Week 34
A weekly selection from Zimbabwean newspapers
Zim youth more educated, less employed, less engaged than elders: Afrobarometer
An Afrobarometer survey conducted by Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI) has revealed that the youth in Zimbabwe are more educated, less employed and less engaged than their elders in the country.
MPOI principal researcher Simangele Moyo-Nyede told NewsDay that the study was carried out over a 10-year period from 2012 to 2022 and the results of the survey were released last month.
The report said more than 60% of the country’s population is under the age of 25, but continues to face significant obstacles to realising their economic and political potential.
Although dominant in numbers, Zimbabwe’s youth are less likely than their elders to participate in change-making activities such as voting and civic activities.
Zimbabwe commissions wind-energy study to help add electricity generation
Zimbabwe has commissioned a study of wind-power potential in the southern African nation as part of an effort to increase electricity generation.
The government hired Noubeg Power Ltd., a firm based in Cameroon, to conduct the research. The two-year project will install masts for data collection and assess the proposed sites for wind farms.
“The purpose of this project is to create an accurate knowledge base of the wind resource available in Zimbabwe,” Noubeg Power said in a statement. Gloria Magombo, Zimbabwe’s secretary for energy, confirmed the study.
Zimbabwe is generating about 1,361 megawatts of power, more than a quarter short of peak demand. Rotational blackouts can last 12 hours.
Electricity demand is expected to increase to 5,000 megawatts by 2030, according to the Energy Ministry.
‘We’ll continue defending our rich history, united’ The Herald (state owned)
SADC shall continue to defend its rich history and, remain united and indivisible, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his remarks at a State Banquet he hosted for SADC Heads of State and Government and their delegations after their 44th Summit on Saturday, the President said the region was one despite geographical boundaries.
The freedom and independence enjoyed by member states, said President Mnangagwa, should never be taken for granted.
“In spite of being geographically and politically different jurisdictions, we are one people, united under SADC with common aspirations and an intricately linked future.
“Our fraternal bonds are deep and glued together by the precious blood of our Heroes and Heroines who fought for our liberation, independence and freedom.
75 jaar OS – hoe nu verder? – Vice Versa
Op onze uitnodiging schetst Jan Pronk de contouren van de toekomstige ontwikkelingssamenwerking
De internationale ontwikkelingssamenwerking en het financieringsinstrument dat daarvan deel uitmaakte, de ontwikkelingshulp, begon in 1949. De wereld is in de 75 jaar die sindsdien zijn verlopen grondig veranderd. De vraag is gerechtvaardigd of ontwikkelingssamenwerking, zoals daar destijds vorm aan werd gegeven, ook thans nog zinvol is.
Die vraag lijkt in de praktijk al beantwoord: ontwikkelingshulp staat wereldwijd ter discussie en dreigt in ons land geheel te worden afgeschaft – dat is althans het voornemen van de politieke partij die bij de laatste verkiezingen als grootste uit de bus kwam.
Japan delivers fertiliser for 100 000 farmers
Japan has handed over more than 5 500 tonnes of fertiliser that is expected to boost agricultural production for small-scale farmers across Zimbabwe.
The 3 600 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 1 940 metric tonnes of Compound D fertiliser were handed over to government at the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) Aspindale Depot in Harare.
The donation is expected to benefit approximately 100 000 small-scale farmers throughout Zimbabwe, offering the much-needed support ahead of the upcoming agricultural season.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, ambassador Shinichi Yamanaka underscored the importance of partnership in fostering food security and economic stability in Zimbabwe.
SADC Summit: A huge blow to democracy
Zimbabwe wants to shine: major roads in Harare have been resurfaced, event venues spruced up and streets cleaned of vendors. The capital’s airport has undergone a major touch-up and the parliament now features immaculate landscaping. But all that these cosmetic improvements do is to underline that which has not been upgraded, sanitised or beautified – human rights.
In the run-up to the SADC Summit, Mnangagwa’s government has upped its repression. Human rights advocates and political activists face harassment, prosecution, persecution and incarceration. Civil society has been cowed as the government threatens its people with unspecified – yet presumably severe – action if they even attempt Kenya-style protests. Even the People’s SADC Summit’s organisation (a summit of civil society organisations in SADC countries) is at a low scale and will not be happening concurrently with the summit as per tradition: it had to be done a few days earlier for fear of being misconstrued as an affront to the government.
Diaspora conference preps underway
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is organising a diaspora conference in a bid to lure Zimbabwean nationals working abroad to development the country’s second largest city.
