HIV response: Zvimba District on course to meet targets

By Elvis Dumba Nyabira – Zvimba District in Mashonaland West Province with a population of 26 614 people living with HIV has made major strides in HIV response programs. Speaking during World Aids Day commemorations held in Nyabira recently, Zvimba District Development Coordinator, Desmond Anele Gumbochuma, said the district’s target of ensuring that 95% of…

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Study calls for urgent attention and increased investment in Africa’s biodiversity

The  African Development Bank (www.AFDB.org) and the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), have launched a regional report on the performance of African countries under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 (https://bit.ly/3Wi56by). The report highlights the important role that multilateral development banks can play in meeting biodiversity targets by providing advisory services, capacity building, market research, and linkages with…

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Digital Payments: A Crucial Step in the Financial Inclusion Endgame

By Andy Jury (CEO of Mukuru) In years gone by, pages such as these have been awash with articles and opinions about fintechs and their potential to drive financial inclusion and improve the lives of millions of unbanked and underserved communities. While these opinions have been crucial in raising awareness, the discussion should now shift…

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Achieving Zero Hunger in Africa is within reach: Global leaders

By Baboloki Semele Eradicating hunger in Africa by 2030 is possible, said global agriculture leaders in Rome. Meeting ahead of the African Food Summit (Dakar 2) to be hosted by President Macky Sall in Dakar, Senegal, from 25-27 January 2023, President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the International Fund for Agricultural…

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Private Sector Financing central to achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation

Central to achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation is the issue of access to climate finance from the private sector, stakeholders at the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) meeting reckon. The sentiments came to the fore today during the COMESA Regional Meeting on Private Sector Climate Finance Investment Mobilization in Harare today….

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Sprout Women Empowerment Trust hosts successful seed fair

The Sprout Women Empowerment Trust (SWET) hosted a successful Food, Seed, and Cultural Fair with the support of the Fambidzanai Permaculture Centre on Monday. Caroline Mutimbanyoka, the Director of SWET told Spiked Online Media that the seed fair had many benefits for women who constitute the majority of the labour force in the agricultural sector….

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Hardson Nyadombo hails BEAM for educating students from underprivileged backgrounds

By Wellington Zimbowa “Don’t give a man fish rather give him a fishing rod,” goes the old adage. Thus total poverty eradication hinges on sustainable social safety interventions such as the government’s Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) which caters to vulnerable children such as orphans, a programme that remains a vital cog towards a broad-based…

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Climate-smart agriculture increases food production, promotes regional trade and integration

Mr. Pardon Njerere, a Value Chain Expert under the COMESA’s European Union-funded Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Market Programme (RECAMP), commended the role of Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives in catapulting production gains of food systems to promote regional trade and integration. He made the remarks during the COMESA Regional Dissemination Meeting on Climate-smart Agriculture…

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COVID-19 burden lessens in Africa, vigilance crucial as year-end season begins

While Africa is witnessing its lowest level of new COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic, a recent four-week rise—the first such sustained increase in four months—underscores the criticality of maintaining vigilance as the end-year holiday seasons sets in. The continent recorded a four-week-long rise until 20 November, but the number of new cases…

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African mass food markets – honing expertise in decolonizing entrepreneurship

n response to persistent criticism for producing job seekers, not entrepreneurs, several African governments have been setting up centers of innovation and entrepreneurship at universities. While this is a noble cause, it has given the impression that entrepreneurship is something that can be taught in universities. On the contrary, the level of entrepreneurship happening in…

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COMESA promotes climate-smart agriculture best practices in the region

The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) is implementing 5 Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) pilot projects in the Kingdom of Eswatini, Madagascar, Seychelles, Uganda, and Zimbabwe with funding from the European Union (EU) under the Intra-ACP (Organisation of Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States) and the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+)…

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Momentum gathers for Dakar Financing Summit on Infrastructure Development

By Baboloki Semele Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) stakeholders are bracing themselves for the second Dakar Financing Summit for Africa’s Infrastructure Development (DFS 2.0), which will take place from 01 – 03 February 2023, under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency President Macky Sall of Senegal, Chairperson of the African Union. The anticipated…

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SDG Fund to accelerate climate change mitigation, sustainable energy projects investments

