US$84.9 million urgently required to support National COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe

Today the United Nations and partners launched an updated Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) in New York requesting for US$6.7 billion to protect millions of lives and stem the spread of coronavirus in fragile countries. Launching the updated GHRP, UN Humanitarian Chief, Mark Lowcock called for swift and determined action to avoid the most destabilizing…

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Minister Ndlovu unveils stimulus package to boost the tourism sector

The government will provide Bank Guarantee Facility worth ZWL$500 million to assist the Tourism Sector to access working capital loans from banks, Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu has said. Unveiling a stimulus package today to boost the tourism sector in post COVID-19 lockdown, Minister Ndhlovu announced a raft of measures…

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National Sports Stadium Facelift: Minister Coventry happy with the progress

By Anyway Yotamu Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation Minister, Kirsty Coventry was pleased by the progress on uplifting the National Sports Stadium when she on Wednesday 6th of May 2020 toured the sporting facility accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Thokozile Chitepo, Sports and Recreation Commission Director-General Prince Mupazviriho, officials from the…

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VAYA helps with COVID-19 safety compliance measures

VAYA has partnered with widows from the United Methodist Church in Mabelreign, Harare, to make reusable cloth masks to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Following a month-long lockdown which has since been extended by another two weeks, the government has ordered that citizens wear masks in public, in a move meant to arrest…

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Africa50 donates US$800,000, joins African Countries to help fight COVID-19

Africa50 (www.Africa50.com), the pan-African infrastructure investment platform, has announced its COVID-19 Relief Support Initiative, which aims to support the continent’s fight against the pandemic. Under this initiative, Africa50 is providing US$800,000 to help contain the spread of the virus and minimize its impact. Given the likely long-term effects of the pandemic, Africa50’s COVID-19 Relief Support…

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African leaders laud AfDB President for visionary leadership amid COVID crisis

South Africa’s President and African Union chairperson Cyril Ramaphosa and the Nobel peace laureate and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have commended Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), for his visionary leadership and bold initiatives to accelerate Africa’s development and to support the continent through the COVID-19 crisis. President Ramaphosa expressed…

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Law Society, Veritas comment on Deferment of Rents and Mortgage Payments (SI 96 of 2020)

By Veritas On the 3rd of May 2020, the Law Society of Zimbabwe published a critique on the impact and legitimacy of SI 96 of 2020.  The Law Society’s critique is reproduced here with the kind permission of the Executive Director of the Law Society, Mr. Edward Mapara.  Statutory Instrument 96 of 2020, inter alia, allows for…

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Japan provides nutrition, HIV/AIDS and WASH support for women and children in four districts across Zimbabwe

The Japanese Government has contributed over US$450, 000 to provide life-saving nutrition, HIV/AIDS and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) interventions to communities affected by drought and floods. The project will be implemented in four food-insecure districts, namely Binga, Buhera, Chiredzi and Masvingo, through UNICEF in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe. It will particularly focus…

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Business returns to normal in Bulawayo

By Habakkuk Trust The relaxation of lockdown regulations threatens to reverse the gains made by the Zimbabwean government in combating the Covid-19 virus. The government of Zimbabwe enacted  Statutory Instrument 99 of 2020 in line with Presidential proclamation on the easing Covid-19 national lockdown regulations. Provisions of the statute make the wearing of masks mandatory…

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Reflections on costing of agricultural commodities – thanks to COVID19

By Charles Dhewa In addition to disrupting food supply chains, COVID-19 has presented a pricing headache for smallholder farmers in African countries. If government directs supermarkets to revert back to pre-COVID19 prices they can easily do so because they have a tradition of keeping records on stocks and prices.  On the other hand, mass markets…

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United States assistance to Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 national response now exceeds US$6 million

Through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States has committed US$3 million from the U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support Zimbabwe’s COVID-19 National Preparedness and Response Plan.   This new donation brings to over US$6 million the total amount that the United States has committed to…

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Disability isn’t inability: Laizah Singadi’s Book “Akarangarirwa Pakukutu”

In her book, “Akarangarirwa Pakukutu” – a Shona Novel, Laizah Singadi reminds humankind that no one chooses to be born with a disability hence the need to treat everyone as equal. “Everyone born with a disability should be respected. They are people like us and are only differently-abled. These people actually possess talents or gifts…

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Implementing democratic media reforms is not rocket science: MISA Zimbabwe

By Golden Maunganidze (MISA Zimbabwe Chairperson) This year’s World Press Freedom Day commemorations on 3 May 2020 come on the backdrop of Zimbabwe’s 40 years of independence and ahead of the 30th anniversary of the 1991 Windhoek Declaration in 2021. The Windhoek Declaration which asserts that free media is essential to democracy and a fundamental…

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VAYA Express Medical Deliveries offers free delivery of medicines

VAYA Express, through VAYA Express Medical Deliveries, is now offering free delivery of medical supplies to assist Zimbabweans in need of critical medicines and drugs during the restrictions imposed due the COVID -19 pandemic and beyond. VAYA Express Medical Deliveries is collaborating with Maisha Health fund (formerly Steward Health) to help people in need to…

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Artists appeal to God to save the world from coronavirus

As the vaccine for coronavirus remains elusive, popular conscious music artists, Beven Masvosva and Walter Mangisi who is popularly known as Man Walle have turned to God for salvation in their latest release song. In their song, “Fight COVID-19”, the artists acknowledge the ravaging impact of the virus that has left the world confused and…

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Coronavirus Updates: Intrigue behind the pandemic’s origins

By Avi Selk The latest The mysterious origin of the novel coronavirus is now a matter of international dispute. The U.S. intelligence community concluded the virus is not man-made in a new report, but would not rule out the possibility that it was accidentally released from a virology lab in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began late last…

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COVID-19: Whither tourism in the era of a socially isolating world?

