Metro

Zimbabwean govt urges citizens to cycle to work amid fuel scarcity

Published

4 months ago

June 5, 2024

Zimbabwean govt urges The Zimbabwean government has urged citizens to consider commuting with bicycles to work as the country grapples with a broken public transit system, poor road conditions, fuel shortages and low salaries.

The Mayor of Harare, Jacob Mafume, who made the passionate appeal in a broadcast, called on his countrymen consider other benefits of cycling to work and their business locations ostensibly for “health reasons and to promote a clean environment, as bicycles do not use fossil fuels.”

He stated that if Zimbabweans in greater numbers chose to cycle to work, there would be less congestion and fewer road accidents, among other benefits.

“Most of the health problems that we have in society now is that we are sitting all the time. We sit at work. We sit in the car, as we drive there. So it does not help as a society to be built on unhealthy practices,” Mafume said.

“But also, it is also cheaper on the budget: people can focus on other issues like housing, education and even investment, if they are on bicycles.

“And also, it is environmentally friendly. It is less impact on our environment. And people would thank us later for this, as they will live to ripe old age in fitness,” the Mayor added.

Mayor Mafume said though he is aware of the dilapidated state of cycling lanes in the capital city, the measure will further reduce the pressure on the roads and allow government to revamp them.

“We are going to revamp them. One of the issues that we have to do is to put a cycle track running across Harare Drive. Once we have a cycle track circling the city, then all the other cycle tracks can fit into Harare Drive.”

Some Harare residents who seem to buy into the cycling culture, later told journalists that if many people take to the advice, it will portend a new direction for the country.

Ngoni Nyamadzawo, a part-time gardener in Harare’s affluent suburbs, says he cycles daily as a way to reduce costs to save his average salary of $150 a month.

“I see cycling as a saving measure. If I did not cycle, I would use $30 a month for transport,” Nyamadzawo said.

Segio Tarwirei who works for a local NGO, Tree Knowers and Growers, which advocates for more trees, says he cycles daily and encourages Zimbabweans to join him.

“Cycling has so many physical benefits. Driving is not good for the environment as cars release dirt into the atmosphere.

“As an organization of Tree Knowers and Growers, we encourage people to cycle. If I was using public transport, I would be paying $4 daily, at the end of the month it would be a lot of money, so cycling is good for health and the pocket.”

Tarwirei said he would like the city of Harare to rehabilitate cycling tracks, which have been neglected for years.

Related Topics:Bicycles Featured Fuel Scarcity Zimbabwe

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Metro

Zambia reports ‘unclear variation’ of Mpox case

Published

3 hours ago

October 11, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The first case of Mpox was reported in Zambia on Thursday, although the specific strain detected was not disclosed by the Ministry of Health.

For the second time in two years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox a worldwide public health emergency in August when a new strain of the virus spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to surrounding African nations.

The new strain of clade 1 b has raised concerns worldwide due to its increased ease of spread through frequent close contact.

The first incidence of mpox in Zambia was found in a 32-year-old Tanzanian resident who entered the country in early September, travelled around southern Africa, and started exhibiting symptoms on October 2 that included sore throat, exhaustion, and muscle aches.

The health ministry stated in a statement that contact tracing was in progress and that there was a “heightened risk of local transmission and potential cross-border spread” due to the patient’s wide travel history and interactions at several places throughout Zambia.

At a rural health centre, the male patient is receiving treatment.

“We have intensified risk communication and community engagement in all the areas that the individual has passed through since he entered Zambia. Our surveillance and response teams across the country remain on high alert for any further cases of Mpox,” the health ministry statement added.

Mumps is normally mild but can be fatal, causing pus-filled lesions and flu-like symptoms.

The Mpox virus can spread from person to person via intimate contact and also from place to person through objects and surfaces that a person infected with Mpox has touched.

Metro

Hardship under Tinubu is fuelling mental health issues, suicide in Nigeria— Peter Obi

Published

6 hours ago

October 11, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has attributed the many cases of suicide and mental health issues in the country to the worsening economic situation under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The former Governor of Anambra State, who bared his mind while commemorating this year’s World Mental Health Day on Thursday, lamented that many suicide cases in the country today were fuelled by anxiety and depression due to the hardship being experienced by many Nigerians who had lost hope.

In his message, Obi noted that mental health remained one of the critical health issues not given the due attention it deserved in Nigeria.

“Today, I join the Global Community in commemorating World Mental Health Day, on which we raise awareness of mental health issues while encouraging concerted efforts to support those experiencing mental health issues in our nation,” he wrote.

“Though not often well talked about, mental health remains a very critical component of our health sector, which if not given due attention, greatly impacts negatively on our productivity as a nation.

“A healthy nation, they say, is a wealthy nation. I dare say, a mentally healthy nation, is a more productive nation.

“In Nigeria, mental health remains one of the critical health issues not given the due attention it deserves.

“The worsening economic situation resulting from hunger, poverty, and income inequalities in the country, coupled with other socio-political issues affecting the nation, have continued to fuel a growing menace of mental health cases.

“The National Institute of Health reports that about 40 to 60 million Nigerians suffer various forms of mental ailment. This translates to about 1 in every 5 Nigerians, battling with mental health issues.

“Suicide cases in the country, fueled by anxiety and depression, have remained on the increase. It is reported that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of suicide and depression in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The current rate of suicide in Nigeria is 9.50% out of 100,000 people. Drug abuse is also another contributor to mental health decadence in our society.

“Nigeria is also ranked 3rd most stressful country in the world, which contributes to different mental illnesses in the nation.

“The above grim statistics reflect the lack of attention given to mental health, a critical contributor to national development in our society. A nation that truly wants to improve its productive capacity must pay attention to the health of its citizens.”

“We are also reminded as a people to always seek medical attention when faced with any mental health challenge and to show love and support to our people who are already contending with the challenge.

“We remain committed to building a New Nigeria where everyone’s well-being will be prioritized. A New Nigeria is POssible.”