a wide range of issues, including the assignment of responsibilities in the management of the Coronavirus pandemic — from health officials to local authorities — and any changes in the regulations.
Where are the Statutory Instruments found?
Legal and parliamentary watchdog Veritas keeps a detailed list of all Statutory Instruments, including those related to COVID-19 management. All 17 COVID-19 Statutory Instruments are found online as individual instruments, starting with SI83, the original March regulations which was then followed by Statutory Instruments 84, 86, 93, 94, 99, 101, 102, 110, 115, 136, 144, 153, 160, 174 and 186. Hard copies of the instruments are also available for sale at the government’s printing company.
On August 20 2020, the government published a consolidated version under Statutory Instrument SI200 of 2020 called Public Health ( COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (National Lockdown) (Consolidation and Amendment) Order, 2020 to succeed all the previous instruments as the governing legal instrument establishing provisions of the national lockdown, exemptions and enforcement regulations.
CORONAVIRUSCOVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 25, 2020 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-covid-19-management-regulations/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
395 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's COVID-19 vaccination target and rollout update - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
October 19, 2021
How far has Zimbabwe gone towards its COVID-19 vaccination target?
Zimbabwe has since February 2021, been on the drive to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its population — 10 million people — for a target initially seen as an achievement of herd immunity, that is a number likely to make the spread of Covid-19 comfortably manageable.
For this, the government has approved the use of Five vaccines in the country — Sinovac, Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Covaxin and Johnson and Johnson.
Official statistics show that as of 17 October 2021, over 3,2 million people had received their first dose and 2,4 million had received their second dose.
Below is a table showing the number of people who have so far received vaccination in various provinces.
Source: Ministry of Health and Child Care (Zimbabwe COVID 19 Situation Report)
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | October 19, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-covid-19-vaccination-target-and-rollout-update/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
396 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe's currency through the years - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 29, 2020
By ZimFact
Zimbabwe ended a decade of official use of the United States dollar in most domestic transactions in June 2019, introducing a local currency abandoned in 2009 after it had been ravaged by hyperinflation.
The reintroduced Zimbabwe dollar currently has $2 coins and $5 bank notes, which a circulating alongside bond coins and notes introduced in 2016.
Government says it will issue higher denomination notes – $10, $20 and $50 – this year in a bid to end a bank note crisis which emerged late 2015.
Here, ZimFact provides a pictorial sequence of Zimbabwe’s currency evolution since independence in 1980.
The Desmond C. Krogh ZWD series: (1980-1983)
The new republic’s first set of bank notes carried the signature of Desmond C. Krogh, the last governor of the Reserve Bank of Rhodesia, who occupied that position in newly independent Zimbabwe for three years.
The Kombo Moyana ZWD series: 1983-1993
Moyana was appointed the first black governor of Zimbabwe’s central bank in 1983, serving until August 1993. During this time, Zimbabwe’s bank note remained the same, save for the new governor’s signature and the capital city’s new name, which had changed in 1982.
The Leonard Tsimba ZWD series: (1993-2003)
After succeeding Moyana in 1993, Tsumba introduced a new set of notes, starting with $50 and $100 denominations, between 1994 and 1995.
This was to be followed by new $5, $10 and $20 bills in 1997. A $500 note was introduced in 2001. A different $500 note, predominantly brown, replaced the red 2001 issue in 2003, when it was issued alongside a $1,000 bill.
The Cargill Cotton bearer cheques: (2003-2004)
As inflation raced towards 600%, cotton company Cargill, whose supplier farmers were now burdened with huge stacks of dollars as payment, came up with “bearer cheques” issued by Standard Chartered bank with authorisation from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The first such bearer cheques were issued in June 2003 and were valid for six months.
The Cargill cheques, whose face value ranged between $5,000 and $100,000, were in circulation until October 2004.
RBZ Bearer Cheques: (2003-2006)
Three months after the Cargill bearer cheques were introduced, primarily as payment instruments for cotton farmers, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe issued its own set of bearer cheques. The first RBZ bearer cheques, with face values of $5,000 and $10,000, were issued in September 2003 and carried the signature of the then Acting Governor, Charles Chikaura.
Gideon Gono signed subsequent issues of bearer cheques after his appointment in November 2003.
The first re-denomination ZWN bearer cheque series: (August 2006 – August 2008)
With inflation having vaulted above 1,000% that April, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe re-denominated its currency, dropping three zeroes from the rapidly devaluing dollar.
The re-denominated currency was designated ZWN under the International Organisation of Standardisation’s (ISO) currency codes.
The ZWN currency had 14 denominations, ranging from 1 cent to $100,000, bearing Gono’s signature.
Abortive Sunrise 2 series: 2007
The bearer cheques introduced when three zeroes were dropped under the August 2006 RBZ Sunrise 1 project were supposed to be followed in 2007 by a new series of bank notes.
Raging hyperinflation forced the central bank’s hand. Instead of issuing the 2007 bank note series – ranging from $1 to $1,000, the RBZ introduced bearer cheques valued between $5,000 and $750,000.
However, when the RBZ re-denominated the currency by dropping 10 zeroes in August 2008, it is the the bank notes initially planned for Sunrise 2 that were injected into circulation between August 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.
The 2007 bearer cheque series
Between March and December 2007, the central bank introduced bearer cheques ranging from $5,000 to $750,000.
The $5,000 and $10,000 bearer cheques were issued in March 2007 to help with change, as the previous issue had huge gaps between the $1,000, $10,000 and $100,000 notes.
By August 2007, as inflation accelerated, a $200,000 bearer cheque was issued, followed by $250,000, $500,000 and $750,000 notes that December.
The 2008 bearer cheque series
Between January and May 2008, issued more bearer notes with values ranging from $1 million to $500 million.
The Special Agro Cheques of 2008
As hyperinflation devoured the bearer cheques issued in 2007, the central bank introduced ‘special agricultural cheques’ – meant primarily to facilitate farmer payments. The agro cheques, which ranged from $5 billion to $100 billion, were injected into circulation between May and July 2008.
The Third Zimbabwe Dollar (ZWR): 2008-2009
As stated above, the third Zimbabwe dollar followed the lopping off of 10 zeroes from the currency on August 1, 2008. Bank notes initially planned for introduction in 2007, with values ranging from $1 to $1,000, were introduced between August and September 2008. By December 2008, these notes had been withdrawn from circulation.
With hyperinflation reaching a staggering 500 billion percent that December, according to the International Monetary Fund, the RBZ was once again forced to introduce higher denominations.
Between September and October 2008, notes ranging from $10,000 and $50,000 were brought into circulation. By November 2008, a $1 million note was in circulation and, by the end of 2008, the biggest note was worth $10 billion.
By January 16, 2009, Zimbabwe’s biggest ever note, the $100 trillion note, was brought into circulation. Still worth nothing more than a loaf of bread, the note was soon dumped as Zimbabwe formally adopted the use of multiple foreign currencies, mainly the United States dollar and South Africa’s rand, in a bid to tame hyperinflation.
The shortlived fourth dollar (ZWL): February 2009 – April 2009
Even as the vast majority of the population had by now rejected the local currency, the RBZ once again re-denominated the currency, issuing new notes on February 2, 2009. This series was, however, short-lived as the country officially dollarised in February 2009.
A decade of dollarisation: 2009-2019
After its currency collapse of 2008, Zimbabwe adopted multiple currencies, mainly the US dollar and the rand.
The Bond Note and Coin: 2016
While dollarisation ended hyperinflation overnight, Zimbabwe still had to contend with the shortage of bank notes and small change. In 2014, the RBZ, now under governor John Mangudya since 2013, introduced bond coins – so called because, according to the RBZ, the coins were backed by a African Export Bank bond facility. The coins, minted in were worth the equivalent value in US cents and dollars.
In May 2016, the RBZ announced it would introduce bond notes later that year in a bid to ease bank note shortages which had seen long lines re-emerging at banks during the latter part of 2015.
Like the coins before them, the bond notes would also be backed by an Afreximbank facility, while enjoying parity with the US dollar, the RBZ said.
Return of the Zimbabwe dollar: 2019
On October1, 2018, RBZ governor John Mangudya announced the separation of foreign currency deposits from bond note and local electronic deposits, thereby ending the officially sanctioned parity between the USD and what was to become an official local currency.
The October policy pronouncement was to be followed by the floating of the local currency in February 2009 and the official end of dollarisation with the outlawing of USD use in most local transactions, announced by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on June 24, 2019. This marked the official return of the Zimbabwe dollar, ten years after it had been replaced by multiple foreign currencies.
The authorities then announced that they would gradually introduce new bank notes into the economy, to circulate alongside the bond notes and coins already in issue. The new notes were introduced in November 2019.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 29, 2020 | {
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397 | Factsheet – Zimbabwe's drug, alcohol abuse problem under COVID-19 - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 10, 2021
Drug and alcohol abuse among Zimbabwean youth is rising, according to government and public health experts who say this increase has coincided with measures aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), the Zimbabwe government and some civic society organisations have launched public awareness programmes on the problem, worsening under national lockdowns, restrictions on travel and public gatherings, closure of schools and a ban on sports activities.
The following are some of the facts and findings around alcohol and drug abuse:
WHO defines heavy episodic drinking as the consumption of at least 60 grammes or more of alcohol on at least one occasion in 30 days, which is six pints at a single sitting.
The Harare-based World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Advisor on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Florence Kamayonza, warned that heavy drinking needs to be checked to help manage the dangers of rising mental health and alcohol use disorders.
Launched the Special Initiative on Mental Health on July 21, Health and Child Care Minister, Vice President Constantine Chiwenga, warned that Zimbabwe faced the risk of a decline in the quality of life of the youth from the impact of alcohol and drug abuse. He said “a large proportion of people” were hooked on alcohol and substances like cocaine and crystal meth.
A global survey by the International Society of Addiction Medicines (ISAM) says that many countries are struggling with rising numbers of people abusing drugs as Covid-19 continues to ravage economies, decimate livelihoods and badly alter lifestyles.
Under COVID-19, Zimbabwe has witnessed a sharp rise in the abuse of methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant commonly known in the country as “crystal meth” or “ mutoriro”, which affects the nervous system and generally leaves addicts in a wooden state of stupor.
In its 2020 world report, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime notes that “rising unemployment and lack of opportunities will make it more likely that poor and disadvantaged people engage in harmful patterns of drug use, suffer drug use disorders and turn to illicit activities linked to drugs – either production or transport.”
With governments and parents less able to respond to problem, strong drug abuse cultures are likely to grow strong roots in communities, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime report.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 10, 2021 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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398 | Factsheet: Zimbabwe's food crisis - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 14, 2020
Last year’s drought was one of the worst on record – shrivelling maize in farmers’ fields. (Aaron Ufumeli/TNH)
United Nations agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), has appealed for $200 million to help feed nearly eight million people in Zimbabwe – half the national population — as the country faces one of its worst humanitarian crises in a decade.
The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) has published a revised Zimbabwe February 2019-April 2020 appeal for those facing hunger.
Here is a snapshot of some five critical numbers and facts.
How many are classified for assistance?
At least 5.5 million people in rural Zimbabwe and 2.2 million people in urban districts are facing chronic food shortages, according to the WFP.
What are the most dire months?
For the current appeal, the World Food Programme has earmarked January to April 2020 as “the peak of the lean period” when many people would have run out of domestic food supplies and are desperate for assistance. According to the WFP, Zimbabwe could run out of food by the end of February, coinciding with the peak of the hunger season.
How many people are targeted for assistance during the lean period?
In co-ordination with the government, the U.N organisation has scaled up its assistance target from two million people in August 2019 to 4.1 million people during the lean period.
Where does Zimbabwe stand globally in food aid requirements?
Zimbabwe counts amongst the four highest food insecure States, alongside conflict ravaged countries, according to a report in November 2019 by Hilal Elver, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to food. In a separate survey, Zimbabwe was ranked 9th by American charity organisation Concern Worldwide among the “world’s top 10 hungriest countries” in 2018.
What are the reasons behind Zimbabwe’s food shortages?
In the 2018-2019 season, parts of Southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, received their lowest rainfall since 1981, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Zimbabwe’s case is made worse by the fact that the country is also experiencing its worst economic crisis since 2008, marked by shortages of basics such as fuel, electricity and medicines. In 2019, Zimbabwe also stopped pegging its currency at par with the United States dollar, unleashing inflationary pressures last seen in 2008.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 14, 2020 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-food-crisis/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
399 | Zimbabwe's health delivery system - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 15, 2018
ZIMBABWE’S junior doctors are on a national strike since the beginning of March protesting against poor remuneration and unsatisfactory working conditions, leading to the closure of almost all central hospitals, children’s units, provincial hospitals and the cessation of emergency life saving procedures throughout the country, according to their representative body, the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association.
According to the association, there are 300 junior doctors working in Zimbabwe’s health government institutions. Zimbabwe is a long way from the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of the minimum threshold of 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10 000 population. By 2015, Zimbabwe was at 1.6 physicians and 7.2 nurses per every 10 000.
According to the Zimbabwe National Health Strategy (2016-2020), currently every district has at least 2 doctors, every primary health care centre has at least 2 qualified nurses, 59% of administrative wards are serviced by an Environmental Health Technician and 60% of villages have access to a village health worker.
The Zimbabwe Service Availability and Readiness Assessment Report of 2015 says that health studies and surveys that have been carried out in the country all point towards inadequacies in the six World Health Organization (WHO) Health System Building Blocks – human resources, medical products, vaccines and technology including infrastructure, health financing, health information, service delivery, leadership and governance – that are prerequisites for a functional health delivery system.
What is the status of Zimbabwe’s health delivery system?
At a glance
Zimbabwe has a population of 13 061 239 (2012 Census). The total fertility rate is estimated at 4.3 children per woman (15-49years), with the population growth rate estimated at 2.7% per year (source: National Health Strategy for Zimbabwe 2016 -2020 – NHS). The population is served by hospitals and primary health care facilities owned by government (inclusive of security sector – army, police and prisons health care centres), missions, private players and industry. The majority of the population is serviced by government, municipalities and mission care centres.
68% of the health care delivery in the rural areas is from mission hospitals and clinics. Nationally, the mission hospitals and clinics account for 35% of health care delivery. Of these, 22 mission hospitals have been designated district hospitals (source: www.zach.org.zw).
In Zimbabwe, 14% of the health facilities are located in urban areas while 86% are in rural areas. As of 2015, Zimbabwe had 1848 hospitals and primary health care facilities (NHS).
Life expectancy for men has increased from 34.4 in 2006 to 58.5 years in 2013, with women at 61.3 years (WHO, 2013).
Structure
The Health delivery system in Zimbabwe falls under the Ministry of Health and Child Care, with a budget allocation of $520 million for the 2018 financial year. The initial allocation had been $454 million and was increased after Members of Parliament in the National Assembly refused to pass the whole budget unless the allocation was increased.
Legislation
The Zimbabwe health delivery system is built on the constitutional right to health care in Section 76, sub-section 1-4, of the Zimbabwe Constitution, which states that:
The ministry also has a national health strategy in place for the years 2016-2020.
The Ministry itself administers several Acts as follows:
Statistics at a Glance
Malaria incidence – 20 /1000
Maternal mortality rate – 614/100 000
Neonatal mortality rate – 29/1000
Under 5 mortality rate – 75/1000
Proportion of children under 5 stunted – 28%
HIV prevalence (15-49 years) – 14%
TB incidence – 269/100 000
Diabetes prevalence – 10%
Percentage of household members using improved sources of drinking water – 76.1%
Percentage of household members using improved sanitation facilities which are not shared – 35%
Percentage of household members with no facility –31.7%
Did You Know?
