Chibhubhubhu Zimbabwe Government Viciously Attacks Catholic Bishops

By Staff Reporter
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16133
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August 17, 2020

The Zimbabwe government has launched an astonishing attack on the country's Catholic bishops after the bishops issued a pastoral letter critical of the government.

Zimbabwe’s minister of information publicity and broadcasting services, Monica Mutsvangwa lashed out at the bishops: “Ahead of the Catholic Sunday Mass, the government of Zimbabwe draws the attention of the national Catholic congregation shards of a pastoral letter issued under the misguided if evil minded leadership of the Archbishop of Harare,” she said.
Mutsvangwa said the government vehemently object to and strongly condemns the pastoral letter of Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare and his coterie of Catholics Bishop prelates.

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference dispatched a stinging pastoral letter condemning the government in the face of a fast deteriorating human rights situation Zimbabwe is fast deteriorating, forcing .

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has of late been descending heavily on journalists, political and human rights activists speaking against corruption and human rights violations in the country.
Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono is currently in jail for exposing corruption among Mnangagwa’s cabinet minister, so is Jacob Ngarivhume, leader of Transform Zimbabwe – an opposition political party – which organised the botched July 31 2020 demonstrations against government corruption.

The demonstrations were thwarted by heavily armed national police and soldiers and some of the organisers been forced into hiding.

In the scathing pastoral letter, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference (ZCBC) said the struggle in Zimbabwe, between those who think they have arrived and those on the march has resulted in a multi-layered crisis of the convergence of economic collapse, deepening poverty, food insecurity, corruption and human rights abuses among other crises in urgent need of resolution.

“The call for demonstrations is the expression of growing frustration and aggravation caused by the conditions that the majority of Zimbabweans find themselves in. Suppression of people’s anger can only serve to deepen the crisis and take the nation into deeper crisis,” said the bishops in the letter.

The ZCBC said the voices of various governments, the European Union, the African Union and the UN on the desperate situation in Zimbabwe have not only confirmed the seriousness of human rights breaches by government agents but the need to rally behind #ZimbabweanLivesMatter.

“Following the government crackdown on dissent after the 31′ of July demonstrations, we have also witnessed attempts by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa to intervene by sending a special envoy. Their failure to make broad consultations with the Church and civic society at this most tempestuous time was most regrettable,” the bishops said.

In the meantime, some of the people continue to live in hideouts, with some incarcerated while others are on the run.

“Fear runs down the spine of many of our people today. The crackdown on dissent is unprecedented. Is this the Zimbabwe we want? To have a different opinion does not mean to be an enemy. It is precisely from the contrast of opinions that the light comes. Our Government automatically labels anyone thinking differently as an enemy of the country: that is an abuse,” ZCBC said.

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Personal Injury Settlement: How Claims Are Valued and Negotiated

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Personal Injury Settlement: How Claims Are Valued and Negotiated

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Most personal injury cases settle before trial. But settlement value is not random.

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Insurance companies look at evidence, liability, medical treatment, lost wages, policy limits, injury severity, and legal risk. Injured people should understand what goes into a settlement before accepting an offer.

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A quick settlement may feel helpful, but it may not cover future medical care or long-term losses.

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What Is a Personal Injury Settlement?

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A settlement is an agreement to resolve a legal claim. The injured person usually receives compensation, and in exchange, signs a release giving up the right to pursue additional claims from the same incident.

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That release is serious. Once signed, the case is usually over.

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What Affects Settlement Value?

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1. Liability

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The stronger the evidence that the other party was at fault, the stronger the claim may be.

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Liability evidence may include:

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Police reports
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2. Injury Severity

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More serious injuries often lead to higher damages.

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Broken bones
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Medical expenses are a major part of many claims.

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These may include:

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Emergency care
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4. Lost Income

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If you missed work, lost overtime, used vacation time, or cannot return to the same job, wage losses matter.

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5. Pain and Suffering

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Pain and suffering may include physical pain, emotional distress, reduced quality of life, and loss of enjoyment.

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6. Insurance Coverage

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Even strong claims can be affected by available insurance limits.

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Why Insurance Companies Make Low Offers

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Insurance companies may offer less because they dispute:

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Fault
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They may also hope you accept before knowing the full extent of your injuries.

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Should You Accept the First Settlement Offer?

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Usually, you should be careful.

