TB testing: calls for increased access to people on treatment

The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is calling on governments and donors to speed up access to new, shorter, safer, and more effective treatments for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), as well as the diagnostic tests needed to initiate treatment on these medicines. This is part of a “Call to Action” that…

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Global Fund in Partnership for Rapid Molecular Tests for TB

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Stop TB Partnership announced a new collaboration today with Molbio Diagnostics that significantly reduces the price of the Truenat® MTB and MTB Plus tests, including a supply of MTB-RIF Dx tests for subsequent…

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Researchers seek climate-resilient rice as part of USDA grant

Scientists at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Extension Center seek to develop rice that is more resilient in the face of climate change and usable water depletion. Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station scientists Nick Bateman, associate professor and extension entomologist, and Stan De Guzman, assistant professor and rice breeder, have…

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Genome editing promotes industrialisation, enhances crop resistance to pests and diseases

Genome editing is one of the new and emerging technologies that falls under the biotechnology umbrella, the application of which can potentially enhance the agricultural sector through improved crop resistance to pests and adverse environmental conditions, a senior government official has said. Professor Fanuel Tagwira, the Permant Secretary for the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary…

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Enhance education to increase participation of women and girls in science

By Nhau Mangirazi Sometime in March last year, a climate change advocacy group set foot in the rural outskirts of Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge within Manicaland province. The refugee camp is situated about 420 km southeast of the capital Harare and was established in 1984. All for Climate Action, an organization that promotes action…

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Zimbabwe’s digital space: Minister Muswere appraises Commonwealth Telecommunications Organizations

Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services, during a Ministerial Alliance for Digital Nations meeting for the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organizations, gave an overview of strides being made by Zimbabwe in its quest to enhance the digital economy. Below, Spiked Online Media shares a synopsis of the current status…

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Zimbabwe to host the 6th Transform Africa Summit at the Victoria Falls

The Transform Africa Summit is the leading African tech and digital event organised by Smart Africa which gathers over 5000 delegates from more than 100 countries   Zimbabwe will be hosting the 6th Transform Africa Summit (TAS) (https://TransformAfricaSummit.org) from the 26th to the 28th of April 2023 at Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe was selected against bids…

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CUT’s 5th International Conference roars into life

By Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – All is set for the Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) 5th International Conference coinciding with the tertiary institution”s 20th anniversary. The Conference themed “Innovation, Industrialization, Growth and Sustainable Development” is running from 13 March 2023 to 17 March 2023. The conference brings together regional and international academia to the Mashonaland…

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ICTs usher convenience in life: Minister Muswere

Dr. Jenfan Muswere has underscored the fact that information communication technology has a positive transformational power in people’s lives. Dr. Muswere, who is the Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, made the remarks at the official launch of Tshazi Secondary School, Stanmore Primary School, Garanyemba Secondary School, Ntepe Secondary School, Selonga Secondary…

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NetOne, ZETDC rollout of smart meters ignites digital innovation and transformation

A partnership between the leading mobile telephony company, Netone, and power utility Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETC) has seen the rollout of smart meters across the country in the quest to entrench digital innovation and transformation. In his address during the rollout of the programme at the NetOne High-Value Customer Centre in Harare…

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ICT sector a forerunner for attaining Vision 2030

The information communication technology (ICT) sector is the critical cog for the digital economy that is stated as one of the fourteen national priorities underpinning the government’s strategy for the period 2021 – 2025, as the country thrives to become an Upper-Middle Income society by 2030. These were the sentiments of Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the…

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African scientists trained in cutting-edge technology to adapt agriculture to climate change

Climate change is making it harder to grow enough nutritious food, but a unique programme is training African scientists in harnessing cutting-edge breeding tools to adapt agriculture to new threats. The African Plant Breeding Academy, a programme for top plant breeders to upgrade their skills in advanced crop breeding, is training 11 doctorate-level scientists from…

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Computer labs for Bulawayo Province spur growth of ICTs sector