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Fund), a Joint Programme by the Government of Zimbabwe and the UN Country Team, launched in Harare today, is meant to accelerate investments in climate change mitigation and sustainable energy projects. In his official address during the launch, Hon Zhemu Soda, the Minister of Energy and Power Development…

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Programme increases women’s participation in agriculture

By Elvis Dumba Yomba, Raffingora – The innovative Agriculture for SHE programme designed to increase women’s participation in agriculture activities has been hailed as a game changer for the fairer sex. The program will see women benefit from small-scale irrigation schemes under Irrigation for SHE, Horticulture for SHE, and cotton for SHE programmes among other…

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PAP’s Chief Charumbira addresses Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Economic Forum

The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), H.E Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira was one of the keynote speakers at the inaugural “Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Economic Forum” organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and hosted by the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco. The gathering was held on 7 and 8…

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Macky Sall leads fight against declining immunisation for Polio eradication

In recognition that immunization is a global health and development success story, saving millions of lives each year, His Excellency President Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and current Chair of the African Union, today invited fellow African Heads of State, international agency representatives, public health leaders and civil society to join him…

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Spiked Online’s Elvis Dumba bags two accolades in Mashonaland West Media Awards

Chinhoyi – Mashonaland West-based scribes were awarded for their efforts in the Mashonaland West’s Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) Tenth Provincial Awards held in Chinhoyi on Friday night with Spiked Online’s correspondent Elvis Dumba clinching The Health Reporter of the Year and Best Photos/Visual of the Year Awards. The provincial media awards are sponsored by ZIMPLATS…

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European and Pan-African parliaments discuss areas of cooperation to spur development

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the European Parliament (EP) are meeting in Brussels to discuss cooperation on gender equality, food security, peace and security, and youth participation in decision-making. The High-Level Parliamentary engagement takes place after the EU-AU Summit, held in February 2022. The two continental Parliamentary bodies are consulting on ways to achieve gender…

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Crisis Coalition bemoans continued deterioration of human rights situation

As the world marks International Human Rights Day, which is commemorated on the 10th of December each year, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition notes with great concern the continued deterioration in Zimbabwe’s human rights situation. The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition joins the rest of the world in commemorating the 2022 International Human Rights Day under…

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The world compelled to unite against corruption

A number of institutions globally commemorated International Anticorruption Day yesterday under the theme: “UNCAC at 20: Uniting the world Against Corruption.” The commemorations are held globally on the 9th of December with the aim to raise awareness about the impact of corruption on the economy and people’s livelihoods. It is another opportunity to take stock…

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Women play strategic role in sustainable economic development: President Mnangagwa

The launch of the inaugural Women Empowerment Summit and Expo yesterday which was running under the theme, “Revitalising Economic Growth through Women Empowerment”, highlights the strategic role that women play in sustainable economic growth and development, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. In a speech delivered on his behalf by Hon Oppah Muchinguri, the Minister of…

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UN strengthens inclusive disability concepts

By Clayton Masekesa MUTARE – The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) has trained government social welfare workers in addressing issues that are essential for the effective implementation of inclusive disability concepts at a national level. Within the framework of the new UNPRPD Project on “Strengthening Disability Rights Accountability, Governance…

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Zimbabwe’s national e-learning strategy spreads to rural schools

By Clayton Masekesa CHIPINGE – The Zimbabwe government has intensified digital capability in rural schools through the Presidential National E-learning Strategy which is aimed at bridging the digital divide between rural and urban schools. The government last weekend donated 150 computers to five schools in the Chipinge district, with each school getting 30 computers, as…

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Honour of excellence: Kallon receives The Diplomat Magazine & Diplomacy Appreciation

Mr. Edward Kallon, the United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe received the prestigious award from the Diplomat Magazine in appreciation of his immense contribution to development and diplomacy. Since the presentation of his credentials in March this year, Mr. Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator has had a busy nine months….

