Increased access to the digital economy promotes consumer rights

Increased access to the digital economy strengthens digital protection, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, in a speech read on his behalf on the commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day today by his deputy in the same ministry, Dr. Dingumuzi Phuti has said. He said digital technology has created unprecedented new opportunities for consumers as it facilitates communication;…

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African Development Bank delegation in Egypt to ensure success of COP27

African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) Vice President Dr. Kevin Kariuki will lead a delegation to Egypt, the host country for this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference 2022, for exploratory talks on how the Bank and Egypt can collaborate to make COP27 a truly breakthrough event for people and planet.  COP 27 is scheduled for November…

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Humble beginnings motivate Tendai Gara to offer education to underprivileged children

Humble beginnings motivated Tendai Gara, the Founder, and director of Tendai Association to offer education to children from the less-privileged and vulnerable school-going children. “I was born in Raffingora and grew up among my maternal grandfather’s people in Mt Darwin. My parents were separated when I was a child. As a single mother, she raised…

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Ukraine Crisis Highlights Importance of Food Security

Regardless of your business, South Africa sits at the very end of very long global supply lines. Even before Covid-19 and the July 2021 civil unrest bought home the importance of shortening and diversifying supply chains, South Africa’s balance of trade and ZAR volatility and weakness were already prompting a re-think as businesses pivoted to local – or…

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AfricaGoGreen Fund receives huge financial boost

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) have approved a combined-equity investment of $20 million in the AfricaGoGreen Fund (https://bit.ly/3CwrGUW), a debt fund established to promote private investments in energy-efficient technologies and business models, with the objective of decarbonising African economies and accelerating the energy transition. These new…

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Preparations for forest management workshop in Africa underway

By Baboloki Semele Forest management stakeholders are bracing themselves for an information-sharing workshop on challenges and opportunities for forest management in Africa slated for 28 March to 1 April 2022 in Mombasa, Kenya to be held under the theme “Strengthening management and use of forest ecosystems for sustainable development in Africa”. The project seeks to…

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LAPSSET Corridor showcased on 7th PIDA week sidelines

By Baboloki Semele The Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Transport, Infrastructure, and Regional Integration, and former CEO of LAPSSET Authority, Sylvester Kasuku says the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia transport corridor program and free trade agreements have contributed meaningfully to the African integration agenda by bringing opportunities closer and reducing regional tensions. He says the project…

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UNEP directed to bring offices, meetings to Nairobi

By Baboloki Semele Kenya, or rather Africa has scored a major win after countries directed the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to return all its key departments to Nairobi. Although UNEP is headquartered in Nairobi, African nations complained the Kenya office was just a shell because key departments are based in Europe, where their high-level…

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Combating climate crisis must be based on respect for human rights

By Plan International Governments must acknowledge the devastating injustice of the climate crisis faced by children, girls, and young women and the disproportionate impacts on their lives and make strong commitments to prioritize children and girls’ rights in climate adaptation, mitigation, and response.   Despite being least responsible for this unfolding crisis, children bear the…

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International Women’s Day 2022: “Breaking The Bias: Realising Women’s Rights”

By Linda Masarira International Women’s Day is a day set aside every year on the 8th of March to celebrate women’s achievements in all spheres of life. This year’s theme is a clarion call to all women to ensure that they play a participatory role in advocating for gender equality and ensuring the protection of…

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Patsime Trust advocates for sex workers’ rights through exciting play

By Tafadzwa Muranganwa A recently held show dubbed  ‘Flip Side’ hosted by Patsime Trust in partnership with Savanna Trust is likely to stoke controversy as it seeks to advocate for sex workers’ rights. The 3-days show which ended on Saturday evening at Jasen Mphepo Little Theatre highlighted the harrowing experiences that sex workers endure. The…

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ARTUZ on Education Act Amendment bill

Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill: The dearth of democracy in Zimbabwe

By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development The Private Voluntary Organisations (PVOs) Amendment Bill 2021 (HB 10,2021) or PVO Amendment Bill was gazetted in November 2021 to amend the PVO Act (Chapter 17:05). The Memorandum to the Bill states that the purpose of the amendment includes amongst other objectives: i. To comply with the Financial…

