Exeter researchers discover a novel chemistry to protect our crops from fungal disease

Pathogenic fungi pose a huge and growing threat to global food security. Currently, we protect our crops against fungal disease by spraying them with anti-fungal chemistries, also known as fungicides. However, the growing threat of microbial resistance against these chemistries requires continuous development of new fungicides. A consortium of researchers from the University of Exeter,…

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AfDB wins industry gong for pioneering 2019 social bond issue

This Environmental Finance 2020 bond award was given by an independent panel comprising 30 of the world’s largest green, social and sustainability bond investors The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) received on 30 March 2020 an award for its successful one billion Norwegian krone (NOK) social bond issued in 2019. This Environmental Finance 2020 bond award…

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Constitutional Court nullifies President’s executive powers on appointment of Judges

By Kumbirai Mafunda The Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe on Tuesday 31 March 2020 delivered a landmark ruling wherein it declared as unconstitutional the legality of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.1) Act. The Act sought to amend Section 180 of the Constitution by giving the President sole powers to appoint the Chief Justice, his deputy…

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ZACC urges transparency and accountability in responding to COVID-19

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has implored members of the public to remain vigilant during the government imposed 21-day lockdown for prevention and containment of the Corona Virus pandemic to fight crime. ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said in a statement that the Commission was aware that in such situations, criminals create opportunities to commit…

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Zimbabwe welcomes the call by UN for removal of sanctions

By Anyway Yotamu The government has welcomed the statements by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet calling for the rolling back of international sanctions against countries around the world as an essential part of the global effort to contain COVID-19. The two leaders encouraged the waiving…

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COVID-19 an opportunity for decision-makers to know how African food markets function

By Charles Dhewa African countries are called less industrialized economies for genuine reasons. If the majority of people in a country depend on more than 80 agricultural commodities and less than 10 can be turned into processed products, such a country is obviously less industrialized. For instance, in Zimbabwe, only maize meal, flour, sugar, wheat…

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Return of Farms to Certain Dispossessed Farmers

By Veritas Earlier this month the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement gazetted a set of regulations ‒ the Land Commission (Gazetted Land)(Disposal in Lieu of Compensation) Regulations, 2020 (SI 62 of 2020) [link] ‒ which provided for the return of farms to two classes of farmers who had been dispossessed during the land reform…

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Zimbabwe Citizens Forum ready to assist USA in tackling coronavirus

By Anyway Yotamu Zimbabwe Citizens Forum National coordinator Cde Taurai Kandishaya said his organisation stands ready to help the American government with their coronavirus plea which was announced by US President Donald Trump to the world for help in form of protective clothes for health workers due to shortage of supply in the United States…

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ZADHR COVID-19 Monitoring and Advocacy Report: 30 March 2020

By Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) continues to monitor the coronavirus pandemic and national response in Zimbabwe. Globally, the pandemic continues to spread exponentially, and tens of thousands have lost their lives to this disease. In Africa, South Africa has become the epicentre of…

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We delayed accreditation of journalists for 2020: ZMC

The Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) has told stakeholders that it has not yet issued Accreditation Cards for journalists and other media practitioners for the year 2020. This has been caused by the delay in the gazetting of accreditation and registration fees. The statement comes after freelance journalist Kudzai Musengi was arrested and detained at Gweru…

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Coronavirus: 13 000 Zimbabweans under monitoring and surveillance

By Anyway Yotamu and Tafadzwa Kufah The government is monitoring more than 13 000 Zimbabwean nationals who entered the country through Beitbridge Border Post after South Africa entered a three-week lockdown on Friday last week. Thousands of Zimbabweans came back home through Beitbridge Border Post after South Africa announced its three-week lockdown, as the number…

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Strive Masiyiwa Buys Back Mascom Botswana For USD$300 Million

COVID-19: Masiyiwa appeals to African governments to mobilise their healthcare workers

[Posted Strive Masiyiwa’s popular Facebook blog]   #Reflection:   Appeal for Africa’s healthcare workers!   As we prepare for COVID-19 to hit the African continent like a Category 10 Hurricane, we must not lose sight of the fact that the first responders and the true fighters are not going to be soldiers and policemen –…

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Coronavirus lockdown: essential industries and services will need to remain open

Dr. Sekai Nzenza, the Minister of Industry and Commerce has said that essential industries and services will need to remain open to support the health sector and to ensure minimal disruption in critical goods and services. “The primary objective remains that of protecting the lives of the employees in these industries by adhering to the…

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AfDB launches record breaking $3 billion “Fight COVID-19” Social Bond

Landmark transaction, largest Social bond transaction to date in capital markets The African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org) has raised an exceptional $3 billion in a three-year bond to help alleviate the economic and social impact the Covid-19 pandemic will have on livelihoods and Africa’s economies. The Fight Covid-19 Social bond, with a three-year maturity, garnered…

