
Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZNA) – Re: Update on Ongoing Industrial Action (05.08.2020)



There are soon polls and the both CHADEMA and ACT-Wazelendo are preparing their parties to challenge the supremacy of Chama Cha Mapundzi (CCM) and its incumbent President Joseph Magufuli.
The CCM is already entrenching all walks of life, the flow of information, allowing to participate politically, educate and hold press conferences are all after getting a nod from the state. No party can function or work without the authority giving them way. That is the reality in Tanzania under Magufuli’s reign.
No journalists, civil servant or anyone else can publish content without securing permission or at least follow strict guidelines. The restrictive nation ahead of the polls is a gift to the ruling party and their associates.
CHADEMA is coming with their big man, the resolute opposition candidate and voice of reason in Tundu Lissu. Last time around in the previous election, they used the deflector from CCM Edward Lowassa, who has now returned there. He was a marionet and a useful figure, but not someone who could defeat the CCM.
Now, ACT Wazelendo is using similar tools in another high ranking official from the CCM, who has fallen out of love there. Bernard Membe. Who is the Presidential candidate for the party ahead of the elections, instead of Zitto Kabwe. Who have big-shots both in Zanzibar and for the whole Republic with Membe.
Lissu and Membe will be in the same waters as Lowassa. There are no returns in sight, the state and CCM is intertwined and so connected, that only a miracle baby can separate them at this point. The walls are covered with heroics of the CCM and practically, the state and CCM is the same. Therefore, to topple Magufuli, you need the state apparatus to turn on itself and that is impossible.
Membe and Lissu knows this. Kabwe knows this too. They are opposites of the regime, who controls everything, but they only have their voice and their platform. They don’t have the army, the agencies, the institutions or the power to finesse this here game.
Just like Lowassa was a promising person, a high ranking and regarded man. He still could sufficiently be viable to the mechanics of CCM. There was no return to get out of this. There was only out-cries and devastations.
We can just imagine the return of Membe at some point too. When he has made up the grievances with the CCM and paid amends to the ones he needs too.
Lissu is popular and is a rising star, but the state might dim those lights by all means possible. While Membe will trade similar waters to Lowassa and hope for a safe journey home after the polls. It is a gamble for Kabwe, but it was the same for Freeman Mbowe in 2015. That didn’t work out and most likely will not do it in 2020.
Magufuli got this, but not because of his merit or his skills. However, because of how incorporated the CCM is and how its tools are there to destroy its competition. Peace.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga have today been appointed to be the Minister of Health by the President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The President is allowed to do assign the VP as he see fit, however, at the same time the VP should not hold another office or employment. Those are article 99 and 103 of the 2013 Constitution.
So, there is a merit to either case, if the President is allowed to appoint Chiwenga as both VP and Minister or not at all. However, I will not dwell on that. That is something for lawyers and attorneys to discuss.
What is more striking is the guy who would sack every single nurse who was demonstrating in the Republic. There been plenty of doctors, nurses and health workers who has demonstrated, because they were incapacitated. They did not have the funds or the salaries to pay for the added inflation and therefore, lacked livelihood for their work.
Chiwenga is a man who can be for weeks for treatment in China. He could even be gone for months away. The VP has also been airlifted to India, South Korea and China. In 2019 he was 4 months in China. He has travelled back and fourth for review of treatment as well. Therefore, the man knows how to get health care as health care tourist, but not the one who uses the Health Care in his own republic.
So, its weird that the man who in fury can sack all nurses are suddenly in-charge of them and the doctors. The unions who has fought against the incapacitation. The ZHDA, ZINA, SHDA and Apex Council have all written about their grievances, lack of equipment and salaries. As the state are not following up on the issues at the Ministry of Health and for the Health Workers in the Republic.
Chiwenga will be oil and water. He has no fuse or understanding of the troubles of others. They are just to follow chain-of-command. That the President is giving him this role in the midst of global pandemic. Is militarising another ministry by hiring yet another military man to have a top role. Just yesterday, the permanent secretary who was appointed was a former air-force commander or something like that. This is therefore, continuing military involvement everywhere.
VP Chiwenga will not make the Ministry better. Trust me, he will just make it worse and ensure more rampant corruption, fake tenders and secure the will of ZANU-PF. There will be no revolution of the Health Care.
