Fraudulent “COVID-19 Compensation Lottery Prize” scam, falsely alleges association with WHO and others

By World Health Organization   The World Health Organization (WHO) has been made aware of correspondences being circulated by scammers (acting under the name of Capital Finance, Inc. London), falsely notifying recipients of such correspondences that they have been selected as a beneficiary/winner of a US$1 million lottery compensation prize payment for losses and damages…

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South African women demand sex disaggregated data on vaccine rollout

In South Africa, women’s rights organisations are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to provide sex disaggregated data on vaccine rollout in a campaign launched on Women’s Day. A petition signed by 43 Women’s Voice and Leadership partners calls on the president to “provide sex disaggregated data on vaccine roll out and all COVID-19 statistics in line with the national gender policy,…

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Old Mutual embarks on Tiritose/Sisonke Campaign to combat COVID-19

Old Mutual Zimbabwe has embarked on the Tiritose/Sisonke campaign in a bid to address the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic that has led to the loss of lives and decimation of many businesses. The leading financial services provider Old Mutual has donated an assortment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be used by frontline health workers in…

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Steward Bank partners Kunashe Foundation to support underprivileged girls

Zimbabwe’s largest bank by depositors, Steward Bank, has joined forces with Kunashe Foundation to end period poverty in the country by supplying reusable sanitary wear to underprivileged girls. A recent study by SNV Zimbabwe revealed that 72% of menstruating schoolgirls do not use sanitary pads because they cannot afford them resulting in the unhygienic use…

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COVID-19 makes it harder for charcoal producers and traders to make ends meet

By Daniella Silva In Kisangani — Democratic Republic of Congo’s third-largest city — COVID-19 has had an impact on the charcoal industry that its more than 1.8 million inhabitants rely on to meet their daily energy needs, putting forests at greater risk. The additional challenges affecting the supply and transport of essential charcoal during the…

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ZACH encourages HIV-positive people to get vaccinated against COVID-19

The Zimbabwe Association of Church-Related Hospitals (ZACH) is encouraging people living with HIV to be vaccinated in order for them to live healthy lives during this era of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. This emerged at a virtual media briefing held today (Monday 2 August 2021) under the topic of discussion “HIV and COVID-19 Vaccines”. Dr….

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MIM Foundation: Empowering and giving hope to communities

The Manyara Irene Muyenziwa (MIM) Foundation is positively impacting communities through the provision of empowerment initiatives and giving hope for a brighter future for all, including the youths. Inspired by God’s love for humanity, the Manyara Irene Muyenziwa Foundation was founded in 2021 with the aim of giving people of Zimbabwe hope through solutions to…

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Unsafe backyard abortions worrisome: Shamwari Yemwanasikana

By Marlvin Ngiza Girls and young women movement, Shamwari YeMwanasikana has raised concerns over the increase of fatalities caused by unsafe backyard abortions. Shamwari YeMwanasikana Founding Director Ekenia Chifamba expressed the need to review laws that regulate the termination of pregnancy and set harsh penalties for people who take part in unsafe backyard abortions. She…

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Blood donation is sacrosanct: Ignite Youth Association

By Clemence Muchedzi Ignite Youth Association – an organization that motivates youths to have a desire in making a difference in their community, nation, and world at large, has called for affirmative effort among youths to pricelessly invest towards life through blood donation. The operations director of the organization, Passmore Gezana said the donation is…

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COVID-19 adversely impacts livelihoods: Rapid PICES 2020 Top Line Findings

Poverty and Social Impacts of COVID-19 were adverse, the virtual dissemination of the Zimbabwe Poverty 2017-2019 and the 2020-2021 third-round Rapid  Consumption and Expenditure Survey (PICES) survey topline findings revealed. In his opening remarks at the virtual workshop, Mr. Taguma Mahonde, the Director-General of the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) revealed that in 2017, (ZIMSTAT), completed…

