Zimbabwe still hasn’t adopted UN Convention Against Torture: Why the delay?

By Veritas Introduction 26th June was  the International Day in Support of Torture Victims Yet another 26th June has come and gone without Zimbabwe having adopted the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [CAT].   Previous Government undertakings and assurances given to the UN Human Rights Committee and…

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Youths Amplify Fight for Government’s Attention

Founding President of Youth Voice Mass Movement and the Young People’s Program Zimbabwe Youth Association, Tinashe Nyagunzu has said youths remain unperturbed in their efforts to be engaged in the governance of affairs and fight against anything that is hindering the country’s progress. Addressing a press briefing, Nyagunzu lamented the lack of peace of mind…

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Informal Economy Matters: An Alliance of Workers in the Informal Economy

Associations representing workers in the informal economy throughout Zimbabwe have formed an alliance under the theme “The Informal Economy Matters”. The associations under the alliance are the Bulawayo Vendors’ and Traders’ Association (BVTA); Vendors’ Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET); Women Alliance of Business Associations of Zimbabwe (WABAZ); Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA);…

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A new digital solution to waste collection sweeps across town

In recent weeks a new Econet business has “swept” the city of Harare — quite literally. Clean City is a digital platform used by private waste collection companies to collect rubbish bins from homes. It uses a franchise business model and is simply providing a digital platform that links companies that collect waste with private…

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Africa pledges to deliver Blue Economy at Africa Blue Economy Forum (ABEF) 2019

International and Pan-African organisations agree to collaborate on initiatives following successful ABEF2019 The prospect of a fully sustainable Blue Economy for Africa gathered significant momentum following the second Africa Blue Economy Forum (ABEF2019) (www.ABEF2019.com) held in Tunis on 25-26 June. Fishing, aquaculture, shipping, ports, energy and finance industries all came under the spotlight at ABEF2019,…

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Tourists won’t be affected by currency law SI 142 of 2019: ZTA

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has assured all visitors to Zimbabwe that the recently promulgated Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Legal Tender) Regulations, 2019 will not negatively affect the travelling public, specifically foreign visitors. The organisation said the regulations are meant for any transactions carried out within Zimbabwe, where it is now…

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Ecofarmer: Technology playing a powerful role in empowering women

Econet’s innovation, Ecofarmer, a mobile-based insurance services programme epitomises the important role that technology can play in achieving gender equality. Ecofarmer is a mobile technology solution, which delivers weather-based insurance, real-time, location-based weather information and farming tips via cellphone, that is helping producers to combat the effects of climate change. Statistics show that Zimbabwe is…

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Socioeconomic Implications of the Monetary Policy Measures – Statutory Instrument (SI) 142/2019

By ZIMCODD On 24 June 2019, the government abolished the 10-year-old multi-currency regime in the country making the Zimbabwe dollar the sole legal tender. The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) bemoans the apparent policy inconsistency and premature knee jerk reaction. The need for a local sovereign currency is not disputed, however the government…

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Government, European Union, UN launch Spotlight Initiative to end violence against women, girls

The Government of Zimbabwe, the European Union and the United Nations today launched a multi-year Spotlight Initiative to assist women and girls realise their full potential in a violence-free, gender-responsive and inclusive Zimbabwe. Delivering a keynote at the launch, President Mnangagwa in a statement read on his behalf by Hon. Minister Prof. A Murwira said,…

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Zimnat and Sanlam continue to assist cyclone victims

Zimnat, together with Sanlam, with which Zimnat is associated, last week donated roofing materials to yet another Chimanimani school affected by Cyclone Idai, Muchadziya Primary School in Ngorima. This follows a similar donation to Gatsi Primary School in Tamba village in Mutasa District barely a week earlier. The cyclone lifted the roof off a classroom…

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AfDB approves USD 24.7 million for Water and Sanitation Development in South Sudan

The Strategic Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Project will support the rehabilitation of approximately 50km of the Juba town distribution network and related works The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) on June 20, 2019, approved a proposal to commit $24.7 million to finance the South Sudan Strategic Water Supply and Sanitation…

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New features and unparalleled line-up to drive programme for Africa Oil Week 2019

Over 1500 delegates, including a record-breaking number of 16+ government ministers will attend the event in Cape Town As the leading event for Africa’s upstream, Africa Oil Week (Africa-OilWeek.com) is committed to staying at the cutting-edge of developments in oil and gas. Over 1500 delegates, including a record-breaking number of 16+ government ministers will attend…

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Gendered Corruption Mostly Affecting Women: TIZ

