By Byron Mutingwende Jeremiah James (25) a holder of a degree in sociology from one of the reputable universities in South Africa is snoring, dead-drunk, his mouth wide open and oblivious of a swarm of flies circling around him as he takes a slumber on a hot day on the pavement in Harare’s Central…
By Byron Mutingwende Sirak Gebrehiwot, a Communications Specialist with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office has said that the local media continues to continues to play critical role in advancing democracy, public discourse on political, economic and social issues despite a plethora of challenges they grapple with in their work. Sirak made the remarks during…
By Byron Mutingwende Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ) has hogged the limelight after evicting its long-time tenants from Masterton House, in a move widely interpreted as callous given the physical conditions of the victims. As an investigative journalist, I would like to divert a bit from just giving an account of events by delving into…
By Byron Mutingwende The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe has urged the government to ensure that the proposed cyber crime laws do not erode constitutional rights to free expression online and offline. MISA Chairperson, Kumbirai Mafunda revealed that on the occasion of the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day held under…
By Byron Mutingwende I had travelled a distance of about 50km from Harare to Mwanza Secondary School in the Chikwaka area under Goromonzi District on a fine Friday where the Ministry of Health and Child Care was holding a Community Health Symposium. The meeting afforded an interactive engagement between high level health officials and…
By Byron Mutingwende There is a public outcry over the Proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill that has generated both interest and concern among citizens, civil society, legal and media across the country. This comes in the midst of the government seeking to change the Judiciary Appointment Procedures contained in Section 180 of the Constitution. …
By Byron Mutingwende Professor Patrick Lumumba, a celebrated Kenyan anti-corruption proponent has registered his disdain for rhetoric on addressing corruption without the corresponding action, insisting the war on graft was far from over in Africa. Lumumba made the remarks during the 2017 Zimbabwe Accountants Conference held at the Harare International Conference Centre last…
By Byron Mutingwende Teererai Mabeye (not real name) is seven months pregnant but has been battling a severe headache for two days. Her mother-in-law finally decides to take her to the local Chibuwe Clinic in Chipinge District after she begins to sweat profusely, her body temperature hovering above 40 Degrees Celsius. The journey…
By Byron Mutingwende In pursuit of promoting economic development without depleting natural resources, the Swedish embassy in Harare has partnered the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a sustainable development project targeting young people on renewable energy and environmental sustainability. To achieve that goal, the Swedish Embassy in Harare on Monday, 24 April 2017,…
By Byron Mutingwende The Zimbabwe Civil Society Organisations Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance (ZCSOSUNA) has said that there was a need to develop a comprehensive plan on how, when and where its members could participate in the budget process annually to ensure that nutrition financing is addressed during budget formulation. In 2001, the government…
By Wallace Mawire Empowering women and girls could help Zimbabwe achieve at least eight of the 17 global goals for sustainable development including health, poverty, education, nutrition and violence against women and girls, according to Ekenia Chifamba, Director of Shamwari Yemwanasikana, an organisation in Zimbabwe based in Chitungwiza working on comprehensive strategies to empower the…
By Byron Mutingwende Coal-miners, Hwange Colliery Company Limited is implementing a raft of measures meant to turnaround its 2016 poor performance. In a statement Thursday, the miner noted with concern its recently released 2016 annual financial results statement on the organisation’s performance published on March 31, 2017. The low production levels led to…
By Byron Mutingwende The Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo will now be held towards the end of September despite earlier indications that it would not be available this year. Speaking during a press conference held at the New Ambassador Hotel on Thursday, Karikoga Kaseke, the Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA),…
By Byron Mutingwende The youths have reiterated the fact that tolerating divergent religions internationally was the bedrock of addressing conflicts that are threatening the existence of peace worldwide. In the contemporary conflicts threatening the future of humanity as a result of wars declared in the name of religion, an event in an effort…
By Byron Mutingwende It’s September 2015 in Chivi District in Masvingo Province, Maud Huruva is toiling her field in the scorching heat of the afternoon. Scientists have talked about the El Nino climatic phenomenon that leads to severe drought but she has hopes that perhaps the heavens will smile upon their area and rains…
