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Mwonzora’s MDC Alliance backs graft accused Victoria Falls councillors

Published

3 years ago

October 19, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC Alliance says it suspects that corruption allegations being levelled against its councillors in Victoria Falls are politically motivated as pressure mounts on authorities to act on the alleged pilfering of the local authority’s resources.

Victoria Falls residents and war veterans from Matabeleland North are pushing for a lifestyle audit for councillors and the local authority’s management amid claims of a looting frenzy at a time the council is struggling to provide basic services.

The calls for an audit grew following the arrest of city mayor Somvelo Dhlamini about a fortnight ago on fraud allegations.

There are also allegations that town clerk Ronnie Dube and other councillors are involved in corrupt activities related to the parcelling out of commercial stands.

The Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association (Vifacora) claimed last week that it has evidence that Dube and some councillors sold a prime commercial stand number 8300 for $4 million instead of $14 million before councillors and some senior managers shared $400 000 that was paid as a bribe by the lowest bidder.

Responding to the allegations, MDC Alliance spokesperson Witness Dube told VicFallsLive that they were sceptical about the developments in Victoria Falls.

Dhlamini and other Victoria Falls councillors have remained loyal to Mwonzora after he saved them from recalls when the MDC Alliance was still led by Nelson Chamisa, who now leads the Citizens Coalition for Change.

“The party is seized with the matter of rampant corruption that is alleged to be happening in Victoria Falls and indeed, the party has a very keen interest in issues of corruption in any of the local authorities where we have representation,” Dube said.

“However, in the issue of Victoria Falls there are some dimensions which the party is not comfortable with in terms of what we suspect are strong political hands at play leading to perhaps the possibility of having spurious allegations of corruption where there is no such corruption.

“We will assume that our officials are innocent until they are proven guilty by a competent court of law and as a party we have a complete organ dedicated to those issues who are in the process of investigating everything that has led to the allegations, which has led the incarceration of our sitting councillors or the executive members in the council, some of which has led the party to be viewed in bad light everywhere.”

Dube said the MDC Alliance valued honesty and diligence, and as such, they were not going to interfere with the investigations.

“I can assure residents in Victoria Falls and anywhere in Zimbabwe that we are not a party that is going to stand in the way of the Zimbabwe Republic Police or Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission or any whistle blower for that matter where corruption is concerned,” he said.

“We will only ventilate and come out in defence of any party official if we find that they are being victimised by political hands for instance in this case our colleagues in the newly formed political party (Citizens for Coalition of Change), or even in the ruling party we will not brook the abuse of our elected officials and victimization through whatever means that may take.”

He added: “We are a party that abhors corruption because it amounts to the misuse of public funds, it amounts to the enrichment of public officials through public resources.

“So we are totally against corruption and as a party our policy is that we do not stand on the way of any efforts to stop corruption or to stamp out corruption.”

Meanwhile, Vifacora has written a letter to the local government ministry, speaker of parliament and police, among other institutions demanding investigations into the alleged corruption and mismanagement at the Victoria Falls City Council.

Ratepayers have also signed a petition demanding action against those implicated that implicated in corruption cases.

National

Zimbabwe fast-tracks approval of long-acting HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir

Published

3 weeks ago

November 25, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Zimbabwe has taken a major step in the fight against HIV following the rapid approval of Lenacapavir, a groundbreaking long-acting injectable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) authorised the drug in just 23 days, marking one of the fastest regulatory approvals in the country’s history.

The application, submitted by pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences in October, underwent an expedited review because of its public health importance. MCAZ says the fast-tracked process did not compromise scientific scrutiny, with the product subjected to a rigorous assessment of its safety, efficacy and quality.

Lenacapavir is designed for adults and adolescents weighing at least 35kg who are HIV-negative but at substantial risk of infection. Unlike traditional daily oral PrEP, the medicine is administered as a six-monthly injection, following an initiation phase that includes one injection and oral tablets on Days 1 and 2. Health authorities say this long-acting formulation could dramatically improve adherence and expand prevention options, particularly for communities where daily pill-taking is difficult.

MCAZ Director-General Richard T. Rukwata described the approval as a landmark moment in Zimbabwe’s HIV response.

“The rapid approval of Lenacapavir reflects MCAZ’s dedication to accelerating access to trusted, high-quality health products. This milestone brings new hope for HIV prevention and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding public health,” he said.

To fast-track the process, the Authority applied a regulatory reliance approach, drawing on scientific assessments from the World Health Organization’s Prequalification Programme (WHO PQ). This allowed evaluators to build on internationally recognised review processes while ensuring Zimbabwe’s own standards were met.

The introduction of Lenacapavir comes as Zimbabwe continues efforts to reduce new HIV infections, particularly among young people and key populations who face barriers to consistent PrEP use. Public health experts say the drug’s twice-yearly dosing could be a game changer in improving uptake and protection.

MCAZ says it remains committed to ensuring Zimbabweans have access to safe, effective and good-quality medical products, in line with its mandate under the Medicines and Allied Substances Control Act.

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ZimParks to host first-ever International Wildlife Conservation symposium

Published

2 months ago

October 17, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) will hold its inaugural International Wildlife Conservation Symposium under the theme “Wildlife Conservation and Sustainable Development.”

The two-day event, scheduled for October 22 to 23, next week, will take place at the Management Training Bureau in Msasa, Harare. It will bring together conservationists, researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss key issues around wildlife protection and sustainable development.

The symposium will focus on eight sub-themes, namely Wildlife Conservation and Transboundary Management, Freshwater, Fisheries and Aquatic Management, Sustainable Tourism and Socio-Economic Development, Human-Wildlife Interactions, Environmental Health and Safety, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, and Natural Resource Policy and Governance.

ZimParks says the symposium will provide a platform to exchange ideas and deepen understanding of the link between wildlife conservation and sustainable development. Members of the public, students, and professionals are encouraged to attend.

National

CCC legislators in road accident, Nkulumane MP dies

Published

2 months ago

October 10, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

One Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator has died while four others were seriously injured in a road accident that occurred early Friday morning near Shangani along Bulawayo-Harare highway.

CCC spokesperson Promise Mkhwananzi confirmed the accident, saying it happened between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. when the vehicle carrying the members collided with an elephant.

“The vehicle hit an elephant along the Shangani area, and unfortunately Honourable Desire Moyo, the Member of Parliament for Ngulumane, died on the scene,” Nkwananzi said.

He added that the other occupants — Honourable Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Honourable Sethulo Ndebele, and Libion Sibanda — sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital in Bulawayo.

Nkwananzi said he was deeply shocked by Moyo’s death, as he had met him just yesterday in Harare.

“I had seen Moyo yesterday and we spent about an hour chatting outside Jamieson Hotel about the party and our future plans for national development,” he said. “I’m gutted by his passing. It’s a huge loss for the party.”

He conveyed his condolences to the Moyo family and wished a speedy recovery and strength to the families of the other CCC members who remain in critical condition.

He said further details, including the name of the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment, would be released once confirmed.

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