Spotlight on Zimbabwe’s stay-away and protests over deterioration of economy

Soldiers were deployed to residential suburbs across towns and cities as the stay away called for by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions starting Monday 14 January 2019 turned violent. According to Generation Consensus, its activists on the ground reported widespread violation of rights by soldiers and police. The reported violations included abductions and torture,…

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Jao

Angola: The grace period is over for João Lourenço

Angola’s economic troubles began in 2014 when global crude oil prices dipped and severely hampered the government’s ability to generate revenue João Lourenço has been president of Angola since 26 September 2017. About one year later, he cemented his hold on power by taking over the chairmanship of the ruling Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA)….

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NANGO calls for level heads as socio-economic situation deteriorates

By NANGO The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), the official umbrella body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe, notes with great concern the degeneration of the current social and political situation in the country. NANGO takes note of the the issues that a cross section of Zimbabweans have been raising over a prolonged period…

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How can the predatory nature of development efforts be tamed?

By Charles Dhewa Many rural communities in low income countries are fed up with the predatory nature of external development initiatives. According to the WordWeb dictionary, a predatory animal is one that lives by catching and preying on other animals. Predatory tendencies also include living by or victimising others for personal gain. When development agencies…

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Busy week for ZLHR as disturbances rock country

Thanks to the intervention by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Monday 14 January 2019 set free a pro-democracy campaigner, who had endured two nights in police detention after he was arrested during the weekend for allegedly recording a video at Robert Mugabe International Airport. The 26 year-old Makomborero…

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Wetlands Shoddy Deals Expose Authorities’ Complicity

By Tendai Guvamombe The constant rise in the fight against invasion of wetlands in Harare has exposed shoddy deals orchestrated by relevant authorities amid calls for the government to subject perpetrators under investigative scrutiny. On Friday last week City of Harare Environmental Committee and Harare Wetlands Trust embarked on another Joint Wetland Tour in different…

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Zim EFF calls on Government to declare a national Economic disaster to save the country.

By Innocent Ndibali (Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters  (EFF) President) We as Zim EFF and on behalf of the majority of our people and together with the poor, downtrodden and disposed people of Zimbabwe today declare that we are real victims of Zanu PF’s mismanagement of our country which has resulted in the collapse of the…

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Mohamed Abdel Bassit Appointed as Liquid Telecom’s New Regional CEO for Middle East and West Africa (MEWA)

Liquid Telecom announced that it has appointed Mohamed Abdel Bassit its new Regional Chief Executive for the Middle East and West Africa (MEWA), effective January 1, 2019. Based in Cairo, Bassit will oversee the group’s expansion further into MEWA following the recent news that it is investing US$400m in the Egyptian market and has completed the first fibre network to stretch all the way from Cape Town to Cairo. Mohamed…

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NTDA partners Tehilar Christian Network on anti-litter campaign

By Byron Mutingwende   The National Transport Drivers Association ((NTDA) has partnered the Tehilar Christian Network on the noble anti-litter initiative being spearheaded by First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa.   Following a meeting of church leaders under the banner of Tehilar Christian Network at Zimbabwe House with the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa, the religious fraternity put…

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DFID contribution to assist 116,000 WFP-supported Zimbabweans during hunger season

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday 10 January 2019 welcomed a £3.95 million (US$5 million) contribution from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) to its 2018/19 Lean Season Assistance programme in Zimbabwe.   The contribution will help WFP to provide cash-based food assistance to some 97,000 highly food insecure people…

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Be tourism ambassadors in Panama: Youths urged

Zimbabwean youths bound to Panama for the Youth Conference were urged to be torchbearers and ambassadors of the country’s pristine tourism products and services. This emerged at the Mega Pilgrim Send-Off dinner to Panama for the World Youth Day where the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Priscah Mupfumira was the Guest of Honour…

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IP Promotes Foreign Investment: ARIPO

By Lovemore Chazingwa The quest for bringing out Africa’s economic potential and sustainable growth through investment from abroad can be tapped as a result of properly protected Intellectual Property (IP), a regional workshop heard. In it’s opening remarks at the high level workshop held at Africa Regional Intellectual Property Rights Organisation headquarters December 5 last…

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AfDB approves US$14.12 million to support Nigeria’s membership in ATI Agency

Once membership formalities in ATI are finalised, Nigeria could benefit from gross political and commercial risk insurance cover on total investments and trade amounting to over US$ 5 billion by 2020 The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org), through its Trade Finance operations, has approved a US$14.12 million facility to support the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s…

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Of premature technology and information overload

By Charles Dhewa Hundreds of mobile applications and technology platforms are launched in Africa almost every day, thanks to the promise of digital-fuelled progress. Unfortunately most of the platforms (including those owned by famous mobile network providers) are trotted onto the market prematurely before sufficient pre-testing. There is also confusion between a platform, a portal,…

