Zimbabwe starts an emergency polio vaccination drive after detecting cases caused by a rare mutation
Zimbabwe has started an emergency campaign to inoculate more than 4 million children against polio after health authorities detected three cases caused by a rare mutation of the weakened virus used in oral vaccines.
In rural Zimbabwe, a group of grandmothers counters alleged election intimidation, bias on WhatsApp
Ahead of national elections next week, some people in Zimbabwe's rural areas say they are facing intimidation from supporters of the long-ruling ZANU-PF party and a biased state-run media that restricts their options.
Thousands hail Zimbabwe opposition leader at new party rally
Zimbabweโs leading opposition figure Nelson Chamisa drew thousands of cheering supporters on Sunday to his first political rally since forming a new party weeks ago, as the country gears for elections that have been postponed due to COVID-19.
African expert warns of 'vaccine war' over access to jabs
But COVAX has been facing delays related to the limited global supply of vaccine doses as well as logistical issues. Thatโs why some countries such as South Africa, the hardest-hit African nation, are also pursuing COVID-19 vaccines via bilateral deals and through the African Unionโs bulk-purchasing program. There are ongoing discussions between WHO, the global vaccine alliance GAVI and Indian authorities aimed at ensuring COVAX shipments continue to be prioritized, the official said. That amounts to about 1.5 billion vaccine doses. This is a global pandemic, and we need to solve it through global vaccination, global public health methods," said Anthony Costello, a professor of global health and sustainable development at University College London.
McLaughlin, nun who exposed abuses in Rhodesia, dies at 79
This 2018 photo provided by the Maryknoll Sisters shows Sister Janice McLaughlin with children in Zimbabwe. McLaughlin, a nun who was jailed and later deported by white minority-ruled Rhodesia, later Zimbabwe, for exposing human rights abuses, died on March 7, 2021, in Maryknoll, N.Y. She was 79. (Maryknoll Sisters via AP)JOHANNESBURG โ Sister Janice McLaughlin, a Maryknoll Sisters nun who was jailed and later deported by white minority-ruled Rhodesia for exposing human rights abuses, has died. Many more people saw my exposes as a result.โAdFollowing her deportation McLaughlin worked for the Washington Office on Africa, a church-based lobby group, educating the U.S. public and Congress about African affairs. After Zimbabweโs independence in 1980, McLaughlin worked with the government to establish nine schools for former refugees and war veterans.
South Africa OKs limited use of parasite drug for COVID-19
The packaging and a container of veterinary ivermectin is seen in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday Jan. 29, 2021. South Africa is allowing the limited use of a medicine to treat COVID-19 even though regulators acknowledge theres not enough evidence that it works or is safe for this purpose. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority this week announced the drug ivermectin could be used in exceptional circumstances. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority this week announced the drug ivermectin could be used in exceptional circumstances. In South Africa, the drug is only registered for use in animals to fight lice and worms.
Zimbabwe holds burial for 3 top leaders who died of COVID-19
Pallbearers stand next to coffins of three top government officials at their burial at the National Heroes acre in Harare, Wednesday, Jan, 27, 2021. Pallbearers in full COVID-19 protective gear wheeled the coffins of the two Cabinet ministers and a former head of Zimbabwe's prisons on a red carpet for burial with military honors. Zimbabwe has now lost four cabinet ministers to COVID-19. President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the coronavirus is reaping a โgrim harvestโ in the country while presiding last week at the burial of one of the ministers who died from COVID-19 at the same shrine. Several other prominent political and business leaders have died from the virus in recent weeks, leaving the country scratching for answers.
Zimbabwe's foreign minister dies of COVID-19 amid resurgence
FILE In this Jan, 12, 2020 file photo, Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo in Harare, Zimbabwe. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi/File)HARARE โ Zimbabweโs Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo, who gained prominence in 2017 as the military general who announced the coup against then-president Robert Mugabe on television, has died from COVID-19, the government announced Wednesday. Moyo was appointed foreign affairs minister after President Emerson Mnangagwa took power with military backing. Zimbabwe is experiencing a resurgence of the disease, with record numbers of daily confirmed cases and deaths. Mnangagwa is on Thursday set to bury another Cabinet minister, Ellen Gwaradzimba, who died from COVID-19 last week.
Zimbabwe bans traditional funerals to battle COVID-19 spike
In response to to rising infections the country has reintroduced a night curfew, banned public gatherings, and indefinitely suspended the opening of schools. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)HARARE โ Zimbabwe, battling a spike in new COVID-19 cases, has banned families from transporting their dead relatives between cities, as part of new measures to stop traditional funeral rites that are believed to be increasing the spread of the disease. The announcement stops the custom where families take the dead to their areas of birth for ceremonies and burial. Zimbabwe, like many other African countries, initially recorded low numbers of COVID-19 but has recently experienced a spike in cases. South Africa is currently battling a resurgence of the disease that is rapidly overwhelming its hospitals, health officials there report.
