China built 1000 bed 5 star covid-19 hospital in 10 days - our isolation centres still have no running water after 6 months W Mukori

“The (Beitbridge Rainbow Hotel) Isolation Centre has no tap water because Beitbridge generally has a serious water crisis attributed to the inefficiencies of the local council. The borehole that the centre had resorted to has also broken down, said officials during a tour of the facility,” reported The Mirror (Masvingo).

This is an outrage!

Whilst we all agree on the need to isolate all those coming from outside the country and might bring into the country the deadly covid-19. It is important to understand that not everyone of the returnees has the virus and therefore the isolation centre must offer living condition to protect those who are not infected from being infected.

Whilst it would be good to have these centres equipped with ICU equipment, ventilators, etc., etc. since it is clear they are now doubling up as isolation centres for returnees and covid-19 hospitals. Still the is no excuse why these centres are failing to supply something as basic as clean running water.

The Chinese built, equipped and staffed from scratch a 1 000 bed state of the art field hospital, Houshenshan Hospital, for covid-19 patients in 10 days! It is nonsense that Zimbabwe cannot deploy a team of soldiers to install water tanks and pump to ensure isolation centres up and down the country have clean running water.

Instead of these isolation centres serving the important purpose of stop the spread of covid-19 they are now the virus hotspots – anyone who goes there is certain to catch the virus!

Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence in the handling of covid-19 is turning a tragic situation by all account into a catastrophe of Biblical proportion! The regime was quick off the mark in deploying the bloated Police, Army and the dreaded CIO to enforce the lockdown but did not even have the common sense to employ even a few of them to do really useful for a change!

"Need more covid-19 data to end lockdown" admit Moyo - won't test to data a secret, catch 22 N Garikai

Covid-19 constitute the most serious existential threat of our generation not just for Zimbabwe but the whole world. In a desperate effort to stop the virus spread most countries have imposed measures to reduce, first, cross border human interaction and then even within each country with regional or even nationwide lockdown.

This has caused serious economic disruption with some companies such as the travel and hospitality industry have closed and will take years to recover. The world economy has gone into depression. Unemployment rate in most developed countries like USA; was single digit in November 2019, before the covid-19 outbreak; has surged to 20% plus today. Millions of people who were enjoyed a reasonable standard of living six months ago, are now worrying about finding enough to eat!

Unemployment rate in Zimbabwe was already 90% before covid-19 outbreak, one has to look someplace else for the true measure of the economic consequences of the covid-19 economic disruption. Before covid-19, 34% of Zimbabwe’s 15 million population were living “in extreme poverty”, according to World Bank report. I.e. they could not afford one decent meal a day let alone other basic necessities of life such as education for the children and health care. After covid-19, today after six weeks of a nationwide lockdown the number living in extreme poverty has probably increased to 45% plus.

The most immediate effect of covid-19 on a nation is its effect on people’s health which is why nations have risked economic disruption just to avoid the virus spreading and infecting people. Covid-19 is a flu-like virus which some people get over without even noticing they had the virus. Others will get very sick but will recovery after a few days. And yet others get so sick they cannot breathe and will need hospital care. Many covid-19 patients have died, even with the hospital care.

What makes covid-19 so dangerous is:

·       It is highly contagious, in favourable conditions one infected person can infected three others per day.

·       There is no cure for it

·       There is no vaccine against it

As of today, 7 May 2020, covid-19 has infected a global total of 3 784 085 confirmed cases and 264 679 covid-19 related deaths.

In Zimbabwe there have been a total of 34 confirmed covid-19 cases and 4 deaths. And for the last 7 days the country has had not a single new covid-19 case.

“It is good that we have not recorded any case in seven days. This means the lockdown is effective. It means we have to be more careful and remain like that,” said Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health, Obadiah Moyo.

“We still have to get more data and we need to carry out more testing so it is not yet time to celebrate until we have tested a certain figure which we feel is a significant number to say we are now out of danger.”

So, why have failed to carry out more tests and get more data?

Covid-19 was first reported in China and the first step to stop the virus getting into any other country was make sure all new arrivals are put into strictly supervised self-isolation or quarantine for 14 days, the incubation period of the virus. New Zealand is the one country that enforced this rule religious and it paid dividends.
The second line of defence was to test aggressively all suspected covid-19 cases, track down contact, isolate all suspected cases and treat all infected ones.

