Zimbabwe rated as one of the world’s top global food crises in a new United Nations report

Zimbabwe remains in the grip of severe food insecurity, with millions of people already requiring humanitarian assistance due to prolonged drought, climate-related shocks, economic deterioration and the situation set to worsen as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, according to the new Global Food Crisis Report Forecast (GFCRF). The joint report, released by the European Union, FAO, OCHA,…

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Demolitions amid COVID-19: Vendors appeal for cushioning fee

Vendors representative associations are concerned about the delays in the payments of the cushioning grants that were supposed to cushion them and informal traders following the COVID-19 lockdown and government-sanctioned demolitions of their working spaces. As a result, they are calling upon government through its relevant ministries to provide information on progress made so far….

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Afreximbank Announces $3 Million COVID-19 Response Grant for African Countries

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced a $3-million grant to complement continental efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, who made the announcement in Cairo, said that the grant was in response to a request by African heads of state, through the auspices of the African Union Chair Person, Cyril Ramaphosa, President…

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PAZ Condemns Attacks, Urges Commuters To Abide By The Law During Lockdown

By Ronnie Chisamba in Kadoma The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe  (PAZ) has condemned the recent attacks on commuters by members of the police and the army, at Waverly Bus Station. Tafadzwa Goliati, the president of PAZ said his organization did not support human violations. He also encouraged travellers to abide by the law to avoid confrontations …

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COVID-19: Adam Molai Foundation donates food parcels to the needy

The Adam Molai Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organisation running programmes to ease poverty amongst underprivileged, has come to the rescue of nearly 100 families in Marondera amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the effects of the pandemic being felt globally, the foundation has pushed to continue supporting the communities who need food assistance the most. The…

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Silveira High School Alumni medical practitioners give back to Bikita community

Dr. Celestino Dhege, a former Silveira High School student and the Vice President of Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe teamed up with Professor Jacob Mufunda and Dr. Thalia Mungwari on the noble initiative to train health workers on managing COVID-19 in Bikita District. “I offered to provide a three-hour sensitisation for health care workers in…

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TelOne, NetOne jointly unveil COVID 19 Response of ZWL$10 Million Support Facility

TelOne and NetOne announced the setting up of a joint COVID 19 response support facility to the tune of ZWL$10million. The two companies extended their business collaboration to establish a sustainable response plan which will benefit three public hospitals namely Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Hospital), Beatrice Infectious Diseases, and Mpilo Hospitals. Specific areas being funded…

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Prof Mavima announces raft of social protection services during COVID-19 lockdown

Professor Paul Mavima has announced his Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s measures that are consistent with its Constitutional mandate to provide social protection services to vulnerable groups including the transitory poor. “After the declaration of COVID-19 as a national disaster and the subsequent implementation of lockdown measures to contain its spread, the…

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AFSA launches online campaign #Agroecology4Climate

The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) officially launched a social media campaign on Agroecology for Climate Action on April 21, 2020. The campaign will also observe the occasion of Earth Day 2020, which will be internationally celebrated today, April 22. The campaign will be live between April 21-23 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram….

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DStv Rewards Customers For Staying Connected

As a lockdown bonus, DStv viewers with paid-up subscriptions are being upgraded to the next bouquet for the duration of the subscription period. Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the MultiChoice Group had made the decision to provide bonus upgrades to provide support during the lockdown, a time when households…

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VAYA launches Relief Support arm offering essential distribution, logistics support to COVID-19 donors

VAYA has started offering relief support to organizations involved in distributing material aid to vulnerable groups and communities affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. The global pandemic has seen governments in nearly all countries of the world, including Zimbabwe,  enforce ‘lockdowns’ intended to arrest the spread of the highly infectious disease. The lockdowns have however…

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Ethiopian Airlines Transports Vital Medical Cargo to Zimbabwe

Ethiopian Airlines has transported another batch of various medical shipments to Harare, Zimbabwe on its freighter flight which was operated on April 20, 2020.  The 17,060 kg shipment received from Jack Ma Foundation and the World Health Organisation (WHO) contains various testing kits, masks and other medical supplies that serve to fight COVID 19.  Ethiopian…

