Vic Falls COVID-19 taskforce overwhelmed

Published

5 years ago

July 30, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Victoria Falls Covid-19 task force team is appealing for funds to buy fuel for front line workers dealing with a rising number of infections around the resort city.

In a memo circulated by Christie Brookstein, who is part of the task force, the medical teams are now stretched.

“The Vic Falls medical teams are having to respond to a higher increase in Covid testing, contact tracing and attending to patients,” reads part of the memo seen by VicFallsLive.

“Unfortunately there have been some cases in our surrounding rural areas and our health workers are having to cover considerably wider areas this time round.

“Fuel supply has become a serious impediment to the team’s ability to be able to cover all of the following, maternal and child health iIssues, Covid-19 related issues and Injuries and accidents,”

The teams also need airtime for their mobile phones.

“Once again we are asking our incredible community to support this where they can in the form of cash or in kind,” Brookstein said.

“ Cash can be given to Kim Schlacter at Elephant’s Walk, Mixed Bag – Elephant’s Walk or Martin Mhlanga at Zuva Petroleum.”

As of Friday, Matabeleland North province had 424 active cases of Covid-19 with Hwange district contributing nearly 100 of them.

Zimbabwe is in the middle of a deadly third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic characterised by rising infections and deaths.

MPs question poor radio, TV coverage in Mat North

Published

1 hour ago

March 23, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Concerns over limited access to national broadcasting services in Matabeleland North Province were raised in Parliament.

MP Discent Bajila of Emakhandeni-Luveve constituency asked the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services:

“To explain why national radio and television coverage remains poor or non-existent in parts of Gokwe North District, Matabeleland North Province, Matabeleland South Province, and nearby districts, and to indicate whether there are any digital signal expansion plans in place before 2026.”

In a separate question, Joseph Bonda for Hwange East Constituency raised concern over weather information gaps in Hwange:

“Why the weather forecast for Hwange is not broadcast, given that it is a resort with municipal status and significant business activities.”

No responses were recorded.

In the community

MP press govt on Binga hospital, mortuary crisis

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Members of the Parliament of Zimbabwe have raised concern over the state of health services in Binga District, questioning delays in upgrading key facilities.

Binga South MP, Fanuel Cumanzala asked the Minister of Health and Child Care:

“Whether there are any plans to rehabilitate Binga District Hospital to make it suitable for a nursing school, as earlier announced by the government.”

He further queried:

“Whether there are any concrete plans to permanently resolve the challenges faced by Binga District, particularly regarding the mortuary, which has not been fully operational for a long time.”

In a follow-up question, the legislator pressed government on broader service delivery gaps:

“What measures are being taken to improve healthcare services in Binga District, particularly in rural areas.”

“What measures are being implemented to reduce incidence of malaria and waterborne diseases in the Zambezi Valley.”

“Whether there are any plans to upgrade and expand healthcare facilities in Binga District in light of population growth and increased economic activity.”

No response was recorded in the proceedings

In the community

Hwange residents invited to constitutional amendment public hearing

Published

3 days ago

March 20, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Residents in Hwange are set to have their say on proposed changes to the country’s supreme law as the Parliament of Zimbabwe rolls out public hearings on the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill.

The outreach programme will reach the coal-mining town on Tuesday, 31 March, with the hearing scheduled for 10am at Edmund Davies Hall, located at the No.1 Colliery Club near Thomas Coulter Primary School.

Attendance is free, and members of the public are being encouraged to participate and express their views on the proposed amendment.

According to Parliament, the hearings are part of a nationwide consultation process aimed at gathering citizens’ input before the bill is finalised. The proposed legislation—Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 3 Bill (H.B. 1, 2026)—seeks to introduce changes to key governance provisions.

The Matabeleland North outreach will begin in Tsholotsho on Monday, 30 March, before moving to Hwange, then to Binga on Wednesday, 1 April, and concluding in Lupane on Thursday, 2 April.

Parliament has also opened channels for written submissions, which can be sent to the Clerk of Parliament or via email.

However, authorities have warned that individuals wearing military uniforms, political party regalia, or carrying flags and badges will not be allowed into the hearings.

Residents in and around Hwange are urged to attend in numbers and make their voices heard.