History in the making: PAP amends Rules of Procedure

History was made when a motion on the amendments to the Pan African Parliament’s (PAP) Rules of Procedure was moved, seconded, and adopted in the First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) held in Midrand. The long-awaited process effectively addresses loopholes and legal ambiguities contained in the Rules of…

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13th PAP Women’s Conference: NEPAD pledges support for gender mainstreaming

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has pledged to give its support to the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in advocating women’s empowerment and gender equity and equality. In a statement delivered on her behalf by Mrs. Estherine Fotabong, the Director of Programme Innovation and Planning, Madam Nardos Bekele-Thomas, the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD during the…

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Making the schools’ sanitary wear budget work for girls

By Theresa Nyava-Machadu In 2020 there was a landmark development in the menstrual health management space, following the signing of the Education Amendment Act into law by President Mnangagwa. We celebrated Section 4(1a) of the Act which requires the State to “ensure the provision of sanitary wear and other menstrual health facilities to girls in…

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Karoi Council pushing for water kiosks

By Nhau Mangirazi Karoi Town Council is pushing for an ‘ambitious project’ aimed at easing the precious liquid affecting residents through water kiosks. Town acting finance director, Fred Mumiriki, told stakeholders recently that the council is looking forward to drilling solar-powered boreholes at strategic points in some wards. ‘‘Part of short-term plans from our next…

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Young African leaders mobilise against climate change ahead of COP27

Own Correspondent … climate finance must reach the communities most affected by climate change Accra, Ghana – Hundreds of young African faith-based climate activists have been cooperating across the continent in preparation to influence the upcoming climate talks at COP27 in Egypt next week. This week more than 20 have gathered to influence the over…

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UNESCO calls for renewed commitment to protecting journalists

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is calling for a renewal of commitment to protecting journalists everywhere. This was revealed by Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO in…

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United Nations thanks Zimbabwe for its contribution to peacekeeping

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix thanked Zimbabwe for its strong support to United Nations Peacekeeping and for the service and sacrifice of its military and police personnel deployed in missions around the world. Zimbabwe is a longtime contributor of peacekeepers to the United Nations. It currently provides 72 military and police personnel, including 41…

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COP27: ICIEC, CIB on Bankability of Climate Adaptation Projects Focused on Food Security

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (https://ICIEC.IsDB.org/), the insurance arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, in cooperation with Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt’s largest and leading private sector bank, is organising an important Panel Discussion on 9 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh during COP27. Two important…

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COP27: Ensuring transition minerals don’t undermine just, equitable energy transition

The world needs to stop burning fossil fuels. Climate change is already happening and to prevent the worst impacts we must accelerate the just transition to cleaner, safer energy. In moving to renewable energy technologies, the world will be swapping reliance on one set of natural resources for another. An estimated sixfold increase in the production…

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Participation of children in climate change, green initiatives pertinent

By Elvis Dumba Harare – Stakeholders are calling for greater involvement of children and young people in strategies and actions meant to counter climate change-induced challenges. Various stakeholders from the government, environmental organisations, and UN agencies met yesterday during a high-level dialogue on climate change ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties of the…

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Hands on the deck for PAP as Chief Charumbira delivers performance review report

There is a deliberate change in the thrust of the new Bureau of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), from merely activity-based reporting to results-based reporting, Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the African union’s legislative organ has said. The President of the Pan-African Parliament made the remarks while delivering a performance review report of the…

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Hon Stars Mathe has confidence in the PAP to deliver on its mandate

Hon Stars Mathe-Thebe, the Member of the National Assembly for Nkayi South Constituency in Zimbabwe has expressed confidence in the power of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) to deliver on its mandate. She revealed this to Spiked Online Media on the sidelines of the ongoing First Session of the Sixth Parliament of the PAP. “We…

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Pfumvudza inputs inadequate: Banket peri-urban farmers

By Elvis Dumba Banket – Smallholder farmers practising peri-urban agriculture who receive free inputs under the Presidential Climate Smart Agriculture Inputs Scheme commonly known as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, are crying foul after the government reduced the number of inputs being distributed. Peri-urban farmers are being offered 2kg of maize seed per farmer whilst three people share a…

