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ZWL$50 TUESDAY O1 DECEMBER 2020

World Aids Day: More than

half-a-million could die
due to Covid-19 disruptions

Decades of response

Tonnes of challenges
Stark reality that HIV
is still with us
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020
World Aids Day: More than half-a-million
could die due to Covid-19 disruptions
Diseases
BY VIVIAN MUGARISI
I
t was in 2004 and she vividly
remembers the last day she saw
her mother.
She had lost weight and Sandra
struggled to recognise her when
she visited St Theresa’s Hospital in
Chirumanzu where her mother was
admitted.
A once strong woman just lay
there waiting to die and there was
nothing anyone could do.
She is one of thousands who
died of AIDS because treatment
then, was not readily available.
Ten years later in August, her father
breathed his last. When she held
him the day he collapsed and was
waiting for the ambulance to ferry
him to Parirenyatwa Group of Hos-
pitals, she knew it was only a mat-
ter of days, if not hours.
Four days after being admitted,
her father was also to be transferred
to the same hospital that had housed
her mother during her last days in
2004.
While Sandra’s parents both died
of HIV-related complications, their
stories were different because un-
like her mother, her father died be-
cause of self-stigma and failure to
accept his status.
Information around HIV/Aids
had filtered through communities,
and even babies understood that
HIV was not a death sentence. But
a well-spoken and educated man
could not comprehend being HIV
positive.
The country is still dealing with
stigma and discrimination, with
some, like her father, defaulting
only because they did not want their
neighbours to know they were on
anti-retroviral treatment (ART).
“With so much appreciation of
health issues, particularly HIV, I
had always wondered if the out-
come would have been different
had I engaged him on time on the
need to religiously take his medica-
tion,” Sandra told Nhau, a few days
before the country marked World
AIDS Day.
“Talking about the subject to him
was taboo, and people from my
community struggled with having
conversations around HIV.
But I knew better, I had dedicated
my career towards unpacking health
issues but I guess I always thought
that my father was smart enough to
make better decisions.”
Covid-19 effect
Six years after his death, the globe
is now grappling with the corona-
virus pandemic, which has derailed
progress towards the attainment of
an Aids-free generation by 2030.
While time may be there to scale-up
responses, Zimbabwe in particular
has missed the 90-90-90 2020 tar-
get.
The target sought to ensure that
at least 90 percent of all people liv-
ing with HIV know their status and
90 percent of all people with diag-
nosed HIV infection will receive
sustained antiretroviral therapy.
The target also sought to ensure
that by 2020, 90 percent of all peo-
ple receiving antiretroviral thera-
py would have viral suppression.
The lockdown instituted to control
the spread of Covid-19, saw many
fail to access HIV services, with
some forced to default due to the
challenges that ensued.
Movement restrictions saw many
missing their appointments, with
Government moving in to give medi-
cation for more than three months as
was the norm.
Furthermore, due to logistical
nightmares, countries like Zimba-
bwe were and still is face a lot of
challenges in bringing in medica-
tions, with Government mooting the
idea of starting to give patients three
months’ supply of medicines instead
of six months, until more supplies
come into the country.
UNAIDS reports that a six-month
complete disruption in HIV treatment
could cause more than half-a-million
additional deaths in Sub-Saharan Af-
rica, Zimbabwe included, over the
next year, bringing the region back
to 2008 HIV mortality levels.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic
also offers countries an opportunity
to address gaps that were left unat-
tended during the HIV program-
ming.
This includes, but not limited to,
investment in primary healthcare to
2
ensure that people can access ser-
vices at the lowest level possible.
World Health Organisation Na-
tional Professional Officer for HIV
Dr Simbarashe Mabaya said the
Covid-19 pandemic exposed the
need for countries to ensure that all
services including HIV, are accessi-
ble at the lowest level of care, close
to the communitiesV.
“Covid-19 gives us a unique oppor-
tunity to reimagine how to provide
HIV services going forward.
Now with the Covid-19 response
we really need to decongest our fa-
cilities to ensure that we take ser-
vice into communities,” said Dr
Mabaya.
He also notes that while notable
progress has been made towards
Zimbabwe’s response to HIV, men,
among other key populations, still
struggle to access HIV services.
This has been attributed mainly
due to poor health seeking behav-
iour and adherence to medication
amongst men.
In her remarks to mark World
ADS Day, WHO Regional Direc-
tor for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti
said: “To sustain and accelerate the
gains made, I urge governments and
partners to come together, with the
same level of urgency and leader-
ship demonstrated in response to
Covid-19, to increase domestic
funding and strengthen health sys-
tems.
“There must be global solidarity
and shared responsibility among all
stakeholders to ensure integrated,
people-centred, quality care and an
uninterrupted supply of essential
commodities for HIV services.”
This year’s AIDS Day is running
under the theme, global solidarity,
shared responsibility.
Nhau/Indaba
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020 3

ED in another security sector appeasement

exercise … As ZRP Promotes 5 600 NCOs
P
olice Commissioner-Gen- that only the top three of each rank
eral Godwin Matanga has will participate in the ceremonies as
promoted 5 629 non-com- a measure of adhering to Covid-19
missioned (NCOs) junior police regulations that restrict gatherings.
officers with immediate effect, “Conferment of badges of rank
Nhau has learnt. shall be conducted by respective of-
This is contained in a radio ficers commanding provinces (for
signal seen by Nhau stating that all provinces/CID/Support Unit) and
the promotions were with effect Chief Staff Officer (CSO) in respect
from yesterday, Monday No- of Police General Headquarters
vember 30. (PGHQ) on Tuesday 8 December at
According to the signal, 1 511 10am,” read the signal.
Sergeants were elevated to the “Due to Covid-19 pandemic, only
rank of Assistant Inspector, an- the top three per each rank per dis-
other 173 Sergeants promoted to trict shall attend the conferment pa-
the rank of Sergeant Major and rade taking cognisance of female
3 945 Constables bumped up to representation on a ratio of one fe-
the rank of Sergeant. male to two males. The rest of other
Conferment of ranks will be promoted members shall remain at
done by officers commanding their stations.”
provinces on Tuesday 8 Decem- The last time the exercise was done
ber at 10am. in 2018, members slammed their
Last week President Mnangag- bosses for allegedly abandoning the
Opposition circles say that Mnan- alas when their pay slips came, the
wa, who is the Commander-in- normal examination processes to
gagwa is also doing this in order to bonus was included.
Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence elevate their favourite individuals
overcome disgruntlements in the “We are still confused over how
Forces, promoted 54 Zimbabwe without any explanation.
uniformed forces over poor sala- they paid us this month. I actually
National Army (ZNA) officers to Police officers are usually subject-
ries. Currently, the forces are bit- spent my November salary quite
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel ed to annual promotional examina-
ter over the way Government paid hopeful that our bonus would be
effective November 10. tions meant to identify officers who
them their 13th cheque. injected but I was surprised to see
The army promotions were merit elevation to higher ranks.
Sources told Nhau that when their it already included on my pay slip
described as “a gimmick meant However, Section 9 of the Police
salaries were entered, they thought when I finally collected it,” said a
to appease Mnangagwa’s boot- Act empowers Comm-Gen Matanga
these included the newly awarded police officer who cannot be named.
lickers” by MDC Alliance vice- to handpick officers for promotion
40 percent increase and that their Meanwhile, the police communi-
president Tendai Biti. using other considerations.
bonuses would be injected later, but cation on promotions emphasises
Nhau/Indaba

Grace Mugabe doubles workers’ contractual agreements. It was

reported that they were earn-
ing ZW$4 800 topped up with

salaries after strike threat US$100 against a contract-stip-

ulated salary of US$1 800.
General and kitchen staff

F ormer First Lady Grace

Mugabe has awarded staff at
her group of schools a 100 per-
reportedly earned ZW$900,
equivalent to just over US$10 at
the official exchange rate.
cent salary increase after they “A teacher should earn US$1
threatened to strike last week as 800 which is equal to a pupil's
the Mugabe empire continues to fee. The schools are barely pay-
face a myriad of challenges. ing the teachers 10 percent of
Teachers employed under the the supposed salary,” said an in-
Amai Mugabe Group of Schools sider at the elite institution.
in Mazowe were reportedly up According to our source, on
in arms with their employer over Friday November 13, 2020 the
poor working conditions and low teachers threatened industrial
salaries. action but former First Lady
A source close to the occurrenc- Grace Mugabe acted swiftly,
es told Nhau that Grace offered sending a high-powered del-
US$200 plus doubling of ZW$4 egation comprising her sister
Dubai to meet the disgruntled em- operate in.
800 teachers were being paid for Ms Gumbochuma, her daughter
ployees who threatened to ground “Grace said that in the near fu-
their services at the plush aca- Bona Mugabe-Chikore and her
their tools if the impasse was not ture salaries will be reviewed
demic institution. son-in-law Simba Chikore to
corrected. upwards and asked staff to work
“Staff accepted the new offer meet the school staff and listen
She is said to have promised to together with her as well as de-
after a meeting was held with her to their grievances.
review the salaries again in due sisting from engaging in indus-
on the 28th last month,” said the The staff did not comply, opt-
course, pointing out that the group trial action.”
source. ing to meet Grace face to face
of schools was finding the current Staff also raised issue of fail-
The former First Lady is re- to air their disgruntlements di-
economic environment difficult to ure by the company to honour
ported to have cut short her trip to rectly. Nhau/Indaba

