Businessman Strive Masiyiwa has appealed to the World Bank, the IMF and other multilateral institutions for humanitarian support for Zimbabwe and Sudan in the wake of the economic devastation brought about by the COVID-19 Coronavirus epidemic. Said Masiyiwa in his appeal: “As many of you on this platform know, I have been at the forefront,…
“Rise for All” calls on all leaders to meet the human crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and fully fund the UN Response and Recovery Trust Fund Supporting the UN Secretary-General’s call for solidarity and urgent action in response to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, an initial group of prominent women today joined a global advocacy…
The Ministry of Health and Child Care and UNICEF have made the Official COVID-19 Information Hub available through SMS free for Econet Users. With the support of Econet, access to the Information Hub is available by sending an SMS from any mobile phone. Simply text the word “Hi” to the number 2019. Econet has over…
Zimbabwe remains in the grip of severe food insecurity, with millions of people already requiring humanitarian assistance due to prolonged drought, climate-related shocks, economic deterioration and the situation set to worsen as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, according to the new Global Food Crisis Report Forecast (GFCRF). The joint report, released by the European Union, FAO, OCHA,…
By Charles Dhewa The majority of developing countries are still to tear themselves away from the colonial set up where major food markets were located in cities or towns in order to provide food for low income people working in formal industries. Under that arrangement food had to travel from rural areas most of which…
Vendors representative associations are concerned about the delays in the payments of the cushioning grants that were supposed to cushion them and informal traders following the COVID-19 lockdown and government-sanctioned demolitions of their working spaces. As a result, they are calling upon government through its relevant ministries to provide information on progress made so far….
The double crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse in oil prices is taking a toll on African economies and the African energy industry. An unstable and precarious oil prices environment has resulted in substantial cuts in state budgets and public spending, in losses of contracts and hundreds of thousands of jobs put at…
By Dumisani Nkomo Villagers in Bulilima Ward 10 face a myriad of challenges in the face of Covid-19 which makes life unbearable. The Ward borders Botswana to the South West of Zimbabwe. Lockdown measures undertaken by the two countries have seen the closure of the Maitengwe border post. The closure of the border has eroded the purchasing…
By Veritas To date, there are now more than two and a half million people who have tested positive for Corona Virus in the world and over one hundred and eighty thousand deaths. In Zimbabwe, the official numbers stand at twenty-eight positives and four deaths. On the 22nd of April 2020, the United Nations Secretary-General (SG) Antonio…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced a $3-million grant to complement continental efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, who made the announcement in Cairo, said that the grant was in response to a request by African heads of state, through the auspices of the African Union Chair Person, Cyril Ramaphosa, President…
By Ronnie Chisamba in Kadoma The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has condemned the recent attacks on commuters by members of the police and the army, at Waverly Bus Station. Tafadzwa Goliati, the president of PAZ said his organization did not support human violations. He also encouraged travellers to abide by the law to avoid confrontations …
The Adam Molai Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic organisation running programmes to ease poverty amongst underprivileged, has come to the rescue of nearly 100 families in Marondera amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With the effects of the pandemic being felt globally, the foundation has pushed to continue supporting the communities who need food assistance the most. The…
By Civil Society For Malaria Elimination The malaria affected community and civil society recognize the devastating effect malaria has on the lives of thousands of people each year and would like to reflect on progress, challenges and recommendations as we commemorate World Malaria Day on April 25TH2020. From 2000 to 2015, several countries made tremendous…
Dr. Celestino Dhege, a former Silveira High School student and the Vice President of Infection Control Association of Zimbabwe teamed up with Professor Jacob Mufunda and Dr. Thalia Mungwari on the noble initiative to train health workers on managing COVID-19 in Bikita District. “I offered to provide a three-hour sensitisation for health care workers in…
By Anyway Yotamu The country’s leading financial services provider Old Mutual has delivered a consignment of Personal Protective Equipment for health workers at Thorngrove Hospital in Bulawayo as part of its $3.5 million fund towards the fight against COVID-19. The consignment includes 400 Aprons, 400 overalls, 2 000 Gloves, 2 000 face masks and 2…
By Anyway Yotamu Access Forex has committed to join the fight against period poverty, by donating 500 menstrual cups and 500 pads in hampers that have been distributed so far as part of the Feed a Million initiative, the Organisation, which provides remittance services for Zimbabweans in the UK and South Africa, strives to make…
