The National Development Strategy (NDS1) with its emphasis on the Digital Economy as one of the fourteen national priorities for the period 2021–2025 is in sync with driving economic growth, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT), Postal and Courier Services has said. He made the remarks at the official launch of…
Since March 2020 over 40 000 Zimbabweans have returned to the country following strict measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. Migrants are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and it is for this reason that the International Organization for Migration (IOM) with funding support from the Embassy of Sweden has continued to support the government in strengthening…
Zimbabwe has a strong football heritage. This is proudly shared with the world through the international broadcasts of local games as well as through participation in African and global football tournaments, all of which are televised by MultiChoice’s Zimbabwe’s SuperSport channels. Zimbabweans too, get to enjoy the very best of world football here at home…
By Desire Tshuma In a first in Zimbabwean music industry history, Blessing Muroti Gomo’s launch of a triple album in Harare left fans mesmerised and clamouring for more. It was fireworks at Christ Unveiling Ministries church in the central business district of Harare where the Muroti Movement launched triple albums at once in a highly…
By Joyce Mukucha The Confederation Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has highlighted it is illegal for Zimra to enforce the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on rice in retrospect since the current law does not provide for it. The organisation made the statement following the article which was published in the edition of The Standard on 20…
By Joyce Mukucha With COVID-19 evolving globally, the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) has managed to hand over another tranch of its support to Wilkins Hospital. PRAZ is of the view that the donation is key to the nation’s health service response and COVID-19 mitigation measures in particular. The PPEs donation included space suits,…
By Joyce Mukucha Climate change is one of the 21st century human catastrophes with its impacts being felt globally and Zimbabwe has not been spared. These impacts range from increased rainfall variability, prolonged dry spells, heat waves, as well as increased occurrence of extreme weather events such as drought and flooding. The small-scale farmers in…
By Tinashe Eric Muzamhindo A few days ago, I read a statement about the First lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa coming up with an initiative, “National Dress Code”, which she is going to confer or launch. For some of the words, it is the word on the streets, we are not aware of the definition, the…
A young lawyer, Freddy Masirirevu has joined the initiative to educate other fellow men to fight gender-based violence (GBV). Zimbabwe joined the rest of the world in commemorating 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. On Friday the young lawyer mobilised scores of young people to denounce those who use their political muscles to abuse women….
The Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) has applauded the historic step taken by the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) to license the first three community radio stations in post-Independence Zimbabwe. ZACRAS pointed out that it is the organisation’s fervent hope that the licensed radio stations on campuses will holistically contribute to the development…
Cassava Fintech International (CFI) has added the Sasai Watch feature to the Sasai all-in-one App, in a move that is set to bring artists, entrepreneurs and other African content creators much closer to their audience. Introducing the new feature, CFI said Sasai Watch will provide a platform for Africans and the global community to create…
High Court of Zimbabwe Justice Mangota on Thursday 17 December 2020 granted an order in an application filed by Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association as an Applicant for public interest purposes. The order interdicts Chitungwiza Municipality from releasing sewer into water bodies, watercourses, streams, tributaries, or any part of the environment. Further, the Municipality was compelled to,…
December is usually one of the busiest periods for Zimbabwe’s tourism hub of Victoria Falls, with typical hotel occupancies of around 90%. This year, following the downturn in tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism community has been hard hit. Businesses, livelihoods, and local communities have all been impacted. In an extraordinary…
By Joyce Mukucha The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has noted with concern potential challenges emanating from Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) in as much as adequate funding is concerned. ERC continues to maintain its position that the government of Zimbabwe must not negate its obligation of adequately funding the Electoral Commission and to institute the required…
By Staff Reporter A week rolls by and we are nearing Christmas, one of the most valued time on the calendar where almost everyone has special plans to celebrate the day in style. It is the period where families look forward to reuniting and spend unforgettable experiences and moments together. What makes the holiday unique…
By Joyce Mukucha It has emerged that a local multitalented woman, wife, comedian, and former gospel singer, Tyra Chikocho affectionately known as Madam Boss is visioning big as she plans to start her own media house. A once housemaid who grew up going back and forth between Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital city, and rural areas is…
By Joyce Mukucha With climate and environmental impacts persisting to drastically re-shape the world, as feminists, the Young Feminist Fund (FRIDA) has come to realise that they cannot and must not separate these concerns from their struggles. Young feminist activists are organizing against some of the most rapidly changing contexts the world has ever seen….
