Stakeholders Skeptic Over Government’s Call for a National Wetlands Masterplan

By Tatenda Mujeyi Stakeholders are skeptical following the government’s proposed Wetlands Masterplan citing complacency, technical applicabilities, omniscient government’s role, and funding shortcomings amongst other challenges. The call by the government to establish a national wetland masterplan as announced in Cabinet this week has been labelled deceitful as key stakeholders have not been incorporated despite their…

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The State v Shangaan Land Dispute in Chiredzi

Bill Watch By Veritas Statutory Instruments under Communal Land Act: Effect on Shangaan Land Rights in Chiredzi District Nearly a year ago the Government announced its plans for large-scale commercial lucerne production a substantial area of Communal Land in the Chiredzi District.  The announcement caused great disquiet among the predominantly Shangaan communities occupying the area…

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Government’s Decision to Evict Shangaan Families in Chiredzi Condemned

The Green Governance Zimbabwe Trust in conjunction with the Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence, Institute for Community Development in Zimbabwe, Masvingo Centre for Research, Advocacy and Community Development, Matebeleland Institute for Human Rights, Heal Zimbabwe Trust, and Advocates4Earth have joined hands to condemn the impending evictions of the Shangaan families in Chiredzi District….

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IOM Offers Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services for Returning Migrants

Fadzai (Penny) Nyamande-Pangeti (IOM Zimbabwe Communications Specialist)   Background COVID-19 has caused unprecedented economic and social disruption the world over and Zimbabwe is no exception. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and partners have assisted the government through multi-sectoral initiatives with a focus on strengthening core capacities for public health measures at Points of Entry…

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Government undertakes to introspect, regularise dysfunctional settlements

By Tatenda Mujeyi Cabinet through the Chairperson of the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Committee, Vice President C. G Chiwenga is introspecting irregular and dysfunctional settlements. “Cabinet received an update on the identification and quantification of irregular and dysfunctional settlements including in flood-prone areas which were presented by Hon. Vice President Chiwenga as Chairman of…

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Regional Climate Weeks Expected to Build Momentum of the Paris Climate Change Agreement Implementation

By Joyce Mukucha The UN Climate Change Secretariat recently announced Regional Climate Weeks in 2021 and 2022, key meetings that will help build regional momentum for the annual UN Climate Change Conferences and drive forward regional implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Regional Climate Weeks are open to all stakeholders as a ‘go-to’ hub…

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UN Secretary General Calls upon Stakeholders to Conserve Forest Species

By Joyce Mukucha The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged governments, businesses, and people everywhere to work tirelessly in scaling up efforts to create awareness about flora and fauna as well as conserving so as to contribute to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He communicated this in his message on World Wildlife Day…

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About 2,5 billion People to Experience Hearing Challenge by 2050: WHO

By Joyce Mukucha As the world commemorated the World Hearing Day on March 3 that ran under the theme “Hearing Care for ALL! Screen, Rehabilitate, Communicate”, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in its first World Report on Hearing, released Tuesday warned that approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide or 1 in 4 people will be living…

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IOM, Embassy of Sweden strengthen COVID-19 IPC, WASH in Beitbridge

BEITBRIDGE– With the Embassy of Sweden’s support, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) supported the Municipality of Beitbridge and the Department of Immigration at Beitbridge border post in strengthening COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and temporary water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities. The Municipality was provided with 150 street bins and assisted with the…

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Continue wearing face masks after getting COVID-19 vaccines: Prof Elopy Sibanda

By Desire Tshuma Professor Elopy Sibanda who owns GAMMA medical laboratories has urged people to continue observing World Health Organisation (WHO) regulations including the wearing of face masks even after getting the vaccine. Zimbabwe received the first batch of 200 000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from China a fortnight ago. Other vaccines are expected to arrive…

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Abigale Mupambi shines a spotlight on CSO activities in Zimbabwe

The civil society is an important, indispensable part of a democratic society, Abigale Mupambi, the National Coordinator of the Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum has said. Below, Spiked Online Media reproduces an interview that the maverick civil society activist had with one Comrade Netanyahu and Barbra Nyagomo as she gave the nation an insight…

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Spotlight Initiative in Zimbabwe launches ‘#NoWay’ Campaign to end violence

Yesterday the United Nations in Zimbabwe launched a social and outdoor media campaign dubbed “#NoWay! End violence against women and girls”. The campaign, which will run throughout the month of March, aims to highlight the Spotlight Initiative to eliminate violence against women and girls and facilitate public discourse for action through visual and digital messages….