TelOne and NetOne announced the setting up of a joint COVID 19 response support facility to the tune of ZWL$10million. The two companies extended their business collaboration to establish a sustainable response plan which will benefit three public hospitals namely Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Hospital), Beatrice Infectious Diseases, and Mpilo Hospitals. Specific areas being funded…
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams are racing to respond to the coronavirus pandemic in the more than 70 countries where we run existing programs, while opening projects in new countries as they become outbreak hotspots. MSF’s response to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, focuses on three main priorities: Supporting health…
By Dumisani Nkomo Rural communities are finding it difficult to adhere to the lockdown measures as some of their chores require extensive movement. In response to COVID -19, the government enforced a national lockdown to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus. The lockdown restricts movement and ensures that citizens stay at their homes except for…
Since many children in rural areas have no reliable connection to the internet or the electricity grid, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) is devising ways to reach these learners during the period of the COVID-19 lockdown. In an interview with Spiked Online Media, Julia Heiss, the Education Programme Specialist at the…
By Joyce Mukucha The Young Feminist Fund (FRIDA) is tirelessly working to provide solidarity, opportunities, and resources to different young feminists during the Coronavirus pandemic. Young feminists are organising in their communities for survival, while also responding to the new challenges the global lockdown has brought for women and trans people’s rights and safety. In…
Professor Paul Mavima has announced his Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare’s measures that are consistent with its Constitutional mandate to provide social protection services to vulnerable groups including the transitory poor. “After the declaration of COVID-19 as a national disaster and the subsequent implementation of lockdown measures to contain its spread, the…
By Ronnie Chisamba The dent, social chaos, and loss of lives being caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has touched a Zimbabwean musician leading to a change of his stage name. Kadoma-based conscious reggae artiste, George Mandevu (44) – for long known as Barbed-wire or General Kartel – has changed his name to Jah Flame. “COVID-19…
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) officially launched a social media campaign on Agroecology for Climate Action on April 21, 2020. The campaign will also observe the occasion of Earth Day 2020, which will be internationally celebrated today, April 22. The campaign will be live between April 21-23 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram….
By Dumisani Nkomo (CEO, Habakkuk Trust) The extension of the lockdown is reportedly exposing more community members in various parts of rural Matabeleland to deepening food insecurity and hunger. While most communities appreciated the government’s decision to extend the lockdown as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19, some have raised concerns over access…
With WWE officially recognised by Florida governor Ron DeSantis as an essential business, the show goes on this week with three live performances coming to SuperSport. Three of the most popular staples – Raw, SmackDown and NXT – will take place behind closed doors at the WWE Performance Centre in Florida. Fans won’t be allowed in and employees…
As a lockdown bonus, DStv viewers with paid-up subscriptions are being upgraded to the next bouquet for the duration of the subscription period. Liz Dziva, publicity and public relations manager of MultiChoice Zimbabwe, said the MultiChoice Group had made the decision to provide bonus upgrades to provide support during the lockdown, a time when households…
VAYA has started offering relief support to organizations involved in distributing material aid to vulnerable groups and communities affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic. The global pandemic has seen governments in nearly all countries of the world, including Zimbabwe, enforce ‘lockdowns’ intended to arrest the spread of the highly infectious disease. The lockdowns have however…
Ethiopian Airlines has transported another batch of various medical shipments to Harare, Zimbabwe on its freighter flight which was operated on April 20, 2020. The 17,060 kg shipment received from Jack Ma Foundation and the World Health Organisation (WHO) contains various testing kits, masks and other medical supplies that serve to fight COVID 19. Ethiopian…
In line with its commitment to the continent, various contributions were made to support the efforts of governments, the World Health Organization as well as the private sector Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com), the Pan African Bank, has contributed about US$3 million to the fight against COVID-19 across its footprint in Africa. In line with its commitment to…
The purpose of the eSummit is to continue the Shared Value conversation, learn from each other and explore insights that can lead to solutions A network of African purpose-led Shared Value companies and leaders will participate in the continent’s first ever virtual Shared Value Leadership event from 2-5 June 2020. Digital conversations will focus on…
Prophet Uebert Angel continues with his humanitarian aid to the needy during the COVID-19 when he donated food hampers to the needy in Norton community. The wealthy businessman, philanthropist and man of the Cloth through his Uebert Angel Foundation recently donated tonnes of maize meal as part of a US$250 000 purse allocated to Zimbabwe….
