Getting online is easier than ever. There are now over 200 million active websites, and a lot of them were made by regular folk like you and me. Today anyone can make a website, regardless of technical skill level. We know it can seem like a daunting task, but there are tools available today that make…
WorldRemit, the market-leading money transfer provider, has revealed that Zimbabwe was one of the top five recipient countries in Africa for remittances in 2019, and continues to grow rapidly. The other African countries who received the most remittances in 2019 were Ghana, Kenya, Uganda with Nigeria receiving the most. WorldRemit recorded a 49% increase in…
Zimplats’ platinum production was down 19% in the last quater of 2019, its latest report shows. On a year on year basis, production was 24% lower than the Q3, to 53,107 oz. The weaker output was due to high concentrate stocks and the build-up of inventory in the furnace after a 122-day major rebuild shutdown,…
Platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum’s production for the last quarter of 2019 rose by 18 percent to 531 700 ounces. Anglo American Platinum said metal in concentrate platinum and palladium production both increased by 10 percent, to 531,700 ounces and 360,400 ounces, respectively. Own-mined platinum production increased by 18 percent to 361,900 ounces and palladium…
The Project Management Institute’s Zimbabwe Chapter will host its first event of the year in collaboration with international software giant, Oracle. Themed “The Role of Project Management in Digital Transformation”, the conference will encourage discussion around the tools and techniques which may be adopted by project managers working towards rebuilding a sustainable environment. Project management,…
Liquid Telecom is to launch the first 5G wholesale roaming service in South Africa. Available from early 2020 in all major South African cities, this latest fifth generation of mobile internet connectivity will enable wholesale operators to create innovative, ultra-fast and scalable digital services for their customers. The 5G wholesale network will also help accelerate…
Mining firm Vast Resources says it jas commenced drawing down a US$15 million facility for its projects, among them a diamond project in Chiadzwa. Last year Vast Resources arranged financing which it has prioritised for the Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine in Romania and the Chiadzwa Community Concession in Zimbabwe. “The company is in the process…
Despite a political rift between the United States and Zimbabwe, the former remains one of the biggest providers of bilateral support to the African country. The U.S. has extended US$3,2 billion to Zimbabwe in bilateral support since 1980, with US$370 million of that coming last year alone. Most of this support has been going towards…
In a developing that is pointing to weakening inflation in the country, latest official figures show that Zimbabwe’s month-on-month inflation rate for December 2019 stood at 16.55 percent shedding 0.91 percentage points on the November 2019 rate of 17.46 percent. According to the Zimbabwe National Statistical Agency (ZIMSTATS), this development “means that prices as measured…
Zimbabwe has remained on position 140 out of 190 economies on the 2020 World Bank Ease of Doing Business. The country of improved to 140 in 2019 from 155 in 2018. According to the latest World Bank report, Zimbabwe has improved on starting a business, streamlining approvals for construction permits and a reduction of the business…
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has approved an upward 95,39 percent voice, data and SMS tariff adjustment for both mobile and fixed network operators as previous tariffs were ravaged by inflationary pressures. According to Potraz, in a circular to operators, previous tariffs that were set in August 2019 have been rendered…
Earlier on the proposal of not duplicating infrastructure, and share what was available was point-blank rejected by our local mobile network operators (MNOs) who viewed possession of infrastructure as a competitive tool but years later today we are witnessing Zimbabwe’s two largest mobile network operators (MNOs) — Econet Wireless and NetOne Cellular — have signing…
Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator, the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) says it will continue reviewing tariffs in line with cost movements and international best practices following concerns over the high cost of products in the country. Telecommunications service providers announced new tariffs effective April 1 in response to rising costs following the removal of…
Harare-based payments startup Payitup has secured a $13-million Series-A investment from London’s Thawer Fund Management, CEO Aretha Gonyora has revealed. The funding was secured at a $20-million valuation. Payitup currently helps consumers make payments for MultiChoice’s DStv service. The startup plans to use the investment to further develop its system. The funding will also help it to form…
Minister of Environment, Tourism & Hospitality Industry Honorable, Senator Prisca Mupfumira Arriving in Kariba
Mobile network operators became the latest sector to increase prices for their products with an upward adjustment of tariffs for broadband services following the floating of the country’s local currency against the United States dollar. Zimbabwe liberalised its exchange rate on February 22 when it introduced an interbank market for foreign currency trading. The new…
