OWN CORRESPONDENT A new study by ActionAid reveals that deep cuts to public spending in education and health across six African countries have seen workers struggling to afford essentials like food resulting in overcrowded classrooms and failing healthcare. The Human Cost of Public Sector Cuts in Africa surveyed over 600 healthcare workers, teachers, and…
Writes Stephen Chadenga “We worked with her, she was a champion woman with a Midas touch.” The above were the send-off words from Midlands-based miner and businessman Big Tich (Ticha Darangwa) at the funeral of one of Zanu PF’s biggest women empowerment champions, Florence Mbizo nee Mudzengi, who at the time of her demise was…
The 57th Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) Plenary Assembly Session convened a Symposium, from the 2nd to the 6th June 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe on the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) For Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities” and resolved that the SADC Region…
The Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Strategic Plan (2025-2035) lays out not only its strategic priorities – ranging from climate change resilience, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods to trade, innovation, and social inclusion but also it shows how the network delivers through robust evidence generation, knowledge management, and partnerships. These were…
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – June 3, 2025 — At the 57th Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) Plenary Session, Professor Ronald Manhibi, Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), delivered a powerful and timely call for Southern African parliaments to urgently embrace localized Artificial Intelligence (AI)…
Writes Edgar Gweshe Community stewardship is a powerful model for wetlands protection which fosters local ownership and engagement leading to more sustainable and effective conservation efforts. Community involvement in wetlands protection ensures that locals become the primary stewards of wetlands thus promoting long-term sustainability and positive change. Community stewardship promotes increased awareness, collaboration, and partnerships,…
Gilead Sciences is poised to supply its groundbreaking twice-yearly injection, lenacapavir, to low-income countries, pending FDA approval, writes Catherine Murombedzi. The twice-yearly jab has shown nearly 100% effectiveness in preventing HIV infection in large trials, sparking hope that it could help end the 44-year-old. The Food and Drug Administration’s approval is the crucial…
In his presentation during the symposium on artificial intelligence at the ongoing 57th session of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) at the Elephant Hill Resort in Victoria Falls today, Mr. Liberty Dandira from the Midlands State University explored how AI-powered intelligence systems can transform parliamentary operations in the SADC region. The…
Dr Tarisai Mutangi, a Law Lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, has urged legislators aligned with the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) to craft regulations to harness artificial intelligence and legal technology for effective and efficient parliamentary processes. He was making a presentation today in Victoria Falls during a symposium on…
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – In a bold and visionary presentation delivered at a high-level regional forum in Victoria Falls, Dr. Shakemore Chinofunga, Executive Director of ICT at Chinhoyi University of Technology, called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to embrace a unified digital enterprise framework grounded in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and structured through the…
Hon Tatenda Mavetera, Zimbabwe’s Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services has proposed strategies for the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to foster sustainable development in the region. She revealed this in a video presentation during an AI symposium held at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria…
Technological cooperation and knowledge sharing are meant to strengthen democratic institutions across the region, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said while officially opening the 57th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) today in Zimbabwe’s resort city of Victoria Falls. He said the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by a fusion of emerging…
Zimbabwe has been honoured for its commitment to supporting the work of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) and advancing parliamentary democracy. This was revealed by HE Boemo Sekgoma, the SADC PF Secretary-General in her remarks during the official opening of the 57th Plenary Session of SADC PF today at the…
As it joined other stakeholders to observe World No Tobacco Day, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) reiterated that tobacco use is a major public health issue. CWGH said there is a substantive body of evidence on the harmful health effects of tobacco smoke. Tobacco use is a known risk factor for cancer…
Writes Ahmed Fattouh (The Spokesperson for the Palestinian National Liberation Movement- FATEH) The FATEH Movement strongly condemns the horrific massacre committed by the Israeli occupation forces west of Rafah, where thousands of starving Palestinian civilians were targeted at an aid distribution point in a grotesque war crime and a chilling testament to Israel’s sadistic…