Section 4 (Application for Reception Order) of the Mental Health Act states that;
Section 56 (Publication of advertisements of cures) of the Public Health Act states that;
Factsheet compiled by Lifaqane Nare
Healthsocial services | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 15, 2018 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-health-delivery-system/",
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} |
400 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's latest COVID-19 quarantine rules - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 21, 2021
Arrivals at Harare’s international airport. Picture: Great Zimbabwe Traveller
Zimbabwe has recently issued two sets of COVID-19 regulations relating to travel into the country. Here are the latest rules:
If you are a Zimbabwean citizen or resident:
According to Statutory Instrument 108 of 2021, issued by the government on 7 May, Zimbabwean citizens and residents WITHOUT valid COVID-19 test certificates will be sent to quarantine for 10 days at designated hotels or quarantine centres, at their own cost. You will only be released from quarantine after a COVID-19 test.
If you are a citizen or resident WITH a valid negative COVID-19 test certificate, you will be allowed to self-quarantine at home for 10 days from the date you arrive.
A valid COVID-19 test, according to the regulations, is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test carried out by an accredited laboratory within 48 hours to a traveller’s arrival in Zimbabwe.
For non-residents/tourists/visitors:
According to Statutory Instrument 119 of 2021, issued on 14 May, non-residents WITHOUT a valid COVID-19 test certificate are barred from entering the country.
Non-residents WITH valid negative COVID-19 test certificates are required to either self-quarantine or check themselves into a designated hotel for 10 days after arrival in Zimbabwe.
For both citizens/residents and foreign travellers, border officers can choose to test any traveller for COVID-19, at the traveller’s cost. While the latest regulations do no specify the criteria for this, government has previously said that port officials may test a person they believe to be showing symptoms of illness.
For travellers from India:
Following the identification, in Zimbabwe, of the coronavirus variant first identified in India – B.1.617 – the government announced additional quarantine requirements specific to the Asian country on 19 May, 2021.
People travelling from India, whether citizens, returning residents or visitors, will be subjected to mandatory quarantine at a designated centre at their own cost.
Exceptions:
In terms of the consolidated COVID-19 lockdown regulations, certain persons may be allowed to enter and exit Zimbabwe under exceptional circumstances which include:
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 21, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-latest-covid-19-quarantine-rules/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
401 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's progress towards 90-90-90 HIV/AIDS targets - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
November 30, 2021
How far has Zimbabwe gone in combating HIV/AIDS?
As the world commemorates the World AIDS day on 1 December, we take stock to look at how far has the country gone in combating HIV/AIDS.
According to the National Aids Council (NAC), the country has made good progress in achieving the 90-90-90 targets by 2020 set by UNAIDS as a global push to end AIDS.
The targets were to ensure that 90% of all people living with HIV would know their HIV status, 90% of all people with diagnosed HIV infection would receive sustained antiretroviral therapy and 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy would have viral suppression by 2020.
Below is a table with the set targets and how far Zimbabwe has gone in attaining those goals.
What is the current prevalence rate?
HIV prevalence – 11.9% (1,277,600 people)
HIV incidence – 0.27% (24,900 people)
AIDS related deaths – (22,200 people)
NAC says that between 2016 and 2020, the number of new HIV infections has fallen from 40,900 to 24,900, while that of people living with HIV has slightly fallen from 1,278,800 to 1,277,600. At the same time, the number of people dying of AIDs has fallen from 25,700 to 22,200.
NAC said Zimbabwe is now pursuing the 95-95-95 by 2025 targets.
The current areas of focus in pursuit of 2025 targets according to NAC include reducing new HIV infections among adults, adolescents, and young people (15-24 years) and children 0-14 years by 80% by 2025; reduction of AIDS deaths by 80% by 2025; and to attain zero HIV stigma and discrimination.
Government is also set to decriminalise the wilful transmission of HIV as set out in section 79 of the Criminal Law ( Codification and Reform Act) which states that, “ (1) any person who
(a) Knowing that he or she is infected with HIV; or
(b) realising that there is a real risk or possibility that he or she is infected with HIV; intentionally does anything or permits the doing of anything which he or she knows will infect, or does anything which he or she realises involves a real risk or possibility of infecting another person with HIV, shall be guilty of deliberate transmission of HIV, whether or not he or she is married to that other person, and shall be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding twenty years.”
Experts and advocates say the law must be repealed as it fuels stigma and discrimination against those who are infected, and it is difficult to ascertain or show evidence of who is behind the infection. The repeal is being made through the Marriages Bill which is now awaiting Presidential assent.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | November 30, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-progress-towards-90-90-90-hiv-aids-targets/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
402 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's proposed "Logan Act" - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
November 6, 2020
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa announced Cabinet’s approval of the proposed law on October 27, 2020.
The Zimbabwe government plans to introduce a punitive law against citizens or local organisations it deems to be calling for the imposition of any external sanctions on the country.
According to its official statement on October 27, 2020, the Zimbabwe Cabinet approved amendments to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act to “criminalise the conduct of isolated citizens or groups who, for self-gain, co-operate or connive with hostile foreign governments to inflict suffering on Zimbabwean citizens and cause damage to national interests.”
Government critics see the proposals as part of a crackdown by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ruling ZANU-PF on its political opponents.
How does the government justify the proposals?
The government says the proposals are based on the state’s constitutional obligation to conduct foreign policy.
“The Bill is premised on the constitutional provision on the foreign policy of our country, which values the promotion and protection of the national interests of Zimbabwe,” she said.
“It is the duty of the State to engage other sovereign nations on issues pertaining to foreign relations, and not self-serving citizens.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs permanent secretary has also been quoted saying the proposed law “draws from similar legislation in other jurisdictions such as the Logan Act in the United States of America.”
What is the Logan Act?
The Logan Act is a 1799 U.S law that calls for the fine or imprisonment of private citizens who attempt to intervene without authorization in disputes or controversies between the United States and foreign governments. No successful prosecution has taken place in terms of the law in its 221 years of existence.
The Logan Act was enacted in response to Philadelphia politician George Logan’s private, unauthorised efforts to negotiate peace with the French government during the undeclared naval conflict between the U.S and France from 1798-1800.
Section 953 of the Logan Act reads:
“Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.”
While the law has not been used to successfully prosecute offenders, its critics say its real use is in scaring political opponents.
What is the name of the proposed law?
Although initial discussions in government appeared to be on an entirely new law that would be called the Patriot Act, Cabinet has now only agreed that the proposed changes be accommodated through amendments to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
After the October 27, 2020 Cabinet meeting that approved the proposals, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said government had noted that Zimbabwe’s “current law does not criminalise the authorised communication or negotiation by private citizens with foreign governments” yet this had a direct bearing on the country’s welfare.
What do the proposals say about engaging foreign governments?
“The amendments will criminalise the conduct of isolated citizens or groups who, for self-gain, cooperate or connive with hostile foreign governments to inflict suffering on Zimbabwean citizens and to cause damage,” according to the Cabinet statement delivered by Mutsvangwa, who said most of these engagements by individuals and organisations were designed to communicate falsehoods.
“Such wilful misinformation to foreign governments will therefore make the individuals or groups liable to prosecution.”
What about political protests and demonstrations?
The proposed amendments to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act will also make it punishable to plan, organise and stage protests and demonstrations “deliberately designed to coincide with major international, continental or regional events or visits”, according to the Cabinet resolutions.
What do the proposals say about torture and abductions?
The Cabinet also resolved that “unsubstantiated claims of torture and abductions that are concocted to tarnish the image of the government” would be regarded as criminal acts, Mutsvangwa said.
How will these proposed new legal provisions be implemented?
Zimbabwe Attorney-General Prince Machaya says when passed by Parliament, the new provisions will be implemented like other laws, with the state having to prove its allegations in court against accused persons or organisations.
What are the fears?
The major fears are that ZANU-PF will use these provisions to stifle the opposition, trample on basic civic rights and close the democratic space.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | November 6, 2020 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-proposed-logan-act/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
403 | FACTSHEET: Zimbabwe's wetlands and environmental degradation - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 21, 2022
February 2 is widely acknowledged as the World Wetland Day, to raise awareness of the importance of wetlands to the planet. This year marks the first time World Wetland Day is celebrated as an official United Nations international day.
The day also marks the date when an international convention on wetlands was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.
The convention has 171 contracting parties who commit to designating wetlands of high value on a list of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), and to use all wetlands wisely and cooperate on transboundary issues.
Zimbabwe has been a party to the Ramsar Convention since 2013. However, the country’s wetlands are under serious threat from commercial activity, chiefly construction, agriculture and mining.
According to a draft government policy document, wetlands make up 3% of Zimbabwe’s total surface area, about 11 700 square kilometres. Of the available wetlands, 21% are classified as stable, 18 % are severely degraded and 61% moderately degraded. This excludes reservoirs, dams and impoundments that cover 652 151ha, as well as permanent
rivers and streams that cover over 5 700km .
What are wetlands?
The Ramsar Convention defines wetlands as “ecosystems where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life.”
This covers all inland bodies such as marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps; as well as a range of coastal bodies including saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons, and coral reefs. Also included are human-made wetlands like fishponds, rice paddies, and salt pans.
Global inland and coastal wetlands cover over 12.1 million square kilometres, an area larger than Canada.
Why are wetlands important?
According to the United Nations Development Programme, wetlands have numerous environmental, economic and social roles such as removing pollutants, serving as wildlife habitats, acting as groundwater recharge systems as well as capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. The latter function is an important climate change mitigation function as wetlands remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, allowing it to be converted into other carbon compounds and cellulose.
Globally, wetlands are estimated to be storing 500–700 gigatonnes of carbon. The disturbance of wetlands will, therefore, result in the release of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, three major heat-trapping gases, into the atmosphere.
Wetlands also abate the effects of climate change events such as droughts and floods. During droughts, wetlands naturally regulate the quantity and timing of water discharge. In times of floods, wetlands act as buffers and flood storage systems.
Zimbabwe’s major wetlands
In line with its Ramsar Convention commitments, Zimbabwe has identified 7 sites as major national wetlands. These are:
In total, these sites cover 453,828 hectares and are protected by several pieces of legislation, including the Constitution, Environmental Management Act and several regulations.
CLIMATE CHANGEFEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 21, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheet-zimbabwes-wetlands-and-environmental-degradation/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
404 | Factsheets: Provincial Election Candidate Extracts - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 16, 2023
ZimFact is publishing this series of election factsheets on candidates for the Zimbabwe 2023 general election for easy reference, breaking down the lists province by province. These fact guides cover all the positions contested, but some information may be affected by legal notices issued by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
The 10 Extracts are for Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonalnd West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South and Midlands.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 16, 2023 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheets-provincial-election-candidate-extracts/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
405 | Factsheets: Zimbabwe women on the frontline - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 3, 2023
ZimFact is marking the Women’s Month with a series of pen profiles of some of the women in leading positions in Zimbabwe.
women | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 3, 2023 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/factsheets-zimbabwe-women-on-the-frontline/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
406 | Fake: Econet dismisses social media message - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 24, 2019
There has been a message that has been circulating on social media platforms indicating that Econet Wireless had received a ministerial directive to clear EcoCash balances in customers’ wallets.
By ZimFact Staff
Fungai Mandiveyi, Media Relations and Communications Executive for Econet Wireless in a written response says Econet Wireless has distanced itself from a message doing rounds on some social media platforms claiming that the company had been instructed under ministerial directive to clear all EcoCash wallet balances to 0.00.
He says the company spokesperson issued a statement dismissing the message.
“We would like to urge our customers to ignore the fake and malicious message being circulated in some social media circles purporting to be coming from Econet and alleging that Econet received a directive to clear all EcoCash balances to zero,” read the statement.
He reiterated that the message is not coming from Econet Wireless or any of its group of companies.
“We wish to assure our customers and the public at large that their EcoCash balances are safe and secure,” read the statement.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 24, 2019 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/fake-econet-dismisses-social-media-message/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
407 | FALSE. French scientist did NOT say vaccines would kill people within two years - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 27, 2021
CLAIM: French virologist Luc Montagnier has said all people vaccinated against COVID-19 will die within two years.
Source: Viral WhatsApp text
VERDICT: False. At no point in the cited interview did the French scientist say COVID-19 vaccines would kill inoculated people within two years. Instead, Montagnier, who has made some controversial remarks about viruses, advances arguments against COVID-19 vaccines which have been challenged by other experts. His comments have been manipulated to create that false impression.
The viral message, which is attached to a linked article by Canadian news site LifeSiteNews, is headlined: “All vaccinated people will die within 2 years.”
The message goes further to state that “Nobel Prize winner Luc Montagnier has confirmed that there is no chance of survival for people who have received the vaccine.”
The text purports to quote Montagnier saying:
“There is no hope, and no possible treatment for those who have been vaccinated already. We must be prepared to incinerate the bodies.”
At no point in the interview does Montagnier say any of this. These are made up quotes.
What did the scientist actually say?
Montagnier (88), who jointly won the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, along with Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, for their work in identifying the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has called ongoing mass vaccinations against COVID-19 “a mistake.”
“It’s an enormous mistake, isn’t it? A scientific error as well as a medical error. It is an unacceptable mistake. The history books will show that, because it is the vaccination that is creating the variants,” the virologist said.
Experts disagree
Several experts have dismissed Montagnier’s comments as lacking scientific basis.
Vincent Maréchal, professor of virology and researcher at Sorbonne University’s Saint Antoine Research Center in France (Inserm / Sorbonne University) says Montagnier’s assertions are “totally absurd.”
Variants, Maréchal explains, “are not created by vaccines”. He adds that some of the notable coronavirus variants identified in the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa spread before vaccination started in those countries.
Shahid Jameel, a virologist at India’s Ashok University, says there is no scientific evidence to support Montagnier’s latest claims.
“This seems to be another disturbing theory propagated by him without any credible scientific evidence. His unscientific views were further amplified by media channels that denounced vaccinations and promoted conspiracy theories,” Jameel said.
“The fact is that all vaccines, including vaccines against COVID-19, save lives. So it is worth repeating here that everyone everywhere should take COVID-19 vaccines as soon as these are available to them.”
Conspiracy theory channels
It should be noted that the channels that carried Montagnier’s comments, RAIR Foundation, Planetes360 and LifeSiteNews routinely publish conspiracy theories and fan anti-vaccine sentiment. LifeSiteNews was permanently removed from Facebook in May 2021 for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.
CONCLUSION
It is not true that Luc Montagnier said all people vaccinated against COVID-19 would die within two years. His actual controversial statement, that vaccines were creating new coronavirus variants, has been dismissed by several experts. The websites that carried the claims are all known for spreading false information on COVID-19.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 27, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/false-french-scientist-did-not-say-vaccines-would-kill-people-within-two-years/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
408 | False social media claim says rural voting postponed to July 31 - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 29, 2018
Claim: Social media reports saying voting in rural areas has been postponed to July 31 emerged late on Sunday, July 29, the eve of polling day.
Conclusion: False.
Voting will take place throughout Zimbabwe — in urban and rural areas — on Monday, July 30, 2018. Zimbabwe Electoral Commissioner Qhubani Moyo dismissed the reports of separate polling days as mischievous, and probably meant to cause confusion. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 29, 2018 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/false-social-media-claim-says-rural-voting-postponed-to-july-31/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
409 | Five years and 500 plus fact-checks later, Zimfact still going strong - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 27, 2023
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 27, 2023 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/five-years-and-500-fact-checks-later-zimfact-still-going-strong/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
410 | Govt dismisses viral WhatsApp message on Zimsec exam leaks - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 13, 2021
CLAIM: The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council’s (ZIMSEC) Mathematics and English exam papers for the ongoing November session have been leaked, with 15 schools and 20 pupils being named as culprits.