The VP is soon on a plane to China anyway to get treatment for an illness. Not like he will be in a hospital in Harare. Unless, his on his deathbed and cannot get airlifted abroad. Peace.



Well, so there is another one. Would think there have been enough speeches and national addresses on the matter. Just like always, because I don’t care to be to specific or care. I will only address the funniest quotes. Address them and let, bygones be bygones.
There will be seriously pledges that the President cannot commit too. Neither have infrastructure or funds to do. Like he has promised, masks, radios and Village TVs. However, little to non has been given. Only more Presidential Directives and Guidelines, which have to be explained the next day by various of ministries and parastatal’s who has do the bidding to fix.
Therefore, this edition will not be different from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. Who was late to the party, but still delivering his common posho and calling it a day. Also, today he dropped a trailer or a documentary, where undated clips from South Africa and Brazil, where the situation on COVID-19 is dire and harder hitting than in the Republic. A nice scare tactic to ensure him reasons for extended lockdown and continue to block public gatherings.
Favourite Quotes of the Evening:
“Like you’ve seen in the video, you notice that many of these countries have so many sick people but they don’t have beds. Because of the firm steps we took, that’s why we have few numbers, much less than beds” (Museveni, 21.07.2020)
“We shall not accept anything that threatens life. That is why I involve our scientists in everything I do. We are fortunate to have good scientists. If you attack our scientists, I can tell you to go to hell” (Museveni, 21.07.2020).
“Therefore salons shall open, provided they ensure masks for everybody and face shields for the operators, temperature guns, social distancing and no air conditioning” (Museveni, 21.07.2020).
“For the bodas, the boda rider shall put on a helmet to cover the face and enclose the mask. The person behind shall have a mask. The rider should record every person he transports. They will start on the 27th of July” (Museveni, 21.07.2020).
“With the schools, we have to make a decision before September because that is when the 3rd term is supposed to start. This is a big issue. We are going to put a lot of emphasis on distance learning like providing radios to learners” (Museveni, 21.07.2020).
“For the churches, I have asked the scientists to continue consulting with them on how they can meet safely. So for now, let them remain closed” (Museveni, 21.07.2020).
“The airport and border points will remain closed until the situation abroad settles down. I know we are losing a lot of money because of tourism, but life is better than wealth” (Museveni, 21.07.2020).
“This selfishness is not acceptable and in some cases, we’ll have to confront it. If you don’t care about our country, we shall not care about you. you must care, if you don’t care about us, go to another country. Those threatening to riot, we shall crash you” (Museveni, 21.07.2020):
My 2 cents to this mess:
What we are really seeing is that his proud of all his measures. That the Republic been able to stagnate the Coronavirus. It has cost, but it has been able to stop it by the lockdown. That is why his proud after dropping a documentary about elsewhere today.
We are seeing his defending the scientists. The scientists that finds solutions for him and decisions for him. He follows them or if not his guiding them to make sense.
Today, he will struggle to defend. His opening salons and arcades with strings, also in a weeks time opening up for boda-boda’s. All with measures and needs for both the operators of boda boda’s and the salons. These are now able to open, however the airport and houses of worship is still closed. Like there can be no measures there to stop the spread and scientific reasons for so.
It seems that the President keeps the churches closed, because if that opens than rallies and campaigns can be legal and he wants to keep scientific elections by any means.
Also, he continued the promise of far distance learning and radios for the villages. That shows that the previous promise returns, but still no proof or plan to actually do it. The state has to make up stuff and explain that one.
There will be guidelines made tomorrow. Statement from various of ministries will come out too. To explain the new measures and everything. That is just how things are and some ministers are busy writing to print tomorrow. Peace.

“ARTICLE 2 A Bro is always entitled to do something stupid, as long as the rest of his Bros are all doing it.” – Barney Stinson, The Bro Code
I don’t know if Nairobi Senator Sakaja Johnson is a man the tears of the lion, the now former senator who was the Chairperson of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee in concern to COVID-19. A man who resigned from that committee, because he endured a few drinks through the night this weekend in a club. The man who was arrested and detained at Kilimani Police Station, Nairobi. A man who must pay a fine of 15,000 Ksh. but will without a doubt not serve time for defying the curfew imposed by legislators and the authorities.
