Zim grateful for global support
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday joined the nation in mourning people who perished during Cyclone Idai and expressed gratitude to countries, embassies, local companies, organisations, churches and individuals that mobilised resources to assist the victims.
The cyclone affected Chimanimani, Chipinge, Masvingo and Chikomba, leaving over 230 people dead and left a trail of destruction.
The President attended a church service at the Methodist Church in Mabelreign, Harare, and was accompanied by Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda and Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services principal director Mr Regis Chikowore
He said the Government saw it befitting to declare two days of mourning and pray for people who perished and those affected by the Cyclone Idai disaster.
Across town, Vice President Con- stantino Chiwenga attended an exceptional prayer service for victims of the cyclone at St Gerard’s Catholic Church in Greystone Park.
In his remarks, President Mnangagwa narrated moments he encountered when he visited the affected areas and came face-to-face with the victims last week when he visited the stricken areas of Chimanimani.
He said he also heard heart-breaking narrations of how people died and said it is time to seek God as no one had the answer to this national problem.
“As people, we do not know anything. We only get to know something after it would have occurred, but God knows everything, even things to come in future. Job lost all his children and wealth, but he never turned away from God.
“We should accept this, although it is difficult, even for me. Sometimes we ask God why he allows such things to happen and also if he still exists.
“We cannot direct God, but we just accept what he has done. Let us pray and seek God when we still can as disaster can come anytime and in different forms. We are all sinners and we should all go to Jesus when we are still alive,” he said.
The President thanked all countries that have assisted Zimbabwe in this difficult period, including the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana and Britain among others for the support with drugs, blankets and food among other things.
He said he had received messages of condolences from British monarch, Queen Elizabeth and her family.
“The British government, even if we disagree on some issues, sent a message. Prince Charles sent a message together with his wife to console us.
“Local companies, churches, organisations and individuals in Zimbabwe have also sent and are still sending goods to help the affected people in the affected areas,” he said.
“We have some misunderstanding with doctors here, but they are voluntarily supporting people in the affected areas and I want to thank them.”
President Mnangagwa expressed concern that the death toll was increasing.
“Some citizens were swept away to Mozambique and because of the decomposing state of their bodies, we have agreed that they be buried in Mozambique. Some could have been washed away to the ocean,” he said.
The Methodist Church general secretary, Reverend Dr Jimmy Dube said it was the role of the church to console people and help them come to terms with the disaster.
“The victims have received food, clothing drugs and all the material things, but the Church should assist them to come to terms with the grief, so that they do not collapse inside.
“People are trying to come to terms with the grief and anger. They are asking God why this happened and why he
GOVERNMENT is considering providing health insurance services for Zimbabwean citizens based in South Africa.
The issue, which was agreed to by the Zimbabwean and South African governments during the recent Bi-National Commission, will see public health insurance provider Premier Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) setting up offices in South Africa.
According to minutes from the Bi-National Commission meetings seen by The Herald, Zimbabwe made the request and South Africa granted it.
August 2019 was set as the deadline for PSMAS to have registered in South Africa.
PSMAS public relations manager Mr Arthur Choga confirmed their participation in the Zim-SA Bi-National Commission.
“We participated in the Bi-National Commission after we realised that there is need for the services we offer,” he said.
“South Africa is home to a sizeable number of Zimbabweans and we believe that there are issues that they face that may be resolved by PSMAS getting registered to operate in South Africa.”
This is a plan which has been under deliberation for a while and the platform provided an opportunity for the public health insurance service provider.
“Reasonable groundwork has been covered over the last few years towards the realisation of this objective and the BNC presented an opportunity to share our vision with a wider audience, including policy makers,” said Mr Choga.
“The research we have conducted over the last few years shows that there is room for the services we offer and we believe our model will be competitive and relevant.”
The PSMAS leadership believes the move will help the firm ease foreign currency pressures being faced by the country.
“The model we use will be largely self-funding,” said Mr Choga. “As we grow, we are exploring ways of unlocking value for members and for the national health delivery system.
“We see this as an opportunity to unlock forex inflows in order to fund areas such as procurement of drugs which are currently expensive and difficult to access because of foreign currency challenges.”
PSMAS is a public health insurance company which commands around 70 percent of the local market share.