Source: Message circulating on WhatsApp
VERDICT: FALSE. The WhatsApp message is fake.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, under which ZIMSEC falls, has dismissed as false, a viral WhatsApp message claiming that some examination papers in the ongoing November public examination session had been leaked and would have to be re-written.
The WhatsApp message also lists 15 schools and 20 students as having been implicated in the exam paper leaks.
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s director of communications and advocacy, Blessings Taungana Ndoro, told ZimFact that the WhatsApp message was false and designed to cause alarm.
“Parents, guardians, teachers and students should not panic because of such messages,” Ndoro said.
“The Zimbabwe School Examination Council would never send out or publish names of students who are under the age of legal majority citing them as criminals.”
As is typical of fabricated images and notices, the WhatsApp message’s heading bears ZIMSEC’s name, to make it look official and authentic.
However, the message is replete with both spelling and grammatical errors, a key give-away for fabrications.
ZIMSEC | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 13, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/govt-dismisses-viral-whatsapp-message-on-zimsec-exam-leaks/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
411 | Govt has not set a date for schools' re-opening, contrary to claim on WhatsApp - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 31, 2020
CLAIM: President Emmerson Mnangagwa has announced that schools and colleges will re-open in September. Source: WhatsApp message.
RATING: FALSE. The government has not made any announcement on when schools and colleges will re-open.
Zimbabwe’s government closed all schools and colleges on March 24, 2020, in response to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In making the announcement, President Mnangagwa said government would determine the date when schools and colleges will open again after assessing the situation. Although Mnangagwa has made a couple other subsequent announcements on measures the government is implementing to manage the situation, he has not spoken about the re-opening of schools and colleges.
Patrick Zumbo, a spokesperson in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, confirmed to ZimFact that the message circulating on WhatsApp, regarding the re-opening of schools, was fake.
“It’s not true, we are yet to be guided on when schools will open. We closed schools early because of the coronavirus and we await a directive on when to commence lessons,” Zumbo said.
COVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 31, 2020 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/govt-has-not-set-a-date-for-schools-re-opening-contrary-to-claim-on-whatsapp/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
412 | Has ED delivered 60,000 jobs? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 23, 2018
JOB creation is a key issue in Zimbabwe’s 2018 election. Official media has sought to create the impression that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is making gains in creating employment. We test one of the latest claims.
Researched by Nelson Banya
CLAIM: The Sunday Mail of June 16, 2018 led with the headline: ‘ED delivers 60 000 jobs.’ The newspaper attributes this to economic stabilisation under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new administration and also claims that 1 730 new companies were registered this year.
CONCLUSION: Misleading
The claims are based on data from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), whose official told the newspaper that:
“The number of employees registered from January 2018 to date (is) 62 689 and the number of employers registered from January to date is 1 730.”
MISLEADING DATA
The data used by the newspaper largely arises from an increase in company and employee registrations with NSSA.
Late last year, the statutory pension fund announced an amnesty to companies which were not registered with NSSA. The amnesty, which ran from December 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018, covered all employers who had never registered with NSSA and were not deducting contributions from employees.
After the expiry of the amnesty, NSSA followed up with a blitz on non-compliant companies in the major cities of Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and Mutare.
As a consequence, the data published by The Sunday Mail would, necessarily, include old companies which heeded NSSA’s amnesty offer and registered between December 2017 and February 2018.
BELOW AVERAGE
The number of new company registrations with NSSA, 1 730, in the first half of 2018, suggests this year’s new registrations could be lower than those recorded in 2015 and at par with the 2016 level, if the current trend is maintained.
According to the NSSA 2016 annual report, the latest available, new registrations reached 4 278 in 2015, before declining to 3 272 in 2016. The 2017 data was not readily available.
A total of 3 849 companies were struck off the NSSA register in 2016, due to business closures, a 33 percent jump from the 2 891 employers de-registered in 2015.
NSSA had a total 28 162 employers registered on its books at the end of 2016.
CONCLUSION
The Sunday Mail’s assertion that NSSA’s registration data backs its claims of new businesses being created under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new administration is misleading.
The available data does not separate truly new businesses and existing ones merely taking advantage of the amnesty offered by NSSA and it is unrealistic to attribute all the new registrations to one factor – the emergence of new employers.
Historical trends also show that the 2018 data is in line with registration patterns witnessed in 2015 and 2016.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 23, 2018 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-ed-delivered-60000-jobs/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
413 | Has Mangudya reneged on his bond note promise? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
November 5, 2018
CLAIM: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor John Mangudya has reneged on his 2016 promise that he would resign if bond notes did not succeed.
VERDICT: The central bank governor has gone back on his word.
Researched By ZimFact Staff
THE central bank’s decision to introduce bond notes in 2016, pegged at parity to the United States dollar, sought to achieve two main objectives, to boost exports and to help ease bank-note shortages for the transacting public. The RBZ’s October 1, 2018 directive to banks to separate foreign currency accounts and bond note deposits carried a tacit admission that bond notes and electronic balances were undermining the value of foreign currency deposits.
Although Mangudya has doggedly insisted that bond notes have not failed, citing export growth which he credits to the export incentive, the policy intervention has clearly failed to ease the bank note crisis.
Since Monday, there has been a social media-driven campaign for Mangudya to resign, in line with his promise.
WHAT DID MANGUDYA PROMISE?
In a May 4, 2018 release officially announcing the bond notes, the central bank said:
“The Reserve Bank has established a USD200 million foreign exchange and export incentive facility which is supported by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to provide cushion on the high demand for foreign exchange and to provide an incentive facility of up to 5% on all foreign exchange receipts, including tobacco and gold sale proceeds.
“In order to mitigate against possible abuses of this facility through capital flight, this facility shall be granted to qualifying foreign exchange earners in bond coins and notes which shall continue to operate alongside the currencies within the multi-currency system and at par with the USD. The Zimbabwe Bond Notes of denominations of $2, $5, $10 and $20 shall, therefore be introduced in future, as an extension of the current family of bond coins for ease of portability in view of the size of the USD200 million backed facility.”
In a spirited effort to convince a skeptical public scarred by memories of the old Zimbabwe dollar, Mangudya went into overdrive to sell the bond notes.
“Give us a chance to do what is right for this economy, to put it back on track. If these policy measures fail, if the bond notes do not work out, I’m willing to resign because I am genuine about getting the economy back on track,” Mangudya was quoted by the government-controlled Chronicle newspaper.
He was to repeat his vow on a few other occasions.
HOW DID THE BOND NOTES TURN OUT?
The bond notes were introduced into the market in November 2016. Banks held $17 million worth of bond notes and coins at the end of that year.
Banks’ bond note holdings rose to $20.2 million in January 2017 and averaged $12.18 million throughout that year.
January 2018 saw banks holding the highest stocks of bond notes, $23.4 million, but that figure came down to $9 million by June, as the overall physical cash to total bank deposit ratio fell below 1%, a far cry from the widely accepted 20%.
Meanwhile, as the foreign currency crisis worsened, the bond note, which is officially pegged at parity with the United States dollar, started trading at a significant discount on the black market.
By Monday, when Mangudya announced the decision to “to eliminate the commingling or dilution effect of RTGS balances (local currency) on Nostro foreign currency accounts…in order to preserve value for money for the banking public and investors”, the bond notes were trading around 2:1 against the US dollar.
Mangudya admits he did promise to resign if the bond notes fail, but insists the currency intervention hasn’t failed.
“I said if the bond note fails to promote exports in Zimbabwe l will resign; as far as l am concerned the bond note has been successful in promoting exports. Exports have generated US$2.8 million in the first five months of this year. Gold exports have increased by 65 percent, the figures speak for themselves the bond note has not failed,” said Mangudya told ZimFact this week.
CONCLUSION:
The RBZ’s decision this week to ring-fence foreign currency deposits from electronic balances and bond notes, effectively setting hard currencies from a ‘local currency’, is the clearest official admission that the unpopular parallel currency has failed. As bank note shortages started to bite in 2016, the central bank introduced the bond notes disguised as an export incentive. Although exports, which had started declining in 2013, started to recover after the introduction of export incentives ranging from 5 percent to 10 percent, bond notes have failed to restore the banking public’s transactional convenience. Despite Mangudya’s efforts to deceptively mask this fact, he falls on his word.
FEATUREDOUR PICKS | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | November 5, 2018 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-mangudya-reneged-on-his-bond-note-promise/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
414 | Has ZESA warned of four-day power blackouts? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 12, 2019
CLAIM: Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has said power cuts may soon extend to a continuous four days a week under ‘phase four’ load-shedding.
VERDICT: False
By ZimFact Staff
This week’s Financial Gazette, under the headline [Paywalled] ‘Relentless blackouts sap Zim’s agriculture’, claimed that ZESA had indicated that power cuts, which currently average 18 hours a day, could soon worsen to four-day power cuts.
“In the meantime, ZESA has said that it may soon escalate its power cuts to phase four, which will mean at least four days a week of complete darkness,” the Financial Gazette reported.
ZESA spokesman Fullard Gwasira told ZimFact that this was not true.
“That’s nonsense. We have not put out any statement to that effect. We only have two stages of load-shedding, which were are implementing right now,” Gwasira said.
According to a load-shedding schedule produced by the ZESA’s power distribution subsidiary, ZETDC, Stage 1 power cuts are within the morning and evening peak periods of 5am to 10am and 5pm to 10pm, respectively.
However, due to diminished supply at a time when demand is at its peak, load-shedding has largely been implemented outside the published power-cutting schedules, or Stage 2.
“In the event that the power shortfall increases beyond the planned limits, load shedding will move into Stage 2. These are additional areas that will be switched off as per schedule when the shortfall is higher for the particular time,” ZETDC says.
CONCLUSION
The claim that ZESA put out a statement warning of ‘phase four’ load-shedding “which will mean at least four days a week of complete darkness”, as reported by the Financial Gazette, is false. The power utility only has two stages of load-shedding and is currently implementing the second and final stage, which sees cuts extending to an average 18 hours daily.
FEATUREDLOADSHEDDINGZESA | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 12, 2019 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-zesa-warned-of-four-day-power-blackouts/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
415 | Has Zimbabwe been singled out as a COVID-19 hotspot by the US CDC? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 12, 2021
CLAIM: Zimbabwe has been singled out as a high-risk COVID-19 hotspot by the United States’ Centres for Disease Control.
Source: Social media posts
RATING: MISLEADING
Amid rising COVID-19 deaths and infections in Zimbabwe, some social media users have recently claimed the country has been designated a hotspot by the United States Centres for Disease Control (CDC), while some of its neighbours have not.
Government critic Hopewell Chin’ono, who has 177,000 followers on Twitter, tweeted that while the CDC had “raised Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 danger status to the highest level, the US agency had not done the same for “Botswana…or every other country.”
A voice note, purportedly generated by a Zimbabwean living in the United States and circulated on WhatsApp, also claimed Zimbabwe had been singled out by the CDC:
“Here in America, we’ve been given a warning by the Centres for Disease Control not to travel to Zimbabwe,” went the claim. “They specifically wrote that we shouldn’t go to Zimbabwe because of COVID-19. They did not mention Africa, but Zimbabwe.”
What has the CDC done?
The CDC regularly issues travel health notices to alert travelers to health threats around the world. Currently, the CDC is using four tiers to rate risks involved in travelling to various destinations, depending on the severity of COVID-19 in the respective countries and territories.
As of January 11, 2021, Zimbabwe was one of 178 countries and territories under the CDC’s level four, deemed to have the highest level of COVID-19 risk.
According to CDC, the number one criterion for determining a country’s threat level is the incidence rate. Countries with new cases exceeding 100 per 100,000 people over the past 28 days have the highest COVID-19 level, according to the CDC criteria.
Currently, Zimbabwe’s incidence rate is running in excess of 600 per 100,000, having reported 10,231 new cases since December 13, 2020.
The countries in red fall under the CDC’s level 4 – with the highest COVID-19 risk. Source – US Centres for Disease Control (CDC)
With much of the world experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 infections, the overwhelming majority of countries and territories under the CDC watch currently fall under level 4, along with Zimbabwe.
Most African countries are in the CDC’s highest risk bracket, with only Benin, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone being in the low risk category, along the likes of China, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and 38 other territories, mostly islands.
Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Rwanda and the Seychelles fall under the CDC’s level 2, where the COVID-19 risk is considered moderate.
CONCLUSION:
While it is true that the CDC has classified Zimbabwe as a high COVID-19 risk destination, urging people not to travel to the country, the suggestion that it has been specifically targeted by the CDC is misleading.
Zimbabwe is just one of 178 countries and territories, including most of Africa, Europe, Asia and South America, designated as high risk by the CDC.
CDCCOVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 12, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-zimbabwe-been-singled-out-as-a-covid-19-hotspot-by-the-us-cdc/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
416 | Has Zimbabwe built 153 schools under the Mnangagwa administration? We checked - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 25, 2021
Makumimavi Primary School in Chikomba, Mashonaland East, is one of 17 schools built by government using a US$20m OPEC International Development Fund loan. Source: 2021 Zimbabwe Infrastructure Investment Programme, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
CLAIM: 153 schools have been built under the Mnangagwa administration, which took over power in November 2017.
Source: The Herald
VERDICT: False. All available official evidence points to far less schools being constructed under Zimbabwe’s new administration.
In an article headlined “More boarding schools on cards” published on 24 March 2021, The Herald claims that:
“Under the new dispensation, 153 schools have been built and plans are afoot to build 16 more this year.”
The article does not cite any source for its claim. So we checked.
Starting in 2018, the Mnangagwa government has published an annual report on publicly funded infrastructure projects, including schools.
For 2018, the government did not report any new schools that had been built. Instead, it highlighted the Mutare High Court building, the Kariba South plant expansion project, upgrading and resealing of 512km of the road network, 48 bridges, the CID Headquarters in Harare, Nyanga district registry office and the Midlands State University innovation hub as projects completed during that year.
In 2019, the government reported advanced progress on the construction of 17 schools – 11 primary and 6 secondary – funded through a US$20 million secured from the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Under the project, the government has built the 17 schools in 15 districts spread across all the country’s 8 rural provinces.
The construction of these 17 schools was completed in 2020. No other schools were reported to have been built by the government between 2018 and 2020.
This year, the government plans to build 4 primary schools at a cost of Z$270 million, according to the 2021 infrastructure plan.
CONCLUSION:
The Herald’s claim that 153 schools have been built under the Mnangagwa administration is not supported by any available data, including the government’s own. We rate it as false.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 25, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-zimbabwe-built-153-schools-under-the-mnangagwa-administration-we-checked/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
417 | Has Zimbabwe climbed up Africa’s governance rankings? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 8, 2019
Report by Nevanji Madanhire
Claim: Zim climbs up Africa’s governance ranks, Herald 26 February 2018. (https://www.herald.co.zw/zim-climbs-up-africas-governance-ranks/)
Conclusion: Incorrect. The Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) has not listed Zimbabwe as one of Africa’s four most improved countries over the past 10 years in overall governance. Instead, Zimbabwe has been listed only as one of the four “largest improvers” in one sub-category, gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the Sustainable Economic Opportunity category.
What does the report say?
Zimbabwe’s overall governance is categorized as “slowing improvement” which means it’s not improving at the rate it should. It is ranked 39 on the continent of 54 countries scoring 44.7% in its overall governance score for 2017.
The report covers the 10 years from2008 – 2017.
In the General Overview of the reportthe Mo Ibrahim Foundation states the IIAG is a tool that measures and monitorsgovernance performance in African countries.”
“The Foundation defines governance asthe provision of the political, social and economic public goods and servicesthat every citizen has the right to expect from their state, and that a statehas the responsibility to deliver to its citizens.”
