By Joyce Mukucha As the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) is just around the corner, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen officially launched a new report, ‘Making Peace with Nature’ which is a scientific blueprint to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution emergencies. During an online press briefing on…
By Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Introduction and Background The Minister of Mines and Mining Development has in terms of section 403 of the Mines and Minerals Act [Chapter 21:05] increased mining fees by over 800 percent quoting the fees in United States dollars[1] but payable at the prevailing exchange rate. This is highlighted in the…
The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) offers new opportunities to transform Zimbabwe into a digitally enabled society by the year 2030, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services has said. He made the remarks during a virtual 4IR summit which is running under the theme” towards a developed economy…
The European Union has said it welcomes further opportunities for continued dialogue and engagement with Zimbabwe and reiterates its ambition for a more constructive relationship. The EU recalls the Council Conclusions of 17 February 2020 and notes with concern that Zimbabwe’s multifaceted and prolonged crisis has further deepened. The bloc said the lack of substantial…
By Tanaka Chidora The second half of my childhood was spent in Mbare. As Mbare citizens, we were at the receiving end of jokes by those who wanted to feel better about their achievements regardless of how small those achievements were. According to them, Mbare was that place where you had to take a bath…
By Joyce Mukucha Following the commissioning of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) Plant that is the brainchild of the Office of the President and Cabinet in Msasa, Harare, Vice President Kembo Mohadi stressed the need to embrace more digital initiatives. He emphasised that digital initiatives play a pivotal role in the easy access to…
Bernard Marr AI can do incredible things, but just because something is possible doesn’t mean it’s right. There’s enormous potential for backlash against the misuse of AI, and policymakers and regulators will no doubt take an increasing interest in AI. This means it’s vital organizations pursue an ethical use of AI. Here are four ways…
By Joyce Mukucha The Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry has appointed new board chairpersons for Forestry Commission and Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (Zimparks). The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu has announced the appointment of Mrs Veronica Gundu Jakarasi as the Forestry Commission Board Chairperson…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the financing and promotion of the automotive industry in Africa. Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank and Mike Whitfield, President of AAAM and Managing Director of Nissan Africa, signed the MoU in early February,…
Bertalan Meskó, MD, PhD Anti-vaccination (anti-vax) movements lure increasingly more people into skipping potentially life-saving immunisation against infectious diseases, such as measles, mumps, or rubella; highly impairing herd immunity for entire communities. You might have encountered such sentiments on social media, but people living a century before also experienced similar resistance to vaccines during the…
One of the Zimdancehall and award-winning musicians, Soul Muzavazi Musaka who was popularly known with the stage name ‘Soul Jah Love’ has been declared a liberation hero. His hero status was confirmed Thursday afternoon by the Zanu PF Secretary for Administration Dr. Obert Mpofu. Communicating the development in a statement, Dr. Mpofu said, “His Excellency,…
Under the project, Enhancing Multi-Sectoral Assistance to Cyclone Idai Affected Populations in Zimbabwe, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is supporting the Government of Zimbabwe with the provision of transitional shelters to 674 households affected by Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. Among households receiving transitional shelter, assistance is 224 from three formal camps…
By Adam Molai I have noted with extreme dismay Maverick Citizen’s references to Pacific Cigarette Company and myself in its Cartel Power Dynamics in Zimbabwe “expose”. The allegations are completely untrue and without foundation. We would have made this clear had Maverick Citizen afforded Pacific Cigarette Company or myself the opportunity to respond, as required…
By Joyce Mukucha In the quest to improve agricultural productivity, the government is in the process of disbursing motorcycles and mobile tablets to the extension officers. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr John Basera told the media that the provision of extension services will play a crucial role in terms of transforming…
By Grace Goodrich The country seeks to engage local service providers to supply goods and services to gas megaprojects to drive in-country value generation and retention Mozambique defied global investment flows by reporting a rise in deal activity in 2020. Now, the country seeks to engage local service providers to supply goods and services to…