By Tatenda Mujeyi Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) is engaging in a research on the implications of corruption from a gender perspective. This emerged at a breakfast meeting the organization held today in Harare. The gendered challenges of corruption are argued to be affecting mainly women as the patriarchal nature of Zimbabwean society guaranteed male participation…

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Afreximbank Introduces Tunisia-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Central Bank of Tunisia have signed an agreement for a $500-million Tunisia-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme which will be used for providing financing aimed at promoting and expanding trade and investments between Tunisia and the rest of Africa. Under the terms of the agreement sign in Moscow on 22 June, Afreximbank will…

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AfDB welcomes EUR40 million energy investment from the European Commission

The announcement was made to energy sector stakeholders at a sideline event held during the Africa Energy Forum, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) announced a EUR 40 million investment from the European Commission for the Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI), a new platform for financing small-scale renewables in Africa. The…

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Pregnant girls should be allowed to re-enter school: Katswe Sistahood

By Tatenda Mujeyi Non Governmental Organisations led by Katswe Sistahood, at their Harare office, have lobbied for the institution of an education policy that considers re-entry of impregnated students to school. The NGOs argue that education is a human right that is guaranteed by the constitution and sustainable development goals that should be guaranteed. “Recognising…

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Zimbabwe Makes Better Strides In Up-Lifting Nutrition Management

By Nevson Mpofu Zimbabwe has been encouraged and pushed forward to increase its National Budget on Nutrition from 0, 45% to 3%. An Expert in Nutrition Kudakwashe Zombe of Zimbabwe Civil Organisations Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA) speaking in Harare highlighted the need to consider Nutrition Health as the only way-forward to eradicate or…

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How consumers use their buying patterns to signal priorities

By Charles Dhewa As buying patterns signify ordinary people’s priorities, developing countries should invest more in finding pockets of opportunity from micro-markets than pursuing mega deals. In most African countries, much of the overlooked growth is within open food markets from which the majority get food and income. An outside observer may see open markets…

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Africa Oil & Power to Honour Senegal President as “Africa Oil Man of the Year”

The President will be presented the award during the conference, during which he will also present the keynote address Africa Oil & Power (https://AfricaOilandPower.com) will present the award to H.E. Macky Sall at its annual conference in Cape Town; H.E. Macky Sall is renowned for his efforts to revive Senegal’s economy and create an attractive…

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Afreximbank Approves $69 million Dividend Pay-out as Annual Meetings Conclude in Moscow

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) will pay a total of $69 million to its shareholders as dividend from its 2018 earnings, according to decisions reached during the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) of the Bank which ended in Moscow yesterday. The shareholders also appointed one new member to its Board of Directors and decided…

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Afreximbank Donates $1.5 Million to Support Tropical Cyclone Idai Relief Efforts

Africa’s Output Grew by 3.4% in 2018, Afreximbank’s Africa Trade Report 2019 Shows

Africa’s output grew by 3.4 per cent between 2017 and 2018 despite the slowdown in global growth during that period, a new report by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has shown.   The African Trade Report 2019: African Trade in a Digital World, launched today in Moscow during the 26th Afreximbank Annual Meetings, states that Africa’s total merchandise trade in 2018 had…

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Positive step taken: Misheck Gondo told on launch of ‘The Terrible Heatbreak’

By Byron Mutingwende   Eminent Zimbabweans have heaped praises on human rights defender and peace advocate Misheck Gondo on the launch of his inaugural novel, “The Terrible Heat-break” at a colourful event in Harare on Thursday.   Prominent businessman and President of FreeZim Congress party, Joseph Makamba Busha, who was Guest of Honour at Gondo’s…

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AfDB, MFW4A and German Cooperation Host International Workshop on Africa’s Trade Finance Market

The workshop, themed: “The Consolidation of International Correspondent Banking Relationships in Africa,” was attended by representatives of the main correspondent banks operating in Africa he African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A) (www.MFW4A.org) and the German Cooperation (BMZ/GIZ) held a two-day international workshop in Frankfurt, Germany, to improve participants’ understanding of trade…

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Zimnat and Sanlam bring relief to Cyclone Idai affected school

Zimnat, in association with Sanlam, has donated roofing materials worth more than RTGS $60 000 to Gatsi Primary School in Chimanimani, which was left reeling with an accommodation crisis after Cyclone Idai swept through the area. Zimnat donated 60 roofing sheets, 320 units of roofing timber and 30kg of roofing nails to repair the roof of teaching…

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New version of Market Access Map provides boost to transparency in trade

The International Trade Centre (ITC) today unveiled a new version of Market Access Map, its popular online trade analysis tool. The revamped portal will further enhance market transparency and facilitate the analysis of trade-related policy issues. Market Access Map responds to users’ specific needs depending on their profile and will continue to provide free and user-friendly access to…

