Harare – NEWSSPACE

Over 400 cyclists expected to pedal against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

Over 400 cyclists are expected to participate at this year’s Pedal-2-Wellness event, which will be held under the theme “Pedal against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.”

The cycling event which is organised by iGo, Cimas Health Group’s wellness division, is in its second year and will be held next Saturday.

This was revealed by Cimas Health Group Chief Executive Officer, Vuli Ndlovu, ahead of the cycling event which is meant to promote physical well-being.

“Open to elite, and social cyclists including children, this year’s Pedal-2-Wellness, event will be held under the theme, “Pedal against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” with more than 400 cyclists expected to participate.

“Pedal-2-Wellness is part of Cimas’s broader commitment to promoting health and wellness to foster a healthier society.

“I urge cyclists to bring their helmets and bikes to Pedal against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,” said Ndlovu.

Ndlovu revealed that the event also promotes cardio fitness and raises awareness of drug and substance abuse.

“Cycling is not just about getting from one place to another, it is about enhancing our overall wellbeing. As more people choose to cycle, we can collectively work towards a healthier, greener, and more sustainable future.”

Speaking on the growing need for alternative transportation options, Ndlovu emphasised the importance of creating a safer environment for cyclists.

“Apart from offering remarkable benefits for physical health, cycling offers a safer and more environmentally friendly mode of transport.

“However, to fully realise these benefits, our City council must invest in infrastructure that ensures the safety of cyclists on the road,” Ndlovu said.

He added that there is a need for dedicated cycling lanes and proper signage to encourage more people to embrace cycling as a viable mode of transportation.

“Incorporating safer cycling infrastructure would not only reduce the risk of accidents but also contribute to reducing traffic congestion and lowering carbon emissions,” noted Ndlovu.

He underscored the need for collaborative efforts amongst the city council, corporate entities, and the public to make cycling a safer and more accessible option for all.

He also revealed that registration to participate at the Pedal-2-Wellness is being done online with the elite and social cyclists paying US$5 while children under the age of 13 will participate for free.

The event will start at 7:30 AM with the 45-km ride, followed by the fun ride at 7:45 AM and the children’s ride at 8:00 AM.

“Participants under the age of 13 years will cycle on the iGo strip and perimeter road of Borrowdale racecourse (4.5km), while those over 13 years will cycle on the road along the demarcated route (22.5km) from Borrowdale Office Park.

“The elite cyclists will complete two laps of the race, which is 45km, and there will be two water points, at the start and finish point of the race.

“As a safety measure, all participants are expected to wear helmets, which are available for hire at the venue on the day.

“Participants will receive a T-shirt and a medal after completing the event. As part of Cimas’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, part of the proceeds from the event will be donated to Chikurubi Psychiatric Unit, which supports mental health causes,” added Ndlovu.

Saints ‘n Sinners; the best of both worlds

Harare is known as a city that never sleeps and it is famed for its nightlife; where people can unwind away from other pressures of life. And one such happy place, right in the heart of the central business district, is Saints ‘n Sinners, where patrons are guaranteed some time to relax, play and enjoy. Though barely 2 years old, this joint has been the talk of the city, famed for it’s unique products and services, which continue to draw people from far and wide. To know more about this joint; Munyaradzi Blessing Doma (Munya) had a chat with the boss behind Saints ‘n Sinners, Nomathemba Primrose Ndebele (Noma)

Read on…

Munya: Why did you name the club Saints ‘n Sinners, what inspired that name?

Noma: Our vision from the onset was to create a best of both worlds place where our patrons can relax, play and enjoy in a happy place that cuts across all socio-political and other personal believes. It’s a place you can be yourself hence the analogy of the “Saint and the sinner”. Everyone is welcome.

Munya: When did you open your doors and how has been the journey?

Noma: We opened our doors on December 13 2022, and the journey has been nothing but a rollercoaster ride of all the beautiful highs and like any other start up, the disheartening lows but above all, it has been a phenomenal story for us so far and everyday we keep writing new chapters to the book.

Munya: How do you outwit the competition that’s out there, what makes your club unique?

Noma: We are not a Night Club, we are a PUB, LOUNGE and RESTAURANT, but answering you, from the onset we have wanted to be true and original to ourselves without the need to copy what everyone else is doing . We have agreed not to be swayed by the trends but to give our patrons memorable moments that are filled with our team’s genuine passion. What stands out the most I would say is the amazing team of young people I work with, they have become family to our patrons and just the positive and warm energy they exude to the space makes our patrons feel right at home everyday we open our doors.

Munya: Some businesses in the entertainment industry have been struggling to make it especially post Covid era, how have you managed to stay afloat?

