Thursday 20 February 2025 *AFTERNOON NEWS UPDATES* _• USD: ZiG Official Exchange – Z$25.69_ • _Black Market Rate - Zig 30:USD1_ • _Innscor in-store – Z$35_ • _KFC, Slice, Eat'n'Lick – Z$35_ New members who wish to receive detailed local, regional and international news from Ignite Media Zimbabwe should "follow" our channel on the link below: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaASRLX6mYPM2XphWy2n *For advertising inquiries call, text or Whatsapp us on +263 778 242 692* *THE HEADLINES* *21 military tanks continue to roam around Harare in November 2017 coup-style as Chiwenga and Mnangagwa factional fight reaches boiling point* *Army Speaks On Coup Tanks Deployment* *Nothing to worry about says gvt as ’21’ military tanks roll into Harare…The masses are not ‘worried’, it’s them who should be worried* *Media briefing exposes Mnangagwa: Luke Tamborinyoka* *Tungwarara tears ZANU-PF apart, bribes bogus journalists* *Zimbabwe secures 6-month ARV supply amid global aid cut* *AU ambassador hires Florida lobbyists in bid to get Trump to lift Zim sanctions* *Chinese doctors to provide free surgeries for 600 cataract patients in Zimbabwe* *Living with multiple chronic conditions cuts lives short – but Africans are overlooked in research* *Is Man City's dominance over? What can Man United, Liverpool teach them?* *THE DETAILS WITH IGNITE MEDIA ZIMBABWE* _*21 military tanks continue to roam around Harare in November 2017 coup-style as Chiwenga and Mnangagwa factional fight reaches boiling point*_ The streets of Harare were filled with unease this week as over 20 military tanks were sighted traversing the capital, sparking fears of a potential coup reminiscent of the November 2017 ouster of former President Robert Mugabe. The movement of heavy military hardware through the city’s affluent Borrowdale area on Wednesday morning caused widespread panic and speculation, particularly given the deepening divisions within the ruling ZANU-PF party and growing calls for President Emmerson Mnangagwa to step down. Eyewitnesses reported seeing the military vehicles, mainly multi-purpose armoured cars and tanks, on Borrowdale Road, startling motorists who quickly shared videos online. The military vehicles and gear were reportedly coming from 2 Infantry Brigade, formerly Cranborne Barracks, and bound for Alfida Barracks in Domboshava, home to the 2 Field Regiment. The timing of this military activity, amid heightened tensions over a push by some in ZANU-PF to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s stay in power beyond 2028 when his second and final term is due to run out, has amplified concerns. The events have brought back memories of the 2017 military coup that ousted former president Robert Mugabe. In an attempt to quell the rising anxiety, government officials have dismissed the possibility of a coup, claiming the army was conducting routine drills. Information permanent secretary Ndavaningi Mangwana was quick to take to social media platforms, saying it’s “nothing to be concerned about”. His sentiments were echoed by presidential spokesperson George Charamba who, through his X handle, dhonzamusoro007, stated: “Support your Zimbabwe Defence Force, ZDF, as it goes through the routine of ensuring all its battle systems are in tip-top state!!! #zdf, KEEPING YOU SECURE AND DEFENDED.” Despite these assurances, the presence of military vehicles in the capital has fuelled speculation of a power struggle between President Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the man who led the 2017 coup and who reportedly still commands loyalty within the military. Before 2017, a coup was unthinkable in Zimbabwe, but it is now a possibility openly spoken about amid rising tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga. Mnangagwa reportedly held a meeting with military chiefs on Sunday after returning from Ethiopia for an African Union summit, where he was told that the push to abolish term limits being championed by his loyalists was now a “national security threat.” The security chiefs also warned against Mnangagwa’s supporters goading Chiwenga and soldiers as witnessed recently at the National Heroes Acre. Mnangagwa addressed selected journalists on Monday, disavowing the Chiwenga critics and pledging to step down when his term ends in 2028. The warning by security chiefs came, accordingly to sources, in anticipation of similar antics at the National Youth Day event at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo on Friday. One military source said contrary to the official line that the movement of the military vehicles was long planned, Chiwenga’s military allies were in fact sending a message to Mnangagwa and his loyalists – toe the line or face confrontation. Mnangagwa is a wily old fox who learned lessons from Mugabe’s 2017 ouster and is unlikely to be easily pushed without a fight, but even he would have been alarmed by the commentary accompanying viral videos of