Zimbabwe’s blundering incompetence in the handling of this covid-19 has been shocking at every turn. It was a senior government official who reportedly instructed the immigration officials to let the late Zororo Makamba go free when he had shown all the symptoms of having covid-19 and should have been placed into strict self-isolation.

When the regime imposed the 21-day nationwide total lockdown on 30 March 2020, the country had 7 confirmed covid-19 cases and had done 100 or so tests. By the end of April the regime promised it would have done 30 000 tests. On 25 April 2020, the last day the regime gave a detailed breakdown of covid-19 tests carried in each of the 10 provinces, the total number of tests stood at 6 067.

The next update was not until 5 May, the regime announced nearly 1500 tests had been carried out, all negative and bring the total number of tests to over 11 000. And the next day the regime reported no additional new cases and the new total number of tests was now 14 821!

Zimbabwe has received 50 000 covid-19 test kits most of them from free donations. The country could and should have tested over 30 000 by now if it really wanted to.
Worse still, the regime has stubbornly refused to test malaria cases for covid-19, for example, although there has been an unusually high number of malaria reported deaths and malaria patients have the same symptoms as covid-19 patients.

As of today, 7 May 2020, USA has a total of 1 243 029 confirmed covid-19 cases and 74 239 deaths. The corresponding figures for China are 83 974 cases and 4 637 deaths. Many people did not believe China’s figures and they have since been revised upwards and still many people doubt China is telling the truth.

Worse still, China did not report the covid-19 outbreak timeously in fulfilment of its international obligation.

There is no doubt the economic and health damage caused by covid-19 around the world would not be as bad as it is today if people had known about the corona virus sooner and China had not been so secretive.

There is no doubt the economic and health damage caused by covid-19 in Zimbabwe would not be as bad (there are a lot more cases and deaths than 34 and 4) if Zanu PF was not so incompetent and so secretive to hid its blunders! 

MDC silverbacks out to defend Chamisa's thuggery yet betrayed right to free elections W Mukori

Nelson Chamisa has said nothing about the 30 March 2020 Supreme Court judgement which ruled that his seizure of the MDC-T leadership after Tsvangirai’s death was a violation of the party’s constitution. He has said nothing until now.

“You can’t rob people forever.
You robbed the 2018 vote.

First you abused ZEC and robbed.
Then abused the ConCourt and robbed.

Then abused the Supreme Court and robbed.
Then abused Parliament and robbed.

Then rob people’s lives daily.
Then rob a whole generation and entire nation.

Now we want everything back!
We shall pursue and recover all!
Zimbabwe this is our call to duty,”

said Chamisa of his political rivalry, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

It is clear, Chamisa subscribes to the school of thought that believes attack is the best defence!

Chamisa has not denied that what he did in February 2018 was wrong; he knows that it was wrong. It is therefore rich to accuse Mnangagwa of “abusing the Supreme Court and robbed” when it is Chamisa himself who robbed the MDC presidency and is now seeking to abuse the Court by falsely claiming that it is biased.

However, when the ground on which you stand is shaky, it is wise to yield. Do not fight a battle you are sure to lose. Losing a battle does not have to mean losing the war.

Chamisa and his supporters have all come out with guns blazing in a show of strength and unity of purpose. “We are not cowards!” announced Tendai Biti. Brave souls, very brave souls!

All these MDC leaders who are now posturing, huffing and puffing and drumming their chests like silverbacks all participating in the July 2018 elections even when it was clear that ZEC had failed to produce something as basic as a verified voters’ roll. Common sense demanded a verified voters’ roll and the law of the land demanded it too.

Mnangagwa himself promised to hold free, fair and credible elections; well here was the chance to hold his feet to the fire! And yet not even one of our silverback gorillas dared challenge Mnangagwa then. Worst of all, they all knew that by participating in the flawed and illegitimate elections they were giving the process credibility and the results some modicum of legitimacy.

In his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of tyranny in Zimbabwe, David Coltart, former MDC – Ncube Senator and Minister of Education in the GNU, gave details of how Zanu PF was flouted the electoral rules in the upcoming 2013 elections. It was clear the elections would not be free, fair and credible and yet he and his fellow MDC friends did not withdraw out of selfish greed.

“The worst aspect for me about the failure to agree a coalition was that both MDCs couldn’t now do the obvious – withdraw from the elections,” wrote Senator Coltart.

“The electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility.”