By Joyce Mukucha As it launched the #RegisterElectEngage campaign, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) is continuing to make concerted efforts to ensure that non-registrants, especially young people, are able to register to vote and participate in the upcoming by-elections, delimitation process and in preparation of the 2023 harmonised elections. In its 2020 newsletter, ERC, highlighted…
Joyce Mukucha With the support from UN Women, the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) has engaged different women’s rights organisations in setting up a Conflict Early Warning and Early Response (CEWER) system indicators aimed at resolving the underlying and deep-seated causes and drivers of conflicts. Speaking at a CEWER consultative meeting in Harare on…
With funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and nutritional garden training programme for migrant returnees. Developed and conducted by Foundations for Farming (FfF), the CSA nutritional garden trainings encompass all the principles of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and the FfF Implementation…
The Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe has further extended its support to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and its consortium partners for the Protection and Human Rights project. The approved extension of the project seeks to strengthen the current Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) funded “Scaling up Coordinated Protection, Promotion and Enforcement of Human…
Jairos Zondai (not real name) graduated with a degree in veterinary sciences from the University of Zimbabwe at 24 years of age. His mother, a widow, sent him to school as a single parent because his father succumbed to HIV while he was nine years old. Jairos was born with HIV. “I was born with…
By Veritas In a new SI published yesterday ‒ SI 299A of 2020 [link] ‒ the Minister of Health and Child Care further relaxed the national lock-down. The SI is very short – it has only two clauses – but the amendment it makes may be far-reaching. The Position Prior to This Amendment Section 5(1) of the Lock-down…
Global trade is expected to contract by 9.2% this year, having fallen by 2.9% in 2019; Africa’s share of global trade was 2.7% in 2019, below the 4% figure of the 1970s; informal cross-border trade which is a key component of intra-African trade is wide-spread in its composition; the African Trade Report estimates that in…
By Desire Tshuma Blessing Muroti Gomo and the Anointed Singers band on Saturday 19 December is set to launch triple albums in Harare with several top gospel artists gracing the event. Blessing Muroti Gomo is a Zimbabwean born gospel artist who is currently based in South Africa. He has been in the music industry for…
EcoCash, the country’s largest mobile money platform, has given notice to adjust its transaction charges by up to 20 percent. The charges, which were last reviewed back in March, were announced in media notices published on Wednesday (Dec 16). A company spokesman said EcoCash was adjusting its charges, effective January 14, 2021, in order to…
On December 14, five hundred and sixty (560) representatives from 31 religions in 80 countries including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism participated in a Virtual Year-End gathering hosted by Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL). The prayer meeting aimed to reaffirm the religious leaders’ commitment to reconciliation as well as continued participation…
By Beaven Dhliwayo The National Development Strategy 1 (2021- 2025) (NSD1) replaced the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP) which was implemented in October 2018 and ends December 2020. Both strategies are aimed towards achieving the Government’s overarching desire to transform Zimbabwe’s economy from a low income to an upper-middle-income economy by 2030. A low-income economy has…
Ahead of a critical meeting at the World Trade Organization tomorrow, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is urging all countries, including the US, to support the landmark proposal by India and South Africa to waive certain intellectual property (IP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This call to allow more affordable…
The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) seeks to advance inclusivity in the access and use of information communication technologies (ICTs) by all including persons with disabilities (PWDs). This was revealed by Dr. Gift Machengete, the POTRAZ Director-General, on the the occasion of the handover of ICT equipment to schools and institutions that…