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020
Mthuli Ncube has never been a friend
of the poor, and MPs must resist his
cruel taxes on informal sector
By Sharon Mupfure
F
inance Minister Mthuli Ncube, since
his appointment two years ago, has
never been a friend of the poor. In
his latest budget statement, he makes it
clear that nothing has changed.
One of his first decisions as minister was
to introduce a truly repressive tax of 2%
on every electronic transaction. It burnt
the pockets of the poor the hardest.
Over the next two years, Ncube con-
vinced the government to let go of safety
nets, which those who are anti-poor like
him like to call “distortions”.
All this in order to clear deficits and
make his accounts look good.
In his 2021 budget, Ncube has taken
the hatchet to millions of Zimbabweans
struggling to make ends meet in the in-
formal economy. This is the majority of
Zimbabweans. He has proposed a tax of
the equivalent of US$30 per month for the
mother running a small flea market. Sisi
Sandra the hairdresser must pay Z$2500
every month to the government, among
other taxes.
Yes, most traders in the formal sector
are indeed women, the same people who
already bore the brunt of Mthuli’s reckless
hurry to just balance his books and boast
about fiscal discipline.
This new tax regime must be resisted.
Below are my reasons;
EXCESSIVE TAX
Firstly, taxing the informal market at
US$30 is excessive and cruel. This is a
sector that is still to recover from the im-
pact of Covid-19. The virus only made
worse what was already a tough situation
for many in this sector, to put it mildly.
The government’s own recent research,
a collaboration between Zimstat and the
World Bank, told us that 90% of Zimbabwe-
an households operating small businesses
lost significant income due to the lockdown.
“Ncube’s concern is the books, not the
people”
So, just as they are starting to recover,
their own government hits them with a big
axe. Are we supported to just say this is
OK, in the name of “everyone must pay
tax”?
Why not give them time to recover, or at
least consider an incremental tax? Ncube
won’t consider that, because his concern is
the books, not the people.
SYSTEMS NOT IN PLACE
Secondly, there is serious doubt that sys-
tems are in place to administer this tax.
With millions in informal trade, can ZIM-
RA net all of them where it is failing with
far fewer registered companies?
What we are likely to see is haphazard
chasing of traders, and we all know where
this leads to; abuse and corruption.
Ncube will soon find out that the cost of
trying to raise taxes from small traders is
far higher than any tax he is likely to col-
lect. Many countries that have tried this
have discovered this truth. According to an
ActionAid report in 2018, which looked at
BUSINESS
similar attempts to tax informal sector, “the
sheer number of fees and lack of clarity
about who collects them creates frustration
and opportunities for corruption”.
NO IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Thirdly, the reasonable thing would have
Study on the socio-economic impacts of
Covid-19 in COMESA region completed
By Mwai Gakunga
C
OMESA Secretariat has conducted
a study on the socio-economic im-
pacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in
the region. The study is expected to help
Member States in developing policies to
address the impacts of the pandemic on
their economies.
According to the study, only six Member
States: Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi,
Rwanda and Uganda are projected to have
positive growth rates post Covid-19 pan-
demic. The resultant contraction in eco-
nomic growth in countries is likely to hit
hard countries that are resource intensive,
oil exporters, and tourism dependent. Non-
resource intensive countries will be more
resilient.
Specifically, the fall in commodity
prices affected COMESA oil and mineral
products exporters thereby leading to
sharp declines in export earnings and bal-
ance of payment challenges , according to
the report.
The study identified the services sector
as the most affected due to travel restric-
tions and lockdowns. These include busi-
ness services, air transport, road transport
and tourism. Comoros, Seychelles, Mauri-
tius, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt and Madagas-
car, which heavily rely on services sectors
have been the most affected.
“Available data pointed to a double-digit
reduction of 22 percent in the travel and
tourism sector during the first quarter of
2020, with arrivals in March down by 57
percent,” the report stated. “This translates
into a loss of 67 million international arriv-
als and about USD 80 billion in receipts.
Current scenarios point to declines of 58%
been to conduct an extensive impact as-
sessment before proposing this tax.
The Minister needed to find out the state
of those he is trying to tax. Do they have
the capacity to pay US$30? What do they
earn? How would this tax affect their in-
come?
to 78% in international tourist arrivals for
2020.”
A brief on the study was presented to the
41st meeting of the Council of Ministers
last week. In their decision, the ministers
urged Member States to fast-track imple-
mentation of the protocol on free movement
of persons and easing regional movement.
Specifically, they cited the movement of
professionals like medical personnel, engi-
neers, technicians, essential goods and ser-
vices across borders and the development
of a regional strategy to encourage and pro-
mote domestic and regional tourism.
The study found that financial services
were more resilient due to digitisation in-
cluding the use of the internet and mobile
banking. It recommended greater liberali-
sation of financial and telecommunication
services to help reduce costs of services
provision which are currently high.
On inflation, the study found that the re-
gional rate increased from 31.6 percent to
60.4 percent in the first of 2020, with some
countries registering double digit month on
month inflation.
“Inflation was largely driven by drastic
changes in consumption of housing, water,
electricity, gas and other fuels (89 percent),
health (78.3 percent) and communication
(69.6 percent) due to supply shortages and
confinement measures,” the report says.
However, many economies experienced
increase in nonperforming loans (NPLs)
especially in the following sectors: tour-
ism, restaurant and hotels, transport and
communication, trade, real estate, personal/
household, building and construction and
manufacturing sectors.
In addition, there was a cut down in re-
9
This is what the Minister must do, in
my view; he should first ask himself if
this tax on the informal market will im-
prove the economy, or damage it more.
The answer is clear.
If he decides, against all reason, to go
ahead with this idea in its current form, he
needs to communicate to improve trans-
parency, and ensure his notorious ZIMRA
officials don’t use this as another opportu-
nity to harass and demand bribes.
Yes, everybody should pay tax. No-
body has a problem paying tax if they see
it working for them. Why people resent
tax is that the poor are taxed and then
watch leaders buy big cars. Meanwhile,
we are taxing people who are working at
markets with no proper sheds or running
water.
Poor people have had no safety nets
under Ncube’s policies. This new regime
of taxes is insensitive to the plight of the
poor.
Our Members of Parliament, across
the divide, must do their job and strongly
resist Ncube’s cruel and draconian tax
measures, until they are implemented in
a way that does not make the poor even
poorer than they are. Newzwire
mittance inflows in the region, attributed
to shut down in economic activities in key
source countries including France, Italy,
Spain, United States, United Kingdom,
Middle East and China. These account for
a quarter of total remittances to Sub Saha-
ran Africa.
Steep declines in foreign direct invest-
ment (FDI) were noted with delays in ap-
proved development projects linked to
external financing mechanisms, and an
increasingly high risk of financial sector
contagion due to the decreased ability of
businesses and individuals to meet their fi-
nancial obligations.
Expansionary policies undertaken in
combating the Covid-19 pandemic wors-
ened the fiscal deficits and external debt
situations in most countries. Increased
spending was notable in health and support
to businesses and vulnerable populations.
Despite the challenges, the pandemic
created opportunities for firms to innovate,
develop new strategy and products, for
example, through repurposing production
lines to produce Covid-19 essential prod-
ucts.
Following the study, the Council on
Ministers directed speedy digitalization of
trade instruments which include electronic
trade (e-trade), e-logistics and e-legislation
under the COMESA Digital Free Trade
Area initiative. The Council urged Member
States to enhance investments in internet
infrastructure and penetration to promote
online supply of services and reduce costs
of communication – mobile, internet and
financial services to increase/expand the
benefits of digital technology. Comesa
 BUSINESS 9

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020

Zambia shows how the West must lend like

China, says Mark Mobius holders of 40 percent of Zambia’s Eurobonds
By David Whitehouse says that the transparency that would allow
them to consider debt relief request is lacking

Z
ambia’s default shows that Western
lending to Africa needs to become
more like that of China, veteran
emerging markets investor Mark Mobius
tells The Africa Report.
Western loans need to stop being used
to support government bureaucracies.
Instead, lenders need to focus on roads,
bridges, power infrastructure and expand-
ing Internet access, Mobius says from
Dubai: “People survive in the informal
market and we need to support them with
infrastructure. These are the things that
help the small guys do business.”
Western lenders say they can’t tell if
Zambia is treating them the same as Chi-
nese lenders. A committee representing
and that there has no direct engagement with
the government.
China, Mobius says, lends for specific pro-
jects such as roads and then brings in the per-
sonnel needed to build it. The approach has
been “very effective” in terms of building in-
frastructure.
Western countries could do this, sending staff
and employing them alongside local workers,
says Mobius: “That’s the reality – that’s the
kind of implementation that’s needed.”
Beijing’s loans to Zambia probably have
“quite lenient” terms which allow China to sim-
ply take control of an asset if necessary, says
Mobius.
He sees no great danger of a contagion effect
in Africa from the default: “Lenders are pretty

Region projects 0.6 percent growth in 2020
By Mwai Gakunga
This was attributed to persistent trade im-
sophisticated” and will be able to dis-
criminate between different degrees of
risk. In private-sector lending markets,
he adds, “defaults happen every day.”
Sovereign defaults, of course, are dif-
ferent. Mobius sees the possibility of a
positive upshot if the IMF becomes less
tolerant of a lack of Zambian reform.
They now have a chance to “impose
some conditionality”, which could help
to reduce corruption, he says.
Welcome to deflation
Mobius’s new book, The Inflation Myth
and the Wonderful World of Deflation,
was published by Wiley in November.
The book’s main argument is that tech-
nological progress has made the concept
of inflation obsolete. Prices may official-
ly go up, but that just reflects outdated
baskets of goods that people no longer
buy.
In the real world, Mobius argues, tech-
nology means that we are able to trans-
junk. Moody’s now has South Africa two
notches below investment grade, while
Fitch’s rating is three levels below. Both
have negative outlooks on the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is fac-
ing “terrific resistance to reform” from
people who “don’t want to give up their
cushy jobs”, says Mobius. Yet the coun-
try benefits from “relatively good” infra-
structure. “With relatively small chang-
es, they could turn this around. It’s never
too late.”
• Scaling back Eskom and letting people
generate their own power would solve
one major problem, he argues.
• Privatising South African Airways
would solve another.
• State-owned enterprises, he says, are
“an incredible drain on the government
budget. They must be reformed in the
national interest. That realisation, he
says, is dawning on the ANC hierarchy.

