Facebook plans to integrate its messaging services on Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. While all three will remain stand-alone apps, at a much deeper level they will be linked so messages can travel between the different services. Facebook commented that it was at the start of a “long process”. The plan is believed to be…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is calling for an inclusive national dialogue as a panacea to the country’s challenges across the political, social and economic fronts. ZESN made the call as it registered concerns over the recent violent protests characterised by looting, vandalism of property and infrastructure as well as the heavy handed response…
The internet shutdown by government has had an adverse impact on business operations in various sectors of the economy. Government last week switched off internet connectivity in the face of violent protests, which resulted in at least 12 deaths. The shutdown, according to the government, was necessitated by security concerns. However, the High Court this week overturned…
It is now confirmed that the Government of Zimbabwe ordered mobile network operators (MNOs) to shut down the internet and social media communication platforms, including WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook, which are widely used by Zimbabweans. This is now public knowledge thanks to Econet, the biggest MNO, which issued a statement to the effect that in…
By Elvis Dzvene As shortage of U.S. dollars plunges the financial system into disarray, forcing businesses to close and threatening civil unrest, the Minister of Finance, Professor Mthuli Ncube said Zimbabwe will introduce a new currency within the next 12 months as a solution. Is the nation not wasting precious time by trying to cure…
Liquid Telecom has appointed Susan M’kandawire Mulikita as CEO of Liquid Telecom Zambia to accelerate growth and market penetration across the country. Based in Zambia, Susan joined the company on 14 January 2019 and becomes the first female to join Liquid Telecom’s Southern Africa regional executive leadership team as CEO. Susan is also the first…
Scores of destination marketing experts and operators thronged the Destination Zimbabwe stand as the country is exhibiting at the International Tourism and Trade Fair (FITUR) which kicked off on the 23rd and will run till the 27th of January in Madrid, Spain. The fair has grown by 8.3% and this year’s edition will be its…
By Tendai Guvamombe An environmental activist Francis Nyamutsamba has come under fire for allegedly haunting Peg Makuchete over his double storey mansion and for allegedly delaying construction progress in Glen Lorne under the banner of a sub-catchment council. Information established by Spiked Online revealed that Peg Makuchete formerly bought the high class residential stand in…
The late music legend Oliver Mutukudzi who was declared a national hero left an indelible legacy of love, care and unity that transcends generations, colour creed or race. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the late 66-year-old Oliver Mutukudzi a national hero on Thursday 24 January 2019. The decision was received with jubilation from across the country….
The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA) is concerned that a group of men who identified themselves as members of the security forces intimidated and threatened the Chairperson of the ARDA Transau Relocation Development Trust, Mr. Donald Masvaure, at his place of residence with unspecified action should he continue to mobilise the community to seek legal redress…
Tour Africa’s New Horizon Project will see Zimbabwe receiving 350 Chinese tourists every month as from March 2019, Priscah Mupfumira, the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has said. Minister Mupfumira made the remarks at Meikles Hotel in Harare yesterday where she revealed that the project is a collaboration between Ethiopian Airlines, which is providing…
Geneva – While the world should call for lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe, there is need for dialogue in order to extricate the country from the current crisis, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has said. Ramaphosa made the call on the sidelines of the launch of the Global Commission on the Future of Work…
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the military have denied having played a hand in the violence and looting that took place during last week’s protests as Zanu (PF) lays blame on the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance. Addressing a joint press conference in Harare, the ZRP and Zimbabwe Defence Forces spokespersons shifted blame…
Switzerland should bar President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his delegation from entering their country, actor and human rights activist Silvanos Mugova has said. The Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his delegation will be arriving in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum Summit in Davos, amid torture, abductions, brutality by state apparatus (military, police, Central Intelligence Organisation…
The United Nations Human Rights Office of the Commissioner has said it is deeply troubled by the socio-economic crisis that is unfolding in Zimbabwe and the repression of large scale protests in the country, following the Government’s decision to increase fuel prices. “We call on the Government to find ways of engaging with the…
The potential for new technology to support African smallholders receives insufficient attention, says director of the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) The huge promise of technology to help improve productivity, profitability and sustainability for African smallholders should be higher on the international agenda, the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture heard. Michael…
Several people have appeared in court in Zimbabwe after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers following anti-government protests held in the troubled southern African country over the deteriorating political and economic crisis. In Bulawayo, the first batch of five people, who were arrested by ZRP officers and charged with public violence as…
Soldiers were deployed to residential suburbs across towns and cities as the stay away called for by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions starting Monday 14 January 2019 turned violent. According to Generation Consensus, its activists on the ground reported widespread violation of rights by soldiers and police. The reported violations included abductions and torture,…
Angola’s economic troubles began in 2014 when global crude oil prices dipped and severely hampered the government’s ability to generate revenue João Lourenço has been president of Angola since 26 September 2017. About one year later, he cemented his hold on power by taking over the chairmanship of the ruling Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA)….