the army’s movement on Harare’s streets. “Maybe the country is about to get freedom,” a male voice said in one video, watching a tank roll past from the window of what appeared to be a multi-story building. The political uncertainty has been further exacerbated by viral videos of a local prophet predicting a violent coup. The unnamed prophet warned that Zimbabwe would witness another military takeover, but this time with significant bloodshed. “The Lord has spoken, and I must pray for Zimbabwe. I saw another coup—one that will bring chaos and bloodshed. This will not be like before; this time, there will be much suffering, and many lives will be lost,” the prophet declared. This prophecy aligns with growing concerns over a potential military intervention following reports that a succession deal between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga has collapsed. The alleged agreement, which was said to guarantee Chiwenga the presidency after Mnangagwa’s first term, has reportedly been abandoned, deepening the rift between the two leaders. Further fueling speculation, senior ZANU-PF Central Committee member and war veteran Blessing Geza has openly warned that Mnangagwa’s leadership is in jeopardy. Geza, a former liberation war fighter with deep military connections, has suggested that veterans will take drastic steps to remove the president. Reports indicate that secret meetings have been held between senior military officials and war veterans to strategise against Mnangagwa’s extended rule under the controversial #ed2030 agenda. Sources suggest that Chiwenga’s loyalists within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) are growing increasingly frustrated and may be planning to act. The current developments mirror the political landscape leading up to the 2017 military coup that removed Mugabe from power. Then-General Chiwenga, backed by key military figures, orchestrated the takeover after Mugabe attempted to position his wife, Grace Mugabe, as his successor by dismissing Mnangagwa from the vice presidency. Since assuming office, Mnangagwa has systematically sidelined Chiwenga and purged military officers loyal to him. Several key figures from the 2017 coup, including Perrence Shiri and Paradzai Zimondi, have died under mysterious circumstances, prompting speculation that Mnangagwa orchestrated their removal to weaken Chiwenga’s influence. That coup, orchestrated by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) under then-General Constantino Chiwenga, was backed by key military figures such as the late Air Marshal Perrence Shiri and retired General Sibusiso Moyo. The military’s intervention followed Mugabe’s decision to fire Mnangagwa as Vice President, a move seen as clearing the way for his wife, Grace Mugabe, to seize power. Mugabe’s ouster paved the way for Mnangagwa to assume the presidency, but growing unease within the ruling party has reignited fears of another military takeover. Despite these purges, Chiwenga retains significant support within the security sector, and there are indications that his faction may be preparing to challenge Mnangagwa’s rule. Sources claim that a high-level meeting was recently held in Mashonaland Central, a region historically associated with political coups. Insiders suggest that the military is growing increasingly disillusioned with Mnangagwa’s leadership and may be plotting against him. One source noted: “You hear what credible war veterans like Blessing Geza are saying. He is not hallucinating; he is communicating a message from the script, and you must listen to him carefully.” Adding to the uncertainty, another prominent prophet, Ian Ndlovu, has issued a stark warning: “We must continue to pray for our nation… Two trains are set to collide. I personally pray for peace for all ordinary Zimbabweans, but change must not be stopped, in whatever form it needs to come.” Unlike in 2017, Mnangagwa has fortified his grip on power, appointing loyalists to key military and intelligence positions while consolidating control over ZANU-PF and state institutions. However, history has shown that even the most heavily fortified leaders can be overthrown if military discontent reaches a tipping point. Despite official dismissals, speculation persists that Vice President Chiwenga may have deployed the tanks to intimidate Mnangagwa amid their intensifying power struggle. Chiwenga, who was in Mutare attending the funeral of Sekuru Leonard “Mwatambandini” Kashiri—the father-in-law of Zanu PF National Chairperson and Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri—has not publicly commented on the developments. Adding to the uncertainty, war veteran and Zanu PF Central Committee member Blessed ‘Cde Bombshell’ Geza recently warned that war veterans would take drastic steps to remove Mnangagwa. His remarks have intensified speculation that a military faction loyal to Chiwenga could be preparing to act. Reports suggest that senior