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President Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed Dr. Agnes Mahomva as Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet, which is a newly created post.
In 2019, Mnangagwa appointed Mahomva as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health and Child Care and later created a new post for her, Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 Response in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).
In a statement, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said:
<blockquote>
His Excellency the President has appointed Dr. Agnes Mahomva to the newly created post of Public Health Advisor to the President and Cabinet, with immediate effect.
Dr. Mahomva played a critical advisory and coordinating role during the COVID-19 Pandemic where she ensured that there was an evidence-based and well-coordinated division of labour between and among Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) and other significant entities including communities and the private sector.
This resulted in the successful management and containment of the national COVID-19 pandemic as documented in the 2021 and 2022 National COVID-19 pandemic response Intra Action Review (IAR) reports and the 2023 comprehensive National COVID-19 pandemic response video documentary.
The decision has been necessitated by the need to strengthen public health promotion efforts and enhance the country’s response to public health emergencies in view of the fact that public health issues span beyond the mandate of the Ministry responsible for health.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Mnangagwa Creates Another New Post For Agnes Mahomva

The Government has said it is no longer mandatory for people to wear face masks indoors, a requirement that has been in place since 2020 to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
However, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says learners should continue wearing masks and practising social distancing.
The lifting of the mask mandate comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern.
National COVID-19 task force coordinator Dr. Agnes Mahomva said people are still encouraged to wear face masks in poorly ventilated areas. <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/masks-no-longer-mandatory/">She said:</a>
<blockquote>
Cabinet specifically dropped the mandatory wearing of face masks but specifically recommended that we must still wear face masks if we are in a place that is at high risk of spreading COVID-19.
That is what Zimbabwe is doing and in line with the recommendations of WHO and in line with what we have learned in the country.
We must remain vigilant. Cabinet removed the mandatory aspect but strongly recommended that if you are at high risk, if you are in a crowded space, if you are in a poorly ventilated places, it recommends that you wear your masks in line with the new normal.
WHO announced that COOVID-19 is no longer a public emergency but if you go on the same statement, they go on to specifically to urge countries to remain vigilant as COVID-19 is not yet over.
Based on that, nations should remain vigilant and be vigilant in line with what we have seen and based on our experiences adopting a new normal.
New normal means we are not going back to where we were before COVID-19.
A new normal means institutionalising those best practices that we have been doing and successes that we have recommended and making sure that we remain vigilant.
</blockquote>
Before the latest development, it was mandatory for everyone to wear masks in public places, including shops, churches, markets, and public transportation.
Failure to comply with the mask mandate resulted in fines or other penalties.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

COVID-19: Wearing Of Masks No Longer Mandatory - Govt

The government has reiterated its call for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 amid a rise in new coronavirus infections.
New coronavirus infections more than doubled from 809 cases recorded in December 2022 to the current 1 923, with 17 people having succumbed to the disease in January this year.
Chief coordinator for the National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr. Agnes Mahomva said.
<blockquote>
We are observing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases.
As Government, our message hasn’t changed, we continue to urge people to get vaccinated as that is the only effective way to safeguard ourselves from this pandemic.
</blockquote>
Mahomva said genomic sequencing is ongoing at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, and to date, no new variants have been detected. She added:
<blockquote>
Government continues to assess and monitor the situation on the ground daily, guided by both local and global data to provide timely and science-driven adjustments to the national response, where necessary.
Government also strengthened its case management systems by ensuring health facilities have adequate oxygen supplies and the medicines required for supportive care of identified positive cases requiring treatment.
This was mostly motivated by the fact that a lot of returning residents and some visitors were expected to travel back to Zimbabwe in large numbers, with some coming from countries experiencing an increase in the number of daily new cases.
</blockquote>
Since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020, Zimbabwe has recorded 262 129 cases, including 255 181 recoveries and 5 656 deaths, with a recovery rate of 97 per cent. | <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/govt-pushes-for-vaccination-as-covid-19-cases-increase">The Sunday Mail</a>

COVID-19: Govt Urges Citizens To Be Vaccinated As Cases Rise

Visitors to Zimbabwe during the festive season will still be subjected to an on-site COVID-19 test if they cannot produce a vaccination card with all three jabs, a government official has said.
Speaking to State media, the Chief Coordinator for the National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Agnes Mahomva, said:
<blockquote>
As Government, we continue to strengthen our responses, we are very aware that as we go into the festive season a lot of visitors and returning residents are coming for holidays and visiting, so quite clearly some of those measures mean that we have to strengthen how we are responding at our ports of entry.
That still remains the latest Statutory Instrument-vaccination at ports of entry. 
The SI specifically states that one must be fully vaccinated, as well you do have to be tested if one is entering the country, it has not changed at all.
Port Health officers and teams are working flat out to strengthen the flow of clients as they come back into the country to ensure that people are not crowded in one place, are cleared fast enough and are supported and helped in whatever help they need. It is really important.
</blockquote>
Mahomva implored people who are not yet vaccinated to get the jabs to avoid severe illness in the event that they contract the novel coronavirus. She said:
<blockquote>
Everybody is aware, if you are fully vaccinated, your chances of getting severely ill and actually dying from COVID-19 are actually less so we are saying to everyone who is out there and has not been vaccinated, please go ahead and get vaccinated, it is for your protection, it is not about just adhering to Government rules but for your protection.
</blockquote>
She said all the COVID-19 protocols remain the same throughout the country where people have to continue face masking, sanitising, and hand washing. Said Mahomva:
<blockquote>
Wearing masks is still very much on. I know everybody is talking about other countries stopping and so on.
We have never been guided by what other countries do, we are guided by the science that we know protects our citizens and we encourage masking up during this festive season.
We know people gather to celebrate and this is where COVID-19 transmission is very high. So, people must protect themselves even on public transport.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/additional-staff-deployed-at-borders-authorities-ready-for-festive-season-traffic/">The Sunday News</a>