C
balances due to a combination of declining • It’s “quite possible”, he adds, that the
OMESA region is projected to mit and store information at speeds and rand will appreciate if the right reforms
export demand and relatively inelastic import quantities without parallel in history. The
grow by 0.6% in 2020 down from are made.
bills, and in some cases late disbursement of argument, and the book, concerns eco-
5.2% attained in 2019. This is ac- Overall, Mobius says he’s “very posi-
external aid flows faced by most countries in nomics rather than Africa specifically.
cording to a report on the macroeconomic tive on Africa,” where Mobius Capital
the COMESA region. But, Mobius adds, Africa stands to be a
developments in the region presented at Partners (MCP) has continued to invest
“The region’s average fiscal deficit includ- major beneficiary of the shift to a defla-
just concluded COMESA policy organs’ during COVID-19.
ing grants as a percentage of GDP widened tionary world.
meetings. He’s encouraged by Africa’s free-trade
slightly from -4.3 percent in 2018 to -4.9 Technological progress in Africa has
The low projected growth in 2020 re- agreement and a young population which
percent in 2019 as the region continued to in- the potential to increase the value of ser-
flects largely the impact of COVID-19 has the potential to become highly pro-
crease infrastructure investment,” according vices much more than for already afflu-
containment measures that includes quar- ductive. Free trade, he says, will make
to the report prepared by the Secretariat. ent people in the US or Europe. Wider
antine, lockdowns, travel restrictions and a pan African market that is attractive to
COMESA’s average inflation rate was 13.3 Internet and mobile phone penetration
border closures, among others. global capital, and give an impetus for
percent in 2019 as compared to 9.2 percent in mean that farmers in Africa now have
The projections considered the devel- economic reforms.
2018 and is projected to increase to 15.2 per- access to much more information and
opment in economic growth, monetary The Mobius Emerging Market Fund’s
cent in 2020 due to plummeting commodity potential markets, says Mobius.
policy and exchange rate, external current largest African holdings are Clicks
prices and disruptions in food supply chains. The opportunity exists for Africa to
account including grants, overall fiscal Group in South Africa, with 4.2 percent
The external reserve position for the re- “leapfrog” the West in technological
balance, government debt, inflation rate, of the portfolio, and Safaricom in Kenya,
gion in 2019 was an average of 3.8 months terms.
reserve accumulation, medium term pros- with 3.9 percent.
of import of goods and services compared to
pects and recommendations and risks to A constraint on investment, he says, is
3.1 months of import of goods and services in
outlook.
2018 and is expected to decline to just three Professional optimist lack of market liquidity. MCP only in-
In 2019, for example, monetary policy Mobius made his name as a perpetually vests in publicly traded companies, but
months of import of good and services in
stance varied depending on the extent to optimistic investor in emerging markets. Mobius expects that more IPOs will in
2020.
which countries were exposed to domestic He spent 30 years at Templeton Emerg- time create more opportunities. The fund
The report concludes that the immediate
and external shock. However, in 2020 the ing Markets. In 2018, he started Mobius continues to look for more investments
challenge for most countries in the region
region’s Central Banks face new challeng- Capital Partners with former Templeton in South Africa and Kenya. Technology,
will be stopping the Covid-19 pandemic. This
es posed by Covid-19 pandemic including colleagues Carlos von Hardenberg and retail, healthcare and education will be
should entail continued effort to sustain public
a shift of priority to crisis management ob- Greg Konieczny. Aged 84, he swims the priority sectors.
health gains including contact tracing, quar-
jectives instead of strictly price stability. every day in Dubai while waiting for the
antine and isolation, treatment and stopping
According to the report, external current chance to travel back to Singapore.
account including grants improved slightly
the spread.
Even South Africa’s economic woes
Bottom line
The Secretariat urged member countries to Western lenders will need to learn to
in the region, averaging about -4.8 percent are not enough to blunt his profession-
use macroeconomic policies to speed up post- play the Chinese game to benefit fully
of GDP in 2019 as compared to -5.2 per- al optimism. In November, Fitch and
Covid-19 recovery. Comesa from Africa’s economic recovery.
cent in 2018. Moody’s cut South Africa further below
AfricaReport
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020
How Ethiopia is undermining the African Union
By Alex de Waal
S
hortly before three former Af-
rican heads of state arrived in
Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa,
to seek a peaceful resolution to the
conflict in the northern Tigray region,
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered
what he called the "final phase of our
rule of law operations".
This was a remarkable rebuff.
Former Presidents Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf of Liberia, Joachim Chissano
of Mozambique and Kgalema Mot-
lanthe of South Africa met Mr Abiy
on Friday, but were told that the Ethi-
opian government would continue its
military operations.
Mr Abiy also said that they could
not meet any representatives of the
group Ethiopia is fighting in Tigray,
the Tigray People's Liberation Front
(TPLF), which the prime minister has
dismissed as a "criminal clique".
Citing the Charter of the United
Nations in a statement earlier in the
week, the prime minister insisted that
the federal government was engaged
in a domestic law-enforcement op-
eration and the principle of non-in-
terference in the internal affairs of a
sovereign nation applied.
But Nigerian legal expert Chidi
Odinkalu argues that Ethiopia is us-
ing the charter to escalate a war, the
opposite of its pacific intent, saying
that the "audacity of this position is
disconcerting".
He points out that the conflict is
already internationalised, because
Eritrea is entangled and refugees are
crossing into Sudan.
Also, the United Nations has adopt-
ed principles to prevent states abus-
ing the doctrine of non-interference
to give themselves impunity to com-
mit atrocities.
Since 1981, conflict resolution has
been a duty and a right. Since 2005,
states have had the responsibility to
protect civilians in conflict.
FEARS OF WAR CRIMES
In rebuffing the African mediators,
Mr Abiy is not just turning down a
peace initiative. He is challenging the
foundational principles of the African
Union itself.
Article 4(g) of the AU's Constitu-
tive Act - to which Ethiopia acceded
in 2002 - does specify "non-interfer-
ence by any member state in the in-
ternal affairs of another".
But this is immediately followed
by Article 4(h), which gives the AU
the right "to intervene in a member
state… in respect of grave circum-
stances, namely: war crimes, geno-
cide and crimes against humanity".
This so-called "duty of non-indif-
ference" was adopted in the wake of
the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
It was first formulated by an Inter-
national Panel of Eminent Personali-
ties, strongly supported by Ethiopia,
which was brought together to rec-
ommend how Africa should prevent
such atrocities in the future. "Non-in-
difference" is Africa's version of the
UN's "responsibility to protect".
The Ethiopian government has itself
accused the TPLF of carrying out atroc-
ities, and observers fear that when the
news blackout is lifted, evidence of war
crimes by both sides will come to light.
There are unconfirmed reports that
Eritrean troops have crossed the border
and rounded up Eritrean refugees in
United Nations camps in Tigray, which
would be a violation of the United Na-
tions convention on refugees.
ETHIOPIA'S DIPLOMATIC
TRIUMPH
The Organisation of African Unity
(OAU) was founded in 1963, with its
headquarters in Addis Ababa, with the
aim of consolidating the newly won in-
dependence of African states.
Locating the OAU in Ethiopia was a
diplomatic triumph for Emperor Haile
Selassie, who had long championed in-
ternational law.
Famously, his 1936 speech at the
League of Nations predicted that if
Italy's invasion of Ethiopia were to go
unpunished, the world would be bathed
in blood.
The OAU was a common front for
Africa's liberation from colonial and
racist rule.
But it also served as a club of auto-
crats, who held to their common inter-
est of staying in power no matter what.
Tanzania's founding President, Julius
Nyerere, lamented that it had become
"a trade union of heads of state".
By the 1990s it was clear that the
OAU needed to be refashioned to be
able to respond to Africa's wars, coups
and atrocities, and in 2002 the AU was
created with a far more ambitious agen-
da of promoting peace and democracy.
Since then it has developed a set of
mechanisms that include suspending
countries where there is an unconsti-
tutional change in government, and of-
fering help to mediate conflicts, along
with an obligation for conflict-afflicted
countries to welcome good-faith peace-
making efforts.
HOW THE AFRICAN UNION
HAS HELPED
Mr Abiy himself intervened in the Su-
danese crisis last year when he sought
a peaceful resolution to the confron-
tation between the pro-democracy
6
Ethiopia has an outsized influence on
the day-to-day affairs of the AU.
Other African countries have long
suspected that it has a double standard,
giving Ethiopia leeway that it does not
accord to other countries. That did not
matter so much when Ethiopia was ac-
tive in supporting mediation efforts and
peacekeeping operations, especially in
Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.
Now, many are asking if it has bra-
zenly crossed a red line.
'THE AU IS FOR OTHERS,
NOT ETHIOPIA'
The Ethiopian government has purged
Tigrayan officers from AU and UN
peacekeeping missions, according to a
report in Foreign Policy magazine quot-
ing a UN document. It also demanded
movement and the military, which had
that the AU Commission dismiss its
unseated President Omar al-Bashir.
head of security, who was a Tigrayan
The formula for Sudan's transition to
and whose loyalties were questioned
democracy was drawn up on the AU's
because of the conflict.
template.
And now Mr Abiy has effectively
But the AU is not a strong institution.
rejected Africa's highest-level media-
It has a low budget and cannot impose
tors, politely recording only that they
its will.
"imparted their wisdom, insights and
More powerful states and organisa-
readiness to support in any way they are
tions can overrule it - as Nato did when
needed".
the AU sought a negotiated settlement
After Ethiopian federal troops occu-
to the Libya conflict in 2011, but the
pied the Tigrayan capital Mekelle on
United States, European and Arab coun-
Saturday, Mr Abiy declared his opera-
tries pursued regime change.
tion complete - implying that he doesn't
The AU's real value lies in its soft
need peacemakers. But the African me-
power: it articulates the norms of peace
diators - all from countries that have
and cooperation and persuades African
long experience of armed conflicts - are
leaders to go along, knowing that they
not likely to be so confident.
rise together and sink together.
The AU headquarters was built on the
Over time, it has proven its value: Af-
site of Ethiopia's notorious central pris-
rica has become more democratic and
on, known as Alem Bekagn - meaning
peaceable.
"farewell to the world" in Amharic.
A generation ago, African diplomatic
Thousands of political prisoners were
efforts to avoid conflicts or resolve them
imprisoned there, many tortured and ex-
were rare. Today, they are standard
ecuted, during the military dictatorship
practice.
of the 1970s and 1980s. That symbolism
In a statement announcing the three
is not lost on African civil society activ-
envoys' mission, South African Presi-
ists, who wonder if they are becoming
dent Cyril Ramaphosa, who is the cur-
prisoners of their Ethiopian hosts.
rent AU chairperson, reaffirmed the
A senior AU diplomat remarked on
organisation's position that the conflict
Friday: "Abiy thinks that the AU is for
"should be brought to an end through
others, not for Ethiopia."
dialogue".
Mr Abiy's rejection of mediation
But it was couched in standard diplo-
harkens back to an earlier era in which
matic courtesies and lacked bite.
African civil wars were ended by force
In comparable situations - such as
of arms, not peace agreements - leaving
Libya or Sudan - the AU chair has con-
grievances to fester.
vened a special heads of state meeting
It threatens to make a mockery of the
of the AU's Peace and Security Council.
African Union's hard-won norms and
Mr Ramaphosa has not done that.
principles of peacemaking.
South Africa - which is currently one
of three African nations on the UN Se-
Alex de Waal is the executive director
curity Council - postponed a discussion
of the World Peace Foundation at the
on Ethiopia at the UN on Monday, cit-
Fletcher School of Global Affairs at
ing the need to hear the envoys' report
Tufts University in the US. He worked
first.
for the AU on Sudan in different ca-
Because it hosts its headquarters,
pacities from 2005 to 2012
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020 7