How ironic that Chamisa and his fellow MDC silverbacks did not fight Mnangagwa for failing to hold free, fair and credible elections but they are all itching for a fight to defend Chamisa undemocratic seizure of the MDC leadership!

Both the Thokozani Khupe led and Nelson Chamisa led MDC factions, have already proven to be corrupt and incompetent. They were all in the 2008 to 2013 GNU that failed to get even one reform implemented. They have all participated in the past flawed and illegal elections for the same reason – greed.

The ongoing tussle for power has divided the already weak and feeble MDC to the point of uselessness. If both were to sink into oblivion, the nation will be the better for it!

“Zimbabwe this is our call to duty!” Yeah right! Duty to defend Chamisa’s thuggery so he can continue to give Zanu PF blatant vote rigging legitimacy for a share of the spoils of power! The long-suffering ordinary Zimbabweans must stay out of this Chamisa vs Khupe cum Chamisa vs Mnangagwa it is a distraction from the real life and death struggle the nation in going through and which these politicians do not care about.

3 Chamisa MPs booted out and herd demand rest resign en masse "to embarrass Zanu PF" P Guramatunhu

Last year a High Court judge ruled that the process leading to the elevation of Nelson Chamisa as MDC-T President; following the death of then President of the party, Morgan Tsvangirai in February 2018; had violated MDC-T’s own constitution. The Supreme Court has since upheld that judgement.

The Court declared every party decision after Chamisa’s succession null and void. The MDC-T was to revert to party structure that emerged out of the 2014 party congress and Thokozani Khupe who was elected VP was to lead the party until an extraordinary congress to elect a new President.

Not even one Nelson Chamisa loyalist with an democratic credentials worth a spit has ever dared to deny that the process Chamisa had followed in seizing power was undemocratic. Now that the Court had judged the process indeed undemocratic, the sensible and only thing for Chamisa and his followers to do was to publicly acknowledge the mistake and prepare for the extraordinary congress.

Since when has MDC leaders done anything remotely sensible and logical! Chamisa went back into the mountain, supposedly for divine inspiration, and promised to comment on the Court judgement on his return. He has returned and said nothing.

Meanwhile, Chamisa’s loyal supporters have greeted the Court judgement with the characteristic hysteria, anger, defiance, threats, etc. They maintain the Court judgement is all Mnangagwa and Zanu PF’s doing. Mnangagwa is imposing Khupe as the MDC leader.

As much as Zanu PF stands to benefit from a distracted and confused MDC; Zanu PF’s blunders, especially in the handling of the covid 19 pandemic, are not being scrutinised. Still, the fact remains that by violating the MDC-T’s own constitution Chamisa shoot himself in the foot. And now he and his supporters must accept the consequences and not waste time blaming others for his own folly.

“MDC Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora has recalled Tabitha Khumalo, Chalton Hwende and Prosper Mutseyami from Parliament following their expulsion by MDCT,” reported Bulawayo 24.

“The announcement was made by the speaker of parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda on Tuesday.”

The recall was an expected consequence of the Court decision and the failure by Chamisa and those around him to defuse the situation by accepting the court judgement. The individuals recalled are known Chamisa loyalists and Mwonzora had them recalled as a warning to the remaining MDC MPs, Senators and Councillors still loyal to Chamisa to switch their allegiance to Khupe a.s.a.p.

The recall has shaken the bee-hive and the Chamisa loyalists are even more upset, angry and agitated than ever and, worst of all, confused and incoherent. Some have been asking the remaining MPs, senators and councillors to resign from their elected position en masse “to embarrass Zanu PF”.

How so? Anyone, anyone at all, with common sense knows that what Chamisa did in seizing power was irregular, to say the least. So why should Mnangagwa be embarrassed that Chamisa shot himself in the foot!

If all the MDC MPs, senators and councillors were to resign; Zanu PF will probably ask Thokozani Khupe to appoint replacements. Mnangagwa will argue the nation does not have the money to hold so many by-elections and given the need to stop mass gatherings during the lockdown. 

Chamisa and his supporters are all but the “poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It (MDC story) is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing,” as William Shakespeare have aptly surmised.

The real tragedy here is that Zimbabwe is in this economic and political mess because of four decades of bad governance. The country needs a competent government desperately, more so now with the outbreak of covid-19. It is a nightmare that the nation should therefore find itself still stuck with the corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging Zanu PF as the governing party. And for the main opposition the equally corrupt and incompetent MDC party.