By John Wilson Following up on the theme of changing our ‘machine’-leaning mindsets, whenever we are dealing with life and not machines, I’ve been giving plenty of thought the last few weeks to what most people call ‘weeds’. Many people don’t like this term, especially those who eat them. I’m one of those. My laptop…
New version available for users in Southern Africa Huawei Mobile Services has launched its latest version of HUAWEI AppGallery, featuring a new and enhanced way to discover content – for users in South Africa. The newest update empowers users to smoothly discover an array of new apps, games, and resources on the platform and delve…
Zimbabweans are working on establishing a movement to defend abused countrymen working and residing in the diaspora. The proposal to set up a movement is informed by the need to protect Zimbabweans against their ill-treatment as foreigners in the diaspora. This came out clear on the Africa 54 hot seat platform where one of the…
The leader of the Labour Economists and Afrikan Democrats (LEAD) Ms. Linda Masarira has cautioned Susan Mutami against exposing herself to sexploitation. Ms. Masarira was responding to trending tweets doing the rounds on social media whereby Ms. Mutami is exposing pictures of herself in compromising positions with sexual connotations whereby she appeared with several high-profile…
By Joyce Mukucha Bemoaning the negative effects posed by the Covid-19 pandemic on women and girls, the United Nations (UN) Women said it was of paramount importance to build back green, equitable, gender-responsive, and inclusive approaches and activism. In her opening remarks at the UN Women Executive Board First Regular Session 2021, yesterday, the Under-Secretary-General…
By Joyce Mukucha Capgemini Group, a global leader in consulting, digital transformation, technology, and engineering services, has partnered with another global player and the leading European cloud provider, OVHcloud in empowering public and private organisations with secure cloud transformation needs. The new alliance builds on the companies’ long-term relationship in France is aimed at bringing…
By Joyce Mukucha The Office of the Provincial Development Coordinator for Harare Metropolitan Province in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) has noted with concern the recent unwarranted power outages being caused by overgrown trees and illegal settlements. Following this, residents have been urged to trim trees and remove building structures that…
For those in the business of shipping and grain, 2020 was a rollercoaster ride. Second-quarter lockdowns prompted demand for some grain-based products to spike as consumers stockpiled and splurged on specific goods, including specialty flours. However, overall global economic demand for most commodities fell precipitously, and bulk carrier shipping spot and time charter rates slumped…
By Dr Raymond Chamba It is well. The story of Zimbabwe can never be complete without folks realizing at last that when it comes to this amazing nation now pitifully hobbled with ineptitude, administrative indifference, corruption, sanctions, and general loss of confidence in our greatness….nomatter what we feel, or think – we are sleeping on,…
By Believe Tevera Tobacco contract farming in Zimbabwe does not benefit the ordinary farmer, as it turns farmers into slaves to enrich the Contracting Companies. Farmers are turned into disguised workers for the contracting companies and they are always in debt, leaving them without surplus money to recapitalize and survive. The contracting companies do not…
By Veritas Both the Senate and the National Assembly sat this afternoon, Tuesday 16th February, for their first working sittings of 2021 after their earlier token sitting in late January and early February, respectively. COVID-19 restrictions will be observed at this week’s sittings, so only a very limited number of Senators and MPs will be physically…
Zimbabwe have selected a youthful squad to face Afghanistan in two Tests and three T20 international matches in Abu Dhabi. Tarisai Musakanda, who had not played another Test match since he made his debut away to Sri Lanka in July 2017, has bounced back to reclaim his place in the national side following some impressive…
By Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Following a recent spike in COVID-19-related cases and deaths, Zimbabwe’s already struggling health system is buckling under the pressure. In several facilities, health workers are operating without adequate PPE, medication, equipment and oxygen and, with an existing and ongoing shortage of nurses and doctors, most health centres are unable to operate at…
By Charles Dhewa When policy makers, development agencies, the private sector and ordinary people talk about agricultural markets, they rarely talk about consumer power. There is often too much emphasis on producers, financing, cold chain, transportation, value addition and processing, yet all these are meaningless if efforts are not devoted to understanding the consumer base. Farmers and…
The power sector accounts for up to 41 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions today, with Africa contributing about 2-3%. In parallel, there are still over 580 million people on the continent who do not have access to reliable energy and the demand for electricity is expected to continue to grow as populations increase, industrialization…