Government has intensified efforts to partially privatise telecommunication companies Telone and NetOne and is offering the two entities to potential investors as a joint package. Cabinet yesterday gave the nod to this arrangement after a presentation by Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube. Public enterprise reforms are espoused in Government’s Transitional Stabilisation Programme…
State-Owned mobile communications firm, NetOne, recorded the biggest growth rate of 32,7 percent on its mobile money platform, OneMoney in the fourth quarter of last year. OneMoney, which has been battling for acceptance by the market since launch about one and half years ago, saw subscriptions rising to 241 566 in Q4 2018, up from…
Zimbabwe’s telecommunications companies are being deserted by their foreign partners that service and upgrade their systems due to inability to meet payment obligations in foreign currency. Telecommunication companies are not being prioritized in terms of foreign currency allocations by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), which has resulted in recent network problems. However, the regulator…
Zimbabwe’s mobile network operators recorded a 36% increase in revenue to $1,1 billion in the full year to December 2018 despite a 25% increase in operating costs, POTRAZ reported. The country has three licensed operators, two of which are State-owned — NetOne and Telecel and a third which is privately-run, Econet. A sector report by…
Washington Mkombodzi has created a free online shopping application, ZimexApp which provides a virtual platform for small businesses (SMEs) to reach out to the market. Mkombodzi said he saw the need for a central place that would allow people in Zimbabwe to post and list their products because the internet has become the main information…
At least 300 more people are feared dead in Chimanimani and Chipinge due to the devastating effects of Cyclone Idai that swept through the country over the weekend, leaving thousands homeless and property damaged. This came amid reports that most Cabinet ministers had been commandeered to join President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is already in Manicaland…
Today Spiked had an opportunity to meet the Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technologies (ZICT) Chairman Eng. Jacob Mutisi and he emphasizes that time has come for us not to continue blaming the Government and that we take a leading role. Eng. Mutisi said during the Cholera outbreak one of the resolutions was the set up…
TelOne says it has appointed a consultant who will advise the company on the restructuring of its staggering $380 million debt as it seeks to clean its books and attract private capital. TelOne is among a number of state-owned enterprises and parastatals that have been earmarked for reform as government moves to wean off the…
Econet Wireless is almost near to reach $100K on donations from well-wishers and it pledges to match dollar-for-dollar on all contributions. Bravo!!! Will be updating this article as more donations pour in from well-wishers. A state of disaster was declared in Zimbabwe. Eighty-two people have so far been confirmed dead across the country, and a…
Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd is set to be evicted from its two rented premises belonging to First Mutual Investment Company (Pvt) Ltd after accumulating rental arrears amounting to US$40 843. First Mutual is said to have approached the High Court in order to make Telecel settle the arrears and the MNO is yet to respond…
The Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technology (ZICT), a division of the Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers, has been leading from the front in the growth of ICT and responsible internet use in Zimbabwe. Chairman of the Zimbabwe Information and Communication Technology, Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi reiterated that they have always supported the responsible use of Facebook,…
Steward Bank has came up with yet another innovation that’s quite revolutionary in our banking sector with its introduction of WhatsApp Banking. Steward Bank customers are now able to access Steward Bank’s banking services on WhatsApp. Being able to buy airtime, make payments and all that other banking stuff on WhatsApp makes Steward Bank relatable…
Harare, Zimbabwe – EcoCash, Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s mobile money Fintech business, has partnered with Cassava Fintech South Africa to provide an enhanced cross-border money transfer service from South Africa to Zimbabwe. Announcing the launch of the service, Cassava Fintech International Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Darlington Mandivenga said he was confident the service would do…
Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe’s EcoSure insurance business has unveiled a package that will offer its customers access to ambulance services from MARS. The package, which was launched today by EcoSure in partnership with MARS, will allow existing and potential EcoSure policy holders to register and get access to Ambulance services throughout Zimbabwe. Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe CEO…
