The LitFest International Literature Festival is back! The festival will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with the main festival activities in Harare from November 29th to December 2nd, 2023, followed by outreach workshops and performances in Gweru on 4 December, and Bulawayo on 6 December. In commemoration of 10 years of LitFest, all the activities…
Bacteria that benefit plants are thought to be a critical contributor to crops and other ecosystems, but climate change may reduce their numbers, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. They published their findings in Nature Food. The collaboration, including Francisco Dini-Andreote, professor of plant science at Penn State, characterized the abundances…
Own Correspondent A 26-year-old upcoming Afropop and hip-hop artiste has been making waves with his unique style of celebrating the African culture through his music. Born Kumbirai Alexio Jenami, ‘The African Fargo’ burst into the musical scene in 2013, and ever since he has been making a name for himself by using indigenous languages. “I…
Writes Kumbirai Mafunda ON WORLD Toilet Day, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) implored local and central government and other stakeholders to accelerate change in tackling the worsening sanitation crisis in the country and arrest the outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases. World Toilet Day, which has been an annual United Nations (UN)…
Writes Tinashe Muchuri Tawanda Takura’s A Gathering: Katundu Katurikwa solo exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe that premiered on the 5th of October passes the clean environment message to the future. The title of the exhibition is a combination of two Shona words, which are katundu for luggage, baggage, or burden and katurikwa referring…
Writes Charles Dhewa The benefits of collaborating and building partnerships to solve shared problems like climate change seem very obvious. Mounting evidence indicates that dividing issues into themes often breaks natural synergies, for instance, between agriculture, environment, energy, mobility, and other issues that should be approached holistically. However, the fact that many development organizations and…
Anti-microbial resistance (AMR) poses an increasingly serious threat to public health and sustainable food production, necessitating an effective response involving all sectors of government and society, stakeholders attending the World AMR Awareness Week in Zimbabwe have said. Addressing delegates during the official opening ceremony of the 5th Continental World Antimicrobial Awareness Week for Africa in…
Zimbabwe is committed to the elimination of violence against women as demonstrated by the willingness of Parliament to join the international community in commemorating 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence running from November 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10 which itself is a Human…
Leading mobile telephony company, NetOne, has demonstrated its deep commitment to sustainability, and responsible governance by sponsoring a fitness marathon. Addressing journalists in the capital city yesterday, Mr. Learnmore Musunda, the company’s General Manager, speaking on behalf of Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Raphael Mushanawani, said NetOne recognizes the vital importance of achieving the goals…
Theatre in the Park will host Steve Makoni this November as part of the Handiende In Concert Tour 2023 which began in January in Mutare. The concert comes at no better time than coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence as the title Handiende speaks to all genders against exploitation. Also, to…
By Lloyd Rabaya Just a young woman from the dust in Chitungwiza but with great willpower pushing her to greater heights that not an ordinary young person can easily reach is Jerita Mutingwende. A second child in a family of six, now second in command at Chitungwiza Municipality, Jerita says it did not come on…
Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – A Chinhoyi-based young woman has caught the eyes of Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo after she turned an urban piece of land into a vibrant agriculture enterprise boasting of a fish farming project. Grace Gaidzanwa erected a small dam from the harvested…
The Quadripartite partners consisting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), in partnership with African Union agencies, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and African Union Inter-African Bureau for…
Writes Elvis Dumba Raffingora – Residents of Raffingora Township in Zvimba District are living in fear of waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera due to the raw sewer effluent which is now a common feature in this small farming community. Residents of Raffingora petitioned the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for…
Today, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Zimbabwe published its final report on the 23 August 2023 harmonised elections. This report offers a set of key recommendations to improve future electoral processes. EU EOM Chief Observer, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, underscored in the final report presentation: “While election day was largely calm, it…
With 96.7% of households adopting new production practices for milk, the nutritional benefits for adults and children have also improved The Climate Resilient Livestock Management Project, implemented by the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) in Zambia between 2017 and 2022, has helped to equip small livestock farmers to adapt to climate change. In particular, the percentage…