By NANGO The National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), the official umbrella body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe, notes with great concern the degeneration of the current social and political situation in the country. NANGO takes note of the the issues that a cross section of Zimbabweans have been raising over a prolonged period…
By Charles Dhewa Many rural communities in low income countries are fed up with the predatory nature of external development initiatives. According to the WordWeb dictionary, a predatory animal is one that lives by catching and preying on other animals. Predatory tendencies also include living by or victimising others for personal gain. When development agencies…
Thanks to the intervention by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Monday 14 January 2019 set free a pro-democracy campaigner, who had endured two nights in police detention after he was arrested during the weekend for allegedly recording a video at Robert Mugabe International Airport. The 26 year-old Makomborero…
By Tendai Guvamombe The Passenger Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has bemoaned the fact that economy is slowly rattling towards a complete shutdown and negatively impacting the commuting public. According to PAZ, the question on whether the economy is yet to reach its doldrums or not matters less but the plight of passengers in the public…
By Tendai Guvamombe The constant rise in the fight against invasion of wetlands in Harare has exposed shoddy deals orchestrated by relevant authorities amid calls for the government to subject perpetrators under investigative scrutiny. On Friday last week City of Harare Environmental Committee and Harare Wetlands Trust embarked on another Joint Wetland Tour in different…
By Innocent Ndibali (Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) President) We as Zim EFF and on behalf of the majority of our people and together with the poor, downtrodden and disposed people of Zimbabwe today declare that we are real victims of Zanu PF’s mismanagement of our country which has resulted in the collapse of the…
Roku shares soared after the company known for its streaming video devices reported impressive growth in the number of its active users and streaming hours. The company’s shares were up 25% at the market’s close on Monday to $42.18, highlighting Wall Street’s enthusiasm with Roku reporting a 40% year-over-year jump in active accounts to 27…
Samsung said that it would add an app to its smart televisions in the coming months to let owners watch content bought on Apple’s iTunes service, a possible first sign Apple is looking to distribute its forthcoming television service on devices made by others. The deal is part of an ongoing strategy shift for Apple,…
The US is again warning its allies about the risks of using telecom equipment made by China’s Huawei Technologies Co. American officials have briefed their counterparts in countries like Germany, Italy, and Japan about what they argue are potential cybersecurity risks, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall). This follows previous warnings, such as a claim earlier this…
Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co. says it has terminated the employment of a Chinese worker, Wang Weijing who was arrested on spying allegations in Poland. The allegations against Wang Weijing “have no relation to the company,” Huawei Technologies Ltd. said in a statement. It said Wang was fired because the incident “brought Huawei into…
For cord cutters and streaming lovers, 2019 will mean two things: A raft of new streaming services will hit the scene, and users will see major changes to viewing libraries. Indeed, streaming wars set to get worse and real this new year – 2019. Two major new streaming services will launch this year from Disney (DIS)…
Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos are divorcing after 25 years of marriage. While the Amazon founder’s name is well-known, the news has left some people wondering, who is MacKenzie Bezos? Who is the wife of the richest man in the world, someone who has led a relatively private life as the partner of the powerful founder and executive? MacKenzie…
Shortly after they were married, MacKenzie Bezos drove her husband, Jeff, across the country from New York to Seattle while he typed out a business plan for what would become Amazon. Now, twenty-five years later, MacKenzie Bezos could once again find herself in the driver’s seat, this time with the potential to rattle her husband’s control over…