Bonteheuwel, Cape Town – On 24 May 2025, the streets of Bonteheuwel resonated not with fear, but with hope, as more than 130 participants gathered to commemorate the 12th Anniversary of HWPL’s Declaration of World Peace through a community clean-up and peacebuilding campaign. Jointly hosted by HWPL, Gun Free South Africa, the Lerato Family…
G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (G20-MACS), held from 26-28 May 2025 in Polokwane, under South Africa’s G20 Presidency identified actionable science, technology, and innovation actions to advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the Africa Common Position on Food Systems. In her address, Nakedi Kekana,…
VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE – The Parliament of Zimbabwe is proudly hosting the 57th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) from 31st May to 7th June 2025, at the iconic Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls City. Composed of 15 Member SADC Parliaments, this high-level Assembly of Parliamentarians will draw…
On 28 May 2025, Mr Gwinyai Muti, the International Coordinator for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) presented to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Commission on Protected Areas Conservation Specialist Group detailing the process of how Transfrontier Conservation Area has established a model transboundary and governance structure and joint planning…
Leading mobile telephony giant, NetOne, has sent heartfelt congratulations to Eng. Raphael Mushanawani, the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer, on being honored as the Business Leader of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Awards. The company said the remarkable accolade is a testament to Eng Mushanwani’s extraordinary leadership,…
A new joint research initiative is bringing together experts from Australia and France to enhance wheat yields amid a changing climate. The International Associated Laboratory “Wheat Adaptation to Changing Environments” (WheatACE) unites researchers from The University of Queensland, France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), and the University Clermont Auvergne….
Writes Chimeno Azriel Stigma and discrimination remain significant barriers to HIV care, preventing people living with the disease from seeking medical care, disclosing their status, and adhering to treatment. The Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo, emphasised the need to address these challenges during the National Aids…
Writes Chinedu Moghalu 29 May 2025 – The election of Dr. Sidi Ould Tah as the 9th President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) today at the Annual General Meeting in Abidjan, with a commanding 73% of Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and 77% overall—a double mandate never before achieved in the Bank’s history—was no…
Writes Edgar Gweshe Harare is losing its headwater wetlands – sources of water for the capital- at an alarming rate. According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), 82% of the country’s wetlands are moderately to severely degraded, with only 18% remaining in a relatively undisturbed state. Statistics show that over the last two…
Writes Sirak Gebrehiwot 28 May 2025, Harare – In a significant milestone for Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory, last week Harare hosted the launch of three key development initiatives: the eTrade Readiness Assessment, the National Productive Capacities Gap Assessment, and the Holistic Productive Capacities Development Programme. These initiatives, rigorously prepared by the United Nations Conference…
Writes Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi As Zimbabweans, do we pause to look inward and realize that some of the solutions we desperately seek already lie within our own institutions? The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) stands as a textbook example of how one institution, once powerful and respected has been allowed to decay, yet still…
Writes Sirak Gebrehiwot 27 May 2025, Harare – In an era where the youth are increasingly recognized as critical agents of change, Zimbabwe’s commitment to enhancing youth engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) marks a significant milestone. The Youth Empowerment Strategy for Zimbabwe is a bold initiative designed to harness the potential of the…
The State of Palestine strongly condemns the recent Israeli attack on Gaza that resulted in the tragic killing of nine children of a respected paediatrician, Dr. Alaa al-Najjar at the Nasser Medical Complex. This heinous act is a stark reminder of Israel’s blatant disregard for international law and its continued perpetration of war crimes against…
As the dust settles on the momentous Bulilima Drug and Substance Abuse Campaign & Life Skills Graduation held on 24 May 2025, NetOne’s message rings clear across the nation: Zimbabwe is taking a firm stand against drugs, and no community will be left behind. Hosted in the heart of Matabeleland South Province, this initiative…
War veterans aligned to Cde Cephas Ncube and Cde Samuel Parirenyatwa who lost a Supreme Court appeal on Thursday, May 2025 against a faction led by Cde Elias Moffat Marashwa defied the court by holding elections in Hurungwe District, Mashonaland West Province. The Ncube faction had challenged an interdict against them ruled by the…
