Tourism a vehicle for employment creation and poverty alleviation

By Byron Mutingwende   Governments are obligated to use tourism as a vehicle for employment creation to contribute to poverty alleviation in Africa, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said.   VP Mohadi made the remarks in his keynote address at the Africa Youth in Tourism Conference (19-23 September 2018) in Bulawayo.   “We are obligated…

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How to make the digital revolution work for inclusive growth

Digitisation and the rise of the platform economy are changing the way firms do business. To thrive amidst these changes, small firms need strong business ecosystems. ITC’s SME Competitiveness Outlook 2018 explains how to make big data work for small firms, how to focus today on building skills for tomorrow and how to foster public trust in…

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UNWTO Conference in Valladolid to Discuss Innovative Tourism Experiences in Urban Destinations

Innovation, traveller demand for diverse and authentic experiences in cities, and urban tourism governance models will be the central themes of the “UNWTO Conference on City Breaks: Creating Innovative Experiences”, to be held in Valladolid, Spain, on 15-16 October 2018. The conference will address the future of urban tourism, with special emphasis on current challenges,…

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Stunting worryingly high in East and Southern Africa

By Byron Mutingwende   Although there were some notable reductions in stunting rates in some countries between 2015 and 2018, stunting remains worryingly high in East and Southern Africa, a study has shown.   The Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA) was part of the team that jointly commissioned a study to…

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Sekuru Banda joins the cholera fight

By Byron Mutingwende   Renowned traditional healer Kamwelo Banda popularly known as Sekuru Banda has joined the fight against cholera and pledged support to those impacted by the pandemic.   In a rare show of love and compassion, Sekuru Banda took time off his busy schedule where he often meets his legion of clients who…

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NetOne presents computers to National Blood Services Zimbabwe winners

NetOne, one of the leading telephony companies, has presented computers to National Blood Services Zimbabwe winners at a colourful ceremolny at Mutenderende High School in Chirumanzu. In a speech read on his behalf by Dr, Eldrette Shereni, the Netone Marketing and Public Executive, the NetOne Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr Nkosinathi Ncube said his organisation…

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New UNWTO Report Helps Cities Manage Impact of Tourism

A new World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report aims to help manage growing urban tourism flows and their impact on cities and residents. ‘Overtourism’? Understanding and managing urban tourism growth beyond perceptions’, was launched today during the 7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism, in Seoul, Republic of Korea (16-19 September 2018). The report examines how…

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“The status quo must change”: Adesina tells FinDev Canada conference in Montreal

Launched six months ago, FinDev’s mandate is to support the growth and sustainability of businesses in developing markets “No country can possibly move forward in the 21st century if it leaves half of its talent on the sidelines,” African Development (www.AfDB.org) President, Akinwumi Adesina told delegates at the launch of FinDev Canada, in Montreal, while making…

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Joseph Busha pledges $5 000 for construction of school laboratory

FreeZim Congress leader and prominent businessman Joseph Makamba Busha has pledged five thousand dollars ($5 000) towards the construction of a science laboratory at Henry Low Primary school in Bulawayo last Friday. While officiating as the guest of honour at a Climate Change Awareness campaign launch in the city of Kings, organised by the Zimbabwe…

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National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) seeks to decongest cities in 100 days

By Munyaradzi Dhure The National Vendors Union Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) is partnering other stakeholders in the quest to decongest cities in 100 days starting with Harare.   Addressing stakeholders at Town Hose in harare on Friday 14 September 2018, NAVUZ Chairperson, Sten Zvorwadza said his organisation will start with a pilot project in Harare from tomorrow….

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AIF top 10 nominees for $185 000 Innovation for Africa prize announced

The top 10 nominees reflect Pan African flavour of Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) with representation from north, west, east, central and southern Africa, including Madagascar IPA 2018 keenly contested with 3 000+ applicants from over 52 countries; This year’s innovations address critical challenges in ICT, agri-business, public health and the environment/ energy sectors; The…

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2018 Harare International Carnival on the right track

The progress about preparations of the 2018 Harare International Carnival is impressive since stakeholders are now ready for the showcase.   By Munyaradzi Dhure   The Ministry of Environment Tourism and Hospitality Industry engaged with its marketing arm, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to announce the progress of preparations for the fifth edition of the…

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NIB and Afreximbank sign EUR100 million loan facility

The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have signed a 10-year loan programme of EUR 100 million to finance various infrastructure projects in African countries. The EUR 100 million made available to Afreximbank under the joint facility will be used for financing eligible investments, which mainly include projects within infrastructure, such as energy,…