In the IIAG, country performance indelivering governance is measured across four key components that effectivelyprovide indicators of a country’s Overall Governance performance.
The key components that form the fourcategories of the IIAG are (Zimbabwe’s overall rankings and IIAG assessment inbrackets):
· Safety& Rule of Law, (37/54, slowing improvement);
· Participation& Human Rights, (34/54, slowing improvement);
· SustainableEconomic Opportunity, (41/54, increasing improvement); and
· HumanDevelopment (30/54, warning signs).
A hundred indicators
Each of these categories containssub-categories under which are organised various indicators that providequantifiable measures of the overarching dimensions of governance. In total,the IIAG contains over 100 indicators.
The Herald report states that Zimbabweis among four countries on the continent whose GDP increased over the past 10years but neglects to mention that GDP growth is just one of the 100 indicatorsand that it does not have, on its own, a significant effect on the lives of thecitizens and that is does not translate to the overall governance ranking of acountry on the More Ibrahim Index.
“Economic growth has not resulted inimprovement in Sustainable Economic Opportunity. Of the ten African countrieswith the largest percentage increase in GDP in the period 2008-2017, only fourfeature among the 10 largest improvers at the category level over the decade:Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The correlation between the size ofa country’s GDP and scores in Sustainable Economic Opportunity in 2017 is weak(r= +0.19). When looking at the entire time series (2008-2017), the correlationappears to be weak as well (r= +0.16).”
The low correlation shows that thegrowth in GDP did not affect governance in a significant manner.
Safety and rule of law
The Herald story claims that Zimbabwe postedsignificant improvements on safety and the rule of law. In this category,Zimbabwe is ranked 37 out of 54 and the situation is adjudged to be “slowingimprovement”. The category has four sub-categories (ranking and assessment inbrackets) namely,
1. Rule of law (39/54, increasing improvement);
2. Transparency and accountability (38/54, warningsigns);
3. Personal safety (42/54, slowing improvement); and
4. National security (30/54, warning signs).
GDP growth
This claim is verified by the IIAG. Itsays only four countries feature among the ten largest improvers at the (GDP)category level over the decade; these are Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Electricity supply
The Herald story’s claim that Zimbabweenjoyed more reliable source of electricity is correct in the period underreview.
The IIAG report states:
“Of the 43 countries for which there isdata, 25 have improved in the indicator Reliability of Electricity Supply overthe decade. This number went up to 29 between 2013-2017. The five largestten-year improvements are those of Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Cabo Verdeand Chad (+31.0, +29.6, +28.5, +23.7 and +19.7, respectively)”.
Foreign investment
The story claims the environment forforeign investment improved but according to the IIAG the business environmentwas ranked 48 out of 54 meaning Zimbabwe is better than only six countries onthe continent but is “bouncing back” according to the Report. On thesub-category Absence of restrictions on foreign investment Zimbabwe isranked 41/54 adjudged to be improving, while on the sub-category Absence of
excessive bureaucracy and red tape it is ranked 30/54 adjudged to mean “nochange”. Generally the business environment is assessed to be “bouncingback”.
Antiretroviral Treatment (ART)
Provision
Zimbabwe is ranked 1/54 in thissub-category, but according to the report the improvement is “slowing”. Thecountry is still ranked 31/54 in overall health provision and “warning signs”are showing that this may not be sustainable.
Welfare policies and services
Welfare policies and services scoredvery highly at 12/54 and are showing “increasing improvement” but the promotionof socio-economic integration of the youth is a red flag showing “increasingdeterioration”. General welfare was adjudged to be “slowing improvement”.
Environment
There was no change in environmentalpolicies but promotion of environmental sustainability showed “increasingimprovement”.
Gender equality
The promotion of gender equality wasranked 10/54 and “increasing improvement” was noted in this sub-category.Representation of women in the judiciary was ranked 1/54, but there was “nochange”. Gender equality in the workplace was improving and was ranked 4/54 andshowed “increased improvement”. Women’s labour force participation at 6/54showed “increased improvement”. But there were “warning signs” with regard lawson violence against women and women’s political empowerment and women’s politicalrepresentation.
Original source: 2018 Ibrahim
Index of African Governance
(http://s.mo.ibrahim.foundation/u/2018/11/27173840/2018-Index-Report.pdf?_ga=2.259128778.1195410440.1551169316-257826390.1551169316)
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 8, 2019 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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418 | Has Zimbabwe reverted to 51% local empowerment law as claimed by NewsDay? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 5, 2021
CLAIM: Government has reversed its position to remove the 51% indigenisation requirement
SOURCE: Article by NewsDay
RATING: Incorrect
An article published by NewsDay on February 4, 2021, titled “Govt in indigenisation policy shift”, stated that: “President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has reverted to a policy that limits foreign investors to a maximum of 49% shareholding in diamond and platinum mines, arguing that recent moves towards expanding the scope of affected minerals had triggered confusion.”
This is incorrect.
The Government has, in fact, removed the requirement that mines should be 51%-owned by locals.
The NewsDay article is based on a statement, released by the Government on February 2, 2021, that sought to address uncertainty over an amendment carried in the Finance Act. The amendment, in Section 36, amended a provision in the Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Act (IEE) that required that any operation in diamonds and platinum must be majority owned by locals.
However, the wording of that amendment, according to the Chamber of Mines, had left “room for the Minister responsible for indigenisation to prescribe minerals that shall be owned through appropriate designated entities.”
This was the anomaly that the Government’s February 2 statement set out to correct.
In its report, NewsDay omits a large section of the Government’s statement, an omission that has the effect of changing the meaning of that statement.
Below is NewsDay’s quote from the statement:
“Government announced the policy position to remove the requirement for 51% of the shareholding of businesses involved in the extraction of platinum and diamonds to be owned through a designated entity. That requirement has been removed through the amendment to the IEE Act, in section 3(1). To enhance certainty in relation to investments in the mining sector, and consistent with government policy, this insertion will be deleted.”
Below is the material section of the same statement, but now adding the section that NewsDay omits:
“Government announced the policy position to remove the requirement for 51% of the shareholding of businesses involved in the extraction of platinum and diamonds to be owned through a designated entity. There are no minerals the extraction of which require a business extracting same to have 51% of its shareholding owned by a designated entity. This is consistent with Government’s position that there is no mineral, the extraction of which Government considers requires mandatory shareholding participation through a designated entity. The provision in section 36 of the Finance Act (no 2) Act, 2020, to the effect that the Minister responsible for the IEE Act, may, in consultation with the Ministers responsible for Mines and Finance prescribe a mineral, the extraction of which would be subject to 51% shareholding by a designated entity, has been interpreted by some to represent a departure from Government’s stated position to open the mining sector to investment without the requirement for 51% of the shareholding being held by a designated entity. To enhance certainty in relation to investments in the mining sector, and consistent with government policy, this insertion will be deleted.”
Conclusion
NewsDay’s claim that Zimbabwe has reverted to 49% shareholding for foreign investors is not true. The amendment to the law in fact does the opposite; it removes local ownership requirements for diamonds and platinum, bringing them in line with other minerals, which were freed from local ownership requirements by earlier amendments in 2018.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 5, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-zimbabwe-reverted-to-51-local-empowerment-law-as-claimed-by-newsday/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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419 | Has ZIMSEC set a Grade 7 examination payment scheme as widely reported? Yes, it's not new - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 29, 2022
Claim: ZIMSEC has set new Grade 7 examination fees payment scheme
Source: Various media reports
Verdict: True (but not recent)
Messages have circulated saying that Zimbabwe School Examination Council (ZIMSEC) has announced a “new scheme” under which the first set of examination fees for learners who will be in Grade 7 in 2023 is payable over two years starting from Grade 6 this year. In response to public queries on whether this was true, ZimFact contacted ZIMSEC Public Relations Officer Nicky Dlamini. She confirms the payment methods, but pointed out that these are part of a system that was in fact introduced seven years ago.
The government, Dlamini said, realised that many parents found it hard to pay examination fees in a single year when learners reached Grade 7. Therefore the examination fees were divided into payments payable in Grade 6 and Grade 7, she said. In Grade 6 this year, students are scheduled to pay US$29, or the Zimbabwe dollar equivalent at the prevailing interbank rate. The closing date is 29 July 2022.
The remainder of the examination fees will be set next year.
“In 2015/16, the then Minister of Primary and Secondary Education after the introduction of grade 7 fees, stipulated that parents were to be given a leeway to pay for exam fees over 2 years. This would apply to Grade 6 for Grade 7, Form 3 for Ordinary Level and Lower 6 for Upper 6. This is simply what we communicated, it is not a new system at all,” Dhlamini said.
Conclusion
The first part of the examination of students who will be in Grade 7 in 2023 is payable between July 22 and 29 this year. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 29, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/has-zimsec-set-a-grade-7-examination-payment-scheme-as-widely-reported-yes-its-not-new/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
420 | Have three Air Zimbabwe planes vanished? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 2, 2019
CLAIM: Auditor General says three Air Zimbabwe planes have gone missing
VERDICT: False
By ZimFact Staff
Basis of claim:
Last week, Zimbabwe Auditor General Mildred Chiri released audit reports of the central government’s finances, local authorities as well as state enterprises and parastatals for 2018. Because some entities, especially parastatals, still lag behind in producing their financial statements, not all of the audited financials are for 2018, even though they were conducted last year.
In the case of Air Zimbabwe, the financial reports carried in the Auditor General’s 2018 reports are for the period between 2011 and 2014.
On Air Zimabwe’s aircraft, the Auditor General said:
“The company was using and deriving economic benefits from three MA60 aircraft, which were not accounted for in the company’s financial statements. There was neither a lease agreement nor agreement of sale for the assets hence I could not determine the correct accounting treatment for same.”
The Daily News on Sunday [Paywalled] reported that “Loss-making Air Zimbabwe has failed to account for at least three MA60 aircraft, which have vanished into thin air, with Auditor General Mildred Chiri unable to establish the fate of the turboprop-powered airliners.”
Picking the Daily News report, website ZW News reported ‘Three Planes ‘Stolen’ at Air Zimbabwe’
Bulawayo24 flew in with ‘Three planes disappear at Air Zimbabwe’, also picked from the Daily News report.
Another online news outlet, Zimetro, went with the dramatic headline: ‘Drama as three planes went amiss at Air Zimbabwe’.
Twitter flies into a rage
Senior MDC Alliance official, David Coltart, was one of many outraged Zimbabweans who reacted to the article on Twitter.
Air #Zimbabwe cant account for three whole aircraft. That wouldn't be so bad if it hundreds in its fleet, but you can count the entire fleet on one hand if not two. Come on #Zimbabwe – we can do much better than this. https://t.co/oSP0DJjno9
Another opposition politician, Jacob Ngarivhume weighed in:
Dear Mr President @edmnangagwa. 3 national assets i.e M60 AirZimbabwe planes have gone missing like the $15Billion. Your silence on this matter is eroding both the citizens and investors' confidence in what you are doing. Please say something
As did prominent media professionals:
What happened to the 3 Air Zimbabwe Aircrafts????
3 planes missing🛩🙈
Not 3 Honda fits or 3 Motorcycles but 3 aircrafts……
Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 I 👐🏾👐🏾👐🏾👐🏾👐🏾👐🏾 pic.twitter.com/LlyDQ9mJUF
Air Zimbabwe has no idea where three planes are https://t.co/BifDexMLdb
So, what exactly did the Auditor General say?
The Auditor General issued a ‘disclaimer of opinion’ for each of Air Zimbabwe’s annual accounts from 2011 to 2014. This means she and her department did not have sufficient material information on which to base an audit opinion.
Put simply, she refrained from giving an audit opinion on Air Zimbabwe’s accounts because of inadequate information resulting from, among many reasons, the breakdown of internal controls.
A disclaimer of opinion is just one of four types of audit opinions. The others include unqualified opinions, in which an entity’s accounts are deemed to be clean.
A qualified opinion is passed when an auditor find information provided by the entity to be limited, while an adverse opinion is passed when auditors consider the financial information to be inaccurate and misrepresented as to give a misleading picture of the entity’s financial health.
The Auditor General’s decision to issue a disclaimer of opinion on Air Zimbabwe’s accounts was based on 12 grounds, including the failure to account for the three MA60 planes as well as improper valuation of property, aircraft and equipment.
“Included in property, aircraft and equipment is aircraft with a carrying amount of US$4,398,630. The valuation of the aircraft was based on insurance values which are equivalent to the replacement cost of the aircraft. International Accounting Standard (IAS) 16, requires an item of property, aircraft and equipment to be valued at market value or depreciated replacement cost,” reads part of the audit report.
The other reasons the Auditor General cited for the disclaimer are the lack of proper inventory records, inadequate receivable and payable records, unsupported expenditure and an incomplete asset register.
The Auditor General could not even find proof that Air Zimbabwe owned the building housing its head office.
Nor were there any documents confirming a US$3.5 million bank overdraft or bank balances amounting to US$725,629.
“Included in the Statement of Financial Position under current liabilities is an unexplained suspense balance amounting to US$27,965,576. There were no alternative procedures which I could perform to validate this balance,” the Auditor General stated.
She concluded that Air Zimbabwe did not comply with the relevant accounting standards in the preparation of its financial statements.
“How on earth can three planes disappear without a trace?”
Contacted for comment, Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Tafadzwa Mazonde denied the planes in question, three MA60s acquired from China in 2005, had disappeared.
“It’s just poor reporting and misleading headlines,” he told ZimFact.
“For state enterprises, government comes in from time to time to offer shareholder support. In this case, the assets were bought in the name of the Government of Zimbabwe, not Air Zimbabwe. So when the auditors came, they queried this, they wanted the paperwork, which is with the government. Remember Air Zimbabwe is a separate entity from government and, from accounting best practice, the auditors want to know the link.
There should at least be a lease agreement showing the arrangement, which isn’t there. The planes are there, you can come and see for yourself.”
Conclusion
The claim that the Auditor General’s report revealed that three of Air Zimbabwe’s planes had ‘vanished’ is false. What the Auditor General actually said was that, as with many other aspects of Air Zimbabwe’s accounts, she could not find documentary evidence of the purchase or leasing of the three planes, which the airline was “using and deriving economic benefits from”.
AIR ZIMBABWEAUDITOR GENERALFEATUREDOUR PICKS | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 2, 2019 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/have-three-air-zimbabwe-planes-vanished/",
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421 | Have 'world health experts' warned Zimbabwe over Sinopharm? No, this viral WhatsApp post is a fabrication - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 26, 2021
CLAIM: ‘World health experts’ have warned Zimbabwe against using the Sinopharm vaccine
SOURCE: A viral social media message
VERDICT: FALSE: The message is a fabrication. It cites a website that does not exist and contains false information
A message that has circulated on social media claiming that “world health experts” have warned Zimbabwe over the Sinopharm vaccine is fake.
According to the article, purporting to be sourced from “Blumburgblog.com”: “World Health Experts and immunologists have strongly cautioned the Zimbabwe government in administering the Chinese SINOPHARM vaccine to its citizens. There is a very big probability that tens of thousands of vaccinated people could perish in the process triggering an unprecedented genocide in medical history.”
What are the signs to look for in this post to show that it is all made up?
Firstly, the website cited, “Blumburgblog.com”, does not exist. A quick check on the internet shows this. The name was likely picked deliberately to mimic a credible news source, Bloomberg.
Secondly, the article does not mention a single expert, citing only “reliable sources at World Health Organisation”.
There is also a string of basic factual inaccuracies in the “article”, which a real news outlet would not make. For example, it says, several times, that China has a population of three billion people. China has 1.4 billion people. It also repeatedly refers to a “Sinovax” Chinese vaccine. The real name is Sinovac.