The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has recounted the efforts it made towards implementing its mandate, saying it has reached over 11 million farmers in Nigeria. The Country Director of AGRA, Rufus Idris, disclosed this during the just concluded Africa–Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) in Abuja. Idris, while receiving an award for AGRA’s…
Writes Rebecca Munetsi ‘These herbs you are showing us here, are for women (lavender, mint, and rosemary). You should have brought strong herbs for men like us. It is a male-dominated workspace here,” says one miner who visited the Community Capacity Initiative Center For Africa (CCBICA) Stand during the Rio Zim Mine Wellness Week. The…
Scores of international experts, including government officials, researchers, and industry leaders from several continents, gathered at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Headquarters in Rome for the two-day Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators. The Forum focuses on a sector that generates more than $400 billion in annual commercial…
Writes Nhau Mangirazi In a move likely to brighten the small Karoi farming town status, a new refreshing outing, Spring Resort will open its doors this Saturday. The facility is owned by politician Honourable Temba Mliswa, who has opted for the enterprising tourism sector. It adds to his farming career and the new facility is…
The Network for Environmental and Climate Justice in collaboration with the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe Chapter held an Accountability for Water and Environment Symposium on 15 November 2023 in Harare. The symposium sought to enhance civic participation in water and environmental governance as well as…
By Lloyd Rabaya The Zimbabwean political spectrum has, over the years, been marred by violence by the ruling party, segregation, and intentional obstruction, especially towards women who wish to hold positions of power. Inside the political parties, in councils, senate, and house of assembly representation of women is very insignificant despite them having the 52%…
Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa A United States-based academic, Professor Morgan Chitiyo has proffered recommendations on how Zimbabwe can improve on inclusive education. The University of North Carolina Lecturer Professor Morgan Chitiyo told this publication that there was a need for all teachers to be capacitated on special education knowledge. “Everything should start with teacher preparation and…
Writes Nhau Mangirazi Beekeeping is renewing forests in Zimbabwe as part of biodiversity aimed at community development, an official said last week. Zimbabwe Forestry Commission assistant entomologist, Leon Tshuma, made the remarks last week on Friday during a meeting facilitated by the Africa Wildlife Foundation on Zimbabwe Biodiversity Economy report dialogue series on Opportunities for…
Dr. Bayisa Bedada, the State Minister of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Ethiopia has encouraged African countries to accelerate economic transformation through knowledge-based and innovation-led initiatives. He made the remarks today at a stakeholder validation meeting of genome editing communication and advocacy training materials and curriculum underway in Addis Ababa from 15 to…
A local women’s organization, Women Writers Support Network (WWSN), is spreading its wings across the continent as it continues to grow from strength to strength. The trust establishment employs writing as a pivotal tool in psychotherapy. A brainchild of Sympathy Mangwenya Sibanda, the organization officially came into existence in September 2021. ln Zimbabwe, WWSN currently…
Production prospects across most basic foodstuffs are favourable, but extreme weather events, rising geopolitical tensions, and sudden policy changes pose risks for global food production systems and could potentially tip delicate demand-supply balances and dampen prospects for trade and global food security, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United…
Masvingo’s leading car dealer, Byword Motors will sponsor the Masvingo Business breakfast. The business breakfast will take place on the 16th of November 2023 at the Flamboyant Hotel and it is part of the Masvingo Business Expo. Masvingo Business Expo will be held on the 16th and the 17th of November 2023. The Expo will…
World Health Organization virtually launched its Commission on Social Connection, which will have its Secretariat housed at the UN headquarters in Switzerland running under a 3-year term with members from various institutions. The 7-member Commission was appointed by the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyusus, and will be Co-Chaired by Commissioner Chido Mpemba, who is…
Writes Lovemore Chazingwa (Health Reporter) Empirical medical evidence has proved that mass drug administration is among the key ways to combat infection and possible death from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This is opposed to seeking treatment after infection, which requires huge financial outlays, normally out of reach among impoverished citizens. Mass drug administration remains cardinal…