Unvaccinated Travellers To Zim During Festive Season To Be Tested For Coronavirus

Zimbabwe has recorded a significant decrease in COVID-19 deaths during this winter season compared to last year, a development the government has attributed to measures it put in place to combat the spread of the deadly pandemic.
The government procured more than 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to attain herd immunity.
Zimbabwe was also one of the first African countries to reach the targeted 10 per cent goal set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, from May 1 to 21 August, 123 deaths have been recorded countrywide.
A total of 2 845 COVID-19 deaths were recorded in the same period last year during the height of the Delta variant which killed more people compared to Beta and Omicron.
In an interview with State media, the COVID-19 national coordinator Agnes Mahomva urged members of the public to have faith in their local experts. She said:
<blockquote>
We are happy about the gains made so far in reducing the impact of COVID-19, it is proof that our measures informed by science worked.
We also encourage citizens to continue going for their vaccination as the programme is ongoing.
We urge them to be vigilant and remain focused on the goal of ensuring that a majority of our citizens are vaccinated so that we avert deaths.
</blockquote>
Last week Cabinet scrapped the mandatory wearing of masks for fully vaccinated citizens outdoors due to the decrease in new cases and deaths.
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/drastic-drop-in-covid-19-deaths/">Chronicle</a>

Significant Fall In COVID-19 Deaths

The Government has expressed concern over citizens’ complacency in following COVID-19 control measures as the possibility of a fifth wave looms.
On Thursday, COVID-19 national task force chief coordinator Agnes Mahomva revealed that on Tuesday and Wednesday, 317 and 259 new cases were recorded, respectively.
Mahomva noted that rising coronavirus infections in neighbouring South Africa put Zimbabwe at risk. She said:
<blockquote>
We are concerned because the community is complacent. At the moment, we are very aware that South Africa is having increased cases and because of the borders and proximity, we are concerned.
Though we are witnessing increased numbers, if we continue following control measures, we will be fine because inasmuch as the cases are increasing, fatalities are still low.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, despite schools emerging as potential COVID-19 hotspots, Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said the situation is under control. Ndoro said:
<blockquote>
There is no need to panic. We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Care by providing vaccination to all eligible learners.
These vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective and we are no longer anxious about whether there will be any disruption to learning and teaching because of the virus.
</blockquote>
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Zimbabwe office on Thursday said COVID-19 lockdown measures have increased risks among children and adolescents, contributing to increased mental health challenges.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/05/rising-covid-19-cases-worrying/">NewsDay</a></h4>

COVID-19: Govt Expresses Concern Over Citizens' Complacency

The Government says it will not bow down to pressure to lift COVID-19 restrictions after South Africa announced that it would ease its own measures this month.
The South African government said that it will soon ease COVID-19 control measures following pressure from business, opposition parties and health experts.
COVID-19 National Taskforce chief coordinator Agnes Mahomva on Tuesday told NewsDay that Zimbabwe will make decisions based on local data and not on what other countries do. She said:
<blockquote>
We do not follow what other countries are doing. We are guided by numbers and what is on the ground.
We are also guided by our local data and that is what we look at.
As a country, we are doing well as we recently recorded a 46% decline in cases.
We recently launched a vaccination blitz and we are optimistic that cases will go down sharply.
</blockquote>
As of Tuesday, 5 April 2022, 5 582 115 people had received at least a single COVID-19 vaccine jab while those who had received three jabs were 476 781.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/04/well-not-rush-to-lift-covid-19-safety-measures/">NewsDay</a></h4>

Zimbabwe Won't Rush To Lift COVID-19 Restrictions - Mahomva

Members of the public have been warned against getting complacent amid the fourth COVID-19 wave triggered by the Omnicron variant of the coronavirus.
This follows reports suggesting that Omicron is milder than the Delta variant that pushed up infections and deaths in mid-2021 during the COVID-19 third wave.
However, a 14-day analysis of the period starting from 20 December 2021 to 2 January this year showed that more cases are being recorded compared to the same period when the second wave hit the country.
From 20 December 2021 to 2 January, 245 COVID-19 deaths were recorded compared to 73 recorded during the same period in 2020.
The daily average of recorded cases is at 1 580 to give a total of 22 121 recorded cases in two weeks so far.
However, during the same period last year, the daily average of recorded cases was 167, which resulted in 2 346 cases over the same period during the 2020 festive season.
The Chief Coordinator of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Agnes_Mahomva">Dr Agnes Mahomva</a>, implored the public to remain vigilant and to get vaccinated. She said:
<blockquote>
The view that the fourth wave where the Omicron variant is dominating most of our cases is not bad is not a true reflection of what is on the ground because indeed, we are seeing deaths.
Each time we record a death we are saddened and we just have to put out a message of warning.
We cannot relax or be complacent and we want to continue pushing the message so that our communities remain vigilant.
It is not over until it is over, there is always a danger of a sudden upsurge in deaths and new cases hence let’s not tire doing what we know is right especially getting vaccinated, we know that it saves lives.
</blockquote>
She also revealed that by the end of 2021 Zimbabwe had 33 per cent of the targeted population fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/omicron-deadlier-no-room-for-complacency-mahomva/">The Herald</a></h4>