A cross check with other media also shows that no other news site has reported such ‘warnings’ to Zimbabwe.
Another tell-tale sign that this is not a genuine report from a real news source are the many grammatical errors.
Conclusion
This report is a fabrication. No such warning has been issued by the WHO to Zimbabwe, or to any other country, about Sinopharm. The article cites a website that does not exist. It is riddled with basic factual and grammatical errors, which shows it was not written by a genuine news outlet.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 26, 2021 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
422 | Here are some election related cases before the courts: - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 19, 2023
Veritas
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Zimbabwe National NGO Forum
FEATUREDTRENDING | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 19, 2023 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/here-are-some-election-related-cases-before-the-courts/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
423 | HISTORY CHECK: Mystery solved? On the trail of much-shared photo supposedly of Putin, Machel and Mnangagwa in the 1970s - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 11, 2022
Did Russian president Vladimir Putin train African freedom fighters in Tanzania in the 1970s, including former Mozambican president Samora Machel and current Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa?
That’s the claim in a viral graphic that a Twitter user asked us to verify. The graphic includes a low-quality black and white photo of a group of men in military uniforms. In the middle is a man the graphic says is Samora Machel. To his left is another identified as Vladimir Putin while the man to Machel’s right is said to be Mnangagwa.
The header reads: “Taken in 1973 during freedom fighter training in Tanzania.” Text below adds: “Putin stayed in Tanzania for 4 years training freedom fighters.”
I did a reverse image search hoping to quickly find a clear-cut answer. Instead I found myself doing a historical deep dive into a rather complicated claim.
Does the photo show Putin with Machel and Mnangagwa? And did the Russian leader train freedom fighters in Tanzania for four years in the early 1970s?
We checked.
Graphic doing the rounds for years
The claim has been circulating on websites and social media since at least 2018.
The earliest instance of the photo I found was in an October 2016 post on JamiiForums, a popular Tanzanian discussion forum. It claimed the photo showed Putin visiting African countries in the 1980s.
Other publications expanded on it. The Zimbabwean website iHarare claimed the photo was taken in the Tanzanian town of Kaole, near Bagamoyo. Tanzania Times further claimed Putin was a “KGB boss” who trained African freedom fighters between 1973 and 1977.
The Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti or KGB was a foreign intelligence and domestic security agency of the Soviet Union.
The photo and its associated claim resurfaced online after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022.
Opera News, a website that is widely read in Africa, republished the claim on 27 February. An opinion piece argued that Africans should support Russia in the war because Putin had trained freedom fighters from South Africa, Mozambique and other neighbouring countries to “stand against Western bullies”.
We don’t usually fact-check opinion pieces, but when they’re based on claims that don’t seem to be verified we need to ask questions.
It’s important to note that both Russia and Ukraine formed part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, better known as the USSR or Soviet Union, until it collapsed in 1991. The USSR also provided military aid to resistance movements in African countries.
While a reverse image search didn’t provide any clues on the origin of the photo, I was able to find a better quality version of it.
The man in the middle does appear to be Samora Machel. A few comparisons with other photos of Machel in the 1970s match him to the man in the photo.
Machel joined the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, known as Frelimo, in 1962. Frelimo fought to liberate Mozambique from Portuguese colonial rule and came to power with independence in 1975. Machel, the commander and chief of the Frelimo army, was independent Mozambique’s first president.
Frelimo’s headquarters were in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. They included a training camp in Nachingwea, southern Tanzania, which had Chinese instructors. Machel met his wife Graça Machel in Tanzania in 1973 and there are photos of him there, indicating he plausibly could have been in Tanzania at the time the photo was taken.
But the timeline is off. Paul Fauvert is the editor of the Mozambique News Agency’s English service. He said Frelimo soldiers were trained by Chinese instructors, not Soviets.
“After the collapse of fascism in Portugal, and the signing of the Lusaka agreement on Mozambican independence [on] 7 September 1974, all the Frelimo guerrillas left Tanzania and went back to Mozambique. So who was Putin supposed to be training between 1974 and 1977?” he said.
The timeline also doesn’t add up for Zimbabwean president Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa was recruited into the Zimbabwe African People’s Union, or Zapu, in 1962. There is also evidence that in 1963 he passed through the Frelimo headquarters in Tanzania. But he was arrested in 1965 and given a 10-year sentence for sabotage, so he would have been in prison when the photo was taken.
Fauvet added that the man to the right of Machel bears a “passing resemblance” to Antonio Hama Thai, a senior Frelimo commander.
So Mnangagwa isn’t in the photo, but what about Putin? I reached out to Dr Vladimir Shubin who was secretary of the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee, the Soviet state organisation that facilitated support for African revolutionary movements. He told me that the claims in the graphic were “nonsense”.
“In 1974 [Putin] was a student,” Shubin said.
According to biographies of Putin, he graduated from Leningrad State University with a law degree in 1975. This means he was in the USSR at the time the graphic claims he was training soldiers in Tanzania.
Dr Natasha Telepneva is a lecturer at the University of Strathclyde Glasgow and an expert on the history of both the Soviet Union during the Cold War and socialism in Africa. She said that while she could not verify the photo, she had “serious reservations” about the graphic’s claims.
“Putin joined the KGB only in 1975, first working in Leningrad before being transferred to East Germany in the 1980s,” she said.
Telepneva added that even if the photo was taken later, Putin was part of the KGB. Those who trained African liberation movements were mainly part of a different military intelligence branch called the Glavnoye Razvedyvatelnoye Upravlenie or GRU. The GRU had no formal connection to the KGB.
There are other red flags in the photo. While the man identified as Putin resembles modern-day Putin, the Russian leader was born in Leningrad, today’s St Petersburg, in 1952. This means he would have been 21 years old when the photo was taken. I thought the man in the photo looked quite a bit older than 21 and Telepneva agreed, adding that he “does not really look all that similar to the young Putin”.
I also managed to find a few photos of Putin in his early 20s, which show that he looked noticeably younger than the man in the photo.
I finally reached out to Dr Luca Bussotti, an associate researcher at the Centro de Estudos Internacionais – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa and an expert in Lusophone African politics and history. He was able to offer some additional clues to the photo’s origins.
Bussotti said his contacts had told him the photo was taken in Mozambique in 1986, just days before Machel and 24 others died in a plane crash on 19 October.
“The supposed person identified as Putin is a Soviet agent of [the] KGB,” he said. “His presence is due to the fact that the USSR had doubts on the loyalty of Samora, because of his travel [to] the States and his meeting with Reagan.”
Machel had met US president Ronald Reagan on 19 September 1985 to strengthen relations between the US and Mozambique. I wasn’t able to find other evidence of Machel’s meeting with the Soviets, but this is the most credible explanation I’ve gotten so far.
So could the KGB officer be Putin after all? Still no. All the experts I contacted confirmed that Putin was stationed in East Germany at the time and there is no record of him going to Tanzania.
Researcher: Naledi Mashishi | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 11, 2022 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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424 | Home Affairs: Facebook page offering 'help' for passport applications is not an official platform - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 17, 2022
A social media message has gone viral purporting to be from a Facebook post by the “Central Registry” offering help for passport renewal.
Francis Mpazviriwo, Communications and Advocacy Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage says the page is not linked to the Registrar’s Office in any way.
The Government in December 2021 introduced electronic passports (e-passports). These passports will eventually replace the passports that are currently in use when they expire.
The misleading page claims to be “Central Registry” but has also used the name “Civil Registry”, a red flag on the page’s credibility.
In March 2021, the Ministry dismissed the authenticity of a similar page under the name Makombe Passport Office Official. The page also offered to assist people applying for passports, saying those who had applied for passports in 2019 should collect their passports.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said they use their Twitter handle to send out any official information.
What is the difference between the e-passport and the passports that were issued before?
E- passports have more enhanced security features and are electronically readable, compared to the old passports. The security features are meant to safeguard people from identity theft and counterfeiting of travel documents. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, the passport has a chip that is readable electronically.
Are they accepted everywhere?
Mpazviriwo says the e-passports are valid everywhere. The passports have been in use with effect from February 7, 2022. The passport essentially works the same way as any other passport. The difference is only in the enhanced security features.
Are all ordinary passports being phased out in December 2023?
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage in December 2021, prior to the launch of the E-passports, the old passports will remain in use until their expiry. Only e-passports will be issued after December 31, 2023.
What is the process of getting an E-passport?
The passport costs USD$120. The passports are processed at the Civil Registry Department building, located on Herbert Chitepo Avenue/Leopold Takawira in Harare. An applicant is required to carry their ID, original birth certificates, existing passport. They will make a payment at the Civil Registry, and the passport will be ready in seven working days, Home Affairs says.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 17, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/home-affairs-facebook-page-offering-help-for-passport-applications-is-not-an-official-platform/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
425 | How far can chiefs exercise freedom of political association? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 16, 2018
The High Court has ordered the President of the Zimbabwe Council of Chiefs, Chief Fortune Charumbira, to publicly withdraw statements he made that traditional leaders would support the governing ZANU-PF party in this year’s elections, saying he was in violation of the constitution.
Charumbira was taken to court by a non-governmental organisation Election Resource Centre (ERC)for saying: “As chiefs, we agreed during the 2014 congress that Comrade (Robert) Mugabe is our candidate for the 2018 elections.We are all united and he is still our candidate.We have been supporting him and we can confirm that winning is guaranteed.”
What did the court say in its ruling?
High Court Judge Clement Phiri ruled: “The remarks made by the first respondent (Charumbira) on October 28, 2017 on the occasion of the annual conference of the Council of Chiefs and on January 13, 2018, to the effect that traditional leaders have been supporting and must continue to support Zanu PF and its presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2018 elections be and is, hereby, declared to be in contravention of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
What does the Constitution say?
In Chapter 15 of The Zimbabwe Constitution, in Section 281, sets out the guidelines and principles governing the office of traditional leaders. Traditional leaders are responsible for performing the cultural, customary and traditional functions of a Chief, head person or village head, as the case may be, for his or her community.
Section 281 on principles to be observed by traditional leaders states that:
2. Traditional leaders must not—
Conclusion
While Section 58 assures citizens of the right to freedom of assembly and association and Section 67 speaks to the rights of a citizen to join and to participate in the activities of a political party of their choice, it is a right that one forfeits, constitutionally, by virtue of accepting the office of a traditional leader in the country.
Factsheet compiled by Lifaqane Nare, Researcher, ZimFact
CHIEFSELECTIONSFORTUNE CHARUMBIRA | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 16, 2018 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
426 | How much is Mugabe getting in retirement? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 15, 2018
FORMER President Robert Mugabe, who resigned from power under pressure from the Zimbabwean army and his own ruling ZANU-PF party in November 2017, says the new administration under Emmerson Mnangagwa has not paid him his terminal benefits.
By Cris Chinaka
At a party on February 24 to celebrate his 94 birthday, Mugabe — who had held power for 37 years — said ….”It’s not like I am crying for those benefits. I joined the struggle to fight to free my people, not to personally benefit anything, but why deny me benefits that I am constitutionally entitled to?”
In a message to the new government, he added: “Anyway, just give us our benefits!”
What does the Zimbabwe constitution say about the benefits of a former head of state?
The Zimbabwe constitution of 2013 outlines the benefits of former heads of state in Section 102, and stipulates that payment must be published in a government gazette.
Pension
While the rest of the former President’s benefits are listed in Statutory Instrument 153 of 2017, his pension is established by Section 102(3) of the Constitution, which states that:
“A person who has ceased to be President or Vice President is entitled to –
(a) a pension that is equivalent to the salary of a sitting President or Vice President, as the case may be and;
(b) such allowances and other benefits as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.”
The rest of the benefits that are due to Mugabe, and the processes of payout, were published in Statutory Instrument 153 of 2017 on December 22 2017, just over a month after his resignation.
Former President Robert Mugabe and family, during his 94th birthday celebrations held at his Harare mansion
Cash payments
Former Chairman of the Public Service Commission Mariyawanda Nzuwah confirmed he wrote a letter to the central Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ)on March 1 asking that Mugabe be paid a cash lump sum of $467,200 and 13,333 monthly cash instalments from his pension entitlement.
Staff
According to the Statutory Instrument, the former president is entitled to
the services of
(i) no less than six security personnel, a number which can be increased if the sitting President so determines
(ii) two drivers;
(iii) two Private Secretaries;
(iv) two aide-de-camp officers or personal assistants; and
(v) two office attendants;
Office and equipment
There is also provision for
(i) fully furnished office accommodation;
(ii) a landline telephone and a cellphone;
(iii) two computers; and
(iv) such other office equipment and materials as may be determined by the President.
Housing and household
The former president is also entitles to a fully furnished official residence at any place in Harare. Alternatively, the former head of State could, through a formal request made within two months of leaving office, opt for
(i) a housing allowance to be determined by the sitting President; or
(ii) a single private residence acquired or constructed on his or her behalf at any place of his or her choice in Zimbabwe; or
(iii) payment of a lump sum which is equal or equivalent to the value of the private residence referred to in (ii).
In the case of the official residence referred to above, if the former President dies, his or her surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, his or her dependent child, must continue to be provided with suitable State residential accommodation until –
(i) in the case of a surviving spouse, the date on which he or she dies or remarries , whichever event occurs first; and
(ii) in the case of a dependent child, the date on which he or she dies or the date on which he or she attains the age of 21 years, whichever event occurs first.
The private residence referred to above may be constructed on land which in total may not exceed an area of 5 000 square metres, and the residence itself may not exceed a reasonably sized house with five bedrooms, a guest wing with three bedrooms, a study, a swimming pool , two guardrooms and two garages.
Staff at the private residence:
(i) three domestic employees,
(ii) two gardeners;
(iii) two cooks and two waiters; and
(iv) two laundry persons.
Medical
An allowance covering medical aid contributions for the former President, his or her spouse, and any dependent children;
Travel
The former President and his spouse both get Diplomatic Passports and are guaranteed first class air and rail private travel within Zimbabwe, for up to a maximum of four trips per year.
They also get first class international air private travel up to a maximum of four trips per annum, including the spouse, if he or she accompanies the former President;
Transport
The former President has, at his disposal:
(i) one sedan (Mercedes Benz S500 series or an equivalent or similar class of motor vehicle);
(ii) one four-wheel drive station wagon or an equivalent or similar type of motor vehicle); and
(iii) one pickup van; and
(iv) such adequate number of vehicles as may be determined by the President must be put at the disposal of the security personnel and other staff serving the former president.
The cost of fuel for, and the maintenance of, the vehicles referred to above must be borne by the Government.
The vehicles must be permanently at the disposal of the former President. All vehicles at the disposal of the former President must be replaced every five years.
Other Benefits
The former President also receives an entertainment allowance as determined by the sitting President as well as payment of telephone expenses in respect of the office and official residence.
Government also takes care of water and electricity charges in respect of the office and official residence of the former President.
*Article updated on March 15 2018.
About the author: Cris Chinaka is Editor-In-Chief of ZimFact.
FEATUREDMUGABE | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 15, 2018 | {
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427 | How We Are Funded - ZimFact
Sunday, 26 May 2024
ZimFact is a non-profit organisation headquartered in Harare, Zimbabwe as a non-profit trust, registration number MA0001698/2020 under the name The ZimFact Trust.
ZimFact is part of an ongoing media development programme in Zimbabwe (2022-2026) supported by USAID. Previous funders have also included the European Union, FOJO Media Institute, GIZ, International Media Support (IMS), Norwegian Embassy and UNESCO.