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3rd Quarter 2022 Postal and Telecommunication Sector Performance Report

Address By The POTRAZ Director General, Dr. G. K. Machengete The Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), hereby presents the key trends observed in the Postal and Telecommunications sector during the third quarter of 2022 as follows:   Growth in subscriptions across all markets Total active mobile subscriptions increased…

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#HeforShe campaign for equal participation of women and men, addressing GBV

Today, in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the members of the #HeForShe Campaign Group of Diplomats officially welcomed the Head of Mission for the European Union Delegation, His Excellency Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann as the incoming Chairperson of the Group, while acknowledging the work of the British Embassy as the…

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AFC expands Asian capital market footprint with US$160 million Kimchi loan facility

Africa Finance Corporation, the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, is expanding its footprint in Asian capital markets, today announcing the successful closure of a US$160 million Kimchi Term Loan Facility with Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and Shinhan Bank as Bookrunners and Mandate Lead Arrangers (BMLAs). This facility follows the successful execution of the Corporation’s inaugural…

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Barbados Parliament ratifies Partnership Agreement with Afreximbank

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has applauded the ratification by the Barbadian Parliament of the Partnership Agreement with the Bank. Barbados, one of the nine member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that have so far signed the treaty, becomes the first to ratify it. The Partnership Agreement between Afreximbank and the constituent countries of CARICOM…

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I Can Be More: Give Me A Chance, I am a Child not a Wife

By Population Solutions For Health Population Solutions for Health and PSI with funding from the Swedish Embassy successfully launched, the “Give Me A Chance/Ndipeiwo Mukana/Nginikani iThuba; I am A Child, Not A Wife” campaign against child marriages on 30 November 2022. With girls in the forefront, the campaign aims to create a dialogue in which…

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Training addresses challenges related to climate change for local governments

On December 3rd, 2022 in Agadir, the 6th edition of the African Forum of Territorial Managers and Training Institutes targeting Local Governments (FAMI6_2022) came to an end. Download document: https://bit.ly/3HbJidl The Forum was held over 6 days, from November 28th to December 03rd, 2022 at the Training Center of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of the Ibn…

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Worldwide TB R&D Funding Surpasses US$1 Billion, But Falls Short of Goals

For the first time in history, funding for tuberculosis (TB) research and development (R&D) hit a billion dollars worldwide in 2021. This marked a significant milestone that nonetheless falls significantly short of what’s needed to stay on track to end TB, according to a new report released today by Treatment Action Group (TAG) and the Stop TB…

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Madhvi4Ecoethics commemorates Tree Planting, International Day for Persons with Disabilities

Ecoethics Global Movement, a non-governmental organization founded by US-based young climate activist, Madhvi Chittoor, on Saturday spearheaded an awareness tree planting programme that incorporated persons with disabilities. The International Day for Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on the 3rd of December on annual basis and this merely coincides with Tree Planting Day which is commemorated…

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Calls for amendment of Seed Act get louder

By Tafadzwa Muranganwa There are calls to amend the Seeds Act to promote community seed systems that are resilient to climate change. This was heard recently at an agroecology media training organised by Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Zimbabwe, recently. A community seed company, Champion Farmer Seeds, has revealed that there are many hurdles…

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Zimbabwe to host Inaugural Women Empowerment Summit

By Elvis Dumba Harare – Zimbabwe, currently commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, will host a Women Empowerment Summit this year that will be attended by high-level delegates who include, the government, United Nations, and women organisations. The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, in partnership with the National…

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Hon Chombo escalates women empowerment initiatives in Zvimba North

By Elvis Dumba Zvimba – Community economic development success is hinged on the emancipation of women at the household level as they constitute a high number of the population. Zvimba North Constituency lawmaker and Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister, Hon Marian Chombo said the financial empowerment of women at household levels helps to…

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Matetsi Victoria Falls has featured in the Tatler Travel Awards 2023!

The awe-inspiring Matesti Victoria Falls has won the award for “Best for Off-grid Glamour” and has been included in the prestigious Tatler Travel Guide of the 101 Best Hotels in the World. The property joins giants like Stuart Cantor, Castles in the Air, Pioneer Spirits, Romance Revivers, Comfort and Ease, Golden Years, Rescue Remedies, and…

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Free and compulsory education remains a pipe dream

By Hillary Munedzi The government’s commitment to universal, free and compulsory education remains a pipe dream as 87% of the national budget is channelled towards employment costs, with 14.04% of the education budget falling short of the Dakar Declaration of 20%. The Education for All (EFA) movement is a global commitment to provide quality basic…

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