Steward Bank set to expand rural loans programme following boost of $100 million from Strive Masiyiwa

Steward Bank’s rural entrepreneurs initiative has been given a five-year grant of $100 million from the family foundation of Econet founder Strive Masiyiwa.   The money is intended to scale up an existing programme that has been going on for the last three years and has already seen Steward Bank disburse $3 million in rural…

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UN-Habitat and partners spearheading waste management, clean energy project

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) in association with implementing partners, is spearheading waste management and clean energy projects in the Harare Metropolitan Province. Speaking at a steering committee meeting of the project chaired by Engineer Herbert Parichi, the Director of Infrastructure Planning and Environmental Management in the Office of the Minister of State…

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POTRAZ enhancing consumer wellbeing through Customer Satisfaction Surveys

The Postal and Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is using customer satisfaction surveys in a bid to enhance consumer well-being by availing products and services that meet their needs and wants. This was revealed by Dr. Gift Machengete, the Director-General of POTRAZ during the organisation’s launch of the 2022 Customer Satisfaction Survey in Chitungwiza…

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CSOs amplify calls for preserving wetlands to mitigate climate change

By Sowell Chikwari Civil society organisations have raised concerns over the decimation of wetlands in urban peripheries owing to housing construction and agricultural activities as it negatively impacts the environmental ecosystem. The City of Harare is among the most affected cities in terms of the depletion of wetlands, a situation that has grossly affected the…

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AfDB €87 Million loan to Morocco widens social protection, strengthens health services

The program aligns with Morocco’s human development objectives and the Bank’s High 5s strategic goal to foster sustainable and inclusive growth on the continent The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) approved an €87 million loan to implement the Support Program for the Generalization of Social Coverage in Morocco. The primary…

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Inclusive Water Resources Management to headline 10th SADC River Basin Organisations workshop

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), in collaboration with the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM), and with the technical support of the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), is scheduled to convene the 10th SADC River Basin Organisations/Shared Watercourse Institutions (RBOs/SWIs) Workshop on 2-4 October 2023. The workshop will be held in a hybrid format, and…

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Fix The Patent Laws Campaign (FTPL) launches global campaign urging Johnson & Johnson to reduce price of life-saving TB drug

Fix The Patent Laws Campaign (FTPL), launched a global campaign today calling on pharmaceutical corporation Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to lower the price of its anti-tuberculosis medicine bedaquiline to no more than R15 per day for people everywhere who need it, in order to allow scale-up of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment and reduce deaths.  …

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Joint book launch by Susan Tembo and Ophar Bizabani demonstrates women’s writing prowess

Writes Chimeno Azriel Two upcoming Kadoma-based female authors are set to launch their debut books in Kadoma this weekend in what will be the first-ever double book launch to be held in the mining town. The double book launch is expected to take place on the 9th of December 2023 at St Aidian’s Methodist church…

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IOM and USAID in field visit to Chimanimani project sites

Officials representing the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Chimanimani district authorities, and representatives of internally displaced persons (IDPs) recently conducted a field visit to Chimanimani to assess project activities under the Enhancing Multi-Sectoral Assistance to Cyclone Idai Affected Populations in Zimbabwe project.  …

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Social Protection System Strengthening Programme to support vulnerable citizens

The launch of the Social Protection System Strengthening Programme is a key priority of the Government of Zimbabwe to support vulnerable citizens. This is a positive move towards a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society by 2030 and is a testament to the commitment to investing in social protection to support vulnerable citizens, from the womb…

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ARTUZ on Education Act Amendment bill

Steering Committee Appointed to Operationalize GEMS Fund

By Staff Reporter Following a strategic decision to establish the Government Employees Mutual Savings (GEMS) Fund in order to mobilise mutual savings for government employees, the Government has appointed a Steering Committee aimed at monitoring and ensure that the GEMS Fund achieves its objectives. In a statement yesterday, the Public Service Commission (PSC) communicated that,…

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ZANU (PF) Conference to discuss ways of quickening economic turnaround: Mnangagwa

The ZANU (PF) Conference taking place at Goromonzi High School in Mashonaland East is meant to share perspectives on quickening the pace towards greater economic stability and growth, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said. “This Conference must therefore share perspectives with regards how we can quicken the pace of re-building and modernising both our Party and…

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Mbare breathes fire on corruption and political polarisation

Mbare residents said corruption within the local government and the high level of political polarisation in the community is the major hindrance towards the development of their constituency. Speaking at a Constituency Indaba facilitated by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) in Mbare at Mai Musodzi Hall on the 24th of September 2019, Mbare…

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Spike in negative paternity test results alarming: Global DNA Zim

By Sowell Chikwari THE disintegration of family setups, largely attributed to increased infidelity, has become a major cause of concern amid startling revelations of an increase in negative paternity  Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) test results in the country. DNA testing, which was made widely accessible in Zimbabwe by Global DNA Zimbabwe, has brought relief to many through…

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Why the AfCFTA Could Be the Game-Changer for the Continent’s Economies