military officials and war veterans have held secret meetings to strategize ways to block Mnangagwa’s attempts to extend his rule beyond his current term under the controversial #ed2030 agenda. Sources indicate that the rift between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga has reached a breaking point, with Chiwenga’s allies accusing Mnangagwa of reneging on a 2017 coup agreement that allegedly promised him the presidency after Mnangagwa’s first term. _*Army Speaks On Coup Tanks Deployment*_ The Zimbabwe National Army has said the presence of military tanks on the streets of Harare will continue until Thursday (today). Deputy Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Tichafa Mungofa told VOA’s Studio 7 that the military was/is conducting routine drills with the tanks and people should not be worried. “It’s a normal exercise that the Army usually undertakes, and this is one of them. This is an ongoing exercise, and I think it will end tomorrow (Thursday),” he said. More than 20 military tanks were spotted in Harare’s Borrowdale area, fueling fears of a possible coup, particularly amid deepening divisions within the ruling party. The sudden and unusual movement of military hardware mirrors events leading up to the 2017 coup when soldiers first appeared in the streets before tanks were deployed to strategic locations, including Parliament and police stations, to disarm the police force, which had become Mugabe’s de facto paramilitary wing. That coup, orchestrated by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) under then-General Constantino Chiwenga, was backed by key military figures such as the late Air Marshal Perrence Shiri and retired General Sibusiso Moyo. The military’s intervention followed Mugabe’s decision to fire Mnangagwa as Vice President, a move seen as clearing the way for his wife, Grace Mugabe, to seize power. Mugabe’s ouster paved the way for Mnangagwa to assume the presidency, but growing unease within the ruling party has reignited fears of another military takeover. Presidential spokesperson George Charamba, posting under his pseudonym dhonzamusoro007 on social media, insisted that the military tank movement was part of routine drills. Despite official dismissals, speculation persists that Vice President Chiwenga may have deployed the tanks to intimidate Mnangagwa amid their intensifying power struggle. Chiwenga, who was in Mutare attending the funeral of Sekuru Leonard “Mwatambandini” Kashiri—the father-in-law of Zanu PF National Chairperson and Minister of Defence, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri—has not publicly commented on the developments. Adding to the uncertainty, war veteran and Zanu PF Central Committee member Blessing Geza recently warned that war veterans would take drastic steps to remove Mnangagwa. His remarks have intensified speculation that a military faction loyal to Chiwenga could be preparing to act. Reports suggest that senior military officials and war veterans have held secret meetings to strategize ways to blockMnangagwa’s attempts to extend his rule beyond his current term under the controversial #ed2030 agenda. Sources indicate that the rift between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga has reached a breaking point, with Chiwenga’s allies accusing Mnangagwa of reneging on a 2017 coup agreement that allegedly promised him the presidency after Mnangagwa’s first term. Unlike Mugabe in 2017, Mnangagwa has spent years consolidating power. He has appointed loyalists to key military positions, purged Chiwenga allies, and neutralized potential rivals within Zanu PF. Many figures from the 2017 coup, including Perrence Shiri and Paradzai Zimondi, have died under suspicious circumstances, raising speculation that Mnangagwa orchestrated their eliminations to weaken Chiwenga’s support base. Despite these maneuvers, Chiwenga remains a formidable force within the security sector. Reports suggest that a faction of the military and war veterans still consider him Zimbabwe’s rightful leader. A recent high-level meeting in Mashonaland Central, a province known for political upheavals, reportedly discussed growing discontent within the military and the possibility of drastic action against Mnangagwa. One insider remarked: “You hear what credible war veterans like Blessing Geza are saying. He is not hallucinating; he is communicating a message from the script, and you must listen carefully.” While Mnangagwa has fortified his grip on security and intelligence agencies, Zimbabwe’s political landscape remains unpredictable. If discontent within the military reaches a tipping point, even a well-entrenched president can be overthrown. With tensions between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga escalating and war veterans openly voicing their grievances, Zimbabwe may be on the verge of yet another military-led political upheaval. Whether the military presence is a precursor