The Court judgement stripping Chamisa of the leadership of MDC leadership has divided and confused the opposition into utter uselessness. Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence is making the covid-19 pandemic spread faster and more widely. Many more people will be infected with covid-19, suffer and die unnecessarily and the economic recovery, if it should ever happen, will be that much harder to achieve and take longer.

The nation is still stuck with this corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging Zanu PF dictatorship because MDC leaders failed to implement the democratic reforms designed to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. And during the covid-19 period and thereafter MDC leaders were not even there to stop Zanu PF blunderings because they were fight over the title of President of MDC like puppies fighting over an ox thighbone! This is just a nightmare!

"We standing on edge of precipice" - true, Zanu PF centric NTA will takes over the edge W Mukori

“Today Zimbabwe stands on the edge of the precipice, and it is no time for prevaricating, but one for action. The political crisis must be addressed with urgency, and we can see no other way than the steps we have outlined,” surmised Ibbo Mandaza in an article titled “There is no other way than a National Transitional Authority (NTA) in Zimbabwe” in Bulawayo 24.

.

Yes, Zimbabwe is standing on the edge of the precipitous abyss but unless we know and understand what we did wrong, all these last 40 years to get to the edge of the precipice; our next urgent, without prevarication, step could well take us over the edge. He acknowledges that the nation is on the precipice because of bad governance and proposes this NTA a solution.

“Behind all the problems lies the failure of governance and political leadership, and the latter is not exclusive to Zanu-PF, but bedevils all political parties without exception,” argued Mandaza.

“It is this realisation that prompted the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHCoD) call for the Sabbath, the establishment of the National Convergence Platform (NCP) last year, and the call for political settlement, national dialogue and a transitional arrangement. This call is now more urgent than ever in the face of the apparent inability of the government to address the Covid-19 crisis.”

This is just nonsense. If Mandaza believes, as stated above, that the root cause of Zimbabwe’s economic and political problems is bad governance and that both Zanu PF and the entourage of opposition parties are all beyond the pale then he can not endorse ZHCoD’s NTA proposal too. The Church leaders are calling for Zanu PF and MDC leaders to settle their differences and form the NTA.

It was Zanu PF and MDC’s failed leadership that frog marched the nation these last 40 years to get us where we are today, standing on the edge of the precipice it is insane to even suggest the same failed leaders, or be it under a new title, will lead us away from the precipice.

As long as Zanu PF and MDC leaders are allowed to play any role in the NTA, it will be a Zanu PF government in all but name, and the next step will be over the edge into the abyss!

“The partial solutions to previous crises — Lancaster House, the Unity Accord, the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the coup — did not address the fundamental problem: the politics and the lack of a genuine, people-centred social contract,” continued Mandaza.

The primary purpose of the 2008 GPA was for the GNU partners to implement the raft of democratic reforms designed to end the blatant cheating and wanton violence and ensure future elections were free, fair and credible. The GPA was not perfect but it could have achieved its primary objective. It failed to so for two reasons, one, Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends sold-out. They failed to implement even one reform in five years. Mugabe bribed them with the trappings of high office, ministerial limos, generous salaries, a US$ 4 million mansion for Tsvangirai, etc. and, with their snouts in the feeding trough, MDC leaders forgot about the reforms.  

The second reason for the failure was the people themselves. For all the decades of clamouring for democratic change, the overwhelming majority of Zimbabweans had no clue the primary purpose of the GPA was to implement the reforms, what those reforms were, how they were to be implemented, etc., etc. The people failed to effectively supervise Tsvangirai et al to make sure they implemented the reforms and not just waste time enjoying themselves.

A healthy and functioning democracy demands an informed and diligent electorate. A democracy is a government by the people for the people; the people are the master and those holding public office are their servants. How can the people hold the politicians to democratic account if they have no clue what the politicians are doing?

Of course, we the people, have let ourselves down badly by failing to take our responsibility to make sure we have good, competent and accountable leaders at all times. We are standing on the edge of the precipitous abyss today not because we took a wrong turn two or five years ago! We have been down this ruinous path for the last 40 years.

Zimbabwe is in this economic and political hell-on-earth because of 40 years of gross mismanagement, rampant corruptions and tyrannical rule by Zanu PF. The party blatantly rigged the July 2018 elections, the party does not have the democratic mandate to govern, it is illegitimate. The corona virus outbreak has brought into sharp focus the critical importance of a competent government because Zanu PF’s blundering incompetence have made a bad situation worse.