Omicron Kills, No Room For Complacency - Mahomva

Hundreds of Zimbabweans living in neighbouring countries are sneaking back into the country without undergoing quarantine and getting tested for COVID-19, it has been established.
Travellers visiting Zimbabwe are required to quarantine for 10 days and also produce a negative COVID-19 certificate but reports suggest that returnees are bribing law enforcers to avoid going into quarantine.
A returnee from South Africa who is visiting his family in Masvingo told NewZimbabwe.com that bus crews and government officials work in cahoots at the Beitbridge Border Post to facilitate evasion of quarantine by those willing to pay bribes. Said the returnee:
<blockquote>
The bus crews are making the transactions between the returnees and government officials.
You give the bus crew 200 rands, and leave everything to them because they know the channel for passengers to evade quarantine.
</blockquote>
COVID-19 national task force chief coordinator Agnes Mahomva said the measures were put in place to decongest ports of entry and enable enforcement agencies to strengthen their enforcement. Said Mahomva:
<blockquote>
In terms of those who are coming through our borders, it is very clear that there is need to tighten up and that is why you saw the government issuing out Statutory Instrument 267.
Those are the measures that have been put in place to say let’s really tighten up and discourage unnecessary travel that will help decongest our ports of entry and hence also enables our enforcement agencies to be able to strengthen their enforcement because there will be no congestion at those places.
We don’t wait for the festive season, or for numbers to go up, this is a continuous process.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is currently in the fourth wave of coronavirus infections with the test positivity rate remaining above 30 per cent over the past several days.
In 2020, the Government reopened borders during the festive season resulting in an influx of returnees from Botswana and South Africa.
Coronavirus infections and COVID-19-related deaths soared and the Government responded by putting the country into a hard lockdown for three months.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/stern-test-for-health-system-as-returnees-dodge-covid-protocols/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Returnees Evade COVID-19 Protocols

The government says the rollout of the approved Johnson &amp; Johnson (J&amp;J) COVID-19 vaccine has been delayed due to challenges associated with the vaccine’s storage.
The Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 Response in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Dr Agnes Mahomva, said that she was aware that some people are wondering when Zimbabwe will roll out J&amp;J, but the challenges that have delayed the launch of Sputnik-V have also hampered the introduction of J&amp;J. Said Mahomva:
<blockquote>
Indeed, we have had several meetings with the Medicine Control Authority of Zimbabwe, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and others to look at how we can deploy the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine.
They looked at the science and they gave their reports on that. I know people always say, Oh the J&amp;J has been given authorization, let’s use it tomorrow but on the ground, if you look at the details, you find that it has got so many issues and challenges.
When we sat with the Ministry of Health, we noted that we are struggling in terms of capacity to store and roll out the J&amp;J vaccine.
You know we have got the Sputnik-V and we have just struggled to also roll that one out because it has similar requirements to the J&amp;J.
The ministry has been focusing on trying to make sure that their capacity improves before we roll out the approved J&amp;J so members of the public should understand that it is a work in progress.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Mahomva said members of the public with old vaccination cards were also free to approach any health centre and get new ones as long as they have a copy of the old card.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/india-vaccines-recipients-to-restart-process/">Chronicle</a></h4>

J&J Vaccine Roll Out A Work In Progress - Govt

The government has urged thousands of Zimbabweans who received their first doses of the Indian Covaxin vaccine in May and June to consider starting afresh with a different one.
COVID-19 coordinator <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Agnes_Mahomva">Dr Agnes Mahomva</a> said the government has failed to acquire additional Covaxin doses for those who received the first jab to complete their vaccination.
The delays in procuring the vaccine were due to the prevalent Delta variant in India which claimed the lives of millions of people in the Asian country.
Mahomva said Covaxin recipients who got the first dose can approach any health centre and get inoculated. She said:
<blockquote>
Indeed, we had rolled out the Indian Covaxin but the country was hit by a horrible third wave which made it difficult for us to access more doses for our members of the public who had received the first dose.
Unfortunately, it’s a development that is beyond the Government and the least we can do is keep checking for availability as India is still struggling to contain the pandemic at the moment.
Those who received the first doses of Covaxin in May and June are free to start the whole process afresh and access a new vaccine.
Unfortunately, they won’t be able to mix vaccines as some suggested hence they should start afresh or continue waiting for the availability of the Covaxin which cannot be guaranteed now.
</blockquote>
India donated 35 000 doses of its vaccine early this year which were rolled out as part of the ongoing mass vaccination.
Due to the prevailing third wave, India failed to deliver an additional 35 000 doses that were promised.
Zimbabwe is rolling out Sinopharm, Sinovac and the Sputnik V vaccine.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/india-vaccines-recipients-to-restart-process/">Chronicle</a></h4>

India COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients Urged To Restart Process

