Education should cater for special needs of children with disabilities

By Byron Mutingwende   Children with disabilities have special needs that should be addressed for them to access education without hindrances or barriers. Speaking during a Worldwide Campaign for Education for Children with Disabilities held under the banner “Ring the Bell”, Faith Sithole, the Head of St. Giles Special School in Harare said that all…

Read More

Shocking corruption at TIZ: A personal experience

By Byron Mutingwende   Corruption at Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) reads like a script from a Hollywood movie yet that organisation is expected to promote accountability and good governance. There had been numerous reports of graft at that institution but no one ever had the opportunity to fully understand the goings on until I personally…

Read More

CiZC condemn resurgence of xenophobia in SA

By Byron Mutingwende   The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has condemned in the strongest terms, escalating cases of violent attacks targeted at foreign nationals living in South Africa.   In Pretoria and Johannesburg, a number of foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, have suffered physical and psychological harm. CiZC said that xenophobia defeats the spirit and…

Read More

Social accountability, transparency crucial in public finance management

By Byron Mutingwende   The empowerment of women is critical for development hence the need to promote social accountability and transparency in public finance management.   The sentiment came to the fore during a media engagement exercise organised by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), meant to connect journalists with the communities and…

Read More

A vibrant health system keeps the doctor away

By Byron Mutingwende   A vibrant health system characterised by proper nutrition, antenatal care and vaccination will decongest hospitals and stimulate economic growth, it has been established.   David Okello, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Director for Zimbabwe made the remarks on the launch of the National Health Strategy held at Murewa District Hospital…

Read More

Calls for legislating gender budgeting gather traction

By Byron Mutingwende   Women have described efforts towards the establishment of a gender sensitive fiscal policy measures espoused in the 2017 National Budget as piecemeal and have called a mechanism to legislate gender budgeting.   Speaking at a dialogue meeting organised with stakeholders to discuss the extent to which government has embraced gender-responsive budgeting…

Read More

New ZLHR headquarters welcomed by human rights defenders

By Byron Mutingwende   Scores of people, particularly human rights activists, have welcomed the opening of the new headquarters of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) offices.   Promise Mkwananzi, the Spokesperson of Tajamuka – a protest movement calling for transparency and accountability from the leaders of the country and the resignation of President…

Read More

Corruption rampant within the informal sector

By Byron Mutingwende   Corruption remains high in the informal sector despite spirited efforts by Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) to address the vice. Cross-border traders said on Friday 2 December 2016 that there is rampant corruption at the borders, especially following the enactment of the Statutory Instrument (SI) 64 of 2016. One cross border asked…

Read More

Church leaders condemn child marriage

By Byron Mutingwende Members of the clergy who represent inter-denominational leaders from churches in Zimbabwe have condemned child marriage. The religious leaders revealed that when they converged at Holiday Inn Hotel in Harare on 28 November 2016 for the Inter-denominational Dialogue on Child Marriages in Zimbabwe, facilitated by Plan International Zimbabwe. “As church leaders, we…

Read More

Parliamentarians play crucial role in curbing corruption

By Byron Mutingwende   Parliamentarians play a crucial role in curbing corruption through creating legislation that enhances access to justice and fair distribution of resources. The Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC), a unit of Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) led by its Team Leader, Danai Mabuto engaged the Parliamentarians at a half day training workshop…

Read More

Environment protection project improves livelihoods in Runde Catchment area

By Byron Mutingwende   The Integrated Soil-Water Conservation and Livestock Management in the Runde Catchment area has been hailed for improving the livelihoods of the people.   The environmental protection and monitoring project resulted in the improvement of the livelihoods of the population in 97 wards of Mwenezi, Chivi, Masvingo, Zaka and Bikita districts.  …

Read More

Multi-stakeholder collaboration addressing severe effects of drought

By Byron Mutingwende   The coordinated multi-stakeholder response to the severe effects of drought has gone a long way in reducing the vulnerability of both rural and urban dwellers grappling with food shortages and challenges of malnutrition.   The El Nino – induced drought has led to a serious surge in food insecurity and hunger…

Read More

Government must urgently address health issues to meet SDGs

By Byron Mutingwende   Health is a basic fundamental human right recognised under the global development agenda as one of the crucial priorities that governments must address.   Speaking at a meeting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), John Ngirazi, the Executive Chairperson of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH)said that the health sector…

Read More

Sustainable development espouses inclusivity: An SDGs perspective

By Byron Mutingwende   Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs it has emerged.   “Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for the people and the planet. For sustainable development to…

Read More

Child marriage amongst impediments to economic growth: UNFPA

By Byron Mutingwende   Forced marriage, child labour, female genital mutilation and other practices undermining girls’ health and rights threaten the world’s ambitious development agenda, warns the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in The State of World Population 2016, released recently.   According to UNFPA Zimbabwe, in the country, child marriage is rife with one…

Read More

Government involvement in REDD+ music to the ears

By Byron Mutingwende The involvement of the government in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD+) will complement efforts by the private sector players and non-governmental organisations in bringing tangible benefits to communities. Speaking at a meeting to assess the potential impact of government involvement in REDD+ in Harare yesterday, Chief…

Read More

By Byron Mutingwende Zimbabwean civil society organisations (CSOs) have called for transparency and accountability in public finance management. This emerged at a workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) at its Harare office meant to empower citizens to demand and influence transparent and accountable public finance management in Zimbabwe. The officials…

Read More

Government appointments should be transparent: TIZ

The appointment of Simba Chikore as the Chief Operations Officer at Air Zimbabwe has brought to the fore the need for transparency when recruiting for the government or state-owned enterprises, Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has said. Air Zimbabwe used to be a public entity in which the State had total control but due to economic hardships,…

Read More

The Kilimanjaro Initiative: Women claim right to land, natural resources

By Byron Mutingwende Zimbabwean women have embraced the Kilimanjaro initiative which aims to enhance the recognition of rural women as leaders and agents of change in society and create space for them to be able to participate in decision making processes about land and natural resources. The Kilimanjaro Initiative is a rural women’s mobilisation from…

Read More

TIZ trains communities on conserving natural resources through REDD+

By Byron Mutingwende Forests play a pivotal role in the lives of both plants and animals, experts told members of the community in the three of the 11 wards in Mbire District in which Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) is providing awareness training on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forestry Degradation (REDD+) programme. TIZ, through its…

Read More

Chinese- Zimbabwe bigwigs siphoning diamonds from Marange

By Problem Masau Helicopters hover every day above Marange diamond’s fields. Chinese nationals together with uniformed soldiers disembark and collect the precious mineral under a closely guarded security detail. After a while, the helicopter disappears into the sky and only God knows where the diamonds are taken. Evidently proceeds of the minerals are not benefiting…

Read More

Innovation Baraza Fair on this Friday

Nearly forty (40) innovative ideas beat out hundreds of competitors, across sectors, to be represented at the Innovation Baraza Fair to be held on Friday July 10th at the Baraza Pavilion in Tynwald, Harare. Organizers announced last week that the successful ideas include innovations in the agriculture, finance, health, resource management, infrastructure, community, retail, and…

Read More