to a coup or merely routine drills, the coming weeks will be decisive in shaping Zimbabwe’s future. _*Nothing to worry about says gvt as ’21’ military tanks roll into Harare…The masses are not ‘worried’, it’s them who should be worried*_ Military tanks have reportedly rolled into Harare, as political situation in the country and within ZANU PF seemingly remains tense. This reminds many of the 2017 coup that toppled late former President Robert Mugabe. Meanwhile, according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, there is nothing to worry about as the military is just testing its equipment. Former Citizens Coalition for Change legislator Fadzayi Mahere asked: “Dear @nickmangwana “Why are there military tanks on Harare’s roads today? “In light of the constitutional parameters of military deployment, the public have a right to know. “We need new leaders” Commenting on the development, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Walter Mzembi said: “Mind games.” Stay tuned…. A resident who requested anonymity teased and said, ‘the masses are not worried at all…it’s them who should worry’. _*Media briefing exposes Mnangagwa: Luke Tamborinyoka*_ Early this week on Monday at 9 am, Emmerson Mnangagwa hosted selected media editors at State house at a choreographed event specifically designed for him to publicly reiterate his lie that he is a constitutionalist, all in a desperate quest to douse the raging party flames by the rival Zanu PF military faction that wants him to go now. Deputy Chief secretary (Communications) in the Office of the President and Cabinet George Charamba, himself an acolyte of the military faction but who must be seen to be doing his job of defending ED, deliberately staged the media editors’ event to give Mnangagwa a platform to push back the military faction’s call that is being fronted by one Blessed Geza who has sonorously called Mnangagwa to order for using proxies to push for the unconstitutional extension of his term to 2030. At the choreographed event on Monday, Mnangagwa feebly reiterated his call that he is a constitutionalist and will not go beyond his constitutionally prescribed term limit. However, Mnangagwa dismally failed to show his sincerity. Trabablas failed in absolute terms to use the event to unequivocally order the halting of the motion in Parliament and to stop the Politburo members who are all over the country exhorting party structures to support this unconstitutional Presidential term extension. Instead, Monday’s platform exposed Mnangagwa as insincere and as a liar who is wont to double-speak and (un) strategic ambiguity by indicating left when he apparently wants to turn right. If Mnangagwa were sincere, as the first secretary of the party, he was supposed to use Monday’s event to publicly call for an immediate stop to all these televised party party events across the party districts exhorting all party structures to support the unconstitutional extension of his term. He did not do this but was instead flimsy and indecisive about the whole sordid saga, preferring only to say he will “persuade” his persuaders not to do so. Asked specifically on whether he would extend his term if asked to do so, Mnangagwa, in his own feeble attempt at dishing out a clever polemic to the gathered editors, said he would persuade his persuaders not to persuade him to act in breach of the Constitution. For God’s sake, a sincere and constitutional leader of a party that is on the verge of doing something unconstitutional does not have to persuade anyone!. The leader simply has to stop the Constitutional breach by publicly halting, with immediate effect, all these assemblages of unconstitutionality that are being convened by senior party leaders across the country. Mnangagwa also failed to use the platform, to speak robustly against high-scale avarice and graft and to distance himself from the barons of corruption, the so-called zvigananda, to use his deputy Army General (Rtd) Constantino Chiwenga’s war-time diction. Curiously, Mnangagwa was openly hostile to the question of Wicknell Chivayo being his front. He first feigned a look at the upper front of his body, pretending to take the word “front” literally, before tellingly saying to the questioner that Chivayo was using his own money. Mnangagwa then upped his defence of the ex-convict by protectively and insulatively describing Chivayo as a philanthropist. On the same day, Chivayo was braggingly telling the public on his X account that through his Father Christmas shenanigans, he was not only singing for his supper but for his breakfast and lunch as well. It was very clear to whom he was singing and Mnangagwa dismally failed to use Monday’s event to shake himself off Chivayo’s antics by mellowly couching him as a self-made philanthropist. This week, I give just five reasons that show that Mnangagwa was lying and was not being honest on his word that he was a Constitutionalist who did not want