He is off the hook because of his power, that his an honourable and a senator. An ordinary citizen would be in legal jeopardy. They would face long time and consequences. Therefore, his lucky to get off the hook. The Courts are usually not that friendly to people who breeches the laws of the Republic. However, the Senator got good company and suction.
Johnsone is lucky, because he will not face more consequences for this. He has lost a Chairperson position, but his role in the August House is safe. He will not face the Parliament and be impeached. He will linger on and even get credit for asking forgiveness and stepping down.
Still, it will not have cost him much. He had a fun day out. Toyed around in club and was bestowed awhile in a Police Station. It was a drunken escapade, a journey of plenty and many has walked before. Drinking the tears of the lion, enjoying the brew and getting buzzed. That is not weird at all. However, during curfew and with lockdowns it’s a bit of stretch.
The Senator should know better, in an ordinary day to day, this wouldn’t be an issue. It wouldn’t even hit the headlines. Everyone could see the honourable at a bar, a pub or a club hanging out drinking some beers. No one would deny that and let the man be on his merry.
However, this is curfew and lockdown days. Where the state has closed schools and other public venues. Where the state has initiated hard regulations on the public to stem the spread of the COVID-19. Something the Senator has participated in and been a part of. Not just some random bloke asking to be drunk. No, a man who knows what he did and who sanctioned other along the way.
If the other brothers could do something stupid. It would have been fine and dandy, no one would have cared about his escapades. No one would have even turned their heads and been shocked. However, now that this is deemed illegal. The man faces scrutiny, because he didn’t uphold his part of the bargain.
You have embarrassed yourself. There is no way you can deny that. You tried to downplay the arrest, but you must pay a fine. Your lucky to be gentleman of the Parliament. If not, you would be in so much more trouble.
That’s why the next time you do something stupid. Let it be legal for everyone. So, that you’re not breeching the code among us bros. Peace.

For the ones thinking social distancing, lockdown measures and COVID-19 isn’t a nice sideshow for a “Scientific” election. Sorry brother, you were wrong. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) and its allies can campaign in the villages, towns, give away gear and even occupy churches for rallies.
That is now proven over the last two weeks. Several of ministers has been busy “campaigning” using government programs. Suddenly speaker Kadaga is in her district giving away masks. Minister of Justice Kamuntu holding rally in a church and in a yard. A State Minister for Health Aceng holding a rally in a sub-county in district, where she the flag-bearer in the election. Also, Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Tumwebaze held a rally for SAGE too. Minister Kasolo have been holding rallies in the name “Emyooga” too. All of this is happening and we are supposed to believe this all part public official work.
However, the opposition can nearly participate on radio shows. Without the police officers coming barging in. Opposition parties cannot hold press conferences at their offices without being raided. Opposition parties cannot met activists at own party offices up-country without getting their MPs arrested. This is all things that happen in the same window of the Ministers holding rallies.
Meanwhile, we are supposed to cheer and joy for the Movements opportunity to campaign. They are using all tricks of the trade. While the policing of the opposition continues. The opposition cannot do anything without meeting police officers. This is a renewed Public Order Management Act (POMA) just under Presidential Guidelines of Lockdown during COVID-19. Which is supposed to be supported by scientists.
However, the same people who are running the guidelines are breeching it and not begging for mercy. The same folk who are closing venues, churches and public rallies are holding the exact same thing. This is really showing how blind-sided the Movement is.
They are thinking people are so stupid, that they are not understanding or grasping the issues at hand.
This is electioneering before the Elections Road Map and scientific measures that was put in. Therefore, the concern for spreading COVID-19 cannot be that big. When the Ministers are all up in people’s faces and holding rallies. While, they are closing everything else for everyone else. Unless, they are immortal and super-humans, the sort who cannot spread the virus nor be asymptomatic. These MPs and Ministers are so special, that they are above the law and above the fear of the coronavirus.
Everyone else has to be frightened and are in danger. They are not like these people and they are unique, they are special and true VIPs. These folks would usually have the ability to travel abroad for healing. The rest have to go to a hospital with lacking equipment, staff and enough ICU beds. That is just the mere reality.
If the state was worried about the COVID-19. Its high ranking officials wouldn’t campaign on a regular. If the state was holding free and fair elections. The opposition would be able to do internal party works and also prepare for 2021 in a fair manner. However, that is not true. The opposition cannot hold rallies or do their thing. Nevertheless, the Movement can do whatever it want.