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ZUJ mourns late veteran broadcaster Tawanda Gundhlangah

The Zimbabwe Union of journalists (ZUJ) has said it is greatly saddened by the death of another media practitioner, broadcaster Tawanda Gudhlangah, from COVID-19 complications. He was 41. Gudhlangah’s death closely follows that of Sandra Nyaira, another Journalist, who died of COVID-19 last Tuesday. Gudhlangah, an award-winning broadcaster, died yesterday morning at his Zimre Park…

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Maisha Health Fund launches convenient, phone-based medical aid registration via USSD

Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s health insurance unit, Maisha Health Fund, has launched an innovative and convenient way to register for medical aid cover through mobile phone. The service, which is available to all Zimbabweans by simply dialling *147# on a mobile phone, is expected to drive adoption through increased access to digital platforms. Announcing the launch,…

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ZLHR cautions government over improper documentation at COVID-19 vaccination centres

By Kumbirai Mafunda ZIMBABWE Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has asked the Ministry of Health and Child Care to issue proper vaccination cards to people who would have been vaccinated against coronavirus to avoid compromising the ongoing countrywide inoculation programme. In a letter written to Health and Child Care Minister Constantino Chiwenga, ZLHR lawyer Paidamoyo…

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IATA urges global governments to adopt WHO travel rules

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on states to follow new guidance on travel from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The guidance recommends a “risk-based approach” to implementing measures related to Covid-19 and international travel. Specifically, WHO recommended that governments: Do not require proof of Covid-19 vaccination as a mandatory condition for entry…

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Germany provides support to vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe

The Government of Germany, through the German Federal Foreign Office, has contributed EUR 3 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Zimbabwe to support highly vulnerable communities struggling to meet their basic food needs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. This is part of a EUR 18 million contribution by Germany to Southern Africa…

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IAS calls for people living with HIV to be included in priority populations for COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Studies highlighted at IAS 2021 – the IAS Conference on HIV Science – include global WHO analysis indicating HIV is a significant independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness at hospitalization and for in-hospital death. New evidence on HIV and TB drug resistance, updates on acceptability of HIV prevention tools and increased risk faced by…

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Standard Chartered Commits USD 200m Facility With Afreximbank for AU COVID-19 Vaccination Acquisition Programme

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Standard Chartered today announced an agreement for Standard Chartered to provide USD 200m of not-for-profit funding towards Afreximbank’s structured framework to help finance the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines for African nations.   The collaboration between Standard Chartered and Afreximbank will help ensure that 55 countries across Africa have access to…

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South Africa: Women call for end to violence, resumption of vaccine roll out

By Gender Links Info The Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa (WVLSA) project condemns the violence and criminal looting that is ravaging South Africa amid the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. WVLSA calls on President Cyril Ramaphosa to ensure that law and order are restored and that the vaccine roll-out crucial for defending women’s hard…

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COVID-19 Awareness, Kuwadzana Constituency borehole launch ignites the SDG fever in Harare

As the nation is battling to contain the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that is affecting schools, work, and communities while slowing down the pace of the government’s efforts towards a middle-income economy by 2030, the Kuwadzana Constituency in Harare took heed of President Mnangagwa’s clarion call for sustainable development. The Kuwadzana Development Association…

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People with disabilities cite challenges in accessing COVID-19 vaccines

People with disabilities are facing a plethora of challenges in accessing COVID-19 vaccines, a situation that exposes them to the vagaries of the deadly pandemic. Zimbabwe has plans to administer the vaccines to at least two-thirds of the country’s entire population as a means of curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, campaigners…

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UNICEF signs supply agreement for Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine

UNICEF and Sinopharm have signed a long-term agreement for the supply of the BBIBP-CorV inactivated virus vaccine against COVID-19 on behalf of the COVAX Facility. Through the agreement, UNICEF will have access to up to 120 million doses of the vaccine by the end of 2021 to supply participating countries and territories in the COVAX Facility’s Advance Market Commitment (AMC), as…