Speaking to Southern Eye, BCC economic development officer Kholisani Moyo said the main aim for the conference was to market the City of Bulawayo for the purpose of development and investment.
“We want to organise the diaspora conference in Bulawayo in September this year before the Sanganai/Hlangani Tourism Expo and we are in discussion with the Minister of Provincial and Devolution Affairs,” he said.
Moyo said they needed to hold the conference in Bulawayo to be able to showcase what their city could offer to investors.
Afscheid van een tijdperk – Vice Versa
De ontwikkelingssamenwerking bestaat 75 jaar en in de tussentijd is de wereld drastisch veranderd.
Wat betekenen deze drie, grof geschetste ontwikkelingen nu voor de Nederlandse ontwikkelingssamenwerking? Dat het in Nederland tot internationale samenwerking zal moeten worden omgevormd: samenwerking bij klimaataanpassing (zoals op het terrein van water), van gezondheidszorg (ziektes stoppen niet aan de grens) en van onderwijs en kennis (mensen opleiden leidt tot vooruitgang) – oftewel: op wat we mondiale publieke goederen noemen.
Tot slot moeten we ook de bilaterale hulp stoppen. Het is tekenend dat de belangrijkste directe ontvangers van Nederlandse hulp, zoals Ethiopië en Oeganda, ook grote mensenrechtenschenders zijn. Bovendien is in deze eenentwintigste eeuw, na 75 jaar armoedebestrijding, zorgen voor goed onderwijs en adequate gezondheidszorg de eerste verantwoordelijkheid van de regeringen in de ontwikkelingslanden zelf – daar kunnen de Nederlandse dubbeltjes niet echt aan bijdragen.
Lack of funds affects Bulawayo sewage system
Bulawayo mayor David Coltart has said there were are no funds to provide long-term solutions to the city’s dilapidated sewage system.
The mayor on Friday last week said their efforts to fix the sewage system were being hindered by lack of funds, adding that the system, which was 40 years old, required an overhaul.
“We try to respond to sewer bursts as quickly as possible throughout the city, but our staff is battling to keep up,” Coltart said.
He added that there were no long-term solutions to the problem.
“There are few short-term measures to eradicate this problem. The city’s infrastructure has not been adequately maintained for over 40 years,” he said.
Zim’s democratic space shrinking: Report
Democratic space continues to shrink under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration with less than 40% of the people in Zimbabwe believing that there is still democracy in the country, a new report by Afrobarometer shows.
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance and quality of life.
“In Zimbabwe, fewer than four in 10 citizens think their country is a ‘full democracy’ or a ‘democracy with minor problems’ and fewer than half are satisfied with the way democracy works in the country,” the report showed.
BCC to reduce traffic congestion at intersections
Bulawayo City council (BCC) has proposed to improve flow of traffic at intersections in the central business district by only allowing vehicles turning to the left to go through at junctions that are not controlled by traffic lights.
In a recent notice, council said this would improve traffic flow and address problems related to congestion, intersection efficiency, pedestrian safety and public transport efficiency.
Indications are that in this way, vehicles coming from opposite directions at intersections without traffic lights do not all turn heading in the same direction, causing traffic jam.
Acting town clerk Edwin Mzingwane, however, said the improvement would result in longer travel time since motorists would have to travel a bit further in order to turn right.
Afrika verdient béter: wie durft? – Vice Versa
Het is tijd het continent serieus te nemen, betoogt Nienke Uil, met een halve lofzang en een half pleidooi: ‘Het ligt aan een donorinfuus, maar het is geen patiënt, geen slachtoffer en al zeker geen domme schone.’
De lucht tintelt fris over haar wangen nu de zon nog niet is opgewarmd. Van links de geur van een vuurtje, op rechts wordt een straatje geveegd. Kuikens schieten weg. Het gras vlezig en felgroen, de aarde koper – Afrika net na de regentijd. De mooiste vrouw op aarde, weelderig, glooiend, vruchtbaar, een onvoorstelbare rijkdom in haar diepten.
Geen wonder dat de wereld haar wil bezitten. De heren tuimelen over elkaar heen met ongevraagde cadeaus. De een komt tuberculose verdrijven, de ander wil hiv uitroeien. Als iemand haar al geld geeft, dan komt dat nooit voor niets. Hij wil er iets voor terug; ze moet in een keurslijf, of hij dringt aan op een zakelijke deal.
Hoe eerder iedereen basiszorg heeft, hoe beter. Wie durft?
Nienke Uil is financieel expert bij Amref Flying Doctors
