BY BAYANDA NKATHA

Victoria Falls, a major tourism destination, is at high risk of Mpox outbreak due to its proximity to the border and the heavy presence of cross-border truckers.

Stakeholders met on Wednesday to strategize on preparing for any outbreak, taking no chances after the tourism sector was severely hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The meeting, convened by the Victoria Falls City Council health department and Ministry of Health and Child Care, aimed to sensitize stakeholders and share information on the disease.

Fungayi Musinami, Hwange District Medical Officer, emphasized that the meeting was just a sensitization exercise to ensure that everyone gets the right information.

“We want to stay ahead and ensure everyone gets the right information,” she said.

Musinami highlighted that the presence of same-sex commercial sex workers and cross-border truck drivers makes the chances of the spread of the virus high.

“Our biggest concern as Victoria Falls is trucks movement through Victoria Falls and Kazungula borders from as far as DR Congo,” she said.

“As a city, that will be the thrust of our response to start from. Another aspect of response is men having sex with men and the truck stop where there is a lot happening.”

Khaliphani Tshuma, Victoria Falls City Council safety and health officer, stressed the importance of citizens getting correct information from credible sources.

“Symptoms can take up to 21 days to manifest, and include swollen lymph nodes, rash, headache, muscle ache, back pain, low energy, sore throat, and fever,” he said.

“Rash and blisters are common on the face, palms, feet, groin, genitals, mouth, throat, anus, rectum eyes, and privates. The virus can spread through physical contact with an infected person or through mouth-mouth or a mother to child at birth.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) recently declared Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS), respectively.

The stakeholders agreed that preparedness is key to preventing the spread of Mpox in Victoria Falls.

The meeting was attended by various stakeholders, including government departments, ports authorities, and the private sector.

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has refused to disclose details of two Kenilworth boys who were bitten by police dogs, amid allegations that they were illegal gold panners.

ZRP national spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said, “We are looking into that incident and the allegations and we will be able to give a detailed statement in due course.

Did it happen? We ask again.

“Nokuthaba, we are conducting investigations.”

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Mbongeni Hleza, from Gwitshi in Nkayi,  a victim of the police dog attack, has shared his traumatic experience.

He says he had just left his home to seek employment at the mines as his parents are struggling to look after them.

“I saw people running away as I was at the shops,”he said.

“I left home to look for employment in mines. They set two dogs on me, and they caught my trousers, and I immediately sat down. Baqhubeka benikela ukuthi zingilume and they kept laughing appearing drunk.

“The other bit me on the stomach, almost ripping off my intestines, while the other caught me on the arm and the other proceeded to the thigh while the other went to the neck.”

Another victim, 17-year-old Sabelo Dube, also shared his experience of being attacked by four police dogs.

He says he was sitting by the shops (Lukona) when he saw people running away as a police vehicle drove in.

“I decided to walk away, but shortly after, police sent dogs after me.”

When asked what the police said, Sabelo replied, “They were there, instructing me to stand still and let the dogs bite me to death. I complied.”

He also said, “They didn’t say what I had done. They were wearing full uniform. They said ‘uyabaleka gweja?’ (are you running away?) and I responded ‘I am not.’” Sabelo added, “I wish they could be arrested.”

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Minister of Provincial Affairs Richard Moyo has responded to complaints from Hwange residents about pollution in the area, saying that the government is engaging with stakeholder companies to address the issue.

“We are engaging stakeholder companies that are all operating in coal mining in Hwange, working in collaboration with the Environmental Management Agency and Hwange Colliery, to address the issue of pollution,” Minister Moyo said.

“We are trying our level best as Matabeleland North province government to address the issue of pollution in Hwange. If you look closely now, the fluid that gets in the Deka river has been reduced. We have also tried to quell the pollution in the air and we are still trying to address that.”

Residents of Ingagula have been complaining about excessive dust pollution from haulage trucks and coal mining activities, which they say is causing respiratory diseases and other health problems.

Despite numerous petitions and engagements with authorities, including the Zimbabwe Power Company and Chinese companies involved in coal mining, the community remains vulnerable to the health risks.

Councillor Bryn Chikumbo has warned that the community is “sitting on a health time bomb” and has called for urgent action to address the pollution. Residents have also expressed frustration and anger over the lack of action from authorities to address the issue.

Health experts have warned that continuous exposure to air pollution such as coal ash and soil dust may lead to serious health problems, including pneumoconiosis, a group of interstitial lung diseases caused by breathing in certain kinds of dust particles that damage a person’s lungs.

The community is calling for safe mining practices and urgent action to address the pollution. Area MP Daniel Molokele has assured residents that he will raise the issue in Parliament.