The ZimFact team is guided by the principles of editorial Independence and impartiality as highlighted in the organisation’s editorial charter. In all its productions, ZimFact strives to be apolitical
Contact us
For general and/or media queries, please use this form to get in touch with us. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | Sunday, 26 May 2024 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/how-we-are-funded/",
"author": null
} |
428 | How We Rate Claims - ZimFact
Sunday, 26 May 2024
CORRECT/TRUE – The claim is accurate, according to the best evidence publicly available at the material time.
INCORRECT/FALSE – The claim is demonstrably false/inaccurate according to the best evidence publicly available at this time.
PARTLY TRUE – The primary claim contains elements of truth but is either not entirely accurate, according to the best evidence publicly available at the time.
UNPROVEN – Evidence publicly available at this time neither proves nor disproves the statement. More research is needed.
MISLEADING – Elements of the claim are accurate but presented in a way that it is misleading.
EXAGGERATED – The claim exaggerates the facts.
UNDERSTATED – The claim understates facts. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | Sunday, 26 May 2024 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/how-we-rate-claims/",
"author": null
} |
429 | How we work - ZimFact
Sunday, 26 May 2024
In line with our Editorial Charter, ZimFact’s editorial decisions fall under the control of the Editor-in-Chief. No other bodies or sources have any influence over our editorial policy and independence.
1. Selection of story or information to fact-check
While ZimFact allows readers to suggest potential checks, under the principle of editorial independence, the editorial team decides on articles or information to fact-check, basing the selection on topical importance and strong public interest, as well as on whether the information is presented as fact or opinion and on fact-checking all sides of a debate.
2. Establishing the exact words
In cases of contested claims and statements, we seek to establish the exact words used, the actual context and how they were reported.
3. Asking for evidence
We always do our utmost to contact the source of the disputed information to provide evidence for their claims.
4. Checking archives and other sources
We check information published or broadcast against information in our own and other available sources.
We cast our net widely and will record evidence from other sources both supporting and contradicting a given claim.
5. Consulting experts
We cross check information and, where necessary, check with established experts.
6. Minimum sources in fact-checking
We do not use a single source as the basis of fact-checking claims. We use a minimum of two sources, and we will strive for more depending on the information in dispute.
7. Publishing, broadcasting fact-checked report
We produce a fact-checked report by setting out the original claim and the context in which it was delivered, provide evidence, and end with a balanced conclusion. All reports are subjected to reviews by researchers and members of the editorial team to cross-check for accuracy before publication or broadcasting.
We publish our reports on our website, for free access by the media and public.
We correct any mistakes with full transparency. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | Sunday, 26 May 2024 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/how-we-work/",
"author": null
} |
430 | Indian COVID-19 variant detected in Zimbabwe: What you need to know about it - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
May 20, 2021
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care has confirmed the existence of the variant of COVID-19 first identified in India. Known as B.1.617, the variant was spotted after tests from samples collected from a localised outbreak in Kwekwe.
According to Dr Maria van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, early indications are that it spreads faster, but more information is needed.
“Even though there is increased transmissibility demonstrated by some preliminary studies, we need much more information about this virus variant and this lineage and all of the sub-lineages,” she said on May 10.
Scientists are being cautious because they say other factors may have driven the recent spread of COVID-19 in India. These include mass gatherings at the start of the year.
As of now, there’s no evidence that B.1.617 causes more severe illness than other variants we already have in Zimbabwe.
“There is currently insufficient evidence to indicate that any of the variants recently detected in India cause more severe disease,” Public Health England said on May 7. The variant has also spread in the UK.
Experts say more research is needed. But the good news is that early tests show that available vaccines are effective against the variant.
In the UK, where there are advanced facilities to check variants, the UK’s health secretary Matt Hancock said experts had “a degree of confidence” that vaccines work against the variant.
Researchers at Oxford found that the variant “will be susceptible to the vaccine in the way that others are”. In simpler terms, vaccines offer the same protection against this variant as they do against other types.
According to the WHO, there is no evidence yet that vaccines don’t work against the variant: “We don’t have anything to suggest that our diagnostics, our therapeutics and our vaccines don’t work.”
Vaccines used in Zimbabwe, such as Sinopharm and Sinovac, have been proven to work against other variants, including those detected in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.
In India itself, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, one of the labs analysing virus samples, found that Covaxin is effective against the variant in preventing serious illness. Covaxin is also authorised for use in Zimbabwe.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | May 20, 2021 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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431 | Internet censorship 'world rankings': is Zimbabwe ranked third as claimed by a website? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 23, 2022
CLAIM: Zimbabwe ranked third most internet censor in the World.
SOURCE: NewZimbabwe.com/NewsDay
VERDICT: MISLEADING: This is a misreading of a report by cybersecurity company, Surfshark. The report does not have any country ranking of internet censorship
On February 23rd, news websites NewZimbabwe and NewsDay published an article headlined “Zim ranked third most internet censor in the World”.
The websites reported: “Zimbabwe has been ranked among the world’s three countries with the most restrictive social media policies, especially during elections.”
However, the Surfshark report cited by the website has no mention of Zimbabwe being third in the world. There is also no listing of countries by censorship.
The news outlets appear to have misread a statement in the report, in which Surfshark says reported internet disruption at a recent rally of the Citizens Coalition for Change was “the third internet disruption incident in Africa this year, after events in Burkina Faso”.
Surfshark however outlined one of the major reasons why most states shut down their internet and of which Zimbabwe is not spared.
Other countries in the most recent internet censorship list include Burkina Faso (January 23), Lebanon (January 18), Burkina Faso (January 10), Kazakhstan (January 4), and Iran (November 25, 2021) among other countries. Burkina Faso appears more often on the list because of political instability in the West African country.
CONCLUSION
An article published on the NewZimbabwe and NewsDay websites claiming that Surfshark ranked Zimbabwe the “third most internet censor in the world” is an inaccurate reading of the cybersecurity firm’s report. The report only lists recent reports of internet disruptions and has no country rankings. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 23, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/internet-censorship-world-rankings-is-zimbabwe-ranked-third-as-claimed-by-a-website/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
432 | Is Makokoba the most populous suburb in Bulawayo? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
September 13, 2021
CLAIM: Makokoba is the most populous suburb in Bulawayo
VERDICT: FALSE, although Makokoba is the oldest township in Bulawayo, it is not the most populous. There are five Bulawayo suburbs with bigger populations than Makokoba.
Several references, including news articles such as one run by NewsDay on August 31, 2021, often credit Makokoba with being Bulawayo’s most populous suburb.
However, official data obtained from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) shows that Cowdray Park, not Makokoba, is Bulawayo’s most populous suburb. According to the 2012 census, Cowdray Park, had 45 114 people, more than double Makokoba’s 18 128 inhabitants. In 2015, the Bulawayo City Council reported that Makokoba had 4 802 households and a total population of 17 910.
According to the records, Cowdray Park had 45 114 people while the oldest suburb of Makokoba had a population 18 128 inhabitants.
Other suburbs in Bulawayo that had more people than Makokoba include Pumula South with 30 815, Entumbane (29 131), Emganwini had 20 902 while Emakhandeni recorded 19042.
Over the past decade, Cowdray Park, Pumula South, and Emganwini have seen growth in residential construction due to the availability of residential stands while there have been no such developments in Makokoba.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | September 13, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-makokoba-the-most-populous-suburb-in-bulawayo/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
433 | Is Prof Ngwenya's right about Bulawayo's COVID-19 positivity rate? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
December 11, 2020
CLAIM: Bulawayo had a COVID-19 positivity rate of 17.3% on December 9.
Source: Twitter claim by Mpilo Hospital acting CEO, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya
RATING: CORRECT. On the date in question, Bulawayo recorded 51 new COVID-19 cases, from 294 PCR tests, giving a positivity rate of 17.3%.
Bulawayo has a positivity rate of 17.3%, nationally its 3.7%, in SA is at 18%. Anything above 10% is not good enough. So we in Bulawayo we must PANIC; we are sitting on a huge time bomb. Don't be fooled by anyone, listen to advise and take urgent action to prevent a catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/RzzfsaBv0I
Positivity rate
The positivity rate is the percentage of positive results from the total number of tests conducted in a specified area at a given time.
On Wednesday, Bulawayo conducted 294 PCR tests, with 51 of the tests returning positive results and giving a positivity rate of 17.3%.
Since the beginning of December, Bulawayo has averaged a 12.45% positivity rate.
A COVID-19 positivity rate above 5% is generally considered to be too high, and in May, when many countries were exploring options to reopen their economies, the World Health Organisation recommended that the positivity rate needed to remain under 5% for two weeks before governments could consider easing restrictions.
CONCLUSION:
Professor Ngwenya’s assertion that Bulawayo’s COVID-19 positivity rate was 17.3% on December 9 is correct and is backed by official data.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | December 11, 2020 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-prof-ngwenyas-right-about-bulawayos-covid-19-positivity-rate/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
434 | Is there anything unusual about Zimbabwe's latest malaria infection rates? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 19, 2020
A post by the Ministry of Health and Child Care that 131people had died from malaria so far this year stoked social media speculation,with some users saying these figures are unusual and could be COVID-19 cases.
The Ministry tweeted: “Malaria claims 131 deaths. Thecumulative figures for malaria are 135 585 and 131 deaths. A total 201 malariaoutbreaks have been reported throughout the country mostly from malariousprovinces such as Manicaland, Masvingo and Mash East.”
But are these numbers unusual?
No. They are consistent with recent trends in malariainfections and deaths.
Zimbabwe is currently in malaria peak season, which according to the Ministry of Health, is between February and May. This means that reported cases of malaria traditionally increase during this time of the year.
An update released by the Ministry of Health on May 3, 2019 showed that 118 people had died from malaria since the beginning of last year. A total of 118 473 cases had been reported.
According to data from the Ministry, there were a total of 264,278 malaria cases and 192 deaths in the whole of 2018. In 2017, cumulative figures for malaria were 391 634 cases and 518 deaths. The number of deaths in recent years are 654 in 2014; 462 in 2015 and 231 in 2016.
Zimbabwe has, on average, slowed down the incidence ofmalaria since 2000, when 1069 people died, according to WHO data.
Malaria incidence in Zimbabwe was 136 per 1000 people in 2000. In 2003, there were 155 malaria cases per 1000 people. By 2012, the incidence had been cut to 22 per 1000 populations. The figure rose in 2013 to 29/1000, to 39/1000 in 2014, 29/1000 in 2015 and 21/1000 in 2016.
In the WHO’s Global Malaria Programme’s latest report, Tailoring malaria interventions in the Covid-19 response, released in April, the WHO warns governments in malaria-prone countries such as Zimbabwe that there is a risk of paying less attention to diseases such as malaria, as they focus on COVID-19
“While taking these measures (against COVID-19), it is essential that other killer diseases, such as malaria, are not ignored. We know from the recent Ebola outbreak in west Africa that a sudden increased demand on fragile health services can lead to substantial increases in morbidity and mortality from other diseases, including malaria. The COVID-19 pandemic could be devastating on its own – but this devastation will be substantially amplified if the response undermines the provision of life-saving services for other diseases,” the report says.
Unlike COVID-19 currently, malaria is tested at local health facility level using rapid diagnostic tests, according to national policy.
Malaria, alongside AIDS and TB, is one of the worst killerdiseases in Zimbabwe.
According to the Government of Zimbabwe’s National Health Strategy for 2016 to 2020, “malaria still remains an important communicable condition in Zimbabwe. Of the 63 districts, 47 are high burdened, with the eastern and northern border districts being the worst affected”.
In Zimbabwe, half the country lives in malaria prone areas,according to the Ministry of Health.
Malaria accounts for between 30 to 50 percent of outpatient attendances in the moderate to high transmission districts during the peak transmission period.
Recently announced malaria statistics are in line withtrends in recent years for Zimbabwe, which has high rates of malariainfections.
CORONAVIRUSCOVID-19FEATUREDMALARIA | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | April 19, 2020 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-there-anything-unusual-about-zimbabwes-latest-malaria-infection-rates/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
435 | Is this a real Kwayedza front page? No, it's a fabrication - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
January 17, 2022
Is this a real Kwayedza front page?
No, this is a fake meant to look like the real paper.
The image circulated after Zimbabwe’s national football team, the Warriors, lost to Malawi at the African Cup of Nations.
Translated, the headline in Shona said: “The Warriors thrashed by nyau dancers at Afcon”.
One social media user, taking it as fact, complained that the paper had run a headline that was offensive to Malawians. But, no, Kwayedza never ran such a headline.
“This is not the real Kwayedza that you know, but the creation of those that would tarnish its image or pretend to be the people’s paper. They may try, but can never reach our level,” the Editor of the paper says.
What are the tell-tale signs that this is a misleading post?
The editor picked out a few. For example, Kwayedza does not use the English word ‘January’, but uses the Shona word for the month, “Ndira”. The editor also pointed out the wrong spellings on the fabricated headline, such as “zvinyawe” and “Afukoni”.
The font on the headlines is also different from what the real Kwayedza uses.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | January 17, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-this-a-real-kwayedza-front-page-no-its-a-fabrication/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
436 | Is this Harare clinic paying US$80 for sperm as claimed in viral messages? No, it's a hoax - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 18, 2022
CLAIM: A Harare fertility clinic is offering US$80 for each sperm donation
SOURCE: Social media posts
VERDICT: FALSE. The messages are an internet hoax, according to the clinic
An image that has gone viral online claims that people interested in sperm donation should visit IVF Zimbabwe located in Harare.
This is a hoax.
After members of the public asked ZimFact to check, we reached out to officials at the fertility clinic, which is run by doctors Tinovimba Mhlanga and Sydney Farayi. They dismissed the message as fake and said the clinic has not called for semen donations and neither does it pay for sperm.
Additionally, the address that is included in the post is no longer the address which the clinic operates from. IVF, which offers in vitro fertilisation services, is based in Belvedere, and not on Herbert Chitepo Avenue, as indicated in the viral post, indicating the image is not new.
“This is not the first time that this is being posted. There was once a similar post and it too did not emanate from us,” said a spokesperson for the facility.
CONCLUSION
A message claiming that a Harare fertility clinic is offering US$80 for each donation is a hoax. The clinic tells ZimFact it has not issued a call for semen donors. | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 18, 2022 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-this-harare-clinic-paying-us80-for-sperm-donations-as-claimed-in-viral-messages-no-its-a-hoax/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
437 | Is Zimbabwe heading to early elections? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
March 12, 2018
ZIMBABWE President Emmerson Mnangagwa has repeatedly said the country will hold elections “in four to five months’ time”. One such occasion was on January 17, 2018 in Maputo, Mozambique.
This timeline points to an election being held by June, ahead of the constitutionally prescribed window within which Zimbabwe can go to polls.
The prospect of an early election was also raised by Mnangagwa’s spokesman, George Charamba, who told radio station ZiFM on January 11, 2018:
“Look, people are serious. We are worried about what to do by way of ameliorating the conditions of the people of Zimbabwe. We are worrying about elections, which will come sooner than you guys will ever expect.”
The Road to elections:
Zimbabwe is bound by law to hold its general elections this year between July 22 and August 22.
But these elections — covering presidential, parliamentary and council polls — can also be called earlier if the current parliament dissolves itself.
What does Zimbabwe’s 2013 constitution say about the timing of general elections?
In Section 143 (1) on the Timing of Elections, the Constitution says the polling date of a general election is determined by the life of a five-year Parliament, which runs from the date the President-elect is sworn in and assumes office.
In case of the elections due this year, former president Robert Mugabe was sworn in on August 22, 2013 and Parliament’s five-year term expires at midnight on August 21, 2018.
The new President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was sworn into office on November 24, 2017 after Mugabe’s resignation, is serving his former boss’s unfinished five-year term.
Mnangagwa has been nominated by his ZANU-PF party as its presidential candidate for the 2018 elections.
Can Mnangagwa call elections before July 22?
