Harare Wetlands Trust calls for budget on water supply, preservation

By Byron Mutingwende and Anyway Yotamu The Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) has called on government to set aside funds to ensure the provision of clean, safe water for the capital city through the preservation of healthy wetlands. The call comes after finance and economic development minister, Mthuli Ncube delivered his 2020 budget statement on Thursday…

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Afreximbank says Export Risk Guarantee Body Will Boost Egypt’s Role as Intra-African Trade Hub

Egypt’s decision to establish an export risk guarantee company will give a major boost to the country’s role as a critical hub for intra-African trade and allow it to be a key driver in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), said today…

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Francophone African firms need better finance to underpin growth, survey finds

One in three companies in French-speaking Africa struggles financially and faces difficulties growing as a result, according to a new report by the International Trade Centre (ITC). Training and information that help these businesses access finance is the most effective way to support their growth, it says. The report, Promoting SME competitiveness in francophone Africa: Improving…

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Southern Africa’s Top Entrepreneurs Announced in Johannesburg, South Africa

This year’s finalist group and of course, the winners, have built businesses across all sectors offering innovation and exceptional acumen and leadership Southern Africa’s top three entrepreneurs were named at the 22nd Annual EY (https://www.EY.com) World Entrepreneur Awards gala dinner in Johannesburg on Wednesday 13 November 2019. CEO’s, Founders, and leading entrepreneurs attended the Southern Africa…

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Cassava Smartech unveils the EcoFarmer Diaspora Agriculture Finance Plan

Cassava Smartech today launched the EcoFarmer Diaspora Agriculture Finance Plan (DAFP) that is set to allow Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora to remit funds which directly go towards the purchase of farming inputs for their families in Zimbabwe. Cassava Smartech, which already has over 2 000 tractors on the Vaya Tractor platform and has to…

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Zimbabwe heads east for the China International Travel Mart

All is set for Zimbabwe’s participation at the China International Travel Mart (CITM) to be held in Kunming, China from 15 to 17 November 2019 at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The core objective of Zimbabwe’s participation at  the expo is to increase destination awareness and visibility of Brand Zimbabwe in China…

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United States unveils $422, 000 to Zimbabwe’s community-based organisations

By Joyce Mukucha The United States government has provided more than $422 000, a $50 000 increase from last year through its small grants funding to community-based organisations in seven Zimbabwean provinces to support initiatives that promote economic and social development in the country. The U.S. Embassy’s small grants program has been extended to sixteen…

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Sasai exhibits at Africa’s top tech conference

Sasai, the new all-in-one App from Cassava Fintech International (CFI), is exhibiting at AfricaTech, the fintech and digital expo that runs concurrently with AfricaCom, the continent’s largest telco and tech conference held in Cape Town, South Africa, every year.   The conference, which brings together hundreds of telco, fintech and digital technology players, financial services…

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Agricultural transformation critical for sustainable development

By Byron Mutingwende   Agricultural transformation plays an important role in eradicating poverty and hunger, fighting inequality and discrimination as well as tackling climate change to promote peaceful and inclusive societies to achieve sustainable development.   The Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, Mr. Vangelis Haritatos revealed this at the National Dialogue…

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Film ensures Zimbabwe’s rich cultural heritage of storytelling: Shem Zemura

Shem Zemura is an award winning filmmaker who was born and raised in the Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe district of Mahonaland East, who ‘fell in love’ with the arts while in primary school. At Machekera Primary School he performed in plays and was a member of the traditional dance team. While in high school at  Albert, a…

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Africa Investment Forum 2019: Billion dollar boost for African female entrepreneurs

The European Investment Bank (EIB) expects the gender-lending initiative to allow women to play a more active role in economies The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a $1.1 billion lending programme to help women entrepreneurs on the continent. EIB Vice President, Ambroise Fayolle, also revealed that the bank has signed three further agreements to…

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Afreximbank, Thelo DB Sign MoU for Railway Development in Africa

The African-Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) and South Africa-based Thelo DB Proprietary Limited today in Johannesburg, South Africa, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop, finance and operate railway projects in Africa. Under the terms of the MoU, signed on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Investment Forum, Afreximbank and Thelo DB will collaborate to…

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Africa Investment Forum Unpacks Continent’s Investment Opportunities

$500 million equity closed for the Africa Infrastructure Investment Fund to speed up investments in agriculture; Financial close for the Africa Guarantee Fund $175 Equity transaction to support Small and Medium Size Enterprises, and $350 million for South Africa’s beef agro-processing project. The 2019 Africa Investment Forum opened on Monday living up to its promise…

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Merck Foundation Motivates Girls To Pursue Sciences

The program will empower girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com) launches “Educating Linda” program in partnership with the First Lady of Malawi and Ministry of Education of Malawi; he program will empower girls in STEM education. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with The First Lady of…

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Zimbabwe attracts huge global interest at World Travel Market

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Acting Chief Executive, Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, says the country remains an attractive destination, which the travel world cannot do without. Speaking at the recently concluded World Travel Market in London, Chidzidzi said the interest on Zimbabwe was very high from across the globe when they package Africa in general and southern Africa…

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President Emmerson Mnangagwa Commissions multi-million dollar sugarcane project in Chiredzi

By Anyway Yotamu in Chiredzi President Mnangagwa on Saturday commissioned a US$40 million sugarcane project which is expected to create more than 2 000 jobs in the country. In a joint venture between Government, Tongaat Huletts,  and a consortium of local banks, the Project Kilimanjaro will see 4 000 hectares of virgin land being turned…