his term extended: - Failure to blast members of his party calling for term extension As stated earlier, Mnangagwa showed his insincerity by failing to use Monday’s event to publicly chastise and call to order Ziyambi Ziyambi and other Politburo members by ordering them to immediately stop exhorting party members across the party districts to support an unconstitutional misadventure. He should have also publicly called on Energy Mutodi to halt his mischievous motion in Parliament. Tellingly, he did neither but instead softly and euphemistically chose to describe these merchants of unconstitutionality as mere “persuaders.” - The ZBC’s tell-tale double messaging On the same day that the ZBC beamed live Mnangagwa’s State House event where ED said he was a Constitutionalist and would not extend his term, the same ZBC, in the same news clip on the same day, had a rider streaming across the bulletin informing viewers that all was set for the Constitutional amendment seeking to extend the President’s term to sail through. This was unhelpful to ED’s intended message and grossly exposed his insincerity. Luke Tamborinyoka is a local journalist now based in the UK, and former spokesman for the late prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai _*Tungwarara tears ZANU-PF apart, bribes bogus journalists*_ President Emmerson Mnangagwa's investment advisor, Paul Tempter Tungwarara's smart phones donation benefited ZANU-PF cyber-teams and party activists from Varakashi for Economic Development group who are masquerading as accredited journalists, with Mary Mliswa ( Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial Chairperson) and Marian Chombo (Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution) reportedly at loggerheads over distribution of the high-tech gadgets, details have emerged. A survey and investigations by Bulawayo24News crew has revealed that the bulk of beneficiaries from Tungwarara's donation were mainly from ZANU-PF cyber-teams and social media activists, Varakashi4ED with only two state-controlled accredited journalists receiving smart phones. Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the veteran journalists from Mashonaland West Province claimed that instead of uniting the revolutionary party, Tungwarara's gesture has strained provincial relations between ZANU-PF leadership over control and authority, with Mary Mliswa overriding Marian Chombo during the selection and distribution process of the gadgets to its intended beneficiaries. "Please let us not allow politicians to taint our dear profession with lies and manipulation on the high-tech gadgets bribe. Majority of the beneficiaries of the smart phones are not accredited journalists, they are members of the ZANU-PF cyber team from Varakashi4ED," the journalist said. "In short, the bulk of them are ZANU-PF foot soldiers masquerading as accredited journalists. Mashonaland West Province has a total of 33 accredited journalists. Of the 33 journalists, Chinhoyi has 18 of them," the journalist added. "Mary Mliswa stole the show when she presided over the process and compiled a list with Varakashi4ED social media activists dominating the list," the journalist added. "When we asked Mary why she is presiding over donations of smart phones instead of giving the Minister of State's office an opportunity to distribute the gagdets, she responded that we will suffer for submitting to the wrong leadership. She handpicked only two journalists from state-controlled media while the rest were from ZANU-PF's Varakashi4ED group," the journalist said. "This did not go down well with Marian Chombo who complained that Mary was overriding the whole process in order to benefit some close associates without considering credentials," the journalist added. In a recent post from two credible ZANU-PF social media platforms, they announced that Tungwarara made generous donation of 20 high-tech phones to journalists. "In a move aimed at enhancing digital communication, Dr. Tungwarara has gifted 20 state-of-the-art phones, including Samsung S25 and iPhone 16 Pro models, to journalists who attended the Mash West program. This donation is intended to facilitate easy social media engagement and reporting and they will be utilized to showcase the accomplishments and initiatives of the Second Republic, led by H.E President ED Mnangagwa and his administration," the post reads. "The goal is to highlight the positive impact of their policies and programs on the nation. In addition 32 comrades are now on a payroll getting $300 USD per month for promoting EDWORKS. Also a journalist fund for identified individuals who have been promoting EDWORKS on social media has been created," the post further reads. Accuracy, truth and objectivity are amongst the cornerstones of journalism ethics. Journalists are encouraged to maintain a degree of detachment from the religions, groups, or countries they are associated with, in order to minimize