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Before accepting, ask:

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Have I finished medical treatment?
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A settlement should be reviewed carefully before signing.

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What Is a Demand Letter?

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A demand letter is a formal letter sent to the insurance company requesting settlement.

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It may include:

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Facts of the accident
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rnSettlement demand

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A strong demand letter is organized, evidence-based, and clear.

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How Long Does Settlement Take?

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Settlement timing depends on:

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Medical treatment length
rnInsurance investigation
rnLiability disputes
rnCase complexity
rnPolicy limits
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rnWhether a lawsuit is filed
rnCourt schedule

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Cases with serious injuries often take longer because future damages must be evaluated.

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Medical Liens and Settlement

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Some medical providers, insurers, or government programs may have repayment rights from a settlement.

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Before spending settlement money, understand:

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Medical bills
rnHealth insurance liens
rnMedicare or Medicaid liens
rnWorkers’ compensation liens
rnAttorney fees
rnCase costs

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Final Thoughts

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A personal injury settlement should reflect the full impact of the injury, not just immediate bills.

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Before accepting any offer, make sure you understand your medical condition, future needs, lost income, liens, and legal rights.

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A personal injury lawyer can help evaluate whether a settlement offer is fair based on the evidence.

Employment Class Action Lawsuit: Wage, Overtime, and Worker Rights

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Employment Class Action Lawsuit: Wage, Overtime, and Worker Rights

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When one employee is underpaid, it may be a mistake. When hundreds or thousands of workers are underpaid in the same way, it may become an employment class action lawsuit.

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Employment class actions can help workers challenge company-wide policies that allegedly violate wage, hour, discrimination, or labor laws.

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These cases may involve unpaid overtime, off-the-clock work, misclassification, meal breaks, unpaid commissions, background check violations, or discriminatory practices.

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An employment class action is a lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of workers with similar legal claims against an employer.

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The workers may have been affected by the same:

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Pay policy
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In federal court, class actions must satisfy Rule 23 requirements, including common legal or factual questions and adequate representation.

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Common Employment Class Action Claims

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Unpaid Overtime

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Employees may claim they worked more than 40 hours per week but were not properly paid overtime.

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Off-the-Clock Work

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Workers may claim they were required to work before clocking in, after clocking out, during unpaid breaks, or while responding to messages outside scheduled hours.

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Misclassification

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Some workers may claim they were wrongly classified as independent contractors or exempt employees.

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Meal and Rest Break Violations

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State laws may require certain meal or rest breaks. Violations can affect many workers.

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Unpaid Commissions or Bonuses

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Sales employees may bring claims over unpaid commissions, incentive pay, or bonus plans.

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Discrimination Class Actions

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Workers may challenge company-wide discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, or termination.

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Useful evidence may include:

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Pay stubs
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rnWitness statements
rnPerformance records

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Workers should save documents when legally allowed and avoid deleting important communications.

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Can You Be Fired for Joining a Lawsuit?

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Retaliation laws may protect employees who assert workplace rights. However, retaliation issues can be complicated.

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If you fear retaliation, speak with an employment lawyer before taking action.

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Class Action vs. Collective Action

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Wage cases may involve class actions, collective actions, or both, depending on the law.

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For example, some federal wage claims use a collective action process where workers may need to opt in.

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The exact procedure depends on the claim and jurisdiction.

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What Can Workers Recover?

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Employment settlements may include:

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Unpaid wages
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rnRecordkeeping improvements

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The amount depends on the case, law, number of workers, and damages.

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What Employers Usually Argue

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Employers may argue:

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Workers were properly paid
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rnTime records are accurate
rnClaims are too individualized
rnClass treatment is improper
rnPolicies were lawful
rnDamages are overstated

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Employment class actions can be strongly contested.

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When to Contact an Employment Class Action Lawyer

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You may want legal help if:

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Many workers have the same pay problem
rnOvertime was denied
rnEmployees worked off the clock
rnBreaks were missed due to company policy
rnWorkers were wrongly treated as contractors
rnPay stubs do not match hours worked
rnA company-wide policy seems unfair or illegal

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Final Thoughts

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Employment class action lawsuits can help workers challenge widespread workplace violations.

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If your employer’s pay or workplace policy affected many employees the same way, legal options may exist.

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Save records, avoid guessing, and speak with a qualified employment attorney.