By Veritas The report on the Auditor-General’s audit of financial statements prepared by local authorities for the 2019 financial year was presented to the National Assembly on the 16th June. Background to the Report Local authorities in Zimbabwe are divided into two main classes: · urban local authorities established under the Urban Councils Act, which comprise…
By Chimeno Azriel People with disabilities (PWDs) are facing many challenges in this era of the Covid 19 pandemic. Chief among them are economic challenges spurring them to be neglected, labelled, reduced, and denied opportunities to own businesses. This was openly discussed during the National Disability Talk Show which was facilitated by Memory Mudzani. During…
By Marlvin Ngiza Societies have been warned against abusing traditional practices such as “chimutsamapfihwa” which is seen as a perpetrator of child marriages when it is done the wrong way. Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association (ZINATHA) President George Kandiero urged societies to change such beliefs and respect the rights of children. Kandiero added that the…
The much-hyped and anticipated Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking (ZIST) conference is a platform meant to spotlight the country’s Vision 2030 by bringing together eminent minds to discuss pathways to make this endeavour a reality. Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo, the ZIST Chief Executive Officer said his organisation is proudly hosting a National Strategic Thinking Conference…
Nigeria’s EbonyLife Studios and Will Packer Productions have partnered to develop an untitled project based on the Bloomberg article “The Fall of the Billionaire Gucci Master” by Evan Ratliff. The rights were won after a highly contested derby by several producers and are now set up at Universal Pictures. Writer discussions are ongoing and progressing quickly. The…
By Farai Chirimumimba I am reminded of the opening statement by U.S Supreme Court Justice John Stevens emotional dissent on (George W) Bush v. (Albert “Al”) Gore 2000 presidential election challenge which read: “Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year’s presidential election, the identity of the…
The recently released 2021 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Synthesis Report on the State of Food and Nutrition Security has revealed widespread regional food insecurity. Below, Spiked Online Media shares the Executive Summary of the report: Southern Africa suffers from widespread food and nutrition insecurity. This year, in the ten SADC Member States that submitted…
Akello, a digital edu-tech company focused on transforming African education through technology, today launched an end-to-end digital learning platform that is set to broaden access to learning opportunities for millions across Africa. “We want to increase access to education across sub-Saharan Africa and level the digital learning field by offering products that target all learners,…
Scientists are observing changes in the Earth’s climate in every region and across the whole climate system, according to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, released yesterday. Many of the changes observed in the climate are unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years, and some of the changes already…
By Charles Dhewa Animals, birds, and trees may not speak English, Chewa, Shona, Ndebele, KiSwahili, or any other language but they certainly speak several languages which human beings are yet to master. Co-existing with microclimates and forests for generations has exposed many African communities to the secret knowledge and languages of nature. As more people…
Remembrance of those who passed during the liberation struggle should be recognised and respected for it is through them we took the first step towards democracy, the Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) party has said in its commemorative message for the Heroes and Defence Forces days. FORUS president, Manyara Irene Muyenziwa said her…
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…
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,…
The United Nations in Zimbabwe and the Freedom of Rights Under Sovereign (FORUS) party have noted with deep concern and condemned strongly the surrounding circumstances leading to the untimely death of 14-year-old Memory Machaya from Marange, who died while giving birth at an apostolic sect shrine. On its part, the UN said it was disturbing…
Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services told a gathering of judges who attended an ICT training workshop in Harare to use the knowledge gained for fair justice delivery. The workshop came at an opportune time when the importance of ICTs becomes more apparent particularly due to the…
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…
By Transparency International This week marks one year since the tragic explosion at the Beirut port, which killed 217, injured 7,000, and left more than 300,000 people houseless. It soon became clear that Lebanese authorities had been aware of the danger posed by the explosive chemicals stockpiled in the harbour. The public could not help…
By Jacob Kudzai Mutisi In Zimbabwe, everything is happening online. People are home and bored, so many are willing to do things that they will never do. Zimbabweans have accepted the use of mobile technology and no doubt, the internet, social media, and SMS have become part and parcel of our lives, which can be…
Lafarge Cement has continued to be on the path to accelerate progress towards its ambition to grow to a USD25m earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) business by 2023, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Precious Nyika said at its 67th Annual General Meeting held today, 6 August 2021. Below, Spiked Online Media shares the Lafarge…
The agricultural impact of climate change would be a little more straightforward if it occurred in a world where crops were free of their microbes. Research published today has found that in this hypothetical landscape, rising global temperatures will boost global agricultural productivity, partly by opening up new arable lands near the poles that were…
Twelve companies received awards at the annual Top Company Survey awards, held virtually last week. The prestigious awards, powered by Old Mutual Zimbabwe, defied all odds following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The awards ran under the theme “From surviving to thriving: reimagining business after the pandemic”, as Zimbabwe’s companies are shifting to reach…
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe Head of Investor Education, Farai Mpofu has urged Zimbabweans to invest in financial literacy as the first step towards fiscal freedom. She was speaking during the first episode of the Bang for Buck series which aired on Thursday. The television series is sponsored by Old Mutual Zimbabwe and…