It is incumbent upon policymakers, educators, guardians, and elders to ensure that the digital generation is not only empowered technologically but equipped ethically, politically, and constitutionally to shape a just and inclusive Africa, Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President of the Pan-African Parliament, has said. He made the remarks on Monday 26 May 2025 on…
A significant occasion, Africa Day honors the achievements, diversity, and solidarity of the continent. With the assistance of My Food is African, a regional campaign for My Food is Zimbabwe, the Mbare community has utilized the celebration this year to highlight the importance of agroecology in tackling climate change, a significant issue affecting agriculture and…
Today, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) stands tall and proud as it joins others to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) now the African Union (AU), a powerful symbol of the continent’s shared history, identity, and determination. In his statement, H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, the President…
Artificial Intelligence is having unprecedented impacts on Press Freedom and the Media as it comes at a time when it is becoming the tool of choice in the media sector and newsrooms. This emerged today 24 May 2025 at the belated commemoration of this year’s World Press Freedom Day by the Media Institute of…
The shared commitment to regional cooperation and integration, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development as espoused under the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) should put communities at the forefront, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. President Mnangagwa made the remarks at the close of the historic inaugural SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Conference and Summit which…
on 23 May 2025 in Cambridge, the Unites States, at the end of the 2025 International Summit on Genome Editing, the Global Observatory for Genome Editing issued a Statement calling for a Charter on Emerging Technologies and Human Dignity. A global process of developing such a Charter will facilitate deeper reflection, responsibility, and moral purpose and protect…
During the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas International Conference held in Harare, Zimbabwe over the period 19 – 21 May 2025, the International Coordinator for the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, Mr. Gwinyai Muti mentioned that the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier…
On May 22, 2025, Dr. Shakemore Chinofunga, Executive Director of ICT at Chinhoyi University of Technology, stood before Parliament with a powerful message: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a distant innovation—it is the present force that must drive Zimbabwe’s national development strategy. Speaking with urgency and clarity, he presented a compelling blueprint for embedding…
The Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) Framework under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) complements regional strategies in eco-tourism, climate resilience, and rural development, and contributes meaningfully to national goals of equity and shared prosperity. This came to the fore in opening remarks by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Chairperson of…
Story by Violet Mashonga Chinhoyi, nestled in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland West Province, is grappling with a severe refuse collection crisis that has left its residents in a precarious situation. The local authority’s failure to collect refuse has resulted in streets being littered with garbage, creating an eyesore and a serious health hazard. The crisis, which…
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just a technological tool but a transformative force that can redefine parliaments, and influence the legislative process and way of engagement with citizens, Hon Tatenda Mavetera, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services has said. She made the remarks during the Mini-Symposium on Artificial Intelligence at the New Parliament…
A new World Bank report reveals that transportation inefficiencies are causing significant food losses in Africa. Thirty-seven percent of locally produced food is lost in transit due to slow processing times, poor infrastructure, and non-tariff barriers. According to the report, Transport for Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strengthening Supply Chains, prioritizing investments in 50 transportation…
Zimbabwe convened a meeting of the Ministers responsible for Environment, Natural Resources, and Tourism on the sidelines of the historic inaugural SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Conference and Summit as a testament to the southern region’s commitment to conservation, sustainable development, and regional integration. These sentiments were captured in the remarks by the Minister…
As Zimbabwe is hosting the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) Summit from 19–23 May 2025 at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) Zimbabwe, non-state actors have outlined their expectations under the initiative. The summit is under the theme “25 Years of Cooperation for Regional Integration and Sustainable Development.” Leaders and experts will come…
Agroecology has been identified as one of the most important pathways to climate resilience and sustainable food systems transformation in Africa. The approach integrates ecological and social principles into farming practices to address food insecurity, environmental degradation, and poverty, leading to food security, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The second Conference on Agroecology…