Regional governments still don’t have a plan

to fight Mozambican Islamic insurgency
O
ther southern African gov-
ernments are starting to
ask themselves how seri-
ous Mozambique is about seeking
help in fighting a growing Islam-
ist insurgency in the north of the
country.
Mozambican President Filipe
Nyusi did not even bother to attend
a regional summit in Gaborone on
Friday to discuss the insurgency.
Instead, he sent his defence min-
ister Jaime Bessa Augusto Neto,
who presented regional leaders
with a “shopping list” of military
equipment which Mozambique
wanted to fight the insurgency,
rather than the coherent plan they
were expecting, sources said.
As a result, the summit of the
security organ of the Southern
African Development Commu-
nity (SADC) had no choice but
to agree to hold another summit
where a “comprehensive regional
response” to the insurgency would
be considered “urgently”.
One SADC official told Daily
Maverick that “some elements”
of a regional response plan to the
insurgency were presented to the
summit “but it requires more and
detailed information. It’s a work in
Zimbabwean President Emm-
erson Mnangagwa, the outgoing
chairperson, also attended.
So did SADC executive sec-
retary Stergomena Tax. She told
the summit that terrorism posed a
threat to the whole region and the
number of terror attacks had re-
cently increased in Mozambique
and the DRC.
Terrorism had also now spread
from northern Mozambique into
southern Tanzania. If these attacks
were not stopped “they have a po-
tential to spread across the entire
region, and the region can also be
used as a launchpad for terrorism
and violent attacks”.
Because the instability in the
eastern DRC was on the agenda too,
DRC President Félix Tshisekedi
also attended. Malawian President
Lazarus Chakwera and Tanzanian
Vice-President Samia Suluhu Has-
san were also present because the
summit discussed changes to the
SADC Force Intervention Brigade
(FIB), which comprises South Af-
rican, Tanzanian and Malawian
troops and has been stationed in
eastern DRC since 2013 with a Botswana sets up gender violence
courts to tackle pandemic backlog
mandate to “neutralise” the many
armed rebel groups in the area.

progress.”
However, another official from
an SADC member state said what
was put on the table was not even a
partial plan but a shopping list. He
added that Zimbabwean foreign
minister Sibusiso Moyo, a former
army general, had pointedly asked
who would be flying the helicop-
ters and operating the other equip-
ment which Mozambique had re-
quested.
This official said that when the
Mozambique insurgency was be-
ing discussed by the SADC min-
isters’ council which preceded the
summit of heads of state, Mozam-
bique defence minister Neto left
the room.
“We are speculating that Mo-
zambique just went through the
motions of seeking SADC support
and will now seek support else-
where,” this official said.
The SADC has a mutual de-
fence pact which obliges oth-
er members to help a member
country which is under attack.
While the SADC ponders its re-
sponse, the Islamist insurgents,
who proclaim allegiance to Islamic
State, have been occupying the
port town of Mocímboa da Praia in
Mozambique’s northernmost prov-
ince of Cabo Delgado for more
than three months and extending
their reach into adjoining districts.
The extraordinary SADC summit
in Gaborone on Friday was hosted
by Botswana President Mokgweet-
si Masisi, the current chair of the
SADC’s security organ, South Af-
rican President Cyril Ramaphosa,
the incoming chairperson of the
security organ.
The communiqué from the sum-
mit said the heads of state had ac-
cepted a proposal by the United
Nations to realign the FIB to add
two Quick Reaction Forces (QRFs)
from the forces of the three SADC
troop-contributing countries – SA,
Tanzania and Malawi.
The FIB is part of the UN peace-
keeping mission MONUSCO and
the SADC summit also pledged
support to the UN’s plan to phase
MONUSCO out of the DRC.
An SADC source told Daily
Maverick that the two QRFs were
to be created in the FIB to provide
it with specific equipment and
greater mobility “to respond to the
type of warfare in the theatre of op-
erations”.
When the FIB first went into the
eastern DRC in 2013, its main mis-
sion was to help the DRC military
defeat the M23 rebel group which
was being supported by neighbour-
ing Rwanda. It quickly succeeded
in doing that.
After that it was supposed to
go after other rebel groups such
as the Democratic Forces for the
Liberation of Rwanda (known by
its French acronym FDLR) and
the Alliance of Democratic Forces
(ADF).
But it has not pursued them with
the same determination and seems
to have abandoned its mandate to
take offensive military action to de-
stroy these forces. Meanwhile, the
ADF, which originated in Uganda,
continues to massacre hundreds of
civilians. Like the Mozambique in-
surgency, the ADF is believed to be
affiliated to Islamic State Central
Africa Province. DailyMaverick
B
otswana will
launch 25 gender
violence courts this
week following a rise in
cases during the coronavi-
rus pandemic - a measure
women's campaigners hope
will bring swifter justice to
victims of sexual and do-
mestic abuse.
The government of the
southern African coun-
try moved to establish
the courts after women's
rights advocates warned
that lockdown curbs were
exacerbating high rates of
gender-based violence by
trapping many women at
home with abusers.
"(Bringing a case to
court) can be a long, tedi-
ous process, and this frus-
trates many victims," said
Kgomotso Kelaotswe, a
counselor supervisor from
the Botswana Gender
Based Violence Prevention
and Support Centre.
"Hopefully, with spe-
cialised courts, cases will
be addressed timeously,"
Kelaotswe, whose non-
profit also provides shelter
to abused women, told the
Thomson Reuters Founda-
tion.
Nearly 70% of women
in Botswana have experi-
enced physical or sexual
abuse - more than double
the global average, accord-
ing to the United Nations
Population Fund (UNPF),
and police statistics indi-
cate a spike in cases this
year.
Police have recorded
2,789 rapes since January
compared with 2,265 dur-
ing all of 2019, said police
spokesman Dipheko Mo-
tube.
Activists think the true
lockdown figures are like-
ly far higher, however.
'LOW PRIORITY'
Many victims do not report
gender-based crimes due
to fear of reprisals by their
abusers, stigma, reluctance
to go to the police as well
as being deterred by the
prospect of lengthy court
proceedings, rights groups
said.
Magistrate Tshepo Thedi,
who will sit at one of the
dedicated courts, said she
hoped a faster turnaround
would encourage victims
to maintain charges and
spur brisker police work.
"If a case is given high
priority, then investigations
will hopefully be faster un-
like now where cases can
drag on for a month or
two," Thedi said.
Botswana's justice min-
ister, Kagiso Mmusi, told
parliament recently that
of the 440 domestic abuse
cases brought to court last
year, nearly 70% had re-
ceived a ruling within 30
days.
But rights campaigners
and victims say delays are
common.
Abuse survivor Tshepiso
Moeti, who declined to
use her real name, said she
withdrew charges against
her husband after a six-
month wait for the courts to
take action made her lose
faith in the justice system.
"Issues of domestic abuse
... tend to get low priority
in the courts, but ... gov-
ernment has to ensure they
are treated urgently and
the specialised courts are a
step in the right direction,"
said Moeti, 36, a teacher.
"Many people, particu-
larly women, have lost their
lives at the hands of abus-
ers because justice takes
too long to be served," she
added.
Kelaotswe urged the
government to review the
bail system in rape cases,
saying it was common for
alleged rapists to be grant-
ed bail and "walk freely in
the community".
"In some cases, we are
forced to keep victims
longer for their own safety,
because if they go back to
their homes, the perpetrator
might come back and at-
tack them again, or worse,
kill them," she said.
Reuters
 TUESDAY,DECEMBER 01, 2020
Freeman’s explosive christmas gift for fans
…chanter releases 11 collaborations, rebrands
By Tawanda Matanhire
S
ensational Zim dancehall
chanter, Freeman, real name
Emergy Sylvester Chizanga,
will this Thursday release a mixtape
featuring a plethora of other Zimba-
bwean music stars.
The 11-track mixtape titled, Free-
man and Friends, features Baba
Harare, Gemma Griffiths, Mai Titi,
Mambo Dhuterere, Darula, T Gonz,
Takura, Sandra Ndebele, Shinso-
man and Mbeu.
HKD records publicist, Michelle
Mukaro, told Nhau News Online
that they have also rebranded from
Freeman to Freeman HKD.
She said the move to rebrand was
prompted by the confusion caused
by the commonness of the name
Freeman, especially on the internet.
“We have rebranded from the
name Freeman to Freeman HKD.
The reason is because we have got
a lot of our content on Vevo and
Spotify with the same name, Free-
man, that’s been clashing … A lot
of content that wasn’t ours was now
crossing into our channel because
a lot of other people use the name
Freeman,” said Mukaro.
“Apple reached out to us and
suggested that we make our name
unique. For us it wasn’t much of a
strain to add HKD because already
it has been associated with Free-
man.”
HKD is short for “Hatimire
Kusimbisa Dangerzone”.
Dangerzone is the record label
owned by Freeman.
Mukaro added that they have
By Tawanda Matanhire
T
he sound, which is made up of
ethnic instrumentals, includ-
ing drums, guitars and shakers
among others, will likely throw listen-
ers into disarray because of its busy,
variated nature – it sounds like a song
to appease an avenging spirit
Music producer, Tapiwa Jera, better
known as Maselo, has released a single
titled Ndezvepasi featuring Dherira hit-
maker Andy Muridzo.
In an interview with Nhau News On-
line, Maselo revealed that Ndezvepasi
was created as a way of establishing a
different sound originating from Mase-
lo studios.
He said he had done so much in up-
lifting many artists in the country, who
include Baba Harare, Jah Signal and
uncle Epatan among others, and feels
8
since changed all their so- many artists.
cial media handles to Free- Freeman announced his
man HKD, which will make arrival on the music scene
it easier for many to identify with a bang through hit sin-
the correct site. gle Joina City, which made
Back to the album – it ap- the chanter an overnight star.
pears Freeman was out to Since breaking into the
prove a point – writing all limelight, Freeman HKD
the songs on the mixtape. has not looked back. He has
“Freeman HKD is also gone on to release hits such
a creative song writer and as Shaina Mwana Iwe, Doc-
most of the lyrics on the tor Wemagitare and Handina
mixtape were composed by Godo just to mention a few.
him though there was help In 2019 Freeman worked
on a few tracks by the fea- with sungura king Alick
turing artists,” Mukaro said. Macheso and released runa-
Freeman is a revered way hit, Ngaibake.
songwriter, who has helped Nhau/Indaba
had the opportunity listen to the fusing on one’s first take.
new song and it was not immedi- The sound, which is made up
ately clear whether Maselo has of ethnic instrumentals, including
struck gold or simply managed drums, guitars and shakers among
to string together jumbled up others, will likely throw listeners
musical beats, making music into disarray because of its busy,
enjoyment strenuous. variated nature.
Ndezvepasi is indeed not It sounds like a song to appease
your everyday song. It takes an avenging spirit.
a good (or bad) mu- Of course, the vocal prowess of
it is time for a fresh original sical ear to Muridzo aka Baba Keketso, can-
sound in the country as most of catch the not be ignored. He leaves a mark
the music being played has be- rhythm whenever he takes part in a pro-
come monotonous. of the duction.
“After making a couple On the other hand, Maselo is
of hits with artist from also surprisingly good at vocal de-
my record label I be- livery. It is clear that he has learnt
lieve this is the time a thing or two in the years that he
to also invent a fresh has been producing music for oth-
original sound. I want ers.
to create a new genre The other plus for Maselo is that
of music. he really dug deep in order to come
“Most of the music up with a new sound, unlike some
that is being played artists that are now infamous for
out there is the same, stealing other producers’ works.
but we are at lib- Distinct genres of music that
erty to create new have been created over time by lo-
sounds,” said cal legends include dendera, sun-
Maselo. song as it is gura, chimurenga and Tuku Mu-
This writer a little con- sic. Nhau/Indaba
 TUESDAY,DECEMBER 01, 2020
FOREIGN ARTS 9

Somizi launches adventurous cookbook

S
omizi wants black people to five-star their
cuisine. Your rice, pap and kota can be SOMIZI Erasure's Andy Bell recalls fan support after
fancy cuisine and he wants you to have fun
while making it. revealing HIV positive status
The vivacious media personality launched his
latest project, a cookbook titled Dinner At Somi-
zi’s: I am Not A Chef, in the elegant suburb of
Houghton last week.
Guests were treated to food from his cook-
book, which is so versatile it has a lengthy chap-
ter on what one can do with their leftovers.
The interesting food items were a kota canapé,
a small serving of bruschetta topped with salmon
and atchar, a unique combination that is adven-
turous and can be slightly too rich.
Other delicacies were a rice burger, which I took it for granted thinking that it’s the
was a crispy rice patty with lettuce, tomatoes same way you do your Instagram pictures of
and avocado. food and you just put a book together, kanti
Somizi’s cuisine is adventurous, some- it’s a lot of work,” he explains.
thing that we haven’t seen in the local food Mhlongo worked with a
industry. young black team on the book.