That shows the injustice and impunity of the state. They are just misusing their power and reign. It is so obvious, that’s its foolish at best. Peace.

Today, State Minister Evelyn Anite held a sensitization program in Koboko Municipality. Seemingly, just like State Minister Haruna Kasolo holding Emyooga launching all around the Republic too. Minister Frank Tumwebaze launching SAGE system across the Republic. There is also the likes of State Minister Professor Ephraim Kamuntu holding a rally in Sheema district. Also, the State Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng in Aromo sub-county in Lira District.
You can see the scheme, the State Ministers has all recently held rallies, meetings and been in public. While holding public gatherings, when the campaigning is supposed to be digital and “scientific”. However, that hasn’t mattered for the Emyooga, SAGE or whatever else these people been doing.
They are using the banner of government programs to campaign. These Ministers are using their roles as government officials to hold rallies. While telling the public that they are doing something else.
We are seeing Ministers doing the public gatherings, while citizens are arrested in Kampala for watching Premier League matches. 32 citizens in a small space was moved from a pub showing the matches to a crowded prison without any social distancing. This is happening, while the Ministers are allowed to hold gatherings in public without thinking about this. They have tents and closed venues, but for political reasons.
If people wants to watch Premier League or be gathering in public. They should invite a Minister from the Cabinet. Sensitize or learn about something useful. If not invite them to shed some knowledge about a government scheme and then put on a match on the big-screen. To ensure the legality of the event.
Because, the Minister can hold rallies, campaign rallies and use their ministries, their platform to practically campaign. Just like the President used the Operation Wealth Creation tour to campaign last year. This is copy of that, but using other means to do so. They are doing this in their own districts, across the Republic. All wearing yellow, spreading positive messages about the Movement and doing it ahead of elections. Instead of being scientific and following guidelines of the same government they represent.
That is just insulting common sense. The Movement, the Ministers can act a fool, but it doesn’t make it true. They can act like this is government business, but it seems like rallies. That’s why its deceiving. Especially, when these people are entitled to do so. While opposition and people cannot gather like this without getting arrested. That’s why its insulting to act this way. When others are silenced from doing the same. Peace.

“Should I request the police to push or arrest them? That would not be nice. If am vying for a political position, I have to handle people nicely” – Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng (15.07.2020)
The viral video clips and the pictures of the event on social media has created havoc and for a reason. She is one of the technocrats, one of the scientists who has gone in the front-line for the “Scientific” elections ahead of 2021 General Elections.
That your in the streets and roadside with fans in Aromo Sub-County in Lira District. Where you just happen to sort of campaign ahead of elections. Where you as a person is standing as Woman Representative for the National Resistance Movement (NRM). You launched that just mere days ahead of the event in Aromo. Therefore, the critics are allowed to question you.
You are talking about arrests, but people are dying in the streets for not wearing masks. While you hold a “training” and didn’t wear one. The public rallied with a procession, when opposition candidates cannot even go to Party Offices up-country or visit radio-stations. Therefore, the angle of humility is out of the window.
It is the entitlement and justification of it all. Thinking people are stupid. Thinking people are ignorant and blind. That we cannot see through the shades of grey. That we cannot grasp the reality of your actions.
That just days after launching your campaign in Kampala, you went to Lira district just to train people, but not caring about social distancing or masks. Just standing around with a bunch of people and being jolly.
She knows deep in her heart that others would have been arrested in the same situation. Jane Ruth knows that people have died in action because of similar events. The Minister knows all this. Know that the LDUs have taken lives for the simple fact, the brother or sister wasn’t wearing a mask. That’s why they deserved to die.
Therefore, humility would be fine. Would be swell and great. Instead, the Minister is showing her entitlement and lack of gratitude that her office and allegiance bring.
“I did a good job in my opinion but of course it is time of politics and any political opponent will pick that and flash it around” – Dr. Jane Ruth Acent (15.07.2020).
She has done a good job spelling out the guidelines and the needs to things from afar. However, when she went to Lira district. Jane Ruth became an operative politician searching for political gains. She is trying to cover that and all her bases. However, its not working.
All she could have done was to show some humility. Show some grace and understanding for the outrage. Alas, that is not the case. She is instead defending her actions and doing it with intent. An intent that only shows her entitlement, which would for others be in prison and answer charges. If she was just a random peasant, she would have been dead in the ditch. Peace.