“The global pandemic will take a heavy toll on the health sector, with many lives being lost and raise poverty to levels not seen in recent times, including worsening food security. A domestic collapse also would have potentially adverse regional effects, where spill-overs are significant,” confessed Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube, a begging letter to IMF. He was begging for a bailout to avoid Zimbabwe imploding.

The IMF has ignored him completely because IMF and the international community regards Zimbabwe as a Banana Republic ruled by corrupt, incompetent and vote rigging thugs. As long as Zimbabwe remains a pariah state then the country will into implode into economic and political chaos.

What the country needs to do is take a step back; Zanu PF must step down and allow the appointment of an totally independent body that the IMF and the international community can trust to implement the democratic reforms and thus end the country’s pariah state curse. To admit Zanu PF leaders are corrupt and incompetent and yet still want them back in the NTA is the kind of irrational thinking that got us to the edge of the precipice in the first place and, if followed, will take over the edge.

“Think, that you may not walk over the edge of the precipitous abyss: the spirit indeed is willing, but the intellect is weak!” to paraphrase Jesus’ warning.

"We relaxing lockdown to level 2" said Mnangagwa - is WHO approving this nonsense then N Garikai

“We have gradually lifted lockdown restrictions in some sectors such as mining and the marketing of tobacco. Noticing that there is now a gradual increase of infections, the lockdown will continue for the next 14 days, however, relaxed to Level 2,” said President Mnangagwa.

What is clear here is the lockdown is being applied at random! There was no rational reason for imposing a total lockdown on 30 March and now the lockdown is being eased for no rational reason either. To stop corona virus from getting in the country and, once in, the steps required to stop it spreading must be based on accurate information on valid corona virus cases data.

We all know that corona virus originated in China and the only way to spread it from China to another country is someone with the virus bringing it into the country! New Zealand is one of the countries that imposed a strict 14-day self-isolation on all coming into the country. Those who could not self-isolate for whatever reason were put in quarantine.

Zimbabwe’s self-isolation policy of new arrivals was a laissez faire, to say the least. If the new arrivals have no high temperature and any other corona virus symptoms they were allowed into the country, mix freely, advised to self-isolate as soon as practical.

Only those who showed corona virus symptoms were to be detained, tested and, if positive, placed in strict self-isolation. This was in theory, in practice even those with symptoms were allowed to go free. The late Zororo Makamba had the symptoms and he used his political influence to be allowed to go free.

The only way to be sure the virus had not sneaked in and was spreading was to make sure as many people with the corona virus like symptoms were tested, especially those who had been outside the country or in touch with someone who had. “Test, trace, isolate and treat!” World Health Organisation (WHO) advised.

When Zimbabwe imposed the 3-week total lockdown on 30 March 2020 the country had 7 confirmed cases of covid-19 and one death and had carried out less than 200 tests. How anyone can ever justify a total lockdown on the population of 15 million on the basis of such data beggars belief!

The regime promised to ramp up its testing during the lockdown from 40 test or so a day to 1 000 per day. The country received 50 000 test kits. At the end of the 3-week total lockdown, the country had 25 confirmed covid-19 cases and had done only 3 308 tests – a far cry from 21 000 tests promised! The regime reduced the lockdown rules and imposed a 2-week level 3 lockdown.

At the end of the 2-week level 3 lockdown the number of cases was 40 and with less than 7 000 tests carried out – less than 20% of the expected 35 000 tests.

People have asked why Zimbabwe has not been testing and all they ever got was the usual stone-silence from the regime. There is no doubt that this Zanu PF regime’s failure to test and get accurate data on the virus is putting the whole nation at increased risk of the corona virus spreading just as China did by being secretive at the outbreak of the virus.   

There is no doubt the whole world would have been spared the economic devastation and human misery and deaths corona virus was wrecked on us all if China had not silence Dr Li Wenliang.  WHO has been rightly criticised for not carrying out a thorough and independent investigation on corona virus as soon as it was clear China was not being honest, transparent and truthful about the virus.

It is clear that this Zimbabwe government is not being honest, transparent and truthful on how widespread the corona virus is the country. Pretending that some with corona virus has malaria, for example, is dangerous in that many people are being put at unnecessary risk.