The high quality of cameras on smartphones these days mean that you no longer need a professional camera in order to create a masterpiece video. This was proven at the 2020, 48 Hour Film Project competition, held in Durban, where 50 aspiring filmmakers were tasked with creating a short film over a weekend. The competing…
As Zimbabwe begins its Covid-19 vaccination programme, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended the national lockdown by a further two weeks as a measure to curtail the spread of the virus as well as reducing new infections. Addressing the nation from the State House yesterday, President Mnangagwa said, however, despite high profile deaths, there’s been a…
By Bernard Marr We certainly have a global food challenge that is exacerbated by environmental concerns. But could new technology such as artificial intelligence, machine vision, and 5G networks help us find a solution? Norwegian salmon farming company Cermaq has launched its first-of-its-kind iFarm project. This five-year experiment will run until 2025 with tech partners BioSort and…
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development Notable Issues This Week: Policy and Regulatory Issues ARREST OF KAGONYE, A TEST CASE FOR SACU ON LAND BARONS The Newsday reported that the former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Petronella Kagonye was arrested by the ZRP working with the Special Anti-Corruption Unit for alleged illegal land…
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe has called upon the government to prioritise and also include journalists among the first priority groups listed for the COVID-19 vaccination rollout programme. The media representative body said its request is informed by the fact that the media was declared an essential service in terms of Zimbabwe’s…
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent national lockdowns have underlined the importance of reliable data services in keeping people, communities, businesses and the nation at large connected, and in ensuring essential commercial and public services continue unhindered. Authorities have had to impose lockdowns to arrest the spread of the deadly coronavirus, with recorded cumulative cases…
By Joyce Mukucha In spite of the evolving world with some women beginning to experience equality in different circles of life, in other parts of societies around the globe, other women are still deprived of the privilege of equal participation particularly on the African continent and rural Zimbabwe is not being spared. Many of the…
By Joyce Mukucha The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the highest decision-making body on environmental issues is set to commence its 5th Session, virtually from the 22nd to the 26th of February 2021. This session is preceded by the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OEPCR) to which Zimbabwe is a party to which is kick-starting…
By Joyce Mukucha Despite decades of scientific advances in prevention and treatment, as well as widespread awareness-raising efforts, irrational fears of HIV infection and negative attitudes towards people living with HIV (PLWHIV) continue to be rampant and are a persistent barrier to addressing the epidemic. Realising how bad and different PLWHIV are treated be it…
With the world having gone crazy right now, there’s no time like the present to celebrate love even in the smallest of ways. So be different this year, forget about those traditional gifts of flowers, diamonds and chocolates, find other ways to spoil your loved ones, and above all don’t forget to spoil yourself. Although…
By Last Tarabuku As we remember the great leader Morgan Richard Tsvangirai I have a few contributions of how I know him. My contribution is based on my experience as technical staff. I will reserve the rest on his work as a trade unionist to politicians. I hope one day his history will be properly…
Following attacks for purportedly insinuating that he would use his parliamentarian privilege to lobby for tighter controls on journalistic practice, Norton legislator Temba Mliswa has said the media took him out of context. “I was registering my displeasure at the way Elias Mambo, the Editor of Zim Morning Post had allowed a one-sided story in…
By Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development The need for clear policies in Zimbabwe cannot be over-emphasized and the need for the COVID-19 vaccine being a topical issue is included.Whilst fighting for control of the virus, the government should be cognizant of the fact that active cases also need resourcing therefore the loud and clear…
The African Development Bank’s (www.AfDB.org) Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) program has agreed a partnership with the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) to unlock $1.3 to 2 billion in loans to women-owned Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, by working with financial institutions to enhance their ability to lend to women….
By Grace Goodrich In addition to sizable gas reserves found offshore, Mozambique is home to commercially significant deposits of coal, gold, graphite, ilmenite, iron ore, titanium, copper, tantalum and bauxite, to name a few. While COVID-19 may have disrupted mining operations in terms of site closures and reduced export earnings, demand for precious minerals and…
