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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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),…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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-…

Read More

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…

Read More

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,…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

PAP needs to clarify the concept of Deliberative Organ

By Dr. Maurice Ezuruike The ongoing review process of the Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Rules of Procedure presents a unique opportunity to clarify by definition the true interpretation of the concept of “any other deliberative organ” as reflected in Rule 6 of the PAP’s rules of procedure and invoked generally as a synonym to National Parliaments…

Read More

Mobile tax should fund SRHR: Parliamentary Caucus

By Nhau Mangirazi The Women Parliament Caucus (ZWPC) has recommended the mobilization of resources towards the sexual and reproductive health rights affecting women and girls in most marginalized communities. ZWPC chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba made the presentation last week during a prebudget seminar saying the proportion of the 5 percent mobile airtime levy, introduced in…

Read More

Chief Charumbira sets motion for PAP Review of Rules of Procedure

Hon Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) has set the ball rolling for the continental parliamentary body’s Bureau and Regional Caucuses to come up with a roadmap for the review of the Rules of Procedure. Chief Charumbira revealed this while officially opening the First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament…

Read More

Banket 2023 Budget consultations postponed as residents demand financial reports

By Elvis Dumba Banket – The proposed 2023 Council budget consultation meeting for Banket, was forced to be postponed as residents demanded council financial records. Banket Town Board Works Technician, Trust Govere, was forced to stop presenting the local authority’s 2021-22 work projects with those in attendance demanding the presentation of the local authority’s financial…

Read More

Women’s Parliamentary Caucus urges Mthuli Ncube to help on water issues

By Nhau Mangirazi The Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus has urged finance minister Prof Mthuli Ncube to set aside money to improve water and sanitation in mostly rural and marginalized communities. The parliament caucus chairperson, Hon Goodluck Kwaramba made the presentation last week calling on Prof Ncube to consider setting aside funds that will help improve…

Read More

Zimbabwe Robotics team wins 2022 Innovator Award Gold Medal

By Godwin Mungwadzi Zimbabwe’s Robotics team won the XPRIZE Gold Medal Innovator award, at the 2022 FIRST Global Challenge games – an Olympics-style, international robotics competition for high-school students from around the world that aims to celebrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — also known as STEM in a similar way to how Athletics and Sports…

Read More

PAP leadership structures convene on eve of first Ordinary Session of sixth Parliament

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Bureau has jointly met with the Bureaus of the Permanent Committees and Regional Caucuses, Women’s Caucus and Youth Caucus ahead of its first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament that will hold from October 24 to November 12 2022, to consider the programme of the session. The Session, which will be…

Read More

Pan African Parliament Bureau holds consultations with focal team of African Ambassadors

The Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) met with selected members of the African Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Republic of South Africa namely Uganda, Egypt, Kenya, Congo Brazzaville, Mali and Zimbabwe. The focal team was set up in September 2022 by the Dean of African Heads of Diplomatic Missions to work closely with the…

Read More

Artificial Intelligence gives SMEs a competitive edge in analysing data

By Hillary Munedzi Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their businesses so that they have a competitive edge in analyzing data which helps them to understand their business terrain in a bid to attract more customers. Speaking during a SMEs International Expo at a local hotel, in…

Read More

Cyber and Data Protection Act to address Internet-based delinquencies

The Cyber and Data Protection Act is meant to address an array of cybercrimes that have become a burden to society, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services has said. He made the remarks today at a Cybersecurity High-Level Dialogue – one of the many activities that have…

Read More

USAID, WFP food assistance partnership targets 700 000 needy people during lean season

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has today contributed US$36.7 million on behalf of the American people to help the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) provide food assistance at the peak of the lean season between October and March next year. In a year marked by COVID-19, climatic shocks, food and fuel…

Read More