Google offered a range of guarantees to the European Commission (EC) around its use of data were it to acquire Fitbit, Financial Times reported, with the promises said to have tipped the balance in favour of the regulator approving the deal. The newspaper’s sources said Google’s pledges include: not using data derived from Fitbit wearables for targeted advertising…
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday commenced cash disbursements in the scale-up of the Urban Social Assistance programme thanks to funding from the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID’s support will provide relief for vulnerable families in eight urban areas across Zimbabwe struggling to meet their daily…
Africa accounts for about 12% of the world’s coffee production and the high-quality and taste of coffee from the continent are loved by coffee connoisseurs worldwide Coffee farmer, Francois Dadi Serikpa (https://bit.ly/3l10941), from Gnamagnoa in Côte d’Ivoire, joined Nestlé’s (https://www.Nestle-cwa.com/) Nescafé Plan (https://bit.ly/34fT6Oe) ten (10) years ago. The coffee farms that had been in his family for generations…
By Veritas The Zimbabwe Media Commission Bill [link] was published in August last year and, after public hearings conducted by the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information, Media and Broadcasting Services [the committee’s report can be accessed on the Veritas website ‒ link], it is currently going through its Committee Stage in the National Assembly. The responsible Minister has tabled amendments…
By Bernard Chiketo MINISTER of State for Manicaland Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba has commended the United Methodist Church (UMC)’s US$24 000 Covid-19 prevention response targeting 38 000 people through 96 rural schools across Manicaland province. This comes as the country is relaxing lockdown regulations, reopening schools, and allowing local and international travel, thereby increasing the risk…
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has unveiled a new national club cricket competition, the National Premier League (NPL), which is set to get underway at grounds across the country this weekend. The highly anticipated 45-over tournament will see Zimbabwe’s top nine cricket clubs tussling it out in a scintillating 36-match tournament. The teams participating in the inaugural…
Hon Advocate Jacob F. Mudenda, the Speaker of the National Assembly has said the lack of access to personal identity documents is an infringement of human rights. He made the remarks at the Official Launch of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) Report on the National Inquiry on Access to Personal Documentation at the Meikles…
Steward Bank has partnered with businesses under parent company Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe to launch AgroFuture, a new agribusiness product that is set to improve agricultural production in the country. The product – to be delivered in partnership with Cassava entities EcoCash, EcoSure, Vaya, Moovah, and EcoFarmer – offers tailor-made solutions to specific needs of the…
By Tafadzwa Muranganwa An upcoming has penned children’s books which captures the African way of life and is eager to see the books being distributed freely in rural communities. Speaking to this publication, Bernadette Makaya, who is Indian but was married to a Zimbabwean says she got thinking of introducing books that capture the African…
Zimnat, a leading financial service provider in the country has honoured rising musical sensation Jah Master of the “Hello Mwari” fame through a treat to some of their products and services. The honour is in recognition of his contribution in making life better during the COVID-19 induced nation lockdown through his song which has become…
The Pan African Positive Women’s Coalition (PAPWC-Zim) has said the incidence of HIV is higher among girls and women compared to boys and men hence the need for gender-sensitive policies that address the disparities. In his keynote address at the Zimbabwe Women Living With HIV National Forum Leadership (ZWLWHNF) and Governance Workshop that roared to…
Aayushi Pratap The Covid-19 pandemic has likely had serious health implications for patients living with tuberculosis, suggests a new global survey conducted by several health advocacy and civil-led groups. Seven out of ten healthcare workers who participated in the survey reported a decrease in the number of people coming to health facilities for tuberculosis testing….