By Byron Mutingwende It’s September 2015 in Chivi District in Masvingo Province, Maud Huruva is toiling her field in the scorching heat of the afternoon. Scientists have talked about the El Nino climatic phenomenon that leads to severe drought but she has hopes that perhaps the heavens will smile upon their area and rains…
By Byron Mutingwende Jane Matanda (36) lives with her family at a farm compound in Beatrice, nearly 60km from Harare. With four children who are all at school, Matanda says the wages she gets from working on the farm together with her husband are not sufficient to provide adequately for their children’s health and…
By Byron Mutingwende The Zimbabwe Schools Water and Agriculture Project is a self-sustainable water project that is set to positively impact learning institutions countrywide. The project is aimed at improving the lives of children for both rural and urban communities. It is a multi-pronged project that gives schools and communities access to clean water,…
By Byron Mutingwende The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has urged citizens to contribute in the national revenue by voluntarily complying to pay taxes. In his remarks during a media training workshop held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on Wednesday, Happias Kuzvinzwa, ZIMRA Acting Director-General said that it was important for citizens to…
By Byron Mutingwende The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has applauded the recent appointment of the Chief Justice as a signal of compliance with constitutional democracy. Luke Malaba was the Deputy Chief Justice before his appointment as the new Chief Justice, taking over from Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku who retired in February 2017. …
By Byron Mutingwende Contrary to the notion that there is acrimony between the Zimbabwean government and the United Nations country office, the partnership is robust, a senior government official has said. This emerged at a press briefing on the sidelines of a high level meeting jointly convened today by the Government and the…
By Byron Mutingwende African countries have shown their interest and willingness to strive for science, technology, and innovation (STI)-led development, the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) has noted. This emerged during the launch of the 2017 Africa Capacity Report held at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) in the capital on Tuesday 28…
By Nevson Mpofu and Byron Mutingwende This year’s March 24 World TB Day celebrated in Shurugwi paved a new way for strategies to end the disease. Ending Tuberculosis could be achieved through testing and screening, it has emerged. The fact on ground is, in populations with high HIV prevalence, many people infected with HIV develop…
By Byron Mutingwende Children with disabilities have special needs that should be addressed for them to access education without hindrances or barriers. Speaking during a Worldwide Campaign for Education for Children with Disabilities held under the banner “Ring the Bell”, Faith Sithole, the Head of St. Giles Special School in Harare said that all…
By Byron Mutingwende Calls to implement the 2016 Political Declaration meant to fast track the HIV prevention response, along with treatment are gaining momentum. This emerged at a Stakeholders’ meeting on HIV Prevention Revitalisation held at the Monomotapa Legacy Hotel in Harare early this week. The meeting was meant to take stock of the…
By Byron Mutingwende Africa and Europe are collaborating in space science and technology in pursuit of addressing the growing needs of African countries to access and use Earth Observation (EO) data for the implementation of sustainable development policies on the continent through the integration and deployment of African requirements and needs. Rungano Karimanzira,…
By Byron Mutingwende Victims of trafficking often fall prey to false promises of better opportunities; a discussion at the United States Embassy ‘s Public Affairs Section in Harare revealed Tuesday. Speaking at a “Food for Thought” discussion forum organised by the US Embassy, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the…
By Byron Mutingwende The diplomats were assured of mutual cooperation, as Zimbabwe was replete with various potential sectors for beneficial convergence. This emerged on the awards ceremony of the sixth edition of the Annual Diplomats Awards held at Cresta Loge in Harare on Friday 10 March 2017. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Bishow…
By Byron Mutingwende Corruption at Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) reads like a script from a Hollywood movie yet that organisation is expected to promote accountability and good governance. There had been numerous reports of graft at that institution but no one ever had the opportunity to fully understand the goings on until I personally…
By Byron Mutingwende The empowerment and full participation of women as equal citizens in all spheres of life stimulates the development of societies. This was the general consensus among the Zimbabwe United Nations office, civil society organisations and development partners in their solidarity messages during the commemoration of the International Women’s Day on Wednesday…
