WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP

Monday

ZANU-PF continues to prove political dominance after trouncing the main opposition

MDC-ALLIANCE and two other political parties in the Zaka East parliamentary by-election after its candidate, Cde Clemence Chiduwa, garnered 7 119 votes to romp to a landslide victory on Saturday. Cde Chiduwa swept to victory after out-muscling Mr Derick Charamba of MDC-A, who came a distant second with 1 518 votes. Mr Clemence Chavarika of the National Constitutional Assembly managed 83 votes, while Mr Lazarus Mubango of Free Zimbabwe Congress settled for 63 votes.

Tuesday

The Government is set to construct over 6 000 health centres in the next five years as it seeks to avail healthcare services within short distances to communities, President Mnangagwa has said.

He said while the Government remained committed to ensuring health services for all its citizens, illegal sanctions imposed by the United States ( US) and European Union ( EU)

remain stumbling blocks to the fulfilment of the objective. President Mnangagwa said this while addressing a high-level meeting on Universal Health Coverage during the 74th Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA).

Wednesday

Government has taken over Morton Jaffray Waterworks to ensure residents access potable water after Acting President Kembo Mohadi facilitated the clearance of water treatment chemicals at Beitbridge border post. Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and District Development Fund ( DDF) also chipped in with technical assistance.

Acting Harare mayor councillor Enock Mupamawonde said the city had also secured seven days’ supply of water treatment chemicals from a local company.

Thursday

TheWorld Food Programme ( WFP), working with its development partners, has escalated efforts to mobilise financial resources to provide food aid to mitigate the effects of drought-induced hunger in Zimbabwe, an official has said.

WFP executive director Mr David Beasley said the United Nations ( UN) food relief agency was mobilising resources to feed affected people, particularly those in rural areas.

Mr Beasley said this after paying a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Friday

Illegal and ruinous sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West have markedly slowed down the country’s development, President Mnangagwa has said.

Addressing the 74th Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President said the sanctions were also an attack on the rights of citizens.

He applauded Southern Africa for solidly standing by Zimbabwe in calling for the unconditional removal of the two-decades-old embargo. While Zimbabwe had registered significant progress in providing safety nets for vulnerable groups of society, the President said, more could have been achieved had it not been for the illegal sanctions.