Yes, but he can only do so if the current parliament voluntarily dissolves itself under Section 143 of the Zimbabwe Constitution on Duration and Dissolution of Parliament.
Two-thirds of Members of Parliament have to agree to dissolving parliament.
What are the current numbers in parliament?
National Assembly (as at March 7, 2018)
ZANU-PF 194
MDC – T 53
MDC 2
Independents 2
Senate (as at March 7, 2018)
ZANU-PF 36
MDC-T 20
MDC 2
Chiefs 18
Disabled people’s representatives 2
ZANU-PF holds 72% of the National Assembly, more than the two-thirds majority required for the lower House to dissolve itself.
In the Senate, ZANU-PF members represent 45% of the total membership, falling short of the two-thirds majority. However, the party has traditionally enjoyed the support of traditional leaders in key votes.
Under what circumstances can the president issue a proclamation dissolving parliament?
Can the dissolution of Parliament be challenged?
According to Section 143 of the Constitution:
A decision to dissolve Parliament in terms of subsection (3) may, on the application of any member of parliament, be set aside on Review by the Constitutional Court.
An application for the review of a decision to dissolve Parliament must be filed with the Constitutional Court within seven days after the decision was published, and
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Projected Time Outline
The new Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Justice Priscilla Chigumba, maintains the organisation is working towards free, peaceful and credible elections although it has a record of being caught in the centre of controversial polls.
The commission has published a work schedule that assumes the 2018 would be held between July 22 and August 22, and with the following key dates:
EARLIEST DATE FOR PROCLAMATION OF ELECTION DAY
28 April 2018
LATEST DATE FOR PROCLAMATION OF ELECTION DAY
1 June 2018
EARLIEST DATE FOR SITTING OF NOMINATION OF COURTS
19 May 2018
LATEST DATE FOR THE SITTING OF NOMINATION COURTS
21 June 2018
EARLIEST POLLING DATE
21 July 2018
LATEST POLLING DATE
21 August 2018
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTION RESULTS
Within 5 days of the end of polling, as set out in the Electoral Act
Factsheet compiled by Cris Chinaka: Editor-In-Chief of ZimFact, Zimbabwe’s first national fact-checking platform.
CONSTITUTIONELECTIONSMDCMDC-TMNANGAGWAPARLIAMENTZANU-PFZEC | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 12, 2018 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-zimbabwe-heading-to-early-elections/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
438 | Is Zimbabwe introducing mandatory vaccinations? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
February 26, 2021
On Friday, February 26, South Africa’s TimesLive, reported: “Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the country may consider mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations following resistance by the population towards getting the jab.”
The ZimLive website ran the headline: “Zimbabwe to deny jobs, key services to those resisting Covid-19 vaccine.” News aggregator Pindula said “Mnangagwa: Those Who Aren’t Vaccinated Won’t Get Jobs.”
What did Mnangagwa say?
Speaking at an event at Nyamandlovu on Thursday, February 25, Mnangagwa urged people to take the vaccine. He said vaccination remains voluntary, but that those not vaccinated may in future not be able to get jobs or use public transport.
He said, in Shona: “Haumanikidzwi kubaiwa. Ichasvinga nguva yekuti kana usina kubaiwa hauwani basa, kana usina kubaiwa haukwiri ZUPCO. Saka wotowona kuti woita sei.” (Vaccination is not mandatory. But in future, you will not get a job, or get on a ZUPCO bus, if you have not been vaccinated. So you will have to decide.)
Vaccine passport
In his speech, Mnangagwa could have been referring to the global debate towards the use of “vaccination passports”.
Globally, the US, the UK, and the European Union are among those considering a “vaccination passport”. This is a certificate showing that one has been vaccinated. It would be used for traveling abroad, as well as to grant access to public spaces such as restaurants or shops.
On Monday, February 21, the UK government discussed introducing the certificates. The UK said it is debating the “ethical” consideration of allowing businesses to require any workers, customers and service providers to have a vaccination certificate. The EU, on Thursday, February 25, debated the introduction of vaccination certificates.
However, the World Health Organisation cautioned in statement on Jan. 28 that governments should “not introduce requirements of proof of vaccination or immunity for international travel as a condition of entry” as “there are still critical unknowns regarding the efficacy of vaccination in reducing transmission and limited availability of vaccines”.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | February 26, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-zimbabwe-introducing-mandatory-vaccinations-what-mnangagwa-said/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
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439 | Is Zimbabwe only second to Morocco in COVID-19 vaccinations? We checked - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
September 20, 2021
CLAIM: In Africa, Zimbabwe is only second to Morocco in terms of COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
Source: The Chronicle
VERDICT: INCORRECT. Zimbabwe is among the leading African countries in terms of COVID-19 vaccinations, but it is not the second. Nor is Morocco the first.
An article by the Chronicle newspaper on September 20 https://www.chronicle.co.zw/covid-19-zim-leads-in-vaccines-rollout-in-africa stated that Morocco is the only country that has managed to vaccinate more of its citizens in Africa than Zimbabwe.
“So far, Morocco is the only country that has managed to vaccinate more of its citizens in Africa than Zimbabwe,” the newspaper reported, citing statistics from the Our World In Data portal.
However, the latest available data from the portal shows that Zimbabwe had, as of September 19, vaccinated 13,69% of its population. This would place the country behind the Seychelles, Mauritius, Morocco, Tunisia and Eswatini, but ahead of South Africa, Rwanda, Botswana and Egypt.
Data from the World Health Organisation for full vaccinations per 100 people shows that there are 7 countries outperforming Zimbabwe – Seychelles (72), Mauritius (55), Morocco (45), Tunisia (26), Cape Verde (19), Comoros (18) and Eswatini (16). According to WHO data, Zimbabwe is tied with neighbours South Africa and Botswana on 13 full vaccinations per 100 people.
CONCLUSION
The claim that Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage is only second to Morocco’s on the African continent is incorrect.
COVID-19FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | September 20, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-zimbabwe-only-second-to-morocco-in-covid-19-vaccinations-we-checked/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
440 | Is Zimbabwe the only country in the world that doesn't have its own currency? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
June 25, 2019
CLAIM: On June 22, 2019, the Twitter account @AfricaFactsZone tweeted that “Zimbabwe is the only country in the world, that doesn’t have its own currency”.
VERDICT: False
By ZimFact Staff
Zimbabwe is not the only country to have abandoned its currency for that of another country. Ecuador, Ecuador, East Timor, El Salvador, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands have taken similar measures.
The basis for the claim
In an interview with Bloomberg published on June 21, 2019, President Emmerson Mnangagwa had said Zimbabwe needed its own country, as he was unaware of a country without its own unit.
“I am not aware of any country which has no currency of its own, but that is not my field – I am a lawyer – but I am told that except for Zimbabwe I haven’t been told of another country which doesn’t have its own currency. Even poor countries have currencies from what I hear, so we intend to introduce our own,” Mnangagwa was quoted as saying.
However, when Zimbabwe adopted the US dollar as its main currency in January 2009, and later formally demonetised the Zimbabwe dollar that year, it was not the first country to abandon its currency for another.
Ecuador and El Salvador adopted the US dollar in 2000 in order to deal with hyperinflation. Beyond “dollarization”, which is when a country adopts the US dollar as its own, other countries allow the dollar to circulate alongside their own currencies.
Why countries adopt the US dollar
Countries that have dollarized have done so mostly to deal with the collapse of their currencies. Ecuador dollarized in 2000 after the currency, the sucre, collapsed due to a financial crisis, pushing people to put their holdings into dollars.
Dollarisation is not without its pitfalls. In March 2019, Anna Ivanova, IMF’s mission chief for Ecuador, said the dollar made Ecuador’s exports expensive.
“Raising Ecuador’s competitiveness and raising productivity will require a concerted effort. Since Ecuador uses the US dollar as its currency, it is not able to use exchange rates as a tool to make its exports more competitive in the global market. Therefore, the country will have to rely on policies that allow for internal devaluation instead,” she said.
Conclusion
Zimbabwe is not the only country to have discarded its own currency for the US dollar. The country is only one of several others to have done so.
FEATUREDOUR PICKS | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | June 25, 2019 | {
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"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
441 | Is Zimbabwe's COVID-19 vaccination rate among the highest in Africa? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
April 13, 2021
CLAIM: Zimbabwe has the third highest rate of vaccinations in SADC and 8th highest in Africa, as a share of the population.
Source: President Emmerson Mnangagwa, through his official Twitter account.
VERDICT: Correct.
In a Twitter post on April 12, 2021, urging Zimbabweans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, President Mnangagwa said:
“Zimbabwe has the third highest rate of vaccinations in SADC and 8th highest in Africa as a share of the population.”
Zimbabwe's #COVID19 vaccination programme is working!
Zimbabwe has the 3rd highest rate of vaccinations in SADC and 8th highest in Africa as a share of the population.
We cannot lose this momentum – if you are eligible, I urge you all to get your jab #ZimVaccination
What does the data say?
Statistics compiled from official sources by open data portal Our World in Data show that, as of April 11, 2021, 1,3% of Zimbabwe’s population had been vaccinated against COVID-19, giving the country the third highest inoculation rate in the southern African region, behind Seychelles with a continent-leading 65,6% and ESwatini, with 1,75%.
On a continental basis, Zimbabwe was indeed in eighth position, behind Seychelles, Morocco (12,12%), Sao Tome & Principe (4,44%), Rwanda (2,69%), Ghana (2,26%), Senegal (2,05%) and ESwatini.
Zimbabwe’s vaccination rate is currently ahead of countries such as Tunisia (1,21%)< Malawi (1,07%), Togo (1%), Equatorial Guinea (0,79%), Kenya (0,78%), Angola (0,75%), Botswana (0,55%) and South Africa (0,49%).
CONCLUSION:
Mnangagwa’s claim on Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 vaccination rates is rated correct at the time it was made.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | April 13, 2021 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is-zimbabwes-covid-19-vaccination-rate-among-the-highest-in-africa/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
442 | Is Zimbabwe Media Serving the Public? - ZimFact
administrator
March 13, 2018
Zimbabwe’s mainstream media industry is made up of newspapers divided almost equally between publicly-owned or government-controlled titles and those run by the private sector, and radio and television airwaves dominated by state-driven broadcasters.
While the national constitution guarantees media freedom and freedom of expression, in practice two regulatory (government-appointed) statutory bodies have kept control of both the broadcasting and newspaper publishing sectors through tight licensing requirements.
A government department keeps an eye on the whole media sector.
Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC)
The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) is in charge of registering newspaper publishers, news service agencies and accrediting journalists.
The commission draws its powers from a controversial law which critics say impedes rather than facilitates press freedom despite being called Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA).
Over the last 15 years, AIPPA has been used by the state to arrest journalists on charges of publishing falsehoods, to ban some publications and to deny, or make it hard, for media houses to get registration.
Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ)
The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) has control over the licensing of radio and television stations.
Despite pressure at home and from abroad, critics say Zimbabwe’s ruling ZANU-PF party since independence in 1980 has resisted pressure to open up radio space to private players beyond a handful trusted by the party, and to date retains the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)’s near monopoly in the national television area.
Media, Information and Broadcasting Services
The government maintains a wide policy oversight role on the media sector, currently through the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services.
Besides being in charge of both the legal instruments AIPPA and BAZ, the Ministry of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services also acts as the government’s main information dissemination agency.
Public frustration
In the last 10 years, a number of reports, including annual African Media Barometers, have concluded that Zimbabwe’s Media was weak in critical areas of accuracy, balance and fairness in news reporting.
In different words, they said Zimbabweans were frustrated by having to seek multiple sources particularly for political news.
A government-sponsored Information Media Panel of Inquiry (IMPI) recommended in 2015 measures to improve professionalism in the Zimbabwean journalism sector and the refocusing of the media sector in meeting public expectations.
Social Media Explosion
Outside and alongside Zimbabwe’s mainstream media sector, information technology has seen an explosion of social media news and information websites run by individuals, organizations and corporates based in and outside Zimbabwe.
The platforms vary in quality and focus, cover a wide range of issues and are subject to the global debate over reliability and the phenomenon of fake news.
Media Lobby Organisations
There are at least a dozen Zimbabwean media representative and lobby organisations working around a range of issues, including law reform, freedom of expression and access to information, professionalism and self-regulation, labour and welfare and gender and marginalisation.
A majority of these membership-based groups get technical and financial assistance from Western countries and international aid organisations.
Broadcast media in Zimbabwe
Four state-owned Radio Stations
Two privately-owned national commercial radio stations
Eight privately-owned local commercial radio stations with provincial coverage
Twenty community radio initiatives spread around the country
One state-owned TV station
One privately-owned regional satellite TV station
TYPES OF LICENSES OFFERED IN ZIMBABWE
Radio
Zimbabwe offers the following broadcast licenses
Television
TELEVISION
Zimbabwe has one Public Service Broadcaster – ZTV
2 Satellite TV stations – Multichoice Zimbabwe and Kwese TV
RADIO
Zimbabwe has 14 licensed radio stations and 20 radio initiatives that are yet to be licensed.
State controlled radio stations
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation owns national stations that include:
National Commercial radio stations
Local Provincial radio stations
Zimpapers owns:
AB Communications owns
Ray of Hope owns
Fair Talk Communications owns
PRINT
The print media in Zimbabwe has eleven (11) government owned and Fourteen (14) privately owned newspapers and eight (8) provincial newspapers.
According to the constitution of Zimbabwe
Electoral Act and Reforms
Section 3 C) every political party has the right to operate freely within law, to put up or sponsor one or more candidates in every election, to campaign freely within law and to have reasonable access to the media.
160G Access to public broadcasting media
(1) Public broadcasters shall give such free access to their broadcasting services as may be prescribed…and a fair and balanced allocation of time between each political party and independent candidate;
Political advertising in broadcasting and print media
(1) A broadcaster or print publisher shall not be obliged, subject to section 160G, to publish any advertisement by or on behalf of a political party or candidate contesting an election, but if the broadcaster or publisher is prepared to publish any such advertisement
(a) it shall offer the same terms and conditions of publication, without discrimination, to all the political parties and candidates contesting the election.
160J Conduct of news media during election period
During an election period broadcasters and print publishers shall ensure that—
(a) all political parties and candidates are treated equitably in their news media, in regard to the extent, timing and prominence of the coverage accorded to them;
(b) reports on the election in their news media are factually accurate, complete and fair;
(c) a clear distinction is made in their news) a clear distinction is made in their news media between factual reporting on the election and editorial
comment on it;
(d) Inaccuracies in reports on the election in their news media are rectified without delay and with due
prominence;
(e) political parties and candidates are afforded a reasonable right of reply to any allegations made in their
news media that are claimed by the political parties or candidates concerned to be false;
(f) their news media do not promote political parties or candidates that encourage violence or hatred against
any class of persons in Zimbabwe;
(i) encourages racial, ethnic or religious prejudice or hatred; or
(ii) encourages or incites violence; or
(iii) is likely to lead to undue public contempt towards any political party, candidate or class of person in Zimbabwe. Political parties or candidates that encourage violence or hatred against any class of persons in Zimbabwe.
Broadcasting of political matter
Audience/ Market statistics
There is an estimated 9,867,871 listeners and readers across the country when data is referred to the World Population Prospects 2017 revision, targeting adults between 15 years and above.
Radio
Radio Zimbabwe is the most listened to radio station in Zimbabwe with 43 percent share of the national audience, according to the latest Zimbabwe All Media Product Survey. Star FM is second on national listenership with 30%, Power FM 17%, ZiFM 12% and National FM comes last with 9% of the total listenership. . Other radio stations that have a share are Diamond FM (9%), Yaa FM (6%), Hevoi (3%), SFM (3%), and VOA (3%).