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Pan-African Parliament joins global parliamentary consultations on topical issues

26th annual Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy begins its work in Tbilisi The Pan-African African Parliament (PAP) is among international Parliamentary organisations invited to take part in the 26th Inter-parliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (I.A.O) currently underway in Tbilisi, Georgia. The Assembly is being held from 19 to 23 June 2019 under the theme: “The contribution of…

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ACFTA Conference ends with multiple recommendations

By Tatenda Mujeyi The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) conference held in Harare ended yesterday with multiple recommendations that Zimbabwe can employ to better the free trade process. Recommendations that the conference made on the Free Trade agreement include capacity building, effective communication, transparency, information flow, renewable energy promotion, improvements on macro-economic environment and…

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Thembi Moyo elected president of regional railway body

Beitbridge-Bulawayo Railway chief executive Thembi Moyo was yesterday (Wednesday) elected president of the Southern African Railways Association at the first SARA board meeting of 2019. Namibian railway TransNamib chief executive Johny Smith was elected vice-president. Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza, in a speech read on his behalf by his human resources director,…

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Challenges in chrome industry: miners

By Tatenda Mujeyi Chrome miners convened at a consultative workshop organised by the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe (MMCZ) have aired out the challenges they experience within the industry. This emerged at workshop held in Harare yesterday.The event was commended as a positive step in the coordination of chrome mining considering government’s efforts to implement…

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Econet Wireless, Vaya extends over RTGS$400 000 to Zimbabwe Gems

The Zimbabwe Gems’s quest  to represent the country at the Netball World Cup got a whopping sum of over RTGS$400 000 shot-in-the-arm from Econet Wireless, the biggest mobile network operator and VAYA, an app-based ride hailing service. The Zimbabwe Gems who are ranked 13th in the world sent an SOS for sponsorship and Econet Wireless heard…

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Evangelista Chekera’s Greening Chick Brooding Innovation Impacting Africa

By Byron Mutingwende   Spiked Online Media’s Byron Mutingwende (BM) caught up with Evangelista Chekera (EC), a young entrepreneur whose chick brooding innovation has won her local and continental awards. Below are the excerpts of the interview:   BM: Who is Evangelista Chekera?   EC: I am the first born in a family of two…

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Tourism: A Global Force For Growth And Development

UNWTO Executive Council meets in Baku The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has met in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 110th Session of its Executive Council (16-18 June). At the meeting, Member States endorsed the Organization’s progress and future plans, as outlined Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, and warmly welcomed the participation of the United States as it explores…

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Insurer brings mobile agricultural technology to the field

The AgriShow held at Borrowdale Racecourse from Thursday last week until Saturday was an eye opener for those who attended it for the first time, with an impressive exhibition of agricultural equipment, much of which was large modern sophisticated machinery. The show, held by the Agricultural Dealers and Manufacturers Association (ADMA), attracted not only manufacturers…

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Human rights activists blast security services undemocratic tendencies

By Tatenda Mujeyi Human Rights activists affiliated with the Human Rights NGO Forum have blasted the security services systems for undemocratic tendencies at the launch of a Anti- impunity Report in Harare today. The report explored how challenges are faced in line with human rights abuse especially by the state security agents. The report was…

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Teachers desert classrooms in protest against under-payment

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has said today is day one of phase 2 of teachers’ job action against ‘slave wages’ which coincides with Teachers’ June pay day. “The peanuts received by teachers have forced them to leave classrooms in protest. Reports filtering from across the country indicate that no learning is…

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Centurion Law Group announces intention to pursue Public Listing

This represents a natural step for Centurion given the group’s strong market share within the oil & gas sector in sub-Saharan Africa and its increased activity Centurion Law Group (“Centurion”) (Centurionlg.com) is set to become the first African legal and energy advisory firm to be publicly-listed this year, as it prepares to join one of…

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Cassava Smartech and Comviva win Changing Lives Award at the East Africa Com Awards

Cassava Smartech and Comviva have jointly won the East Africa Com Award in the “Changing Lives” category for Cassava’s EcoCash mobile money service powered by mobiquity® Money. The award was presented recently at Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. This is the second consecutive award for both companies as they won the award in 2018…

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Econet launches Clean City community environmental services

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe’s Clean City (Pvt) Limited this week stepped up its cleanliness awareness efforts with the launch of Community Environmental Services (CES). The launch event saw over 200 CES volunteers converge at Mt Pleasant Hall, before proceeding to lead an awareness and cleaning blitz at Mt Pleasant Shopping Centre and its environs. Speaking at…

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