By Own Correspondent Most economists see structural transformation as one of the main routes to Africa’s sustainable development. What it means is changing the share of agriculture, manufacturing, and services in an economy. It is a central aim of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.  With this aim in mind, economists and policymakers need to know…

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CHRA, WILSA Join Hands For National Voice on Water Governance

By Joyce Mukucha The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) in partnership with the Women and Law in Southern African (WILSA) hosted a National Water Convention in Harare that was aimed at strengthening coalitions for a strong coordinated national voice on water governance. Representatives of Residents Associations from Bulawayo, Masvingo and Gweru presented on the water…

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Strive Masiyiwa Buys Back Mascom Botswana For USD$300 Million

Strive Masiyiwa Buys Back Mascom Botswana For USD$300 Million

The Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group, Strive Masiyiwa, has bought back Mascom Botswana from MTN for US$300 million, 14 years after losing control of the telecoms giant. Mascom was Strive Masiyiwa’s first mobile company before he obtained a licence to launch Econet Wireless after a protracted court battle with government authorities. The name…

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Econet reviews bundle tariff prices

ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe (Econet) has reviewed its voice, SMS, and data bundles in line with tariffs approved by the regulator in August last year. The latest adjustment comes after State-owned mobile network operator NetOne increased its bundle prices last week, with Telecel Zimbabwe expected to follow soon as the telecommunications industry battles viability challenges. “Please…

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Religious Leaders Speak Out Against South Korea’s Scapegoating of Church after Members Test Positive for COVID-19

Religious leaders and NGOs in association with the United Nations around the globe have raised their voices on the need to correct inappropriate persecution and human rights violations against a South Korea religious group, Shincheonji Church of Jesus. From Southern Africa, fourteen (14) religious leaders from the Christian, Islam, Hindu, the Church of Scientology, Hare…

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WFP seeks to eradicate hunger in Zimbabwe

By Joyce Mukucha The World Food Programme (WFP) is maintaining strong humanitarian assistance capacity through its Country Strategic Plan (CSP) which focuses on supporting long-term national social protection and resilience building efforts to achieve Zero-hunger in Zimbabwe. It is estimated that by 2050, both the risk of hunger and child malnutrition could increase by 20…

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Reliable water availability ensures development: President Mnangagwa

By Byron Mutingwende   Improving water resources infrastructure and availability has the potential to unlock the vast opportunities for Zimbabwe’s socio-economic development, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.   He made the remarks on the occasion of the water infrastructure investment conference and the launch of the national climate policy at the Harare International Conference Centre…

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Analysis of 2018 national budget statement: a mineral resource governance viewpoint

By Mukasiri Sibanda Introduction If you want to know government’s priorities, don’t be swayed by eloquent speeches from politicians, take a close look at the budget. Plans on how government intends to generate, allocate and spend public revenue in a manner that can hurt or protect the poor are revealed publicly. As Zimbabwe is endowed…

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COVID-19 makes it harder for charcoal producers and traders to make ends meet

By Daniella Silva In Kisangani — Democratic Republic of Congo’s third-largest city — COVID-19 has had an impact on the charcoal industry that its more than 1.8 million inhabitants rely on to meet their daily energy needs, putting forests at greater risk. The additional challenges affecting the supply and transport of essential charcoal during the…

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Top detectives nabbed over diamonds racket

Own Correspondent TWO senior police detectives have been arrested over a US$3000 diamonds smuggling racket. Joseph Mlambo, 36, an assistant inspector was arrested for possession of the precious stones and resisting arrest, and his superior Felix Machaka, 44, was nabbed for releasing him after his initial arrest by their juniors. They have since appeared at…

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Environment protection project improves livelihoods in Runde Catchment area

By Byron Mutingwende   The Integrated Soil-Water Conservation and Livestock Management in the Runde Catchment area has been hailed for improving the livelihoods of the people.   The environmental protection and monitoring project resulted in the improvement of the livelihoods of the population in 97 wards of Mwenezi, Chivi, Masvingo, Zaka and Bikita districts.  …

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Ensure maximum participation of locals in tourism: Mupfumira

By Byron Mutingwende   Priscah Mupfumira, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has called for the maximum participation of locals so as to ensure the sustainability of the sector. She made the remarks while updating the media on the policy direction her ministry is taking to promote domestic tourism. “For a long time Zimbabwe…

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Engineer Edzai Kachirekwa bags the Innovation in Energy Sector Award

Engineer Dr. Edzai Kachirekwa has once again stamped authority as an industry leader after winning Emerging Brands Africa’s Innovation in Energy Sector Award.   The Emerging Brands in Africa Awards is an initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the remarkable achievements of diverse brands in Africa that are showcasing significant growth across various sectors. The…

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Coal India report finds renewables will ‘substantially decrease’ coal demand

By Megan Darby for Climate Home News Coal India, the state-owned monolith that produces almost all of the country’s coal, sees a slowdown coming, according to an internal prognosis. That’s despite government efforts this week to open up India’s coal mining sector to competition. Entitled Coal Vision 2030, the report – which has been circulated to stakeholders for consultation – warns…

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