Print
The Herald continues to be the most read daily newspaper for the past half-decade. Zimpapers, which are partly government owned newspapers, have the widest reach. However, for private daily newspapers Newsday is the top most read newspaper in Zimbabwe. According to a survey by ZAMPS, Herald tops the circulation chart with (44%), H-metro (30%), Newsday 28, Daily News (27%) and Chronicle (24%).
For weekly papers, The Sunday mail dominates with 27% of the total readership followed by Kwayedza with 15%. Other papers include in the survey are B-Metro (11%), Manica Post (8%), Sunday News (7%), The Standard (5%), Zimbabwe Independent (3%), Daily News on Sunday (3%) and Financial Gazette (2%).
Who is the most influential radio player?
Research statistics based on ZAMPS report 2016-2017 and Media Monitors radio mapping report.
Radio Listenership
According to the Zamps report, Radio Zimbabwe is the most listened to station nationwide and has a huge influence nationwide. In broadcasting, Zimpapers’ radio station Star FM continues to dominate urban listenership, increasing its reach by a point with a 51 percent grip on the market up from 50 percent in the last survey. ZiFM follows with 28 percent listenership while Radio Zimbabwe recorded a 26 percent grip with Power FM, SFM and National FM bringing up the rear.
Language
English and Shona are the most commonly used broadcast languages; used on nine different
stations while National FM has the most diverse number of languages used as it broadcasts in
eleven languages.
News on radio
Nine percent of programming time is dedicated to news by all the radio stations. SFM allocates the most time to news bulletins; the station airs news bulletins on the top of every hour. The station therefore has 24 news bulletins, with three – thirty minute news bulletins at 6am, 6pm and 8pm. Power FM is the only other station with 24 hour news bulletins, although the total amount of time spent on news is less.
Reach in terms of transmission
Of the ZBC radio stations, Radio Zimbabwe’s coverage is listed as +80 percent, and 70 percent for the others. ZiFM says its geographical coverage reaches 80 percent. Overall geographical coverage for radio is 72.8 percent within Zimbabwe. This figure however fluctuates from station to station with Radio Zimbabwe being the most accessible at 95.8 percent reception. It is followed by Power FM, which has a reception in of 88.7 percent of surveyed regions. SFM has the lowest coverage at 52.6 percent.
Factsheet compiled by Cris Chinaka largely from a brief by Media Monitors of Zimbabwe.
media | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | March 13, 2018 | {
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"url": "https://zimfact.org/is_zimbabwe_media_serving_the_public/",
"author": "administrator"
} |
443 | Just how many foreigners are in South Africa? We checked the data - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
November 16, 2021
CLAIM: There are 10 million illegal immigrants in South Africa
SOURCE: South African politician Gayton McKenzie
VERDICT: Misleading: Official data and UN statistics estimate the foreign population at around 4 million
Immigration has been an issue of social media debate around the November 1 local government elections in South Africa.
The debate has included various claims on the size of the foreign population in the country. Politician Gayton McKenzie claimed on October 20, 2021, that there are 10 million undocumented foreigners in South Africa. Other social media claims were of migrant populations of 5 million.
What does South Africa’s official data say?
Figures on the foreigner population in South Africa are contentious.
South Africa’s statistics agency, StatsSA, puts the total number of foreigners at 3.95 million.
According to Risenga Maluleke, StatsSA Statistician-General: “If one uses the output of foreign born persons enumerated in Census 2011 and adds to it the net international migrants for the period 2011-2016 as well as the period 2016-2021 from the 2021 mid-year population estimates one would get an estimation of 3.95 million persons.”
According to Maluleke, in a statement in August 2021, that figure includes both documented and undocumented foreigners.
Stats SA has conducted three censuses since South Africa’s first democratic elections ; these were held in 1996, 2001 and 2011. The data from those censuses revealed that the number of people in the country born outside South Africa were 958 188 in 1996, 1.03 million in 2001 and 2.2 million in 2011.
By 2020, the number was 3.9 million, according to Statistics South Africa’s mid-year population estimates for the year.
“It is important to note that the population census enumerates all persons within the borders of SA, irrespective of their citizenship, or migratory status,” StatsSA says.
What do other sources say?
According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA), there were 4.2 million foreigners in South Africa in 2019.
In 2020, politician Herman Mashaba claimed that there were 15 million illegal immigrants in South Africa. The source for his claim was a 2019 article that spoke about the number of people in South Africa who do not have identification. The article was based on data from the World Bank showing that, in 2018, 15.3 million people in South Africa did not have identification documents.
That figure was on the total number of people who are unregistered, including South Africans, and not the number of undocumented foreigners. Mashaba later released a statement admitting he was wrong.
How many Zimbabweans are in South Africa?
There is no verifiable data on the number of Zimbabweans in South Africa.
The 2011 census estimated that, of the foreign population of 2,188,872 living in South Africa that year, 672,308 were from Zimbabwe. The number is likely higher. The Zimbabwean Exemption Permit Holders Association, which has gone to the Gauteng High Court to appeal for Zimbabwean holders of special permits to be declared permanent residents, says in court papers that it represents roughly 250 000 Zimbabweans in South Africa.
According to the International Organisation of Migration, Zimbabwe has the largest group of migrants across the Southern African region. It puts the number of Zimbabweans living in other SADC countries at 911 981, which is 14% of the immigrant population in the region.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | November 16, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/just-how-many-foreigners-are-there-in-south-africa-we-checked-the-data/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
444 | Lambda variant hasn't been confirmed in Zimbabwe yet - govt - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 8, 2021
CLAIM: The Lambda variant of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 has been found in Zimbabwe.
Source: SABC News, citing South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases
VERDICT: UNTRUE. The authorities in Zimbabwe say the country has not yet confirmed the presence of the Lambda strain.
What is Lambda?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has resolved to identify the several variants of the coronavirus causing COVID-19 using letters of the Greek alphabet.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), all viruses change over time. The virus causing COVID-19 continues to change into new variants, including the now dominant Delta strain, which was first detected in India. The Delta variant has been confirmed in Zimbabwe.
Lambda is the latest strain to be designated a variant of interest by the WHO, on June 14, 2021. Variants of interest are a level lower than variants of concern, such as Delta (India), Alpha (UK), Beta (South Africa) and Gamma (Brazil). Variants of interest have potential to cause severe illness and even death, while these outcomes have been confirmed in variants of concern.
On 7 July, 2021, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported that the Lambda variant, first identified in Peru in December 2020, had been found in Zimbabwe.
The SABC cited South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), whose acting executive director, Prof Adrian Puren, acting executive director in NICD.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says the new coronavirus variant, Lambda, that is circulating in other countries has not been detected in South Africa. However, it has been found in Zimbabwe. #lambdavariant #covid19sahttps://t.co/UjsIvA74eu
Asked if the Lambda variant had been detected in South Africa, Professor Puren told the SABC that:
“Categorically, we have not detected this particular variant. As you know in SA we have a network of laboratories both in the private and public sectors that are constantly monitoring for variants in circulation and obviously focusing on variants of interest or of concern.”
He then went on to add:
“I know it (Lambda) has been in circulation in about three other countries that include, I think, reports from Zimbabwe, Egypt.”
Not so, Zimbabwe says
The Chief Coordinator of Zimbabwe’s National Response to COVID-19, Dr Agnes Mahomva, says the lambda variant has not been confirmed in the country.
She added that Zimbabwean scientists were in the process of doing genome sequencing to determine the variants that are currently circulating in Zimbabwe during the current wave of infections.
“The last genome sequencing was done in Kwekwe, where Delta (first detected in India) was picked, when official results are out and verified, it will be officially announced,” she said.
A spokesperson for Zimbabwe’s health ministry told Health Times that the country’s scientists had not found Lambda in local samples.
“We trust our genomic sequencing. When that case was confirmed in Kwekwe from a returnee who had arrived from India, our team of scientists went there and confirmed that it was indeed the variant from India,” Donald Mujiri said.
“This is not something we can hide, this is COVID-19 and if we detected a new variant we will announce so that our people know what they are dealing with.”
CONCLUSION
The Lambda variant has not been confirmed in Zimbabwe, contrary to the SABC’s report.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 8, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/lambda-variant-hasnt-been-confirmed-in-zimbabwe-yet-govt/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
445 | Misinformation during elections - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
June 28, 2023
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | June 28, 2023 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/matter-of-fact-campaign/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
446 | MDC Alliance 2018 Election Promises - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 27, 2018
The following is a summary of the MDC Alliance’s election promises, according to the coalition’s manifesto.
The promises are anchored on the party building a $100 billion economy in a decade.
Extracted from the MDC Alliance SMART manifesto. For the full version go to: https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/MDC-ALLIANCE-SMART-MANIFESTO.pdf
Factsheet compiled by Lifaqane Nare, a Fact Checker with ZimFact.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 27, 2018 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/mdc-alliance-2018-election-promises/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
447 | Media Literacy Spotlight: Great Zimbabwe University sets up campus radio - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
October 18, 2019
Great Zimbabwe University students and staff with ZBC officials in the campus studio. Photo – ZBC
In the midst of all-out information warfare, schools and universities have been identified as strategic frontiers in the fight against the spread of false information.
Media literacy programmes in schools and tertiary institutions have become an important factor in this push-back.
In Zimbabwe, ZimFact, the country’s first organised fact-checking initiative, is partnering universities on its media literacy programme.
Apart from equipping students to evaluate the information they get, the media literacy programme also seeks to train potential fact-checkers for what is still a new but growing sub-sector of the media industry.
The Great Zimbabwe University (GZU), one of the institutions which ZimFact is partnering in the media literacy programme, has recently set up a campus radio station, which will not only help in journalism training, but also aid in delivering good quality information to its 16,000-strong student community. The radio station could also potentially serve the university’s 1,500 academic and non-academic staff.
Here, Golden Maunganidze of the Great Zimbabwe University spotlights his institution:
Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) has become the first journalism training institution to come up with a campus broadcast radio studio.
The studio, which was officially commissioned earlier this year, is made up of an audio mixer, four microphones to facilitate participation by guests who are featured on various programmes, a phone – in facility, latest production monitoring and control devices as well as computerised play-out systems.
GZU was founded in 2002 as Masvingo State University through an Act of Parliament. It was later renamed Great Zimbabwe University in 2007.
The university has, since inception, produced about 600 journalism and media graduates.
Currently, the university has over 400 students in the journalism and media training department.
The overall enrolment is 16,000, with the majority at its main Masvingo campus and the rest spread across satellite campuses in Chivi, Mashava and Chiredzi.
GZU Vice Chancellor, Rungano Zvobgo, hopes the radio station will provide a channel for inter-campus communication.
Currently, the programming for students covers all programming formats such as magazine, features, talk-shows, current affairs and news.
The university has signed up an agreement with the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), which allows its students to produce content for the national broadcaster, while receiving hands-on training.
The radio station has already done a number of pre-recorded and live productions for both ZBC TV and radio stations.
The university hopes to have the station licensed as a community radio station, which will offer broadcast services on local issues to communities around Masvingo.
Golden Maunganidze is the director of the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Campus Radio, a lecturer, holds a Masters degree in Media Studies and is currently pursuing PhD studies with Tilburg University, Netherlands.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | October 18, 2019 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/media-literacy-spotlight-great-zimbabwe-university-sets-up-campus-radio/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
448 | Ministry of Agriculture first 100 day cycle promises - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
October 25, 2018
Zimbabwe’s government says it is implementing its programmes in 100-day cycles. Here, we look at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Water and Climate Change’s targets for the first cycle, which began on October 25, 2018.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | October 25, 2018 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/ministry-of-agriculture-first-100-day-cycle-promises/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
449 | Ministry of Information - ZimFact
Sunday, 26 May 2024
[zimfact-factlist2] | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | Sunday, 26 May 2024 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/ministry-of-information/",
"author": null
} |
450 | Ministry of Mines - ZimFact
Sunday, 26 May 2024
[zimfact-factlist2] | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | Sunday, 26 May 2024 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/ministry-of-mines/",
"author": null
} |
451 | Ministry of Transport - ZimFact
Sunday, 26 May 2024
[zimfact-factlist2] | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | Sunday, 26 May 2024 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/ministry-of-transport/",
"author": null
} |
452 | Mthuli Ncube falsely claims there were only US$40m bank deposits under GNU - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
December 4, 2020
CLAIM: The banking sector had US$40 million deposits under the government of national unity.
Source: ZiFM Stereo interview
RATING: FALSE. Deposits in the banking sector, broadly defined, grew from US$475 million in April 2009 to nearly US$4 billion at the end of June 2013, when the unity government effectively ended.
In a clip of an interview with ZiFM Stereo, posted on Twitter on December 3, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube claimed that, under his predecessor, Tendai Biti, deposits in the banking sector were around US$40 million.
“Right now in the banking sector, there’s US$1.1 billion, hard U.S dollars in the entire banking sector. During the government of national unity when he was minister, you know how much we had? US$40 million,” Ncube said.
https://t.co/AGZa0YXJbu
According to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe data, bank deposits rose from US$475.37 million at the end of April 2009 to US$3.8 billion at the end of June 2013, when the unity government effectively ended.
The latest available figures, for September 2020, from the RBZ show that there was US$1.12 billion held in foreign currency accounts at the end of that month.
CONCLUSION:
Ncube’s claim that banking sector deposits were US$40 million during the subsistence of the unity government between 2009 and 2013 is false.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | December 4, 2020 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/mthuli-ncube-falsely-claims-there-were-only-us40m-bank-deposits-under-gnu/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
453 | New US visa rules could force many foreign students to leave America. Here's the number of Zimbabweans studying in the USA - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 9, 2020
Foreign students studying in the United States of Americaface deportation if their universities switch to online-only courses, the country’s Immigrationand Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Monday, July 6.
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, some American universitieswere beginning to make the decision to transition toonline courses. At colleges such as Harvard, all courses are to be deliveredonline.
In a news release, ICE said that students “may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States,” adding, “The US Department of State will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools and/or programs that are fully online for the fall semester nor will U.S. Customs and Border Protection permit these students to enter the United States.”
As at November 2019, the total number of international students studying in the USA was 1,095,299, according to the 2019 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange. These are the latest available figures from the US government.
How many of these students are Zimbabwean?
According to the same report, there are 1,343 Zimbabweanstudents studying in the US. This makes Zimbabwe the seventh top Sub-SaharanAfrican country sending students to the US.
The states hosting the highest number of Zimbabweans students are Massachusetts, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania, the report says.
Of the 1,343 Zimbabwean students studying in the USA, 743 are doing undergraduate studies, making up 55.3% of the number of students.
A total of 333 (24.8%) are post-grad, while 20 are in non-degree studies, and 247 are in Optional Practical Training (OPT). Students on OPT have temporary employment authorisation for practical training, such as internships, directly related to their studies.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | July 9, 2020 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/new-us-visa-rules-could-force-many-foreign-students-to-leave-america-heres-the-number-of-zimbabweans-studying-in-the-usa/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
454 | "NewsDay" article on Welshman Ncube quitting MDC Alliance, circulating on WhatsApp is fake - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
August 20, 2021
An article purporting to be from NewsDay and headlined: “MDC Alliance is no longer part of my future: Welshman Ncube” has been circulating on WhatsApp. It is fake.
The newspaper has not published any such article and the link attached to the story does not lead to any page on the NewsDay website.
FEATURED | news-zimfact | 2024-05-27T18:41:47.087066 | August 20, 2021 | {
"license": "Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
"url": "https://zimfact.org/newsday-article-on-welshman-ncube-quitting-mdc-alliance-circulating-on-whatsapp-is-fake/",
"author": "Ngoni Mhuruyengwe"
} |
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