Vaccinated people who contract the novel coronavirus are contributing less than 10 per cent of COVID-19 hospital admissions in Zimbabwe.
The data was extracted from 207 deaths recorded from 1 to 22 July 2021.
This was revealed in a status update by Dr Agnes Mahomva, who is the Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 Response in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
Dr Mahomva also said unvaccinated COVID-19 patients make up more than 90 per cent of COVID-19 hospital admissions.
Of the 207 deaths, 88.9 per cent had not been vaccinated at all, while 3.4 per cent had received their first jab, and 4.8 per cent had both jabs.
The former secretary in the Ministry of Health said the Delta variant, which accounts for over 80 per cent of new infections, is more deadly and is also affecting more children as compared to previous waves.
Dr Mahomva called for the acceleration of vaccination programmes countrywide through the procurement of more vaccines, strengthening static and outreach vaccination centres and expanding private sector involvement.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/vaccination-saving-lives-mahomva/">ZBC News</a></h4>

90% Of Zimbabwe's COVID-19 Hospital Admissions Are Unvaccinated Patients

The Chief Coordinator of COVID-19 Response in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Agnes_Mahomva">Dr Agnes Mahomva</a>, has said the law must take its course amid reports that a minister flouted COVID-19 regulations.
Reports suggest that the minister of Industry and Commerce, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sekai_Nzenza">Dr Sekai Nzenza</a>, last week met a delegation from India but they did not practise social distancing neither were they wearing face masks.
Dr Mahomva, however, refused to comment on Minister Nzenza’s case she said:
<blockquote>People have always been breaking the law even before COVID-19. People steal cattle, people steal cars, people are breaking the law all over and if anyone breaks the law, the law must take its course. Various laws are broken and people just have to comply so I can’t comment on a specific issue of someone breaking it. The law should take its course.</blockquote>
The meeting happens amid reports that India is experiencing an unprecedented coronavirus spread and transmission rate that has catapulted the daily new cases to about 300 000 (official figure) or 3 million (medical experts).
Official reports say India recorded 386 452 news cases on Friday last week, while deaths from COVID-19 jumped by 3 498.
Medical experts believe actual COVID-19 numbers in the world’s second densely populated nation <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/03/30/zimbabwe-receives-covaxin-covid-vaccine-donation-from-india/">are likely five to 10 times greater than the official tally.</a>
It is believed that the sheer magnitude of infections in India in a short period of time suggests an ‘escape variant’ may be overwhelming any prior immunity from natural infections in those populations.
The reports that the minister flouted COVID-19 regulations are worrying and those actions put the nation at risk as there is a possibility that the ‘escape variant’ from India could have been imported.
Zimbabwe’s public health system is collapsed, therefore, has limited capacity to deal with such variants.
More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>; <a href="https://nehandaradio.com/2021/05/04/minister-flouts-covid-19-safety-regulations/">Nehanda Radio</a>

"The Law Must Take It's Course" - OPC As Minister Flouts Regulations

A senior government official has said the country will not procure or receive donations of coronavirus vaccines without following quality control measures.
Speaking during a virtual meeting hosted by the Zimbabwe Diaspora Health Alliance last Wednesday, Chief Coordinator of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva said vaccines undergo rigorous verification by health officials before they are cleared for use. She said:
<blockquote>It doesn’t matter who is bringing it and how it is being brought in, these are processes that we have committed to really going through and make sure they work.</blockquote>
Speaking at the same meeting, California based Zimbabwean physician Dr David Chonzi said there are no shortcuts in the approval of vaccines even if the process takes a short time.
He said the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is never going to approve a vaccine that is not safe and is not going to work.
Dr Tinashe Gede, a local physician and lecturer said China’s Sinopharm vaccine, which has so far been administered in Zimbabwe, underwent three-phased clinical trials with participants reporting no side effects. He said:
<blockquote>That three-phase trial included over 60 000 participants and there were no reported adverse events.
China released a Press release to announce that they found an efficacy rate of 79 per cent in preventing any infection.
The UAE released their own country-level analysis suggesting that the efficacy was probably up to 86 per cent.
As we speak, the Sinopharm vaccine has been rolled out to over 40 million participants globally with no adverse effects.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/govt-allays-fears-about-vaccines/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sunday News</a></h4>

Govt Allays Fears About Coronavirus Vaccines

Zimbabwe has drawn a lot of lessons in managing the coronavirus since the onset of the second wave and these lessons can guide the nation in responding to a potential third wave, a senior government official has said.
In her weekly update issued on Friday, the national COVID-19 co-ordinator in the Office of the President and the Cabinet Dr Agnes Mahomva it has become clear that individuals have to see the benefits of adherence to set regulations
Another lesson learnt was that surveillance and testing are key in helping the country determine the impact of the disease. Dr Mahomva said:
<blockquote>Strong community ownership in national response is very critical. It is important that the involvement is taken on board as this can contribute to achievements or lack of.
Communities need to realise and recognise that recommended measures are for our good and not wait on police to force them to implement.
… We also learnt that prevention is better, it is not only cheaper but very effective even the world over.
More testing consumables have been purchased and more testing has been conducted as seen in the figures last week.
We also learnt the importance of being guided by science in all we do which has helped us get to where we are.</blockquote>
The country’s COVID-19 epidemic curve is on a downward trend over the past few weeks with new cases falling to double digits for the first time in over a month on Sunday.
Yesterday, only 65 new coronavirus infections were recorded and this is a signifant decline from the over 1 000 cases recorded on some days in January.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/covid-19-curve-takes-downward-trend-national-response-to-pandemic-on-right-track/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Prevention Only Measure To Avert Potential Covid 3rd Wave - Mahomva