By Byron Mutingwende Tag a Life International (TaLI) has taken bold steps aimed at empowering young women in leadership during an event slated for the International Women’s Day at the University of Zimbabwe. “This year, as is our tradition including the previous few years, TaLI is taking some #BeBoldForChange steps in partnership with…
By Byron Mutingwende A showcase market held in Harare revealed that women have improved their entrepreneurship skills and are determined to leave a mark in business. Organised by the Women’s Farming Syndicate (WFS), the Women’s Showcase Market from March 3 to 4, 2017 at Long Cheng Plaza in Harare, was a platform for women…
By Byron Mutingwende The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) has condemned in the strongest terms, escalating cases of violent attacks targeted at foreign nationals living in South Africa. In Pretoria and Johannesburg, a number of foreign nationals, including Zimbabweans, have suffered physical and psychological harm. CiZC said that xenophobia defeats the spirit and…
By Byron Mutingwende The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has been urged to consider concerns by stakeholders over the newly introduced curriculum. The new primary and secondary school curriculum has been met with considerable outcry; with many within the education sector pointing out that this policy lacked sufficient consultative processes to ensure that…
By Byron Mutingwende With a significant number of people in rural areas still practising open defecation and the climate vagaries ravaging Zimbabwe, a health time bomb is imminent. Statistics from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF to the effect that over 40 per cent of people in rural areas are still practising open…
By Byron Mutingwende As conflicts escalate globally, stakeholders in governance have been urged to consider recommendations from a meeting held by the Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) hosted by the Chairman Man Hee Lee at the World Alliance of Religions’ Peace (WARP) Office in Cape Town. Four religious leaders from…
By Byron Mutingwende The empowerment of women is critical for development hence the need to promote social accountability and transparency in public finance management. The sentiment came to the fore during a media engagement exercise organised by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), meant to connect journalists with the communities and…
By Byron Mutingwende Harare-based lawyer, Dumisani Mthombeni has stood out as a paragon of the anti-corruption drive in Zimbabwe, with his work attracting accolades both locally and globally. Mthombeni obtained his law degree at the University of Zimbabwe in 2008. Besides the practice of law Dumisani is a youth and anti-corruption activist. He…
By Byron Mutingwende Journalists have reiterated that the prevailing working conditions in the media are not safe for them to carry out their mandate safely amid calls for gender equity in the sector. This emerged at a two-day workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) to train media practitioners on Gender…
By Byron Mutingwende Multilingual education stands out as one way of promoting sustainable development and cultural diversity, it has emerged. Speaking at a discussion forum held at the United Nations Information Centre in Harare Wednesday, 22 February 2017, Professor Hubert Gijzen, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Regional Director of…
By Byron Mutingwende Radio still remains the most popular source of news and information in Zimbabwe, a senior United Nations official has said. Speaking during the commemoration of World Radio Day at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare on Monday 13 February 2017, Bishow Parajuli, the United Nations Resident Corrinator for Zimbabwe said that…
The inclusive conservation of natural resources, including REDD+ Projects should be implemented in an inclusive and transparent manner, with respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and with consideration for the protection of biodiversity, Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has said “The lack of community engagement, inclusion and access to information is…
By Byron Mutingwende Makanaka Mukaranga (not her real name) pushes her wheelbarrow to Watsomba Business Centre in Mutasa District, awaiting the commencement of a food distribution exercise by one of the many organisations providing aid in the area. She is among hundreds of families that were identified to be in need of food…
By Byron Mutingwende Zimbabwe’s United Nations Resident Coordinator, Bishow Parajuli has said that it is important to mobilise the voices of the youths who should play an active role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Parajuli made the remarks at Junior Chamber International’s (JCI) 2017 Go4Gold Opening Night Ceremony event held…
By Byron Mutingwende Results from the 2016 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) placed Zimbabwe among the countries that scored below 50, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean), exposing the predominance of massive and pervasive public sector corruption. This year, Zimbabwe moved one step…