Zimbabwe returns to restrictions amid rise in virus cases
Thousands of people attend a music concert to celebrate New Year's in the Mbare suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe, early Friday, Jan 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)MUTARE โ In response to rising COVID-19 numbers, Zimbabwe has reintroduced a night curfew, banned public gatherings, and indefinitely suspended the opening of schools. โWe are being overwhelmed and overrun,โ Information Minister Nick Mangwana warned, saying the country's hospitals are rapidly reaching capacity with COVID-19 patients. Zimbabwe recorded 1,342 cases and 29 deaths in the past week, โthe highest number recorded so far,โ Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said, announcing the strict measures. Funerals are now limited to 30 people while other gatherings such as weddings and church services are banned for 30 days.
Fracas as protesting Zimbabwean journalist appears in court
Zimbabwe investigative journalist Hopwell Chin'ono, appears at the magistrates courts in handcuffs in Harare, Thursday, Nov, 5, 2020. Chin'ono who is one of Zimbabwe's most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwas administration, faces contempt of court and "obstructing the course of justice" charges. In the meantime, the journalist will spend the night in prison. In court on Thursday, he questioned why the police were taking him to an anti-corruption court when he was not being charged with committing corruption. Chinโono is one of Zimbabweโs most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwaโs administration, accusing it of corruption and human rights abuses.
Zimbabwe journalist Hopewell Chin'ono arrested on new charge
HARARE โ Zimbabwe police have arrested investigative journalist, Hopewell Chinโono on contempt of court charges, his lawyer said Tuesday. Chinโono is being held at a police station in the capital, Harare, said Roselyn Hanzi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, an organization representing the outspoken journalist. If convicted Chin'ono faces a fine or up to one year in prison, according to the charge, she said. Chin'ono is one of Zimbabwe's most prominent critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration, accusing it of corruption and human rights abuses. Journalistsโ organizations, western embassies and human rights groups at that time said Chinโono is being punished for exposing government corruption.
Zimbabwe elephants died from bacterial disease, say experts
Wildlife vets take samples from dead elephants found in Hwange National park, Zimbabwe, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (AP Photo)HARARE โ Parks authorities in Zimbabwe said Monday that the recent deaths of elephants have been caused by a bacterial disease that has previously affected elephants in Asia and other animals in southern Africa, although more tests will still be carried out. In recent years poachers in Zimbabwe have poisoned dozens of elephants with cyanide and then have taken their ivory tusks to sell them to illegal traders. Not enough information is known about the diseaseโs effect on local elephants to predict a long-term outcome, he said. โYes they die, but honestly this is just nothing, a drop in the ocean because we have over 84,000 elephants in Zimbabwe, which is overpopulation already,โ he said.
Zimbabwe begins gradual reopening of schools amid virus
Zimbabwe schools have reopened in phases, but with smaller number of pupils, more teachers and other related measures to enable children to resume their education without the risk of a spike in COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)HARARE โ Zimbabweโs schools Monday reopened for pupils in two grades as part of a gradual process that will see all pupils return to class by early November. Teachers in Zimbabwe's government schools earn less than $50 a month and are demanding that they be paid at least $500 a month, he said. Primary and secondary school pupils wore masks and applied sanitizer before entering classrooms on Monday. The students in grades 7 and the final year of secondary school are to write local public examinations in order to graduate from primary and secondary school, respectively.
Zimbabwe investigating deaths of 22 elephants, more expected
HARARE The number of elephants dying in western Zimbabwe from a suspected bacterial infection, possibly from eating poisonous plants, has risen to 22, and more deaths are expected, a spokesman for the countrys parks agency said Wednesday. Most of the elephants dying in the Pandamasue Forest, located between the vast Hwange National Park and Victoria Falls, were young or weak, said Tinashe Farawo, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority. Animal welfare groups such as the African Wildlife Foundation, have expressed concern at the mysterious deaths of elephants in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Last year about 200 elephants in Zimbabwe died of starvation as a result of the countrys drought. More than 50 people have been killed in such conflicts countrywide so far this year, the deadliest in a decade, said the parks spokesman.
