WEEKLY NEWS ROUND-UP

Monday

Zimbabweans and South Africans who had failed to leave either country at the onset of the Covid-19 lockdown are with immediate effect allowed to travel to their countries without going through their embassies.

But the borders are still closed to general travellers in line with Zimbabwe’s lockdown protocols. Though South Africa re-opened 18 borders to international travel on Thursday, including Beitbridge, Zimbabwe still remains in lockdown.

Tuesday

Teachers’ unions need to be realistic in their engagements with the Government over salaries, taking into consideration the present economic challenges, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima said when a team of ministers met the unions. Concerns have been noted and would be taken to President Mnangagwa and Cabinet for further deliberations.

Wednesday

Zimbabwe’s foreign currency exchange rate appears to have reached high levels of stability in the market-driven auctions with the local currency continuing recent trends of a minute firming, one eighth of one percent yesterday to $81,34.

The Zimbabwe dollar has not traded below $80 since it hit $80,46 on August 4, 2020. And the highest level to date of $83,39 on August 25 is increasingly appearing as the peak of the discovery process in the early auctions.

Thursday

MDC-T acting president Dr Thokozani Khupe is set to resume her role as leader of the opposition in Parliament after she and 14 others from her party were sworn-in yesterday as members of the National Assembly and Senate. They were nominated by the party to replace those in proportional representation seats who were recalled.

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Friday

President Mnangagwa has said the Government will not be arm-twisted by striking teachers into succumbing to their demands, saying only those reporting for duty will be paid. Teacher representatives are calling for a minimum salary of US$ 520 or the equivalent at the auction rate. However, the Government has indicated that it is not in a position to pay in US dollars given that the local currency has been reintroduced.