By Tatenda Mabara (Researcher) The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all sectors of the global economic ecosystem and the tourism and hospitality sector will experience the most severe impact. This is mainly because tourism is increasingly hypermobile and largely based on interaction among people. Based on the latest COVID19 induced developments such as quarantine measures, travel…

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Artistes Should Play Pivotal Roles ln The Fight Against Covid-19: Music Producer

By Ronnie Chisamba in Kadoma A popular music producer in the Kadoma gold mining town has said Zimbabwean artists from all genres should play an instrumental role in the struggle against COVID-19. Founder and owner of Vigo Studio lnt.,Fanuel Kanyonganise (39),a.ka. Fankan, expressed confidence that immense contribution from the art industry would go a long…

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Government committed to creating a clean environment in the fight against COVID-19

By Joyce Mukucha  As the world is experiencing unprecedented crises caused by the COVID-19, the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry continues to stand with citizens in this difficult time as it commits to support the National fight against the pandemic. In his national clean-up campaign statement, the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism,…

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ZELA commemorates 2020 International Workers’ Day

By Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association joins all the citizens of Zimbabwe and the world in celebrating the past and present victories of workers while making clear the organisation’s commitment to continue defending the workers’ labour struggles. The 2020 International Workers’ Day is being commemorated under a different atmosphere. The day…

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Cassava Remit boosts livelihoods as World Bank hails remittances as essential service

In more developed countries whose economies are better off than most in sub-Saharan Africa, a strong safety net of social programmes, unemployment insurance, and direct payments will make all the difference in the depth of the current COVID-19 induced downturn and will speed up economic recovery. But for poorer countries, and in the short to…

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Worker’s Day Solidarity Message: COVID-19 – Tribute to Frontline Health Workers

By Community Working Group on Health This year’s national Worker’s Day theme; “Stop Covid-19 Pandemic: Scale-up social protection and dialogue, save jobs and pay a living wage”, befits the current environment which emphasizes stopping the spread of the virus and urging employers to pay wages that sustain families, especially during this lockdown period. It is…

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Make use of only accredited installers and agents: DStv

MultiChoice Zimbabwe has sent out a reminder to existing and potential DStv viewers that they should make use of only accredited installers and agents when they need installations or other technical support services. Several customers have reported being given defective or substandard products and  inadequate support from people posing as DStv installers and agents, but who…

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Would you consider rap to be a ‘chant’ or a ‘rant’ or, indeed, something else?

By Nyasha Munashe Chiketsani Rap music, whether you like it or not, is the most influential genre of music today. According to The Independent, “Rap has surpassed rock to become the biggest music genre in the United States, according to the end-of-year report published by Nielsen Music in 2017. R&B/Rap represented 24.5 % of all…

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DStv stimulates physical action in the home during lockdown

To ramp up the valuable input of physical exercise for people in lockdown, DStv and Virgin Active have partnered to bring viewers workouts designed by the very best instructors and fitness experts from around the world. Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said that many gym regulars were housebound during lockdown…

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Mr Eddie Chibi

Steward Health rebrands to Maisha Health Fund, offers greater value

Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe has rebranded its medical insurance business Steward Health to Maisha Health Fund. Announcing the move, Cassava Smartech CEO Mr. Eddie Chibi said the rebranding would reposition the business to reflect its enhanced product packages. “The rebranding reflects our drive to enhance our medical insurance offering to leverage our digital platforms and promote…

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COVID-19: African Development Institute to hold a virtual seminar

WHAT: E-seminar on COVID-19 macro-economic policy planning for Africa WHO: African Development Institute, African Development Bank Group, partners WHEN: Wednesday, 29 April 2020; 14:00 – 1800 The African Development Institute (ADI), jointly with anchor economic policy think-tanks and universities in Africa, including the African Economic Research Consortium, will host a virtual seminar on macro-economic policy…

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Charities distribute aid as part of early response to food insecurity in Senegal

Humanitarian agencies in Senegal are this week distributing aid as part of an early response to food shortage, which has been caused by the late onset of rainfall last year. This early action will help alleviate the suffering of those affected and reduce the need for them to resort to negative coping actions such as…

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ILO survey explores nexus between COVID-19 and youth employment

To bring youth voices to the forefront of action and policy responses, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth, together with its partners, including the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, AIESEC, the European Youth Forum, the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa and the United Nations…

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It’s time to target those who stole public money to fight the Coronavirus

By Joseph Hove Everyone knows our country is in desperate economic and social dire straits. Zimbabwe’s food situation is worsening by the day as more than 4,3 million people will be food insecure by June this year a food crisis a recently released report has revealed. According to the Global Report on Food Crises for…

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Chipo now a real gift as free content on digital platforms

Leading creative and cultural industries organization Rooftop Promotions’ 13 part television series “Chipo the Gift” continues to screen on the national television ZBCTV every Wednesday between 7:30 PM and 8:00 PM. The production whose storyline is derived from real life experiences by way of legal cases from situations encountered by women all over Zimbabwe is…

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