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ITFC to Implement U.S. $3 Billion Framework Agreements to Support Egypt’s Main Sectors

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org) announced the signing of two new Agreements between ITFC & the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt represented by the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) initiating the utilisation of the 5th Framework agreement. The first Master Murabaha agreement…

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Antelope Park’s wildlife conservation brings benefits to communities

By Byron Mutingwende   The wildlife conservation project being spearheaded by the Antelope Park is bringing numerous benefits to participating local communities and the environment.   Tourists from the United Kingdom who were on a tour of the country prior, during and after the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo, courtesy of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, had…

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Sanganai stands tall among international tourism exhibitions

By Byron Mutingwende   The Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo fits the bill of and stands tall among internationally recognised exhibitions, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has said.   In her speech at the expo awards ceremony in Bulawayo on 7 September 2018, tourism minister Priscah Mupfumira expressed her deepest satisfaction with the…

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Glen Lodge offers clients excellent hospitality and fabulous holiday prizes

By Byron Mutingwende   The Glen Lodge in Bulawayo, the leading oasis of hospitality in the City of Kings and Queens, is the only place that offers the greatest value for money to its legions of clients.   As it hosted journalists attending the 11th edition of the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo in the country’s…

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Qatar among 10 most open Visa countries in the world

Qatar has become the most open country in the Middle East and the 8th most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) recently updated its visa openness rankings, confirming Qatar’s recent visa facilitation improvements including allowing nationals of 88 countries to enter Qatar visa-free and free-of-charge. Actions Qatar…

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Zimbabwe’s reliance on coal described as tragic, unsustainable

…It’s  time for country   to tap on the abundant sunshine; many proponents say By Wallace Mawire Various stakeholders in the sustainable development sector in Zimbabwe have highlighted that its now time Zimbabwe should begin to seriously consider using other renewable forms of energy like the abundant solar energy, instead of continued use of dirty fossil…

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Government committed to increasing funding support to tourism: Chiwenga

By Byron Mutingwende   The government is committed to increasing funding support to tourism and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)’s marketing and development programmes, Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.   The VP revealed this at the official opening of the 11th edition of the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo at the Zimbabwe…

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UZ Research Unmasks Fake Crop Chemicals

By Wisdom Mumera A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) research into crop preservation methods has released results questioning the effectiveness of most commercial chemicals as the country seeks to safeguard its food security. The exercise led by Professor Brighton Mvumi from the Department of Soil Science at UZ revealed that most of the commercial medicines and…

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Afreximbank Presents Trade Facilitation Programme To Egyptian Banks

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has met in Cairo with leaders of the Egyptian Banking sector to present a new trade facilitation programme which it has developed to transform Africa’s trade   The Afreximbabnk Trade Finance Facilitation Programme, which compromises a Trade Confirmation Programme and aTrade Confirmation Guarantee Programme, is being offered in response to the increasingly stringent compliance and regulatory requirements being imposed by international banks on African banks for trade confirmation lines. Those requirements…

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Africa’s insurance business rising: PWC insurance survey

Africa’s insurance industry is facing more disruption than any other industry, posing challenges for some while opening up business opportunities for others The opportunities for growth in Africa’s insurance industry are huge despite recent economic and political uncertainty. The insurance industry has done well to adapt to continuous disruption, with technological advances now considered the…

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Now is the time for local investors to step up and electrify Africa

After a foreign kickstart, African investors and regulators have to take over the lead in shaping the continent’s sustainable energy future For years, the African renewable energy development market has been dominated by foreign investors and financial institutions. Now is the time for African investors to step up to the plate and join the continent’s solar…

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Nine types of agricultural-related entrepreneurs in developing countries

By Charles Dhewa eMKambo has invested time and effort in understanding and classifying different archetypes of entrepreneurs in developing countries. While this effort has focused mainly on agriculture-related entrepreneurship, it has also embraced diverse socio-economic sectors. Unless, development actors, policy makers and financial institutions characterise economic actors in line with their different roles, it will…

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EcoSure Moovah motor insurance goes for broke

Launches million-dollar promotion in audacious bid to boost insurance penetration  Econet Insurance has unveiled yet another million-dollar promotion as vehicle insurer EcoSure Moovah moves to claim a large stake in the local motor insurance industry. Launched barely a month ago on the back of a micro-insurance technological platform, EcoSure Moovah has set its sights on…

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