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The AECF and EEP brings Renewable Energy investors from across the world to Africa

The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) and the Energy and Environment Partnership Trust Fund (EEP Africa) recently hosted an investor forum in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together financiers and companies from across the world to find investment opportunities in renewable energy businesses operating in Africa.   The forum was an investor to business (I2B) match-making platform…

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All set for Awareness Campaign on Alcohol and Drug Abuse

On Saturday 5 January 2019, the Marlborough Social Group (MSG) will host an awareness campaign on alcohol and substance abuse at St. Canisius Catholic Church in Marlborough starting at 10 am. This event has been necessitated by a need to facilitate community-level awareness, engagement and subsequently, intervention. At the event, MSG will anchor various community…

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Two hopes for African Agriculture and rural development in 2019

By Charles Dhewa The fact that countries which have moved toward middle-income status have started by transforming their agriculture sector is no longer debatable. Unfortunately, out of 54 countries in Africa, Ethiopia is mentioned as the only one on the path to meaningful agricultural transformation. The rest are still running from pillar to post, chasing…

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Pamwe Capital seeks to invest in Zimbabwe

Pamwe Capital has proposed to invest in Zimbabwe’s key economic development sectors as a response to the country’s openness for business.   Speaking at a breakfast meeting organised by Pamwe Capital at a local hotel in Harare, Priscah Mupfumira, the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry said Zimbabwe has good opportunities for investors especially…

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UNWTO/ETC Launch Report on Health Tourism

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), together with the European Travel Commission (ETC) launched a new report on health tourism. Part of their joint research programme, the study is the first attempt to set a coherent conceptualisation of health tourism and define the motivations behind travellers looking for health-related services. Health, wellness and medical tourism have grown…

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Tawanda Kanhema Spent $5,000 of His Own Money to Put Zimbabwe on Street View

Zimbabwe is too far for many people to visit, but 37-year-old Tawanda Kanhema grew up here (Zimbabwe) before moving to the United States. Thanks to Kanhema, though, you’ll soon be able to play virtual tourist, thanks to his work and the magic of Google Street View, Kanhema, who left the country to study journalism and documentary film-making…

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Afreximbank, Securiport Sign $15-million Financing Agreement for Juba Airport

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has signed a financing agreement with Securiport SUARL, Senegal, to provide Securiport with a $15-million term loan to finance the design, construction and commissioning of a civil aviation and immigration security system for the Juba International Airport in South Sudan. The facility, which was approved for five years, will assist South Sudan…

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Zimbabwe’s Telecoms Sector Records 9,2% Revenue Growth in the Third Quarter to September, 2018

Zimbabwe’s Postal and Telecommunications sector registered a 9,2 percent revenue growth in the third quarter to September, 2018 on the back on increased usage of data and internet. In its Postal Telecommunication Sector Performance report for the third quarter, the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) said turnover grew to $435 million from…

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M-Pesa Gears up for 1,200 Transactions Every Second

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore has said the telco is expanding its M-Pesa systems to take 1,200 transactions per second. In a statement, he attributed the recent outage that lasted four hours to the system upgrade. Latest Communications Authority telecommunication sector statistics shows that Safaricom carried out 575,660,251 M-Pesa transactions, moving at least Sh1.58 trillion between…

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Liquid Telecom to Establish Multi-Billion Rand 4G Network in South Africa

Liquid Telecom South Africa to provide wholesale open access roaming services to network operators starting early 2019 Liquid Telecom South Africa, part of the leading pan-African telecoms group Liquid Telecom, today announced that it will establish a multi-billion Rand 4G network in South Africa. From early 2019, wholesale roaming services will be made available across…

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Strive Masiyiwa Grows Business Empire

Strive Masiyiwa, Econet Wireless founder, this week consolidated his position as one of Zimbabwe’s richest investors after his fintech company, Cassava Smartech (CSZL), became the most valuable counter by market value on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) when the company listed on the ZSE through an initial public offering. Masiyiwa, whose Econet Wireless Global group controls…

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ARDA seeds: where farmers are assured of a bumper harvest

The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority is proud to have its subsidiary, ARDA Seeds, that is providing seeds as a critical input to ensure bumper harvests for all farmers countrywide. Speaking to Spiked Online Media, Jemitius Mukiwa, an ARDA marketing executive said ARDA SEEDS (Pvt) LTD is a registered private company wholly owned subsidiary of Agricultural…

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Address corruption instead of consolidating political power: ZDI urges government

By Michael Mashiri The Government appears to be concentrating on strengthening its power and fighting political enemies than doing away with political corruption, Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) official has said. At a press conference held in the Harare yesterday, Mr Bekezela Gumbo, the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute Principal Researcher said, from the research they had conducted,…

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