Login to BlackFacts.com using your favorite Social Media Login. Click the appropriate button below and you will be redirected to your Social Media Website for confirmation and then back to Blackfacts.com once successful.
Enter the email address and password you used to join BlackFacts.com. If you cannot remember your login information, click the “Forgot Password” link to reset your password.
THE fact that our biggest trading partner, neighbouring South Africa has decided to reopen its land borders from Monday following advice from its National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), should not in any way prod Zimbabwean authorities to blindly follow the same route as circumstances in the two countries differ on many fronts. Our fears are that if we rush to open our borders for travellers from COVID-19 hotspots like South Africa, this could result in a surge in imported cases, which will in turn further complicate the health situation in the country given the parlous state of our health infrastructure. Authorities should, therefore, be on the side of caution until we achieve maximum control of the pandemic. It’s a fact that despite recording a record higher infection rate and deaths in the Sadc region and facing the spectre of a deadly third wave, South Africa undoubtedly fares much better in health service delivery as compared to most of her peers in the region, particularly her northern neighbour. Besides, the Cyril Ramaphosa-led administration has already secured and continues to stockpile vaccines to inoculate its citizens, in addition to introducing a host of new protocols to minimise infections at its ports of entry. Although Zimbabwe might be under pressure from business and other quarters to reopen its borders, conditions on the ground at the moment don’t allow for a rash decision. We have travelled this road before, so we should be wary of the pitfalls lying ahead of us. This is not the time to mimic anything South African like we have done before. Economic interests should not supersede the sanctity of human life. Adequate measures such as massive vaccination of citizens, curbing corruption at borders and in the issuance of COVID-19 certificates to ensure our borders don’t turn into COVID-19 hotspots or super-spreaders as it were, ought to be put in place before we consider opening our doors for foreign travel. In short, Zimbabwe should try by all means to match measures that South Africa has implemented. The issue of porous borders as well as corruption at the points of entry, which has remained our Achilles heel, requires urgent address if we are to safely resume travel and trade with other countries. It’s not in doubt that our public health delivery system is in the intensive care unit and has no capacity to absorb additional shocks. Therefore, authorities should tread with caution and remain guided by pragmatism if we are to win the war against the virus. The fact that our COVID-19 infection and death rates are going down should not lull us into believing that we have won the battle, considering that neighbouring South Africa is facing a new highly infectious and transmissible variant that might even be more difficult to tame.
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
Experts fear COVID could spread even more during the festive period with people travelling across provinces for Christmas and New Year.
THE African Diaspora Global Network (ADGN) and Migrants Workers’ Association-SA (MWA-SA), organisations led by Zimbabweans in South Africa have expressed concern over the renewed attacks and burning of trucks driven by foreign nationals in that country. BY SILAS NKALA They called upon the government of that country to take deterrent measures to stop the criminal activities. Yesterday, ADGN president Vusumuzi Sibanda said the renewed attacks and burning of trucks by seemingly unknown individuals had become disconcerting in SA. “We are aware that ministerial task teams were set up to deal with grievances from various groups, but this did not resolve the problem,” he said. “Many of the drivers have been attacked, not because they have no proper permits. The attackers do not request for permits before attacking. They are attacked for merely being migrants or if the company is perceived to be employing migrant drivers irrespective of their status in the country.” He added: “It would help to hear that the government has taken a position that any such attackers will be arrested and organisations known to be behind such acts will be held accountable. “We plead with President of SA (Cyril Ramaphosa) as the chair of the African Union to show that the values of ubuntu, ‘I am because you are’ are embedded in the African humanness and make us the African people to all abide by them.” On the same note MWA-SA chairperson, Butholezwe Nyathi, called on all migrants to organise themselves to mitigate the effects of these disturbances. “People should not wait until there is a situation like these attacks. They should be proactive in coming up with lasting solutions that will create harmony among locals and migrants through projects like migrant skills transfer to locals,” he said.
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AFP) - The struggle to get a COVID vaccine to the world's population has often been likened to a race, in which case Africa finds itself hobbled by an array of financial, technical and cultural problems.Of these, funding is predictably hurdle number one for Africa, home to some of the world's poorest countries.
By MOGOMOTSI MAGOME Associated Press JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa is seeing a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases and bracing for increased hospitalizations and deaths, said the country's health minister Zweli Mkhize. 'It is important for us to recognize that this now is a second wave,' said Mkhize in a statement. 'There is going to be exponential growth. This means we must expect faster-rising numbers with a higher peak, possibly, than the first wave.' South Africa's new wave is likely to spike so quickly that it could overwhelm hospital capacities in some regions, he warned. South Africa's surge highlights that […]
The post South Africa sees sharp rise in virus, part of African wave appeared first on Black News Channel.
[Daily Maverick] In late November 2020, Bitcoin's value reached an all-time high. For investors, it's been a grand ride. But the high poses more fundamental questions for policymakers, especially those in countries like South Africa, with weak currencies and exchange controls.
Anti-immigrant groups have staged demonstrations in recent months in Johannesburg, the country's biggest city, and in the capital Pretoria, demanding the mass deportation of foreigners.
BY RICHARD MUPONDE UNSUSPECTING people have reportedly been duped an undisclosed amount of money by imposters who are reportedly abusing the name of former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Gideon Gono asking for financial assistance. Gono confirmed the scam and said a number of people have been swindled after they released huge sums of money into a fraudulent account in South Africa from which he disassociated himself and his family. “It has come to my sad attention and family that they are impersonating me and going around asking high-profile and rich individuals, suspected to be my friends, to ‘assist’ me with money deposited into a South African account,” Gono said. “Unfortunately, a few people, some of whom I have never met and do not even know, have been duped into releasing huge sums of money, only to find out soon after that the voice on the other line was fake.” He denied that he had begged for money from friends and associates and urged people to report the imposters to the police. “Please report any such approaches to the nearest police station to ensure that the culprits are apprehended swiftly,” Gono said. He said a South African number, +27 718 396 569, was used by these imposters to dupe people. Gono said a photoshopped picture of him, taken 10 years ago, was being used on the number’s WhatsApp profile picture. The local number currently being used was +263 788 669 246, with “one funny photoshopped profile picture of our chicken business premises”. “The local guy impersonated my first born son, Passion Peter. This ‘governor’ ended all his conversations invoking both the word and name of God, to disguise his real evil standing in society,” Gono said. The former RBZ governor said he has reported the matter to Borrowdale Police Station, and the matter was now being investigated by the CID under ZRP Docket Ref 4597277.
Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing to address the nation, but this won't be a joyous family meeting. There are some serious matters that need to be discussed.
DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor told
a virtual UN session that there are currently 17 territories whose people have not yet attained a full measure of self-government across the globe.
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the total number of COVID-19 cases were at 814 565 on Sunday 6 December 2020.
