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ZIMBABWE has never been the same after March 30, 2020. Ever since then, the country has been in a lockdown and normal life in a constitutional democracy has been severely pared in the name of combating the global COVID-19 pandemic. STIR THE POT: PAIDAMOYO MUZULU The pandemic has been a godsend intervention for leaders with an autocratic inclination across the world. They did not take time to impose strict lockdown measures, restriction of rights and, in some instances, imposed martial law. Zimbabwe was no exception to this league of autocrats, notwithstanding the fact that two years earlier, in November 2017, it had experienced a coup that promised the flourishing of democracy. It was a coup that was well-choreographed for both the international and domestic audiences. It was a televised revolution or better still a social media phenomenon. There was no time to think for most, they just soaked in the moment. A moment for many in the opposition had planned for nearly two decades — to see the late former President Robert Mugabe’s departure from politics. For the majority, it was a question of change, but no one knew what that change meant. They wanted Mugabe to go. Zimbabwe experienced two worst military-backed crackdowns on protests since independence in 1980. The first one was on August 1, 2018 and January 15, 2019, apart from Gukurahindi. The security forces that killed protestors in cold blood are yet to face justice despite the Kgalema Motlanthe commission recommendations that they be brought to book. The flowers of the phony-revolution had wilted within seven months of the coup, making a joke of the statement that there was a new dispensation in the country. Opposition supporters had experienced firsthand the brutal excesses of the regime, either through abductions, torture or political persecution in the courts. Political parties could not hold rallies. They could not, and still can not petition or demonstrate against the government during the lockdown period. The opposition has been denied political oxygen and metaphorically dying slowly, gasping once in a while on social media but the damage has been done. At a political level, Zanu PF has been energising its base through Pfumvudza. It is meeting its supporters under the guise of an agricultural support scheme, yet the opposition in urban areas has been denied the same opportunity, worse still, after the lockdown affected the informal sector. Informal trading has changed and most likely for good as less than a quarter of the traders who were operating before lockdown might return to business after restrictions are removed. The anger in urban communities is palpable but it is not harnessed or directed at real issues. It has lacked leadership to marshall it into one giant wave and hence the ripples that we see once in a while that are quickly snuffed out. Zanu PF behaviour is targeted at self-preservation than building democracy. Even with a two-thirds majority in Parliament it is afraid to hold, long overdue by-elections. The by-elections have the potential of
The president also stressed the importance of keeping the economy open after months of stifling movement restrictions.
He urged citizens not to drop their guard and continue adhering to the health rules, such as wearing face masks and respecting curfew times.
South Africa has recorded just over 800,000 coronavirus infections - more than a third of the cases reported across the African continent - and over 20,000 deaths.
AFP
South African soldiers deployed to enforce one of the world's strictest lockdowns to control the spread of coronavirus have returned to barracks as new infections slowed, the SANDF says
New High Commissioner of India to Jamaica R Masakui (centre) presented his credentials to Governor General Sir Patrick Allen on Friday, December 4, at King's House, St Andrew.
So you couldn't catch the latest episode of Skeem Saam? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Be warned of spoilers!
CAPE TOWN, (Reuters) - South Africa will tour Pakistan next month for the first time in 13 years to play two tests and three Twenty20 Internationals, officials confirmed yesterday.
The article S Africa to make historic Pakistan return for test, T20 series appeared first on Stabroek News.
Cricket Australia are still planning for the tour of South Africa to go ahead in February 2021, but are monitoring the health situation.
Meet Natasha Joubert: She's now SA's pick for Miss Universe 2020 - and the dog-loving marketing graduate has plenty to say about her new role...
Couldn't you catch the latest episode of Skeem Saam? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
It was a mixed bag of results for South Africans at the French Open, with only Kevin Anderson progressing past the second round.
[New Times] Rwanda's Foreign Affairs Minister Vincent Biruta, Thursday received copies of credentials from the new South Africa High Commissioner to Rwanda.
Following months of love, care and attention, Prince has made an incredible recovery and is now looking forward to a new home.
[Premium Times] The by-election into the Dass constituency followed the killing of Musa Baraza of the APC.
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Gavin Hunt opens up regarding the biggest crisis at the club, one that he hasn't seen before in over 30-years of coaching
The Aquatecture rain harvesting panel, which looks like a giant cheese grater, could be the invention to save Africa from drought.
[East African] Rwanda has scoffed at accusations that its embassies abroad are actively engaged in the recruitment of spies and threatening of Rwandan refugees who are critical of the government.
ZIMBABWE are out of the running for a ticket to the 2021 Under–20 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals after they were beaten 2-0 by Mozambique in a Cosafa Under-20 Championships Group A match at the Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa yesterday. BY HENRY MHARA The Under-20 Championships serve as a qualification tournament with the finalists booking a ticket to the Afcon finals set for Mauritania next February. The Tonderai Ndiraya-coached side drew 2-2 with South Africa in their opening match on Thursday, and needed to win yesterday’s match to stay in the hunt for the ticket. The top team in each pool as well as best-placed runner-up advance to the semi-finals of the Cosafa Championships. Needing to win the match, the Young Warriors looked like they were up for the challenge until they conceded a penalty in the 54th minute which was put away by Simon Cupriano. Zimbabwe were by far the better side to this point. Ndiraya’s reaction to the setback, was to introduce the highly-rated attacking midfielder Oscar Magejo for Munashe Katondo. They continued to pile on pressure as they searched for the equaliser. However, they were further pegged back when Gabriel Pinho scored the second for Mozambique with five minutes remaining to crush the Young Warriors hopes. In another group A match, South Africa clobbered Lesotho by 7-goals to nil to remain second in the group with four points, two behind leaders Mozambique. Zimbabwe play winless Lesotho tomorrow in a dead-rubber while South Africa and Mozambique clash in a winner takes all contest on the same day. Follow Henry on Twitter @henrymhara
Justin Anthony relocated to the US at age 23 and opened the first South African restaurant in the United States in 1998.
Political Ombudsman Donna Parchment Brown has indicated that she is about to seek intervention from Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding to have political candidates and supporters remove campaign paraphernalia still on display over three months after the September 3, 2020 General Elections, which is a breach of the political code of conduct.
[allAfrica] Cape Town / Durban -- Since 1992, when the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) was established, the conflict management NGO has played an integral role in conflict resolution activities across Africa.