Mhlongo, whose fans have always known
he was a cook, says the inspiration for the
book came from his late father, Ndaba Mh-
longo.
His dad was a cook and introduced him to
flavours like Indian curry.
He is enamoured with curry.
“It just happened that when I did my TV
show it was just a natural transition for me
to do the cookbook.
This cookbook has been designed and
made with so much love.
Kim Kardashian West flexes her prison-reform
muscle, taking on death-penalty case
S
“One thing I’m proud of in the making of the
book is that … in this book I was unapologeti-
cally black and I said I want a black stylist, I
want a black chef to assist me.
A black photographer, black this, a black eve-
rything and we did it and made it successful.”
Mhlongo and Legend Manqele, the producer
of his cooking show, is currently embroiled in a
copyright dispute over the show.
When Sowetan asked about the status of the
fight, Mhlongo said the complainant, Hastings
peaking to Yahoo Entertainment
ahead of World AIDS Day — which
takes place annually on December
1, and serves to unite people in the fight
against HIV — Erasure frontman Andy
Bell, who was diagnosed HIV positive
in 1998, reflects on the AIDS crisis in the
1980s.
The 56-year-old LGTBQ+ icon be-
comes visibly emotional as he speaks
about one of his synthpop duo’s early US
tours during that fraught era.
“I remember that maybe one of our
first visits, San Francisco, going to Haight
and Ashbury and thinking, ‘Oh my good-
ness, it's like a ghost town around here,’
girlfriend, what type of girls do you like?’
— I’ll say, ‘Well, actually, I like boys! No
disrespect to the ladies, but that's just it,’”
Bell continues with a chuckle.
“And that's how it was. I was so amazed
that we had teenage magazines in the
U.K., like Smash Hits and stuff, who did
features with me dressed up in a leotard
with ruby slippers, lying on top of the pi-
ano in my living room.
I thought that was amazing, to
show teenagers, ‘Here's this person.’”
Bell admits that he was having too much
fun in the ‘80s and ‘90s, touring the world
with Erasure bandmate Vince Clarke, to
even pay much attention to any homopho-

