THE Government has taken steps to ensure that parents can pay fees and levies in the currency of their choice, as the law demands, and that children can travel safely to their schools.

Speaking ahead of the reopening of schools tomorrow for the second term, authorities say everything is in place for the start of classes and that modalities are already in place for the June examinations.

Authorities have since directed schools to accept payment in ZiG as it is part of the acceptable basket of currencies and the police have assured parents and schoolchildren travelling back to schools countrywide that they will be out in full force to ensure the safety of learners and to avoid road carnage.

Yesterday, parents and guardians with children at boarding schools were doing their last-minute shopping in most parts of the country.

On the whole, the weekend was a hive of activity as guardians and parents were making last-minute preparations for the second term, including raising school fees and buying uniforms and other supplies such as stationery.

Bookshops, school uniform merchants and those in education-related businesses registered brisk business in Harare yesterday and expect to continue throughout this week.

Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Mr Moses Mhike said all was set for a smooth start to the second term.

“Everything is going well so far with schools set to open tomorrow. All the schools in the country are ready to open,” he said.

Zimsec is also prepared for the upcoming June examinations.

“From the conversation I had with the Zimsec board last week, almost everything is now in place for the 2024 June exams,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mhike, in an interview with our sister publication The Sunday Mail, warned the minority of schools refusing ZiG as a form of payment. Private schools have mostly been refusing to accept ZiG payments, telling parents that they were still finalising consultations on ZiG payments amid fears they were planning to set the ZiG fees above the official exchange rate, fuelling the black market in the process, and undoing Government efforts to stabilise the economy.

“Therefore, school authorities are expected to abide by the pronouncement made by the RBZ in terms of the new currency that has been introduced,” he said.

“It is not a matter of choice, but to simply accept ZiG as legal tender, which is amongst the basket of other currencies.

“Therefore, as usual, schools are expected to provide to parents and guardians all the payment modalities, like payment in cash, online transfers and swipe.”

“The ministry will be working with other Government agencies, including, ZACC (Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission), FIU (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Financial Intelligence Unit), the police, as well as our school inspectors to ensure compliance with the use of the multi-currency system,” he said.

“Any school heads who defy this directive will have disciplinary measures taken against them.”

Parents, who also spoke to The Herald, said Government should ensure that schools accept payment in ZiG.

Mr Thomas Dande, a parent, said he had made adequate preparations for the second term for his kids.

“It is a sad reality that whenever a term ends, preparations for the next time must commence immediately. I paid fees for my two children and made all necessary preparations,” he said.

Mrs Kudzai Chigubu, who has a child at Nkululeku High School, said so far, the preparations have been smooth.

Another parent Joseph Mutungura said there was need for police to be deployed to ensure that schools accept all forms of payment.

Police in conjunction with various stakeholders, including the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe (TSCZ) will be manning roadblocks and conducting awareness campaigns along the major roads.

Public service vehicles and motorists have since been urged to avoid overloading, speeding, and disregarding traffic rules and regulations. – Herald

JERUSALEM/DOHA,- Israeli authorities raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its office after the government decided to shut down the Qatari-owned TV station’s local operations on Sunday, an Israeli official and an Al Jazeera source told Reuters.

Video circulated online showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room, which the Al Jazeera source said was in East Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet shut down the network for as long as the war in Gaza continues, saying it threatened national security.

Al Jazeera said the move was a “criminal action” and the accusation that the network threatened Israeli security was a “dangerous and ridiculous lie” that put its journalists at risk.

It reserved the right to “pursue every legal step”.

The network has criticised Israel’s military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported throughout the war.

“The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel,” Netanyahu posted on social media following a unanimous cabinet vote.

A government statement said Israel’s communications minister signed orders to “act immediately”, but at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said Al Jazeera could still try to block it in court.

The measure, the statement said, includes closing Al Jazeera’s offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocking its websites. It did not mention Al Jazeera’s Gaza operations.

Israeli satellite and cable television providers suspended Al Jazeera broadcasts following the government decision.

A man maneuvers media equipment following an Israeli police raid on an Al Jazeera de facto office at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem

There was no official comment from the Qatari government, which deferred to Al Jazeera.

The network last month complained of “a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera”.

It said Israel deliberately targeted and killed several of its journalists, including Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh, both killed in Gaza during the conflict. Israel has said it does not target journalists.

Qatar established Al Jazeera in 1996 and views it as a way to bolster its global profile.

“Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information,” the network said in a statement. “Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences.”

The UN Human Rights Office also criticised the closure.

“We regret cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel,” it said on X. “A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza. Freedom of expression is a key human right. We urge govt to overturn ban.”

Israel’s parliament last month ratified a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.

The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network’s offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.

Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, is trying to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could halt the Gaza war.

Source: Reuters

RIO DE JANEIRO,- More than a million people thronged Brazil’s Copacabana beach for a free Madonna concert on Saturday, braving the heat to see the end of her “Celebration” world tour.

The sand and oceanfront boulevard around Rio de Janeiro’s famed beach were filled for several blocks by a crowd the city estimated at 1.6 million.
Many had been there for hours or even days to get a good spot, while richer fans anchored in dozens of boats near the beach and onlookers crowded beachfront apartments.

Firefighters sprayed water before the concert, when temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), to cool fans gathered near the pop queen’s stage, and drinking water was distributed for free. Temperatures were around 27 C (81 F) during the late night show.

Madonna, 65, performed songs such as “Like a Prayer”, “Vogue” and “Express Yourself” for over two hours from 10:45 p.m. (0145 GMT on Sunday) as she wound up the greatest hits tour that started late last year.

Madonna’s concert at Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro

“Rio, here we are, in the most beautiful place in the world, with the ocean, the mountains, Jesus,” Madonna told the crowd, referring to the city’s huge mountaintop Christ the Redeemer statue. “Magic.”

Brazilian pop artists Anitta and Pabllo Vittar, as well as younger musicians from samba schools, participated in the show.

More than 3,000 police officers were deployed around the concert area, where the Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart have also drawn million-strong crowds. The authorities used a crowd-management strategy similar to their handling of the city’s famous New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Brazilian authorities have stepped up their vigilance over heat-related health problems after a young Brazilian fan died at a concert by Taylor Swift last year due to heat exhaustion.

Rio’s state and city governments said they spent 20 million reais ($3.9 million) on the concert, while the rest was financed by private sponsors. The authorities estimate the concert could bring about 300 million reais to Rio’s economy.

Source: Reuters