A public health official has said the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients will be done in controlled environments to avoid indiscriminate prescription and dispensing of the medicine.
Chief Coordinator of the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Agnes Mahomva, was speaking on Friday following the approval by the government of the use of the drug for “investigational” COVID-19 treatment.
Healthcare workers had lobbied for the use of the anti-parasitic drug saying the fusion of Ivermectin and nanosilver was effective in caring for patients.
Dr Mahomva asserted that the used of Ivermectin, that is the kind for humans, to treat COVID-19, will be closely monitored to protect patients from unethical and unsafe doses as well as counterfeit products, including veterinary Ivermectin. She said:
<blockquote>Let me take this opportunity to remind you all, including our doctors, that all medicines, whether they are new or old, routine or investigational, must be registered with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) before they can be used or prescribed.
At the beginning of the month, MCAZ in its circular 5 of 2021 advised medical doctors and other healthcare workers against the use of unapproved veterinary Ivermectin for prevention of COVID-19 in humans.
In a more recent communication, MCAZ provided detailed guidance indicating that investigational medicines for COVID-19 such as Ivermectin, that is the kind for humans, are to be used under controlled and structured environments with specific settings and strict monitoring to avoid wanton and indiscriminate prescription and dispensing of such medicines.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/mahomva-speaks-on-ivermectin" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Veterinary Ivermectin Won't Be Used To Treat COVID-19

A senior government official has admitted that COVID-19 statistics on both deaths and positive cases are inconclusive.
Speaking during a telephone interview with Open Parly, COVID-19 Taskforce Chief Coordinator Agnes Mahomva cast doubt on the accuracy of the figures saying the government will engage the private sector to help in analysing data. She said:
<blockquote>Our technical teams are seized with analysing the (Covid-19) data. We are also roping in the private sector who are also helping with postmortems.
As we will be analysing the data, the surge continues. So we might be a little bit behind in terms of really finalising and coming up with a conclusion of it all.</blockquote>
Mahomva added that even first world countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America could be facing the same challenges as Zimbabwe due to the nature of the pandemic. She said:
<blockquote>We need to remind ourselves that in an epidemic this happens anywhere whether its in China, America or Europe.
The numbers that we report on a particular day may not be exactly the numbers for that day.
Sometimes we issue out a report in a day and then the following day in our report we add numbers from the previous day.
So that race of trying to have as accurate numbers as possible per day will always be there.
There are few challenges here and there we acknowledge that. That is the nature of trying to report an epidemic as it happens.</blockquote>
This comes as citizens have expressed scepticism over the authenticity of daily statistics being released by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
There is a general perception that the government could be under-reporting the figures to cover up its failure to deal with the pandemic or to avoid panic.
<h4>More: <a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3936905436358298&amp;id=919107028138169" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Open Parly</a></h4>

Govt Casts Doubt On The Accuracy Of Its COVID-19 Data

The sharp decline in the country’s COVID-19 recovery rate has been attributed to the surge in new cases which has put pressure on resources, resulting in delays in contact tracing and recording of newly recovered cases.
Chief Coordinator of the National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Agnes Mahomva, told State media over the weekend that provincial teams were preoccupied with tracking severely ill patients who need urgent medical attention.
This comes after Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 recovery rate has fallen to 59 per cent, down from 92 per cent during the first wave of the pandemic. Said Mahomva:
<blockquote>Many have expressed concern over the reported low recovery rate in recent daily reports.
At the peak of the first wave in 2020, recovery rates were reported as above 92 per cent on average, but by the end of the day yesterday (Thursday last week), the nation’s recovery rate was reported as 56,3 per cent.
The recent surge in cases has put a big strain on provincial teams on tracking cases in order to appropriately and timely classify the cases’ clinical status, and due to these large numbers, provinces have tended to prioritise tracking of moderate to severely ill Covid-19 cases as these need urgent medical attention.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/govt-explains-low-recovery-rate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Zimbabwe's Low COVID-19 Recovery Rate Explained

Zimbabwe’s hospitals are running critically short of medical oxygen worsening the plight of COVID-19 patients.
The shortage was announced by a medical supply specialist, Calvin Majora,  who tweeted:
<blockquote>We have run out of stock of oxygen concentrators, anyone with reasonably priced concentrators so that we give preference who need them at reasonable prices, we don’t want to be profiteering, help we have many people in urgent need.</blockquote>
Dr Agnes Mahomva, Zimbabwe’s chief coordinator of the Covid-19 task force, also said the resurgence of the coronavirus has triggered the shortage. She said:
<blockquote>A surge of Covid-19 patients has increased demand for oxygen and as a result we now have a shortage of medical oxygen. As government we know that medical oxygen is crucial for treating Covid-19 and our main priority right now is to buy oxygen.”</blockquote>
These reports come as many people in need have taken to social media looking to buy oxygen cylinders.
Private medical suppliers are selling oxygen concentrators for between US$2 000 (about R30 300) and US$3 700 (about R56 000) making it difficult for the common man in Zimbabwe to buy one.
Meanwhile, Professor Rashida Abbas Ferrand, an epidemiologist running one of the designated Covid-19 centres in the country said where she was based, in Harare, the problem was dire. She said:
<blockquote>Right now, we don’t have enough beds.</blockquote>
The Ministry of Health and Child Care it has invited tenders to supply oxygen to its health facilities. The tender closes on January 18.
Zimbabwe’s health sector has been collapsed for decades and some attribute the collapse to negligence and corruption by political elites in the country.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/medical-oxygen-shortage-hits-zimbabwe-as-covid-19-cases-surge/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe</a>