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has described as the height of insincerity the move by the government of officially hiking fuel by over 150% at a time when they are offering Civil servants a mere 10% salary increase. As it stands, the fuel price hike is still lower than the actual price…
By Elvis Dzvene A floating exchange rate regime entails liberalisation of the financial sector by removing all government interventions in the financial sector, whereby the value of a currency will be determined by the market forces based on supply and demand of our currency on the international currency market. This is in contrast to a…
Liquid Telecom announced that it has appointed Mohamed Abdel Bassit its new Regional Chief Executive for the Middle East and West Africa (MEWA), effective January 1, 2019. Based in Cairo, Bassit will oversee the group’s expansion further into MEWA following the recent news that it is investing US$400m in the Egyptian market and has completed the first fibre network to stretch all the way from Cape Town to Cairo. Mohamed…
Analysts have projected data and internet to drive telecoms giant Econet’s business post unbundling as full-year revenue for the financial year 2019 is expected to hit $678 million mark. This will represent a 20 percent jump ahead of $578 recorded in FY18. After becoming a fully converged telecommunications, media and technology business encompassing digital banking,…
Businessman Strive Masiyiwa has so far founded four different businesses that are valued at more than $13 billion. Commenting on his Facebook page, the Econet founder said four of his business ventures had become what are known as Unicorns: -Econet Wireless Zimbabwe $3,2bn -Cassava Zimbabwe $3,8bn -Liquid Telecom $2,5bn, -And Airtel Nigeria, which he started…
7 January 2019-ESR analysis on critical economic challenges facing Zimbabweans today Post the 30th July 2018 harmonised elections, one of the most important questions that Zimbabweans have had to deal with is how the new government will resolve the deep and complex economic problems Zimbabwe is grappling with. Economic commentators have expressed mixed views and…
By Byron Mutingwende The National Transport Drivers Association ((NTDA) has partnered the Tehilar Christian Network on the noble anti-litter initiative being spearheaded by First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa. Following a meeting of church leaders under the banner of Tehilar Christian Network at Zimbabwe House with the First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa, the religious fraternity put…
By Tendai Guvamombe Consumer behaviour is a major determining factor that can measure economic performances in the country hence economists should stand for consumer’s rights and protection. This has not been the case in the country’s economic landscape where end users of products are crying foul over the way they are fingered in the economic…
By Jacob Mafume (MDC National Spokesperson) “He who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him” The above is a direct quote from the…
By Tendai Guvamombe The inaugural Photography and Photo Journalism Awards are around the corner and the much-awaited event, which will be held for the first time is set to honour revered personalities who immensely contributed towards the development of photography industry in Zimbabwe. The event, earmarked towards end of April this year is organised by…
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday 10 January 2019 welcomed a £3.95 million (US$5 million) contribution from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) to its 2018/19 Lean Season Assistance programme in Zimbabwe. The contribution will help WFP to provide cash-based food assistance to some 97,000 highly food insecure people…
By Tendai Guvamombe The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has come under fire for allowing the invasion of wetlands by property developers. On Wednesday 9 January 2019, the City of Harare in conjunction with Harare Wetlands Trust (HWT) and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) jointly toured various suburbs of Harare to assess progress made on the…
Zimbabwean youths bound to Panama for the Youth Conference were urged to be torchbearers and ambassadors of the country’s pristine tourism products and services. This emerged at the Mega Pilgrim Send-Off dinner to Panama for the World Youth Day where the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Priscah Mupfumira was the Guest of Honour…