Mr. Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General has noted the challenges and hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and underscored the importance of financing for development in his opening remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Financing for Development in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond. Below, Spiked Online Media shares his full speech: THE…
The In Focus Masterclass series will feature Kaplan in conversation with prolific film and TV professionals from the continent. . The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) is excited to launch the In Focus Masterclass Series hosted by South Africa-based film and TV veteran Ken Kaplan! The Series comprises of pre-recorded conversations now available on the MTF Portal. The masterclass…
The Chief Executive Officer of the National AIDS Council (NAC), Dr. Bernard Madzima has shown a clear indication that he is committed to steering the organisation in the right direction in the quest of ending HIV. Dr. Madzima started work in April and came on board at the onset of COVID-19 and when NAC had…
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), the pan-African multilateral EXIM bank, announces $100 million financing to enable its Member States to procure COVID-19 related medical resources through the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP). The funding is available to African governments to acquire medical supplies through the AMSP in the form of pre-approved overdraft limits for each African…
THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has urged the government to allow greater use of mobile money platforms in the country as a way to bridge the financial divide. “Mobile money services are expected to continue playing a key role of bridging the financial divide by providing convenient, safe, secure and…
Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu on Monday urged Zimbabweans at home and abroad to take up investment opportunities in rural service centres and position themselves for imminent growth and development. Speaking at the occasion of the World Tourism Day Celebrations 2020 at Chinhoyi University of Technology, Ndhlovu said Government has begun…
Tourism and environment players on Monday marked World Tourism Day Celebrations by handing over the Kore Kore Cultural Village, to the Makonde community. The Kore Kore Cultural Village was funded by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority as part of the Ministry’s 100 Day projects. The development was in line with this year’s theme of ‘Tourism and…
Seipati Moloi (Media Liaison Co-ordinator, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Estimates put the number of unsafe abortions each year at over 25 million—97% of them in developing countries—leading to at least 22,800 deaths and millions of serious complications. The United States policy known as the Global Gag Rule has had a devastating impact on women’s access…
By Charles Dhewa Failure to implement agricultural policies by many African countries stems from processes through which such policies are developed. When different stakeholders do not adequately participate in the process of developing a national agricultural policy, their commitment in terms of technical and financial support is often very weak. Those leading processes of developing…
The bank is expanding its resource mobilization activities to meet the growing financing needs of SMEs he OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) (www.OPECFund.org) has signed a US$20 million term loan in favor of East African Development Bank (EADB). EADB will use the loan to support small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and infrastructure…
The African Risk Capacity Limited (ARC Ltd), the commercial subsidiary of African Risk Capacity Group (ARC Group), has announced a partnership agreement with Pula to deliver best-in-class agriculture index insurance products to protect African farmers from climatic risks. Every farming season, African farmers are exposed to a wide range of climate risks including drought, excessive rainfall, pests…
The Education Coalition of Zimbabwe (ECOZI) applauded the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on the Phased Reopening of Schools and called for the protection of learners against the COVID-9 pandemic during the writing of ZIMSEC Examinations. “We commend the government’s bold stance on the reopening of schools on the 28th of September 2020 and…
By Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) notes with concern the slow and poorly coordinated search, rescue or recovery efforts of five artisanal miners trapped underground at Task Mine in Chegutu. This disaster follows several others in the last two years that claimed lives of those trying to eke a living…
After enduring more than half-a-year – 28 weeks or 196 days to be exact – without playing any cricket since sporting activities in the country were banned as part of measures aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, Zimbabwe cricketers finally played their first game this Saturday. It did not matter that it was only…
In the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic and on World Contraception Day, the UN’s reproductive health and rights agency – the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and partners have called for greater efforts to ensure access to contraceptives for women and girls of reproductive age. This is towards “Zero unmet Need for Contraception” even…
As Zimbabwe relaxed the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and opened up flights and other tourism services, Fastjet has resumed its domestic flights in Zimbabwe. This reporter witnessed a remarkable improvement in security at the Robert Mugabe and the Joshua Nkomo International Airports in as far as COVID-19 preventive measures are concerned. Mr. Felix Nyangani, the Head…
By Sowell Chikwari PROMINENT Afro-chimurenga songstress Jane Marimo’s new video titled These Walls Must Fall has brought under the spotlight the plight of refugees across the globe. The video, which was produced by Takesure Chari at Simba Studios in Darwendale, has since become a global hit after it was adopted as the theme song by…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has been awarded the 2020 Africa-America Institute (AAI) ‘International Institution of Excellence Award’, during the Institute’s 36th Awards Virtual Awards Gala. Becoming the first organization to receive the award in the history of the institute since its establishment in 1953, Afreximbank was honored this award for its commitment to the creation and implementation of…
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, bridging the digital divide for the 3.6 billion people who remain off-line worldwide is being made possible through information communication technology, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services has said. Dr. Muswere made the remarks at the official opening of the Sadza Community…
By Anyway Yotamu The United States of America through USAID has announced that it is fully committed to improving the country’s health sector which is on its knees. The challenges in the health sector are due to shortages of much-needed equipment in hospitals and the deteriorating economic hardships precipitated by the outbreak of the COVID-19…
The Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association (ZPBA) and Agritex are promoting the “Good Quality Climate Smart Seeds and Blitz Soil Conditioning under the famous Pfumvudza/Intwasa Demonstration” program being spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture. On 17 September 2020, the Zimbabwe Plant Breeders Association (ZPBA) and AGRITEX hosted a field demonstration event in Ward 4, Mhondoro District….