Zimbabwe’s Hospitals Run Critically Short Of Medical Oxygen

Zimbabwe has submitted an expression of interest to benefit from COVID-19 vaccines when they become available, a senior government official has said.
The chief coordinator, National Response to COVID-19, Agnes Mahomva, told Business Times that Zimbabwe is part of the COVAX group and is, therefore, eligible to receive financial assistance to get vaccines amid the potential second wave of the novel coronavirus. She said:
<blockquote>The COVAX group has already identified countries that will need financial support to get vaccines. We happen to be one of those countries.
There are those who are rich and those in low-income groups like us and we are part of the group and we are waiting.
We already submitted our expression of interest to make sure we won’t be left out when vaccines become available.</blockquote>
The COVAX Facility is a global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), COVAX is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.
Meanwhile, one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical firms, Pfizer, in particular, recently announced that it has submitted its application to the Food and Drug Administration to authorise their COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use.
Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, said their vaccine was 95% effective while Moderna made almost similar claims, saying its vaccine was 94.5% effective.
<h4>More: <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/zim-scramble-for-covax-rescue-deal/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Business Times</a></h4>

Zimbabwe Reaches Out To COVAX For COVID-19 Vaccine

The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa has defended her birthday party which the public claims was in violation of COVID-19 regulations.
On Saturday last week, Mutsvangwa’s family hosted a surprise birthday party for the minister, the night police forced the Bulawayo Arts Awards ceremony to shut down for “violating COVID-19 measures.
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zrp-stops-roil-bulawayo-arts-awards-while-govt-officials-are-pictured-at-a-birthday-party-in-harare/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pictures that were circulated on social media</a> shows that guests at Mutsvangwa’s party who included minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, Joel Biggie Matiza, Kazembe Kazembe and information secretary Nick Mangwana did not wear face masks.
Speaking to NewsDay, Senator Mutsvangwa defended her party saying they observed all coronavirus preventive measures. She said:
<blockquote>So, my family cannot host a birthday party for me?
I have attended several events in the last week alone. I was in Nyanga, and there were more than 200 guests there. On Friday evening, I was at the Rainbow Towers and there were more than 400 guests there for the awards for Marketers Association of Zimbabwe, and then my family surprises me with a party with 50 guests comprising of my best friends and then it is a problem?
Everything and all measures were considered, COVID-19 tests were conducted, and the venue was enclosed. There was a disinfectant booth for all people coming in and isn’t it that there are people who just love to talk, who see everything as wrong?</blockquote>
Mangwana claimed that all attendees were tested for the coronavirus before the party adding that less than 50 people were in attendance.
This comes when the Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Portia Manangazira, has warned the country against complacency suggesting that tighter lockdown rules may be imposed.
Her remarks were in resonance with those of the Chief Coordinator on COVID-19 in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Agnes Mahomva, who told NewsDay last week that people were now acting as if the lockdown was already over.
Zimbabwe recently recorded a surge in the number of new coronavirus cases most of which were recorded in schools which were reopened in phases since the 28th of September.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/12/i-did-nothing-wrong-%ef%82%98-minister-on-the-defensive-over-party-that-broke-covid-19-rules/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a>

Minister Mutsvangwa Defends Her Birthday Party

Agnes Mahomwa, the chief coordinator for the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet, on Sunday said children were better off in school than at home.
Mahomva nade the remarks after teachers warned that pupils were being made guinea pigs by sending them to school at a time the country was recording a surge in coronavirus cases.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Takavafira Zhou said teachers and pupils must be tested before they go back to school but this was not being done.
Zhou said there are several schools where students have tested positive for the coronavirus, for example, Rujeko Primary School.
However, Mahomva said the government will make sure that all the health guidelines and processes are being adhered to. She said:
<blockquote>As we have been implementing our response, we were continuously monitoring to make sure that guidelines and protocols are in place.
We have also looked at researches and assessments done elsewhere, and Unicef has helped us in that area in balancing the act to say what more damage can we do by not allowing learners to go back to school versus the risk of COVID-19, and it has been very clear that you can actually do more damage when you don’t allow the learners to go back to school.</blockquote>
Early Childhood Development to Grade 5, as well as Forms One and Two, returned to school this Monday to complete the government’s phased reopening of schools which started on 28 September.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/11/schools-reopen-amid-fresh-covid-19-fears/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewsDay</a></h4>

Coronavirus: Children Better Off In School Than At Home - Mahomva

The chief coordinator for the National Response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet Agnes Mahomva said that Zimbabwe may return to a hard lockdown if coronavirus cases surged as happened in July.
Mahomva said though such a drastic move was not in the pipeline, it was a real possibility after the number of COVID-19 cases has been creeping north since the government reopened more sectors of the economy in Spring.
New coronavirus cases had fallen to less than 10 per day but the numbers have been increasing over the past few weeks, with 33 new cases and 2 deaths recorded on Sunday (yesterday). Said Mahomva:
<blockquote>Whether directly or indirectly as a result of these new relaxations, the infection rate has started to go up.
While the growth may be marginal at this stage, it has the potential to spike upwards in a manner which might not be foreseen.
It may be that more enforcement of existing measures is required as well, but certainly, should there be a sudden spike like that experienced around July 2020, then there might be a need for more stringent measures such as those which are being re-introduced in Europe and the Americas.</blockquote>
Mahomva was responding to a challenge against the suspension of by-elections by Vice-President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga.
The Election Resource Centre (ERC), the Women’s Academy for Leadership (Walpe) and six other applicants have gone to court to challenge the Health Minister’s order suspending elections.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2020/11/08/zim-faces-tougher-covid-19-lockdown/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Standard</a></h4>