The people of Zimbabwe cannot rely on this Zanu PF government to give them accurate information on covid-19 cases no more that the world could rely on China at the outbreak of the virus. Just as WHO has duty of care to the nation to stop diseases becoming an epidemic and to the world to stop disease becoming a pandemic; WHO owes the ordinary people of Zimbabwe, not the country's corrupt ruling elite, the truth on how covid-19 is spreading in the country.

We fcuked up big time Ncube finally confessed, "an extended mea culpa" IMF ignored - not surprised P Guramatunhu

President Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF government has finally admitted the regime fcuked up (excuse my French but there really is no other suitable phrase) big time!

“In an extended mea culpa on behalf of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has written to the international financial institutions (IFIs) in Washington saying it takes 'responsibility for the recent policy missteps during late 2019' which have led to inflation currently running at an annual rate of over 500% year,” reported Africa Confidential.

“In the letter, a copy of which has been seen by Africa Confidential, the usually upbeat Ncube paints a relentlessly grim picture. 'Zimbabwe's economy could contract by 15-20% during 2020 – with very serious social consequences. Already 8.5 million Zimbabweans (half the population) are food insecure,' he writes.

'The global pandemic will take a heavy toll on the health sector, with many lives being lost and raise poverty to levels not seen in recent times, including worsening food security. A domestic collapse also would have potentially adverse regional effects, where spillovers are significant.’

Minister Ncube also admitted the country’s other major problem of corrupt and lack of democratic accountability. The letter promised an 'ambitious anti-corruption strategy’ and to 'engaging in National Dialogue’. But for the regime was begging for US$ 200 million bailout to avert the pending implosion.

The letter was indeed “an extended mea culpa”; a confession of one’s sinfulness “through my own fault” in the true Roman Catholic Church acts of contrition. Except, of course, the regime was only going through the motion of contrition without even the pretence of being sincere much less honouring any of the promises.

Indeed, Minister Ncube might as well have added a p/s “All the above confessions and promises were made under duress! The Zimbabwe government has no intention of honouring any of the promises.”

The IMF, the WB and all the other major financial institutions to whom the letter was address have all ignored Minister Ncube. They have all heard the same promises and seen the begging bowl before. They have all made a generous contribution only for the regime to renege on its promises. They are not going to fall for the promised under duress excuse again.

Besides, during these very, very difficult times when the whole world is suffering the consequence of the corona virus pandemic there are many, many other nations knocking at IMF’s door seeking help. Nations that had done nothing wrong and will use the assistance wisely, these are certainly more deserving of the bailout.

“(Strive) Masiyiwa said the World Bank, the IMF and other multilateral institutions should create humanitarian trusts for Zimbabwe and Sudan, both under United States sanctions, to be managed by third parties to ensure a fair distribution of life-saving aid,” continued the Africa Confidential report.

'For the avoidance of doubt; this is not an appeal for the lifting of sanctions,' said Masiyiwa. 'I don't want to get into the issues around how and why there are sanctions. Everyone knows I had to flee my country because of persecution 20 years ago,' argued Masiyiwa.

Masiyiwa is right, the IMF will need a third party to distribute the life-saving aid in Zimbabwe because stopping Zanu PF muscling in and creaming off the aid is the biggest challenge they will have to face. It is no secret that most of the covid-19 donations by UNDP, WHO and other donors, who have no third parties to distribute the aid, has been commandeered to equip Rock Foundation Hospital and other facilities for the exclusive use by the chefs.

Of course, it is an outrage that any donor should have to fight-off anyone, much less those who task it is to provide the aid, to provide life-saving aid to the people.  

Besides; even the simple minded amongst the Zimbabwean must cringe with shame at the reality of 8.5 million Zimbabweans facing starvation in a country that, until Mugabe seized the farms to give to his cronies mostly, was the breadbasket of the region.

The bottom line is Zimbabwe is in this political and economic mess because of 40 years of bad governance. Zanu PF is only now ever admitting to being corrupt and incompetent but even then, the party will not accept that it must step down.

Zimbabwe would not need a bailout if it had a competent and accountable government. The country is imploding; a financial bailout will postpone the implosion, at best, but to guarantee political stability and economic prosperity we must cure ourselves of the curse of pariah state by reforms and good governance.

As a nation, we have kicked the can of bad governance down the street for the last 40 years; now with the corona virus outbreak, having a bad government is a curse on top of another curse – a luxury we can ill afford!