potential biases in their reporting. It is however worrisome that the bulk of Tungwarara's foot soldiers and cyberteams from a faction aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa are masquerading as journalists whilst they are mere party activists. When contacted to explain if the donation does not compromise on media ethics and framing of news especially between the two accredited journalists from state-controlled media who benefited from the exercise, Tungwarara did not respond to questions sent through his mobile phone. Efforts to get a comment from Marian Chombo on her alleged fallout with Mary Mliswa were futile since her phone was not answered. By Gideon Madzikatidze/Simbarashe Sithole _*Zimbabwe secures 6-month ARV supply amid global aid cut*_ Zimbabwe has secured enough antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for the next six months, with additional procurement underway to ensure supply until the end of the year. This was revealed by Health Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora while responding to questions in parliament recently. The assurance comes amid concerns over the global suspension of development and humanitarian aid by the US, which previously funded 31% of Zimbabwe’s ARV supply through USAID. Despite this, Dr. Mombeshora emphasized that Zimbabwe’s HIV/AIDS treatment programs will not be disrupted, as the government, alongside the National AIDS Council and other partners, is covering the remaining ARV procurement. Zimbabwe has already met the 95-95-95 HIV targets, ensuring 95% of HIV-positive individuals know their status, 95% are on treatment, and 95% have a suppressed viral load. The minister also indicated that additional funding may be sought from Parliament to maintain the country’s progress in fighting HIV/AIDS. State media _*AU ambassador hires Florida lobbyists in bid to get Trump to lift Zim sanctions*_ The African Union’s (AU) mission to the US has engaged the services of a Florida-based lobby group to urge the Trump administration to lift targeted sanctions on senior Zimbabwean officials, including that of the country’s, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. A Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filing from December last year shows that the AU mission engaged lobby group Ford and London Global Strategies, in a bid to lift ‘targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe’ and foster a ‘renewed partnership between the US and Zimbabwe’. Zimbabwe and the AU have long called for all sanctions to be lifted. The FARA filing shows that the AU’s mission is optimistic that the Trump administration might be more receptive to this request than the Biden White House. AU ambassador to the US, Hilda Suka-Mafudze, wrote in an email to the lobby group last year that lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean individuals and entities would benefit the US by ‘securing vital resources, creating economic opportunities for US businesses, and reasserting American leadership in southern Africa’. She pitched the idea that bilateral trade and investment agreements could ‘prioritise US businesses under the “America First” strategy, ensuring US firms have preferential access to Zimbabwe’s markets and resources.’ Suka-Mafudze’s email sets out the key messages she wants the lobby group to take to its meeting with team Trump. One of her proposals includes the line: ‘Countering Chinese Influence’. Suka-Mafudze writes that the US could benefit from Zimbabwe’s ‘strategic location in Southern Africa’, its critical minerals, and its workforce while reducing the region’s dependence on Chinese investments. ‘Aligning with Zimbabwe could counterbalance China’s growing influence in the region and open avenues for US investments in agriculture, mining, and infrastructure,’ she adds. China is one of Zimbabwe’s largest trading partners. According to the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, bilateral trade between China and Zimbabwe was upwards of $3.8bn, in 2024. The US first sanctioned Zimbabwe in 2001 under the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act. This suite of sanctions was based on allegations of political repression, election rigging, land seizures, and corruption under former President Robert Mugabe. Former US President Joe Biden ended this sanctions programme in March last year, unblocking all individuals, entities, and property previously affected. However, the US then proceeded to impose new targeted sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Programme on 11 individuals and three entities. Those sanctioned included Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, first lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, and first Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga. The US has hit back against claims that the sanctions are responsible for Zimbabwe’s economic woes, saying they target only a ‘handful of Zimbabweans’. _*Chinese