Times of Unprecedented Crisis present Unique Opportunities for Unprecedented Action

By Graça Machel, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr. Vera Songwe, Maria Ramos COVID 19 has unearthed massive inequalities within our societies and brought to glaring light the unique burdens which women carry the world over. Allocation of response resources should be targeted towards the immediate needs of managing the virus as well as future-looking to simultaneously…

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African Parliamentarians aim for increased health budgets amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has urged its members to ensure that African Union (AU) member states allocate adequate funding to cater for healthcare systems when budgets are submitted to Parliaments for consideration. The call follows a briefing to members of the PAP Committees on Health and Gender by the Africa CDC, which revealed that inadequate…

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Donors allocate additional funds to the Health Development Fund in Zimbabwe

The European Union (EU) and Sweden have provided significant new funding to the multi-donor Health Development Fund (HDF) – managed by UNICEF and UNFPA. The HDF supports health system strengthening in Zimbabwe since its inception in 2011 under the Health Transition Fund. The EU has  provided new funds amounting to over USD 41 million as…

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Government outlines measures to ensure safety when schools reopen

By Anyway Yotamu The government continues to put in place intervention measures to increase the capacity to fight the coronavirus pandemic as infections stood at 387 on Monday. Addressing journalists after the Covid-19 inter-ministerial Taskforce meeting at State House in Harare this Monday, Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the government…

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Zimbabwe Achievers Awards Foundation donates to the less privileged

By Anyway Yotamu The Zimbabwe Achievers Awards Foundation (ZAA ) on Monday the 15th of June 2020 handed over food hampers donated by ZAA Alumni to Esteemed Children’s Trust (ECT) Caledonia branch in an effort to assist the charity’s work with underprivileged children in the communities. A representative of the foundation and also the ZAA…

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United States increases COVID-19 funding to $18 million in Zimbabwe

The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $10 million in response to COVID-19. The funds will go to the World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian assistance for nearly 100,000 vulnerable people in eight urban areas.  With this additional funding, U.S. assistance to the COVID-19 response in…

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DRC: COVID-19 continues to spread, with potentially deadly secondary impacts

Since Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) declared its first case of COVID-19 on March 10, the coronavirus has gradually spread across the country. Congolese authorities are working to reduce the spread of disease, especially in the capital, Kinshasa, with some 13 million residents. The government implemented preventive measures, including movement restrictions, a partial lockdown of…

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Masiyiwa and his global partners donate 1 000 ventilators

Strive Masiyiwa has announced the arrival of 45 full ICU ventilators in Zimbabwe which the businessman ordered a couple of months back. The billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, who is the African Union’s Special Envoy to Coordinate the Africa Private Sector Initiative for the Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment and other Essential Supplies, also announced that…

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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Myth busters

Can shoes spread the COVID-19 virus? The likelihood of COVID-19 being spread on shoes and infecting individuals is very low. As a precautionary measure, particularly in homes where infants and small children crawl or play on floors, consider leaving your shoes at the entrance of your home. This will help prevent contact with dirt or…

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African Development Bank COVID-19 response: moving from commitment to action

The African Development Bank (https://www.AfDB.org) has responded swiftly to the needs of its member countries during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank’s operations have continued to run smoothly since the first cases appeared in early March, despite the wide range of lockdowns and measures imposed by governments to flatten the curve. The COVID-19 pandemic is…

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COVID 19: Lockdown versus children’s rights in Zimbabwe.

By Anyway Yotamu As Zimbabwe enters the third month under lockdown, which was announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the 27th of March 2020 it’s an undisputed fact that COVID-19 has disrupted people’s daily routines, often with negative consequences, while the impact of this pandemic has largely taken adult lenses, there is need to pay…

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Alive Albinism Initiative Commemorates International Albinism Awareness Day

By Joyce Mukucha As Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Albinism Awareness Day, Alive Albinism Initiative has commended different stakeholders for extending unwavering support to people with albinism. The organisation seeks to see a world where people with albinism rise and compete in the race of life, empowering them so…

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The informal sector to reopen: President Mnangagwa

By Anyway Yotamu President Emmerson Mnangagwa has moved to reopen the country’s informal market after over two months closure as part of his government’s attempts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In his address at State House on Friday 12th of June 2020, President Mnangagwa also reopened churches but maintained the number of congregants at…

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MSF caring for the world’s most vulnerable amid a pandemic

COVID-19 has affected millions all over the world. Like many other organisations responding to the pandemic, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is faced with challenges—from the global shortage of PPEs to lack of transportation. Despite these obstacles, MSF finds ways to care for the most vulnerable: children, refugees, people living with HIV, high-risk groups, and more….