In the quest to provide an enabling environment for the growth of the ICTs sector, the government has deployed computer laboratories for schools in the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. This came to the fore when Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services presided over the official launch of Schools’ ICT labs in…

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Large-scale HIV vaccine efficacy study stopped

AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) reports that the Mosaico study, a large-scale HIV vaccine efficacy study also known as HVTN 706/HPX3002, was stopped early for non-efficacy. The study took place in several countries in North and South America and Europe to test the safety and efficacy of the adenovirus26-based vaccine regimen among 3,900 cis-gender men…

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Entrenching ICTs for education as schools in Masvingo get computer laboratories

The Ministry of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services together with the Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) launched computer laboratories for 14 schools in Masvingo Province yesterday. Kanongovere Secondary; Chikwerengwe Secondary; Rafamoyo High; Mushayavanhu Primary; Mutero Central Primary; Magombedze High; Chimombe Mudyanadzo High; Mutambwi High; Rumhizha High; and Mutendi High;…

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Computers come in handy for social work, public services and employment creation

Computers received by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare from the Ministry of ICT, Postal and Courier Services will propel the former’s key mandates in the provision of inclusive social protection, labour disputes resolution, fostering a conducive labour market environment, job creation and placement for job seekers. This emerged yesterday when Hon…

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DFA Zimbabwe Partners International Firm on Long-haul Fibre-optic project

Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Dr. Jenfan Muswere recently commissioned, in the resort town of Victoria Falls, the first multi-million dollar rail fiber optic project invested by international group Bandwidth and Cloud Services (BCS) in partnership with DFA Zimbabwe. This is not only aimed at addressing the much-needed network diversity and redundancy…

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NetOne offers more value as two lucky customers win generators

As NetOne strengthens its position as the leading network of choice, two lucky winners walked away with a generator each in the company’s Mo Gigs Grand Prize held at the Netone Cleveland offices today. Presenting the prizes to Admire Mungororo (18) from Mabvuku, and Blessed Mutambaneshiri (20) from Budiriro 3, NetOne Group Chief Executive Officer,…

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Government committed to providing robust and reliable communications infrastructure

The launch of the Fiber Connections Zimbabwe network is testimony to the Government’s commitment to ensuring the provision of robust and reliable communications infrastructure across the country, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal, and Courier Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere has said. The Minister made the remarks today during the launch of the network…

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POTRAZ enhancing consumer wellbeing through Customer Satisfaction Surveys

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is using customer satisfaction surveys in a bid to enhance consumer well-being by availing products and services that meet their needs and wants. This was revealed by Dr. Gift Machengete, the Director-General of POTRAZ during the organisation’s launch of the 2022 Customer Satisfaction Survey in Chitungwiza…

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Why claims that gene editing doesn’t involve insertion of foreign genes or DNA are false

By Claire Robinson of GMWatch with technical advice from Dr. Michael Antoniou and Dr. Yves Bertheau Currently, governments around the world are moving to scrap regulatory safeguards around genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that are claimed to contain no foreign genes or foreign DNA. They choose to believe GMO lobby assertions that GM gene-edited plants and…

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Digital Payments: A Crucial Step in the Financial Inclusion Endgame

By Andy Jury (CEO of Mukuru) In years gone by, pages such as these have been awash with articles and opinions about fintechs and their potential to drive financial inclusion and improve the lives of millions of unbanked and underserved communities. While these opinions have been crucial in raising awareness, the discussion should now shift…

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Zimbabwe’s national e-learning strategy spreads to rural schools

By Clayton Masekesa CHIPINGE – The Zimbabwe government has intensified digital capability in rural schools through the Presidential National E-learning Strategy which is aimed at bridging the digital divide between rural and urban schools. The government last weekend donated 150 computers to five schools in the Chipinge district, with each school getting 30 computers, as…

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3rd Quarter 2022 Postal and Telecommunication Sector Performance Report

Address By The POTRAZ Director General, Dr. G. K. Machengete The Director General of the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ), hereby presents the key trends observed in the Postal and Telecommunications sector during the third quarter of 2022 as follows:   Growth in subscriptions across all markets Total active mobile subscriptions increased…