Writes Lovemore Chazingwa The solidarity march held on Saturday for the people of Palestine emboldened the resolve of the diplomatic community for a lasting end to the siege on patent humanitarian grounds. The march which was organized by the Zimbabwe-Palestine Solidarity Movement, took their message to UN WFP offices, and British and EU embassies, to…
A three-day workshop kicked off in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today to validate genome editing training materials and curriculum that will be used at the continental level to communicate new breeding tools and create awareness of the technology meant to optimize African agriculture. In his welcome remarks, Dr. Kassahun Tesfaye, the Director General of the Ethiopian…
In a collaborative endeavor to enhance disaster preparedness, CARE International in Zimbabwe and Caritas Zimbabwe, in partnership with the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) of Zimbabwe, have successfully deployed an automated weather station at Cloudland in Ward 33, situated within the Vumba area of Mutare District. This initiative which was spearheaded through the Strengthening Disaster Preparedness…
The designation of Ghana as the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) collaborating center for Africa, focusing on plant breeding and associated technologies for food and nutrition, is being seen as a pivotal moment in the application of genetic modification in Africa. In a recent press statement, the IAEA announced its collaboration with the Biotechnology and…
Africa was centre stage in the 2023 Ashden Awards with four of the five global South winners being African low carbon innovators and one receiving an Outstanding Achievement Award. Three more were from the UK. Winners from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, and Cameroon were celebrated for driving radical progress in tackling the biggest climate challenges –…
Writes Elvis Dumba After over 60 years of serving the people of Zimbabwe and Zambia, the routine monitoring of the Kariba Dam identified the need for rehabilitation works to ensure its continued contribution to energy security and economic prosperity in both countries and the region. The Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Program comprises the reshaping of the…
The Zimbabwean authorities must immediately address the escalating cases of abductions, arbitrary detention, torture and killing of parliament members, opposition political activists, and human rights defenders, Amnesty International, Southern Defenders and Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should urgently take effective measures to prevent these grave human rights violations, bring those suspected to be…
Writes Lovemore Chazingwa The international media fraternity has once again been plunged into darkness following the murder of at least 20 journalists by Israeli forces in the massacres bombarding the Gaza Strip. Some have described the situation as “a total disregard for the right to profession.” According to Al Jazeera news outlets, the Gaza Government…
Writes Professor Laeed Zaghlami of the University of Algiers (Faculty of Media and Communication) What is currently happening in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in the Gaza Strip, is a war of extermination waged by the army of the Zionist entity against a defenceless people who are defending their stolen legitimate rights implicitly with international…
The Air Zimbabwe (Private) Limited Board of Directors has announced that Mr Edmund Makona has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Airline with effect from 1st November 2023. Mr Makona has been appointed in terms of Section 14 (4) (b) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31) for an…
Writes Takudzwa Changadeya Opposition leader Herbert Chamuka has made a call for the main opposition party to join forces with the ruling party Zanu-PF and establish a government of national unity (GNU). Chamuka argues that the current political environment in the country is not leading it anywhere. Speaking to reporters in Harare recently, Chamuka emphasized…
Writes Pabalelo Tlou Margret Chogugudza, director of Rural Young Women Support Network says her NGO is determined to expose and seek solutions to the challenges that young women within the mining sector are experiencing on a daily basis. Speaking to this publication, Chogugudza said the main objective of the NGO is to bridge the gap…
Writes Lovemore Chazingwa (Health Reporter) A total twenty-two registered general nurses have attained qualification to perform surgery on trachoma trichiasis, one of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) prevalent in the country, a media training workshop has heard. These nurses were trained in 2016 after the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), through the National Institute…
A western Australia-based project aims to develop a scientifically rigorous decision-support tool to help farmers and their advisors increase profitability and optimise risk management. Dubbed the Agri-analytics Hub, the $4-million project will help producers analyse variability in crop performance and profitability on an in-paddock scale. The project involves the Food Agility Co-operative Research Centre, NGIS,…
Mr. Dumisani Hamandishe, the founder, visionary, and chief operations officer of Reach Out Foundation has said the organisation seeks to empower orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe. The foundation was established in the year 2020 and is anchored on awareness campaigns, food aid, school bursary funds, and skills development programs. Through the leadership skills, passion,…