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President Mnangagwa declares the 15th of June National Day of prayer

By Anyway Yotamu President  Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the 15th of June 2020 as the Presidential National Day of Prayer and Fasting. Addressing journalists at Statehouse in Harare, President Mnangagwa emphasized the need to continue abiding by the COVID-19 regulations while at the same time resorting to prayer and fasting so as to conquer the…

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ZHRC insight on the education sector’s preparedness to re-open schools during COVID-19

By Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Introduction and background The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) is mandated to monitor the observance of human rights and freedoms by Section 243 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013. According to the Principles relating to the Status of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) (Paris Principles,…

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COVID-19: ECOZI feels learners with disabilities are disenfranchised

The Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI) said it appreciates the initiatives being taken by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MOPSE) in ensuring continuous learning during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the steps being taken towards re-opening of schools but feels learners with disabilities are being left behind.   The coalition applauded the…

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World leaders make historic commitments to providing equal access to vaccines for all

World leaders have pledged an additional US$ 8.8 billion for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, far exceeding the target of US$ 7.4 billion. The funding will help immunise 300 million more children in the world’s poorest countries against diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria by the end of 2025. It will also support health systems to…

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Ecocash Online Self-service portal hailed for its convenience

Ecocash’s online self-service portal allows its agents, merchants, billers, bulk payers, and payroll channel partners to submit their applications online without the need to physically visit Econet shops or offices to be served. The self-service portal, which is open to existing and prospective channel partners, allows them to register on an online portal, submit their…

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Boost for Zimbabwe students, learners as Cassava Edutech launches Akello E-library

Cassava Edutech has launched the Akello E-library, an online library platform offering hundreds of school curriculum books that are set to strengthen Zimbabwe’s education sector by providing learners, students and teachers with easy access to a wide variety of Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) prescribed text books in schools. “We are introducing the Akello E-Library…

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Zimnat hosts online cocktail party for clients

Zimnat has found an innovative way to interact with and entertain its clients during the Covid‑19 lockdown, by holding online cocktail parties, which it has branded Gungano/Umhlangano Online Cocktail Parties. The first of these was held on Friday for Zimnat Life Assurance corporate customers. More will be held in the coming weeks. Invitations to attend…

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Autonomous Delivery Robots – Demand Is Skyrocketing During The COVID-19 Pandemic

By Bernard Marr One thing that the novel coronavirus COVID-19 did for all of us was to push us outside comfort zones and to adapt to new ways of working and living no matter how resistant we might be. From enabling telecommuting for workers who hadn’t done so prior to tackling video conferencing, we expanded…

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All the Things in Digital Health You’ve Missed During COVID-19

By Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD Director of The Medical Futurist Institute (Keynote Speaker, Author & Futurist) It’s been enough for a bit, isn’t it? For three months now, there has been little space in the world for any other kind of news. That is, news without the word ‘coronavirus’. But there was innovation, there is excitement…

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Virtual Launch of the Internet of Good Things (IoGT) welcomed

UNICEF, in partnership with Econet Wireless and ZiFM Stereo is launching The Internet of Good Things (IoGT) through a virtual live music show featuring Jah Prayzah, Gemma Griffiths, Tamy Moyo, Long John, Nutty O and Asaph. The event will be aired live on ZiFM Radio as well as streamed through ZiFM, UNICEF Zimbabwe and Econet Wireless Facebook…

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Small scale miners struggling to adhere to COVID-19 regulations

By Habakkuk Trust Some small scale mining companies are seemingly struggling to adhere to COVID-19 safety precautions at a time when positive cases are on the rise. These revelations came after a snap survey conducted by Habakkuk Trust in Bubi and Umzingwane Districts to ascertain COVID-19 compliance in the sector. Habakkuk Trust has noted with concern…

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Chikuku: the place where great minds converge on driving development