K
im Kardashian West
is flexing her criminal
justice reform muscles
for perhaps the last time before
President Trump leaves office,
asking that the sentence of fed-
eral death-row inmate Brandon
Bernard be commuted to life
in prison without parole before
Bernard's Dec. 10 execution
date.
Bernard was sentenced to
death in 2000 for the murder of
Stacie Bagley, who was killed
with her husband after a carjack-
ing and robbery in June 1999
left them locked in the trunk of
their car, which was set on fire
after both victims were shot.
Todd Bagley died from the gun-
shot, but Stacie died in the fire,
which was set by Bernard.
The murders took place on
Ft. Hood military land in Tex-
as, making it a federal case.
"First, I want to say that a ter-
rible crime was committed
and me fighting for a stay of
execution does not take away
from the sympathy I have for
the victim's Todd and Stacie
Bagley, and their families.
My heart breaks for every-
one involved," the reality TV
star and beauty mogul wrote
Sunday in a series of tweets.
ashian West first revealed her
interest in criminal-justice re-
form in 2018, when she and oth-
ers successfully lobbied Presi-
dent Trump to pardon Alice
Marie Johnson, who had served
22 years of a life sentence for a
nonviolent drug offense.
Since then, she has started
studying law and has stepped
up on behalf of numerous other
convicts. In April, she released
"Kim Kardashian West:
The Justice Project," a
documentary on Oxygen.
"While Brandon did participate
in this crime, his role was minor
compared to that of the other
teens involved, two of whom
are home from prison now,"
Kardashian West con-
tinued Sunday on Twitter.
The fourth man involved in
Kim Kardashian West
the crimes, Christopher Andre
Vialva, was executed Sept. 24
after being sentenced to death
on three of the four charges he
faced and life in prison on the
other.
Bernard also received life
sentences on three of the four
counts, which included com-
mitting or aiding and abet-
ting carjacking and con-
spiracy to commit murder.
Kardashian West tweeted that
Bernard wasn't involved in
the initial carjacking and was
"stunned" when the Iowa youth
ministers were shot.
He feared for his own life,
she said, when he sprayed light-
er fluid into the car and set it on
fire to destroy the evidence.
The 40-year-old mother of
four cited a recent article writ-
ten by the prosecutor who de-
fended Bernard's death sentence
on appeal but now believes that
sentence should be tossed.
She also posted videos from
two of the five jurors who —
out of the nine jurors still alive
— now regret their vote for the
death sentence two decades
ago.
None of those people, how-
ever, doubts Bernard's guilt.
"At trial Brandon's attorney
fell short by not hiring any
experts who could have ex-
plained to the jury why Bran-
don decided to leave the video
game store that night or how
he had grown up in an abusive
home, or how his homeless
father had left him searching
for protection in the streets,"
Kardashian West tweeted.
"His trial attorney also failed to
tell the jury how remorseful he
was or anything about his back-
ground.
We now know this testimo-
ny would have spared his life."
Kardashian West noted that
while the defendants were
Black, 11 of 12 members of
the original jury were white.
She also corrected herself re-
garding Bernard's scheduled
execution date, which she had
mistakenly given as Dec. 12.
Bernard, who was convicted
of the same four charges Vial-
va was, got the death sentence
for Stacie Bagley's killing. He
was 18 at the time of the mur-
ders and, like Vialva, a gang
member, according to court
documents.
"After Todd Bagley agreed
to give a ride to several of
Bernard’s accomplices, they
pointed a gun at him, forced
him and Stacie into the trunk
of their car, and drove the
couple around for hours while
attempting to steal their mon-
ey and pawn Stacie’s wedding
ring," the U.S. Justice Depart-
ment said in a release Oct. 16.
"While locked in the trunk,
the couple spoke with their
abductors about God and
pleaded for their lives," the
statement continued.
"The abductors eventually
parked on the Fort Hood mili-
tary reservation, where Ber-
nard and another accomplice
doused the car with lighter
fluid as the couple, still locked
in the trunk, sang and prayed.
After Stacie said, 'Jesus
loves you,' and 'Jesus, take
care of us,' one of the ac-
complices shot both Todd and
Stacie in the head — killing
Todd and knocking Stacie un-
conscious.
Bernard then lit the
car on fire, killing Stacie
through smoke inhalation."
Kardashian West urged any-
one interested in helping to
visit the website helpsave-
brandon.com for more infor-
mation and to sign a letter to
Trump asking that Bernard's
death sentence be commuted
you know? Going to the gay capital of the
world and then feeling ghosts, and feeling
was the death of the clone and it was kind
of like starting from scratch,” Bell says
somberly.
“And they've never, ever found a cure.
There's not a vaccine. We keep talking
about Covid, but AIDS is another thing
altogether, because it’s sexually transmit-
ted, so [authorities] are not going to go
near there — especially the things that we
face now, with supposedly religious lead-
ers that supposedly should embrace eve-
rybody, which they don't do, which I find
a very sad state of affairs. So, it was a lot
to contend with.”
While HIV was becoming a global
health emergency — compounding the
stigma already attached to homosexuality,
and thus driving thousands of gay people
back into the closet — Bell does note that
the “gay wave” of openly queer pop artists
that were concurrently rising in the mid-
‘80s (like Bronski Beat, Frankie Goes to
Hollywood, Boy George, and of course
Erasure themselves) were “very impor-
tant,” as they helped “dissipate this AIDS
hate that came afterwards.
Bell was one of the first out gay artists
in mainstream pop music (Erasure have
sold 25 million records worldwide), and
he says that living his truth, even amid the
AIDS backlash, was an easy decision for
him. “I wouldn't say it was scary. I would
just say for me it was the necessary thing
to do.
I felt like it was the right time,” he ex-
plains, stressing: “I have to put my hand
up and say, if Jimmy wasn't there —
[Bronski Beat’s] Jimmy Somerville —
and maybe [“Glad to be Gay” singer] Tom
Robinson, I don't know if I wouldn't have
the guts to do it. But I was a foot soldier
to their backup.
“There was a gay wave in music, and
also, I don’t like lying. I hate lying, you
know? So I just thought, right, when any-
body asks me a question — ‘Who’s your
to life imprisonment without the chance of
parole.
Bernard's defense team, which runs the
website, has pledged to present the letters
to the president.
Kardashian West's success in urging
Trump to alter heavy sentences began with
the mid-2018 pardon of Johnson, who was
serving a life sentence plus 25 years for a
bia at the time.
Amusingly, he remained oblivious
even when one of his famous gender-
bending costumes elicited angry jeers
during an Italian television performance.
“I was wearing a basque [corset], because
I thought it was like Madonna in ‘Open
Your Heart,’ and they're all whistling —
and I didn't realize that was their form of
booing! I thought it was cheering!” he
laughs.
“I think always there was homophobia,
but it sort of went above my head, be-
cause I was having such a good time. You
were sort of blunted to the whole thing —
you couldn't internalize it, or everything
would be just too much.”
By the time Bell came out regarding his
HIV positive status, in December 2004,
the general public had become more em-
pathetic, and he recalls getting a great deal
of support and cheers from his fans.
“I was really amazed of what it was
like,” he says with a smile.
“I remember the time Erasure, we
played at the Hammersmith Odeon in
London, and the whole audience just
stood up and gave a standing innovation
[as we were] coming onstage. … To me,
that's like winning an Oscar or something;
I imagine that’s what the feeling is like.”
Now, as Erasure release their 18th stu-
dio album, The Neon, 35 years into their
career, they’re still receiving critically ac-
claim and are heralded as electronic music
pioneers, but Bell doesn’t always receive
the full credit he deserves as a queer pio-
neer who helped pave the way for AIDS
and HIV awareness.
“To be honest, it used to bother me, but
I think that that's part of my lesson — is
for it not to bother me,” he says affably.
“I think, I'm a granddad, I'm like a silver
daddy. I don't expect young gay people to
know who I am. It's like, why should they
know? … But I mean, it's lovely when
people do recognize you. I'm really flat-
tered.” Yahoo
nonviolent drug offense. Shortly after that, the
"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star an-
nounced she was studying to become a lawyer.
This latest campaign comes amid an eventful
2020 for Kardashian, including husband Kanye
West's presidential bid (news flash: He didn't
win) and a controversial island-getaway 40th-
birthday surprise party for about two dozen fam-
ily members and friends. LA Times
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020
Commemorating World
Aids Day: What they said
E
ach year on December 1, the world
comes together to commemorate
World AIDs Day.
Since 1988, this has been a day when
people mourn the loss of their loved ones
while reflecting on improvements, inno-
vations and the way forward in forging an
Aids-free generation.
As the world comes together to com-
memorate World Aids Day, world leaders
had this to say:
SADC Executive Secretary Dr Ster-
gomena Lawrence Tax
Each year on the 1st of December, the
Southern African Development Commu-
nity (SADC) joins the international com-
munity in commemorating World AIDS
Day. This is an opportunity for us to show
support to our brothers and sisters living
with HIV and remember those who have
died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Today, World AIDS Day is being com-
memorated under peculiar circumstances
as humanity is faced with the unprec-
edented Covid-19 pandemic which has
devastated communities, destroyed econ-
omies worldwide and threatens the gains
made in the fight against HIV and AIDS
over the past decades.
This year, World AIDS Day is being
commemorated under the theme ‘Global
solidarity, shared responsibility” to re-
mind us of the important task to ensure
that each person living with HIV or is vul-
nerable to HIV has access to the care they
need. More importantly, governments
and all stakeholders have the responsibil-
ity of working together and putting peo-
ple at the centre of their programmes by
implementing human rights and gender
responsive strategies that will leave no
one behind and help to end AIDS and the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Notwithstanding the challenges faced
during the year, and in line with the re-
gional and global commitments, SADC
Member States have continued to imple-
ment effective strategies to fight HIV and
AIDS. A number of Member States have
achieved the 90-90-90 fast track targets
and few more are close to achieving this
significant milestone. It is important to
underscore that one SADC Member State
has achieved the 95-95-95 target, well
ahead of the deadline for achieving the
target in 2030. Such achievement demon-
strates the strong commitment of SADC
Member States to build an HIV-free gen-
eration for the effective development of
the region.
May I take this opportunity to remind
the SADC community and the wider
community that the fight against HIV,
which has been affecting our lives for
more than 30 years, must not be over-
looked. More than ever we must increase
our collaborative efforts and mobilise
enough resources to ensure that we sus-
tain and consolidate the remarkable gains
made in the fight against HIV and AIDS
in the context of COVID-19 in order to
end AIDS by 2030.
As we commemorate this day, I con-
gratulate Member States and all stake-
holders for the unflinching solidarity
they have demonstrated from the onset
of the COVID-19 pandemic almost nine
months ago, which has ensured that
HIV and other health services are not
disrupted due to the challenges posed
by this pandemic.
United Nations Secretary-General
António Guterres
Thirty-five years since the emer-
gence of AIDS, the international com-
munity can look back with some pride
but we must also look ahead with resolve
and commitment to reach our goal of end-
ing the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
There has been real progress in tack-
ling the disease. More people than ever
are on treatment. Since 2010, the number
of children infected through mother-to-
child transmission has dropped by half.
Fewer people die of AIDS-related causes
each year. And people living with HIV
are living longer lives.
The number of people with access to
life-saving medicines has doubled over
the past five years, now topping 18 mil-
lion. With the right investments, the
world can get on the fast-track to achieve
our target of 30 million people on treat-
ment by 2030. Access to HIV medicines
to prevent mother-to-child transmission
is now available to more than 75 percent
of those in need.
While there is clear progress, gains
remain fragile. Young women are espe-
cially vulnerable in countries with high
HIV prevalence, especially in Sub-Saha-
ran Africa. Key populations continue to
be disproportionately affected by HIV.
New infections are on the rise among
people who inject drugs as well gay men
and other men who have sex with men.
The AIDS epidemic is increasing in East-
ern Europe and Central Asia, fuelled by
stigma, discrimination and punitive laws.
Globally, people who are economically
disadvantaged lack access to services and
care. Criminalization and discrimination
foster new infections each day. Women
and girls are still especially hard hit.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable De-
velopment was adopted with a promise
to leave no one behind. Nowhere is this
more important than in tackling AIDS.
Supporting young, vulnerable and mar-
ginalized people will change the course
of the epidemic. The UNAIDS strategic
framework is aligned with the SDGs,
which highlight how the work against
HIV is linked to progress in education,
peace, gender equality and human rights.
I am proud to see how the United Na-
tions and UNAIDS, under the leadership
of Michel Sidibé, are committed to find-
ing new and better approaches to end this
epidemic.
During its first decade, affected groups
refused to accept inaction, mediocrity
and weakness in the AIDS response.
Their courage drove progress on securing
women and children's health, lowering
the costs of lifesaving drugs and giving
voice to the voiceless. We must all join
together in that same uncompromising
spirit. On World AIDS Day, I salute the
tireless effort of leaders, civil society, col-
leagues in the UN and the private sector
to advance this cause.
As I prepare to complete my tenure as
Secretary-General, I issue a strong call to
all: let us recommit, together, to realizing
our vision of a world free of AIDS.
10
CARTOON
Despite all the hullabaloo, Mbuya
Nehanda is not properly buried
T
he construction of a marked graves.
statue in Mbuya Ne- This is the same cemetery
handa’s honour is Sekuru Kaguvi was buried.
riddled with dissatisfaction Martin writes: “Two of
as cultural leaders believe a the Africans buried in that
proper reburial should be the unmarked section with
first step to celebrate the late their graves unrecorded are
heroine. of Mbuya Nehanda and
This comes on the back Sekuru Kaguvi of the First
of yesterday’s inspection of Chimurenga.”
progress of the statue (whose Ironically, those who con-
pictures are already circulat- demned Mbuya Nehanda to
ing on social media) and the death, Judge Watermeyer,
site (corner Samora Machel who sentenced her and the
Avenue and Julius Nyerere hangman Patrick Hayden
Way) where the statue will are also buried in the now
soon be erected, by President closed cemetery.
Mnangagwa and members of Also in the cemetery is
his Cabinet. a mass grave of Rhodesian
Mbuya Nehanda is a soldiers who were killed in
spirit medium who led the the First Chimurenga.
First Chimurenga war and Culturalists and African
greatly inspired the Second Renaissance groups are ad-
Chimurenga through her last vocating for the repatriation
words “mapfupa angu acha- of Mbuya Nehanda’s head
muka” (my bones will rise). and a proper reburial of her
The words still echo as body.
inspiration in the quest for a “She is a national icon,
better Zimbabwe. the most influential woman
Born Charwe Nyakasi- ever to walk on our land, a
kana of the Hwata Mufakose guardian spirit who inspired
dynasty before she became black people’s emancipa-
a medium to Nehanda, a tion,” said Taremekedzwa
powerful spirit whose roots Makoni, an advocate for
can be traced to the daugh- African renaissance move-
ter of Munhumutapa, Mbuya ment.
Nehanda, even in death still “The least we can do is
remains one of the most re- honour her wishes and re-
vered women in Zimbabwe- bury her among her people
an history. in Mazowe.”
the screaming and yelling
Having roads and build- Though Mbuya Ne-
were that she wanted to be
ings named after her, and a handa’s grave is unmarked,
taken and be buried among
statue of her likeness installed traditionalists believe if sum-
her people.”
maybe a great honour and ap- moned, her spirit will direct
Mbuya Nehanda’s head is
peal to the now largely West- them to where her bones are
believed to have been cutoff
ernised society, but cultural- and direct them on the right
and shipped off to England
ists believe honouring Mbuya steps and rituals to be taken.
by her killers, where it lies as
Nehanda’s dying words is of Some culturalists believe
a trophy on display at a mu-
greater importance and tradi- erecting Mbuya Nehanda’s
seum.
tional value. statue is simply a publicity
Historian Keith Martin
According to Fr Rich- stunt by Mnangagwa’s Gov-
writes that the rest of Mbuya
ertz’s account: “(Mbuya Ne- ernment to divert people’s
Nehanda’s body was buried
handa) called for her people minds from a failing econo-
in the black section of Pio-
and wanted to go back to her my and massive human rights
neer Cemetery, south-west of
own country Mazowe and die abuses.
Mupedzanhamo Flea Market
there. “The ritual must be in the
in Mbare.
According history scholar right intention/spirit. Let the
The cemetery is divided ac-
Dr Masimba Mavaza: “Her rhetoric, actions align,” said
cording to ethnicity, wealth,
cries and resistance, when a culturalist only identified as
class and religion – with the
she was taken up the ladder, Tanganyika.
black section having un-
 TUESDAY,DECEMBER 01, 2020
The kind of artwork to choose for a living room
H
ere are valuable tips
for choosing the right
artwork for your living
room:
Identify the right position: The
right position of artwork is where
it adds value to the room instead
of appearing to be a liability
tucked in a corner. It has to have
visual accessibility and the right
amount of light.
One must also identify the right
orientation depending on the wall
you decide to display it on.
Contrast or complement: The
artwork has to either complement
your décor and its color scheme
and fuse with it or completely con-
trast it to stand out.
For example, a white-dominated
room can either have a stark black
and white painting or bright or-
ange and red painting. But a room
dominated by pinks and purples
might not want to go for a red
piece of art.
Get the right size: Just like an
outfit too loose or too tight can
make you look unflattering, an
artwork which is not the right size
can take away from the beauty of
the room and the artwork itself.
It’s a good idea to measure the
dimensions of your wall before
you go out to look for artwork. It
is also important to measure the
sizes of the furniture it is going
be placed above or around (a sofa
or a console) and ensure that the
size of the artwork doesn’t exceed
2/3rd of the size of the furniture.
Choose a piece of art that show-
cases your personality: As we men-
tioned earlier, the art you choose
defines to a great extent your per-
sona and your taste.
So, it’s best to select a piece per-
sonally and something that de-
fines who you are, what you
believe in and how you view the
world. It could be a window to
your desires, your inner motives or
simply something that you strong-
ly promote.
For a wall art size guide, read this
informative guide. You can also
check out some suitable art for
living rooms curated by our team
here. Anything and everything
can be a piece of art, depending
on how we perceive it and show-
case it. Mediums of art are end-
less. It’s not uncommon to see an
heirloom or a traditional embroi-
dery to be framed as a piece of art;
dried leaves and even baby’s old
clothes make it to the walls. How-
ever, for living rooms, we recom-
mend canvas art as the ideal kind
of art. Broadly canvas art is usually
of one of the following 3 types:
Representational Art: This kind
of art is usually realistic and repre-
sents actual subjects from reality.
It’s the oldest form of art and is
usually sub-categorized into Real-
DECOR
ism, Impressionism, Idealism, and Stylization.
In Realism, one usually creates a truthful and
realistic image of the subject, while Impres-
sionism is the artist’s impression of the object
depicted with relatively small, thin, yet visible
brush strokes. The focus here is on capturing
the light right and depicting the essence of the
image artfully. Idealism is the reproduction of
an idealistic or beautified image of the subject
while Stylization is a skilfully stylized version of
the actual object.
Abstract Art: Abstract art takes subjects from
reality but presents them in a way that is dif-
ferent from how we view them in reality. Here,
artists usually use lines, shapes, and colors to
transform the subject. The fun part about ab-
stract art is that it leaves a lot to the imagination
and allows the viewer to interpret his own ver-
sion of the artwork, or simply leaves one guess-
ing about what the artist has in mind about the
subject. Abstract art includes the subcategories
of Minimalism and Cubism. In Minimalism, un-
necessary elements of a subject are eliminated to
create minimalist forms while Cubism is one of
the first abstract styles of modern art where the
natural forms of the subject are reduced to their
geometrical equivalents.
Non-objective art
This type of art is commonly mistaken for Ab-
11
stract art although it is entirely different from it.
Non-Objective art takes nothing from reality. Its
sole purpose is aesthetics. Once you have chosen
your piece of art, it’s time to highlight it in the
right way to make it stand out.
Here are tips on highlighting artwork in your
living room
Lighting: It’s best to choose from ceiling lights,
track lights, wall washers, and picture lights to
highlight your precious piece of art. Experts
suggest that ceiling-mounted lights should be
placed such that the light beam hits the center
of the artwork when the fixture is adjusted to a
30-degree angle. Track lights are usually the right
lights for artwork but not the best fit for living
rooms since we don’t want something other
than artwork jutting out near it. Wall washers
are a more casual way to light up artwork but
more suited when there are multiple pieces of
art on one wall. Picture lights are the lights that
have been used traditionally to highlight a spe-
cific piece of artwork.
Framing: The most common types of frames
are ornate gold, wooden frames, metallic frames,
and minimalist frames. Ornate gold frames can
be used to highlight a simple piece of art elegant-
ly while wooden frames complement wooden or
leather furniture well. Metallic frames allow one
to pick a color from the artwork and highlight
that in the frame while a minimalist frame lets
the artwork be the hero and simply provides a
definition.
Positioning: The safest and most common way
to position your artwork is in the center. How-
ever, if you are in the mood to experiment, try
going off-center, but make sure you have some-
thing to balance on the other side. If you are
looking to display a bunch of art pieces, opt for
an odd number and start from the center.
Here are other things that you need to know
while selecting art for your living room.
Complementing: Artwork needs to complement
your décor in all ways. Repetition of colors from
the artwork in the décor increases its impact in
the room. To achieve this, opt for furnishings in
complementing colors. Or add flowers or plants.
 Health & Beauty
TUESDAY,DECEMBER 01, 2020 12