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Operationalisation of the Lockdown announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa

On 27 March 2020, His Excellency President ED Mnangagwa addressed the nation indicating that as of 30 March 2020 Zimbabwe will be under a total lockdown for the period of 21 days. The lockdown will certainly upset daily routines but this is a necessary action to ensure that we contain wider community spread and transmissions…

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POTRAZ Director-General Gift Machengete Trial Postponed To Next Week

Use existing technologies and avoid physical contact to keep out coronavirus: POTRAZ

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) has urged stakeholders to utilise existing technologies to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The call by POTRAZ Director-General, Dr. Gift Machengete follows the pronouncement of the 21-day lockdown directive to begin on Monday 30 March 2020 announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Considering the essential nature…

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How Will COVID-19 Affect Africa’s Food Systems?

As the COVID-19 pandemic takes hold in Africa, many governments have begun to tighten borders, restrict gatherings and close schools. The crisis has already fundamentally changed people’s lives not just with regards to public health but in terms of politics, the economy, public services, and much more. What about food systems? One thing that cannot…

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Coronavirus: 23rd International AIDS Conference to be held virtually

The health and safeguarding of the community are of the highest priority to leaders of the AIDS Conference. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 23rd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2020), to be held on 6-10 July 2020, will become the first virtual edition of the International AIDS Conference, the organisers gave said. AIDS 2020:…

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Jedidiah Trust, Gertrude Mandizvidza welcome Presidential Pardon for convicted female prisoners

Norton-based Jedidiahh Trust and their partner, philanthropist, and educationist Gertrude Mandizvidza, have welcomed the fact that President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pardoned all female convicts, juveniles under the age of 18 years, inmates sentenced to life in imprisonment and prisoners aged 70 years and above. Jedidiah Trust, founded by Lovemore Chikwanda, focuses on providing education, psycho-social…

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MSF to Pharma: No patents or profiteering on coronavirus drugs, tests, and vaccines in pandemic

Patents on new products could result in high prices and keep medicines and vaccines out of reach for people everywhere The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) today called for no patents or profiteering on drugs, tests, or vaccines used in the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments must be prepared to suspend and…

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Mr Eddie Chibi

EcoSure moves to help capacitate doctors and nurses amid COVID-19 pandemic

As Zimbabwe – along with the rest of the world – battles the COVID-19 Coronavirus global pandemic, EcoSure has announced plans to immediately support the country’s national health delivery system by equipping frontline medical staff with protective personal equipment (PPE), providing them with life and health insurance and offering them safe transport to and from…

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Speedily disseminate information on COVID-19 pandemic: Government urged

Habakkuk Trust has called upon the Government of Zimbabwe to speedily institute measures to promptly disseminate information on the COVID19 pandemic. The trust said the information should be availed in local languages through easily accessible communication media such as WhatsApp, posters, banners, and hailers amongst others. This will be instrumental in averting the implosion of…

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WHO calls for privacy focus in virus tech use

By Yanitsa Boyadzhieva The World Health Organisation (WHO) conceded technology played an important role in tackling Covid-19 (coronavirus), but emphasised privacy and security regulations must not be circumvented when gathering key information as part of the efforts. At a press conference dedicated to the pandemic held on 25 March, Michael Ryan, executive director of the…

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Zimbabwe receives COVID-19 test kits from Chinese Billionaire Jack Ma

Zimbabwe government has received its consignment of Coronavirus testing kits and prevention material donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma. In response to the latest developments in the wake of the devastating effect of COVID19 around the world, the testing kits and prevention material arrived in the country on  Tuesday from Ethiopia. The Deputy Minister of…

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Kadoma Central Constituency takes delivery of CDF water tanks

By Lovemore Chazingwa in Kadoma Mega water tanks sourced from funds under the constituency development fund (CDF) for Kadoma Central Constituency were taken delivery of to City of Kadoma (CoK) authorities and are awaiting official handover, this publication has established. That handover was supposed to be done today but for coronavirus crisis that is postponed…

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Grand Hotel’s bid to evict James Sakala upheld in court

By Lovemore Chazingwa in Kadoma Kadoma magistrate Ruvimbo Murandu dismissed applications for rescission of default judgment and another of stay of execution of default judgment filed by  James Sakala at Kadoma magistrates court, civil division. Both applications were dismissed with costs on an ordinary scale. The judgment was passed on the 11th of this month…

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Key trends of 2019 annual postal and telecommunication sector report

The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) advised its stakeholders that following the ban on all public gatherings and the social distance measures being broadly implemented owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional Director General’s Annual and Quarterly Sector Performance Press Conferences could not be held until further notice. Accordingly, the Authority presented…

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