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African food traders have better techniques than PhD graduates in Economics

By Charles Dhewa Academics like economists rely on authors and literature based on research conducted within a given time frame. Such literature has no room for adjustments as new events and knowledge emerge.  For instance, Keynesians economics was based on theories of John Maynard Keynes whose research revolved around the laws of supply and demand,…

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Afreximbank, Cote d’Ivoire Sign Agreement for Industrial Park Development

The drive for Africa’s industrialisation received a major boost on Friday with the signing of the development agreement for Industrial Park PK 24 in Abidjan by the government of Cote d’Ivoire and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah signed the agreement on behalf of the institution while Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Trade and…

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MARS unveils new ambulance fleet, announces new toll-free short code

The Medical Air Rescue Service (MARS) has unveiled a new fleet of 14 ambulances at an event in Harare, where the emergency medical services company, part of Cassava HealthTech, also announced a new toll-free emergency number. At the stakeholder engagement event that brought together medical aid and insurance organizations and other medical healthcare players, MARS…

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Afreximbank Urges Open Account Terms for Achievement of AfCFTA Intra-African Trade Goals

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has urged the use of open account terms for trade in Africa in order to facilitate the realization of the intra-African trade aspirations of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and to enhance competitiveness. Kanayo Awani, Managing Director of the Intra-African Trade Initiative at Afreximbank, told guests yesterday during…

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NetOne, Charles Manyuchi Sports Academy Donate To Mutoko’s Mother of Peace

By Joyce Mukucha A light of hope has shined on Mother of Peace Children’s Home in Mutoko as one of the state owned mobile telephony network providers, NetOne, in partnership with the Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy donated groceries. The donation which is in line with NetOne’s key pillars of assisting communities has been described as…

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Oil magnate and traditional healer Sekuru Banda tops Zimbabwe Rich List

By Byron Mutingwende   While there are certain household names when it comes to wealth in Zimbabwe, one surprising entry, the famous Sekuru Banda has turned the tables and occupied the uppermost position as the richest but humblest man in the country if not on the continent.   The recently established Trumpet, which works in…

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Africa on course to compete globally in terms of innovation

By Byron Mutingwende   The conference in Zimbabwe on intellectual property (IP), innovation and value addition for business competitiveness and sustainable development is set to put Africa on course to compete globally in terms of innovation.   Officially opening the conference in Harare running from 6 to 8 November 2019 yesterday, Hon Ziyambi Ziyambi, Zimbabwe’s…

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President Mnangagwa to launch US$40 million Sugarcane Project in Chiredzi

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will this Saturday officially launch the US$40 million Kilimanjaro sugar cane project in Chiredzi that will see Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe opening over 3 000 hectares of  land into cane fields. The project has already started and is expected to be completed by mid 2020. The fields will be handed over to Government…

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Zimnat scoops eight Exceptional Marketing awards

Zimnat, a leading player in the insurance and wealth management industry for more than seven decades, won eight awards for marketing excellence at the 2019 Marketers’ Association of Zimbabwe Exceptional Marketing Awards ceremony in Bulawayo.   The awards ceremony is held annually in recognition and celebration of excellence for organisations and individuals who have pushed…

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Senegal Receives US$23.1m From African Risk Capacity Insurance Limited Cheque for Drought Response

The Government of Senegal yesterday received symbolic cheques of US$23.1 (equivalent of FCFA 13.9 Billion) from the leadership of African Risk Capacity Insurance Limited. The cheques, given in two parts of US$12.5million (FCFA7,494,937,500) and US$10.6million (FCFA6,355,707,009) to the Government and StartNetwork assist in providing early action to support the people affected by drought during the…

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NetOne, HIT Ink Research and Development deal

By Joyce Mukucha and Anyway Yotamu The Harare Institute of Technology (HIT) has ventured into a partnership with the Zimbabwe’s state-owned mobile telecommunications firm, NetOne in order to promote game changing innovations through research and development. The partnership will stimulate skills and knowledge transfer, access to facilities, expertise and idea incubation and support for both…

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SADC seeks to increase efficiency of Internet regional traffic

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is seeking to increase efficiency of regional traffic in an effort to address the slow and expensive exchange of African inter-country traffic via overseas hubs. This emerged at the SADC Capacity Building Workshop on Regional Internet Exchange Points (RIXPs) / National Internet Exchange Points (NIXPs) Connectivity and Monitoring and…

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Zimbabwe To Host Intellectual Property Conference

Zimbabwe will host a magnificent Conference on Intellectual Property (IP), Innovation and Value Addition for Business Competitiveness and Sustainable Development in Africa for the first time. This was revealed by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mrs Virginia Mabiza at a press conference held in Harare today. The conference…

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Leading Women Entrepreneurs Across Africa Share Their Insight

Launch of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Insights publication to celebrate woman leaders and entrepreneurs across Africa To mark the 5th anniversary of its high-profile annual conference, the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (http://www.AWIEForum.org), has launched a prestigious publication, AWIEF Insights, celebrating and acknowledging the contribution made by women leaders, businesswomen and entrepreneurs…

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Journalists are safe to pursue their profession within Zimbabwe: Monica Mutsvangwa

The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa has said her ministry shall strive to ensure that journalists are safe to peruse their profession within Zimbabwe since the country has laws that guarantee their safety. This was revealed in a speech read on her behalf, on the occasion of the International Day to…

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