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Visit Zimbabwe Tourism and Investment Conference roars to life

The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry today hosted the Visit Zimbabwe Tourism and Investment Conference on the sidelines of the world-acclaimed Dubai Expo 2020. In her keynote address during the launch,  the Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality industry, Hon. Barbra Rwodzi said since the…

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Circular economy gains traction as Morocco plans to join regional Alliance

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) joined public and private sector actors in Nairobi this week to discuss the implementation of circular economy policies, and action plans in Africa. Highlights of the side event included news that Morocco plans to join the African Circular Economy Alliance. The side event on accelerating a just transition to a…

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Tick and Tick-borne Disease Control Strategy (2022-2030) launched

Zimbabwe yesterday launched the Tick and Tick-borne Disease Control Strategy (2022-2030) in order to fight against a myriad of livestock diseases that pose a threat to the livestock industry. Speaking during the launch, the Guest of Honour who is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, Dr. John…

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UN Zimbabwe Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator presents credentials to President Mnangagwa

Yesterday, Mr. Edward Kallon of Sierra Leone presented his credentials as the Representative of the UN Secretary-General and United Nations Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator to the Republic of Zimbabwe to His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa at a ceremony held at State House.   Mr. Kallon has devoted more than 30 years of his career to public…

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Improved governance of land tenure, fisheries and forests critical: FAO

Dr. Patrice Talla Takoukam, the Sub Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative for Zimbabwe and Eswatini said his organisation, in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe, is implementing Voluntary Guidelines meant to improve governance of tenure of land, fisheries, and forests. He made the remarks during the National Comprehensive and Gender-Sensitive Land Policy…

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5th UNEA closes with strong nature action resolutions towards achieving SDGs

By Baboloki Semele Nairobi, Kenya: The 5th UN Environment Assembly concluded yesterday in Nairobi with 14 resolutions to strengthen actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Assembly is made up of the 193 UN Member States and convenes every two years to advance global environmental governance. The world’s ministers for the…

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Nations commit to ending plastic pollution

By Baboloki Semele Nairobi, Kenya: Heads of State, Ministers of environment, and other representatives from 175 nations endorsed a historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) yesterday in Nairobi to End Plastic Pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design,…

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Japan pledges over US$1 million to support maternal health in Zimbabwe

The Government of Japan and the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, yesterday handed over ambulances, health equipment, and commodities, among other support, to the Government of Zimbabwe worth over US$1 million. Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a humanitarian crisis caused by multiple factors, including recurring droughts and a dire…

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Japan supports cold chain equipment to bolster Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 vaccine programme

The Japanese Government through its partnership with UNICEF has provided crucial cold chain equipment to boost Zimbabwe’s capacity to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The equipment, which includes 70 iced lined vaccine fridges, 80 solar direct drive fridges, 130 standard cold boxes, and 499 vaccines carriers, will support the Ministry of Health and Child Care to…

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7th PIDA Week underway: calls to invest in Africa’s infrastructure

By Baboloki Semele “Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, I declare the 7th PIDA week officially opened,” were the words. This was followed by a round of applause. The African Union high representative for infrastructure development in Africa Rt Hon Raila Odinga made the announcement in Nairobi, Kenya, Monday, marking the official opening of the 7th edition…

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Need to revamp infrastructure in resettlement areas: Chombo

By Elvis Dumba Mutorashanga – The government is seized with programs that will see the establishment of social amenities and infrastructure such as schools, clinics, and roads in areas where various people were settled through the agrarian land reform program, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works Marian Chombo has said. She revealed…

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Chinhoyi basks in glory after banging four gongs from Zim CEO’s Network

By Elvis Dumba Harare – The Municipality of Chinhoyi’s dream of getting city status seems to be coming true soon with exceptional service delivery by the local authority. The sterling efforts were witnessed by the awarding of four awards to the Mashonaland West Provincial Capital by Zimbabwe CEO’s Network. Chinhoyi Municipality received four awards in…

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Power Giants bankroll Mabvuku-based The Source Radio and TV House