Zimbabwe investigates mysterious deaths of 11 elephants
HARARE Zimbabwe's parks authorities in Zimbabwe are investigating the death of 11 elephants in a forest in the west of the country, a parks spokesman said Sunday. In recent years poachers in Zimbabwe have poisoned dozens of elephants and then have taken their ivory tusks to sell them to illegal traders. We are also ruling out poachers because the tusks were intact.The mysterious deaths of the elephants in Zimbabwe appears similar to the deaths last month of more than 275 elephants in neighboring Botswana. Scientists are still investigating the deaths of the elephants in Botswana's Okavango Delta area and poaching, poisoning and anthrax have been ruled out. Last year about 200 elephants in Zimbabwe died of starvation as a result of the country's drought.
Zimbabwe's Catholic bishops accuse government of abuses
Zimbabwe journalist Hopewell Chin'ono appears at the magistrates courts while handcuffed in Harare, Wednesday, July, 22, 2020. Chin'ono known for exposing alleged government corruption is now accused of plotting against the government. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)HARARE Zimbabwe is embroiled in an economic and political crisis marked by human rights abuses, said the country's Roman Catholic bishops, who were then criticized by the government as evil and trying to promote genocide. Fear runs down the spines of many of our people today," said the bishops' statement. Mtetwa said Chinono is surviving on biscuits and water because prison food does not fit his medical requirements.
Scores of Zimbabwe protesters arrested, military in streets
(AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)HARARE Scores of people were arrested Friday in Zimbabwe as hundreds of military troops as well as police attempted to thwart an anti-government protest, with streets empty and many people hiding indoors. Organizers said demonstrators originally planned to protest alleged government corruption but instead targeted the ruling political party, using the hashtag #ZANUPFmustgo.Tensions are rising in Zimbabwe as the economy implodes. Police arrested scores of people who tried to hold low-key protests, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said. The normally teeming downtown capital, Harare, was deserted as soldiers and police patrolled and manned checkpoints. I have never seen these security people so effective, and the people so compliant, even during those days of the complete lockdown."
Virus spread feared where water is scarce around the world
In Zimbabwe, clean water is often saved for daily tasks like doing dishes and flushing toilets. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)HARARE Violet Manuel hastily abandoned her uncles funeral and grabbed two empty containers when she heard a boy running down the dirt road shouting, Water, water, water!The 72-year-old joined dozens of people seeking their daily ration in Zimbabwe's densely populated town of Chitungwiza. And yet her plans for the water did not include hand-washing but more important tasks such as cleaning dishes and flushing the toilet. Such choices underscore the challenges of preventing the spread of the coronavirus in slums, camps and other crowded settlements around the world where clean water is scarce and survival is a daily struggle. To encourage hand-washing in some parts of Africa, aid groups are using measures such as placing mirrors and soap at makeshift taps.
Drought parches southern Africa, millions faced with hunger
In this Oct, 27, 2019, photo, a bird stands on a sun-baked pool that used to be a perennial water supply in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)JOHANNESBURG An estimated 45 million people are threatened with hunger due to a severe drought that is strangling wide stretches of southern Africa. International aid agencies said they are planning emergency food deliveries for parts of South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and other countries hard hit by a combination of low rainfall and high temperatures as summer approaches in the southern hemisphere. The U.N. World Food Program said southern Africa has received normal rainfall in just one of the past five growing seasons, which particularly hits small-scale farmers who depend on rain for their crops. The U.N. food agencies plan to distribute emergency food aid to 11 million people in the coming months.
Tributes, criticism pour in after death of Robert Mugabe
HARARE, Zimbabwe - Robert Mugabe, the controversial founding father of Zimbabwe, has died at 95, sparking wildly different reactions around the world. After news broke of his death, some world leaders and political groups reflected the early, hopeful image of Mugabe and focused on his fight to free his country from white minority rule. The South African government tweeted its condolences, describing Mugabe as a "fearless pan-Africanist liberation fighter." The US Embassy in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, also tweeted condolences to the Mugabe family. "We join the world in reflecting on his legacy in securing Zimbabwe's independence," the tweet said.
Zimbabwe must sell or donate many of its wild elephants
Cameron Spencer/Getty Images(CNN) - Zimbabwe is doubling down on selling its wild elephants as it tries to reduce its high population of the animals, President Emmerson Mnangagwa says. "We are willing to sell, in some cases to donate these wildlife animals." So we are now cooperating with Angola to raise funds to demine, and we will give Angola lions, elephants, buffaloes so that we decongest our own areas. In May, Zimbabwe made $2.7 million from the sale of more than 90 elephants to China and Dubai. But Zimbabwe and neighboring Botswana, Namibia and Zambia, with the support of South Africa, are making a fresh appeal to lift restrictions.