By Bernard Chiketo A senior Anglican church cleric has slammed local politicians over their handling of young people who he challenged to unite and assert themselves their demand to be active beyond dirty foot-soldier-assignments. Reverend Joseph Waziveyi speaking on the sidelines of a Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) ran Business, Leadership and Economic Youth Empowerment…
By Desire Tshuma Philanthropist Xoey Chirenda Chimombe on Saturday donated early Christmas baskets to twenty-five vulnerable community members in Seke Kraal under Chief Seke. Under her organisation, Va Chirenda Centre for Hope Foundation, Xoey who is the founder managed to donate to twenty-five vulnerable community members who include the vulnerable young women, the orphans and…
During 2020, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has increased the number of its Trade Finance Intermediaries (TFIs) to more than 65 in 30 African countries. A key component of the Bank’s business model, the Trade Finance Intermediary initiative enables a smoother delivery of Afreximbank’s initiatives and credit solutions. In line with its charter and mandate, Afreximbank…
By Joyce Mukucha The United Kingdom (UK) is preparing to host the Africa Investment Conference which will be held virtually in the new year, an event which comes one year on from the UK-Africa Investment Summit. The Conference’s key focus will be on Greener and more sustainable investment. The UK Department for International Trade has…
By Staff Reporter Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe’s parent company, Standard Bank Group, in pursuit of improving its management of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks, and contributing to the sustainable development of Africa, has published its Fossil Fuels Financing Policy. This follows the adoption in 2019 of policies on lending to Coal-fired power projects and Coal-mining…
By Charles Dhewa The notion of financial inclusion being promoted across Africa assumes financial institutions like banks and the stock market are excluding the majority of people including SMEs from financial systems. On the contrary, having been subjected to rigid financial systems and policies for decades, SMEs and local people have developed their own financial systems that shut out…
The 14th edition of the Econet Victoria Falls Marathon that was held virtually in various cities across the world on Sunday has been described as a great success by event organisers and athletes. This was the first time since 2006 that the marathon – now one of Africa’s top sporting events – was held virtually,…
In an effort to address Gender Based Violence (GBV) and facilitating social transformation with the intention of combating GBV, the Musasa Project spearheaded a training workshop of media professionals on GBV, human rights and social inclusion aimed at assisting journalists to report fair, accurate and balanced gender sensitive stories. Members of the media fraternity were…
By Bernard Marr With hope growing that there may be an end in sight to the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses are beginning to reflect on what worked, and what didn’t, in the face of the most disruptive world event most of us have seen in our lives so far. What we learned for certain is that…
Rhinos – 245-8 declared and 133-1 in 44 overs (Prince Masvaure 54*, Takudzwanashe Kaitano 40, Charles Kunje 27*; Luke Jongwe 1/18) Tuskers – 333 all out in 85.1 overs (Milton Shumba 79, PJ Moor 59, Luke Jongwe 53; Ryan Burl 3/50, Charles Kunje 2/22, Tafara Chingwara 2/55) Match drawn Good innings by Milton Shumba for…
By Veritas It is fitting that the International Days for Human Rights and for Anti-Corruption come together because protecting human rights and guarding against corruption are inextricably entwined. Throughout the world, most human rights violations are committed by authoritarian regimes and dictatorships and totalitarian states which suppress human rights in order to maintain themselves in power. In…
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and CropLife International in early October renewed and strengthened their commitment to work together and find new ways to transform agri-food systems and promote rural development through on the ground investment and innovation. During a virtual meeting, FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, and Giulia Di Tommaso,…
By Lorraine Muwuya The music career seems rosy for Terrence Mpakula, the real name for South Africa-based Zimbabwean music producer professionally known as Dr. Dread Dr. Dread started music as a young boy where he joined the marimba band while in grade 4 at Shiriyedenga Primary School in Glen Norah and was then privileged to…