doctors to provide free surgeries for 600 cataract patients in Zimbabwe*_ A total of 600 cataract patients in Zimbabwe will receive free surgeries from Chinese doctors under the China-aided “Bright Journey” program. A team of 12 doctors from China’s Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital will perform the surgeries from Feb. 23 to March 1 in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, Hong Xiuqin, the team leader, told Xinhua on Wednesday. Screening for eligible patients began on Feb. 12 and is currently underway, Hong said, adding that the Chinese medical team will collaborate with local doctors, provide on-site training, and engage in academic exchanges with Zimbabwean healthcare personnel. The program marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Zimbabwe and the 40th anniversary of bilateral medical cooperation. Hong said the program aims to foster cooperation and exchanges between the two countries by bringing light and hope to Zimbabwean patients. “The incidence of cataracts in Zimbabwe is high, and we are concerned about the health of the Zimbabwean people,” she said, adding that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the cooperation and friendship between China and Zimbabwe. Boniface Macheka, head of ophthalmology at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, praised the initiative as a testament to Zimbabwe-China relations. “There is a historical basis to the relationship between our country and China. I believe this relationship is going to be further solidified by this program,” he told Xinhua. He expressed hope for more bilateral medical collaborations in the future. “We hope to be able to increase the diversity of the surgeries that we do at this hospital so that we’ll be able to serve our people better and to make the services more available,” he said. Amos Chakaza, a 67-year-old patient, traveled over 170 km from Manicaland Province to Harare for screening. “I can’t wait for my vision to be clear since I have a lot of responsibilities. Having poor eyesight is detrimental to my work. I need to see clearly to be more productive,” Chakaza said. Hunan has implemented numerous medical projects in Zimbabwe over the years, including initiatives for maternal and child health, schistosomiasis prevention and treatment, and traditional Chinese medicine training. _*Living with multiple chronic conditions cuts lives short – but Africans are overlooked in research*_ When a person suffers from two or more long-term health conditions at the same time this is known as multimorbidity. The World Health Organization says multimorbidity puts patients at greater risk and complicates primary care. It also drives up healthcare costs. People with more than one condition face a higher risk of early death and poorer quality of life. They may also have to take multiple medications. Polypharmacy increases the risk of harmful drug interactions and side effects, and patients find it harder to stick to treatment. In African countries the situation is further complicated by several disease burdens converging. Individuals may suffer non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes, as well as from infectious diseases like HIV and tuberculosis. Poverty and unequal access to healthcare add to the impact of multimorbidity. Most research on multimorbidity has focused on populations of European ancestry. When people of African descent are included, the focus is often on African-Americans. This group does not represent the diversity or health challenges faced in Africa. As specialists in genetic epidemiology and chronic diseases management, we set out to research the gaps in understanding multimorbidity among people with African ancestry. Identifying gaps We examined 232 medical research publications (published from 2010 to June 2022), and included those published in English and French. That’s not a lot if one considers all the different health challenges that people of African descent suffer globally. Of these studies, 113 focused on continental African populations and 100 on the diaspora. Nineteen included both groups. Our review spanned five major academic databases. We used search terms such as “multimorbidity”, “comorbidity” and “African population”. Restricting searches to titles and abstracts and relying on texts that our institutions could access may have excluded some studies. Heart diseases dominate Cardiometabolic diseases, including hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, were the most studied conditions in both populations (those in Africa and those elsewhere). But notable differences emerged. In populations on the continent, cardiometabolic diseases tended to occur along with chronic infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis. In diaspora populations, cardiometabolic diseases more commonly occurred along with other non-communicable diseases and psychiatric conditions