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Smart Underpants: A New “Brief”​ in Health Monitoring

By Bernard Marr Rumor has it that underwear is getting a lot more interesting these days. In fact, your undergarments are actually getting smarter, thanks to AI innovation in the e-textile industry. Myant Inc., a leading innovation hub for wearables, has developed smart underwear that could become one of the most reliable and effective ways to detect…

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Children of Masvingo West Development Group positively impacts the community

Masvingo West Constituency is destined for greatness, thanks to the developmental initiatives being spearheaded by members of the Children of Masvingo West Development Group. Recently, the Spiked Online Media Crew was in the constituency where it witnessed a number of developmental projects set to positively impact the community across the broad social and economic spectrum….

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Tributes pour for the late Reverend Phumzile Mabizela

The life of the late Reverend Phumzile Mabizela was illustrious as evidenced by an outpouring of tributes to the departed civil society activist as well as a religious and spiritual leader. The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa had kind words for the late community leader whom they described as a shining beacon of emancipation….

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On Vaccines and Why Forced Vaccination Is A No Brainer

By General Nat Turner On vaccines, the problems have been noted largely on the adenovirus-derived vaccines ( AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson) and the mRNA experimental injections (Pfizer and Moderna) where it is alleged that there is a global depopulation agenda and people must be reduced to about two million or even five hundred thousand….

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Harare City Council’s demolition of vending stalls a threat to livelihoods

By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) In Zimbabwe’s highly informal economy where employment in the formal sector is at an all-time low with several reports suggesting that unemployment is standing above 90 percent, the recent demolitions of vending markets queries, whether our preoccupation is on order and not livelihoods. A 2018 study by…

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More ZC players, staff vaccinated against COVID-19

Up to 27 cricketers were part of the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) group that was vaccinated against COVID-19 at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare on Saturday.   Among them were Zimbabwe senior men’s national team players Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chisoro, Richmond Mutumbami, Timycen Maruma, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Victor Nyauchi, Wessly Madhevere, Milton Shumba, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Tadiwanashe…

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Break the Infertility Stigma and Support Girl Education: Merck Foundation

The Merck Foundation has called for action together with 13 African First Ladies and 27 Ministers to Build Healthcare Capacity, Break the Infertility Stigma, and Support Girl Education at their annual conference. Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) “More than a Mother” Ambassadors, African First Ladies of Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of…

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Day of the African Child: LEAD makes a clarion call for protection of children

By Linda Masarira (LEAD President) As Africa celebrates the day of the African child it is important to also note that the real African child has nothing to celebrate. African children are being exploited as cheap labour in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, South Africa and many other African countries. The African child is…

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BrandMed and AstraZeneca partnership – a commitment to patients

Partnering in ecosystem innovation to provide a holistic, integrated approach to healthcare and treatment outcomes The COVID-19 pandemic and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have compelled healthcare stakeholders to explore new ways of improving health systems, stimulating the advancement of healthcare ecosystems that focus on enhancing the patient experience, improving treatment outcomes, while…

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World Bank and AU COVID-19 vaccine task team working to avail vaccines to 400 million Africans

World Bank President David Malpass, and his senior management team, comprised of Dr Axel van Trotsenburg and Dr Makhtar Diop, have met with the African Union’s COVID-19 Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) to discuss modalities for a partnership that will accelerate vaccine deployments to Africa.   In a historic COVID-19 vaccine procurement agreement signed on…

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World Bank partnership unlocks over US$3 billion for African countries to buy vaccines from AU platform

World Bank President David Malpass this week met with a delegation of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT), led by African Union (AU) Special Envoy Strive Masiyiwa, to discuss the multibillion-dollar financing of vaccines for African countries.   Mr. Malpass later tweeted a screenshot of the meeting showing him and the bank’s top leadership,…

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