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Ecobank Group contributes about US$3 million across Africa to support the fight against COVID-19

In line with its commitment to the continent, various contributions were made to support the efforts of governments, the World Health Organization as well as the private sector Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com), the Pan African Bank, has contributed about US$3 million to the fight against COVID-19 across its footprint in Africa. In line with its commitment to…

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Pan-African Parliament hails Africa’s response to COVID-19

The international health crisis caused by COVID-19 is extraordinarily overwhelming. African countries, as the whole world have mobilized to face and win this unprecedented health war as a collective. Pan-African parliamentarians joined the leaders of the continent in the tireless fight against the devastating pandemic for the society. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) noted and welcomed…

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Demolition of Traders Markets in Mbare – The height of Recklessness and Irresponsibility

By VISET Information and Publicity Department The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) would like to condemn in the strongest of terms the callous decision by the City of Harare to demolish Informal Traders Markets in Mbare, Harare. It would be very irresponsible and reckless for authorities to take advantage of the COVID-19…

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COVID-19: Raha Cooking oil, Temba Mliswa join hands to ameliorate challenges in Norton

As COVID-19 continues its toll on Zimbabwe, Cangrow Trading Company, the manufacturers of Raha Cooking Oil teamed up with Norton legislator Temba Mliswa and donated towards essentials necessary to end the pandemic. Mr. Ankit Jain, the Raha Managing Director, in consultation with Hon. Mliswa used the occasion of Zimbabwe’s 40th independence anniversary to reach out…

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Mitigating COVID-19’s impact on Africa’s food systems

By Atsuko Toda and Martin Fregene The global spread of COVID-19 and the rising number of coronavirus cases in Africa are fueling anxiety about negative economic growth, failing healthcare and collapsing food systems We are facing great uncertainty on the African continent. The global spread of COVID-19 and the rising number of coronavirus cases in…

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Foreign Partners Desert Telecom Firms Due to Inability to meet Payment Obligations in Foreign Currency.

POTRAZ debunks link between COVID-19 and 5G

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has scoffed at theories linking the Fifth Generation cellular mobile technologies (5G) to the spread of COVID-19. In doing so, POTRAZ joins the rest of the world in mourning thousands of lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic and offers its most sincere condolences to families that…

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SADC and UNESCO sign agreement to ensure learning never stops

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) have signed a Joint Statement and Action Plan on ensuring continuity of learning in the context of COVID-19. In a Joint Statement, signed by the Executive Secretary of SADC, Her Excellence Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax and the Regional…

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COVID-19: Isheanesu Investments donates to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals

As part of its corporate social responsibility initiative, Isheanesu Investments has donated to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals to help in the fight against COVID-19. “As Isheanesu Investments, we understand that for our business to thrive, the nation should have a healthy workforce that we supply with corporate wear and protective clothing. “As a result…

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Africa’s 720m youths in clean energy are a game-changer

Climate change and development expert Richard Munang speaks about agriculture, Africa and coronavirus pandemic.  Africa’s youthful population is considered its biggest asset. Is the continent fully utilising this asset? Studies on wealth indicate that a skilled person is 15 times more productive than natural resources. Africa needs to change its mindset and prioritise efforts that selflessly…

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COVID-19: ActionAid implores government to prioritise women’s rights

As COVID-19 continues to take its toll on Zimbabwe, ActionAid has urged the government to put women’s rights at the centre-stage. The organisation acknowledged the actions taken by the government to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic (Coronavirus). However, it said more could have been done to avoid the three confirmed deaths. “The current…

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OnePlus pushes 5G with 8-series

OnePlus highlighted a distribution deal with Verizon as a key win for the 8-series, a freshly-unveiled 5G smartphone range which will spearhead a previously-outlined goal to boost its presence in the next-generation technology. During a launch event for the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, Pete Lau, OnePlus co-founder and CEO, called the arrangement “one of the most…