One of Africa’s leading international energy infrastructure developers, Power Giants, have taken it upon themselves to bankroll The Source Radio and TV House that will be broadcasting for the Mabvuku-Tafara Community. Speaking during the launch that was preceded by a clean-up exercise in the suburb, Edzai Kachirekwa, the Director of Power Giants said he undertook…

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The Necessity of Legal and Institutional Reforms for Economic Development

By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Case of Mines and Minerals Bill 1.         Introduction This Policy Digest seeks to examine the current state of the mining sector in Zimbabwe and call for the fast-tracking of the Mines and Minerals Bill (MMB). The Bill was introduced in 2015 with the intention of amending the…

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Econet and Ericsson launch 5G in Zimbabwe for improved customer experience

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe (ZSE:ECO.ZW), has partnered with Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) to launch 5G services in Harare, Zimbabwe, in a significant milestone for the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed mobile network operator and in light of Econet’s digital transformation journey with the aim of improving customer experience. Ericsson will support Econet with its latest energy-efficient and high-performing Radio Access…

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Climate commitments from the 6th African Union-European Union Summit

The 6th European Union (EU)-African Union (AU) Summit, held on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 February 2022 in Brussels, ended with the adoption of a joint declaration on the Africa-Europe 2030 vision. Europe will implement a global investment strategy with at least 150 billion euros to support “projects wanted and carried by Africans, with priority…

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Working toward advances in carbon capture to turn the tide on climate change

As global challenges go, significantly reducing the amount of harmful greenhouse gases that have accumulated in the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans is most certainly among the most daunting. Those gases, especially carbon dioxide, to a large degree are leading to increasingly threatening climate changes, including global warming. Experts warn the combined effects of these changes…

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Concrete actions to be put forward for a human-centred pandemic recovery

Heads of State and Government, international organizations, multilateral development banks, and employers’ and workers’ leaders from around the world will come together 22 – 24 February to discuss concrete actions to ensure a human-centred recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. They will take part in a high-level virtual multilateral Global Forum for a Human-centred Recovery,  organized by the…

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Nexus between shared resources and a community-focused water management system

Interview conducted By Baboloki Semele Although a great deal of attention and focus in Africa is actually more on economic failure and political instability, there is quite a lot happening on the ground, showing Africa thriving. This publication caught up with Dr. Karen Villholth, principal researcher and groundwater focal point for International Water Management Institute….

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AAU-PACCI inaugurates African Education Trust Fund Organising Committee

The Association of African Universities (AAU), the Pan-African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), and the African Private Sector (APSS) have inaugurated a committee to establish an African Education Trust Fund (AETF). The Committee comprises eminent African scholars, business executives, some representatives of African institutions, an Indian former Vice-Chancellor of an East African university, and…

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Cheers for St James High as alumnus donates soccer kits

News Reporter As the crippling nationwide teachers’ strike dampened the spirits of most students across the country, St James High School pupils in Zaka, Masvingo had something to cheer them up as alumnus Trywell Magura donated soccer kits to the school. Magura, a youthful Zimbabwean entrepreneur, business coach, and motivational speaker based in South Africa,…

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Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa to be created

By Baboloki Semele Last year, Africa’s infrastructure investment gap was estimated to hit $51bn, and just as investors are calling for more stringent infrastructure sustainability guidelines, the amount of green financing available has dramatically grown, with the sustainable bond market surging from $800bn in 2019 to $1.314tn in 2020. Against this backdrop, sustainable strategies are…

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New study questions climate impacts of biofuels

A study released Feb. 14 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences claims that ethanol is likely a bigger contributor to global warming than gasoline, Reuters reported. The study contradicts previous findings by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) showing that ethanol and other biofuels are green. “Corn ethanol is not a climate-friendly fuel,” said…

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Energize Africa-Commissioner Aboud Zeid addresses Energy High-level Panel at the AU-EU summit

By Baboloki Semele The low levels of access to sustainable energy in Africa are having a huge impact on the continent’s industrialisation agenda. The sentiments were shared by African Union’s Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Dr Amani Abou-Zeid at the ongoing AU-EU summit in Brussels, Belgium. Addressing the Sustainable Energy high-level Panel, Dr Aboud-Zeid noted…

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