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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UNWTO and Barça Innovation Hub Launch Global Sports Tourism Start-up Competition

The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in collaboration with Barça Innovation Hub (BIHUB) and with the support of the Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC), has announced the launch of the 1st UNWTO Sports Tourism Start-up Competition. The initiative is designed to identify projects and innovations that can transform the sports tourism sector in the near future….

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AfDB showcases impact of Korean drone technology on agricultural productivity

Drone technology is being used to collect and analyse data, and monitor irrigated areas, combat pests At a special event highlighting the partnership between the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and Korea held on the sidelines of the Bank’s Annual Meetings, the role of drone technology to boost food productivity in Africa, was on full display….

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Religious Organisations Condemn Mass Demonstrations and Protests

By Tatenda Mujeyi Religious organisations convened a prayer meeting at Mabvuku Salvation Army Church yesterday and condemned the calls by some opposition parties to stage mass demonstrations and protests. The prayer which was coordinated by Women Intercessors Network (WIN) under the theme ‘Prayer for peace’ was attended by other religious groups including Destiny for Africa…

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World Refugee Day commemoration at the Pan-African Parliament

The Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency will commemorate the World Refugee Day at the Pan-African Parliament (Midrand) on 20 June. In line with the African Union 2019 theme “Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally…

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Africa’s first online network for women entrepreneurs in agribusiness launched in Nairobi

More than 400 women have signed up to Africa’s first online platform for female agripreneurs, launched today at a trade fair in Nairobi. The VALUE4HERConnect network will help bring women entrepreneurs in agriculture together in a virtual community and serve as an important business resource for members. The network, which was launched at AWAN-Afrika’s first continental conference and VALUE4HER…

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Honourable Tinodaishe Machakaire Commited to Sport Development

By Tatenda Mujeyi Hwedza South legislator, MP and businessman Tinodaishe Machakaire is committed to the development of sport as he has constantly been central in Zimbabwe’s sporting development. The MP for Hwedza, and businessman has in the past shown commitment in the sporting arena through supporting and sponsoring the Charles Manyuchi and Pablo Acosta fight…

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Credible, inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue critical to Zimbabwe’s international re-engagement agenda: ZCC

By Byron Mutingwende   A credible, inclusive and comprehensive national dialogue is important for the country’s international re-engagement agenda, the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has said.   Dr Solomon Muqayi, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe speaking at the Second National Economic Dialogue series under the topic “Zimbabwe’s International Re-engagement Agenda: A…

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African leaders share their vision for an integrated continent

The leaders spoke during a high-level presidential dialogue on day two of the African Development Bank’s 2019 Annual Meetings Leaders from four African countries on Wednesday shared their vision for an integrated and borderless Africa that would foster economic growth and development. The leaders spoke during a high-level presidential dialogue on day two of the…

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Afreximbank Wins African Bank of the Year Award

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) yesterday in Malabo received the award for the African Bank of the Year at the African Banker Awards 2019 ceremony held on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank. Amr Kamel, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President for Business Development and Corporate Banking received the award on behalf of the Bank. The…

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Cabinet approves Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy

By Tatenda Mujeyi Cabinet has considered and approved the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy (ZNIDP) as submitted by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in Harare yesterday. ZNIDP seeks revitalisation of the countries industry which has not met a positive growth trajectory due to economic challenges experienced since 2008. The policy seeks to realise improved…

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Siemens to acquire ESTEQ to accelerate digitisation for customers in Southern Africa

Siemens invests in Southern and Eastern Africa to promote Digital Industries Software portfolio Acquisition of distributor ESTEQ (http://ESTEQ.co.za/) brings an experienced team and long-standing customer relationships to Siemens (www.Siemens.com); Siemens invests in Southern and Eastern Africa to promote Digital Industries Software portfolio. Siemens Digital Industries Software announced today that it has signed an agreement to…

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NMB facilitates growth of agricultural exports

NMB Bank is keen to help promote agricultural exports, which is one of the reasons it is this year participating for the first time at the Agricultural Dealers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (ADMA) Agrishow at Harare’s Borrowdale Racecourse. Its participation at the expo, which is the premiere agricultural event for commercial farmers, provides farmers with the…

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ZESN Launches Compendium of Election Observers’ Recommendations

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) launched its Compendium of Election Observers’ Recommendations yesterday in Harare. The launch was attended by a Commissioner from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Commissioner Leticia Joyce Kazembe, two senior staff members from the Commission; ZESN network members, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) representatives; and members of the media fraternity. In…

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Why Econet has remained on top

The more than one billion US-dollar investment that Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has made in its mobile network infrastructure continues to pay off, despite the strong economic headwinds in the business operating environment. The Zimbabwean economy has been going through one of its most challenging economic spells, with shortage of foreign currency topping many other difficulties…

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