such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Age, sex, poverty As with all populations worldwide, older people in the studies we reviewed were the group most likely to have more than one health condition. But on the continent, the burden of infectious diseases meant younger adults were also at risk of having more than one illness. Women were more likely than men to have multiple conditions, particularly in relation to conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. This likely reflects both biological factors, such as hormonal differences, and social influences like income inequalities and differences in working environments. Individuals with lower socioeconomic status (which often means women) would be more likely to be exposed to unhealthy lifestyles, and to have less access to preventive care. What can be done? Our review found that the way health conditions combine differs between people of African descent outside Africa and those on the continent. This means medical research should include a greater diversity of participants. Expanded data collection should include genetic and metabolomic data. It is also essential to study a wider range of chronic conditions. The increasing co-existence of conditions means that treatment for cardiovascular, metabolic and infectious diseases should be integrated. Some African countries, including South Africa and Kenya, have already introduced integrated care, with encouraging results. A patient with two or more diseases is offered treatment for the conditions at the same facility during the same visit. Isaac Kisiangani, Researcher and PhD student, African Population and Health Research Center; Michele Ramsay, Director of the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Professor in the Division of Human Genetics, University of the Witwatersrand, and Michelle Kamp, Postdoctoral researcher, University of the Witwatersrand _*Is Man City's dominance over? What can Man United, Liverpool teach them?*_ Are we witnessing the end of Manchester City's incredible period of dominance, and have recent weeks exposed the first cracks in the winning empire built by Pep Guardiola? When the Champions League fixture list for the new 36-team league phase was released in September, nobody could have seriously predicted that Wednesday's clash with Paris Saint-Germain would be a make-or-break game for two of Europe's most powerful clubs. But that is exactly what it has become, with both sides in danger of not advancing to the knockout rounds. For PSG, the club's decision to dispense with a policy of superstar signings (Kylian Mbappé left on a free transfer for Real Madrid in the summer) and focus on up-and-coming talent helps explain their unexpected slide in the Champions League, but Luis Enrique's team are still leaving domestic rivals trailing in their wake in France. Not only are PSG still on course for another Ligue 1 title, unbeaten in 18 games and leading second-place Marseille by 10 points, but they're alive in the French Cup and eyeing up another treble. It is a different story at City. Having guided the team to an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title last season, Guardiola has endured a series of career lows as manager this season. City are miles off the pace in the title race -- 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game more -- and ended 2024 with just one win in 13 games in all competitions. That run included five successive defeats and an overall sequence of nine losses in 13 games. Despite three wins and two draws in their past five league games, Guardiola's squad are showing signs of age and decline. Right-back Kyle Walker, 34, wants to leave, while midfielder Ilkay Gündogan, also 34, has been a shadow of his former self since returning to the club from Barcelona last summer. Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 33, is out of contract this summer and has yet to discuss a new deal. Star striker Erling Haaland's decision to sign a 10-year contract last week was an unexpected coup for City and a huge morale boost for all connected with the club, but there remains so much uncertainty around the Etihad. Guardiola's future remains the subject of speculation despite signing his own contract extension in November, City have lost their magic touch in the transfer market, opponents have lost their fear of Guardiola's once-formidable team, and the club are seeing homegrown players (including Cole Palmer and Liam Delap) exceed expectations with their new teams after perhaps being offloaded too soon. Every generation has a dominant team, but the empires built by Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s and Sir Alex Ferguson's winning machine at Manchester United were both eventually brought down and overtaken by rivals. Is the same now happening to City? Rather than wait for the benefit of hindsight, their peers' stories suggest that the warning signs of the end may already be showing.