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PAP should strengthen democracy and the rule of law: President Ramaphosa

The Pan-African Parliament has an important mandate of contributing to the strengthening of the culture of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law on the continent, HE Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa has said. The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services for South Africa, Mr. Ronald Lamola (MP) on behalf of the…

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The unknown side of food processing and value addition in African countries

By Charles Dhewa There is no shortage of abandoned small to medium-scale food processing plants in many African countries. After getting into a community and seeing abundant tomatoes, mangoes, pineapples, and many other types of fruits, some development agencies and government departments have been compelled to mobilize resources for setting up a processing plant. However,…

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High-level panel for Official Opening of PAP’s first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament

Signifying the high importance of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), high-level dignitaries will grace the official opening of the continental legislative body’s First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament. Representing H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Hon. Ronald Lamola, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services will deliver the keynote address at the official opening ceremony of…

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Unsung community heroines at the centre of COVID-19 response

Community-based organisations and individuals living among the public played a critical role in ameliorating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this installment, Spiked Online Media casts a spotlight on these champions. Kumbirai Mahaso, an activist in the HIV sector She carries the Batanai HIV Aids Support Organisation, (BHASO)  legacy. Born in Masvingo, Mahaso is…

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Zimbabwe licences Dolphin Telecom as fourth network

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has granted Dolphin Telecoms a mobile virtual network operator licence, paving the way for a fourth mobile service operator in the country. Dolpin’s managing director, Nyasha Charumbira, told Kukurigo Business that the company has partnered with one of the three mobile networks to deploy Zimbabwe’s first…

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Nature-based solutions: another way to obstruct food system transformation?

By IPES Food   With international climate negotiations in Egypt fast approaching (COP27), and food systems high on the agenda for the first time, the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food) is warning that a growing number of green buzzwords are being used to obstruct food system transformation.  Our new briefing, ‘Smoke…

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African Lead Negotiators map out strategy for approaching COP27

The African Lead Negotiators are currently meeting in Sharm El Sheikh to map out a strategy to approach the negotiations at COP 27 focusing on the need to accelerate action for climate adaptation and mitigation solutions. Mr. Washington Zhakata who is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) focal person for Zimbabwe and…

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Celebrating COVID-19 response’s media unsung heroines in Zimbabwe

By Catherine Murombedzi The Zimbabwe Covid-19 response would be incomplete without mentioning the media, an integral part of the correct communication channel and the bridge for the information divide. With myths and misconceptions rife, set to derail the Covid-19 response, the media rose to the occasion by dispelling infodemics. Misinformation became a pandemic that required…

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Zimbabwean youths issue statement on climate change in lead-up to COP27

BY ZIMBABWE YOUTHS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE Appreciating the support from the Government of Zimbabwe Ministry of Environment Climate Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MECTHI), ACT alliance, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and Zimbabwe Youth Environmental organizations for organizing the first Local Conference Of Children and Youth in Zimbabwe. Acknowledging…

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Tigere REIT driving investment and growth in Zimbabwe’s Property Sector

The Tigere Property Fund is set to become Zimbabwe’s first listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) following the publication yesterday of its prospectus and announcement of listing dates to the public. Following regulatory approval in 2021, the listing of Tigere will be a significant milestone for the Ministry of Finance, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE),…

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Campaigners call on Zimbabwe to adopt landmark disability law

Zimbabwe is on the cusp of becoming the first Southern African country to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP) but action is needed to push it across the finish line. This is why today (October 29), Sightsavers’ Equal World Campaign, in partnership with the African Union and the African Disability Forum, is urging governments and…

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Pan African Parliament working on Model Law on Nationality

The Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict is gathering further important information and data in preparation for their presentation of the Model Law on Nationality before the Plenary on 1 November 2022. The sixth parliament of PAP is sitting for its first ordinary session in Midrand South Africa from 24 October…

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All set for PAP Women’s Caucus 13th Conference

The Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Women’s Caucus will, on November 4 and 5 2022, host the 13th Conference on Women’s Rights under the theme “Women empowerment and inclusion in governance.” The Women Caucus has met to discuss the upcoming conference on the sidelines of the continental Parliament’s First Ordinary session of the Sixth Parliament which kicked off…

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Chinese investors have created over 100,000 jobs in Zimbabwe: Spokesperson

Chinese investors have created over 100,000 jobs in Zimbabwe, a spokesperson for the Asian nation has said following what he termed groundless accusations in a press release by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) on October 25. “The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe has noted the press release by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions…

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Celebrating COVID-19 response unsung heroines: Part 2

By Catherine Murombedzi The COVID-19 response was quite immense and as we continue to celebrate unsung heroines, we spotlight healthcare workers whose contributions made a positive impact. Dr Harunavamwe N Chifamba, Specialist Anaesthetist Intensivist and Clinical Epidemiologist “For some must watch, while others must sleep,” that’s Dr Harunavamwe’s space in Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. She…

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Zimbabwe, Malawi exchange notes on curbing child marriages

By Nhau Mangirazi A Zimbabwe delegation was in Malawi this week exchanging notes on curbing child marriages in a move aimed at empowering female politicians and women in general. The tour was held in Zomba, a five-hour drive from Lilongwe where they conducted a transformative feminist leadership learning and exchange visit in Malawi from 23-…

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Leveraging just transitions for a climate-resilient Africa: challenges and opportunities

By Dr. Claude Kabemba (Executive Director of the Southern Africa Resource Watch) Africa finds itself at a crossroads in the climate change discourse. On the one hand, Africa has polluted less than any other continent and it is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; on the other hand, it lacks the finances and…

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Mining poised to attract investors into Zimbabwe as commodity prices soar

By Hillary Munedzi African commodity exporters have been urged to create a business-friendly environment in a bid to attract investment into their domestic mining sectors as elevated commodity prices are fueling an export boom across the continent. With the war in Ukraine set to stroke strong inflationary pressures across Africa, high prices for gold, oil,…

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African Ambassadors affirm commitment to working with the PAP

Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament has commended the African Ambassadors based in South Africa for affirming their commitment to working with the continental lawmaking body. In his address during the meeting with the African Ambassadors at the PAP Headquarters in Midrand, Johannesburg today, Hon Charumbira said the collaboration will…

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Food processing an avenue for youth employment, development

By Hillary Munedzi Africa’s emerging processing sector faces a myriad of challenges including limited access to finance and poor infrastructure. As a panacea, calls have been made to create a conducive environment to attract tech-savvy youths. A new report launched in Harare during the 2022 Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) conference illustrated…

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PAP Southern African Regional Caucus presents recommendations

The Southern African Regional Caucus today presented its recommendations on the amendments of the Pan African Parliament Rules as guided by the Report of the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline on the Consultative Workshop on the Revision of the Rules of Procedure of the PAP; and Gaps Identified in the Rules of Procedure. After debate…

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Zimbabwe represented at 5th Edition of Africa Tourism Leadership Forum 2022

The 5th Edition of the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum 2022, is currently underway in Gaborone, Botswana from the 24th to the 26th of October 2022. The Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Hon Barbara Rwodzi is leading the Zimbabwe delegation at this forum. The Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) is a Pan-African…

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PAP joins progressive forces denouncing sanctions against Zimbabwe

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is among the progressive forces denouncing the illegal sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe by some western countries. The 25th of October is now known as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Anti-Sanctions Day. In a speech read on his behalf today by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, President Mnangagwa paid…

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All set for Africa Industrialisation Week And Extraordinary Session On AfCFTA

By Samuel Agyemang The African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities and partners are to convene an extraordinary session of the assembly Of the Heads of State and Government on industrialization, economic diversification and on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and also observe an African industrialization week in the month of November 2022 under…

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World Food Day: Regenerative agriculture topical

By Hillary Munedzi Food giant Nestle has championed regenerative agriculture as the panacea to domestic food price inflation, a development that has cushioned household food security as the world commemorates World Food Day. Zimbabwe is leading the world’s top ten countries worst affected by domestic food price inflation, all because of supply chain disruptions fuelled…

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