“Let’s meet on Chapwati – our WhatsApp group for the Chikuku Development Initiative. Chapwati in our Duma sub-dialect of the Karanga dialect of the Shona language means something awesome, amazing, extraordinary, and impactful,” says world-renowned author and historian, Claude Maredza as he makes reference to a social media group meant to uplift the area and…

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Stanbic distributes US$200 000 worth of goods towards Covid-19

By Anyway Yotamu. Leading financial services institution, Stanbic Bank has started distributing US$200 000 worth of equipment to health institutions throughout the country for use by frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19. The Standard Bank Group subsidiary pledged to purchase equipment to help fight COVID-19 in April and has now taken delivery of US$200…

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Eswatini’s Greg XV and Malcolm.E drop ‘Quarantine’ collabo

Eswatini Hip Hop artists Greg XV and Malcolm.E have partnered on a new lockdown track called ‘Quarantine’. The song is dedicated to everyone going through a difficult time during the COVID-19 pandemic and was inspired by an appreciation for their American Peace Corps volunteer friends who were forced to return to their home country due…

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COVID-19: Waddilove Class of 1992, ZiCHIRe rescue Hopley’s underprivileged

The Waddilove High School Ordinary Level Class of 1992 joined hands with the Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research (ZiCHIRe) to come to the rescue of the less privileged people of the poor community of Hopley who are facing a plethora of challenges including shortages of basic food and access to drugs and medicines amid the ravaging…

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Informal sector hard hit by the indefinite lockdown

By the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development The announcement of the indefinite lockdown by President E.D Mnangagwa was received with mixed feelings with some sections of the society feeling that the decision was not made after careful considerations. Nevertheless, those arguing from a public health corner considered the decision as noble in as far…

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Quarantine centres: a cause for concern

By Habakkuk Trust Inmates currently in quarantine facilities and those that have since been released from holding have raised fears that living conditions at the centres provide a haven for COVID-19 cross infections.  Quarantine centres have become the epicentre of COVID-19 infections in Zimbabwe, contributing over 70% of the country’s new infections. Infections hit a…

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ARC Webinar: COVID-19 and its impact on Health, Livelihoods and Food Security

Impacts of the current COVID-19 global pandemic to Africa could be devastating to livelihoods, health and food security. Despite the upsurge in humanitarian measures to support vulnerable people on the continent, the compounded effects of health and food security crises are placing a heavy burden on African economies. It is in this context that African…

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Kuchengetana Relief Kitchen brings smiles to the less privileged in Chitungwiza

By Ronnie Chisamba An ordinary Mount Pleasant mother has brought smiles to many residents in Chitungwiza and the surrounding areas by providing food and other necessities during the ongoing Covid-19  induced countrywide lockdown. Samantha Shingirai Murozoki (35), a  married mother of 2 has brought smiles to the less fortunate in the community of the satellite…

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COVID-19: UNESCO Offers ResiliArt Illustration Contest

At least thirty emerging and established creatives are in the running for UNESCO’s ResiliArt Illustration Contest prizes. Worth a whopping USD$1700, the prizes are spread across four categories- including an Audience Appreciation Award. Open to talent from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the contest is a part of UNESCO’s…

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Strive Masiyiwa Buys Back Mascom Botswana For USD$300 Million

African and global philanthropists team up to manufacture COVID-19 medical equipment in Africa

African and global philanthropists have teamed up to help African nations secure urgently needed ventilators, breathing support devices and other medical equipment, in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Strive Masiyiwa, co-founder of Higherlife Foundation, who has recently been appointed as an African Union Special Envoy to mobilise the private sector response to COVID-19, is…

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COVID-19: Huawei Enterprise hosts online Summit on digital transformation

Huawei Enterprise Business Group (EBG) (https://e.huawei.com/) will host the Huawei Southern Africa FSI Summit online 2020 (https://bit.ly/2XwKFL0) on May 29th, from 10.00am – 12.00pm, with the theme of “Accelerating Digital Transformation, Enable Business Growth Again”. The online summit will include presentations from Chen Lei, President of Huawei Southern Africa Region, and Chen Kun Te, Huawei Chief Digital…

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GOAL Zimbabwe supports over 243,000 children with lifesaving nutrition intervention

By Anyway Yotamu GOAL Zimbabwe, through funding from ECHO and in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has launched a lifesaving nutrition programme which will reach almost a quarter of a million children under the age of five years for the next 12 months. The Nutrition Emergency Response for Early Detection and…

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