Dear Sir,

It is now two years since November 2017 when you and your allies deposed your former leader, the late Robert Mugabe. In the aftermath of the coup you made a lot of promises to Zimbabweans.

Being a Zimbabwean myself, the events were of concern to me given that it is the nationality that I was gifted at birth.

I remember the song “Kutonga kwaro Gamba” being blared in the streets as my kinsmen marched in the streets. The euphoria infected men and women, black and white, MDC and ZANU PF alike.

You asked the citizens to give you a chance. You promised reforms, political and economic. I remember you chanting the phrase “… jobs jobs and jobs…” in your speech at the ZANU-PF headquarters.

Two years have passed by and you’re still giving speeches. Nothing has changed, except that life has become harder for Zimbabweans. The majority of Zimbabweans are now far worse off from what they were before the coup. Your Transitional Stabilisation Program (TSP) has created poverty for the man on the streets and prosperity exclusively for the ZANU-PF elites.

Mr Mnangagwa, I am a concerned citizen and I read your recent article published by CNBC on the 17th of November 2019. That you acceded that too many Zimbabweans are suffering is the only truthful statement I can attest to from your Op-Ed. The rest I cannot agree with you. My conscience does not allow me when I think of how much suffering you have inflicted upon Zimbabweans.

You claimed that you gave people their voices back. Frankly, the only people that got their voice back are the ZANU-PF Lacoste faction. The rest of Zimbabweans have no say in national matters. Why are all demonstrations against the government being blocked by the police? How is prohibition of constitutional rights to assemble and restriction of freedoms to expression granting people their voices?

As you are well aware Mr Mnangagwa, in our traditional African way it is uncalled for to call one’s elder a liar.

Unfortunately today I am in that position that I must forsake the traps of our traditional way of doing things. In your Op-Ed you lied when you stated that criticism of the government president is no longer taboo. Why are Zimbabweans being stopped from voicing their dissent with your government? Why are civic and political activists being intimidated, harassed and tortured by state security?

Your claim that criticism of the government is no longer taboo is negated by the avalanche of people that have lost their lives at the hands of your government for protesting.

Many unfortunate incidents have been recorded since your premiership in August 2018. This happened again in January 2019; August 2019 and November 2019.

The cosmetic changes to draconian laws are an insult to Zimbabweans as nothing has been changed by the MOPO (Maintenance of Peace and Order) bill. Until we have genuine political reforms, we shall continue facing the pain and misery of a rogue state.

The lack of independent state institutions is evidence to your lack of commitment to be different from your predecessor.

The propaganda of blaming sanctions for the misery Zimbabweans are facing is falling on deaf ears.

What will it take for you to realise that empty propaganda cannot substitute genuine political and economic reforms? You need to actively resolve the corruption, incompetence, nepotism and human rights abuses happening on your watch.

Words and speeches are just empty and will not turn the country’s fortunes.

Your call to other nations is also falling on deaf ears. The spin mercenaries you have paid have not delivered. The western governments you desperately wanted to gaslight have seen through the charade.

The world has seen you for the charlatan that you are. How embarrassing that even your “all weather friends from the East” called out your Finance Minister for gross misstatement on his budget presentation.

That incident is an omen for you.

The writing is on the wall.

Remember the fate of Hector who failed to heed the good advice of Polydamas in Greek mythology.

Today, I write this open letter to you with the hope that perhaps you may reconsider your ways. Revisit the speech you gave outside the ZANU-PF headquarters on the eve of your first inauguration. Those words still ring in our ears. The promises you gave, the support you asked from us. Many believed in you and many gave you a chance. Is this how you repay their confidence?

The voice of the people spoke on 31 July 2018. The same voice is still speaking and it is growing louder by the day.

Ignore it at your peril.

Yours sincerely

Tinotenda Chihope

UK-based human rights activist 

A woman in Mbare, Harare Mrs Gwena, is taking it upon herself to assist pregnant women give birth following the strike by public health workers. With no formal training and claiming to be guided by the Holy Spirit, she is helping women deliver.

The woman assisting pregnant women is not the issue. It is the government that has reduced citizens to such inhumane conditions/state where infections may arise and the 1st lady Auxilia Mnangangwa endorsing it when she visited the lady. It is a shame that she is helping the woman dealing with pregnant women instead of doing something for the hospitals or clinics to deal with the issue. How many women end up sleeping at that woman’s house, not talking about food, water, etc. The clinic close by is closed but no one cares about it. The government needs to do something about this issue.

Its not a safe place to give birth and the woman does not have the right equipment, and space as more women are going for assistance. What happens when someone dies in the house giving birth? That could put everyone at risk from infections.

Start looking out for the welfare of the unborn and newborn who have done nothing to ZANU PF, but are born and have to suffer because of ZANU PF, from the time they take their first breath.