Noma: We are fortunate to have opened our doors past Covid, which made us plan with the ravaging effects of Covid and be able to create a blue print that can survive or compete post Covid. Covid destroyed a lot of businesses especially in our sector, many people lost their jobs or businesses thereby impacting the bottom line of businesses in the leisure sector. We have had to structure our businesses in such a way that it is sustainable and grows itself without the pressure of wanting to start on a large scale.

Munya: You made your name in the fashion industry where you established women’s high end boutique, Posh, what made you to say I want to establish a restaurant and lounge?

Noma: I have always been fascinated by lifestyle business and spreading my wings into the restaurant and lounge space had always been one of my ambitions. I love interacting with people and above all making them feel good about themselves. I do that at Posh and spreading my wings into the restaurant business has made me reach out to a wider audience.

Munya: This is a male dominated industry, does this not intimidate you in any way or have you not been discouraged?

Noma: I think the notion of the business being male dominated has also come and gone, I know of a lot of female entrepreneurs doing wonderful things in the same sector I am in. More importantly when you have a product offering that you are sure about, no amount of discouragement can ever get to you. I have always been confident in my offering from the day we opened our doors.

Munya: Do you have you have any signature drink or meal or service in the club, something that’s exclusively to you guys?

Noma: Saints and Sinners is popular for our signature cocktails, our cocktails are an absolute experience and we have some of the most experienced barmen who continue to formulate various cocktails that suit any client taste and needs, we definitely stand out on that end. There is a cocktail named after me by one of our barmen. He thinks of me as an intriguing Saint hence he named it SaintPosh. It consists of two of my all time favorite cognacs.

Munya: Do you intend to expand the business to other cities, if so when and where can we expect this?

Noma: We are definitely carefully looking at our expansion strategy and with the success of Joina City branch, many customers from other cities who visit have been asking when we would be coming to their towns. I can assure you it’s something we are working on that also takes a great deal of careful strategic planning.

Munya: What are the products and services that you offer?

Noma: We are a pub, restaurant and lounge. During the day we offer breakfast and lunch in a serene environment where one can have a meeting, a date or any other gathering and after hours, we are a lounge that feeds into the night life ecosystem of Harare. We have an array of DJs, offer VIP bottle service whilst also serving as premium pub with multiple television screens for our patrons to enjoy the best of games in the comfort of our lounges.

Munya: I understand you have a soccer team, tell me more about this?

Noma: The soccer team is a social responsibility initiative that was introduced to me by two of my patrons, the other one is now my legal advisor for both businesses and personal issues and the other one is my marketing advisor. So they came up with the idea and we embraced it and most of our patrons and employees welcomed the idea to exercise and interact in their various expertise during the weekend away from the bar. It has become an exciting social feature that has built a family unit outside of our bar and we look forward to meeting with our patrons every Sunday for our social games.

Munya: There has been some concerns at some bars on security for its patrons, how have you managed to deal with this?

Noma: We strive to give the best of security to our patrons and our place comes with well trained security personnel, 33 cameras that are monitored during our trading hours and we are also grateful to have security back up from our landlord who is Joina City. 20 security officers thereby providing a safe environment for our revellers.

Munya: Thank you Noma, anything else you can add?

Noma: Thank you so much for the interview and I think I have answered all there is to answer. But on a lighter note, I am a sinner hoping to be saved. I do look forward to hosting you at Saints and Sinners. Bring all your friends.

MCAZ-ZRP collabo raids Caledonia

BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Drugs and Narcotics Division, on Wednesday raided unlicensed shops dealing in medicines and other pharmaceutical products in Caledonia, Harare.

During the raid at Gazebo area close to Old Tafara, six unlicensed shops were inspected, leading to the discovery of unregistered medicines, expired drugs, and registered medicines being sold unlawfully.

In a statement, Richard Rukwata, MCAZ Director – General, said all the shops were manned by unlicenced individuals and a result, six suspects were apprehended, including one supplier of the pharmaceutical products.

“Some of the medicines recovered include anti-biotics, anti-seizure drugs (anti-epileptic drugs), anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-diabetes drugs, antidepressants, cough syrups, analgesics, for example paracetamol and aspirin.

**MCAZ inspector in one of the raided shops**

“Resultantly, all the discovered medicines were confiscated by the police and the suspects are now in the hands of the police and assisting with investigations,” he said.

Rukwata further revealed that along with the ZRP, they remain committed to ensuring the safety and integrity of pharmaceutical products available to the public.

“Such collaborative actions underscore our dedication to upholding regulatory standards and safeguarding public health.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious pharmaceutical activities to the authorities. Together, we can combat the distribution of unregistered and expired medicines, promoting a safer environment for all Zimbabweans,” he added.

MCAZ is responsible for protecting public and animal health by ensuring that accessible medicines and allied substances and medical devices are safe, effective and of good quality through enforcement of adherence to standards by manufacturers and distributors.

It is further added that the mandate of MCAZ is to protect public health ensuring that medicines and medical devices on the market are safe, effective, and of good quality.