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Cyberattacks And Vulnerabilities: Digital Resiliency During COVID-19

By Bernard Marr Criminals don’t mind if they kick us when we’re down. And that’s precisely what we’ve seen them do as COVID-19 has altered the way we work and live. Organisations of all sizes, security levels, and missions have been forced to allow employees to work from home to keep business operating on some…

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COVID-19: Importance of building infrastructure at African mass markets

By Charles Dhewa After years of persuading development agencies not to concentrate on the production side but spread their resources along supply chains all the way to the market, eMKambo has finally been vindicated. COVID-19 has provided the Ahaa! moment for policy makers and development agencies on the importance of building infrastructure at African mass markets. If a…

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It’s critical to support WHO: UN Secretary-General

United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has said the World Health Organisation (WHO) requires support now more than ever before in order to respond to COVID-19. The statement comes as US President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday that he had instructed his administration to suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) over its handling of the…

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After COVID-19, what will Africa look like in 2030 and 2063?

By Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka The COVID-19 pandemic, one of the world’s most significant events, has resulted in cessation of economic activities that will lead to a significant decline in GDP, an unprecedented social disruption, and the loss of millions of jobs. According to estimates by the African Development Bank, the contraction of the region’s economies will…

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Africa: COVID-19 pandemic bolsters case for technology-based economic resilience

By Stefan Nalletamby As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact globally, the African continent, while less affected, is preparing to undergo its own severe social and economic crisis. As of April 7, over 10,000 cases have been reported across 52 countries in Africa (less than 1% of cases globally). Yet despite the slow onset, Africa’s…

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COVID 19: A devastating blow for children in poverty

By Anyway Yotamu Whilst the coronavirus (COVID-19) has so far resulted in less severe cases among children, it can decimate their lives in a different way. The ‘physical distancing’ measures increasingly required to contain the virus mean parents are unable to work, as ‘business as usual’ is rapidly grinding to a halt across the world.  Meanwhile,…

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Letter from Locked-Down Harare: Zimbabwe at 40, transfixed at a wonder

By Farai Chirimumimba The world is used to stare in wonder, yes transfixed at the jaw-dropping Zimbabwe’s Majestic Victoria Falls, the storm that thunders. One of the seven wonders of the world. The small land-locked country’s spectacular Zambezi river gorge and beautiful country side scenery has stunned the world and may continue to if one…

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Africanews launched on DStv across the African continent

MultiChoice Africa recently launched an additional DStv channel, Africanews, as a pan-African multilingual news service. Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe said the new channel was allied to the existing, popular Euronews channel and would have a focus on content from across the whole of Africa. “Africanews is the only international…

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Cassava HealthTech launches Maisha Medik digital health platform

Cassava HealthTech has launched the Maisha Medik digital health platform that will be accessible through a mobile application (App) that is set to enhance Zimbabwe’s healthcare delivery sector. Cassava HealthTech, a subsidiary of Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed fintech and digital services giant Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe, operates Maisha Health, MARS and Steward Health. The Maisha Medik digital…

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Ecocash praised for removing transfer fees on COVID-19 relief

Ecocash has been praised for removing processing fees for cash transfers designated as COVID relief so as to enable the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and any other relief organizations to freely give support to vulnerable groups and communities at no extra cost. The CEO of Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe, the holding company of EcoCash, Mr Eddie…

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COVID-19, time for the aviation sector to introspect

… Zimbabwe braces for losses  Leading aviation industry expert Winnie Muchanyuka believes it will take some time for airlines to bounce back from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic but adds the effect on their bottom line—and the economy—will not be cataclysmic. Speaking in an interview on UltimateTourism Chat with Chief Koti the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe…

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COVID-19 and the magic bullet theory

By George Manyaya Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have changed the face of communication worldwide. The fast-changing pace of digital transformation has brought about access to a highly diversified range of technologies and services. Globally, the fixed and mobile telecommunications sector has been growing exponentially over the years, leading scholars to argue that we now live…

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