Traditional Midwives Not Allowed In Zim Says Gvt
November 20, 2019 Michael Gwarisa

THE Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) does not encourage traditional midwives to deliver babies nor offer maternal health related services to pregnant women, a top government official has warned.

By Michael Gwarisa

The development comes in the wake of what has been described as “heroic works” of one Mbare traditional midwife, Mrs Esther Ngwena who has since delivered more than 100 babies at her home. However, the babies are being delivered in the absence of critical health sundries such as, disinfectants, safe delivery kits, running water and proper waste disposal facilities a situation health experts fear could trigger

In an interview with HealthTimes, Director Family Health in the ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), Dr Benard Madzima said traditional midwives were not qualified to offer midwifery services and it was against the World Health Organisation (WHO) international guidelines.

In Zimbabwe, the program for maternal health is guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations and the current recommendations are that traditional midwives are supposed to give health education to pregnant women and encourage them to go to established health facilities.

“This is because if a women then complicates or needs further help other than a normal delivery, traditional midwives will not be able to offer that help. For example, if a women suffers from post-partum hemorrhage, they will not be able to stop the bleeding, neither will they be able to give blood,” said Dr Madzima.

He added that Zimbabwe does not allow traditional midwives to offer services as this could result in even worse health complications.

“This is the background why it is not encouraged to have traditional birth attendant’s attending to pregnant women. They are not able to solve the complications which might arise. They are not able to give caesarean sections, the issues of issues of integrating with other programs like HIV program like the immunization programs

“So we don’t encourage traditional birth attendants delivering our women in Zimbabwe.”
In the early 80s Zimbabwe was advocating for the use of traditional birth attendants as part of the health delivery package. However, that was stopped in 1994 soon after the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) following evidence that traditional midwives were not capable of handling birth related complications and other services that require skilled personal such as blood transfusions among others.

According evidence based research, women who develop complications while at a traditional health attendant are most likely to lose their lives or that the baby.

Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) Executive Director, Mr Itai Rusike said government should address concerns of doctors and stop issuing licenses to to traditional midwives.

“By endorsing Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) instead of addressing the concerns of the doctors and other health workers, the government risks losing all the gains achieved in Maternal Neonatal and Child Health programs as the TBAs are not equipped with the requisite skills needed in the event of a complication or excessive bleeding.

“This is a tragedy and the government is failing women and new-borns as the home deliveries are going to derail the country’s PMTCT programs and the postnatal care services that are supposed to be offered to both the mother and new-born. It is going to be very difficult to stop or discourage the TBAs from continuing practicing even after resolving the incapacitation crisis as they have been given a license and go ahead to operate and the long term consequences are going to be dire,” said Mr Rusike.

He added that the only noble thing to do was to get skilled health workers back in the clinics and hospitals so that the public health institutions can become functional again instead of celebrating medieval health practices that have long been forgotten in other parts of the world.

“We are not blaming the TBAs that are capitalizing and filling in the gap created by the non-availability of health workers in public health institutions but we need to hold the government accountable for sleeping on duty and failing to resolve the prolonged impasse and incapacitation crisis.”

Zimbabwe is currently battling numerous health challenges at the back of the obtaining industrial action by medical doctors and council nurses due to incapacitation. According to the latest Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey, an estimated 614 women from every 100 000 who give birth die in the process, making it one of the highest in the world.

Public Health Expert, Mr Enock Msungwini however said engaging traditional midwives was not the best option to resolve the prevailing maternal health burden but government could capacitate them to ensure they complement qualified healthcare workers.

“It is not in the best interest of the public health context to engage traditional birth attendants. Factors like the reasons why women go there may vary. Is it about money, privacy, care, myths etc. These fall under the social determinants of health where one social system life style. Beliefs, economic status place of stay, diet and food have a bearing on health.

“The way forward however is to train them so that they complement the health system no to abruptly cut them completely,” said Mr Msungwini.

Harare hospital has only two maternity theatres built in 1977. Only one is working. 2400 women die giving birth every year in Zimbabwe. That is equivalent of 13 Boeing 767 Jumbo jets crashing every year and killing all on board!

Mortuaries shutting down and not allowing more bodies due to lack of electricity. No water in most areas around the country. It is the government’s responsibility to provide water sources and the council distributes. Hospitals not working, no fuel, no drinking water, mortuaries shutting down, no decent salaries for civil servants, children dropping out of schools, no passports. When will the government deal with these real problems? What will it take for the oppositions say enough?

A nation is not built on slogans but on ideas. I have never heard other presidents like Paul Kagame sloganeering but yet we see the progress that Rwanda is making. Our President Mnangagwa’s priorities are painfully upside down, funding POLAD and not doctors. As Bob Marley said: “WE CAN’T TAKE YOUR SLOGANS NO MORE!”