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Ending Discrimination Critical to Attaining SDGs: UN Agencies

Joyce Mukucha As the United Nations (UN) agencies, Member States and other intentional institutions join the rest of the global community in observing and celebrating Zero Discrimination Day yesterday where they have called upon everyone to create global solidarity to end all forms of discrimination and reduce inequalities so as to attain Sustainable Development Goals…

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COVID-19 : Government Implementing Measures To Curb GBV

By Joyce Mukucha As the nation is grappling with Covid-19, the government is implementing strategies in fighting against gender-based violence (GBV) which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. In an interview, the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Sitembiso Nyoni said gender awareness is not only about pleasing women but a human right that…

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Covid-19 Leaves Women On the Periphery of Economic Activities

By Joyce Mukucha Zimbabwean women running their own projects and businesses have bemoaned the negative impacts which have been brought by the COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns. Voicing their concerns, business women said just like any other economic and social sectors, the pandemic has fuelled the already existing challenges they were facing due to economic…

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Ebola: Red Cross intensifies response amidst fears of regional spread

Red Cross volunteers and staff Guinea, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone have stepped up surveillance and community sensitization efforts. To support these live saving activities, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an international emergency appeal for 8.5 million Swiss francs. Mohammed Mukhier, the IFRC’s Regional Director…

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Blame game won’t win the fight against drug abuse: Linda Masarira

By Joyce Mukucha The Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) president, Linda Masarira has urged members of different communities to desist from laying the blame on children and youngsters but instead encouraged them to join hands in the fight against the vice. This comes after Masarira was asked about how she has managed her own…

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Communicate Developments on Wetlands Remapping: EMA urged

Following the delay by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to formally announce progress on a new national policy to protect wetlands and ecosystems, the Manyame Conversation Trust – a conservational mouthpiece that advocates the preservation of water sources, said it supports the Government’s new policy on wetlands but at the same time is worried about…

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WFP, SDC strengthens community skills in Zimbabwe’s urban centres

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes an additional US$7 million in new funding from Switzerland, through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which will go directly towards assisting families living in Zimbabwe’s urban areas to strengthen their skills and ability to cope in the face of economic and climate shocks. SDC’s support…

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Safeguard’s roller shutter doors keep buildings secure

With a general increase in crime, property owners are looking for affordable but secure ways of protecting their properties. Safeguard Security’s engineering division now has a complete range of tried and tested barriers that are secure, aesthetically pleasing and affordable. Its range of roller shutter doors, which can be chain operated, gearbox operated or automated,…

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COVID-19: Southern Africa faces food insecurity, calls for solidarity gain momentum

The SADC Regional Vulnerability Committee Chair, António Pacheco Dias Lima on 22 February 2021 called on member states, to find ways to share success stories, opportunities, and progress captured in the national Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis to inform food security interventions as the region battles COVID-19 and record high levels of food insecurity Dias Lima…

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New Maisha Health product enables patients to consult doctors remotely

Maisha Health, Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s health insurance unit, has rolled out a digital platform that allows patients to consult doctors remotely. The Maisha Telemedicine platform will collect a patient’s vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature, and connect the patient with a doctor through a video call. Cassava Smartech said the listed technology giant…

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Include Us in Climate Change Mitigation Programmes: Youths in Rural Areas

By Joyce Mukucha Climate change has become one of the most pressing global issues worldwide today with various countries including Zimbabwe making concerted efforts on stipulating their own environmental laws in order to minimize the effects of the global phenomenon. As Zimbabwe is making huge strides through government, environmental organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Church-Based Organisations…

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Nenyasha Trust Extending Motherly Love to Psychiatric Patients

By Joyce Mukucha Motivated by the desire to change and enhance the lives of psychiatric people and their families to meet their basic needs and medication across the world, Nenyasha Trust, a non-profit making organisation, is extending support through donations to mentally challenged people. This comes after realising difficulties being faced by psychiatric patients’ families…

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Foster multilingualism and promote the various mother languages: ZLHR

By Kumbirai Mafunda On International Mother Language Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) called upon policymakers, local and central government to take strategic steps to foster multilingualism and promote the various mother languages in Zimbabwe in order to enhance inclusion in education and broader society. International Mother Language Day is commemorated every year on…

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Take advantage of the land reform: CSCJF urges youths

On the commemoration of the National Youth Day, the Civic Society and Churches Joint Forum (CSCJF) is urging the youths to take advantage of the land reform and grab the opportunity to venture into the idle opportunities presented in the agricultural sector. “The agricultural sector is the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy. In that regard,…

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Government to avail youths with opportunities for development: Minister Kirsty Coventry

By Joyce Mukucha In celebrating the National Youth Day (NYD), the Government of Zimbabwe has promised to provide young people with vast opportunities to participate in national socio-economic development. In a statement, the Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts, and Recreation Dr. Kirsty Coventry said Government understands the needs of young people and on this day,…

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How Could Digital Tools Help Fight Against Anti-Vaccination?

Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD Anti-vaccination (anti-vax) movements lure increasingly more people into skipping potentially life-saving immunisation against infectious diseases, such as measles, mumps, or rubella; highly impairing herd immunity for entire communities. You might have encountered such sentiments on social media, but people living a century before also experienced similar resistance to vaccines during the…

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Government launches the construction of Cyclone Idai Transitional Shelters in Chimanimani and Chipinge

Under the project, Enhancing Multi-Sectoral Assistance to Cyclone Idai Affected Populations in Zimbabwe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting the Government of Zimbabwe with the provision of transitional shelters to 674 households affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. Among households receiving transitional shelter, assistance is 224 from three formal camps…

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Government capacitates agricultural extension officers

By Joyce Mukucha In the quest to improve agricultural productivity, the government is in the process of disbursing motorcycles and mobile tablets to the extension officers. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr John Basera told the media that the provision of extension services will play a crucial role in terms of transforming…

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Zimbabweans endure cruel treatment in the diaspora, establish protective movement

Zimbabweans are working on establishing a movement to defend abused countrymen working and residing in the diaspora. The proposal to set up a movement is informed by the need to protect Zimbabweans against their ill-treatment as foreigners in the diaspora. This came out clear on the Africa 54 hot seat platform where one of the…

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UN Women Bemoans Covid-19 Impacts on Women and Girls

By Joyce Mukucha Bemoaning the negative effects posed by the Covid-19 pandemic on women and girls, the United Nations (UN) Women said it was of paramount importance to build back green, equitable, gender-responsive, and inclusive approaches and activism. In her opening remarks at the UN Women Executive Board First Regular Session 2021, yesterday, the Under-Secretary-General…

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Residents to Pay Hefty Penalty for Damaging ZETDC Infrastructure

By Joyce Mukucha The Office of the Provincial Development Coordinator for Harare Metropolitan Province in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) has noted with concern the recent unwarranted power outages being caused by overgrown trees and illegal settlements. Following this, residents have been urged to trim trees and remove building structures that…

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ZIMBABWE: Health care system exhausted by most recent COVID-19 wave

By Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Following a recent spike in COVID-19-related cases and deaths, Zimbabwe’s already struggling health system is buckling under the pressure. In several facilities, health workers are operating without adequate PPE, medication, equipment and oxygen and, with an existing and ongoing shortage of nurses and doctors, most health centres are unable to operate at…

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Rural women fighting inequalities by embarking on empowerment projects

By Joyce Mukucha In spite of the evolving world with some women beginning to experience equality in different circles of life, in other parts of societies around the globe, other women are still deprived of the privilege of equal participation particularly on the African continent and rural Zimbabwe is not being spared. Many of the…

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Radio remains a conduit for critical information dissemination: ZACRAS

The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) has reiterated the important role played by the radio as a critical conduit for information dissemination on various issues including the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement comes as the World celebrates the 10th edition of World Radio Day today, with the Government of Zimbabwe having recently licensed the…

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Canon’s Miraisha Programme Enables Young African Story Tellers to Achieve Their Dreams

Students from the Mathare community in Kenya are set to receive a film or photography scholarship from Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) [www.Canon-CNA.com] as part of a social media campaign raising awareness to the importance of skills development among young people. The project is part of Canon’s Miraisha Programme, an initiative focused on delivering…

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FAO Commemorates World Pulses Day

By Joyce Mukucha The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Liaison Office with the United Nations (UN) in New York in collaboration with Emerging Ag Inc, governments, non-governmental organizations, and all other relevant stakeholders yesterday held a virtual event to celebrate World Pulses Day. The event which was aimed at raising awareness and recognising the contribution…

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Build Privacy focused Consumer Applications: @protocol Appathon urges young Zimbabweans

US-based The @ Company (The At Company) is bringing the @protocol Appathon II to Zimbabwe, targeting young developers and technology enthusiasts. The challenge: to build innovative consumer applications on @protocol, an open, permission-based protocol that makes great user experience and automatic privacy compliance easy. This initiative, being run in association with the Computer Association of…

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COVID-19 relief: Sekuru Banda opens businesses for Kapfupi and other musicians

Famous traditional healer, Sekuru Banda has come to the rescue of comedian Kapfupi and other musicians struggling under the COVID-19-induced hardships by opening grocery shops and starting income generating projects for them. The initiative is part of Sekuru Banda’s extension of an olive branch to musicians who have gone for more than a year without…

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