DREADLOCKS

E
ven though dreads have been around for Dreadlocks in world history
a long time, it’s quite likely that the term When looking closer at the history of dread- the importance and power of a priest: The
dreadlocks first came up in connection locks, it is actually quite obvious that even more mouldering, the better.
with the religious rastafari movement. For though the rastafari are most known for this If a priest was deemed unworthy, his dread-
the rastafari, this hairstyle is an important re- hairstyle, dreads have actually been around locks would be cut off in a public ritual of
ligious symbol and connects the wearer with much longer. desecration.
their God Jah, representing deep respect for In the time of European aristocracy we
the deity. might actually find one of the only exam- The rastafari
Dreadlocks are often seen as closely con- ples where dreadlocks weren’t entirely a free For the rastafari movement, dreadlocks to
nected to reggae culture or even being a choice. King Christian IV, who ruled Denmark this day remain an important religious sym-
symbol of reggae itself. Apart from a few and Norway, developed a polish plait which is bol and they tend to make references to the
clichés, most people don’t really know what actually an accidental felting of the hair. many mentions of the hairstyle in the Bible.
dreadlocks are or what they can signify. This caused the aristocrats around him to
In this article we hope to introduce you to also start wearing something akin to a polish
a few aspects of dreadlocks and enable you plait in order to please their king. However, Dreadlocks in Egypt
to share in on our enjoyment of this unique the biggest focus can be put on the religious One of the oldest known examples of a
hairstyle. Let’s start at the beginning: Dread- connection of dreadlocks dreadhead is probably the Egyptian pharao
locks as a term is actually put together by two Tutanchamun who is rumored to have worn
words – dread and locks. dreadlocks during his time.
The aztecs Both on his mummy and in illustrations his
Even though dreads have been around for For the aztecs the locks were an important dreadlocks can be found.
a long time, it’s quite likely that the term symbol for your high stand in society. Who-
dreadlocks first came up in connection with ever joined the priests got all of his hair cut
the religious rastafari movement. off and then was never allowed to cut his hair Dreadlocks and the Bible
For the rastafari, this hairstyle is an impor- again. Even the Bible mentions dreadlocks – and
tant religious symbol and connects the wear- Traditionally the hair and the entire body by that we mean that they mention them a
er with their God Jah, representing deep re- of a priest were covered soot. Once the hair lot. Connections can be found with Moses,
spect for the deity. started to moulder, the mouldering signified Samson and John the Baptist.
Due to British colonialization, the language
of the rastafari was deeply influenced by
the english language and overtime the term
dreadlocks was coined.
However, it can be assumed that prehistor-
ic humans didn’t have combs – or maybe that
using combs wouldn’t be one of their highest
priorities.
Seeing as how many hair types naturally
start to felt after a certain amount of time,
it’s quite likely that natural dreadlocks are ac-
tually one of the oldest hairstyles in human
history.
The first known records connect the hair-
style to spiritual and religious traditions. No
matter if in stories that lived through the cen-
turies or in religious writings, dreadlocks can
be found all over the world and often played
an important role in religion.WWW
 Health Tips
TUESDAY,DECEMBER 01, 2020
Here are the types of vitamins required by the body for
good health and metabolic performance.
Vitamin A, Vitamin B,Vitamin C, Vita-
min D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Calcium,
Iodine and Iron.
T
oday Nhau/Indaba will focus on Vitamin
D, which helps regulate the amount of
calcium and phosphate in the body.
These nutrients are needed to keep bones, teeth
and muscles healthy.
A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformi-
ties such as rickets in children, and bone pain
caused by a condition called osteomalacia in
adults.
Coronavirus update
It’s important to take vitamin D as you may
have been indoors more than usual this year.
You should take 10 micrograms (400 IU) of
vitamin D a day between October and early
March to keep your bones and muscles healthy.
There have been some reports about vitamin D
reducing the risk of coronavirus (Covid-19). But
there is currently not enough evidence to support
taking vitamin D to prevent or treat coronavirus.
Good sources of vitamin D
From about late March/early April to the end
of September, most people should be able to get
all the vitamin D they need from sunlight.
The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight
on the skin when outdoors.
But between October and early March we do
not get enough vitamin D from sunlight. Read
more about vitamin D and sunlight. Vitamin D
is also found in a small number of foods.
Sources include: Oily fish – such as salmon,
sardines, herring and mackerel, red meat, liver
and egg yolks. Fortified foods – such as some fat
spreads and breakfast cereals, and dietary sup-
plements are the other source of vitamin D.
In the UK, cows’ milk is generally not a good
source of vitamin D because it is not fortified, as
it is in some other countries.
How much vitamin D do I need?
Babies up to the age of 1 year need 8.5 to 10
micrograms of vitamin D a day.
Children from the age of 1 year and adults need
10 micrograms of vitamin D a day. This includes
pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people
at risk of vitamin D deficiency.
From about late March/early April to the end
of September, the majority of people should
be able to get all the vitamin D they need from
sunlight on their skin.
A microgram is 1,000 times smaller than a mil-
ligram (mg). The word microgram is sometimes
written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the
letter g (μg).
Sometimes the amount of vitamin D is ex-
pressed as International Units (IU). 1 microgram
of vitamin D is equal to 40 IU. So 10 micrograms
of vitamin D is equal to 400 IU.
Should I take a vitamin D supplement?
Advice for infants and young children
The Department of Health and Social Care rec-
ommends that:
Breastfed babies from birth to 1 year of age
should be given a daily supplement containing
8.5 to 10 micrograms of vitamin D to make sure
they get enough
Formula-fed babies should not be given a vita-
min D supplement until they’re having less than
500ml (about a pint) of infant formula a day, as
infant formula is fortified with vitamin D
Children aged 1 to 4 years old should be given a
daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of
vitamin D
You can buy vitamin D supplements or vitamin
drops containing vitamin D (for under 5s) at
most pharmacies and supermarkets.
Women and children who qualify for the
Healthy Start scheme can get free supplements
containing vitamin D.
See the Healthy Start website for more
information.
Advice for adults and children over 4 years old
During the autumn and winter, you need to get
vitamin D from your diet because the sun is not
strong enough for the body to make vitamin D.
But since it’s difficult for people to get enough
vitamin D from food alone, everyone (includ-
ing pregnant and breastfeeding women) should
consider taking a daily supplement containing 10
micrograms of vitamin D during the autumn and
winter.
Between late March/early April to the end of
September, most people can get all the vitamin
D they need through sunlight on their skin and
from a balanced diet.
You may choose not to take a vitamin D sup-
plement during these months.
People at risk of vitamin D deficiency
Some people will not get enough vitamin D from
sunlight because they have very little or no sun-
shine exposure.
The Department of Health and Social Care
13
recommends that you take a daily supple-
ment containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D
throughout the year if you:
Are not often outdoors – for example, if
you’re frail or housebound, or are in an insti-
tution like a care home.
Usually wear clothes that cover up most of
your skin when outdoors. If you have dark skin,
for example, you have an African, African-Car-
ibbean or south Asian background – you may
also not get enough vitamin D from sunlight.
You should consider taking a daily supple-
ment containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D
throughout the year.
What happens if I take too much vitamin D?
Taking too many vitamin D supplements over
a long period of time can cause too much cal-
cium to build up in the body (hypercalcae-
mia). This can weaken the bones and damage
the kidneys and the heart.
If you choose to take vitamin D supple-
ments, 10 micrograms a day will be enough
for most people.
Do not take more than 100 micrograms
(4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be
harmful. This applies to adults, including
pregnant and breastfeeding women and the
elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.
Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have
more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day.
Infants under 12 months should not have
more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day.
Some people have medical conditions that
mean they may not be able to safely take as
much. If in doubt, you should consult your
doctor.
If your doctor has recommended you take
a different amount of vitamin D, you should
follow their advice.
You cannot overdose on vitamin D through
exposure to sunlight. But always remember
to cover up or protect your skin if you’re out
in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk
of skin damage and skin cancer.
NHS.UK
 TUESDAY,DECEMBER 01, 2020 14

kindness than neglect.