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Mauritius journalist appeals for amplified voices over floods, climate change

By Nhau Mangirazi in Cape Town, South Africa Shehzad Joomun, a journalist from Mauritius is suffering from emotional pressure affecting communities against the effects of climate change that has resulted in property damages, food insecurity, and health challenges in his home country. Mauritius is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometers off…

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Media key in setting science reporting agenda: UNESCO

By Nhau Mangirazi Cape Town, South Africa – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Education Organization (UNESCO) senior regional science programs specialist Martial Zebaze Kana has called on the media to articulate science stories with a bearing on communities. Speaking during the science training course here, Kana said the media remains part of a…

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Living Digital: Strengthening Consumer-Powered Healthcare in Zimbabwe

Population Solutions for Health There is no denying that consumers are becoming digital natives. For more than two decades Population Services International Zimbabwe (PSI), now Population Solutions for Health (PSH) has been strengthening healthcare in Zimbabwe towards a new future. PSH with support from PSI Digital Health Monitoring Team, recognize that consumers continue to evolve…

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TelOne Centre for Learning a citadel for development of ICT and technology

The TelOne Centre for Learning has been described as a citadel for the development of ICT and technology necessary to propel Zimbabwe into an upper-middle income economy by 2030. This was revealed by Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and courier services during the 8th TelOne Centre for Learning (TCFL)…

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Major ICT boost for Midlands Province

The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, left the Midlands Province ICT-enabled following the launch of five (5) community information centres (CICs) and six (6) ICT labs in Shurugwi on 28 November 2022. Gracing the launch were the Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Hon. Dingimuzi Phuti; the Director General…

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Zimbabwe in belated commemoration of World Post Day

Zimbabwe celebrated World Post Day last week in Bulawayo at a colourful ceremony attended by senior government officials and players in the information communication technology (ICT sector). Among the important dignitaries were the Minister of the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Dr. Jenfan Muswere and the Permanent Secretary, Dr Beaullah Chirume….

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Scientists Say A Recommendation from WHO Would Save Newborns

The OPTIMMUNIZE 2022 conference in Denmark gave researchers a chance to present groundbreaking findings that would save newborns. Before the meeting, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus opened the conference and spoke about how the infant mortality rate has more than halved globally since 1990 but newborn mortality has not kept pace. In 2020, 2.4 million…

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Paynow creating a better business environment

By Hillary Munedzi The Paynow seamless payment system will solve the high poverty levels besetting the economy, with 73% of the population earning not more than US$100.00 per month according to the Finscope Consumer Survey. Vulnerability indicators, according to the 2022 Finscope Consumer Survey point to more hardships for the majority of Zimbabweans, with 68%…

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NetOne celebrates International Day for Universal Access to Information

Mobile telephony giant NetOne yesterday belatedly joined the rest of the world, in commemorating the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). As a key stakeholder in the Telecommunications & ICT sector, the company reckons the importance of the day which is significant in its inclusive thrust to ensure access to information for all….

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Energy entity Power Giants scoops top award

Sowell Chikwari A leading energy and power development firm, Power Giants Southern and East Africa has received yet another feather in its cap after clinching a prestigious accolade – The best Innovative Electrical Engineering Company in Renewable Energy and Electrical Engineering at The Annual National Iconic Entrepreneurs Awards held in Harare yesterday. The vibrant and…

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Egypt and Norway to Establish 100MW Green Hydrogen Plant on Red Sea

On 8 November 2022, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and 1Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre launched the first phase of a project to establish a major green hydrogen plant in Egypt’s Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea. President El-Sisi and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre launched on Tuesday the first phase of a project…

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ICT Minister commissions 10 community information centres in Harare

In a clear sign of commitment to upscaling digital penetration and inclusion, Harare Province has been blessed with 10 community information centres (CICs) commissioned today. The initiative is in sync with the  National Development Strategy (NDS1) that emphasises the Digital Economy as one of the fourteen national priorities for the period 2021 – 2025. This…

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