Eswatini Hip Hop artist Malcolm.E officially released his new single ‘Jiggy’ featuring South African artist Cargo. The track was conceptualised and created during the lockdown. Malcolm.E says he wanted to give his fans something joyful and motivating, especially as this is a time when many things are uncertain and people might be feeling down. The…
The international health crisis caused by COVID-19 is extraordinarily overwhelming. African countries, as the whole world have mobilized to face and win this unprecedented health war as a collective. Pan-African parliamentarians joined the leaders of the continent in the tireless fight against the devastating pandemic for the society. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) noted and welcomed…
By Veritas Forty years ago just after midnight on 17th April, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time and the Zimbabwean flag was raised to represent a new era in the city of Salisbury which became Harare. The fall of one flag and the rise of another symbolised the sunset of Rhodesia and…
President Mnangagwa today extended the national lockdown by two weeks while he allows mining to scale up. Below are the highlights of his speech. – Cases in Zimbabwe are increasing – We have in-country infections – transmission is increasing – We have infections from returning residents – Countries in the region and in the rest…
Zimbabwe’s media fraternity has been plunged into mourning following the death of Daily News Assistant Editor — Gift Phiri. The seasoned scribe died today in Harare after a short illness. Phiri who had worked for several media houses distinguished himself as an astute scribe who was not only dedicated but also gifted. In a statement,…
So sad that I had to write an obituary for a loved one and friend in these times of COVID-19 pandemic. Before I go any further the lockdown has been extended by a further two weeks. Gift Phiri, I am deeply saddened that you had to go this way when everything is on lockdown, how…
By VISET Information and Publicity Department The Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) would like to condemn in the strongest of terms the callous decision by the City of Harare to demolish Informal Traders Markets in Mbare, Harare. It would be very irresponsible and reckless for authorities to take advantage of the COVID-19…
As COVID-19 continues its toll on Zimbabwe, Cangrow Trading Company, the manufacturers of Raha Cooking Oil teamed up with Norton legislator Temba Mliswa and donated towards essentials necessary to end the pandemic. Mr. Ankit Jain, the Raha Managing Director, in consultation with Hon. Mliswa used the occasion of Zimbabwe’s 40th independence anniversary to reach out…
By Japhet Moyo (ZCTU Secretary-General) Today, 18 April 2020, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) joins the rest of Zimbabweans in celebrating the country’s 40th Independence anniversary. We recognise and appreciate the significance of this great day to all Zimbabweans and in particular, the role played by freedom fighters and the masses to liberate…
By Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition on Independence Day Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) joins the people of Zimbabwe, within or without her borders in commemorating the 40th anniversary (18 April 2020) of Zimbabwe’s independence. On this important national day; we pay tribute to the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe who sacrificed their lives for the…
Climate change could lead to the sudden loss of biodiversity in Africa and other regions of the world sooner than predicted, with a negative impct on people’s food security and income, a study says. In many developing countries, according to Christopher Trisos, the study’s lead author, more people rely on the immediate natural environment for…
By Atsuko Toda and Martin Fregene The global spread of COVID-19 and the rising number of coronavirus cases in Africa are fueling anxiety about negative economic growth, failing healthcare and collapsing food systems We are facing great uncertainty on the African continent. The global spread of COVID-19 and the rising number of coronavirus cases in…
By Dumisani Nkomo (CEO, Habakkuk Trust) Some residents from high lying areas in Pumula South in Bulawayo have gone for at least two weeks without tap water supplies forcing them to spend nights in water bowser queues. The crisis comes at a time when the nation is grappling with the socio-economic impacts of the lockdown,…