Emmerson Mnangagwa is spending millions building a mausoleum, spending US$16 million on cars for wealthy ministers. Pouring millions into futile sanctions march and POLAD puppetry project. Travelling is private jets with 90 people to New York. When are they going to sort out the issues affecting Zimbabweans everyday. Some of that money could have been use to build a better Zimbabwe and help in some areas that need it the most like the health area. Prioritize the people’s lives first. All we need is a better Zimbabwe.

https://zhro.zimvigil.org/2019/11/ndimi-makauraya-you-are-ones-who-killed-them-vendors-not-yet-free.html?m=1

It was announced that on the 25th of October is going to be declared a public holiday in Zimbabwe. Why? To give way for Anti – Sanctions march. This march was organised by our revolutionary party Zanu PF. Apparently they wanted to show the world how Zimbabwe is tired of these sanctions that have made it difficult for Zimbabwe to progress, for the Zimbabwean economy to thrive. Thus made it declared a public holiday.

But did Zanu PF think about some of these things? Its deep in examination season for the A’level and O’level. What happens to the students writing exams? Also teachers, examination coordinators? The lack of thought behind this holiday declaration is outstanding. Do these people even think about our children, their education and their futures?

Does Zanu Pf even apply for permission to be allowed to demonstrate or they just do as they please? Why do other parties require permission when Zanu Pf just declare a holiday. When other parties demonstrate, the police and military start violating, beating, torturing people even if it is a peaceful demonstration the police will always create a violent scene and they blame it on the party and protestors. How come when it comes to Zanu PF, we never see such scenes? Are the police and military controlled by Zanu PF? Police can do whatever they want, at any given moment. They can shut down a business, confiscate goods, and there hasn’t been any commission of enquiry and they haven’t been anyone who has lost their job for people being shot by the military or dying in police custody or even any kind of movement that some is going to get fired or at the very least get questioned for this behaviour by the Zanu Pf, Police and Military.

Sanctions exist towards Zimbabwe and certain individuals but the problem about this conversation is that there are certain individuals that have hijacked the sanctions conversations and put it in front of the problems that we’ve had. Sanctions aside, we have human right abuses in Zimbabwe. Sanctions aside, we have corruption in Zimbabwe. Sanctions aside, we have terrible leadership in Zimbabwe. Yes, sanctions exist, must go and they have contributed to the problems that we have but they are not the sole reason. No media freedom at all.

The death of a Harare vendor in remand prison after he was allegedly tortured during interrogation is yet another indication that old habits in the police force have not been banished.

Hilton Tamangani died at Harare Remand Prison Friday after he was allegedly tortured following his arrest last week along with 10 other vendors.

The vendors were accused of stashing police helmets at a basement of a building in the capital’s central business district.

According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services refused to entertain requests for Tamangani to be treated by private doctors before he succumbed to injuries sustained during the alleged torture.

After much hullabaloo, it emerged during the course of the week that some of the helmets that police claim to have recovered were legitimately bought by a Harare businessman.

There are chances that the vendors are not in any way connected to the helmets and yet Tamangani has already paid with his life.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police on Friday claimed that one of the helmets belonged to a police officer, who was killed during protests in 2016.

A professional and transparent investigation is now more than a necessity following Tamangani’s death in custody. Police officers that allegedly tortured him must be held to account.

As if that was not enough, an Alpha Media Holdings journalist, Rutendo Muchenje was assaulted by police officers while doing her job in Harare yesterday.

The incidents are an apt reminder of the deeper malaise eating into the core of the country’s police force, which can be traced to the Robert Mugabe years.

It did not come as a surprise that during the coup that toppled Mugabe in 2007, the ZRP became one of the state institutions that felt the citizens’ anger.

Zimbabweans vented their anger at the police after years of brutality against dissenting voices and deep seated corruption.

The new administration noticed the anger and several promises were made that the ZRP would be transformed.

There is no evidence, however, that those reforms are taking place and the tone of the police when commenting on issues linked to organisations that are perceived to be anti-government are becoming another reminder of Zimbabwe under Mugabe.

The world will be watching very closely the way Tamangani’s case is handled, which would be a stern test for the police to prove that indeed they are “a new dispensation” institution.

A young man died on account of beatings by the police. His nameis Hillary Tafadzwa Samangani. He was a vendor who was 1 of the 11 arrested by the police. This is a state that kills citizens but wants to get the same citizens to march against sanctions invited by this brutality. Police brutality must end. The whole duty of the government is to save and preserve lives not take lives away.

The Home Office is to be challenged in court over its practice of inviting foreign government representatives to interview political asylum seekers after The Independent exposed the “corrupt” exercise.

It emerged last December that people who had fled political persecution in Zimbabwe and claimed asylum in the UK were ordered by the Home Office to attend meetings where they were asked “distressing” questions by Zimbabwean officials.

The move was believed to have been part of an agreement between the two governments that Britain would “repatriate” at least 2,500 failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe providing that officials from the country could “vet” them beforehand. The Home Office did not deny these allegations.

The High Court has now granted permission for the practice to be challenged in court, with the evidence uncovered by this newspaper forming part of the basis for the challenge.