Zimbabwe Faces Possibility Of Hard Lockdown

The chief coordinator for the national response to Covid-19 in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Agnes Mahomva (AM), says Zimbabwe is yet to reach a peak in the number of coronavirus infections adding that the country has to brace for the worst.
The doctor made the remarks during an interview with Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) chairman Trevor Ncube (TN) on the online talk show – In Conversation with Trevor.
Mahomva noted that the government’s modelling had shown that cases would start going up rapidly this month-end.
She speaks when Zimbabwe’s cases have surpassed the 2 000 mark last week with 2434 confirmed 
cases as of Saturday, including 518 recoveries and 34 deaths.
Below are excerpts from the interview.
<blockquote>TN: As we sit here, Dr, do you think the worst is yet to come as far as the pandemic is concerned? 
AM: I can say that, Trevor; our numbers are actually going up; we are not where we think we are flattening or going down.
TN: What does the worst look like for you, Dr? 
AM: The worst-case scenario that we are planning for, we are hoping never to have, is to have large numbers of people requiring ICU facilities that we won’t be able to manage; but this is modelling and that is why we are pushing for prevention, we have to avoid those large numbers that require ICU.
I can’t give you the numbers, but when we started the modelling, we were looking at the numbers increasing end of July.
The numbers on those modelling for people needing critical care are much less than we anticipated.
The message I put across is we don’t know what will happen with this new disease but we are ready to tackle any challenge.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/category/local-zimbabwe-stories/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Standard</a>

Health Authorities Hoping Not To Have "Unmanageable" Large Numbers Of People Requiring ICU Facilities

Zimbabwe has adopted the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) new approach on COVID-19 patients who are asymptomatic, that is patients who test positive but show no symptom.
Explaining the changes, the chief coordinator of the National Response to the COVID-19 pandemic Dr Agnes Mahomva said asymptomatic patients could now return to their families after clearance by health officials 10 days after the positive test.
According to the WHO, a patient without symptoms, while testing positive for the virus, could not transmit the virus. Mahomva had this to say:
<blockquote>If you are asymptomatic but you are positive, which is a large percentage of people we are testing as returning residents, you can be discharged after 10 days without retesting as long as symptoms don’t show.
This is fantastic because we have had patients who are not patients. They are just patients by virtue of being positive but they have been like that for a long time.
The elements of the virus, the ribonucleic acid, that remains in them is low. It is not viable to be transmitted to others.</blockquote>
Zimbabwe had been following the earlier WHO guidelines to confirm clearance of the virus, and thus allow discharge from isolation.
This required a patient to be clinically recovered, that shows no symptoms, and to have two negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results on samples taken at least 24 hours apart.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/intercity-buses-to-return-under-safety-rules/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients To Be Discharged After 10 Days

Edmund Kudzayi, a former editor of the Sunday Mail, a state-run paper has suggested that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s family is deeply sunk in the corruption scandal which involves Drax International.
For him, that is the reality handicapping Mnangagwa from initiating genuine prosecution of his corruption accused ministers of Health and Finance, Obadiah Moyo and Mthuli Ncube respectively. Kudzayi posted on Twitter:
<blockquote>Mnangagwa is protecting (George) Guvamatanga, (Agnes) Mahomva, Obadiah (Moyo) and Mthuli (Ncube) because he knows if he dares arrest them, they will sing and expose the extent of his family’s involvement. The charges against Delish (Nguwaya) are deliberately incompetent because he too will sing.</blockquote>
His remarks come when the president’s son, Collins has been linked to Draz International, a company that siphoned millions of dollars from the government in a shady deal that saw the company selling medical equipment to the Ministry of Health at ridiculously inflated prices.
Although Nguwaya has been arrested while Mahomva and Moyo are currently being investigated, observers say the prosecution is superficial adding that the accused will walk, as the case was with other government officials previously arrested for corruption.
More: <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmundKudzayi/status/1272147374014640135">Edmund Kudzayi</a>

Former Sunday Mail Editor Speaks On Why President Mnangagwa Is "Protecting" Corruption Accused Ministers

On Friday, the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission interrogated the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr Obadiah Moyo and the former permanent secretary Dr Agness Mahomva over the procurement of overpriced personal protective equipment (PPEs).
Zim Morning Post reports that the interrogation degenerated into chaos after Mahomva accused Moyo “of handpicking the controversial company, Drax International.” Speaking to the publication, an anonymous source said:
<blockquote>The two, Moyo and Mahomva arrived around 5:30 pm and left around 2130 hours.
The interrogation turned nasty as Mahomva fumed that her stint at the health ministry was marred by the minister’s interference.</blockquote>
Mahomva’s statement comes at a time when officials from the president’s office said Drax failed security checks but the health minister went ahead to deal with such a “shelf company.”<ins> 
</ins>
It also comes after the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, George Guvamatanga who authorised the procurement absolved himself of any wrongdoing saying he exchanged several correspondences with the Health Ministry, the president’s office and the National Pharmacy where he raised a red flag over the deal.
He added that his hands were tied on the matter.
More: <a href="https://zimmorningpost.com/covidgate-ruthless-clashes-as-zacc-interrogates-health-minister-moyo-former-perm-sec-mahomva/">Zim Morning Post</a>

