Zimbabwe at 40: Promised Land Remains a Distant Possibility

By Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on Independence Day Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) joins the people of Zimbabwe, within or without her borders in commemorating the 40th anniversary (18 April 2020) of Zimbabwe’s independence. On this important national day; we pay tribute to the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who sacrificed their lives for the…

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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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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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PWDs sue government, ZBC over lack of accessible information on COVID-19

By Kumbirai Mafunda Three organisations representing people who are visually impaired and Deaf have sued the government and the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) demanding to be provided with information on coronavirus in a format that is accessible to them. Development, Deaf Zimbabwe Trust and Zimbabwe National League Of TheBlind argued that the rights of…

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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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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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Among the most vulnerable to coronavirus: The tens of millions who carry HIV and tuberculosis

By Max Bearak and Joanna Slater NAIROBI — The novel coronavirus is racing toward a collision with two longer-running pandemics, as waves of HIV and tuberculosis infections have left tens of millions of people in the developing world particularly vulnerable to the new threat. The regions hit hardest by HIV and tuberculosis are in Africa and South Asia, where the coronavirus is…

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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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The Stephen J Chifunyise International Theatre Festival ends in triumph

The Rooftop Promotions organized; Stephen J Chifunyise International Theatre Festival has come to an end with great successes. The festival which ran from 4 to 10 April 2020 went digital and it was streamed on digital platforms; YouTube and Facebook due to the lockdown necessitated by the spread of the global COVID-19 pandemic (Coronavirus). Despite…

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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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AfDB approves $10 million equity in Razorite Healthcare Fund for Africa

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $10-million equity investment in Razorite Healthcare Africa Fund 1 (RHAF1) to help improve healthcare infrastructure delivery across the continent. The 10-year deal, approved on 26 February, will resource the Fund to address growing demands for affordable and quality healthcare services in several…

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ZANU (PF) Women’s league joins fight against COVID-19

ZANU (PF) Secretary for Women’s Affairs who is also Senate President Mabel Memory Chinomona has applauded efforts being made by  President Emmerson Mnangagwa, all Government departments, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), churches, traditional leaders and the generality of Zimbabweans in their responsiveness and pro-activeness to the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “The disease has been declared…

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Citizens fail to maintain social distancing

By Habakkuk Trust Social distancing measures have been disregarded in most supermarkets as starving citizens queue for basic commodities. While some shops have instituted preventative measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including sanitizing hands, reducing the number of people inside the shop at a given time and checking temperature for every customer at the…

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Education system overburdened by humanitarian crises including coronavirus pandemic: ECOZI

The Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI) has noted that the education system in Zimbabwe was already stretched before the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of multiple crises, the impact of Cyclone Idai last year, the economic crisis and hyperinflation and the ongoing drought, low teacher motivation, and incapacitation, among others. The education sector hosts the…

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Government intensifies measures to combat COVID-19

The government has intensified measure to combat COVID-19. This emerged as Cabinet considered and approved a report on the country’s preparedness and response to the Corona Virus Outbreak (COVID-19), which was presented by Honourable Vice President Mohadi, as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Task Force on the COVID-19 Outbreak. Cabinet commended the general public for positively…

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VAYA provides critical transport relief during the lockdown

The outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has forced many countries, including Zimbabwe, to impose 21 to 30-day restrictive lockdown periods – some even longer, where the epidemic has been more widespread. The lockdowns are designed to protect citizens from the spread of the deadly and infectious disease by restricting contact among people.   In Zimbabwe, the…

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ARC To Launch Outbreaks And Epidemics Insurance Product

By Joyce Mukucha In a bid to strengthen the ability of African Union Member States to respond to in-country outbreaks and epidemics, reducing pathogens potential spread within and across national borders through better risk analysis, country preparedness, and improved planning and response, the African Risk Capacity (ARC) is preparing to launch an Outbreaks and Epidemics…

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Winner of Old Mutual Amazing Voices Competition Announced

Elated Kenyan RnB group scoops $100 000 prize   Wanavokali, a mega-talented RnB group from Kenya, took the top spot and won the grand prize of US$100 000 in the first season of the pan-African music competition, Old Mutual Amazing Voices.   The competition is designed to discover unsigned singing talent from across the African continent –…

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Strategies for cushioning African informal economies against COVID-19

By Charles Dhewa Cushioning informal traders and vendors against the impact of COVID-19 is a very noble idea in developing countries. However, the devil is in the implementation details. For instance, African informal economies function more like ecosystems than a collection of disconnected traders and vendors. That is why before introducing social cash grants, the…

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Appeal for COVID-19 Food and Hygiene Packs for Hwange rural community

By Greenline Africa Trust Access to food and water is an everyday reality for many vulnerable communities around the world.  Greenline Africa cannot change the world, but we can help make a difference in the communities we work within Hwange Rural, 25-50km outside the town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. 98% of rural communities in the areas we…

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Temba Mliswa organised COVID-19 taskforce receives donations to fight pandemic in Norton

Member of the National Assembly for Norton, Temba Mliswa set up a constituency taskforce to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and on Saturday pooled donations from the stakeholders led by tile manufacturer Sunny Yi Feng Tiles Zimbabwe.   “What we have done is to complement the government’s effort in ensuring that we combat COVID-19 together….

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