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The week that's been . . .

First, some good news (Phew!) . . .
Minister Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Sekai Nzenza has said Government
is seeking to align the Labour Act with the Constitution, which provides for maternity
benefits. Government has agreed in principle to do away with the existing one-year
qualifying period for female employees to be eligible for maternity leave, and aims to
remove current restrictions on paid maternity leave. Still on the topic of female
reproductive health, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube says he will remove the duty on
sanitary wear in the 22 November budget: "The cost of sanitary wear and removing duty
on it, consider it done. We will have something on the budget on this issue of sanitary
wear. Consider it done; there is no debate." Next step: Free loo roll?

Reclaim road sanity
Two vehicles collided on road between the capital, Harare, and the eastern town of
Rusape. 47 people lost their lives. Days later, bad roads and overspeeding contribute to
an accident near Nkayi, which injures dozens. Traffic accidents have become a
common occurrence, with both roads and human error contributing to the problem.
According to an April research paper by the Traffic Safety Council in Zimbabwe (TSCZ),
most of the unlicensed drivers involved in the accidents were driving public service
vehicles. Still on road traffic, "Selfishness,” Chris responded to last week’s newsletter.
“Traffic gridlock is entirely due to selfishness (and stupidity). The Code Says: 'do not
enter an intersection unless you can see that you will exit it before the lights change.'
What happened to that?" Could non corrupt traffic police + fines lead to better driving?

Gweru gets priorities right