At 46 years old, Dallas Oberholzer is an unlikely Olympian, but tomorrow Africa’s best men’s skater will make his debut in skateboarding’s park event at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Johannesburg-based skater has no illusions – “I won’t win a medal,” he said – but he’s part of the sport’s new mainstream and happy to…
BancEasy Zimbabwe, the microfinance subsidiary of BancABC has today unveiled its new digital civil servant loans product. The launch of the new digital offering is another giant step in the bank’s aggressive digital transformation agenda which commenced last year. BancEasy is a registered microfinance that was incorporated in 2012 and is part of the ABC…
By the World Bank STORY HIGHLIGHTS A new report by the World Bank and the Government of Zimbabwe shows that more public spending in agriculture has not translated into more productivity The report warns that without Climate-Smart Agriculture Investments, Zimbabwe’s staple food crop, maize, is expected to see a 33% yield reduction by 2030 Strengthening…
Zvimba Rural District Council in Mashonaland West has received more than a million Zimbabwean dollars under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Program 2,(ERRP2) which they are using to rehabilitate about 297,7 km road network in rural and urban areas of the district. ZRDC Chief Executive Officer Aenas Chidakwa said they have already started the road rehabilitation…
Step into the tattered shoes of these young innocent souls. It’s hard having a mother out of reach, incarcerated; unable to be taken care of. Rumbling sounds of an empty stomach every day and night; sleepless nights thinking, “Am I ready to face the next day?” How do you feel? Jedidiah Trust has taken the…
By Chris Donkin Huawei reportedly played down a lack of 5G support caused by US restrictions in its latest high-end handsets, as the vendor launched its Harmony OS-powered P50 series handsets for the Chinese market. Although its previous P-series devices were 5G compatible, the P50 uses a Snapdragon 888 4G chipset. Some versions of the P50 Pro…
By Veritas Introduction This Bill proposes to bring the Police Act into conformity with the provisions of the Constitution. The Bill can be accessed on the Veritas website [link] as can the Act itself [link]. Importance of the Bill The Police Act [which we shall call the Act in this bulletin] regulates the appointment and discipline of police officers…
Shamwari Yemwanasikana has come out guns blazing condemning a 28th of July 2021, H- Metro newspaper article about a 14-year-old girl who died in labour after being denied hospital assistance by a member of an unnamed apostolic sect. The girl empowerment lobby group alluded to the constitution of the Republic of Zimbabwe that affords everyone…
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo We are getting closer to 2023. Every day, some will always laugh and point out the false prophet narratives on Passion Java while he is busy mobilizing for President Mnangagwa’s camp. Remember, the Presidential vote is all about numbers. Some are busy making him popular and admiring him, and he is…
Zimbabwe is set to get more than five million Covid-19 vaccinations in the coming few weeks after the African Union (AU), African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), and Unicef secured 400 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The country last month approved the emergency use of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine in addition to…
Upcoming Afro-fusion musician Tichaona Gozho, affectionately known as Mdhara Gozho in entertainment circles, has opened up on his musical sojourn leading to the recording of the hit single ‘Dzihwa Mupengo’ (Coronavirus), the Covid-19 pandemic which has gripped the entire world bringing with it new ways of life. Born on 10 September 1982 at St Theresa…
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…
By Marlvin Ngiza Many schools across the country are set to benefit from the national e-learning strategy initiative that will provide free internet access for nine months. Speaking at a post-cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said 400 schools that already have internet connectivity will be…
By Veritas The thirty-first amendment to the Lock-down Order was published on the 30th July, in SI 210 of 2021, and can be accessed on the Veritas website [link]. Its effect is simply to extend the Level IV lock-down until the 10th of August, i.e. until after the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day weekend. The special lock-downs…
By Charles Dhewa For most developing countries, the COVID19 pandemic has shown the undisputed value of indigenous food. Several communities that had become used to depending on imported food and medicines suddenly discovered they can use lockdowns and restrictions to taste and use indigenous food as well as medicines that are easily an expression of…
Equity Axis, a financial research and media house, has launched a television series to equip Zimbabweans with the basics of growing their wealth. The programme, which is sponsored by Old Mutual, will explore key themes on how to invest money, how to preserve income, and how to navigate financial systems and institutions to unlock financial…
By Bernard Marr Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, is building the world’s first “smart city” in Japan. Woven City, located near the base of Mt. Fuji, will be a 175-acre, fully autonomous community designed to test new technologies like automated driving, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) in a real-world environment. The prototype “city of the future” will…
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…
Youths have expressed mixed feelings regarding empowerment initiatives such as the Empower Bank fund. ZANU (PF) national youth leader Tendai Chirau said he was impressed by the ability of the Empower Bank loan facility for backing up youths’ businesses and boosting entrepreneurship among youths in Zimbabwe. Chirau said Zimbabwe was the first country in Africa…
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….
By Bernard Marr You already know that artificial intelligence is now the foundation of many of Google’s most popular (and useful) products and services. But did you know that many of the most promising breakthroughs from Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., are also powered by AI? Let’s take a look at how Alphabet is expanding…
By Bernard Marr Extended reality (XR for short) – which encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality – uses technology to create more immersive digital experiences. In my latest book, Extended Reality In Practice, I look at a variety of sectors where XR is being used, and one of my favorite sectors is in the world…
By Namatai Marygrace Chipunza It pretty much felt like any other usual day, until my friend called me around mid-day and alerted me on how unwell she was feeling. I quickly had to drop everything I was doing and rushed her off to the hospital. Hospitals in Africa have always been somewhat unique. When you…
