Nurses down tools
BY MOSES MATENGA/ PHYLIS MBANJE/ PRAISEMORE SITHOLE/GARIKAI TUNHIRA
NURSES at major public hospitals in Harare and Bulawayo downed tools yesterday for fear of contracting the deadly COVID-19 virus after being forced to work without personal protective equipment (PPE).
The work stoppage, which is likely to plunge the health delivery system into turmoil given the recent countrywide surge in COVID-19 cases, came after a matron at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare reportedly succumbed to the killer disease on Wednesday.
Sally Mugabe Hospital maternity nurses vowed yesterday that they would not risk working without PPE, amid claims that seven staff members and 15 patients had also tested positive for COVID-19.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangangwa
AFTER setbacks spawned by Covid-19 last year, 2021 promises to be a year of progress as it begins today against the backdrop of a good rainy season, prospects of a vaccine against the global plague and unprecedented economic and infrastructural development, the President has said.
In his End of Year message to the nation at State House in Harare yesterday, according to the State media, President Mnangagwa said 2021 was a year to remain focused as the country moves towards Vision 2030 to be an upper middle class economy.
“Now is the time to press our foot on the pedal and confidently move forward undeterred, to modernise and industrialise our country towards Vision 2030.
Zimbabwe magistrates fear granting bail
guest column:Fidelicy Nyamukondiwa
Time and again, magistrates have been lambasted and ridiculed by High Court judges for denying bail in the lower court. The phrase “magistrate misdirected himself” is now a daily routine. Why does one misdirect himself in almost every case brought before him?
The law governing bail is very clear. It is part of the basics of law school. Above all, it has been interpreted so many times that repeating it seems like wasting time. When the same magistrate’s bail rulings are quashed and set aside everytime an appeal is lodged, you are forced to ask questions.