I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each category. I’ll
also cover using containers without holes for plants, as well
as which size pot you should choose when replanting.

Water and light might be the most important parts of keep-

ing healthy plants, but the right pot is the cherry on top!

Today we’re getting into how

to choose the best flower pots
for gardening

W
hen choosing a pot, choose a pot that is
1-2” larger than the current size if the plant
is currently in a 10” pot or smaller. If your
current pot size is >10”, choose a pot that is 2-3” larger
in diameter.
10 Best Plants for Container Gardening
4 Angelonia. …
5 Coleus. …
6 Euphorbia. …
7 Ornamental Pepper. …
8 Nemesia. Courtesy of Ball Horticultural. …
9 Hydrangea. Courtesy of Proven Winners Color-
Choice Flowering Shrubs. …
10 Roses. Getty Images. …
11 Pansies and Violas. Courtesy of Ball Horticultural
Company.

Researchers have found that containers in darker

colors, especially black, heat the soil more. … Soil
temperatures on the sun-facing sides of the containers
were highest in the black pots and lowest in the white
pots. The plants grown in black containers had signifi-
cantly lower root mass than those grown in the white.

There are three major categories of pots: ceramic/

glazed, terra cotta/clay, and plastic.Plastic pots hold
water better than clay. Some research shows that they
stay moist nearly twice as long as clay pots.

But this is a disadvantage for many home gardeners

who tend to over-water. Many folks will remember
that I have always said that more plants are killed by
 Grosjean 'saw death
coming' in crash P16
TUESDAY 01 DECEMBER 2020

BELLO GIVEN LIFELINE

… The arrival of Norman Mapeza
for a second stint at FC Platinum has
gifted defender Gift Bello a lifeline

F
rom being a peripheral player under
Pieter De Jongh, Bello was in the start-
ing line-up as FC Platinum dismissed
Costa do Sol 2-1 on Saturday.
Indications were that the defender was un-
likely to even travel to Mozambique for the
CAF Champions league had the Dutchman
not left FC Platinum.
De Jongh, who separated with the club by
mutual consent after CAF rejected a plea to
give him a waiver to sit on the bench without
a CAF A licence, did not have the defender as
one of his priority players.
And in contrast, Mapeza highly regards the
player, despite their past clashes with over
disciplinary issues.
Speaking before the game, Mapeza said it
was too early to judge “the right condition of
all the players”.
“We just had three days with them. Will see
what happens,” said the coach without get-
ting into much detail.
Sources at the club indicated that Bello’s came part of the great exodus to Dynamos in 2011 “Right from day one, he was again emphasising
fall in the packing order was “not a natural under Lloyd Mutasa. on the building from the back and not giving away
dislike”, but he did not have the qualities that Mutasa’s stint with Dynamos was short-lived, with possession. Nothing has really changed. It is either
the Dutchman liked. Kalisto Pasuwa taking over and eventually winning his way, or you ship out. For the guys that have been
“He is short to start with and it is not easy the first of Dynamos’ four titles. with the team, it was an automatic switch to avoid
for the player to have an immediate impact Both Bello and Patson Jaure were considered too his wrath.”
on a coach when the club is just training,” short to be defenders, but their performance and im- Meanwhile, Mapeza has since revealed why he
said an FC Platinum insider. pact at DeMbare was massive. opted to return to FC Platinum.
“His real impact comes in games. He is a Bello was a key player in the first two of the four “These guys approached me, I wasn’t doing any-
big game player. And it is not always that titles before being prized-away by FC Platinum. thing at home. I said if you really want me to come
players that perform well at training get to be While it is good news for Bello, fears are Mapeza, back, then there is no problem, we can talk,” said
good during games.” who is also a no-nonsense coach and sticks to his Mapeza, speaking with ZTN.
Bello announced himself playing for Ki- philosophy, could axe players that always play the “I told him if they can’t find someone who they
glon in the Premiership in 2010. He then be- long ball. want, they can come back and we talk.”

Lewis Hamilton Tests Positive To Covid-19

F ormula 1 record champion Lewis Hamilton has
tested positive for Covid-19, rendering him unfit
to take part in this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix, Nhau
can report.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team announced
this through a press statement Tuesday morning.
“Lewis was tested three times last week and re-
turned a negative result each time, the last of which
was on Sunday afternoon at the Bahrain International
Circuit as part of the standard race weekend testing
programme.
“However he woke up on Monday morning with
mild symptoms and was informed at the same time
that a contact prior to arrival in Bahrain had subse-
quently tested positive. Lewis therefore took a further
test and returned a positive result. This has since been
confirmed by a retest,” reads the statement.
The team said Hamilton was isolating in accordance
to the Covid-19 protocols and “ he is otherwise fit and
well”. Nhau/Indaba
 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 01, 2020
Fans return to English grounds, but told not to celebrate goals too much
F
ans will return to Eng-
lish Football League
grounds on Wednesday
with several clubs opening
their doors to limited num-
bers, but the match-day expe-
rience will be far from what
they are used to.
They will be greeted by
one-way systems, tempera-
ture checks, strict entry times
and minimal catering facili-
ties while goal celebrations
must be restrained.
Championship (second tier)
clubs Luton Town and Wy-
combe Wanderers will signal
the end of England's national
lockdown as they host Nor-
wich City and Stoke City re-
spectively.
Apart from a few pilot test
events at some EFL fixtures
in September, allowing 1,000
fans, England's soccer stadi-
ums have sat silent since the
Covid-19 pandemic took hold
in March.
Luton and Wycombe are
both in Tier 2 areas of the
country, which under govern-
ment guidelines means at-
tendances of up to 2,000 are
allowed at outdoor sporting
events.
While it is a step towards
sporting normality, the old
routine of meeting with a
bunch of mates for a pint and
meal, then dashing into the
ground five minutes before
kickoff will be impossible un-
der strict guidelines.
Luton have limited their
attendance to 1,000 'ambas-
sadors' selected from season
ticket holders of at least 10
years.
"As with everything in our
daily lives during 2020, all
Hatters should understand
that the matchday experience
will be very different to what
you are used to pre-Covid,"
the club said in a message to
fans.
Seats will be allocated by
the club to ensure social dis-
tancing; health questionnaires
and temperature checks must
be completed and fans must
adhere to selected arrival
times.
Face coverings will be man-
datory while at the final whis-
tle, fans will exit one row at
a time.
Wycombe will limit their at-
tendance to 1,000 as they test
out new measures to ensure a
safe return for fans, although
like Luton they hope to move
to 2,000 for their next home
game.
One-way systems will be
in place around the stadium
and while moving to and from
their seats, fans must do so
"back to back" from other
supporters.
"Avoid hugs, high fives,
handshakes, or other close
contact with people who are
not in your social bubble, take
care when singing, chant-
ing, or celebrating," a code of
conduct instructs fans on Wy-
combe's website.
Supporters have even been
told not to touch the ball if it
is kicked into the stands.
League One club Charlton
Athletic can accommodate
2,000 fans for Wednesday's
home game against MK Dons
and while no catering will be
available, a "free hot choco-
late" will be offered as a wel-
come-back gesture.
Shrewsbury Town, who like
Charlton staged a pilot test
event in September, will have
2,000 fans at their Montgom-
ery Waters Meadow ground
for Wednesday's game with
Accrington Stanley.
In League Two Carlisle
United will allow up to 2,000
fans for their game against
Salford, as will Cambridge
United as they host Mansfield
Town.
Arsenal will be the first Pre-
mier League club to have fans
for a competitive fixture since
March when they host Rapid
Vienna in the Europa League
on Thursday. SuperSport
Grosjean 'saw death coming' in crash
R
omain Grosjean wants to return at the
season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
after his fiery crash on Sunday.
The Haas driver suffered burns to the back
of his hands after crashing at 137mph and
sustaining an impact of 53G during the Bah-
rain Grand Prix.
Grosjean is to remain in hospital in Mana-
ma for a further night on Tuesday.
Haas team boss Gunther Steiner said Gros-
jean would "really like to do" Abu Dhabi but
there was "plenty of time" before a decision
had to be made.
"I spoke to him yesterday about it," Steiner
said on Tuesday. "He really wants to be in
Abi Dhabi. But I said: 'Try to get better, we
speak on Sunday or Monday let's say, how
you feel, if it is doable.'"
The Abu Dhabi race weekend runs from 11-
13 December.
The decision carries added weight because
Grosjean does not have a seat in Formula 1
next year after Haas plumped for two new
drivers.
Steiner said the injuries to Grosjean's hands
had made it impossible for him to race at this
weekend's Sakhir Grand Prix, also held in
Bahrain but on a different track layout from
Sunday's race.
Grosjean will be replaced by Brazilian Pi-
etro Fittipaldi, the Haas test driver and grand-
son of two-time F1 drivers' champion Emer-
son Fittipaldi.
Doctors had initially intended to release
Grosjean from hospital on Monday but Stein-
er said there was no reason for concern about
16
his extended stay.
"He's staying another night in the hospital, but
there's nothing to be preoccupied with," he said.
"They just said it's a safer environment, most-
ly because of the burns. They just said we keep
you here another night. But everything is going
good.
"This guy he's got with him told me the doc-
tors are very happy, and it's going just as they
would have seen it coming, so there's no setback
or anything."
Steiner added that he had also spoken to
Grosjean about the accident, in which the
34-year-old managed to get himself out of the
car - which exploded into flames on impact -
having been trapped in it for nearly 30 seconds.
"He remembers how he wanted to get out, or
how he got out, he explained that very well to
me," said Steiner.
"What he asked me was, 'How did I end up
there?' I said, 'You ran over (Alpha Tauri driver
Daniil) Kvyat's car, basically, you turned right
and ran over his front wheel, and that turned
you around and put you in the wall.'
"He said, 'I didn't see the car.' I don't want to
put words in his mouth and say he doesn't re-
member it, I think he didn't realise what he did.
"I wouldn't say he lost any memory of it. I
think it went so quick that he cannot remember
it."SuperSport