Community Water Alliance notes with concern the manner in which City of Harare is implementing its water rationing scheme. Whilst the dwindling water levels in dams particularly Lake Chivero has been the basis for rationing water in Harare, there are procedural issues and legal framework that City of Harare should comply with. We understand that…
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) says it is reviewing proposals by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) for a tariff hike in light of movement in the exchange rate as determined on the inter-bank market. Potraz acting director general Kennedy Dewera yesterday said following the country’s Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) — which introduced…
Yesterday the Supreme Court dismissed claims by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) that it was owed $100 million by Econet Wireless through tax evasions. The curtain closed on a near 10-year battle between Zimra and Econet, wherein the tax authority claimed that the latter owed millions of dollars in unpaid taxes. A panel of judges,…
Econet Wireless has revised its roaming services and international outbound calling & SMS services tariffs following the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) announced by the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe on the 20th of February 2019. The MPS designated RTGS balances, Bond notes and coins as RTGS dollars, effectively differentiating the same from any…
Powertel Communications has come to the rescue of the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC) with Internet of Things (IoT) products that will see the utility saving millions of dollars lost in the past owing to vandalism that has been rampant on the national electricity grid infrastructure. Speaking on this development, Powertel Marketing Manager Prosper Mutswiri…
NetOne Cellular Board Chairman James Mutizwa says the company is pleased that a solution regarding the status of chief executive officer, Lazarus Muchenje, has been found, and is expecting him to continue the turnaround efforts that saw the parastatal recording its first month-on-month profit during his reign. Mr Muchenje, who was suspended in August last…
Cassava SmarTech Zimbabwe has to date registered over 8 000 burial societies across the country under its EcoSure funeral insurance arm. EcoSure is a mobile micro-insurance product, which pays funeral benefits upon death of the insured person. The product was launched in 2014 with the intention of providing cover to the previously excluded communities in…
The government says the National Data Centre Project is nearing completion and has called on industry and the continent to invest more in data centers given their importance to regional economies. The Deputy Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere said they are forging ahead with the implementation of the national data center project which…
Strive Masiyiwa, Econet founder says mini-power grids based on solar energy are the solution to Africa’s energy problem. Masiyiwa made the prediction at a global conference of investors in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. “The technology for solar power and battery storage has reached a stage where the cost and capability will deliver power…
NetOne Board reinstated suspended CEO Mr Lazarus Muchenje as the new NetOne CEO, regardless of the challenge by Chief Secretary to the President, Dr Misheck Sibanda. Sources close to the developments have reiterated that the chief secretary is acting outside his jurisdiction and has no mandate to appoint or dismiss NetOne employees, while he has…
The Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group, Strive Masiyiwa, noted via Facebook that his friend, Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), used to tell him that “Agriculture is not a development activity, but an industry.” That is not far from the truth because the importance of agriculture in Nigeria cannot be…
Debt-ridden Zifa has sunk into deeper financial problems, as the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) pursues the $1,2 million they loaned out to the football governing body. Zifa board member finance, Philemon Machana once mentioned that they were pinning their hopes on the government settling the Potraz debt, as it had the…
Four TM Supermarket employees appeared in court for allegedly defrauding the supermarket of over $1 million. Taurai Madziwanzira, Silas Munyoro, Tafara Matanga and Talkmore Mutsago allegedly swindled a total amount of $1 107 050 which has not been recovered It is alleged that in 2018 the accused persons hatched a plan to defraud TM Supermarkets…
The Strive and Tsitsi Masiyiwa Family Foundation and has availed $60 million towards the cholera response in Zimbabwe. Cholera claimed more than 70 lives last year. The commitment from the Econet founders comes on the back of an initial $10 million investment by Econet Wireless Zimbabwe at the onset of the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe…
Delta Corporation has unveiled a two-year bursary programme for a bright, but underprivileged pupil who has passed his/her 2018 Ordinary Level examinations and qualifies for Advanced Level in Masvingo Province. The bursary will cater for the pupil at either a Government or mission school and will cover tuition, uniforms, text books and pocket money. In…