ZACC's Interrogation Of Health Minister And Mahomva Turns Nasty

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Obadiah Moyo, has dismissed reports of a fallout with the former permanent secretary in the Ministry, Dr Agnes Mahomva, leading to her demotion.
Mahomva was on Tuesday reappointed Chief Coordinator, National Response to Covid-19 pandemic in the office of the President and Cabinet.
Moyo told NewZimbabwe.com on Tuesday that the allegations of a fallout were false. He said:
<blockquote>The allegations are false but I cannot comment on that issue. You can refer your questions to the chief secretary in the office of the President.</blockquote>
Several reports have claimed that tension had grown between Dr Mahomva and the Health Minister after she cancelled three tenders that had been illegally awarded to some government officials to supply COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
It is further claimed that of the selected three companies, one had no capacity, the other company had no bank account while the last one had test kits that had not been approved.
Dr Mahomva was reportedly ignoring the Minister’s directives and had virtually created a “parallel” Ministry in the past few months.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mahomva-reassignment-raises-stink/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Health Minister Dismisses Reports Of Fallout With Demoted Perm Sec

A prominent Twitter personality using the Twitter handle @Just_VeeV says former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Agnes Mahomva was “demoted” after she opposed corrupt deals in the Ministry.
On Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa approved the appointment of Dr Mahomva to the newly created post of Chief Coordinator, National Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Office of the President and Cabinet.
According to @Just_VeeV, Dr Mahomva cancelled 3 tenders that had been illegally awarded to some officials. <a href="https://twitter.com/Just_Veev/status/1260447611351445505" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Below is the full thread</a>:
<blockquote>Of @MoHCCZim chaos and Mahomva’s ‘demotion’
So word is that Mahomva cancelled 3 tenders that had been illegally awarded to some officials.
Company A had no capacity. 
Company B had no bank guarantee 
Company C had test kits that had not been approved.
Allegations are that company C procured the test kits just before gvt gave the directive to companies to test their employees before reopening their businesses. This also saw a spike in prices for the kits, from US$10 to $16. This made her more unpopular.
In addition, it is said the Minister didn’t want the PPEs being made by local universities to go through SAZ for quality testing and assurance, something the former Perm Sec didn’t agree with. So chucking her out was the only option.
It seems donors have confidence in Dr Mahomva. Most of the donations are going to gvt. Her departure could have made then consider 3rd party route something gvt could not risk. So they created the post to make sure she stays and finish off the #Covid19Zim work.
What happens after nobody knows. And oh hanzi the Minister used to take home 3 000 litres of fuel every month and Mahomva cut it down to 800. Hence their friction as well.
But some say Mahomva was no angel. And these are the allegations:
That she didn’t respect the Minister and ran a parallel ministry. She disregarded his directives and never sought approval especially in the past few months. This didn’t go down well with Dr Moyo.
Word is that most people in the Ministry did not like the idea of having Dr Moyo, who used to be their junior, elevated to being the Minister. And that he doesn’t enjoy support from Drs either who prefer working with Dr Mahomva instead.
But whatever the case is…pane nyaya.</blockquote>

'Top Govt Official Was Demoted For Fighting Corruption'

The Health Apex Council has met with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Agnes Mahomwa, over the removal of flexible hours.
Last year the government and workers agreed that nurses would report for work twice a week since the economic deterioration in the country had incapacitated them to go to work on a daily basis.
The Health Apex issued a statement after the meeting reporting on what transpired during the meeting. We present below the Apex’s statement in full.
<blockquote>Health Apex Meeting with the Secretary for Health and Child Care 
The major issue that prompted the meeting was the removal of flexible working hours. The Secretary for Health highlighted some points.
1. The decision was directed by the chairman of the COVID-19 taskforce Hon VP Mohadi to inform (tell) the health workers and not negotiate that the flexible working hours have been suspended by the declaration of State of Disaster by the President 
2. This move was necessitated by the fact that the health service is preparing a proper response with enough manpower when the COVID-19 cases start to rise towards the peak. 
3. The apatite meeting which discussed that directive, unfortunately, ifs minutes are not yet out to look at the deliberations that happened and the proposals given by the Heath Apex. 
4. The MoHCC guidelines which were issued and stamped are silent on that pertinent issue pending the availing of the bipartite minutes. 
5. The Secretary of Health highlighted that all she wants is a health service ready to deal with cases and that means all health workers on board working full time. 
7. That all health workers should come on board to work towards planning and implementation of COVID-19 case management under the proposed pillars. 
The Health Apex highlighted that health workers need to: 
a) be provided with adequate PPE 
b) be provided with enough time away from the exposure of COVID-19 
c) be given better remuneration since they are the Frontline of fighting this pandemic. 
d) that working hours should be removed by addressing all the raised remuneration is supposed to be pegged at the interbank rate. Both parties agreed to work together and engage more for a better COVID-19 response.</blockquote>
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