Sekuru Banda joins the cholera fight

By Byron Mutingwende   Renowned traditional healer Kamwelo Banda popularly known as Sekuru Banda has joined the fight against cholera and pledged support to those impacted by the pandemic.   In a rare show of love and compassion, Sekuru Banda took time off his busy schedule where he often meets his legion of clients who…

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AIF top 10 nominees for $185 000 Innovation for Africa prize announced

The top 10 nominees reflect Pan African flavour of Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) with representation from north, west, east, central and southern Africa, including Madagascar IPA 2018 keenly contested with 3 000+ applicants from over 52 countries; This year’s innovations address critical challenges in ICT, agri-business, public health and the environment/ energy sectors; The…

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Antelope Park’s wildlife conservation brings benefits to communities

By Byron Mutingwende   The wildlife conservation project being spearheaded by the Antelope Park is bringing numerous benefits to participating local communities and the environment.   Tourists from the United Kingdom who were on a tour of the country prior, during and after the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo, courtesy of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, had…

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UZ Research Unmasks Fake Crop Chemicals

By Wisdom Mumera A University of Zimbabwe (UZ) research into crop preservation methods has released results questioning the effectiveness of most commercial chemicals as the country seeks to safeguard its food security. The exercise led by Professor Brighton Mvumi from the Department of Soil Science at UZ revealed that most of the commercial medicines and…

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The character-building role of African ‘informal’ economies

By Charles Dhewa People who co-exist with Kombi drivers in Zimbabwe, Matatu drivers in Nairobi’s traffic jammed roads, boda-boda motorcyclists in Kampala and similar situations in African cities have always wondered if those drivers are from the same mother. This is due to their character which is exactly the same. ‘Informal’ traders and MSMEs also…

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MSF offers SRHR at Harare Agricultural Show

During the Harare Agricultural Show (Monday 27 August to Saturday, 1 September, 2018) Medecins Sans Frontieres/ Doctors Without Borders (MSF) will be providing free sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services with specific focus on people aged between 10 to 24 years. MSF will partner with the National AIDS Council (NAC), Young Peoples’ Network on Sexual…

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Zimnat rewards students who participated in hackathon

Zimnat, one of the country’s leading insurance groups, yesterday rewarded students from the Harare Institute of Technology who took part in a hackathon that the company organised. A hackathon is a competitive event where people work collaboratively in groups on software or even hardware projects with the aim of creating a functioning product by the…

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Nudging universities in developing countries to harness community based inquiry

By Charles Dhewa Contrary to prevailing formal approaches, knowledge sharing in most rural African communities is embedded in the way people work. For instance, knowledge sharing happens as farmers select seed or choose livestock breeds.  It also happens as they milk cows, plant crops, weed, harvest, store and market.  They do not stop and say,…

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Exploring Innovations in Local Economic Development (LED)

Reflections from the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) programme in the Town of Swift Current, Saskatchewan (Canada) By Elmond Bandauko One of the projects we were tasked to do in our Economics and Policy Analysis course with Dr. Rob Leone was prepare a report analysing the preparedness of selected smaller municipalities to implement local economic…

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Demystifying council-staff relations in local government

By Elmond Bandauko Discussions of local government are usually about the activities of the mayor and councillors. After all, elected officials make the important policy decisions. However, this focus overlooks those who deliver municipal services. A small group of elected officials is supported by a much larger group of professional public servants who advise the…

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Understanding key competencies for improving local governance

A transition briefing for Zimbabwe’s newly elected local councillors By Elmond Bandauko During the 2018 election period, there was limited attention on what the elections would mean for policy and governance at the local level. Local government remains a very significant level of government as it is deliberately created to bring government to the grass-roots…

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For Kuwadzana it’s Betty Nhambu-Kaseke, Zanu PF Harare’s only female candidate

By Byron Mutingwende   Monday the 30th of July 2018 will witness the re-election of the ever hardworking Member of the National Assembly for Kuwadzana Constituency Honourable Betty Nhambu-Kaseke.   Honourable Nhambu-Kaseke is not only a motherly figure but a philanthropist, devoted Christian and a multiple award winning female MP in Harare Province out of…

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Stop targeting of women in hate speech, inflammatory language: Gender Commission

The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has warned and deplored the escalated hate speech and inflammatory language against women ahead of the July 30 election.   The ZGC made the call during a dialogue meeting with editors and expressed concern over the the concerted verbal attacks by political and other players on women as voters, candidates…

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Temba Mliswa’s development wave sweeps through Norton

By Byron Mutingwende   Development runs through the nerves of Temba “Bhuru” Mliswa, the Member of the House of Assembly for Norton whose great works are positively impacting the generality of people in the constituency.   The legislator, who uses yellow as his campaign colour, upped his drive to retain the seat beginning this July…

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Good Care Pre-school, David Mascott Country School Pacesetters in education

By Byron Mutingwende   While many infant and junior schools emphasise on academic education, Good Care Pre-school and David Mascott country School have a different approaching in moulding children.   A fortnight ago, the David Mascott Sports and Wellness Tournament opened the eyes of many parents on the importance of preparing children in co-curricular activities…

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Turkish Ambassador praises Zimbabwe for not sheltering Fetö terrorists

The Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Hakan Kivanç has praised Zimbabwe for making sure that the terrorist organisation, FETO, could not find a shelter to nestle in this Southern African country due to the vigilant position of the authorities. Ambassador Kivanç made the remarks at the Turkish Embassy in Harare during the second commemorative ceremony of the…

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“Leave No-one Behind”: SDGs take ground in Matabeleland North

By Sirak Gebrehiwot (UN Communications Specialist) The UN team, led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Bishow Parajuli, comprising of UNICEF Representative, Dr. Mohamed Ag Ayoya; IOM Chief of Mission, Ms. Lily Sanya; WFP Representative and Country Director, Mr. Eddie Rowe; and UNDP Country Director Mr. Georges van Montfort concluded a three-day field visit,…

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Social media a cheaper way for young people to access information

By Byron Mutingwende   The social media has revolutionised communication and has become a cheaper way for young people to access information.   This emerged at the campaign “Budding Voices Debates and Dialogue Series” being run by the Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) on Friday 6 July 2018.   Media personality, Acie Lumumba said…

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ARTUZ petitions ZEC to facilitate voting of displaced rural teachers

The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) today petitioned the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to facilitate the voting of teachers who are going to be displaced from their polling stations as they attend to ZEC business. Most teachers in rural schools who were engaged as polling officers  for the 30th of July 2018 polls ,were…

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High Court decision to protect children from attending rallies welcome: UN

The United Nations (UN) has welcomed the High Court’s decision to protect children from being forced to attend political rallies. The ruling from Zimbabwe’s High Court, announced on 28 June 2018, states that school children must not be forced to attend political rallies and that political parties must not be allowed to use school equipment,…

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NMB Bank assists orphans in Dzivarasekwa

NMB Bank last week handed over food items and cooking pots to the Dzikwa Trust, a charitable organisation in Harare’s Dzivarasekwa suburb that assists and empowers orphans and vulnerable children from the suburb and surrounding areas. Prior to handing over the foodstuffs and cooking pots, NMB chief executive Ben Washaya and other representatives of the…

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ZICOPA platform for young people to improve talents

The Zimbabwe Championship of Performing Arts (ZICOPA) is giving many talented young children with limited platforms to flourish.   Nyarayi Jessica Tandy, the Director of ZICOPA, in her remarks before the Zimbabwean team’s departure to the United States for the World Championships of Performing Arts competition, said she was hopeful that the young people would…

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Comprehensive education during David Mascott Wellness and Sports Tournament

By Byron Mutingwende   Parents and students received comprehensive education about life and good health during the David Mascott Wellness and Sports Tournament held in Norton on 30 June 2018.   “At the heart of good education is wellness and good health. To that effect, we have come up with this wellness and sports tournament…

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UN Strategic Framework lauded for catalysing development results in Zimbabwe

28 June 2018, Harare – Today the Government and the United Nations together with development partners convened high level review meeting to validate and take stock of development results delivered, mid-way of the programme cycle, under 2016-2020 Zimbabwe UN Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) contributing to national development priorities.   The high-level meeting co-chaired by the…

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The German Government contributes additional €15 Million to Zimbabwe’s Education

Harare, 25 June 2018 – The German Government, through KfW Development Bank, contributed €15million to the second phase of the Education Development Fund (EDF) to improve access to quality education for Zimbabwe’s children. A specific focus of the funding lies on strengthening the resilience of schools to external shocks. German contribution to the EDF Germany has been…

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David Mascott Country School: offering exclusive learning facilities

By Byron Mutingwende   David Mascott Primary School goes a step further in offering quality education to infants and primary school learners.   Located in the pristine area of Norton within a serene environment in the Mashonaland West Province, the school offers the best facilities in moulding a whole person in as far as education…

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Making a case for 25 % Young women’s Quota in Zimbabwe

By Institute for Young Women Development We write with a heavy heart in such devastating times being witnessed in the country. Recent and ongoing developments in our political sphere has set us 10 years back where representation and leadership of women was less than 10% in elective politics in Zimbabwe.   Owing to women’s rights…

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Address menstruation challenges: Stakeholders urged

Byron Mutingwende   Challenges faced by women and girls regarding menstruation should be addressed as an important component of the adolescent sexual and reproductive health, stakeholders were urged.   The call was made on 6 June 2018 at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) compound during the “Brown Bag” discussion series held under the theme,…

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UZ launches Bachelor of Science Optometry Honours degree

The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences on Friday launched the country’s first Bachelor of Science Optometry (Honours) degree programme in a ceremony at the college in Harare. Officially launching the programme, the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Levi Nyagura thanked Cimas Medical Aid Society for donating the equipment needed for this programme. Earlier the dean…

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NBSZ, NetOne partnership to sustain lives through blood donations

By Byron Mutingwende   As the partnership between NetOne and Blood Services Zimbabwe (NBSZ) continues, lives would be saved through blood donations to people in need of that vital product.   Mr. Lazarus Muchenje, the Chief Executive Officer of NetOne, speaking on the occasion where his company solidified its partnership with NBSZ by donating $25…

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World Class Legends use football to market Zimbabwe

By Byron Mutingwende   Sport tourism is one of the best ways to market a country and the ministry of tourism and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) are collaborating with World Class Legends to use football to spearhead that initiative.   Introducing the World Class Legends to President Emmerson Mnangwagwa during the ruling party Zanu…

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