By Anyway Yotamu Embattled Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango, representing the City of Harare has been jointly arraigned before the Magistrates Court together with Michael John Van Blerk representing Pokugara Properties (PVT) LTD facing fresh criminal charges of perjury. According to the summons, the two are to appear in court on the 28th of September…
One year ago (24 September 2019), there was a commitment to educating and empowering ten million women entrepreneurs over the next ten years through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA). The WEA began to lay the groundwork for a systemic transformation to break down the barriers keeping women from achieving financial independence and contributing to a…
COVID-19 relief campaign supported 31 member unions through a dedicated solidarity fund In June Rugby Africa (http://www.RugbyAfrique.com) announced the immediate release of EUR 170,000.00 from a solidarity fund for its member unions. The Rugby Africa Executive Committee had initiated the relief campaign given the current health crisis and the immediate impact it had on the…
Credit ratings agency highlights strong solvency and liquidity, bolstered by ongoing and expected capital increases The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announces that Fitch Ratings has affirmed the Bank’s long-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at ‘BBB-‘ with a stable outlook. The agency also affirmed the Bank’s Short-Term IDR at ‘F3’ and senior unsecured debt at ‘BBB-‘. Fitch highlighted…
On the 22nd of September 2020, the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, released a special edition of an online magazine showcasing how 50 young Africans are resourcefully helping fight the COVID19 Pandemic. The magazine – dubbed Africa Innovates, is timely as the world grapples with a response and recovery to a global pandemic. Africa Innovates…
By Tinashe Muchuri The Board of Trustees of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe announced the appointment of Raphael Chikukwa as the Executive Director with effect from the 9th of September, 2020. Chikukwa who had served the National Gallery of Zimbabwe for the past ten years as a Chief Curator and Deputy Director landed the Acting…
Planning for a little getaway in 2021? If so, this is the right time to make the necessary arrangements to avoid the last-minute rush. It is, especially if you intend to fly with your favorite e-cigarette. Today, everyone is free to carry e-cigarettes on the plane. But how can you safely fly with your device?…
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has mobilized international support for the workers of Zimbabwe who continue to bear the brunt of a free-falling economy, neoliberal policies, and a battered local currency. In its solidarity message today, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) said it appreciates the support of trade unions from across the…
United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres has noted that landlocked developing countries face a myriad of challenges but emphasised that there is a ray of hope for overcoming them through a raft of measures he proposed through his office and UN partners worldwide. Below, Spiked Online Media shares the UN Secretary-General’s remarks at a meeting…
Mike Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP, three-term Mayor of New York City, has been announced as a keynote speaker at the inaugural Leadership Summit on Tobacco Control, to be held virtually from May 6-7 2021. Bloomberg will be joined at the event by heads of state and national and subnational governments, prominent global…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the appointment of Mr. Constantin von Moltke as Director of Syndications and Agency. Prior to this appointment, Mr. von Moltke had been serving as the Head of Syndicated Loans at Afreximbank, having joined in 2016. He has more than 20 years’ experience in structured finance, including over 15…
By Habakkuk Trust The gaps within the legislative framework governing the natural resources sector particularly gold mining have given rise to conflicts in mineral-rich areas. Recently in Domboshava village in Matobo Ward 17, a mining dispute erupted after a group of miners reportedly invaded a protected area to prospect for gold. The miners were in…
